Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
UNIQUE IAS ACADEMY The Best Coaching Center in Coimbatore NVN Layout, New Siddhapudur, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Ph: 0422 4204182, 98842 67599
**********************************************************************************************
STATE AFFAIRS
TN‘S NEW CHIEF SECRETARY AND NEW DGP:
Context:
Jalad K. Tripathy takes charge as the new Director-General of Police/Head of Police Force. He is a 1985-batch IPS officer. He replaces T.K. Rajendran. K. Shanmugam appointed as new Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary. The officer, belonging to the 1985 batch, is expected to take charge formally on Monday, succeeding Girija Vaidyanathan.
CHENNAI TO GET HERITAGE GARDEN BY YEAR-END:
Context:
The city will soon have its own heritage garden showcasing various native species of trees and plants, including those mentioned in Sangam literature, many of which are gradually vanishing. garden will be set up at Washermenpet on five-acres of land at an estimated Rs 70 lakh and aims to become one of the major attractions in the city. It is likely to open by year-end and will be the third such facility to be set up under the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency. Officials from the Tamil Nadu Horticulture Development Agency.
SATYAMANGALAM TIGER RESERVE :
Context:
For the first time in the country, radio telemetry were successfully implanted in 10 pythons at the Forest Veterinary unit of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) at Karachikorai, near Bhavani Sagar. Pythons that are let into Meyar River valley are being monitored by the field teams. The Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, is conducting a study on ―Spatio-temporal and Thermal Ecology of India Python (Python Molurus) in Moyar River Valley, the first-ever telemetry study on this species, to conserve the endangered snake in its native distribution. Hence, 20 pythons, were used for the study, 10 at STR and 10 python at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
JAYA ARUNACHALAM PASSES AWAY:
Context:
Jaya Arunachalam, founder of Working Women‘s Forum (WWF), and a pioneer of the women's self help group movement in the country, died on Saturday. She was 87.
JAYA ARUNACHALAM ACHIEVEMENTS:
She was the pioneer of women's self help group movement in India.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 1
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Dr Jaya Arunachalam is best known for her social service contributions through WWF which she initiated in 1978., ―to develop the total human resource potential of very poor women workers in the informal sector.‖ Dr. Jaya Arunachalam was conferred the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1987. She received the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 2009 for her work towards the welfare of women and children. She is a recipient of the International Activist Award by Glietsman Foundation in 2003, and the Godfrey Phillips National Bravery Social Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
STATE BUTTERFLY:
Context:
Tamil yeoman (Cirrochroa thais) butterfly species endemic to Western Ghats has been declared the state butterfly of Tamil Nadu. For the first time Tamil Nadu has declared its state butterfly and only fifth in the country to do so. Maharashtra was the first to declare Blue Mormon as its state butterfly, followed by Uttarakhand (Common peacock), Karnataka (Southern bird wings) and Kerala (Malabar banded peacock).
Tamil yeoman
Uniformly orange in colour with a dark brown outer ring, Tamil Yeoman is among the 32 butterfly species found in the Western Ghats. This butterfly species moves in groups in large numbers, but only in a few places. Also known as Tamil Maravan, which means warrior, these butterflies are found mainly in the hilly areas. ON STARTUP INDIA LIST, TAMIL NADU PUSHED TO SEVENTH SPOT: Context: Recent data from the commerce ministry on the number of startups registered with department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) or Startup India initiative shows Tamil Nadu is in the seventh spot with 1,004 startups. TN is at the bottom of the list, which has Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi in the top three slots with 3,661, 2,847 and 2,552 startups respectively. On the other hand, a ranking of states based on investments raised from Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs), under Startup India‘s Fund of Funds scheme, shows TN is in the fifth spot with 11 startups raising Rs 113 crore from registered AIFs. As of June 24, 19,351 startups across the country have applied and been granted recognition by DPIIT.
TWO WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS TO SUPPLY TREATED WATER TO INDUSTRIAL UNITS:
News:
Chennai Metrowater plans to commission two such plants in Koyambedu and Kodungaiyur, either later this month or early next month. Using domestic sewage as raw material, the proposed TTRO plants will, initially, have the capacity to handle 45 million litres a day (MLD) each. Eventually, they can go up to 60 MLD each. The Koyambedu plant will take care of industrial units in Irungattukottai, Sriperumpudur and Oragadam, all in Kancheepuram district. The Kodungaiyur plant will take care of demands of entities in the Manali-Minjur belt.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 2
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
MAKKAL NUMBER:
News:
Tamilnadu government plans to provide statutory services to people as a predictive service without citizens having to apply for it. Details: Statutory services include providing government services like certificates, documents, licences, etc. to people through Arasu e-sevai centres after a request is made by people.New Scenario The Tamilnadu e-governance agency plans to generate a unique id number for all 7-crore people of the state called ―Makkal Number‖. The Aadhaar data will be anonymised and a fool-proof id like Makkal Number will be used. These data will electronically reach the ‗Citizen Vault‘, to be created for each resident of Tamil Nadu. Residents can view their certificates and documents in their vault, using their mobile number as the user ID and an OTP as the password. Blockchain technology will prompt the software of each department or agency to issue certificates as and when citizens become eligible for them. ―Right from the Birth Certificate to the Death Certificate and numerous certificates/documents issued in- between by various government departments and agencies will be automatically stored in the ‗Citizen vault‘. The ―Makkal number‖ scheme and the subsequent verification of an individual‘s data stored in the Citizen vault will be done only with the consent of the concerned person.
CHANDRAYAAN-2: ISRO USED SOIL FROM NAMAKKAL FOR TESTS :
News
ISRO has used soil from two villages in Namakkal district for simulator tests of lander Vikram and rover Pragyan at its proto-lunar terrain test facility in Bengaluru as part of Chandrayaan-2 mission. Explaining the reason for taking soil from Namakkal district for simulator tests, Lunar surface has ‗Anorthosite‘ type soil. The same has been available at Sitthampoodi and Kunnamalai villages in Namakkal district.‖ grain size, membrane and chemistry of the lunar surface anorthosite match nearly 90% with the anorthosite in Namakkal villages. ―One kilogram of the soil would cost around $150. The ISRO had minimized the cost in lakhs this time by using soil from Namakkal villages.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 3
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
SETTING UP OF NEUTRINO OBSERVATORY:
News:
The Government of India has approved a project to build the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) at Pottipuram in the Theni District of Tamil Nadu. the project aims to set up a 51000 ton Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector to observe naturally occurring atmospheric neutrinos in a cavern at the end of an approximately 2 km long tunnel in a mountain. There is no other neutrino detector anywhere in India at present. The INO project does not disturb the ecosystem around the site and does not release any radiation, as it does not have any radioactive substance. It measures cosmic rays. It is under the Department of Atomic Energy.
WATER TRAIN FROM VELLORE ON ITS WAY TO CHENNAI:
News:
The much-awaited train transporting water from Vellore to Chennai was flagged off on Friday morning from Jolarpet station.
Details:
A train carrying 2.5 million litres of water arrived in Chennai . train had 50 tank wagons (BTPN) and carried 50,000 litres of water. The water was filled from Jolarpettai in Tamil Nadu‘s Vellore district.Surplus water supplied from Mettur to various places in Vellore district under The Vellore Combined Water Supply Scheme is being diverted to Chennai.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 4
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENTS IN TAMIL:
News:
The Supreme Court began publishing its judgments in various languages from Thursday and the first verdict to be translated and uploaded on its website in Tamil was the one delivered on March 29 confirming the life sentence on popular restaurant chain Saravana Bhavan‘s founder P. Rajagopal. The translated versions of the Supreme Court judgments can be accessed by clicking on the link titled ‗vernacular judgments‘ on the home page of the court. Earlier in July, the Supreme Court had announced that it will be reproducing its judgments in regional languages.
TN CM ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF TWO NEW DISTRICTS:
News:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday announced the creation of two new districts carved out from Kanchipuram and Tirunelveli. This will take the total number of districts in the State to 35.
Details:
While Chengalpattu will be hived off from Kanchipuram to become a district headquarter; Tenkasi will be split from Tirunelveli to become a new district. In January, Palaniswami announced the creation of a new district by bifurcating Villupuram district with Kallakurichi as the new district‘s headquarters.So far three new districts have been created by the government.
ARANI SILK SAREE: News: For providing marketing facility to all the handloom products including Arani Silk, Government of India is implementing Handloom Marketing Assistance (HMA)scheme, a component of National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP), all across India. Details:
The scheme provides marketing platform to the handloom weavers/organisations to sell their products directly to the consumers. Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to National Level Handloom Organisations and nominated handloom agencies of the State Governments to organize the marketing events like National Handloom Expos (NHEs), Special Handloom Expos (SHEs) and District Level Events (DLEs). In addition to the above, Central Silk Board through Silk Mark Organisation of India is organising ―Silk Mark Expo‖ in various towns and cities including Chennai near Arani.
INCINERATION PLANT AT MANALI:
News:
In another major step towards the Greater Chennai Corporation‘s (GCC) goal of zero-waste by the end of this year, the civic body has embarked on a pilot project to provide an incineration plant for dry waste, at Zone 2 in Manali. The plant will convert dry waste into ash that would be used to build concrete blocks. The plant will incinerate about 10 metric tonnes of dry waste per day and produce nearly 200 blocks per day. One metric tonne generates nearly 10 kilograms of ash.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 5
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
So, at the end of the year, 70,000-75,000 concrete blocks would be produced that would be further used for road laying project.
ST JOSEPH‘S COLLEGE BAGS NAAC‘S A++ GRADE:
News:
St. Joseph's College, Tiruchi, is officially the first autonomous arts and science institution in the country to be awarded A++ grade by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in the fourth cycle of accreditation. The only institution in Tamil Nadu to be recognized with Special Heritage Status by University Grants Commission.
TAMIL NADU‘S MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE SEES SHARP SIX-POINT DROP:
News:
Tamil Nadu‘s Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is down six points. It has dipped from 66 to 60 per one lakh live births, according to the 2018 State Health Management Information System data.
Details:
The MMR was 66 per one lakh live births as per the 2014-2016 Sample Registration System data. It was 90 per one lakh live births in 2010-2012, according to the Health and Family Welfare Department. Tamil Nadu achieved the Sustainable Development Goal of bringing MMR down to under 70 per one lakh live births by 2030 back in 2014-2016. The country‘s maternal mortality rate stood at 130.
MATERNAL MORTALITY RATIO (PER 100 000 LIVE BIRTHS):
Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 6
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
TAMIL NADU DAY:
News:
Tamilnadu CM announced in the Assembly under Rule 110 that November 1 would be celebrated as Tamilnadu Day annually. In 1956, as a part of the States Reorganization Act, the states in India were arranged on linguistic basis. It came into effective from November 1.
STATE REORGANIZATION ACT 1956:
The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 was the main reform of the boundaries of Indian states and territories, systematizing them on language base.
ASSEMBLY ADOPTS BILL TO INCREASE STRENGTH OF MINORITIES PANEL:
News:
The T.N Assembly adopted a Bill to increase the number of members of the State Minorities Commission from six to nine. The revised number is exclusive of the chairman of the panel. The strength of the panel had been increased, taking into consideration ―the increase in population and the welfare of the minorities‖, said the Bill.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 7
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
SIX CANDIDATES ELECTED UNOPPOSED AS RAJYA SABHA MP'S :
News:
MDMK founder Vaiko, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss and two candidates each from the AIADMK and the DMK were elected unopposed as Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu. The new AIADMK Rajya Sabha members are A. Muhammathjohn and N. Chandrasekaran, and the DMK members are N. Shanmugam and P. Wilson.
TAMIL NADU WATER RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND AUGMENTATION MISSION:
News:
The state of Tamil Nadu which is battling the water crisis especially in the capital Chennai has taken a step towards addressing the challenge comprehensively by instituting Tamil Nadu Water Resources Conservation and Augmentation Mission.
ABOUT THE MISSION:
It would be a people-led movement to conserve and manage water and to ensure that water crises do not recur. The government will be holding a week-long campaign to convert the Mission into a people‘s movement. The mission will also emphasise on the participation of woman. The Mission will emphasise on rainwater harvesting and conservation of water bodies to increase their capacity. Further the capacities of small irrigation tanks, ponds and lakes will be increased and the works will be carried out through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. A committee headed by Chief-Minister will evolve a plan for execution.At the district level, collectors will head this movement. Water Conservation Boards will be created at ward level in urban areas and at village and panchayat union level in rural areas.
COMPONENTS OF THE MISSION:
Rainwater harvesting. Protecting water resources and increasing its storage capacity.Sustaining drinking water supply by fortifying groundwater table.. As part of the Mission, the government will also continue the efforts to link Godavari and Cauvery rivers along with the executing new schemes for fortifying groundwater table in the areas identified as ‗overexploited‘ and ‗critical‘.
DIAL FOR WATER 2.0:
News:
The Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) has introduced the ‗DIAL FOR WATER 2.0‘ scheme under which consumers will get water supply within two days from booking.
Details:
Under the new scheme, the date of water supply is assured. For instance, if the booking is made on July 29, the consumer can choose the date of supply — either July 30 or 31. Under the new scheme, 9 Kilo Litres (KL), 12 KL and 16-KL capacity water tankers are made available for multi-storeyed buildings (MSB) and 3KL, 6KL and 9-KL capacity tankers are made available for non-MSBs.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 8
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
However, they can opt only for the 3-KL water tankers over the phone, and the mode of payment will be cash on delivery. Under the new scheme, there is no provision for cancellation and therefore, consumers are requested to book according to their needs.
FAMOUS HILL GARLIC OF ‗KODAIKANAL‘ REGISTERED WITH GI TAG:
News:
Famous Hill Garlic of Kodaikanal bagged the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. It has become a single agricultural product from the hill station of the south.
Details:
According to a recent report of GI Journal, the Kodaikanal Malai Poondu is known for its antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. It consists of a heavy presence of Organosulfar compounds like phenols and flavonoids compared to other varieties of garlic. These compounds give it a bitter taste along with the strong smell. Considering this, a total of 28 products have been registered with GI in Tamil Nadu in which seven are the agricultural items. Kodaikanal Malai Poodu grows in between 11 degree Celsius to 20 degree Celsius. In addition to soil, the climatic condition in which it grows makes it different from others. It is planted as two crops. In September- October (Rabi) and April – May (Kharif). It is usually white or pale yellow.
TAMILNADU HOSPITAL DAY:
News:
Government hospitals in Tamil Nadu will celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy on July 30 as ‗Hospital Day‘ every year. She was Born on July 30, 1886, in Pudukottai princely state, Reddy took up various social service activities and became the first woman legislator of Tamil Nadu assembly. Reddy, who died in 1968, also founded the Adyar Cancer Institute. The day is also celebrated to publicise services offered by the hospitals besides appreciating NGOs, donors social institutions and corporates offering corporate socialresponsibility (CSR) funds for development of the hospitals.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 9
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
ABOUT DR. MUTHULAKSHMI REDDY :
ALL FOUR TIGER RESERVES IN TAMIL NADU RANKED ‗VERY GOOD‘:
News:
All the four tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu have been ranked ―very good‖ in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) rating done for all the 50 tiger reserves in India. While the three tiger reserves — Mudumalai (MTR), Anamalai (ATR) and Sathyamangalam (STR) — were already in the 'very good' category, Kalakkad Mundanthurai tiger reserve (KMTR) has also shown improvement and has been upgraded from ‗good‘ to ‗very good‘. The proposal for the fifth tiger reserve, linking Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Theni district with Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary in Virudhunagar district, is awaiting the government‘s approval.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 10
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
COLOUR-CODED LABELS ON PRODUCTS WITH HIGH FAT, SUGAR CONTENT:
Context:
FSSAI calls for colour-coded labels on products with high fat, sugar content. The food industry has expressed its concerns over the draft of the proposed changes in labelling rules drawn up by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Details:
These will replace the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. As far as red-colour coding norm is concerned, the FSSAI has defined different threshold levels for sodium and saturated fat content for various categories of food products. In case of sugar, the draft regulations propose display of red-colour coding, for those that have added sugar content value is more than 10 per cent of the total energy (kcal) provided by the 100 g/100 ml of the product. At the same time, it has also proposed to exempt some product categories such as milk and certain milk products, staples such as sugar, salt and flour, and fresh vegetables, as per the draft regulations.
JAL SAKTHI ABHIYAN:
Context:
Union Jal Shakti Minister, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, today announced the commencement of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan - a campaign for water conservation and water security.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 11
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
The campaign will run through citizen participation during the monsoon season, from 1st July, 2019 to 15th September, 2019. additional Phase 2 will be run from 1st October, 2019 to 30th November, 2019 for States receiving the North East retreating monsoons.
Details:
Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a collaborative effort of various Ministries of the Government of India and State Governments, being coordinated by the DDWS. teams of officers from the central government will visit and work with district administration in 1592 water stressed blocks in 256 districts, to ensure five important water conservation interventions.These will be water conservation and rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks, reuse, bore well recharge structures, watershed development and intensive afforestation. A large-scale communications campaign has also been planned alongside the JSA involving mass mobilisation of different groups including school students, college students, swachhagrahis, Self Help Groups, Panchayati Raj Institution members, youth groups (NSS/NYKS/NCC), defence personnel, ex- servicemen and pensioners, among various others.
DASTAK CAMPAIGN:
Context
Uttar Pradesh government has launched a massive campaign called ‗Dastak‘ to eradicate deadly Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) disease.
Details:
It is a state-wide campaign against communicative diseases which will run from 1st to 31st July 2019. It is started by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This campaign is part of a comprehensive Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) strategy embraced by state government.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 12
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Background: In 2018, UP government started ‗Dastak‘ campaign in association with UNICEF (United Nations Children‘s Fund) to control encephalitis and other vector-borne diseases. As part of campaign, entire state machinery with help of UNICEF (United Nations Children‘s Fund) went door to door in 38 districts affected by JE and AES. The state government claimed that campaign has improved health conditions and fatality rate due to AES and JE dripped since then.
KRISHI KISOAK:
Context
Haryana Agriculture and Farmers‘ Welfare Minister, Om Prakash Dhankar on Friday launched Krishi Kiosk at Panchkula near here to start Digital Kisan Suvidha for facilitating the farmers. Through this Kiosk, the farmers will not only be able to get information about the schemes of the Department, but the formalities related to claims to Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana can also be completed, Dhankar said. Farmers can get information of all schemes through this app. On this occasion, he also released book entitled Agri Scope.
STATISTICS MINISTRY LAUNCHES DASHBOARD:
Context:
The Statistics Ministry has launched a dashboard to track the country's progress on the SDG Agenda 2030 adopted by the United Nations. It is India's first Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) dashboard, which is a unique, searchable platform that provides data and insights on how the country is progressing on the SDGs. It has been launched on the occasion of National Statistics Day today.the dashboard will be India's official data repository of the National Indicator Framework on SDG.
SDG:
SDGs are universal call by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for action to end poverty, protect the planet, improve health, education and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. India has been closely monitoring its progress on the SDGs through its National Indicator Framework and the India SDG Index released in 2018.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 13
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
EDUCATION QUALITY UPGRADATION AND INCLUSION PROGRAMME (EQUIP):
Context:
In accordance with the decision of the Prime Minister for finalizing a five-year vision plan for each Ministry, the Department of Higher Education of HRD Ministry has finalized and released a five-year vision plan named Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP). The ten Expert Groups drawn from senior academicians, administrators and industrialists, have suggested more than 50 initiatives that would transform the higher education sector completely.
The Groups have set the following goals for higher education sector:
Double the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education and resolve the geographically and socially skewed access to higher education institutions in India Upgrade the quality of education to global standards Position at least 50 Indian institutions among the top-1000 global universities Introduce governance reforms in higher education for well-administered campuses Accreditation of all institutions as an assurance of quality Promote Research & Innovation ecosystems for positioning India in the Top-3 countries in the world in matters of knowledge creation Double the employability of the students passing out of higher education Harness education technology for expanding the reach and improving pedagogy Promote India as a global study destination Achieve a quantum increase in investment in higher education. For each initiative, the Groups have recommended modalities for implementation, investments and timelines. The proposal would now be taken for inter-departmental consultations and appraisal through the EFC mechanism before being taken to Cabinet for approval.
NATIONAL FILM HERITAGE MISSION:
Context:
Shri Javadekar reviewed the Ministry‘s prestigious project of ‗National Film Heritage Mission‘, and various activities undertaken under this project. The National Film Heritage Mission is an important initiative of the I&B Ministry to preserve and conserve country‘s cinematic heritage. The broader objectives under NFHM are to undertake film condition assessment and preventive conservation of around 150,000 film reels, Digitization of around 3500 films, picture & sound restoration of around 2000 landmark films of Indian cinema, construction of preservation and conservation facilities (vaults), training and workshops and creating a comprehensive Web-based End to End IT solution.
1ST INDIAN CIVIL SERVANT TO CLIMB MOUNT DENALI:
Context:
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Aparna Kumar has become the first civil servant to scale Mount Denali, the highest peak in North America and completing her seventh Summit in her mission 'Seven Summits'. She had become the first IPS and ITBP woman officer to reach the South Pole.
MOUNT DENALI:
Denali, once called Mount McKinley, is the tallest mountain in North America. Located in south-central Alaska, the mountain's peak is 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) above sea level, also making it the third highest of
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 14
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
the Seven Summits — the highest mountains on each of the seven continents — following Mount Everest in Nepal and Aconcagua in Argentina. By one measure, it could be considered the third tallest mountain in the world.
SEVEN SUMMIT CHALLENGE:
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. Climbing to the summit of all of them is regarded as a mountaineering challenge, first achieved on 30 April 1985 by Richard Bass. African Plate – Kilimanjaro Antarctic Plate – Vinson Australian Plate – Puncak Jaya / Kosciuszko Eurasian Plate – Mount Everest North American Plate – Denali Pacific Plate – Mauna Kea South American Plate – Aconcagua.
AYUSH, MEITY MINISTRIES SIGNS MOU FOR DIGITISATION OF AYUSH SECTOR: Context: The ministries of Ayush and Electronics and Information Technology on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for collaboration in the digitization of the AYUSH sector.
Details: The Electronics and Information Technology Ministry (MeitY) agreed to advise and give technical support to the Ayush Ministry (MOA) for planning and development of AYUSH GRID Project. In pursuance to the National Health Policy 2017 and e-governance initiative, the Ministry of AYUSH aims to digitise the entire AYUSH leading to transformation in the field of health care delivery at all levels, in addition to greater research, education, delivery of various healthcare programmes and better drug regulations.
STRIDE SCHEME: Context: In a bid to support socially relevant projects, the University Grants Commission, UGC has approved the Scheme for Trans-Disciplinary Research for India's Developing Economy (STRIDE). Details: The UGC has set up an advisory committee under Vice Chairman Bhushan Patwardhan to oversee the entire scheme. STRIDE will provide support to research projects that are socially relevant, locally need-based, nationally important and globally significant.
STRIDE Objectives: To identify young talent, strengthen research culture, build capacity, promote innovation and support trans- disciplinary research for India‘s developing economy and national development. To fund multi institutional network high-impact research projects in humanities and human sciences.
STRIDE COMPONENTS: Component-1 will endeavour to identify the motivated young talents with research and innovation aptitude in universities and colleges. Component-2 will be mainly to enhance problem solving skills with help of social innovation and action research to improve wellbeing of people and contribute for India‘s developing economy. Component-3 will fund high impact research projects in the identified thrust areas inhumanities and human sciences through national network of eminent scientists from leading institutions.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 15
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
EX.GARUDA:
Context:
Indian Air Force (IAF) landed at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in France to participate in the two-week ‗Garuda‘ exercise with the French Air Force starting today.
Details:
the ‗Garuda-VI‘ exercise, being held at France‘s Mont-de-Marsan air base. The Garuda exercise is alternately held in France and India, under the framework of bilateral cooperation between the two nations. While the French air force will deploy fighter aircraft including the Rafale, Alpha Jet, Mirage 2000, C135, E3F, C130, and CASA, the IAF contingent has 120 air-warriors and four Su-30 MKI along with an IL-78 Flight Refuelling aircraft, which shall participate during the exercise.
SC ASKS MEGHALAYA TO DEPOSIT RS 100 CR FINE FOR ILLEGAL COAL MINING:
Context:
The Supreme Court slapped a Rs 100 crore fine on the Meghalaya government, for failing in its constitutional obligation to provide the citizenry with clean air and water, and allowing illegal mining to pollute rivers and air.
Details:
The National Green Tribunal had on January 4 banned rat-hole mining Meghalaya, after a flooding in a mine led to several deaths, bringing all mining to a virtual halt in the state. The court also said that the tribal people who owned the land would also own the minerals therein. The Mining and Minerals Act and the Mineral Concessions Act will also be applicable in the state, it said. The top court did not agree with the NGT ruling that the ownership of all illegally extracted minerals so far would automatically vest with the government.
SUPREME COURT JUDGMENTS IN YOUR LANGUAGE:
Context:
The judgments of the Supreme Court will be available in seven regional languages, including Tamil, sources in the top court said.
Details:
The Supreme Court's verdicts will be made available on its website in Hindi, Telugu, Assamese, Marathi, Kannada, Odia and Tamil. The translations are likely to be available by the end of this month.
THREE INDIAN UNIVERSITIES MAKE IT TO QS TOP 150:
Context:
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)- Guwahati, OP Jindal Global University and Anna University in Chennai are the three Indian universities which have made it to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) top 150 young universities globally. The top young universities are those which are in shortest span of establishment have been able to make a big impact. These universities are under the 50 years of age,
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 16
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
IIT-Guwahati is ranked at the band of 71-80 while Anna University and OP Jindal are in the 101-150 band.Singapore‘s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has topped the list.
27% OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES HAVE NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL: UNESCO:
Context:
More than one in four children with disabilities between ages 5 and 19 in India have never attended any educational institution, while three-fourths of five-year-olds with disabilities are not in school.
Details:
A report by UNESCO and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences released on Wednesday recommends structural, funding and attitudinal changes to ensure that no child is left out of the right to education. 2011 census data, the report showed that there are more than 78 lakh children with disabilities in the country between 5-19 years. Only 61% of them were attending an educational institution. About 12% had dropped out, while 27% had never been to school at all. Only 20% of children with visual and hearing impairments had never been in school. However, among children with multiple disabilities or mental illness, that figure rose to more than 50%. Amendments to the RTE Act, 2009 to make it align with the Right of Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016 are among the major recommendations of the report.
UIDAI CENTRES:
Context:
The UIDAI has operationalised the first 'Aadhaar Seva Kendra' in Delhi and Vijayawada, setting in motion an ambitious plan to set up 114 such centres by the year-end.
Details:
These Aadhaar centres, meant to facilitate enrolment, updation and other activities, will be UIDAI‘s own and operate in addition to thousands of centres, currently being run by banks and post offices, and in government premises. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is in the midst of setting up ‗Aadhaar Seva Kendras‘ (ASKs) - similar to the concept of Passport Seva Kendras - covering 53 cities across India at an estimated project cost of Rs,300-400 crore.
SCR COMMISSIONS LONGEST ELECTRIFIED RAILWAY TUNNEL IN INDIA: News:
The South Central Railway (SCR) has added yet another feather in its cap by commissioning the longest electrified tunnel of 6.6 km built at a total cost of ₹460 crore between Cherlopalli and Rapuru stations. Details: Two freight trains successfully ran on this line last week, marking the full-scale operation of the newly built electrified railway line between the two stations, thereby opening up viable rail connectivity between Krishnapatnam Port and its hinterland for freight train services. Construction of the longest tunnel between Cherlopalli and Rapuru in a record time of 43 months was the major challenge for commissioning of this important and vital railway link as it has reduced distance between Krishnapatnam Port and hinterland areas by 60 km.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 17
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
DELHI POLICE GOES GREEN: News: The Delhi police will set up rooftop solar energy systems in over 200 of its buildings across the city, officials said Wednesday. DETAILS: Under this, SECI - a PSU under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and the government's nodal agency for implementation of the National Solar Mission, will support the implementation of grid- connected rooftop solar photovoltaic systems on the establishments of Delhi police. The project intends to utilize vacant roofs of their buildings to harness solar energy and to cater part of their electricity demand through the generated green energy.
CRUISE SHIP TO MALDIVES: News: The Union Cabinet Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval for the pact signed between India and Maldives to start passenger and cargo services via sea route. The MoU will pave way for ferry services between Maldives and India.
RAJYA SABHA APPROVES BILL FOR SUPERSESSION OF MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA:
News:
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
Details:
The India Medical Council (Amendment) Bill of 2019, allows the central government to take over the Medical Council of India (MCI) - an elected body of medical doctors which regulates medical education and practices in India - for a period of two years. It replaces the second ordinance promulgated for this purpose in January this year. The Bill supersedes the MCI for a period of two years and vests its powers in a government-appointed Board of Governors (BoG), which would now have 12 members - instead of seven earlier.
BANK RECRUITMENT EXAMS WILL NOW BE HELD IN 13 REGIONAL LANGUAGES:
News:
The recruitment examination of Regional Rural banks (RRBs) will be conducted in regional languages. The aim is to provide a level playing field and to expand employment possibilities for local youths. Details:
The 13 regional languages are — Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malyalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odiya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. The Institute for Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts Common Recruitment Process (CRP) for recruitment of officers in RRBs in English and Hindi across the country.
DUBAI AIRPORTS TO ACCEPT INDIAN CURRENCY:
News: The Indian Rupee will now be accepted for transaction at all airports in Dubai, according to a media report, in a good news for Indian tourists who form the highest number of international overnight visitors in the emirate.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 18
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Details:
The Indian rupee is the 16th currency to be accepted for transaction at Dubai Duty-Free since its opening in December 1983, said the report.
The new move will make their shopping more convenient and even cheaper since they would not be losing money during currency conversion.
TRAINING BANGLADESHI CIVIL SERVANTS AT MUSSOORIE:
Context:
As many as 1800 Bangladeshi mid-career civil servants will be trained at the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) in Mussoorie between 2019-2025.
Details:
The Bangladesh civil servants will be trained in e-governance and service delivery, public policy and implementation, information technology, decentralization, urban development and planning, ethics in Administration and challenges in implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs).
In February this year, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG), an institute under the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), and the Ministry of Public Administration, Government of Bangladesh, in this regard.
JAL JEEVAN MISSION:
Context:
Providing safe drinking water to all parts of the country remains a priority, said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam, as she announced the Jal Jeevan Mission to provide potable water to every rural household by 2024.
Details:
The newly constituted Jal Shakti ministry will helm the programme. This Mission will focus on integrated demand and supply-side management of water at the local level, including the creation of local infrastructure for source sustainability like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and management of household wastewater for reuse in agriculture," Sitharaman said. This new ministry will look at the management of water resources and water supply in an integrated and holistic manner and will work with states to ensure 'Har Ghar Jal', to all rural households by 2024 under 'Jal Jeevan Mission'. This Mission, under the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 19
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
INDIA FORMS A NEW SPACE COMPANY TO SELL ISRO‘S SPACE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS:
News:
New Space India Ltd (NSIL) has been incorporated as a new commercial arm of department of space to tap the benefits of R&D carried out by Isro. The new commercial arm will focus on productionisation and marketing of space-based products and services, including launch and applications; transfer of technology developed by ISRO Centers and constituent units of DoS;
INDIA'S FIRST HIGHWAY CORRIDORS FOR E-VEHICLES :
Context:
India's first highway corridors with charging stations for electric vehicles are expected to come up along the Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra highways by 2020.
Details:
The combined stretch of the corridors on the Yamuna Expressway (between Delhi and Agra) and the National Highway 48 (between Delhi and Jaipur) will be 500 km, and 18 charging stations will be setup near toll plazas on the two routes, the official said. The e-corridors are proposed to be the first under the Ease of Doing Business Programme (EODB) of the Advance Services for Social and Administrative Reforms (ASSAR), a private entity which is supported by the central government, an official engaged in the project said.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 20
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
MAHILA PROVOST UNIT: News: The Indian Army is also planning to raise a Mahila Provost Unit simultaneously in the Territorial Army for the first time with a total of two officers, three junior commissioned officers, and nearly 40 soldiers. As over 2 lakh women applied for just 100 vacancies for the post of Jawans in the Corps of Military Police (CMP). The Army plans to induct as many as 1,700 women in the PBOR (personnel below officer rank) category in the CMP over the next 17 years in a phased-manner.
PINK CITY JAIPUR GETS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE TAG: Context: The Walled City of Jaipur, known for its iconic architectural legacy and vibrant culture, on July 6 made its entry into the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Details:
The announcement was made after the 43rd Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC), underway at Baku (Azerbaijan) from June 30 to July 10, The historic walled city of Jaipur in Rajasthan, was founded in 1727 AD under the patronage of Sawai Jai Singh II. In 2017, old Ahmedabad was India‘s first city to win the ‗heritage city‘ tag.
T.N. SECOND IN AMOUNT CLAIMED UNDER PMJAY: Context: Tamil Nadu ranks second in the country in the amount claimed under the Centre‘s flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat –Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Though the total number of claims is relatively less T.N. being ranked fourth in this category. Details:
Gujarat topped the list with a claim amount of nearly 641 crore followed by Tamil Nadu with a claim amount of 399 crore as on June 18, 2019; All cardiac surgeries such as Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting are covered under the health insurance scheme. The State stands second in the claim amount. When it comes to the claim size, we do more number of high- end procedures. For instance, we do more number of cardiac surgeries and so, the average package size is more.
PMJAY:
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 21
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
TRIBAL MUSEUM COMING UP AT SATHYAMANGALAM TIGER RESERVE: Context: Visitors to the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) will soon be able to study the ethnobotanical heritage of tribal people and their lifestyle, besides tasting tribal cuisine, as work is on to establish a ―Tribal Eco Cultural Village – A living museum‖, at Karachikorai village, near Bhavani Sagar, at a cost of ₹ 7 crore. Details: As part of Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives, the State government sanctioned 7 crore for establishing the museum under the State Innovation Fund for 2018-19. The museum will feature model houses of different tribes, ponds, tribal musical instruments, dresses, antiques , stone and wooden products, a Sanga Ilakkiya studio, outdoor interpretation centre, indoor auditorium, open atrium, tribal shandy, tribal food court, medicinal plants garden in front of each tribal model houses. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, National Tiger Conservation Authority, had in 2013 declared 1.40 lakh hectare of reserved forest land in Sathyamangalam Forest Division as tiger reserve.
10TH WORLD TAMIL CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO: Context: The 10th World Tamil Conference (WTC) was held in Chicago for four days from July 4-7, this year. Details: The last World Tamil Conference was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2015. The IATR has been organizing the conference since 1966—53 years. Mega-tri-event (‗mooperum vizha‘)— the 10th International Tamil Conference, the 32nd anniversary of FeTNA , the 50th year (golden jubilee) celebration of CTS. Along with it Global Tamil Entrepreneurs‘ Network (GTEN) was held on July 6. The Chicago International conference has main stress on ―seminar on Tamil studies‖ with the central theme titled ―Keezhadi nam Thai madi‖ (On our Tamil mother‘s lap—Keezhadi excavation‖, and dedicated to Tamil scholar Rev. G. U. Pope, this being his 200th birth anniversary. The research subject will include, Classical Tamil literature (Sangam, literature, ancient Tamil civilization, Tholkappiam, Thirukural, contributions of Tamil scholars, Tamil music and performing arts, modern Tamil literature and Tamil language and linguistics, the organisers said.
INDIA TO HOST 3RD GLOBAL SUNFLOWER SEED MEET ON JULY 19: Context:
After China and Ukraine, India will host 3rd International Sunflower Seed and Oil Conference (ISSOC) 2019 on July 19 and 20 in Mumbai. The conference, hosted by Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), will see participation from global industry leaders, experts, researchers, and government representatives.
INDIA‘S CONSUMPTION OF SUNFLOWER OIL: India is the largest importer of sunflower oil with imports of about 2.8 million tonnes. The global imports of sunflower oil is around 9.6 million tonnes.
BSF LAUNCHES OPERATION ‗SUDARSHAN‘ :
News:
The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a massive exercise, code named ‗Sudarshan‘, to fortify the ‗anti-infiltration grid‘ along the Pakistan border in Punjab and Jammu.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 22
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
The operation was launched on July 1 and will cover the entire over the 1,000-km length of the India- Pakistan International Border. While Jammu shares about 485-km of the border with Pakistan, about 553-km of the front is in Punjab. It further runs down towards Rajasthan and Gujarat on India‘s western flank. The mega exercise has been named ‗Sudarshan‘ drawing from the mythological cutting wheel or the ‗sudarshan chakra‘ of Lord Krishna.
JAL SHAKTI ABHIYAN: EVERY CITY TO REJUVENATE AT LEAST 1 WATER BODY: Context: Every urban local body has been asked to first constitute a rainwater harvesting cell which would monitor ground water extraction, water harvesting potential of the city and oversee projects on rainwater harvesting. Details: The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has issued 'Guidelines for Urban Water Conservation', saying the 'Rainwater Harvesting Cell' of municipal corporations will monitor the extent of groundwater extraction and groundwater aquifer recharge. urban local bodies (ULBs) will ensure that in future, all building permissions granted must have RWH (rainwater harvesting) structures incorporated as per building bylaws and the same should be checked before issuing Occupancy-cum-Completion Certificate (OCC). The guidelines also advocate for plantation drives near water bodies, public spaces, parks and on roadside to improve green cover and water cycle.
OPERATION MILAP : News: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has rescued 333 children from the Capital. These children were missing since January 2019 from various parts of the country and found in the Capital, the police said. The operation Milap under which children are rescued was launched in December 2014. Under this project, the Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Delhi Police develops information, rescues the trafficked or kidnapped person and arrests the kidnappers. The rescued children are counselled and also given requisite medical attention.
SARDAR PATEL‘S STATUE TO TOWER OVER MEA CONFERENCE: News: For the first time ever, the foreign ministry's annual Heads of Missions (HoMs) conference, a gathering of all Indian ambassadors and high commissioners meant to strategize on promoting India's interests abroad, is likely to move out of Delhi and instead be held next to Patel's Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Narmada district. tent city" will be set up near what is the tallest statue in the world for the conference which will be addressed by PM Narendra Modi after its inauguration by foreign minister S Jaishankar.
THE SECOND INDIA-RUSSIA STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DIALOGUE :
News:
The second India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue (IRSED) shall be held on July 10 in New Delhi, under the chairmanship of NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar and Timur Maksimov. The first India-Russia Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in St. Petersburg in November last year .
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 23
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Details:
The second meeting of the IRSED shall be focussing on six core areas of cooperation, namely, development of transport infrastructure and technologies; development of agriculture and agro-processing sector; small and medium business support; digital transformation and frontier technologies; cooperation in trade, banking, finance, and industry; and tourism & connectivity,‖. The IRSED was established following a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between NITI Aayog and the ministry of economic development of the Russian Federation. during the 19th edition of the Annual India-Russia Bilateral Summit, which was held on October 5, 2018, in New Delhi.
TEJAS EXPRESS IS FIRST LUCKNOW-DELHI TRAIN TO BE RUN BY PRIVATE PLAYERS:
Context:
The first train, operated by private players, to be run between Lucknow and Delhi will be the Tejas Express.The Railway Board is deliberating on a second such route, which too would be within the 500-km range. The Railways, despite protests from its unions, is going ahead with its 100-day agenda of handing over operations of two of its trains to the private sector. The custody of the trains will be transferred to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which will pay for it, including their lease charges, to the financing arm, IRFC.
TEJAS EXPRESS:
The Tejas Express will offer premium services and comforts to the passengers. The train will have aircraft- like personalised LCD entertainment-cum-information screens, on-board Wi- Fi facility, comfortable seats, mobile charging points, personalised reading lights, modular bio-toilets and sensor tap fittings.
KAUSHAL YUVA SAMWAAD‖- Youth dialogue:
Context:
Commemorating World Youth Skills Day on July 15, 2019 and celebrating 4th Anniversary of the Skill India Mission, the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has announced launch of ―Kaushal Yuva Samwaad‖ (A Youth Dialogue). Kaushal Yuva Samwaad is being organized across all Skill India training centres, namely, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKK), Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), Polytechnics, Institutes under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthans, DDU-GKY Centres and other fee-based training centres across the country. To raise awareness about the importance of investing in youth skills development, the United Nations General Assembly commemorates July 15th every year, as World Youth Skills Day (WYSD).
SKILL INDIA MISSION:
To raise awareness about the importance of investing in youth skills development, the United Nations General Assembly commemorates July 15th every year, as World Youth Skills Day (WYSD). The mission also envisages convergence, coordination and harmonization of the fragmented skilling efforts of various Ministries in Government of India and other key stakeholders like State Government, Industry, Training ecosystem etc.. Through the instruments of Common norms, implementation of National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), data integrations through the Skill India Portal and quality assurance through the SMART (Skill Management and Accreditation of Training Centre) portal.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 24
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
MADHYA PRADESH TO PRODUCE ITS OWN SEEDS SOON:
Context:
In Madhya Pradesh, along with distribution and marketing of certified and high quality seeds to farmers, the Madhya Pradesh State Cooperative Seed Federation will produce seeds too. The decision has been taken in a Board of Directors‘ meeting held under the chairmanship of the Minister for Cooperatives Govind Singh in Bhopal today.
Details:
The brand name of seeds will be ‗Sah-Beej‘. A plan has been made to produce seeds from the next Rabi season. A large number of seed committees present in the state, which will be linked to the seed federation and these committees will help in the marketing of seeds.
PORT INTEGRITY CAMPAIGN: Context: Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), a global business network of over 110 companies working to tackle corruption in the maritime industry, has announced the launch of a Port Integrity Campaign in India. Details: The campaign, which aims to reduce and (in the long term) eliminate integrity issues and bottlenecks to trade during operations in Indian ports, is a collective action of MACN, the Government of India, international organizations, and local industry stakeholders. The main activities of the campaign include implementation of integrity training for port officials and the establishment of clear escalation and reporting processes. Following the pilot, MACN plans to expand the program to other Indian ports. The pilot of the campaign will take place in Mumbai ports (MbPT and JNPT) and will run until October this year.
RPF LAUNCHES ‗OPERATION THIRST': News: In a crackdown on sale of unauthorized packaged drinking water, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched an all-India drive called Operation Thirst. Under the drive, RPF clamped down on vendors selling unauthorized packaged drinking water between July 8 and July 9. The drive was launched following the direction of DG RPF Railway Board, New Delhi. The drive was held in peak summer season because the packaged drinking water sales are the highest in that period.
HARYANA LAUNCHES ‗MERI FASAL MERA BYORA‘ PORTAL:
Context:
The Manohar Lal Khattar Government in Haryana has decided to introduce a multi-level transparent system for farmers to self-report their land and crop details. For this, a portal named ‗Meri Fasal Mera Byora‘ has been launched in the state.
Details:
The portal has been designed to ensure that the farmers get the benefits offered by the State Government including insurance cover, compensation on account of crop damage due to natural calamities and other financial assistance under different schemes.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 25
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Though the portal, the government will also get the accurate data of area and name of crop cultivated in various parts of the state. The portal will be opened from July 5 and will register the farmers till July 31. The farmers have been appealed to upload the details about the crop sown in their field on the portal at the nearby Common Service Centres (CSCs) or Atal Seva Kendras with the help of Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) by July 31. The State Government has also planned to launch an app of ‗Meri Fasal Mera Byora‘ in the next few months.
INDIA HANDS OVER 250 HOUSES FOR ROHINGYA IN MYANMAR'S RAKHINE:
News:
India has handed over 250 prefabricated houses it built in Myanmar's Rakhine state as part of a broader effort to help tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to return. campaign by Myanmar's military in response to insurgent attacks in 2017 drove 730,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh, where they live in squalid camps, fearing further persecution if they return. India has deepened ties with Myanmar in recent years, including military cooperation, as a way to push back against China‘s expansive involvement in infrastructure development across south Asia.
AADHAAR BILL PASSED:
Context:
The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that will allow the voluntary use of the 12-digit identification number as identity proof for Indians to open bank accounts and also get a mobile phone connection. With the passage of the Bill, the people are now allowed to file complaints in cases of impersonation or disclosure of their identity. Bill amends the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 and to further amend the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 26
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
INDIA US TRADE TALKS HELD IN NEW DELHI:
News:
The meeting was cordial and aimed at providing a new impetus tobilateral trade and commercial ties, in line with the mandate given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the U.S. President Donald Trump during their meeting at Osaka, Japanon 28 June 2019. Both sides discussed the broad contours of bilateral trade and commercial ties and agreed to continue their discussions for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes aimed at further growing the economic relationship and addressing mutual trade concerns.
PHILIP CAMPOSE TASK FORCE:
News:
Recent meeting: The Task Force Chairman, Lt Gen (Retd) Philip Campose explained the causes for ammunition accidents and brought out preventive and mitigative measures. The recommendations of the Task Force were appreciated by the Raksha Mantri and gave directions to expedite implementation. Mandate of task force: To evolve methodology to prevent ammunition accidents and minimise its effects. Chairman: The Task Force was headed by Lt Gen Philip Campose, former Vice Chief of Army Staff.
MODEL TENANCY ACT 2019:
News:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MHUA) released the draft Model Tenancy Act, 2019, which aims to regulate rental housing by a market-oriented approach. The draft law proposes to set up an independent authority in every state for the registration of all tenancy agreements, and a separate court for resolving tenancy-related disputes. It also has a provision to cap rent rates, and thus check any arbitrary hikes. For more details check the link:https://www.proptiger.com/guide/amp/post/10-things-landlord-renters- must-know-about-model-tenancy-act
INDIA, EU HOLD 5TH HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE ON MIGRATION AND MOBILITY:
Context:
India and the European Union Thursday held the fifth High-Level Dialogue on Migration and Mobility here and exchanged views about ways to "realise the full potential of further strengthening cooperation.
Details:
Besides the two delegations led by the co-Chairs, the 5th HLDMM was attended by Heads of Mission and other representatives of the Diplomatic Missions of EU Member States in New Delhi, who were invited as Observers for the first time. The discussions at the 5th India-EU HLDMM were held in a highly friendly and constructive spirit, and encompassed a wide range of issues of mutual interest in the context of migration and mobility along the India-EU corridor.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 27
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
DEFENCE MINISTRY SIGNS MOU WITH IPFC AND NRDC:
Context:
In a major boost to Mission Raksha Gyan Shakti, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Intellectual Property Facilitation Cell (IPFC), Department of Defence Production, Union Ministry of Defence and National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
Details:
The partnership between IPFC and NRDC is expected to bridge capacity shortfall and provide a major fillip to ongoing efforts of MoD towards promoting a culture of Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in Indian Defence industry. The Action Plan 2019-20 of MRGS has also been approved by Raksha Mantri ,which includes training of additional 20,000 personnel from Public / Private Sector Industry and Armed Forces on relevance of IP Culture to Indian Defence manufacturing industry.
ABOUT MISSION RAKSHA GYAN SHAKTI:
It was launched with aim to inculcate Intellectual Property (IP) culture in Indian Defence manufacturing ecosystem. Under the mission, an Intellectual Property Facilitation Cell (IPFC) has been established under aegis of Directorate General Quality Assurance (DGQA). Within a short span of a year IPFC has achieved challenging target of training over 12,000 personnel on IPR and facilitating filing of over 1000 new IPR applications.
HOMICIDE RATE DECLINES BY 10% IN INDIA:
News:
The overall homicide rate in India has decreased by 10 per cent over a period of six years till 2015 but the trend increased "noticeably" in some northern states, according to a UN report. In India, the overall homicide rate decreased by 10 per cent over the period 20092015, from 3.8 to 3.4 per 100,000 population. The study found that Mumbai, which has a population of over 18 million, has one of the lowest homicide rates -- just 0.9 -- in large metropolises in Asia. Despite legislation adopted by the Indian Government in 1961 that prohibits the payment of dowry, the practice continues throughout the country and dowry deaths continue to account for a substantial share of all female homicides, the report noted.
KERALA STARTUP MISSION TO HOST WOMEN STARTUP SUMMIT:
News:
Seeking to promote women entrepreneurship in a big way, the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) is hosting the Women Startup Summit on August 1, in association with the Indian Women Network floated by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), at the Integrated Startup Complex, Kochi. The ‗Women Startup Summit 2019‘ aims at encouraging aspiring women professionals to take up their entrepreneurial journey and developing an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem in the State. About 20 women startups shortlisted from the ―She Loves Tech‖ national grand challenge will be showcased in the summit.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 28
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
SC TO DECIDE IF NGT HAS POWER TO TAKE COGNISANCE OF ISSUES ON ITS OWN:
News:
The Supreme Court July 12 agreed to examine a legal question whether the National Green Tribunal (NGT), established in 2010 to deal with cases pertaining to environmental issues, has the power to take cognisance of a matter on its own (Suo-Moto). The Supreme Court and High Courts -- have the power to take suo motu cognisance and a tribunal cannot exercise this power. It has the same powers as are vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
AGRI-BUSINESS INCUBATION CENTRE STARTED IN CHHATTISGARH:
News:
Agri Business Incubation Centre has started in Chhattisgarh. The centre has been set up by the Union Agriculture Ministry in Indira Gandhi Agriculture University of Raipur. Agri Business Incubation Centre is set up under the National Agriculture Development Scheme- RAFTAAR. The objective of the scheme is to make farming a remunerative economic activity by strengthening farmer‘s effort, risk mitigation and promoting agribusiness entrepreneurship. Under the scheme, guidance, technology and infrastructure will be provided to youth and entrepreneurs for start-ups in different areas of agriculture. The Agri Business Incubation Centre in Raipur with focus on innovations, skill building and entrepreneurs development in agriculture and allied sectors .
INDIA – ASEAN TROIKA TRADE MINISTERS‘ MEETING:
News:
India – ASEAN Troika Trade Ministers‘ meeting was held in New Delhi today for informal consultation on the ongoing Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The meeting was attended by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, Piyush Goyal. The Commerce and Industry Minister emphasized on adherence to the RCEP guiding principles to balance high ambition on goods tariff reduction with addressing of sensitives in bilateral parings like India – China through temporary and permanent deviations/ exclusions becomes important.
MEGHALAYA BECOMES FIRST STATE TO HAVE WATER POLICY:
Context:
Amid the water crisis in the country, the Meghalaya cabinet became the first state to approve a draft water policy to address water issues, conservation, and protection of water sources in the state.
Details:
The policy intends to achieve sustainable development, management and use of water resources with community participation. This will improve health and livelihood and reduce vulnerability among the people. Issues such as the protection of catchment areas and river pollution have also been outlined in the policy. Community participation is what we are looking for in as we want to reach to the villages with this policy. Policy was the need to optimise usage and conservation of water, steps needed to protect water bodies and water sources including ground water, and protection of catchment and springshed areas.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 29
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
LAQSHYA PROGRAMME:
Context:
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently announced the launch of program ‗LaQshya‘, aimed at improving quality of care in labour room and maternity Operation Theatre (OT).
Details:
LaQshya‘ will reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, improve quality of care during delivery and immediate post-partum period and enhance satisfaction of beneficiaries and provide Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) to all pregnant women attending public health facilities. The Program will improve quality of care for pregnant women in labour room, maternity Operation Theatre and Obstetrics Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and High Dependency Units (HDUs). The LaQshya program is being implemented at all Medical College Hospitals, District Hospitals and First Referral Unit (FRU), and Community Health Center (CHCs) and will benefit every pregnant woman and new-born delivering in public health institutions.
UNICORN INDIA VENTURES LAUNCHES ₹400 CRORE TECH-FOCUSED FUND:
News:
Unicorn India Ventures has launched a ₹400 crore fund, its third venture capital fund, to back companies at the pre-Series A and Series A stage, . The fund, which has already received commitments worth ₹50 crore, aims to invest exclusively in business- to-business technology startups, including software-as-a-service, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Internet of Things (IoT).
FIRST INDIAN WATERWAY CARGO TRANSPORT:
Context:
For the first time, an Indian cargo ship carrying 1,000 tonnes of stone aggregates from Bhutan has arrived in Bangladesh through India via the Brahmaputra river, significantly reducing travel time and transportation cost.
Details:
The ship, MV AAI of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), sailed from Dhubri in Assam and travelled to Narayanganj in Bangladesh, over the river Brahmaputra. This is the first time an Indian waterway is being used as a channel for transport of cargo between the two countries, using India for transit. Bhutan was exporting significant quantities of stone aggregates to Bangladesh through the land route.Transport of cargo through river route will cut short travel time by 8 to 10 days, and reduce transportation cost by 30 per cent, bringing down logistics costs.
GOVT ADVISES NDDB TO BRING MOTHER DAIRY, OTHER UNITS UNDER RTI AMBIT:
Context:
In a bid to increase transparency, accountability and trust of consumers, the government has advised the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to extend provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 to its subsidiaries, including Mother Dairy Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd (MDFVPL) and NDDB Dairy Services among others.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 30
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
NATIONAL DAIRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD:
It was founded by Dr. Verghese Kurien. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was created in 1965. The National Dairy Development Board is an institution of national importance set up by an Act of Parliament of India. Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for playing a crucial role in the implementation of National Dairy Plan (NDP) and Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF).
SUPREME COURT ADMITS PETITION TO DECRIMINALISE ABORTION:
Context:
The Supreme Court on Monday admitted a writ petition seeking to decriminalise abortion and allowing women the right to exercise their reproductive choice.
Details:
"The right to exercise reproductive choice is the right to choose whether to conceive and carry pregnancy to its full term or to terminate is it at the core of one‘s privacy, dignity, personal autonomy, bodily integrity, self determination and right to health recognised by Article 21 of the Constitution,‖ The Centre on their contention that several provisions of the 48-year-old Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971 imposes severe restrictions on the reproductive choice of a woman, her personal liberty and bodily autonomy. As per the 1971 Act, is not permissible after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2019:
Context:
The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was unanimously passed by Rajya Sabha today. After being passed by both the Houses, the NIA now would receive the powers to investigate terror crimes relating to Indians and Indian interests abroad.
Details:
The Bill amends the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008. The Act provides for a national-level agency to investigate and prosecute offences listed in a schedule (scheduled offences). Further, the Act allows for creation of Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences. The following offences, in addition:
(i) human trafficking,
(ii) offences related to counterfeit currency or bank notes,
(iii) manufacture or sale of prohibited arms,
(iv) cyber-terrorism, and
(v) offences under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.
Jurisdiction of the NIA:The officers of the NIA have the same powers as other police officers in relation to investigation of such offences, across India. NIA will have the power to investigate scheduled offences committed outside India, subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 31
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Special Courts: The Act allows the central government to constitute Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences.
NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY (NIA):
central agency established by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. The Agency came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the Parliament of India on 31 December 2008. H.q - New Delhi.
JAN JAGRUKTA ABHIYAAN:
News:
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is launched a special campaign (Jan Jagrukta Abhiyaan) in Delhi to sensitize and mobilise the community on measures for prevention and control of Vector Borne Diseases (VBDs) like Malaria, Dengue and Chikungunya. The three –day campaign starts from 17th July, 2019. campaign is aimed at making the community a partner for checking vector/mosquito breeding across Delhi. This is probably the first time that three governments-national, state and local bodies- will converge in their efforts to mobilise the community for a public health activity.
THE NATIONAL DIGITAL HEALTH BLUEPRINT REPORT TO ENSURE ―HEALTH FOR ALL‖:
Context:
The National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB) report was released in the public domain by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan on 16th July. Details: NDBH aims to create a National Digital Health Eco-system that supports Universal Health Coverage in an effective, inclusive, affordable, accessible, timely and safe manner. Data from schemes likes Ayushman Bharat Yojana, Reproductive Child Healthcare, NIKSHAY will be collected and monitored to provide health services in a robust and efficient manner. The vision of NDHB is to create a National Digital Health Eco-system that supports Universal Health Coverage in an efficient, accessible, inclusive, affordable, timely and safe manner.
INTERNET SAATHI INITIATIVE:
News:
Google India and Tata Trusts on Tuesday said their Internet Saathi initiative, that aims to facilitate digital literacy among women in rural India, will be expanded to villages in Punjab and Odisha. Launched in July 2015, the Internet Saathi programme has so far, trained 70,000 ‗Internet Saathis‘, who have in turn impacted 2.6 crore million women in the country. The programme now reaches 2.6 lakh villages across 18 states and we are adding two more - Punjab and Odisha. The programme started as a pilot in Rajasthan and has been expanded to states including Gujarat, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana,Tamil Nadu, Goa, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 32
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
MADHYA PRADESH GETS ITS FIRST INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT WITH INDORE-DUBAI SERVICE:
News:
Madhya Pradesh's commercial capital Indore made it to the international aviation map with national carrier Air India launching a flight service to Dubai from the international airport here. From Indore, Air India is operating a 162-seater A320neo aircraft which will fly three times a week -- Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays -- non-stop to Dubai. This was the first international commercial flight from Madhya Pradesh.
CENTRAL UNIVERSITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2019:
Context:
The parliament passed the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019, for establishing a Central University and Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh.
Details:
The provisions of this act amend the Central Universities Act, 2009, that is aimed at establishing Universities for education and research across different states of India. The Central Universities Amendment Bill creates room for establishing two central universities in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The principal objective of the Central Tribal University is to take added measures to offer opportunities to the tribal population in the realms of higher education and research and also create enough facilities for researches related to tribal art, technology, culture, and customs.
The background:
It is important to note that the creation of a Central University and a Central Tribal University in the state of Andhra Pradesh becomes mandatory as per the provisions found in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014.
INCREDIBLE INDIA FIND THE INCREDIBLE YOU CAMPAIGN WINS GLOBAL AWARD FOR 2019: Context: The Incredible India's "Find the Incredible You" campaign released globally by the Ministry of Tourism during 2018-19 has won the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award 2019 in the ―Marketing - Primary Government Destination‖ category. Details:
PATA Gold Awards are given to tourism industry organizations and individuals making outstanding contribution towards the successful promotion of the travel industry throughout the Asia Pacific Region. The campaign focuses on digital and social media and the promotion of niche tourism products of the country.
KULBHUSHAN JADHAV CASE VERDICT: Context: International Court of Justice (ICJ) has directed Pakistan to review conviction order of the alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav and put his death sentence on hold. The verdict was pronounced in favour of India with a 15:1 vote. Details:
India has also been granted consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 33
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
ICJ Verdict Clearly Accepts India‘s Contention that Pakistan Breached Vienna Convention on Consular Access. It has failed to inform India about Jadhav‘s arrest immediately after Pakistan Army had taken him into custody in 2016.
ICJ:
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.
UGC SCHEME OF ‗PARAMARSH‘ :
Context:
The Union Minister for Human Resource Development, launched ‗Paramarsh‘ – a University Grants Commission (UGC) scheme for Mentoring National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC) Accreditation Aspirant Institutions to promote Quality Assurance in Higher Education .
Details:
The Minister informed that the Scheme will be operationalized through a ―Hub & Spoke‖ model. wherein the Mentor Institution, called the ―Hub‖ is centralized and will have the responsibility of guiding the Mentee institution through the secondary branches the ―Spoke‖ through the services provided to the mentee for self improvement. This ―Paramarsh‖ scheme will target 1000 Higher Education Institutions for mentoring with a specific focus on quality as enumerated in the UGC ―Quality Mandate‖.
DEEKSHARAMBH: GUIDE TO STUDENT INDUCTION PROGRAMME RELEASED BY HRD MINISTRY:
Context:
Union Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD) has released ‗Deeksharambh‘, a University Grants Commission (UGC) Guide to Student Induction Programme.
Details
It is a guide to Student Induction Programme which is prepared by University Grants Commission (UGC). Student Induction Programme (SIP) engages with new students as soon as they come into the institution i.e. even before regular classes start. start of induction programme, the incumbents learn about institutional policies, processes, practices, culture and values, and their mentor groups are formed.
PRADHAN MANTRI URJA GANGA PROJECT :
Context:
Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga is a gas pipeline project that aims to provide piped cooking gas to residents of Varanasi.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 34
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
DETAILS PRADHAN MANTRI URJA GANGA PROJECT:
GAIL is executing Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL) of length 2,655 km and Barauni- Guwahati Pipeline of length 729 km under Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project to connect Eastern India. This information was given by Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha .
CULMINATION OF EXERCISE GARUDA-VI:
Context:
Ex Garuda 2019, a bilateral Indo-French large force employment warfare exercise hosted by French Air Force (FAF) from 01 to 12 Jul 19 at Mont-de-Marsan France, was successfully completed with the IAF contingent landing back in India on 19 Jul 19.
Details:
Garuda-VI was the largest international air training exercise for the year 2019. Objectives for the exercise were to foster closer relationship between India and France so as to promote interoperability through exchange of knowledge and experience. The participating aircraft included four Su-30 MKI fighters besides one IL-78 and two C-17 aircraft that provided logistic support during induction and de-induction.
DRONE-DELIVERY PROJECT MEDICINE FROM THE SKY IN TELANGANA: News:
The World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network on Thursday announced that it will embark on an innovative drone-delivery project called 'Medicine from the Sky' in Telangana. The project, to run in partnership with the government of Telangana and Health Net Global, will include a comprehensive study of drone-based deliveries for blood, vaccines, medical samples and organs.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 35
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
CENTRE APPOINTS FOUR NEW GOVERNORS:
Context:
In a major reshuffle, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday transferred two Governors and made four new appointments across six States. New Governors will take charge of the Raj Bhavans in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Nagaland and Tripura.
Details:
Madhya Pradesh Governor and former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has been transferred to U.P., while the former interlocutor for the Naga talks R.N. Ravi has been appointed Nagaland Governor. Senior Supreme Court advocate and former MP Jagdeep Dhankhar will be the new Governor of West Bengal, replacing Keshari Nath Tripathi. BJP member Ramesh Bais has been appointed as Governor of Tripura, replacing Kaptan Singh Solanki.Lalji Tandon, now Governor of Bihar, will take charge in Madhya Pradesh. He will be replaced in Patna by Phagu Chuhan.
LITTLE ROOM FOR SC/ST SCIENTISTS IN BIOTECH BODIES:
News:
Scientists from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) are grossly under-represented in scientific institutions funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), a Right To Information query by a researcher has found. Several of these institutions just about meet the government prescribed criteria for reservation — 15% for SC and 7.5% for ST. Posts of scientist and technical grade staff (where reservation rules are not mandatory) see only single- digit representation from the reserved categories (excluding the Other Backward Classes category).
REVAMP OF ARMY HEADQUARTERS :
News:
The Army‘s attempt at major restructuring will begin with the draft government sanction letter for reorganisation of the Army Headquarters (AHQ) expected by the month-end.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 36
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
The AHQ restructuring is the first of the four measures being undertaken as part of the transformation of the force. The Army restructuring which includes creation of Integrated Battle Groups; the cadre review of officers; and review of the terms and conditions of Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks.
FINAL INDEX SCORE OF NITI AAYOG REPORT ON STATES ADVERSELY IMPACTED:
News:
An analysis of the NITI Aayog‘s ‗Healthy States, Progressive India‘ report released on June 25 shows that the usage of estimated figures in place of reported numbers, to calculate certain health indicators, has adversely impacted the final index score of certain States while boosting that of others. The report had used an estimated number of births and deliveries to calculate two key health outcome indicators. full immunisation coverage‖ and ―proportion of institutional deliveries‖ — which carried high weightage in the calculation of the final index score. There is a difference in the number of institutional deliveries recorded in the NITI Aayog‘s report based on the estimated number of deliveries, and what is recorded in the HMIS database based on reported number of deliveries for the year 2015-16. In Tamil Nadu, according to the NITI Aayog report, institutional deliveries were pegged at 81.82% in 2015- 16, whereas in the HMIS database, it is 100 % — a difference of more than 18% points. When the final index was recalculated using the HMIS‘ reported figures, Madhya Pradesh‘s score increased by 2.78 points and Tamil Nadu‘s by 2.17 points while West Bengal‘s and Gujarat‘s decreased by close to 3 points each
NITI AAYOG‘S ‗HEALTHY STATES, PROGRESSIVE INDIA‘ REPORT:
NITI Aayog in collaboration with MoHFW and the World Bank, is committed to establish the Health Index as an annual systematic tool to propel States towards undertaking multi-pronged interventions that will bring better health outcomes. The second round of Health Index (referred to as Health Index-2018) examined the overall performance and incremental improvement in the States and UTs for the period 2015-16 (Base Year) to 2017-18 (Reference Year).
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 37
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
11TH DEFEXPO TO BE ORGANIZED IN LUCKNOW:
Context:
The 11th biennial edition of DefExpo India- 2020 is to be held for the first time in Lucknow from 5th to 8th February 2020.
Details:
Main theme of the Def-Expo India- 2020 will be India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub and focus will be on Digital Transformation of Defence. The northern state has a strong defence industrial infrastructure. It has four units of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd at Lucknow, Kanpur, Korwa and Naini (Prayagraj), nine ordnance factory units, including Kanpur, Korwa, Shahjahanpur, Firozabad and one unit of Bharat Electronics Limited at Ghaziabad. One of the two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) of India is also planned in Uttar Pradesh.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 38
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
CHANDIPURA VIRUS IN GUJARAT:
Context:
Recent death of a five-year-old girl in Gujarat has been attributed to Chandipura virus, Blood test reports of the victim confirmed that she succumbed to the infection caused by Chandipura virus. Chandipura virus causes fever and the symptoms similar to those of flu, and acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The virus is a member of the Vesiculovirus genus of the family Rhabdoviridae.
About virus:
Chandipura vesiculovirus (CHPV) is a member of the Rhabdoviridae family that is associated with an encephalitic illness in humans.
5TH INTERNATIONAL POLICE EXPO:
Context:
The International Police Expo 2019 on theme ‗Challenges to strengthen peace and security‘ was organised at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi..
About International Police Expo 2019
This year is 5th edition of International Police Expo.
Organiser: Nexgen Exhibitions, Asia‘s leading and established trade fair, exhibition and conference organizer. Area: IPE focuses on everything about police forces even their welfare and fitness as well as all other necessities of Police and other armed forces for their day to day life and other operations Participants: At the Expo, more than 25 countries are showcasing combat/armoured vehicles, advanced firearms and a plethora of disruptive technologies in cyber security, homeland security, drones and safety and rescue.
GUJARAT TOP STATE FOR MSME LENDING:
Context:
Credit growth to micro-businesses and small, medium enterprises (SME) constituted Rs 15.9 crore as of March 2019.
Details:
Micro-enterprises (with credit exposure less than Rs 1 crore) saw credit growth at 19.8 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 4.8 lakh crores from Rs 4 lakh crores, growth in credit for SMEs (exposure between Rs 1 to 25 crore) was at 15.6 per cent YoY to Rs 11.1 lakh crores from Rs 9.6 lakh crores, according to a report by credit information company TransUnion Cibil. The report noted Gujarat as the top-ranking state for ―performance and credit growth potential for MSME corporate lending in India as per its ranking of states for MSME corporate lending. Other states that topped in this segment following Gujarat were Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka and Delhi. The non-performing assets (NPA) also declined with the overall gross NPA rate in commercial lending went down to 16.0 per cent in March this year from 17.2 per cent in March 2018.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 39
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (AMENDMENT) BILL PASSED BY PARLIAMENT:
Context:
The Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Home Affairs, The Bill amends the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The Act provides for a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), State Human Rights Commissions (SHRC), as well as Human Rights Courts.
Provisions:
Under the Act, the chairperson of the NHRC is a person who has been a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Bill amends this to provide that a person who has been Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or a Judge of the Supreme Court will be the chairperson of the NHRC. The Act provides for two persons having knowledge of human rights to be appointed as members of the NHRC. The Bill amends this to allow three members to be appointed, of which at least one will be a woman. The Bill provides for including the chairpersons of the National Commission for Backward Classes, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities as members of the NHRC. The Bill reduces the term of office to three years or till the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. Further, the Act allows for the reappointment of members of the NHRC and SHRCs for a period of five years. The Bill removes the five-year limit for reappointment. The Bill allows the Secretary-General and Secretary to exercise all administrative and financial powers (except judicial functions), subject to the respective chairperson‘s control. The Bill provides that the central government may confer on a SHRC human rights functions being discharged by Union Territories. Functions relating to human rights in the case of Delhi will be dealt with by the NHRC.
INDIAN NAVY COMMISSIONS FIFTH DORNIER AIRCRAFT SQUADRON:
News:
The Indian Navy on Monday commissioned its new Dornier Aircraft Squadron in Chennai on Monday, aimed at better surveillance. The new air squadron was scheduled by Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff at the Naval Air Enclave, Meenambakkam. The fifth Dornier squadron will help India track of the growing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region. The squadron will operate the indigenous Hindustan Aeronautical built maritime surveillance version multi-role Dornier 228 Short Range Maritime reconnaissance aircraft from Chennai airport.
GUJARAT TOPS IN SOLAR ROOFTOP INSTALLATIONS:
Context:
In the area of solar rooftop installations, Gujarat has stood first in the country with total 261.97 megawatts (MW) of installed rooftop solar capacity as on July 23, 2019. Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy and Power R K Singh informed that Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have solar rooftop installations at 198.52 MW and 151.62 MW respectively. The government of India has provided total financial assistance or incentives of Rs 678.01 crore in fiscal 2016-17, Rs 169.73 crore for fiscal 2017-18 and Rs 446.77 crore in fiscal 2018-19 under the Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar programme.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 40
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
GOVT SETS TARGET FOR INSTALLATION OF SOLAR PROJECTS OF 40,000 MW BY 2022:
government has set a target for the installation of Rooftop Solar projects of forty thousand MegaWatt by 2022 in the country. the projects include installation of solar panels on the rooftop of houses. over 1700 Mega Watt of grid- connected rooftop systems has been installed in the country till 18th of this month. New and renewable energy ministry is implementing Grid Connected Rooftop Solar programme. The Minister said on an average it is estimated that 1.5 million units per MegaWatt per year are generated from solar rooftop plants.
MOTOR VEHICLE AMENDMENT BILL GETS GREEN SIGNAL IN LOK SABHA:
News:
The Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill, 2019 was passed in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote on Tuesday paving the way for it to be considered and passed in the Rajya Sabha. The bill amend the provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. The proposes higher penalties for traffic violations; protecting people who help accident victims, and improving provision of services for vehicle buyers, among others.
8 AIR ROUTES MADE FUNCTIONAL UNDER UDAN SCHEME:
News:
Eight routes under regional connectivity scheme UDAN have become functional taking the total number of operational routes to 194, According Civil Aviation Ministry. These routes include Mysore-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Mysore, Goa-Mysore, Mysore-Goa, Cochin-Mysore, Mysore-Cochin, Kolkata-Shillong and Shillong-Kolkata.
Udan scheme:
Launched by ministry of civil aviation and implemented by Airport authority of India.It has been implemented on 3 phases.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 41
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
NEW INDIA-UK SCHEME TO FUND STUDENTS FROM UK TO VISIT INDIA:
News:
A new India-UK bilateral pilot scheme has been launched to support Britain's universities to collaborate with Indian partners in order to send UK students to India during their studies. The ―UKEIRI Mobility Programme: Study in India‖, an initiative of Universities UK International (UUKi) and British Council India, opened on Tuesday and aims to generate up to 200 opportunities for undergraduate students at UK universities to visit India by March 2021. The programme will be funded by the UK and Indian governments as part of Phase 3 of the UK-India Education Research Initiative (UKEIRI) and delivered by the British Council, Universities UK International and EdCIL in India.
INDIA RANKED 52ND IN GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX-2019:
Context:
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Railways, PiyushGoyal, launchedthe Global Innovation Index (GII) 2019 in New Delhi, today. India jumped five places to improve its position from 57th last year to 52nd in 2019.
Details:
The GII rankings are published every year by Cornell University, INSEAD and the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and GII Knowledge Partners. Switzerland remains number one is the GII index followed by Sweden, the United States of America, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, Singapore, Germany and Israel. This is the 12th edition of the GII rankings of 129 economies based on 80 indicators ranging from intellectual property filing rates to mobile-application creation, education spending and scientific and technical publications.
INDIA SPACE EXERCISE : IND-SPACE-EX
Context:
India is all set to launch first ever space war exercise months after success of Mission Shakti. Joint Space Doctrine can also be launched after space war exercise. This exercise will help India to prepare for future space wars.
Details:
The country's armed forces, along with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other stakeholders, will conduct IndSpaceEx on July end. The exercise will access threats in space from a military perspective and India's current capability in space. DRDO will be the accessing agency for the exercise. IndSpaceEx will take stock of the military space assets of the United States, Russia and China, and deliberate over how to plug the gap. The two-day exercise will also include think tanks like ORF and academics from IIT Mumbai. As India celebrates 20 years of the Kargil war, there is a realisation that the next war India fights will include anti-satellite weapons and direct energy weapons.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 42
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND HYGIENE INSTITUTE :
News:
The Union Cabinet has approved the merger of National Institute of Miners' Health (NIMH) with ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) - National Institute of Occupational Health. NIMH conducts applied research in occupational health and hygiene and provides tech support services to mining and mineral based industry. Office: Kolar Gold Fields, Karnataka. It was set up by Government of India in 1990.
50 SMALL CITIES TO GET 'METROLITE' SERVICES:
News:
The government is planning to introduce Light Urban Rail Transit System named "Metrolite" in 50 small cities across the country. This is suitable for cities with a maximum 15,000 passenger movement per hour per direction which suit most of the small cities. It is to be noted that the metro rail system currently being developed is of high capacity which is required for bigger cities with very high ridership and Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic (PHPDT). According to the ministry, the 'Metrolite', which can be developed at a lower cost in comparison with existing metro system, will also act as feeder system to high capacity Metro. The three-coach train will have capacity of carrying 300 passengers.
What is light rail transit system?
Light rail transit (LRT), tram or fast tram is a form of urban rail transit which uses rolling stock similar to a tram, but operates at a higher capacity, and often on an exclusive right-of-way..
RAJYA SABHA PASSES POCSO (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2019:
Context:
The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill entailing amendments to the POCSO Act by including death penalty for aggravated sexual assault on children, besides providing stringent punishments for other crimes against minors.The Bill amends the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2019 also provides for fines and imprisonment to curb child pornography.
Some provisions of the bill:
Penetrative sexual assault:The Bill increases the minimum punishment from seven years to ten years. It further adds that if a person commits penetrative sexual assault on a child below the age of 16 years, he will be punishable with imprisonment between 20 years to life, along with a fine. Aggravated penetrative sexual assault:The Bill adds two more grounds to the definition of aggravated penetrative sexual assault. These include: (i) assault resulting in the death of child, and (ii) assault committed during a natural calamity. Currently, the punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault is imprisonment between 10 years to life, and a fine. The Bill increases the minimum punishment from ten years to 20 years, and the maximum punishment to death penalty.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 43
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Storage of pornographic material: The Bill amends this to provide that the punishment can be imprisonment between three to five years, or a fine, or both. In addition, the Bill adds two other offences for storage of pornographic material involving children. These include:
(i) failing to destroy, or delete, or report pornographic material involving a child,
(ii) transmitting, propagating, or administering such material except for the purpose of reporting it.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 44
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
AMIT SHAH HEADS GOVERNMENT PANEL DEALING WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORKPLACE:
Context:
The government reconstituted the panel of ministers to deal with prevention of sexual harassment at workplace. Home Minister Amit Shah will head the revised group of ministers to strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks.
Details:
The reconstituted panel will also comprise of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister of HRD Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani. Set up as a response to the MeToo movement on 24 October, 2018, the previous panel was dissolved without accomplishing anything.
INDIA ENTERS 37-YEAR PERIOD OF DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND:
Context:
Since 2018, India‘s working-age population (people between 15 and 64 years of age) has grown larger than the dependant population — children aged 14 or below as well as people above 65 years of age. This bulge in the working-age population is going to last till 2055, or 37 years from its beginning.
Details:
Many Asian economies — Japan, China, South Korea — were able to use this ‗demographic dividend‘, defined by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as the growth potential that results from shifts in a population‘s age structure. Japan was among the first major economies to experience rapid growth because of changing population structure.
ICMR LAUNCHES FORUM TO IMPROVE DATA COLLECTION AND USE:
Context:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)‘s National Institute for Medical Statistics (ICMR-NIMS), in partnership with Population Council, launched the National Data Quality Forum (NDQF). NDQF will integrate learnings from scientific and evidence-based initiatives and guide actions through periodic workshops and conferences. Its activities will help establish protocols and good practices of data collection, storage, use and dissemination that can be applied to health and demographic data, as well as replicated across industries and sectors noted a release issued by ICMR.
PARLIAMENT PASSES RTI AMENDMENT BILL 2019:
Context:
The Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed in the Parliament after Rajya Sabha approved it on Thursday amid opposition protest. The Lok Sabha had passed the RTI Amendment Bill, 2019 earlier on July 22, 2019 through a voice vote The RTI Amendment Bill proposes an amendment in the Right to Information Act, 2005 to empower the central government with the right to determine the term, salaries and other terms and conditions of service of
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 45
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
the chief information commissioners and information commissioners and the State Chief Information Commissioner and the State Information Commissioners.
PROVISIONS:
Term of Information Commissioners:The Act states that the CIC and other ICs (appointed at the central and state level) will hold office for a term of five years. The Bill removes this provision and states that the central government will notify the term of office for the CIC and the ICs. Determination of salary: The Bill seeks to amend provisions to state that the salaries, allowances, and other terms and conditions of service of the central and state CIC and ICs will be determined by the central government. Deductions in salary: The Act states that at the time of the appointment of the CIC and ICs (at the central and state level), if they are receiving pension or any other retirement benefits for previous government service, their salaries will be reduced by an amount equal to the pension. The Bill removes these provisions.
RAKSHA MANTRI LAUNCHES DASHBOARD :
Context:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a dashboard of Department of Defence Production to help in effective monitoring of various initiatives and schemes of the department.
Details:
Through this initiative, the Ministry will be able to keep track of the major components of Defence Production, including defence exports, defence offsets, Intellectual Property Rights (Number of Patents registered) and MissionRaksha Gyan Shakti. Dashboard will have capsulated information in a user-friendly interface that include defence projects under ‗Make in India‘, startups in defence sector, investments in defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and artificial intelligence projects in defence. The dashboard is available for the general public at www.ddpdashboard.gov.in.Some of the data on the dashboard is available for restricted viewing under accesscontrol.
APPROVES NATIONAL PERMIT SCHEME:
Context:
The government has approved the national permit scheme for inter-state travel for bus operators. The move is likely to increase the state revenue by 3-4 per cent as the money will be directly credited to the states in a proportionate manner. The minister announced that the government will soon provide the online facility of obtaining a permit for the electric vehicles including buses, car taxis, autos and bike taxis.
CONG MP ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY TO HEAD PUBLIC ACCOUNTE COMMITTEE:
Context:
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla named chairpersons of the Public accounte Committe ,Committee on Public Undertakings, Estimates Committee and Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, was on Thursday appointed as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 46
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Public accounts committee:
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is one of the standing parliamentary committees, which was first established in 1921 under the Government of India Act 1919 provisions. Public Accounts Committee has 22 members of which 15 are from Lok Sabha while 7 from Rajya Sabha. The members are ―elected‖ by members of Parliament amongst themselves via a system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. Members are elected for a period of one year. A minister cannot be a member of PAC.the chairman of PAC is from opposition by convention.
IIT KHARAGPUR TEAM DEVELOPS APP CARE4U :
News:
CARE4U‘ the android-based app will connect the caregiver to the elderly person. The app has been built by an interdisciplinary team of the second year B-Tech students of the institute, an IIT Kharagpur statement said. The network-based fall detection algorithm in the app installed on the phone of the elderly can detect whether the elderly has fallen down. The app also has a record of medical histories, allergies‘ account, an SOS button, real time location tracking and so on. It has a ‗Medicine Reminder‘ feature to remind both the elderly as well as the caregiver that it is time for the former to take medicine.
SET UP SPECIAL COURTS IN DISTRICTS WITH OVER 100 POCSO CASES IN 60 DAYS: SC TO CENTRE:
News:
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre to set up a dedicated special court in every district which has over 100 cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) pending. The apex court gave this mandate with a deadline of 60 days. A bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Aniruddha Bose made these statements when they learnt that 1.5 lakh POCSO cases were pending in 670 designated courts. the court pointed out that only 3% victims in POCSO cases received compensation in 2015, and the number increased to only 4% and 5% in 2016 and 2017 respectively. the apex court asked for the Centre to set up special courts, which should be funded by the Centre as well.
KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS:
Context:
The 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas was observed on the 26th of July 2019. The theme of the 20th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas -‗Remember, Rejoice and Renew‘. The theme reflects the emotion of the countrymen that we remember our martyrs by revisiting their sacrifices, we ‗rejoice‘ by celebrating the victory in Kargil and we renew our resolve to safeguard the honour of the Tricolour.
About kargil war events:
India launched ‗Operation Vijay‘ to clear the Kargil sector of infiltration by Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants on the Indian side of the Line of Control.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 47
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
JACKET' TO DETECT BREAST CANCER UNVEILED:
Context:
Thermal-imaging jacket which can diagnose breast cancer, developed by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, was unveiled at Akola in Maharashtra.
Details:
Union Minister of State Sanjay Dhotre, in whose presence the first such jacket was handed over to the District Women's Hospital. Jacket, to be worn by a person undergoing diagnosis for a few minutes, uses thermal imaging technology to detect cancerous growth. Agreement has been signed to manufacture it in the country under the Make In India initiative with Japanese firm Murata Manufacturing.
ALL LANES AT TOLL PLAZAS TO BE ‗FASTAG LANES:
Context:
To ensure seamless traffic and prevent congestion at toll plazas, the government on Friday said it has decided to declare all lanes at toll fee plaza on national highways as ‗FASTag lanes‘ from December 1.
Details:
However ,among all lanes, one ‗hybrid lane‘ will be allowed at every toll plaza to facilitate and monitor over-dimensional or oversized vehicles, where FASTag and other modes of payment will be accepted. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said this lane will also be converted into FASTag-only lane in a time-bound manner. After December 1, non-FASTag users will be charged double the fee if they pass through FASTag-only lanes.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 48
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Fastag:
SOUTHERN RAILWAY POOR AT ADDRESSING GRIEVANCES REGISTERED ON ‗COACH MITRA‘:
Context:
The Southern Railway has figured among three poorly-performing zones of the Indian Railways when it comes to resolving the passenger grievances raised through the ‗Coach Mitra‘ mobile application. An analysis of the On Board Housekeeping Staff (OBHS) response to passenger grievances revealed that the Western Railway topped the list, with 61.3% of complaints redressed within 30 minutes of a call, while the Southern Railway stood at 18.1%. The figures for the North Central Railway and the East Central Railway were even worse — 8.2% and 17.1%, respectively.
Coach Mitra App:
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 49
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
MAHARASHTRA POLICE TEAM WINS BIG AT ALL-INDIA MEET:
News:
The Maharashtra Police team has, for the first time, won an overall championship trophy at the All India Police Duty Meet, which was held in Lucknow from July 16 to 20. The team comprising 40 officials has won 12 medals — five gold, three silver, and four bronze. Three gold medals were in the scientific aid to investigation event and one in computer awareness, while one silver medal each was in scientific aid to investigation, police videography, and computer awareness. Thirty teams from across the country with 1,250 participants competed in the 62nd All India Police Duty Meet this year.
YEDDYURAPPA, SWORN-IN AS KARNATAKA CHIEF MINISTER FOR FOURTH TIME:
News:
Karnataka BJP President BS Yediyurappa, was sworn-in as chief minister of the state for the fourth time on Friday. This comes three days after HD Kumaraswamy government of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition failed to win trust vote. The council of ministers will take oath later as the BJP is said to be still in the process to finalise the names of MLAs who would be part of the Yediyurappa government. He had taken oath as the Karnataka chief minister in May 2018 after the BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the state polls.
KARNATAKA SPEAKER DISQUALIFIES 14 MORE REBEL MLAS :
News:
Karnataka Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar said he has disqualified 14 more rebel MLAS - bringing the total of disqualified MLAs 17 - till the end of the Assembly term with immediate effect, a day ahead of the trust vote. This has reduced the strength of the House to 208. During a hurriedly-convened press conference, Mr. Kumar said that he has disqualified 14 MLAs - 11 from Congress and 3 from JDS - in addition to the three rebel Congress MLAs he had disqualified on July 25.
THE ANTI-DEFECTION LAW :
Passed as the 52nd Amendment Act, it added the law as the 10th Schedule of the Constitution in 1985. It lays down the process by which legislators may be disqualified on grounds of defection by the Presiding Officer of a legislature based on a petition by any other member of the House.
INDIAN AIRFORCE RECEIVES FOUR APACHE HELICOPTERS:
Context:
US Aerospace company Boeing on Saturday said the first four of 22 AH-64E Apaches helicopters ordered by India had been received by the Indian Air Force at the Hindon Station near New Delhi. An additional four Apaches will arrive in the coming week, and the eight will then move to the Patankhot Air Force Station in Jammu and Kashmir for their formal induction by the IAF, in September. The Apache is seen as the first attack helicopter in India‘s defence arsenal. India has been operating the Russian origin Mi 35 for years and the Apaches are set to replace the Russian-made choppers that are now on the verge of being taken out of service.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 50
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
APACHE HELICOPTERS:
ODISHA GETS GI TAG FOR ITS VERSION OF RASAGOLA:
Context:
The rasagola, a popular dessert of Odisha, has received the geographical indication tag from the Registrar of Geographical Indication after years of controversy around the sweet. The registration was conferred to ‗Odisha Rasagola‘ under Section 16(I) or of authorized Section 17(3)(c) of Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999 on Monday. The area of production of Odisha Rasagola has been shown all 30 districts.All the 30 districts in Odisha are termed as geographical areas entitled to use the GI tag. Odisha Rasagolla is associated with the world-renowned Puri Jagannath Temple rituals.
GI(GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATOR) TAGS:
GI status is an indication that identifies goods as produced from a particular area, which has special quality or reputation attributable to its geographical origin. In India, a GI‘s registry operates in Chennai in accordance with the provisions of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999, which came into effect in September 2003. GI is covered as element of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under Paris Convention for Protection of Industrial Property.
INTEGRATED BATTLE GROUP:
News::
The new concept of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) which the Army plans to create as part of overall force transformation is close to implementation. The concept of IBGs has already been test-bedded by 9 Corps.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 51
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Each IBG would be tailor-made based on Threat, Terrain and Task and resources will be allotted based on the three Ts. They need to be light so they will be low on logistics, the source stated and added, ―They will be able to mobilise within 12-48 hrs based on the location.‖ The IBGs will also be defensive and offensive. While the offensive IBGs would quickly mobilise and make thrust into enemy territory for strikes, defensive IBGs would hold ground at vulnerable points or where enemy action is expected.
UTTARAKHAND HOLDS 1ST HIMALAYAN CONCLAVE:
News:
Mussoorie was host to the 'Himalayan Conclave' which began in the hillstation on Sunday to deliberate on issues like conservation of the Himalayan ecology, biodiversity and the cultural heritage. Himalayan Conclave was held on at Mussoorie in Uttarakhand to discuss priorities of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) in 15th Finance Commission (XV FC). The conclave saw participation of representatives from 11 hill states namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand. Deliberation on development challenges and potential of IHR and concluded with adoption of Mussoorie Resolution 2019.
LIST OF ‗ICONIC TOURIST SITES:
News:
The government‘s plan to develop 17 ‗iconic tourist sites‘ could see some changes, with Union Culture and Tourism Minister of State (independent charge) Prahlad Singh Patel ordering a review of the sites included in the project. These were Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra, Humayun‘s Tomb, Red Fort and Qutub Minar in Delhi, Colva Beach in Goa, Amer Fort in Rajasthan, Somnath and Dholavira in Gujarat, Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, Hampi in Karnataka, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, Kaziranga in Assam, Kumarakom in Kerala and Mahabodhi in Bihar.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 52
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
17 iconic tourism sites into world class tourist destinations and to serve as a model for other tourism sites.
IN LCU L-56 COMMISSIONED INTO INDIAN NAVY: Context: IN LCU L-56, the sixth indigenously built Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 29, 2019. Details:
The amphibious ship was commissioned by Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, Flag Officer Commanding-in- Chief of Eastern Naval Command at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam. IN LCU L-56 is the sixth of the eight indigenously built LCU MK IV class ships. It is an amphibious ship, the primary role of which will be transportation and deployment of armoured vehicles, main battle tanks, troops and equipment from ship to shore and vice-versa. The LCU L56 would be administered and based in Port Blair under the NAVCC in Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC). It was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata. With LCU L-56, GRSE has become the first shipyard in India to have built the 100th warship.
GRAIN BY GRAIN: GREEN RATING OF THE FERTILIZER SECTOR: News: Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar released the latest report of green ratings on fertilizer sector in New Delhi. The report has been prepared by Centre for Science and Environment and its Green rating project.The report is based on 42 parameters. The overall score achieved by the sector was a respectable 42 per cent, and we have awarded it the ‗Three Leaves‘ prize. Top 3 Industries: Indo Gulf Fertilizers unit at Jasdishpur, Uttar Pradesh Hazira unit of KRIBHCO in Gujarat Panambur unit of Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers, Karnataka. India has a thriving fertilizer manufacturing industry, with government, cooperative and private players owning more than 30 units spread across the length and breadth of the country. Urea is the most important fertilizer, constituting 80 per cent of India's total fertilizer consumption. Established in 1980, CSE works as a think tank on environment-development issues in India.
TRIPLE TALAQ BILL PASSED BY PARLIAMENT: News: The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Law and Justice. The Bill makes all declaration of talaq, including in written or electronic form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and illegal. It defines talaq as talaq-e-biddat or any other similar form of talaq pronounced by a Muslim man resulting in instant and irrevocable divorce. Talaq-e-biddat refers to the practice under Muslim personal laws where pronouncement of the word ‗talaq‘ thrice in one sitting by a Muslim man to his wife results in an instant and irrevocable divorce.
BAMBOO INDUSTRIAL PARK:
News:
Assam is set to become home to the first-ever Bamboo Industrial Park in the northeast. This industrial park will be set up in Manderdisa in Assam‘s Dima Hasao district.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 53
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
This project will be built in an area of 75 hectares at a total cost of Rs 50 crores. The in-principle approval will be granted to this project in August this year. The project is set to be completed by March 2021. Further, the central government also plans to set up another project for Bamboo Park in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh which would be taken up by the north eastern council (NEC).
NEW COMPUTER MODEL CAN PREDICT INDIA'S POLLUTION : News: With the 'smog season' in northern Indian states just a few months away, US and Chinese scientists have developed a novel computer model that can help accurately predict air pollution levels in the region a season in advance. The statistical model, described in the journal Science Advances, uses certain climatic patterns related to the ocean which have a regulatory effect on the wintertime air pollution over northern India. India has emerged as one of the world's most polluted countries, with particulate matter (PM) 2.5 levels spiking over 500 microgrammes per cubic metre in Delhi and many other north Indian states last year. According to the State of Global Air 2019 report published earlier this year, over 1.2 million people died in India due to air pollution in 2017.
MINORITIES PANEL DRAWS ITS REMIT: News: The National Commission of Minorities (NCM) has refused to entertain a plea to declare Hindus a ―minority community‖ in those States where they do not form a majority of the population. The NCM formed a sub-committee of George Kurian, Manjit Singh Rai and Atif Rasheed, which met five times between February and April to deliberate on the issue. The committee report said the priorities in Mr. Upadhyay‘s plea were misplaced. The NCM has no such jurisdiction to declare minorities. The repository of such powers to declare a community as minority lies with the Central government. It cannot be usurped by the NCM,
INDIAN AIR FORCE SIGNS RS 1500 CRORE DEAL WITH RUSSIA FOR R-27 AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES:
News:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has signed a deal with Russia for buying R-27 air-to-air missiles worth over Rs 1500 crore. The missiles will be fitted on the Su-30MKI fighter planes. The missiles will further strengthen the air-to-air combat capability of the air force.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 54
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
In the last 50 days, the IAF has signed deals worth over Rs 7,600 crore for acquiring equipment under emergency requirements approved by the Defence Ministry. The IAF has spent around Rs 7,600 crore in procuring missiles such as the Spice-2000, Strum Ataka ATGMs and a large number of spares under the emergency procurement route.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS :
G20 SUMMIT:
Context:
The 14th edition of the G-20 Summit is currently underway in Japan‘s Osaka.
Key details:
This summit held under following 8 various themes:
G-20 summit saw New Delhi participating in two trilaterals – one with Japan and the United States on maritime cooperation and one with Russia and China on trade. Twenty-four countries and groupings signed a statement agreeing to the Osaka Track which was declared by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "Osaka Track‖ is a framework to promote cross-border data flow with enhanced protections. India, Indonesia, Egypt and South Africa did not sign the declaration.
G20:
The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for its members‘ international economic cooperation and decision-making. Its membership comprises 19 countries plus the European Union. Each G20 president invites several guest countries each year. The G20 started in 1999 as a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis.
ISALEX 19 : Context: Abu Dhabi, capital of United Area Emirates (UAE) is hosting International Security Alliance (ISAs) first joint security exercise named ISALEX19. It will simulate a real-life security threat in a virtual context, to test readiness of different teams and to evaluate strategies, procedures and tools developed jointly between member countries since formation of Alliance in 2017. Representatives of 50 law enforcement agencies of ISA are taking part in 1st joint security exercise in Abu Dhabi.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 55
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ALLIANCE: It is an international working group to confront organised, transnational and extremist crimes by joint security cooperation projects and exchange of expertise on practices implemented across ISA member countries. It was launched in 2017 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Headquarters: Abu Dhabi. Members (9): ISA now comprises of nine countries viz. Bahrain, Morocco, France, Italy, Spain, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic and United Arab Emirates.
WHO LAUNCHES ITS FIRST GUIDELINES ON SELF-CARE : Context: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched its first guidelines on self-care interventions for health in response to an estimate that by 2035 the world will face a shortage of nearly 13 million healthcare workers and the fact that currently at least 400 million people worldwide lack access to the most essential health services. In its first volume, the guidelines focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Some of the interventions include self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) and sexually transmitted infections, self-injectable contraceptives, home-based ovulation predictor kits, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing and self-management of medical abortion
SELF CARE: self-care means, the organisation says that it is the ―the ability of individuals, families and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability with or without the support of a health-care provider‖.
TRUMP -KIM MEET: News: Donald Trump becoming the first sitting American president to enter North Korea. Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, South Korea and agreed to resume stalled nuclear talks.Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between North Korea and South Korea.
NATO ALLY STATUS TO INDIA: Context: US senate passes law to bring India at par with NATO allies. The National Defense Authorisation Act or NDAA for the fiscal year 2020, that contained such a proposal was passed by the US Senate last week. Details: India is now on a par with America's NATO allies Japan, Australia and South Korea following passage of a bill by the US Senate in a key move to increase defence partnership including advanced technology transfer. The National Defense Authorisation Act or NDAA for the current financial 2020 contained this proposal. The legislation provides for increased US-India defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean in the areas of humanitarian assistance, counterterrorism, counter-piracy and maritime security. The US has already given India Strategic Trade Authorization-1(STA Tier-1) status.
IRAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM: Context: Iran Says It Will Enrich Uranium Beyond Nuclear Deal Limits. Iran has exceeded the 300-kilogram limit on its enriched uranium reserves set
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 56
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
by the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran nuclear deal: In 2015, Iran agreed a long-term deal on its nuclear programme with a group of world powers known as the P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany. Iran's uranium stockpile was reduced by 98% to 300kg (660lbs), a figure that must not be exceeded until 2031. It must also keep the stockpile's level of enrichment at 3.67%. Iran will not be permitted to build additional heavy-water reactors or accumulate any excess heavy water until 2031.
INDIA PLEDGES TO CONTRIBUTE USD 5 MILLION TO UN PALESTINE REFUGEE AGENCY:
Context:
India has pledged to contribute USD 5 million in 2019 to the UN Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA), even as it voiced concern over the agency's difficult financial situation due to voluntary contributions from a limited donor base and called for ensuring sustained fiscal support for its work. India notified that it has increased its annual financial contribution fourfold to UNRWA core budget from $1.25 Million in 2016 to $5 million in 2018 in solidarity with Palestine refugees.
About Unrwa
It is a relief and human development agency that was established in 8 December 1949. Since 1950 it has been providing relief, social services health and education as well as emergency humanitarian assistance. It provides aid in 5 fields of operation– Syria, West Bank (including East Jerusalem), Jordan, Lebanon, and Gaza Strip.
IMF APPROVES USD 6 BILLION LOAN FOR PAKISTAN WITH TOUGH CONDITIONS:
Context:
The IMF has approved a three-year USD 6 billion loan for cash-strapped Pakistan with tough conditions to address its balance of payment crisis and help the country's ailing economy return to "sustainable growth.
Details:
Pakistan approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in August 2018 for a bailout package after the Imran Khan government took over. The USD 6 billion financial aid includes an immediate disbursement of USD 1 billion to help Pakistan address its balance of payment crisis. "The remaining amount will be phased over the duration of the programme, subject to four quarterly reviews and four semi-annual reviews," the IMF said in a statement, indicating that Pakistan needs to take tough austerity measures in the coming three years.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: News: Ursula von der Leyen was elected as the new European Commission President. Details: Germany‘s Ursula von der Leyen was appointed by European Union (EU) leaders as the next President of European Commission. European Commission is responsible for implementing decisions, proposing legislation, upholding EU treaties and managing day-to-day business of European Union. It was founded in 1958 and headquartered at Brussels, Belgium.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 57
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL PASSPORTS OF 2019 REVEALED:
Context: The latest Henley Passport Index 2019 ranks the Indian passport on the 86th position with a mobility score of 58. The score points out that Indian passport holders can access 58 countries around the world without a prior visa.
Details: India shares the 86th position with Mauritania and Sao Tome and Principe.
Asian countries dominate the rankings with Japan and Singapore holding onto the top spot with a score of 189, after they unseated Germany from its first position at the beginning of 2018.
Ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The Henley Passport Index (HPI) is a global ranking of countries according to the travel freedom for their citizens. It started in 2005 as Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index (HVRI) and was modified and renamed in January 2018.
FRENCH LAWMAKERS APPROVE 3% TAX ON ONLINE GIANTS:
News: France's lower house of parliament approved Thursday a small, pioneering tax on internet giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook - and the French government hopes other countries will follow suit.
The bill aims to stop multinationals from avoiding taxes by setting up headquarters in low-tax EU countries.
Currently, the companies pay nearly no tax in countries where they have large sales like France.
CHINA‘S QU DONGYU IS NEW CHIEF OF UN FOOD AGENCY:
Context:
Qu Dongyu, China's deputy agricultural minister, was elected Sunday as the new director general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. The agency's 194 member countries convened at the FAO headquarters in Rome to choose a successor to José Graziano da Silva of Brazil for the 4-year term.
FAO:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Members : 194 countries. Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
GLOBAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS: Context:
Azim Premji and Mastercard's Ajay Banga to get USISPF's Global Excellence Awards. US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has selected MasterCard CEO and President Ajay Banga and Wipro Chairman Azim Premji for its 2019 Global excellence award.
US-INDIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FORUM (USISPF):
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is a non-profit organization, with the primary objective of strengthening the U.S.-India bilateral and strategic partnership.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 58
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
The Executive Board came together in 2017 to establish USISPF with the purpose of enabling business and governments to collaborate and create meaningful opportunities that can positively change the lives of citizens. BABYLON: ANCIENT IRAQI CITY DESIGNATED UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE:
Context:
The ancient city of Babylon, first referenced in a clay tablet from the 23rd century B.C., was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 5, after a vote that followed decades of lobbying by Iraq. Babylon, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad, was once the center of a sprawling empire, renowned for its towers and mudbrick temples. Its hanging gardens were one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, commissioned by King Nebuchadnezzar II.
SOME RECENT HERITAGE SITES:
The 20th century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright (USA). Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture (Russian Federation). Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan‘s Palace (Azerbaijan). Dilmun Burial Mounds (Bahrain).
UNESCO HEIRITAGE SITE:
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area which is selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as having cultural,[1] historical, scientific or other form of significance, and is legally protected by international treaties. The World Heritage List, which began in 1978, includes more than 1,100 sites nominated by their respective nations, like the Acropolis in Athens and the Great Wall of China. To be included on the list, a site must meet at least one of 10 criteria, like being a landmark of human history or culture, an ecological wonder, or ―a masterpiece of human creative genius.‖
FIVE EYS PROGRAM:
Context:
The United States has threatened to stop sharing intelligence data with Five Eyes countries if they use Chinese telecom company Huawei‘s network equipment. The "Five Eyes", often abbreviated as "FVEY", refer to an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. These countries are bound by the multilateral UKUSA Agreement, a treaty for joint cooperation in signals intelligence. Founded: 14 August 1941.
UNGA ADOPTS TEXTS ON TORTURE-FREE TRADE:
News: The General Assembly today adopted three draft resolutions: on assisting victims of terrorism, commemorating the anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development and on torture-free trade: The 193-member UN General Assembly Friday adopted the resolution Towards torture-free trade: examining the feasibility, scope and parameters for possible common international standards' by a recorded vote of 81 in favour to 20 against, with 44 abstentions. India abstained from voting on it because
It is against Indian statutory law which allows capital punishment in rarest of the rare cases
It may be an attempt to place capital punishment on par with torture.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 59
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
SRI LANKA INAUGURATES FIRST MODEL VILLAGE BUILT WITH INDIAN ASSISTANCE:
Context:
India has partnered with the ministry of housing and construction and cultural affairs to build 100 model villages consisting of a total of 2,400 houses all across Sri Lanka with Indian grant of Rs 1,200 million (USD 17.5 million). These 2,400 houses are in addition to the 60,000 accommodations built under the Indian Housing Project meant for war affected people in the north and east Sri Lanka and the estate workers in the plantation areas. UAE GOLD CARD SCHEME: News: Indian businessman Siddique Pallolathil, director of Nesto Group has become the first person to receive a United Arab Emirates gold card visa from the emirate of Ajman. Brigadier Mohamed Abdullah Alwan, executive director of the General Directorate for Residency and Foreign Affairs, handed over the visa to Pallolathil at a ceremony in Ajman. The Gold Card Scheme, launched by the UAE in May this year, offers a host of privileges, including 10- year residency visas for holders, their spouses and children, as well as the opportunity to sponsor up to three employees.
SRI LANKA ELIMINATES MEASLES:
News:
The World Health Organization today announced Sri Lanka has eliminated measles, interrupting transmission of the indigenous virus that causes the killer childhood disease. An independent verification committee reviewed in detail all data and ongoing efforts for measles elimination in the island nation and concluded that Sri Lanka has stopped transmission of indigenous measles virus. The country reported its last case of measles caused by an indigenous virus in May 2016. Sporadic cases, reported in the last three years have all been importations that were quickly detected, investigated and rapidly responded to. Sri Lanka is the fourth country in WHO South-East Asia Region, after Bhutan, Maldives and Timor- Leste, to eliminate measles and control rubella, a flagship priority programme of WHO in the Region, ahead of the 2020 regional target. With Sri Lanka‘s recent achievement, five countries of the Region have now eliminated measles. In 2017-18 Bhutan, Maldives, DPR Korea and Timor-Leste eliminated measles.
HAJ PILGRIMS CAN CARRY ZAMZAM WATER WITHIN PERMISSIBLE BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE:
News:
Air India stated that pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia after Haj will be allowed to carry holy water from the Zamzam well within the permissible baggage allowance. The well of Zamzam is located in Mecca in Saudi Arabia and many Haj pilgrims bring the holy water from the well for family and friends.
HIGH-SKILLED IMMIGRANTS ACT IN US:
News:
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019, which eliminates per-country caps on green cards.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 60
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Under current U.S. law, each country is limited to seven percent of all green cards for foreign workers. For example, if the total number of green cards issued to foreign workers for a fiscal year was 100,000, workers from a particular country like India could only receive 7,000 of them. High-Skilled Immigrants Act kills that notion. Conceptually, it‘s designed to allow talented professionals to secure visas regardless of where they‘re from.
INDIA LIFTED 271 MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY IN 10 YEARS: UN:
Context:
UN Development Programme released the 2019 global Multidimensional Poverty Index.
Details:
India lifted 271 million people out of poverty between 2006 and 2016, recording the fastest reductions in the multidimensional poverty index values during the period with strong improvements in areas such as ―assets, cooking fuel, sanitation and nutrition,‖ . The report said that in the 101 countries studied — 31 low income, 68 middle income and 2 high income - 1.3 billion people are ―multidimensionally poor‖, which means that poverty is defined not simply by income, but by a number of indicators, including poor health, poor quality of work and the threat of violence. The 2019 global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) was released on july11.
INDIA AGAIN ABSTAINS AT U.N. VOTE ON LGBTQ :
News:
India on July 12 abstained at the vote for extending the mandate of an important U.N. official who reports on violence and discrimination against sexual minorities. India‘s abstention at the resolution for term-renewal of the Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva drew widespread criticism from activists especially since it came after the Supreme Court struck down Section 377 and decriminalised the LGBTQ community. The resolution received support from most of the member countries at the Human Rights Council. India, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameron, Congo, Hungary, Togo and Senegal abstained during the final voting.
MALDIVES'S RE ADMISSION TO COMMONWEALTH:
Context:
India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has called for the fast-tracking of Maldives's readmission process to the Commonwealth at the group's foreign ministers meet in London.
The former Maldivian government under Abdulla Yameen had withdrawn from the Commonwealth in 2016. Current President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government in Male had applied for membership again and took approval from the cabinet a month after taking charge. He was took charge in November 2018.
COMMENWEALTH:
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states. It was originally created as the British Commonwealth of Nations[6] through the Balfour Declaration at the 1926 Imperial Conference, and formalised by the United Kingdom through the Statute of Westminster in 1931.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 61
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Headquarters-Marlborough House,London ,United Kingdom.
FRANCE TO STOP REIMBURSING PATIENTS FOR HOMEOPATHY:
News:
The French government has announced it will stop reimbursing patients for homeopathic treatment from 2021 after a major national study concluded the alternative medicine had no proven benefit. Buzyn said the refunds paid by French social security – currently 30% of the treatment – would be phased down to 15% in 2020 and then to zero in 2021. France‘s National Authority for Health (HAS) concluded at the end of June that there was no benefit to the medicine. Homeopathy was created in 1796 by German physician Samuel Hahnemann. He died here in France and left behind generations of adepts.
OVER 820 MILLION PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM HUNGER:
News:
An estimated 820 million people did not have enough to eat in 2018, up from 811 million in the previous year, which is the third year of increase in a row. This underscores the immense challenge of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030, says a new edition of the annual The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report released today. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World is an annual flagship report jointly prepared by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Children‘s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 62
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
TWO INDIAN AIRPORTS FIGURE IN THE LIST OF WORLD'S BEST AIRPORTS FOR BUSINESS TRAVELLERS:
News:
Online travel agency Globehunters has compiled a list of world's 45 most popular airports and ranked them according to their suitability for business travellers. In a list topped by Japan's Narita International Airport in Tokyo and dominated by American airports. Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport is at the 38th spot while Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport finds its place at the bottom of the list - No. 43.
CYCLE RALLY IN SOUTH AFRICA:
News:
Indian diplomats in South Africa participated in a cycle rally along with cyclists as part of an effort to promote awareness of Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of non-violence and satyagraha to celebrate his 150th birth anniversary. Conceived by Indian Consul-General in Johannesburg Dr KJ Srinivasa, the event was co-hosted by the Gandhi Walk Committee, which annually hosts the walk. The aim was to promote greater awareness of Gandhiji's ideals of truth, non-violence and Satyagraha,"
ITALIAN SOCIALIST ELECTED HEAD OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:
News:
The former journalist, who is a member of the Partito Democratico, the second largest party in the S&D (Socialists and Democrats) grouping, takes over from fellow Italian Antonio Tajani. He replaces another Italian politician, conservative Antonio Tajani, who had been speaker since 2017. He leads the parliament till the 2022.
WORLD BANK ARBITRATION COURT FINES PAKISTAN:
News:
A World Bank arbitration court has imposed a penalty of over five billion dollars on Pakistan for unlawful denial of a mining lease to a company for the Reko Diq project in 2011. The Tethyan Copper Company had approached the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in 2012 after the Balochistan. The Reko Diq mine in Balochistan province of Pakistan is famous for its vast gold and copper reserves.
20 MILLION CHILDREN WORLDWIDE MISSED OUT ON LIFE-SAVING VACCINES :
Context:
Twenty million children worldwide – more than 1 in 10 – missed out on life-saving vaccines against diseases such as measles, diphtheria and tetanus in 2018, according to data from the WHO and the UNICEF.
Details:
Globally, since 2010, vaccination coverage with three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) and one dose of the measles vaccine had stalled at 86 %. In 2018, an estimated 19.4 million infants worldwide were not reached with routine immunisation services such as three doses of DTP vaccine.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 63
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Around 60% of these children live in 10 countries: Angola, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam. Most unvaccinated children lived in the poorest countries, and were disproportionately in fragile or conflict- affected nations.
MYANMAR ARMY CHIEF BANNED IN U.S:
News:
A US travel ban on Myanmar's army chief and three other top officers for their role in orchestrating a crackdown against Rohingya Muslims does not go far enough, a UN rights investigator . The sanctions announced Tuesday were the strongest censure yet from a Western power since the army launched its offensive against the stateless minority in August 2017 following attacks on police posts. The US, Canada and the European Union have previously passed sanctions against members of the powerful military, but stopped short of reaching the very top of leadership.
UK'S GO GLOBAL PROGRAMME EXPANSION :
News:
The UK government has expanded its Go Global initiative to India with the aim of giving the country's most innovative and cutting-edge start-ups the skills they need to grow their business, build links with the UK's digital sector and pave the way for future economic partnerships. "India is home to a rapidly growing tech sector and with thriving fintech, e-commerce and telecommunications industries.
EBOLA: GLOBAL EMERGENCY DECLARED :
Context:
The World Health Organisation has declared the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a ―public health emergency of international concern‖. A group of experts met on Wednesday to determine whether the Ebola outbreak should be declared an international emergency after the virus spread to eastern Congo‘s biggest city this week. the outbreak has been classified as a level 3 emergency – the most serious – by WHO, triggering the highest level of mobilization from WHO.
EBOLA:
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to- human transmission. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. Symptoms of EVD can be sudden and include: Fever,Fatigue,Muscle pain,Headache,Sore throat This is followed by: Vomiting,Diarrhoea,Rash.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 64
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
SAARC FILM FESTIVAL 2019:
Context:
SAARC Cultural Centre successfully conducted the Ninth SAARC Film Festival from 2nd to 7th of July 2019 at the National Film Corporation, Sri Lanka. The Festival was held for six consecutive days screening 34 films comprising of 15 Feature Films, 13 Short Films and 6 Master Films from the SAARC Member States of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Film Festival, which was a diverse celebration of cinematic creations through the medium of film, is an annual highlight of the Centre‘s Calendar of activities.
SAARC:
WITH FINAL TESTS UNDERWAY, NEPAL-INDIA CROSS-BORDER OIL PIPELINE NEARS OPERATION:
Context:
More than two decades since work began, the Nepal-India cross-border petroleum pipeline is finally ready for operation, with authorities carrying out final functional tests on the 70 km structure. The structure is South Asia‘s first cross-border pipeline.
Details:
According to the Nepal Oil Corporation, 65o kilolitres of water and subsequently, 3,100 kilolitres of diesel were released by India The Nepal Oil Corporation hopes to save Rs 2 billion annually in freight charges and eliminate the vagaries of transportation via tanker trucks at Birgunj border point, once the cross-border pipeline comes online. It currently takes at least 14 hours to ferry gasoline from Patna to Amlekhgunj.
BLOOMBERG BILLIONAIRES INDEX: Context: Bill Gates no longer 2nd richest person in world; Jeff Bezos remains on top: Details:
Bloomberg Billionaires Index: The richest Indian, Mukesh Ambani is on the 13th spot, with a net worth of USD 51.8 billion. Azim Premji is the second-richest Indian to be on the list at the 48th rank with USD 20.5 billion.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 65
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates, who has never been ranked below the second spot on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index has been pushed to the Number 3 rank by Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH Moet Hennessy - Louis Vuitton SE, aka LVMH. Amazon chief Jeff Bezos is the still richest man in the world, with a total net worth of $125 billion. Bill Gates stands at Number 3 with net worth of $107 billion. The richest Indian, Mukesh Ambani is on the 13th spot, with a net worth of $51.8 billion. Azim Premji is the second-richest Indian to be on the list at the 48th rank with $20.5 billion, followed by Shiv Nadar in the 92nd spot and Uday Kotak on the 96th spot.
PALAU SIGNS INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT:
Context:
Palau signed the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Framework Agreement here, lauding India for its efforts in promoting sustainable development projects through South-South cooperation. Palau became the 76th country to sign the ISA Framework Agreement, which till date has been ratified by a total of 54 of the 76 countries. Palau will host the 2020 edition of the ‗Our Oceans conference‘, which will focus on issues such as climate change, sustainable fisheries and marine pollution.
ISA:
The ISA was jointly launched by Prime Minister Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015. The First Assembly of the ISA was held in New Delhi in October 2018, inaugurated by Modi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
IUCN RED LIST REVEALS WILDLIFE DESTRUCTION FROM TREETOP TO OCEAN FLOOR:
News:
From the tops of trees to the depths of the oceans, humanity‘s destruction of wildlife is continuing to drive many species towards extinction, with the latest ―red list‖ showing that a third of all species assessed are under threat. The red list, produced by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is the most authoritative assessment of the status of species.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 66
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
The list published on Thursday adds almost 9,000 new species, bringing the total to 105,732, though this is a fraction of the millions of species thought to live on Earth.This includes 501 Australian species, ranging from dragonflies to fish.
IUCN RED LIST CATEGORIES:
SOARING TO THE MOON:
News:
A decade after the first successful mission to the moon with Chandrayaan-1, the Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched its sequel, Chandrayaan-2, to further explore the earth‘s natural satellite. Earlier this year, China landed a robotic spacecraft on the far side of the moon, in a first-ever attempt. Now India is attempting a similar feat — to land its rover Pragyan in the moon‘s South Polar region. The presence of water on the moon was first indicated by the Moon Impact Probe and NASA‘s Moon Mineralogy Mapper on Chandrayaan-1 a decade ago.
BORIS JOHNSON APPOINTED AS UK'S NEW PRIME MINISTER:
News:
Boris Johnson has been appointed as the new prime minister of the United Kingdom after Theresa May stood down over her failure to lead Britain out of the European Union. was appointed to the premiership by Queen Elizabeth II in a formal meeting at Buckingham Palace. He is leader of conservative party.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 67
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
NAM MINISTERIAL MEETING HELD IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA:
Context:
Ministerial meeting of Coordinating Bureau of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was held in Caracas, capital of Venezuela. Theme for 2019 Meet was- Promotion and Consolidation of Peace through Respect for International Law. Since 2016 Venezuela has held the presidency of NAM which will now be passed on to Azerbaijan in October 2019. At NAM Ministerial Meeting 2019, India was represented by Indian envoy to United Nations Syed Akbaruddin.
ABOUT NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT:
Background: It was established in Belgrade in 1961 during Cold War so as to unite developing countries that are not part of any collective defense pacts in interest of any major power. It was a joint initiative of former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito. It was formed in wake of decolonization processes in Africa, Asia and other parts of world around values of independence, sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity. Membership: 120 member states; 17 states (observers); 10 International Organisations.
INS TARKASH ARRIVES AT ST. PETERSBURG:
News:
INS Tarkash was received warmly at St. Petersburg on Thursday where it will take part in the Russian Navy Day parade. The frigate was welcomed by a Russian naval band and will now participate in the celebrations scheduled for Sunday. According to Russian news agency TASS, more than 40 ships will take part in the naval parade with participation also from 40 planes and helicopters. A total of 4,000 servicemen will also be part of the celebrations.
FRANCO-GERMAN 'SOLIDARITY MECHANISM' FOR MIGRANTS:
News:
Eight EU countries have agreed to share the resettlement of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean - but Italy is not one of them. 14 EU states had approved the plan to establish a more efficient system of redistributing rescued people, with eight saying they would actively take part. They are France, Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Lithuania, Croatia and Ireland. The resettlement plan was proposed by France.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 68
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
SHOWCASING INDIA AT THE DUBAI WORLD EXPO 2020:
Context:
Dubai World Expo 2020 will be held for six months beginning October 20, 2020 till April 10, 2021.
Details:
The theme of the Expo is ―Connecting Minds, Creating the Future‖ with three sub themes – Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability. The India Pavilion is being constructed in the ‗Opportunity‘ segment and will embody India‘s worship of nature and will be environment friendly. It will also showcase the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Twenty-seven focus sectors have been identified to showcase India‘s advances in space, pharmaceuticals, information technology, renewable energy and telecom sectors and also India‘s strength in innovation and start-ups.
JORDAN UNVEILS UNDERWATER MUSEUM OF MILITARY VEHICLES:
News:
About 20 military vehicles from the Jordanian Armed Forces were scuttled to create an underwater military museum in the Red Sea.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 69
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Several tanks, armoured vehicles, an ambulance and even a combat helicopter were sunk off the port of Aqaba. The military vehicles were scuttled to imitatie a tactical formation, according to the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority who created the site. The authority said all hazardous materials were removed before the sinking and the process to scan the seabed to prevent any disturbance surrounding marine life took 30 days, the authority said.
TEMPERATURE RECORDS BROKEN IN THREE NATIONS:
News:
Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have recorded their highest ever temperatures as the second extreme heatwave in as many months to be linked by scientists to the climate emergency grips the continent. The latest heatwave is caused by an ―Omega Block‖. Omega Block is a high-pressure pattern that blocks and diverts the jet stream. It allows a mass of hot air to flow up from northern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula.
UN HEALTH AGENCY ‗STRONGLY RECOMMENDS‘ DOLUTEGRAVIR TO MANAGE HIV:
Context:
Based on new evidence, the United Nations health agency announced it was recommending the use of the antiretroviral drug dolutegravir (DTG) – with other medication treats HIV/AIDS – as the preferred first- and second-line treatment for all cases, including pregnant women and those who have the potential to give birth. Details: Initial studies had highlighted a possible link between DTG and birth defects of the brain and spinal cord that cause conditions like spina bifida in infants born to women who used the drug at the time of conception. DTG is sold under the brand name Tivicay. DTG is more effective, easier to take and has fewer side effects than alternatively prescribed drugs. It also has a high genetic barrier to developing drug resistance, which is important given the rising trend of resistance to EFV and other regimens.
INDIA-NEPAL LOGISTICS SUMMIT ORGANISED IN KATHMANDU:
News:
India-Nepal Logistics Summit was organised in Kathmandu, Nepal on 28 July 2019. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli. Theme for Summit was: Transforming Logistics Landscape. Participants included Government representatives and trade community from India and Nepal. It was a 1st of its type event, which brought together government representatives and trade community of both nations to discuss on some of pressing issues. The issues related to cross-border trade and logistics of both nations such as need for reducing transit time between Nepali and Indian ports, issues related to tariffs charged by logistics service providers, developing better warehouse facilities in Nepal and need for automation of customs and border clearance etc.
WHO LAUNCHES NEW REPORT ON THE GLOBAL TOBACCO EPIDEMIC:
Context:
Many governments are making progress in the fight against tobacco, with 5 billion people today living in countries that have introduced smoking bans, graphic warnings on packaging and other effective tobacco control measures - four times more people than a decade ago.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 70
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Details:
The seventh WHO Report on the global tobacco epidemic analyses national efforts to implement the most effective measures from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) that are proven to reduce demand for tobacco. These measures, like the ―MPOWER‖ interventions, have been shown to save lives and reduce costs from averted healthcare expenditure. The MPOWER report was launched in 2007 to promote government action on six tobacco control strategies in-line with the WHO FCTC to: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies. Protect people from tobacco smoke. Offer help to quit tobacco use. Warn people about the dangers of tobacco. Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Raise taxes on tobacco. Currently, there are an estimated 1.1 billion smokers, around 80% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
WORLD HINDU ECONOMIC FORUM:
News:
Hindu Economic Forum (HEF) has launched its Nepal Chapter. Nepal's Minister of State for Health and Population Dr. Surendra Kumar Yadav inaugurated the Chapter in Kathmandu. Their philosophy is ―Economy is the strength‖ (Dharmasya Moolam Arthah –Arthasasthra). The World Hindu Economic Forum (WHEF) was created to bring together financially successful elements within Hindu society. The WHEF journey began in 2012 at Hong Kong, followed by successful annual forums in Bangkok 2013, New Delhi 2014, London 2015, Los Angeles 2016, Chicago 2018.
ECONOMY
GST DAY - JULY 1:
Context:
Second anniversary of implementation of historic tax reform of Goods & Services Tax as 1st July is celebrated as the "GST DAY". GST was launched on the 1st July, 2017 in a majestic ceremony held in the Central Hall of Parliament on the midnight of 30th June.
GOODS AND SERVICE TAX:
Goods & Services Tax Law in India is a comprehensive, multi-stage, destination-based tax that is levied on every value addition. This law has replaced many indirect tax laws that previously existed in India. There are 3 taxes applicable under this system: CGST, SGST & IGST. CGST: Collected by the Central Government on an intra-state sale (Eg: transaction happening within Maharashtra). SGST: Collected by the State Government on an intra-state sale (Eg: transaction happening within Maharashtra). IGST: Collected by the Central Government for inter-state sale (Eg: Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu).
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 71
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Goods & Services Tax Council is a constitutional body for making recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax. The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and other members are the Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance and Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all the States.
CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT:
Context:
Current account deficit (CAD) increased to USD 57.2 billion or 2.1 per cent of GDP in FY19 as against 1.8 per cent in the previous year, the Reserve Bank said on Friday, due to crude oil price rise. For FY19, the deficit widened despite a narrowing of the same in the March quarter to 0.7 per cent of GDP or USD 4.6 billion, as against USD 27.7 billion or 2.7 per cent in the December quarter and USD 13 billion or 1.8 per cent in the March 2018 quarter, the central bank data showed.
CAD:
CAD is one of the key indicators of an economy‘s health and measures the difference between the value of the goods and services a country imports and the value of its exports.
NEW NIMZ: Context: Govt gives final nod for 3 National Investment and Manufacturing Zones Details: Government has granted final approval to three National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) – Kalinganagar, Jajpur district of Odisha, Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh , Sangareddy district (erstwhile Medak district) of Telangana.
NIMZ: NIMZ is a new concept which is an integral part of the recently approved National Manufacturing Policy 2011 of DIPIT. KEY OBJECTIVES: • Creation of dedicated zones for manufacturing in the nation to • Promote investments in manufacturing. • Make the country a hub for both domestic and international markets • Promoting ease of development of manufacturing Units.
PANEL OF CMS TO SUGGEST SWEEPING AGRICULTURE REFORMS: Context: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will head a new high-powered committee to recommend structural reforms in Indian agriculture, including changes to the way farmers market their produce, and norms for contract farming and essential commodities. Details: The Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will also be members of the committee, according to an official statement from Niti Aayog on Monday. It will submit its report in two months. Up for discussion are two model Acts circulated by the Centre to States: the model Agriculture Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2017 and the model Agriculture Produce and Livestock, Contract Farming and Services (Promotion & Facilitation) Act, 2018.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 72
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
The panel will also examine various provisions of the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955 and suggest changes which will attract private investment in agricultural marketing and infrastructure.
RBI SETS UP WORKING GROUP:
Context:
RBI sets up working group to review regulatory norms for core investment companies. The working group has also been tasked with recommending appropriate measures to enhance RBI‘s off-sight surveillance and on-site supervision over CICs.
Details:
The six-member working group, which will be headed by Tapan Ray, Non-Executive Chairman, Central Bank of India, and former Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs The group will examine the current regulatory regime for CICs and suggest changes to the current approach for their registration, including the practice of multiple CICs being allowed within a group. Additionally, it will also suggest measures to strengthen corporate governance and disclosure requirements for CICs and assess the adequacy of supervisory returns submitted by these entities.
ECONOMIC SURVEY TABLED IN PARLIAMENT:
State of the Economy in 2018-19: A Macro View:
India still the fastest growing major economy in 2018-19. Growth of GDP moderated to 6.8 per cent in 2018-19 from 7.2 per cent in 2017-18. Inflation contained at 3.4 per cent in 2018-19. Non-Performing Assets as percentage of Gross Advances reduced to 10.1 per cent at end December 2018 from 11.5 per cent at end March 2018.
Investment growth recovering since 2017-18:
Growth in fixed investment picked up from 8.3 per cent in 2016-17 to 9.3 per cent next year and further to 10.0 per cent in 2018-19. Current account deficit manageable at 2.1 percent of GDP. Fiscal deficit of Central Government declined from 3.5 percent of GDP in 2017-18 to 3.4 percent in 2018- 19. Prospects of pickup in growth in 2019-20 on the back of further increase in private investment and acceleration in consumption.
Fiscal Developments:
FY 2018-19 ended with fiscal deficit at 3.4 per cent of GDP and debt to GDP ratio of 44.5 per cent (Provisional). As per cent of GDP, total Central Government expenditure fell by 0.3 percentage points in 2018-19 PA over 2017-18: 0.4 percentage point reduction in revenue expenditure and 0.1 percentage point increase in capital expenditure. States‘ own tax and non-tax revenue displays robust growth in 2017-18 RE and envisaged to be maintained in 2018-19 BE. General Government (Centre plus states) on the path of fiscal consolidation and fiscal discipline. The revised fiscal glide path envisages achieving fiscal deficit of 3 per cent of GDP by FY 2020-21 and Central Government debt to 40 per cent of GDP by 2024-25.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 73
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Prices and Inflation:
Headline inflation based on CPI-C continuing on its declining trend for fifth straight financial year remained below 4.0 per cent in the last two years. Food inflation based on Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) also continuing on its declining trend for fifth financial year has remained below 2.0 per cent for the last two consecutive years. CPI-C based core inflation (CPI excluding the food and fuel group) has now started declining since March 2019 after increment during FY 2018-19 as compared to FY 2017-18.
Sustainable Development and Climate Change:
India‘s SDG Index Score ranges between 42 and 69 for States and between 57 and 68 for UTs: Kerala and Himachal Pradesh are the front runners with a score of 69 amongst states. Chandigarh and Puducherry are the front runners with a score of 68 and 65 respectively among the UTs.
From Swachh Bharat to Sundar Bharat via Swasth Bharat: An Analysis of the Swachh Bharat Mission:
Traceable health benefits brought about by Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). 93.1% of the households have access to toilets. 96.5% of those with access to toilets are using them in rural India. 100% Individual Households Latrine (IHHL) Coverage in 30 states and UTs. Financial savings from a household toilet exceed the financial costs to the household by 1.7 times on average and 2.4 times for poorest households. Environmental and water management issues need to be incorporated in SBM for sustainable improvements in the long-term.
INDIA RATIFIES OECD‘S CONVENTION TO CHECK TAX EVASION:
Context:
India has ratified the multilateral convention to implement OECD's project on checking tax evasion, and the provisions enshrined in the framework will come into effect from fiscal 2020-21 for bilateral tax treaties, the finance ministry said.
Details:
The Cabinet approved ratification of a multilateral convention to implement Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development‘s project on checking tax evasion. The Multilateral Convention is an outcome of the OECD/G20 Project to tackle Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, which is resorted to by multinational companies through tax planning strategies by exploiting gaps and mismatches in tax rules. Post this convention, 90 countries have now implemented the automatic exchange of financial account and tax information.
MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE: Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all kharif crops for 2019-20 Season. Details: In the case of cereals including nutri-cereals, Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other designated State Agencies would continue to provide price support to the farmers. NAFED, SFAC and other designated Central agencies would continue to undertake procurement of pulses and oilseeds.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 74
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
CCI will be the central nodal agency for undertaking price support operations for Cotton. The MSPs for all kharif crops of 2019-20 season have been increased as follows:
MAHARASHTRA RANKS FIRST IN NITI AAYOG'S EASE OF DOING FARM BUSINESS:
Context:
Maharashtra achieved first rank in NITI Aayog launched ―Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index (AMFFRI), which ranks states based on the degree of reforms they have undertaken in agricultural marketing.
Details:
NITI Aayog launched in 2016 an index to rank States and UTs based on implementation of seven provisions proposed under model APMC Act like joining e-NAM initiative, special treatment to fruits and vegetables for marketing and level of taxes in mandis. AMFFRI has a score that can have minimum value ―0‖ implying no reforms and maximum value ―100‖ implying complete reforms in the selected areas. States and UTs have been ranked using this index. Agriculturally developed State of Punjab ranks 14th with a score of 43.9. This is because of poor implementation of market reforms in the State. Almost two third States/UTs could not reach even halfway mark of reforms score. Major States like U.P., Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and J&K are in this group. States/UTs do not have APMC Act, which is a challenge to provide ranking to these States in market reforms.
AADHAAR AND PAN ARE NOW INTERCHANGEABLE:
Context:
PAN (permanent account number) and Aadhaar card are interchangeable.To put things simply, a taxpayer doesn't need to have PAN while filing Income Tax returns.
Details:
The move is aimed at improving tax compliance and to make the life of the taxpayer simpler.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 75
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
If indeed Aadhaar means ‗no need for PAN‘, it means that individual tax payers need not keep multiple identifiers and is a step towards making Aadhaar a universal identifier."
PUNJAB & SIND BANK SETS UP CENTRALISED HUB:
Context:
The state owned Punjab & Sind Bank has set up a centralised hub for processing retail and MSME loans for better efficiency of branches in business acquisition.
Details:
The Centralised MSME & Retail Group (Cen-MARG) will be housed at its head office in New Delhi, the bank in a statement. Centralised MSME & Retail Group (Cen-MARG) will be housed at its head office in New Delhi, the bank in a statement. "The Cen-MARG has been envisioned to ensure qualitative improvement in credit appraisal, improved turnaround time, uniform documentation, and efficient monitoring.
RBI BOARD FINALISES ‗UTKARSH 2022': Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) board, which met in New Delhi, finalised a three- year roadmap to improve regulation and supervision, among other functions of the central bank. Details: This medium term strategy — named Utkarsh 2022 — is in line with the global central banks‘ plan to strengthen the regulatory and supervisory mechanism. An internal committee was formed, which was anchored by outgoing Deputy Governor Viral Acharya, to identify issues that needed to be addressed over the next three years. The idea is that the central bank plays a proactive role and takes preemptive action to avoid any crisis,‖ highlighting the IL&FS debt default issue and the crisis of confidence the non-banking financial sector faced in the aftermath.
NATIONAL INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND: Context: National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has entered into an agreement with the national highways building authority to invest equity in road projects, a move that will help the government fill the gap in funding the sector. Details: NIIF on Monday signed an MoU with the national highways authority of India (NHAI) to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to execute fund arrangement for large sized road projects, particularly green field, which will be executed by NHAI. Officials aware of the matter told ET that NIIF was looking to invest equity of around Rs 15,000 crores in the Delhi- Mumbai expressway, and can further raise a debt of around Rs 60,000 crores on the equity. This will be NIIF‘s first investment in any road project, given this model receives nod from the cabinet. NIIF: National Investment and Infrastructure Fund Limited (NIIFL) is an investor-owned fund manager, anchored by the Government of India (GoI) in collaboration with leading global and domestic institutional investors. We manage over USD 3 billion of capital commitments across three funds, each with its distinct investment strategy.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 76
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
funds have investment mandates to invest in infrastructure assets and related businesses that are likely to benefit from the long-term growth trajectory of the Indian economy. Our investment objective is to generate attractive long-term risk-adjusted returns for our investors on a sustainable basis. We are professionally driven with strong governance processes.
CENTRE LAUNCHES FERTILISER DBT 2.0 INITIATIVES:
News:
The Centre Wednesday launched three new technology initiatives to transfer over Rs 70,000-crore fertiliser subsidy directly to farmers' bank accounts.
Details:
These initiatives are -- a dashboard with details of fertiliser supply, availability and requirement at national, state and district level; advanced version of point of sale (PoS) software and a desktop PoS version. A Project Monitoring Cell was set up at DoF to oversee implementation of DBT exclusively. 24 State Coordinators have been appointed across all States to monitor the on-going DBT activities.
BANK OF BARODA TO LAUNCH E-COMMERCE PLATFORM:
News:
Bank of Baroda plans to launch an online marketplace to its customers offering banking services and farm-related products.
Details:
The state-owned lender has invited bids seeking a partner to supply 'digital commerce platform' to provide assistance to merchants on catalog management, purchase management fulfilment, pricing, promotion and other similar services. It will also be tasked to use analytics as a tool to find out the customer demands, behaviour, cross-selling and sub-selling of products, digital security management, advisory management, publicity management and location-based offers. In the farming category, the bank proposes to offer products such as agri crop loan, farm machinery, equipment seeds and fertilisers. It will also provide loan against gold, all kinds of insurance products, investment products such as government gold bonds, among others services.
BORROWING FROM OVERSEAS MARKETS:
Context:
Union Government plans to raise a portion of its gross borrowing from overseas markets. So far, the government of India has only issued bonds in the domestic market. It now plans to issue overseas sovereign bonds The government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will reportedly finalise the plans for the overseas issue of sovereign bonds by September.
What is an overseas bond :
A government bond or sovereign bond is a form of debt that the government undertakes wherein it issues bonds with the promise to pay periodic interest payments and also repay the entire face value of the bond on the maturity date.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 77
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
GOVERNMENT EXTENDS 15TH FINANCE COMMISSION'S TERM :
Context:
The government extended the 15th Finance Commission's term by a month till November 30, and broadened the ambit of its recommendation to include funds for defence and internal security, an official statement said. Cabinet approves extension of the term of the Fifteenth Finance Commission up to 30th November, 2019; approves Amendment in the Terms of Reference for the Fifteenth Finance Commission to address concerns regarding funds for defence and internal security,"
ABOUT FINANCE COMMISSION
FC is constituted by President under Article 280 of Constitution of India. It is constituted to give recommendations on distribution of tax revenues between Union and the States and amongst States themselves.
15th FC:
It was constituted by Presidential Order on November 2017 under the Chairmanship of N. K. Singh. It will decide formula for devolution of revenue/funds between Centre and States, for a 5 year period– April 2020 to March 2025.
JALAN PANEL WANTS TRANSFER OF RBI‘S SURPLUS RESERVES :
Context:
A high-level committee set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on its economic capital framework (ECF) has recommended that surplus reserves held by the central bank be transferred to the government in tranches over three to five years.
Details:
The six-member committee headed by former RBI governor Bimal Jalan was tasked with examining the central bank‘s requirements on provisions, reserves and buffers. The finance ministry has contended that the buffer of 28% of gross assets maintained by the central bank is well above the global norm of around 14%. The Jalan committee has also suggested a periodic review of the ECF to decide the RBI‘s appropriate level of reserves. Most of the RBI‘s income comes from interest earned on foreign reserves invested overseas and that on securities in India.
36 PROPOSALS SHORTLISTED FOR SOLAR CHARKHA MISSION:
Context:
The Ministry of MSME has launched the Mission Solar Charkha for implementation of 50 Solar Charkha Clusters across the country with a budget of Rs. 550 crore for the year 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Details:
The scheme is being implemented by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Mumbai. A total of 36 proposals have been shortlisted by KVIC from the proposals submitted by promoters agencies and they have been asked to submit Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). Ministry of MSME and KVIC have been making all efforts to make the scheme popular by taking it up with State Governments.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 78
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
KARNATAKA IS THE MOST DIGITISED STATE: RAZORPAY REPORT:
News:
Bengaluru-based payment solutions company Razorpay on Thursday launched the second edition of its digital transactions report, ‗The Era of Rising Fintech‘. According to the report, Karnataka topped the list of most digitised States in the April-June 2019 quarter, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi. Tamil Nadu ranked fourth, followed by Andhra Pradesh. Bengaluru topped the list of most digitised cities, followed by Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune and Delhi. Chennai ranked sixth in digital payments adoption during the April-June quarter.
FDI INFLOW REGISTERED GROWTH OF 79% DURING LAST 6 YEARS:
News:
FDI Direct Investment (FDI) inflow has increased during the last six years from 36.05 billion US Dollars in 2013-14 to 64.38 billion US Dollars in 2018-19, registering a growth of 79 per cent.
MAHARASHTRA TOPS IN ATM FRAUDS :
News:
A data released by the Reserve Bank Of India revealed that Maharashtra has witnessed the highest number of ATM fraud cases in the country followed by Delhi, stated a report. While 233 bank fraud cases were registered in Maharashtra alone, Delhi reported 179 such cases in 2018-19. Banks dealing with fraudulent cases amounting to a sum of Rs 1 lakh and more reported the matter to the RBI. According to police and cyber crime experts, the ATM thefts that were below the sum of 1 lakh were not taken into account while calculating the data. As per reports, while people from Delhi have lost around Rs 2.9 crore money in ATM frauds cases, those from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have lost a larger sum of money at Rs 4.81 crore and Rs 3.63 crore, respectively.
INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON VIRTUAL CURRENCIES:
Context:
A high-level panel has recommended a ban on all forms of private cryptocurrencies besides a fine of up to Rs 25 crore and imprisonment of as much as 10 years for anyone dealing in them. The recommendations, if accepted by the government, will be a blow to digital currency aspirants in India such as Facebook as well as exchanges currently operating in the country by circumventing Reserve Bank of India (RBI) norms by undertaking peer-to-peer trading. The Government had constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on 2.11.2017 under the Chairmanship of Secy (EA), with Secy (MeiTY), Chairman (SEBI) and Dy. Governor, RBI as Members, to study the issues related to virtual currencies and propose specific action to be taken in this matter.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 79
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
BITCOIN:
Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, a form of electronic cash. It is a decentralized digital currency without a central bank or single administrator that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for intermediaries.
50 YEARS OF BANK NATIONALISATION:
Context:
India celebrated the 50 years of bank nationalisation . As the date nears, discussions are on over the successes and failures of the financial exercise that began the midnight of July 19, 1969.
Details:
It started under the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with nationalisation of 14 major lenders that accounted for 85 per cent of bank deposits in the country at that time. Six more banks were later nationalised in 1980. The government through the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Ordinance, 1969 and nationalised the 14 largest commercial banks on 19 July 1969. The parliament passed the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) Bill, and it received presidential approval on 9 August 1969.
REVISION OF LOAN LIMIT IN MSME SECTOR :
Context:
A Committee constituted by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has submitted its Report to the RBI wherein it has been recommended that the limit for collateral free lending should be increased to Rs.20 lakh for MSMEs and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The Committee has also recommended revision of loan limit sanctioned under MUDRA to Rs.20 lakh from Rs.10 lakh. The committee, headed by former SEBI Chairman UK Sinha, submitted its report to RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das on Monday.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 80
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
IBBI AMENDS NORMS FOR LIQUIDATION PROCESS:
News:
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has amended norms pertaining to insolvency resolution process for corporate persons and liquidation process. The amendments specify the process for withdrawal of applications before constitution of Committee of Creditors (CoC) and other scenarios. The changes are also with regard to withdrawal of application after constitution of CoC but before issue of invitation for expression of interest, and after issue of invitation for expression of interest. With the latest changes, CoC has to approve a plan providing for contribution for meeting the liquidation costs, recommend sale of the corporate debtor or sale of business of the corporate debtor as a going concern, and decide the fee payable to liquidator.
7TH ECONOMIC CENSUS:
Context:
India‘s 7th Economic Census begins from Tripura and a similar task would be launched in other States and Union Territories across the country next month.
Details:
The three-month long fieldwork of seventh Economic Census launched today (Monday) in Tripura. The fieldwork in other States and Union Territories would be undertaken in August and September,. The seventh Economic Census is being conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The ministry has partnered with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Electronics and Information. It is the only source of information on the significantly large unorganized sector in the country. Agriculture is not covered in Economic census.The census would cover all establishments, including household enterprises, engaged in production or distribution of goods and services.
Previous Economic Census in India
Economic Census- Year
First Economic Census -1977
Second Economic Census- 1980
Third Economic Census- 1990
Fourth Economic Census- 1998
Fifth Economic Census- 2005
Sixth Economic Census- 2013.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 81
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
ENVIRONMENT:
NEW ZEALAND BANS SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS:
Context:
New Zealand officially banned single-use plastic shopping bags Monday, introducing hefty fines for businesses that continue to provide them.
Details:
Under the new rules, thin plastic single-use shopping bags can no longer be supplied -- but the law allows reusable carriers to continue being provided. The legislation -- which was announced in August last year and came into force on Monday -- will have little practical effect, as New Zealand's major supermarkets have already voluntarily banned the bags. More than 80 countries have already introduced similar bans, according to the UN Environment Programme.
JAPAN RESUMES COMMERCIAL WHALING:
Context:
Japan began its first commercial whale hunts in more than three decades on Monday, brushing aside outrage over its resumption of a practice that conservationists call cruel and outdated.
Details:
Six months after announcing it would be breaking with the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Japan has officially resumed commercial whaling. The IWC is an international group established for the purpose of global whale conservation, of which most of the world‘s nations are part.
ARCTIC FOX TRANSCONTINENTAL MIGRATION:
News:
The journey of a young arctic fox, which trekked more than 2,175 miles from Norway to Canada in just 76 days, has stunned researchers and shed new light on the movement of the species over vast distances of sea ice. The areas are connected seasonally by sea ice, and much of the journey was completed over vast stretches of the frozen Arctic Ocean. According to a study by the Norwegian Polar Institute, such a fasttranscontinental migration has ―never‖ been documented earlier.
GANGA STILL UNFIT FOR BATHING: News:
Seven months after the plugging of Kanpur‘s infamous Sisamau drain, which once drained nearly 140 million liters of untreated sewage into the Ganga and was a symbol of pollution in the river — the river continues to be unfit for bathing or drinking, The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has defined norms on what constitutes acceptable river water quality. Three attributes: Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Total Coliform Matter (TCM) must conform to certain numbers.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 82
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
The DO should be 4 milligram/litre or more for it to be fit for drinking after disinfectation and treatment and, BOD should be 3mg/l or less and TCM/100 ml should be 5,000 or less.
INDIA TO HOST UN CONFERENCE ON COMBATING DESERTIFICATION:
Context:
India will host a UN conference on combating desertification in September. At present, 23% of the world‘s geographical area is affected by degradation while India faces this problem in nearly 30% of its land due to multiple reasons including deforestation.
Details:
We will celebrate 25 years of UNCCD, of science and legislation and action on the ground by many countries including India. It is extremely important that in the next 25-30 years we align ourselves to achieve the global climate goals. As part of its actions to check desertification, India had last month launched a pilot project to restore its degraded forests in five states - Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Karnataka - in a time-bound manner. The project, launched in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), will be scaled up to cover remaining states across the country in due course as part of India‘s voluntary pledge to restore 13 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2020 and additional 8 million hectares by 2030.
BENGAL'S DIAMOND HARBOUR RECORDS FASTER SEA-LEVEL RISE THAN OTHER INDIAN PORTS:
Context:
The Ministry of Earth Sciences has said in the Lok Sabha that of the big ports in India, Diamond Harbour in West Bengal has witnessed the largest rise in sea levels.
Details:
Between 1948 and 2004, the ministry said, the sea level at Diamond Harbour rose at 5.16 mm per year – compared to a national average of 1.3 mm per year in the last 40-50 years.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 83
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
According to the International Panel on Climate Change, sea levels have been rising at an average rate of 1.8 mm per year across the world. While Diamond Harbour may be showing the fastest increase, its not the only Indian port where sea levels are rising faster than the global average. Kandla in Gujarat (3.18 mm per year), Haldia in West Bengal (2.89 mm per year) and Port Blair in the Andamans (2.2 mm per year) also make it to that list.
RAJGHAT THERMAL PLANT TO MAKE WAY FOR SOLAR PARK:
News:
Delhi cabinet on Thursday decided that Rajghat thermal power plant will be officially shut and turned into a solar park. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said 5,000KW of solar power will be produced at the 45-acre plant site.
Details:
The coal-based plant, whose current units were commissioned in 1989, has been lying in a shutdown mode from 2014, having outlived its shelf life of 25 years. ―The Rajghat coal power plant will be officially shut now. There will be a solar park built on this 45-acre land. We are already doing something similar at Indraprastha power station and 5,000KW of solar power generation has already started there.
ONE MORE ORBIT BREAKS POLAR CIRCUMNAVIGATION SPEED RECORD: News: A multinational attempt to simultaneously break the speed record for the fastest circumnavigation of the Earth via both poles, succeeded July 11, returning to Space Florida‘s Launch and Landing Facility after 46 hr., 39 min. and 38 sec. The first leg of the flight will take the G650ER over the North Pole to Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The second leg will depart for Port Louis, Mauritius. From there the team will fly over the South Pole en route to Punta Arenas, Chile and then back to Florida.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 84
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
ORCHIDS OF INDIA : A PICTORIAL GUIDE:
News:
The Botanical Survey of India has come up with the first comprehensive census of orchids of India putting the total number of orchid species or taxa to 1,256. In the 1,256 species or taxa of orchids belong to 155 genera and 388 species are endemic to India. Orchids can be broadly categorised into three life forms: epiphytic (plants growing on another plants including those growing on rock boulders and often termed lithophyte), terrestrial (plants growing on land and climbers) and mycoheterotrophic (plants which derive nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi that are attached to the roots of a vascular plant). The highest number of orchid species is recorded from Arunachal Pradesh with 612 species, followed by Sikkim 560 species.
SPEED RESTRICTIONS AND SOUND ALERTS MOOTED FOR PROTECTION OF DOLPHINS:
Context:
Restricting the speeds of vessels and blowing sirens and horns is how the Ministry of Shipping plans to safeguard the population of the Ganges River Dolphin, in the country‘s one dolphin reserve through which National Waterway-1 connecting Haldia to Varanasi passes.
Details:
The Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS), from Sultanganj to Kahalganj on the Ganga in Bihar is the only dolphin sanctuary in the country. Vessel speed would be restricted to 2.7 knots in Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) area to reduce the noise generation from propeller The Ministry said the mitigations are based on Comprehensive Environmental and Social lmpact Assessment (ESIA) study on National Waterway-I including on stretches falling within VGDS.
GANGES RIVER DOLPHIN - NATIONAL AQUATIC ANIMAL:
Scientific Name - Platanista gangetica gangetica
Status - Endangered (IUCN)
Schedule 1 of wildlife protection act 1972.
EXTINCTION OF 2 BIRDS - SC FORMED PANEL :
Context:
The Supreme Court has formed a high powered committee to urgently frame and implement an emergency response plan for the protection of the two Indian birds, Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican from extinction. This comes after a plea of wildlife activists. It said that over the last 50 years, the population of the Great Indian Bustard has recorded a decline of over 82% and the population of the Lesser Florican has been reduced by 80%.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 85
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD:
The great Indian bustard is a large ground bird with a height of about one metre. The species is critically endangered. The reason for its decline is hunting and loss of its habitat. The species is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 of India.
LESSER FLORICAN:
The lesser florican is endemic to India. The species is endangered. These bustards are found mainly in northwestern and central India during the summer but are found more widely distributed across India in winter.
12 INDIAN BEACHES IN THE RACE TO CREST THE ‗BLUE FLAG‘ CHALLENGE:
Context:
The Union Environment Ministry has selected 12 beaches in India to vie for a ‗Blue Flag‘ certification, an international recognition conferred on beaches that meet certain criteria of cleanliness and environmental propriety.
Details:
These beaches are at Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Bhogave (Maharashtra), Ghoghla (Diu), Miramar (Goa), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Eden (Puducherry), Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha), and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands). The Blue Flag Programme for beaches and marinas is run by the international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education). There are nearly 33 criteria that must be met to qualify for a Blue Flag certification, such as the water meeting certain quality standards, having waste disposal facilities, being disabled- friendly,etcc.. Some criteria are voluntary and some compulsory.
INDIA'S FIRST GARBAGE CAFE IN CHHATTISGARH:
Context:
The country's first garbage cafe has been launched here in Chhattisgarh. Under this, the Municipal Corporation will provide food to the poor and homeless in lieu of plastic waste.
Details:
Persons fetching 1 kg plastic waste will be offered a full meal while those collecting 500 grams waste will get a substantial breakfast. The budget provides Rs 5 lakh for the Garbage Cafe Scheme. There is a plan to provide free shelter to the homeless who collect plastic waste. Ambikapur already has a road made with plastic granules and asphalt. This scheme is being linked to the cleanliness campaign. Ambikapur is the second largest city in the country in the 'Sanitation Campaign'.
MADHYA PRADESH YET TO FORM TIGER PROTECTION FORCE:
Context:
Having resolved to constitute a Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) more than seven years ago, Madhya Pradesh is yet to constitute the battalion, even as the State has registered the most number of tiger deaths due to poaching since 2012.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 86
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Details:
However, in the absence of an independent elite unit to protect tigers in the State, 30 deaths due to poaching have been reported between 2012 and 2018. The causes of 16 of the total 141 deaths, including natural and unnatural ones, reported in the State during the period are being investigated, according to the NTCA. Famous as the ‗Tiger State‘ at least until 2006 when it boasted the most number of tigers with an estimated 300 in its six reserves, Madhya Pradesh lost out to Karnataka in 2010 and fell behind Uttarakhand too in 2014.according to the Status of Tigers in India report.
NEW ECO-FRIENDLY PROCESS TO REMOVE POLLUTANTS FROM WATER:
Context:
Researchers developed a wastewater treatment process that uses a common agricultural byproduct to effectively remove pollutants and environmental hormones, known as endocrine disruptors.
Details:
The team used rice hulls, which are discarded during rice harvesting, to create something eco-friendly and economical, biochar. Researchers used the hydrothermal method, which is a type of mineral synthesis that uses high heat and pressure when synthesising the nanocomposite in order to create a catalyst that is highly active, easily replicable, and stable. It was confirmed that giving the catalyst a three-dimensional stratified structure resulted in the high effectiveness of the advanced oxidation process (AOP), due to the large surface area created.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 87
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
RHESUS MACAQUE MONKEYS:
News:
Union environment ministry has declared monkeys (Rhesus Macaque) as ‗vermin‘ in Hmachal Pradesh. It allows local authorities to cull this animal in certain identified non-forest areas in Shimla for one year. Rhesus Macaque monkeys are protected species under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Section 62 of the above act empowers the States to send a list of wild animals to the Centre requesting it to declare them ―vermin‖.
INDIA‘S FIRST DRAGON BLOOD-OOZING TREE:
News:
Researchers discover Dracaena cambodiana in Assam‘s West Karbi Anglong dist.a bright red resin used since ancient times as medicine, body oil, varnish, incense and dye. A trio of researchers led by Assam forest officer Jatindra Sarma has discovered Dracaena cambodiana, a dragon tree species in the Dongka Sarpo area of West Karbi Anglong. This is for the first time that a dragon tree species has been reported from India. In India, the Dracaena genus belonging to the family Asparagaceae is represented by nine species and two varieties in the Himalayan region, the northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. But Dracaena cambodiana is the only true dragon tree species, the study said.
HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICTS:
News:
Electric poles in forests and wildlife sanctuaries need to have spikes to discourage elephants from uprooting them and getting electrocuted, a committee set up by the Union Environment Ministry has recommended. Its suggestions were presented to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), an apex advisory board. Elephant deaths from electrocution have emerged as a major challenge. The Hindu reported last November that 461 elephants were electrocuted from 2009 -2017, or about 50 a year.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 88
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
DEEP SEA MINING PUSHES 'SCALY-FOOT' SNAIL TOWARDS EXTINCTION:
Context:
The first deep-sea animal has been listed as ‗endangered‘ due to mining – and it likely will not be the last.
Details:
The newly endangered ‗scaly-foot‘ snail is found in just three locations around the world, all of which are deep-sea hydrothermal vents in Indian Ocean floor near Madagascar Due to the extremely low levels of oxygen found at these vents, the scaly-foot snail has a massive heart for enhanced blood flow and oxygen exchange. Unfortunately, this iron-plated, big-hearted creature recently became the first deep-sea animal to be listed as ‗endangered‘ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a result of mining activity.
WAGE ISSUE HITS INDIA‘S EASTERNMOST TIGER RESERVE:
Context::
Conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger has taken a hit in India‘s easternmost tiger reserve. authorities of the Namdapha Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh have discontinued the services of 53 frontline staff, all casual employees.
NAMDAPHA PROTECTED AREA:
The Namdapha Protected area is a Tiger Reserve and a national park. It is located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh near the international border with Myanmar. Namdapha river: Namdapha is in fact the name of a river which originates from Daphabum and meets Noa- Dehing river. This river flows right across in a North-South direction of the National Park and hence the name Namdapha has been given.
22 SPECIES HAVE GONE EXTINCT IN INDIA:
News:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified that Four species of fauna and 18 species of flora have gone extinct in India in the past few centuries.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 89
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Details:
Among mammals, the cheetah (Acionyx jubatus) and the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensisi) are considered extinct in India. The pink-headed duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllaceai) is feared extinct since 1950 and the Himalayan quail (Ophrysia supercililios) was last reported in 1876. 18 species of plants — four non-flowering and 14 flowering — have gone extinct. The notable among them are Lastreopsis wattii , a fern in Manipur three species from the genus Ophiorrhiza (Ophiorrhiza brunonis , Ophiorrhiza caudate and Ophiorrhiza radican ), all discovered from peninsular India. Corypha taliera Roxb, a palm species discovered in Myanmar and the Bengal region also extinct. Botanical Survey of India (BSI) said India is home to 11.5% of all flora in the world.
ALL INDIA TIGER ESTIMATION – 2018:
Context:
On the occasion of International Tiger Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the results of the fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation - 2018, at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi today. The count of tigers in India has risen to 2967, in 2018, according to this census.
Details:
There has also been an increase in the ―protected areas.‖ In 2014, there were 692 protected areas, which increased to more than 860 in 2019. The ―Community Reserves‖ have also grown from 43, in 2014, to more than 100 now. The 33% rise in tiger numbers is the highest ever recorded between cycles which stood at 21% between 2006 to 2010 and 30% between 2010 and 2014. Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka at 524 with Uttarakhand at number 3 with 442 tigers. Chhatisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in their tiger numbers while tiger‘s numbers in Odisha remained constant. During the 4th cycle, in sync with Government of India‘s ―Digital India‖ initiative, data was collected using an Android based application- M-STrIPES. Tx2‘ programme was launched by World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) at the 2010 St Petersburg Tiger Summit held in Russia. Under it, 13 tiger range countries had agreed to double the world tiger population by 2022.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 90
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
MINISTRY OF MINES ORGANISES A WORKSHOP ON EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF RED MUD:
News:
In a step towards productive utilisation of bauxite residue, commonly known as the ‗Red Mud‘, an interactive workshopcalled ‗Waste To Wealth‘ was organized by Ministry of Mines in the New Delhi. Red Mud is a solid waste generated during the aluminium production process. This is an environmental concern due to presence of impurities such as caustic soda and others minerals. Global generation of red mud is more than 150 million tons and there exists a global inventory of more than 3 billion tons. Red mud generation in India is around 9 million tons per year.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 91
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
NASA'S DRAGON FLY:
Context:
NASA's Dragonfly Will Fly Around Titan Looking for Origins, Signs of Life.
Details:
NASA has announced that our next destination in the solar system is the unique, richly organic world Titan. Dragonfly will launch in 2026 and arrive in 2034. The rotorcraft will fly to dozens of promising locations on Titan looking for prebiotic chemical processes common on both Titan and Earth. Titan is an analog to the very early Earth, and can provide clues to how life may have arisen on our planet.
STRUM ATAKA' ANTI-TANK MISSILE:
News:
India has signed a Rs 200 crore anti-tank missile deal with Russia. Under this deal, the Indian Air Force will get 'Strum Ataka' anti-tank missiles within three months. The deal is worth Rs 200 crore and would significantly enhance Mi-35 helicopters' capability to take out enemy tanks and other armoured elements.
LITHIUM-ION GIGA UNITS MOOTED: Context: To push the adoption of electric mobility in the country, government think-tank NITI Aayog has proposed the establishment of giga factories in India for the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries in the next couple of years.. Details: The recommendation is part of the Aayog‘s much debated proposal that only electric (lithium-ion or other advanced battery chemistry only) three-wheelers would be sold in the country after March 31, 2023. All new sales of two-wheelers below 150cc would be electric post March 31, 2025. We have also proposed in this mission that giga factories be established for making lithium-ion batteries in India. We want at least three-four factories to come up in the next two-three years,‖ Rajiv Kumar, Vice- Chairman, NITI Aayog, told.
LITHIUM-ION BATTERY: Lithium is the lightest of all metals, has the greatest electrochemical potential and provides the largest specific energy per weight. Rechargeable batteries with lithium metal on the anode (negative electrodes) could provide extraordinarily high energy densities, however, cycling produced unwanted dendrites on the anode that could penetrate the separator and cause an electrical short. The cell temperature would rise quickly and approaches the melting point of lithium, causing thermal runaway, also known as ―venting with flame.‖
NASA‘S ORION CAPSULE PASSES LAUNCH ABORT TEST:
Context:
NASA‘s Orion spacecraft is one step closer to carrying humans into space today. The agency confirms that all systems performed perfectly during the second ascent abort test, proving that astronauts aboard Orion could be safely wrenched free of a rocket in the event of an emergency.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 92
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Details:
NASA conducted the test from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station using a modified Peacekeeper missile obtained from the Air Force. The missile carried the Orion capsule 44,000 feet into the air, reaching a speed of 760 mph.
TRANSITING EXOPLANET SURVEY SATELLITE (TESS):
News:
NASA's TESS has discovered a world between the sizes of Mars and Earth orbiting a bright, cool, nearby star. The planet, called L 98-59b, marks the tiniest discovered by TESS to date. Two other worlds orbit the same star. While all three planets‘ sizes are known, further study with other telescopes will be needed to determine if they have atmospheres and, if so, which gases are present.
CENTRE ROPES IN IBM FOR PILOT STUDY ON USING AI IN AGRICULTURE:
Context:
The pilot study will be conducted for the Kharif crop season 2019 in three districts.IBM‘s Watson Decision Platform will give solution in the field of agriculture through AI and weather technology. Details: The pilot study will be conducted for the Kharif crop season 2019 in three districts - Bhopal, Rajkot and Nanded - in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, respectively, an official statement said. The statement of intent (SoI) was signed in the presence of Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and junior minister Kailash Choudhary, and other senior officials.
ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY :
News:
Artificial gravity means spacecraft generating their own gravity by spinning around in space. A Team of Scientists from the University of Colorado, USA is working on making.the concept of artificial gravity a reality. Astronauts experience bone loss, muscle loss, cardiovascular deconditioning and more in space. Today, there are a series of piecemeal countermeasures to overcome these issues,‖ said Clark, ―But artificial gravity is great because it can overcome all of them at once.‖
SCIENTISTS FIND NEW GENE LINKED TO SCHIZOPHRENIA:
Context:
After 18 years of research, Indian and Australian scientists have identified a new gene directly linked to schizophrenia.
Details:
Scientists from the University of Queensland in Australia and a team of Indian researchers searched the genomes of over 3,000 individuals and found those with schizophrenia were more likely to have a particular genetic variation.
This study identified a gene called NAPRT1 that encodes an enzyme involved in vitamin B3 metabolism — we were also able to find this gene in a large genomic dataset of schizophrenia patients with European ancestry.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 93
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
MISSILE TESTS:
BRAHMOS MISSILE SUCCESSFULLY TEST FIRED:
India has successfully test-fired a vertical deep dive version of the indigenous BrahMos supersonic missile. The upgraded version of the world‘s fastest supersonic cruise missile with an enhanced range of up to 500 km is also ready, CEO of BrahMos Aerospace, Sudhir Kumar Mishra said. Brahmos missile, which cruises at almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8, is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on the Su-30 fighters. The new deep dive version of BrahMos has the capability to strike a target vertically at 90 degrees and also has the ability to tilt 15 degrees prior to striking the target,
3RD GENERATION NAG MISSILE: Moving closer toward the induction of the Nag anti-tank guided missiles into the Army, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Sunday carried out three successful test firings of the missiles in the Pokhran firing ranges. "The missiles were test-fired during both day and night on Sunday during the trials. All three tests were successful," DRDO officials said. The NAG missile is a third generation anti-tank guided missile, Nag was one of the first five strategic missiles planned to be developed under the Integrated Missile Development Programme initiated in the 1980s…
MEET AI-DA, THE WORLD‘S FIRST HUMANOID ARTIST:
News:
Ai-Da is the brainchild of Aidan Meller, who claims she is the world‘s first ultra-realistic humanoid artist, able to draw creatively thanks to in-built artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The 46-year-old art dealer unveiled Ai-Da -- dressed in a brown wig and period-style painter‘s blouse -- in Oxford on Wednesday, ahead of an exhibition of her first works opening next week in the English university city. Ai-Da can currently only hold certain hard tools like pencils, not brushes.
AUTOMATED FACIAL RECOGNITION:
Context:
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released a Request for Proposal for an Automated Facial Recognition System (AFRS) to be used by police officers across the country.
Details:
The AFRS will maintain a large database with photos and videos of peoples faces. Whenever there is a need to identify an unidentified person, an image or a CCTV footage is compared to the existing database to find a match and identify the person using artificial intelligence. The artificial intelligence technology used for pattern-finding and matching is called ―neural networks‖.
INDIAN SCIENTISTS DEVELOP WONDER MATERIAL 'BLACK GOLD':
News:
Indian scientists have tinkered with the chemistry of the yellow metal and have turned it into ‗black gold‘.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 94
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
They claim that it can be potentially used for applications ranging from solar energy harvesting to desalinating seawater. Scientists at the Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) used gold nanoparticles and by rearranging size and gaps between them developed a new material, which has unique properties such as capacity to absorb light and carbon dioxide. If we develop an artificial tree with leaves made out of black gold, it can perform artificial photosynthesis, capturing carbon dioxide and converting it into fuel and other useful chemicals.
JAPANESE SPACECRAFT GRABS SECOND SAMPLE FROM ASTEROID RYUGU:.
News:
It looks like Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft has snagged its second souvenir from asteroid Ryugu, marking one of the last major milestones of the probe's visit. Japan becames world's first to land rovers on asteroid surface.
RUSSIA SENDS TELESCOPE INTO SPACE:
News:
Russia launched a space telescope on Saturday from the cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, in a joint project with Germany. A video posted on the website of the Roskosmos, the Russian space agency, showed a Proton-M rocket carrying the Spektr-RG taking off from the launch pad. The Spektr-RG, developed with Germany, is a space observatory intended to replace the Spektr-R, known as the ―Russian Hubble‖, which Roskosmos said it lost control of in January.
FIRST ETHANOL-POWERED MOTORCYCLE:
Context:
Tvs motor company on friday launched ethanol-powered bike tvs apache rtr 200 fi e100, priced at rs 1.2 lakh. The company said the new model would be available for sale in sugarcane-producing maharashtra, uttar pradesh and karnataka, to begin with.
Details:
Ethanol is domestically produced from renewable plant sources. It is non-toxic, biodegradable, as well as safe to handle, store and transport. The government is pushing on biofuels as well as electricity to completely replace our existing fossil fuel- based industry. Notable reasons include reduce our oil import bill save foreign exchange eradicate pollution
Ethanol has lower calorific value than the petrol.
DRDO RESEARCH SHIP INS SAGARDHWANI EMBARKS ON SAGAR MAITRI MISSION-2 :
News:
Oceanographic research vessel of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), INS Sagardhwani, embarked on a two-month long SAGAR MAITRI (SM) Mission-2 from Southern Naval Command (SNC) in Kochi today.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 95
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Details
SAGAR MAITRI is a unique initiative of DRDO which aligns with the broad objective of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi‘s policy declaration ―Safety And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)‖ to promote closer co-operation in socio-economic aspects as well as greater scientific interaction especially in ocean research among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries. INS Sagardhwani has been designed and developed by Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi, SAGAR MAITRIMission-2 commemorates the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of India‘s lone research ship INS Kistna‘s missions as part of the historic International Indian Ocean Expeditions(IIOE), which took place during 1962-65.
INDIAN CYBER CRIME COORDINATION CENTRE (I4C) :
News:
MHA has rolled out a scheme ‗Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)‘ for the period 2018-2020, to combat cyber crime in the country, in a coordinated and effective manner.
ABOUT INDIAN CYBER CRIME COORDINATION CENTRE:
The Central Government has launched Cybercrime Reporting Portal to enable citizens to report online content pertaining to Child Pornography (CP)/ Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) or sexually explicit content such as Rape/Gang Rape (CP/RGR). The Central Government has taken steps to spread awareness on cyber crime, issue cyber related alerts/ advisories, capacity building/ training of law enforcement officers/ judges/ prosecutors,etc.. Police‘ and ‗Public order‘ are State subjects as per the Constitution of India.
PLOONET:
News:
A new study suggests that the moons of gas-giant exoplanets may break away into their own orbits, called "ploonets." Planet + moon = ploonet.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 96
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
As the gas giants move inward toward their suns, the orbits of their moons are often disrupted, according to new computer models.
COUNTRY'S FIRST SPACE PARK:
News:
The Kerala Government will set up the country‘s first state-of-the-art space systems park at the knowledge city in Thiruvanathapuram to attract global startups working in space sector and also make it as a major manufacturing hub for space-related technology, research and development. The government will transfer 20.01 acres as lease to the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Ltd (KSITIL) to develop the space park, 16.07 acres, now having SEZ status, will be de notified by KSITIL. The land belongs to Technopark.
ELON MUSK'S NEURALINK IMPLANT WILL "MERGE" HUMANS WITH AI:
Context:
Tesla founder Elon Musk has launched tech startup Neuralink to build implants that connect human brains with computer interfaces via artificial intelligence.
Details:
The approaching technology would see groups of minuscule, flexible electrode "threads" implanted into the human brain by a neurosurgical robot. These threads detect and record the electrical signals in the brain, and transmit this information outside the body. This has the potential to create a scalable high-bandwidth brain-machine interface (BMI) system, meaning that it connects the brain to an external device to form a brain-machine interface.
COLISTIN BANNED IN ANIMAL FOOD INDUSTRY:
Context:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an order prohibiting the manufacture, sale and distribution of colistin and its formulations for food-producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 97
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Details:
The Ministry, in its notification, has prohibited ―with immediate effect‖ the manufacture, sale and distribution of Colistin and its formulations for this purpose. The Ministry has also directed manufacturers of Colistin to specify ―in conspicuous manner‖ on the labels, package inserts and promotional literature that these products are ―not to be used in food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplements‖. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Colistin is a ―reserve‖ antibiotic, which means it is supposed to be considered a ―last-resort‖ option in treatment and used only in the most severe circumstances, when all other alternatives have failed. Colistin, also known as polymyxin E, is an antibiotic produced by certain strains of the bacteria Paenibacillus polymyxa.
MICRO RNAS REGULATE THE COLOUR OF FRUITS, LEAVES:
Context:
A team from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, has found that the rich colour in fruits and leaves of plants are indirectly controlled by specific micro RNAs — miR828 and miR858.
Details:
Grape plants bear fruits having colours that can be deep purple or green. This colour is due to compounds called anthocyanins and flavonols, both of which are present in grape fruits. When the grape plant has a high amount of anthocyanin as compared to flavonol, the fruits are deep purple. The relative abundance of anthocyanin and flavonol is controlled by genes known as the MYB transcription factors.The team found that the microRNAs miR828 and miR858 were also found in abundance when the grapes had dark colour Micro RNAs are regulators of gene expression, acting like switches. They decide which protein should be made and how much in a given cell or tissue or an organism.
CHANDRAYAAN-2 GOES UP SUCCESSFULLY, PLACES SATELLITE IN ORBIT:
News:
India‘s second lunar journey and its first-ever mission to be spearheaded by two women got a boost after the ambitious Chandrayaan-2 mission, headed to the moon‘s South Pole, achieved an orbit 6,000 km more than what was targeted. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a perfect launch at 2.43 p.m. from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, in what was the GSLV-MKIII‘s first operational flight. The GSLV-Mark III vehicle has successfully injected Chandrayaan-2 in the defined orbit. In fact, the orbit is 6,000 km more than what was intended. The successful placing of the satellite in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) was only the first step in a very complex operation. With ISRO tweaking the duration of the Earth-bound Phase and the Lunar-bound phase, it aimed to soft-land the Lander and the Rover on the lunar surface on September 7.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 98
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
CHANDRAYAN 1 VS CHANDRAYAN2:
The Chandrayan2 has the Orbiter, lander named as Vikram, Rover named as pragyan. These lander lands in moon's south pole.
AFTER CHANDRAYAAN-2, IS INDIA PLANNING A THIRD MOON TRIP WITH JAPAN:
News:
After the Chandrayaan-2 mission launch on Monday, is another lunar journey in the offing around 2024 to bring soil and rock samples back from the South Pole of the Moon. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has initiated talks on this with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), as indications show.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 99
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
We first heard about Chandrayaan-3 from the then chiefs of ISRO and JAXA in November 2017 during the Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum APRSAF-24 held in Bengaluru. Two inter-governmental discussions during the Prime Minister's visit, in March this year and October 2018, also mentioned a 'joint lunar polar exploration mission'. The ISRO should take up speedy construction of Chandrayaan-3 and develop a `public-private ecosystem of space capabilities'.
SCIENTISTS DEVELOP METHOD TO CONVERT JUTE FIBRE INTO LOW-COST BIO-DEGRADABLE CELLULOSE SHEETS:
Context:
Scientists inBangladesh have developed a method to convert Jute fibre into low-cost bio-degradable cellulose sheets named 'Sonali' which can be used as wrapping material and carrying bag. Details: Mubarak Ahmad Khan, the scientific adviser to the state-run Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) and leader of the team that developed the new 'Sonali'. The Eco-friendly jute poly bags made up of Sonali can be used in garments and food packaging work and they are not harmful for human health. The main challenge in the large scale adoption of Sonali sheet is the relatively high cost of production which is almost double that of polythene.
IRAN TEST FIRED A SHAHAB-3 MEDIUM-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE :
The missile was launched from southern Iran and flew around 1,100 km to an area east of Tehran. Derived from the North Korean No Dong (Rodong), the liquid-fuel Shahab-3 was unveiled in 1998. The Shahab-3 is widely believed to be capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.
CENTRE TO LAUNCH DEEP OCEAN MISSION :
Context:
A five-year, ₹8,000-crore plan to explore the deepest recesses of the ocean has finally got the green signal from the government.
Details:
The ‗Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)‘ to be led by the Union Earth Sciences Ministry will commence from October 31. The mission proposes to explore the deep ocean similar to the space exploration started by ISRO about 35 years ago. India has been allotted a site of 75,000 sq. km. in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) by the UN International Sea Bed Authority for exploitation of polymetallic nodules (PMN). These are rocks scattered on the seabed containing iron, manganese, nickel and cobalt. Being able to lay hands on even 10% of that reserve can meet the energy requirement for the next 100 years. It has been estimated that 380 million metric tonnes of polymetallic nodules are available at the bottom of the seas in the Central Indian Ocean.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 100
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
IIT HYDERABAD DEVELOPS LOW-COST, ECO-FRIENDLY SOLAR CELLS USING 'KUMKUM DYE':
News:
Scientists at IIT Hyderabad have developed low-cost, environment-friendly solar cells by employing an off- the-shelf dye used to make kumkum or vermilion in India. The dye-sensitised solar cell (DSSC) is based on New Fuchsin (NF) dye with aqueous electrolyte and platinum-free counter electrodes, according to the research published in the Solar Energy journal. In order to get around the limitations of using silicon, the IIT Hyderabad team started working on solar cells based on organic materials, which were supposedly inexpensive and easy to fabricate. However, there were many drawbacks impeding the organic photovoltaic technology as organics (plastic) are less robust.
MICRODOTS IN VEHICLES:
News:
Invisible microdots will now come affixed on vehicles and their parts to prevent theft as well as to check fake spare parts.The government issued a draft notification for amending the Motor Vehicles Rules. "The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification amending Central Motor Vehicle Rules, allowing motor vehicles and their parts, components, assemblies, sub-assemblies to be affixed with permanent and nearly invisible microdots that can be read physically with a microscope and identified with an ultraviolet light source. Microdot technology involves spraying the body and parts of the vehicle or any other machine with microscopic dots, which give a unique identification. The microdots and adhesive will become permanent fixtures/affixation which cannot be removed without damaging the asset, that is the vehicle itself.
IMPORTANT DAYS
NATIONAL DOCTOR‘S DAY - JULY 01 National Doctor's Day in India is observed on 1st July every year from 1991.It aims to raise awareness about the roles, importance and responsibilities of doctors. It also to promote medical professionals to come closer and take their responsibilities dedicatedly. The theme of National Doctor‘s Day 2019 is ―Zero tolerance to violence against doctors and clinical establishment‖. This Day is observed to honour the legendary physician and West Bengal's second Chief Minister, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy whose birth and death anniversary coincides in the same day.
GST DAY – JULY 1
1st July 2019 is being celebrated as GST (Goods & Services Tax) Day. This year marks the 2nd anniversary of implementation of tax reforms. GST is a multi-stage, destination-based tax that is levied on every value addition.
VAN MAHOTSAV WEEK / JULY 1 – 7
The annual van Mahotsav week is celebrated in India in the first week of July. During this festival thousands of trees are planted all over India. It was started in 1950 by K. M. Munshi, the then Union Minister for Agriculture and Food at that time. This celebration aims to create awareness in the minds of the people for the conservation of forests and planting of new trees.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 101
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
WORLD SPORTS JOURNALISTS DAY - JULY 2
World Sports Journalists Day was observed on every year July 2. It is celebrated to mark the services of sports journalists for the promotion of sports. It was established by the International Sports and Press Association in 1994 to mark the 70th anniversary of its foundation.
WORLD UFO DAY - JULY 2
World UFO (Unidentified Flying Objects) day was observed all over the world on every year July 2. It is celebrated to increase awareness among people about the existence of UFO. The first World UFO Day was celebrated in 2001. Earlier, the day was celebrated on June 24, but World UFO day Organization declared July 2 as the world UFO day to celebrate it on a larger scale.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF COOPERATIVES – JULY 6
The international day of cooperatives is an annual celebration of cooperatives movement held annually on July 6. It was first celebrated on the first Saturday of July in 1923. Since 1995 the first Saturday of July is observed the world over as UN International Day of Cooperatives. Theme of celebration for 2019 is ―Coops 4 Decent Work‖.
WORLD POPULATION DAY – JULY 11 World Population Day is adopted on July 11 every year. World Population Day seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues. It was established by the then Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989.The Day was first marked on 11 July 1990. Theme: None
WORLD YOUTH SKILLS DAY - JULY 15
World Youth Skills Day observed on 15th July. In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 15th July as World Youth Skills Day. The goal is to achieve better socio-economic conditions for today‘s youth as a means of addressing the challenges of unemployment and under employment. Theme: "Learning to learn for life and work".
SHARK AWARENESS DAY – JULY 14
Shark Awareness Day is observed on July 14 of every year. Theme for the year 2019 is "The sharks in crisis: a call to action for the Mediterranean. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) said that more than half of shark and ray species in the Mediterranean were under threat due to overfishing and plastic pollution.
KAMARAJ 117TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY – JULY 15
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister inaugurated a memorial for the former CM, the late K Kamaraj, coinciding with the latter's 117th birth anniversary on July 15. His memorial has been built at Virudhunagar. since 2006, this day is celebrated as ―Education Development day‖.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 102
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE DAY – JULY 17
World Day for International Justice, also referred to as Day of International Criminal Justice or International Justice Day, is an international day celebrated throughout the world on July 17. The aim of the day is to promote international criminal justice and as a way of supporting the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
NELSON MANDELA DAY – JULY 18
Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual international day celebrated each year on 18 July in honour of Nelson Mandela and on his Mandela's birthday. The day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009 with the first UN Mandela Day held on 18 July 2010. This day is observed as a day to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela, South Africa's former President, and his values, through volunteering and community service.
INTERNATIONAL CHESS DAY – JULY 20:
The International Chess Day is celebrated annually on July 20, the day the International Chess Federation (FIDE) was founded, in 1924. From 20 July, 1966, International Chess Day started celebrating to honour the founding of FIDE. To celebrate International Chess Day on 20 July was proposed by UNESCO.
NATIONAL BROADCASTING DAY – JULY 23
The national broadcasting day in India is celebrated annually on July 23. On July 23, 1927 the first ever radio broadcast in the country went on the air from the Bombay Station under a private company, the Indian Broadcasting Company. On 8th of June, 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service became All India Radio (AIR). The motto of AIR is ―Bahujan Hitaya Bahujan Sukhaya‖.
INCOME TAX DAY – JULY 24
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) celebrated the 159th Income Tax Day on July 24, 2019. It was on 24th July, 1860 that Income Tax was introduced for the first time in India by Sir James Wilson. It was introduced to compensate for the losses incurred by the British regime during the 1857 first war of independence against British Rule.
OPERATION VIJAY 20 - KARGIL WAR DAY JULY - 26
The Kargil War was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control (LOC). It is also referred to as Operation Vijay. July 26, 2019 marks the 20th anniversary of the successful culmination of Operation Vijay against Pakistani infiltrators.
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE MANGROVES – JULY 26
The UN International Day for the Conservation of the Mangroves is observed every year on July 26. The day was first adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2015. This day aims to raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as ―a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem".
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 103
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
WORLD HEPATITIS DAY – JULY 28
World Hepatitis Day (WHD) 2019 is being observed every year on July 28. The 63rd World Health Assembly declared July 28 as WHD.The day aims to raise awareness about the group of infectious diseases known as Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E and prevent infection. The theme of observance for 2019 is ―Invest in eliminating hepatitis‖.
WORLD NATURE CONSERVATION DAY – JULY 28
The World Nature Conservation day is observed every year on July 28.
The day aims to raise awareness about protecting the natural resources and to make people understand about the importance of the conservation of nature.
WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS - 30 JULY
In 2013, the UN General Assembly designated 30 July as the annual World Day against Trafficking in Persons. The day aims to raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.
OTHER IMPORTANT DAYS:
National Charted Account Day - July1
National Parernts Day - July 28
SPORTS NEWS
34TH SAILING CHAMPIONSHIP INAUGURATED IN TELANGANA:
Context:
The 34th edition of the national level sailing championship, 'Hyderabad Sailing Week' was inaugurated by Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan on Tuesday. The championship held every year in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad is going to be held at the Hussain Sagar Lake.
SPORTS CENTRES IN ARUNACHAL
Context:
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju has announced that three Sports Centre of Excellence will be established in Itanagar. The three centres of excellence will be for Martial Arts, Weight Lifting and Boxing.
WORLD CUP 2019:
5 centuries in 9 matches:Rohit sharma became the first player to smash five centuries in a World Cup after his 103 against Sri Lanka at Headingley to consolidate his position as this tournament's leading scorer.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 104
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Jasprit Bumrah took just 57 ODIs to pick up 100 wickets for India. Bumrah is the second fastest Indian behind Mohammed Shami to achieve the feat.
U.S. BEATS NETHERLANDS, WINS 4TH WOMEN‘S WORLD CUP TITLE:
The U.S. won its record fourth Women‘s World Cup title and second in a row, beating the Netherlands 2-0 Sunday night when Rapinoe converted a tiebreaking penalty kick in the second half and Rose Lavelle added a goal. The U.S. is the first team to reach three consecutive finals and joins Germany as a repeat champion (2003 and 2007). With Sunday's win, the U.S. has a record four Women's World Cup trophies.
WRESTLING GRAND PRIX OF SPAIN: India‘s top wrestler Vinesh Phogat won her first gold medal in 53 kg category bybeating Netherlands‘ Jessica Blaszka in the finals of Wrestling Grand Prix. Divya Kakran claimed the gold medal in 68kg by beating an opponent from Poland. India finished overall second in the tournament. Russia topped.
RAHUL DRAVID APPOINTED HEAD OF OPERATIONS AT NATIONAL CRICKET ACADEMY: Former India captain Rahul Dravid was on Monday appointed as Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), the BCCI has announced. Mr Dravid will oversee all cricket related activities at NCA and will be involved in mentoring, coaching, training and motivating players, coaches and support staff at the NCA." The BCCI did not specify the tenure of appointment for Dravid, who will also be responsible for monitoring progress of the developmental teams and provide necessary inputs on the same to the senior men's and women's head coaches.
DUTEE CHAND WON GOLD: Dutee Chand wins 100m Gold in historic victory for India. Dutee, who has become the fastest woman of India, completed the 100-metre race in 11.32 seconds at the World University Games. She was the first to get off the blocks in the eight-woman final and thwarted a late challenge from Switzerland‘s Del Ponte (11.33s) to finish on top. Lisa KwaYie of Germany took the bronze in 11.39s.
G. KOSANOV MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL MEET:
G. Kosanov Memorial international meet held in Kazakhstan. Medal tally by india:
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 105
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
COMMONWEALTH CHAMPIONSHIPS:
News:
Indian weightlifter Ajay Singh Friday created a new Commonwealth record in the clean and jerk category en route to a gold medal at the Commonwealth Championships here Friday. The 22-year-old, who is competing in the 81kg category, also smashed the national record in the clean and jerk event by lifting more than double his body weight (190kg) to score vital points at the Olympic qualifying event. P Anuradha lifted 221kg (100kg+121kg) to grab the first place in the men‘s 87kg category, while Commonwealth gold medallist RV Rahul settled for the second spot by lifting 325kg (145 kg+180kg) in the 89kg event.
IOA FORMS AD-HOC COMMITTEE TO RUN TAEKWONDO AFFAIRS:
News:
The Indian Olympic Association has formed an ad-hoc panel to run the affairs of taekwondo in the country and conduct the federation's election within six months. The five member ad-hoc panel will be headed by IOA joint secretary Namdev Shirgaonkar. The other members are S M Bali (IOA joint secretary), Sunaina Kumari (IOA vice-president), Digvijay Singh (IOA Executive Council member) and a nominee of the International Taekwondo Federation. The IOA had earlier formed an ad-hoc panel to run the affairs of its Assam unit and hold elections, while also constituting a governance committee for similar purpose for the sport of golf.
CENTRE WILL SET UP INDIA HOUSE FOR ATHLETES AT TOKYO OLYMPICS:
News:
The Ministry of Youth Affairs And Sports will set up an ―India House‖ during the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 to cater to the needs of participating Indian athletes. India House in Tokyo that will take care of the food needs of the Indian athletes. There will be regular inspections every six months to ensure that sports facilities managed by the government are up to the mark and officials found responsible for any shortcomings will be pulled up.
ENGLAND LIFT MAIDEN WORLD CUP :
England became the 6th country after West Indies, Australia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to win the World Cup & 3rd country to lift World Cup on home soil. England beat New Zealand in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup on boundary count after a tied match and a tied Super Over.
Some Facts:
Man of the series - Kane Williamson
Golden Bat Award - Rohit Sharma (648runs)
Golden Ball Award - Mitchell Starc ( 26 wkts)
World cul started in 1975 (@England) - won by West Indies
It was the 12th edition of world cup
Australia have won more no of world cups ( 5 w.c).
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 106
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
DJOKOVIC BEATS FEDERER TO WIN FIFTH WIMBLEDON TITLE IN LONGEST EVER FINAL:
Novak Djokovic saved two match points to clinch a fifth Wimbledon title and 16th major on Sunday, shattering Roger Federer's bid to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in the longest final ever played at the tournament. At 4 hours and 57 minutes, it was the longest Wimbledon final ever played and settled by a final set tiebreak for the first time.
All time list of some major winners:
Boxer Vijender Singh wins 11th consecutive pro bout:
Indian boxing star Vijender Singh remained an unstoppable force, clinching a win with a Technical Knockout over the more experienced Mike Snider on his debut in the US professional circuit. In what was to be a super middleweight eight-rounder on Saturday night (early Sunday morning in India), the 33-year-old from Haryana prevailed in four rounds for his 11th consecutive victory. The 38-year-old Snider was flailing his arms without any significant force in his punches for most of the bout.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 107
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Sunil Chhetri named AIFF Player of the Year for a record 6th time:
The 34-year-old striker, who has been in peak form in the last couple of years, has earlier won the honour in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2017. Chhetri is currently the second highest international goal scorers among active players with 70 strikes to his name, behind Cristiano Ronaldo (149). Ace India international Ashalata Devi was named the AIFF Women's Footballer of the Year 2018-19).
KIREN RIJIJU CONFERS ARJUNA AWARDS TO ROHAN BOPANNA AND SMRITI MANDHANA:
News:
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju conferred Arjuna Awards to tennis player Rohan Bopanna and women cricketer Smriti Mandhana. The duo did not receive the Arjuna Awards during the Award ceremony held last year on September 25 in Rashtrapati Bhawan, as they were out of the country taking part in international tournaments. Bopanna who won the gold medal in tennis men's double category in Asian Games 2018 was awarded the Arjuna Award.
ISSF JUNIOR WORLD CUP:
Anish Bhanwala on Wednesday won his second ISSF Junior World Cup gold in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol, while Esha Singh bagged a silver in women's 10m air pistol, consolidating India's top position in Suhl, Germany. Anish had won his first Junior World Cup gold in the event in Sydney last year.
SACHIN IS SIXTH INDIAN CRICKET HALL OF FAME:
News:
Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar has been inducted into the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Hall of Fame alongside South African pace legend Allan Donald. The 46-year-old, who retired in November 2013, tallied 15,921 runs in Tests and 18,426 in ODIs, both of which remain records. The highest run-scorer in Test matches and ODIs, the 'God of cricket' has 100 international centuries. Tendulkar became the sixth Indian to be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, after Bishen Singh Bedi, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid.
ICC HALL OF FAME GUIDELINES:
ICC Cricket Hall of Fame aims to recognize the achievements of legendary cricketers. As per ICC guidelines, a player has to be internationally retired for at least five years to be inducted in Hall of Fame.
COMMONWEALTH WEIGHTLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP 2019- OVERVIEW:
News:
Weightlifting events were held across three categories —senior, junior and youth. India won 35 medals across the three age groups. India won 35 medals (22 golds, 10 silvers and 3 bronze medals) across 3 age groups; with 32 different athletes (15 men and 17 women) securing medals thus securing 1st spot in medal tally of tournament. Mirabai Chanu: Won gold in women‘s 49 kg with a total lift of 191 kg. She is gold medalist at 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2018 Khel Ratna awardee.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 108
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
P Anuradha of Tamil Nadu won gold in the 221 kg category.
INDIAN BODYBUILDER RAVINDER MALIK CLINCHES MR SOUTH ASIA TITLE:
News:
Indian bodybuilder Ravinder Kumar Malik has clinched Mr. South Asia title. He has crowned the overall champion at 12th South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship in Kathmandu yesterday. Malik, the winner of 80 kg category, was adjudged best bodybuilder among the winners of nine senior men's weight categories. A total of 91 bodybuilders participated in the championship organised by South Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation under the auspices of Nepal Bodybuilding and Fitness Association.
Indonesia Open Final :
P.V.Sindhu lost the Indonesia Open final to Japanese Akane Yamaguchi held at Jakarata.This is only the 5th defeat for Sindhu in 15 meetings against Yamaguchi. PV Sindhu suffered a heart-breaking loss to Japan's Akane Yamaguchi as she went down 15-21, 16-21 in the final of the Indonesia Open on Sunday.
KESHAV DUTT, PRASUN BANERJEE CHOSEN FOR MOHUN BAGAN RATNA:
News:
Two-time Olympic gold medal winning Hockey Player Keshav Dutt and former India Football Captain Prasun Banerjee are selected for Mohun Bagan Ratna Award 2019.
ABOUT MOHUN BAGAN RATNA:
It is an award presented each year on Mohun Bagan Day to outstanding former players. 1st recipient was former captain Sailen Manna in 2001. Mohun Bagan Day: Every year 29 July is celebrated as Mohun Bagan Day.
HARMEET DESAI, AYHIKA MUKHERJEE WIN SINGLES GOLD:
News:
Table Tennis, hosts India completed a clean sweep, claiming all the seven gold medals at the 21st Commonwealth Championships, which concluded yesterday in Cuttack. Harmeet Desai and Ayhika Mukherjee won the men's and women's singles titles Yesterday. Harmeet defeated favourite G. Sathiyan 4-3 in a hard-fought final to claim the men's singles title. Indian paddlers topped the medals tally with seven gold, five silver and three bronze. England won two silver and three bronze medals. Singapore got 6 bronze medals while Malaysia and Nigeria got 1 bronze each.
DEJAN PAPIC APPOINTED INDIA'S TABLE TENNIS COACH:
News:
Dejan Papic's joining as the new head coach of the Indian table tennis team came to an end on Tuesday when the Canadian accepted a one-year contract offered by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The Indian paddlers haven't had a head coach since the Asian Games last year, and have lost crucial time ahead of the qualification events for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Former coach Massimo Costantini quit after the Asian Games last year citing personal reasons.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 109
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
VIVEK KOHLI ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF COMMONWEALTH TT FEDERATION:
News:
India's Vivek Kohli and M P Singh have been elected as chairman and secretary general respectively of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation (CTTF). elections were held in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, close to the venue of the commenwealth Championships taking place in Cuttack. Stag chief Kohli defeated incumbent Alan Ransome of England, who both secured 22 and six votes respectively. Mp.Singh, who is secretary general at Table Tennis Federation of India (TTF), was unanimously elected as secretary general of CTTF.
CHINA‘S TIANGONG 2 WAS DESTROYED :
News:
Tiangong-2 was a manned Chinese space station that was destroyed upon its controlled re-entry into the Earth‘satmosphere over the Pacific Ocean on July 19. Tiangong-2 was retired from service after it had completed its experiments in space. Tiangong-2 was 10.4 metres long and 3.35 metres wide at its widest point, and weighed 8.6 metric tonnes. It was launched on September 15, 2016 and, in late 2016, hosted two Chinese astronauts for 30 days in what was China‘s longest manned space mission so far. China had launched Tiangong-1 in 2011 as proof-of-concept of technologies for future stations.
WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP 2019-21:
News:
Test cricket has for long been considered the 'pinnacle of the sport' by ardent fans and cricket experts. It only seemed fit to have a marquee event for the longest format of the sport. The World Test Championship is the ICC's move to create a 'World Cup' for Test cricket. The first Ashes Test match will also be the first game of the Inaugural World Test Championship. The two-match Test series to be played during India's tour of West Indies beginning August this year will also be the start of both teams' campaign in the Test Championship. The two teams with the most points at the end of the league will contest the final in England in June 2021. Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan will not be playing in the championship. The points system is further explained in the table below.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 110
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
BYJU'S REPLACES OPPO AS TEAM INDIA'S OFFICIAL SPONSOR:
News:
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Thursday announced that Bengaluru-based education and learning app Byju's, which is owned by Think and Learn Private Limited, has replaced Oppo India as the official Team India sponsor.
Details:
The deal period will begin from 5 September, 2019 until 31 March, 2022 Byju's logo will start appearing on the Indian team jersey when the home series against South Africa begins. In March 2017, Oppo offered to pay Rs.1,079 crore, almost double the Board of Control for Cricket in India‘s (BCCI‘s) reserve price of Rs.538 crore. Oppo‘s five-year deal, which was to end in March 2022, included the right to be called the official team sponsor and the right to display a commercial logo on the clothing of the men‘s cricket team, the under-19 side, the men‘s A-Team and the women‘s squad.
HUNGARIAN 19-YEAR OLD SWIMMING SENSATION BREAKS MICHAEL PHELPS‘ 10-YEAR-OLD RECORD:
News:
Hungarian swimmer Kristof Milak broke Michael Phelps 200 metres butterfly world record to win the gold medal at the World swimming championships being held in Gwangju, South Korea. The 19-year-old teenager clocked at 1:50.73 to surpass Phelps‘ record (1:51.51) by 0.78 seconds, that was set at the world championships in Rome, almost ten years ago. He was followed by Japan‘s Daiya Seto and South Africa‘s Chad le Clos, who stood second and third respectively. While Seto clocked 1:53.86, Clos clocked 1:54.15 at the event.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 111
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
BCCI APPROVES INDIAN CRICKETERS ASSOCIATION:
News:
The BCCI has approved the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA), the body formed as per the board‘s new constitution to look after the interest of former players.
Details:
The ICA is not affiliated to Federation of International Cricketers‘ Association (FICA) and is only open to former men and women cricketers, unlike the players‘ associations in most countries. Indian Cricketers‘ Association (ICA), a non-profit company limited by guarantee incorporated on July 5, 2019 under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013, as the official association for ex-cricketers in India. Former India cricketers Kapil Dev, Ajit Agarkar and Shantha Rangaswamy are the directors at ICA and will hold their positions until elections are held.
HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE FORMED TO STRATEGISE PREPARATIONS FOR 2020, 2024 OLYMPICS:
News:
A high level 10-member committee has been constituted on Friday under the chairmanship of Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju to coordinate and strategise the preparation for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics. The aim of the committee for the Tokyo Games would be to provide all possible support to potential and qualified athletes, facilitating smooth logistical arrangements for participation of the Indian athletes, ensuring seamless acclimatisation and hospitable environment for the contingent. For the 2024 Paris Games, the committee would chart out a road-map for the preparation and then will continuously review and suggest course correction whenever required.
MARY KOM WINS GOLD MEDAL:
News:
Six-time World champion Mary Kom (51kg) and 2018 World Championships bronze winner Simranjit Kaur (60kg) grabbed gold as Indian boxers finished their campaign at the 23rd President‘s Cup in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia with nine medals on Sunday. M.C. Mary Kom, who claimed the gold destroying Australian April Franks 5-0 in a lop-sided final. Simranjit Kaur was equally impressive in her final against Indonesia‘s Asian Games bronze medallist Hasanah Huswatun, winning 5-0.
ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP 2023 :
News:
The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup will be held in India from February 9 to March 26, 2023. It will be the 13th edition of the men's Cricket World Cup and will also mark the first time that the tournament will be solely hosted by India. The country has previously hosted the tournament thrice (1987, 1996, 2011) but every time co-hosting it with its Asian neighbours. Similar to the World Cup 2019, the 2023 edition will also see the top-7 ranked sides plus the hosts (India) participating with the addition of 2 teams which would make it to the final of the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifiers. England have hosted the most number of World Cups - 5 in total (1975, 1979, 1983, 1999 and 2019). The 1987 World Cup remains the first edition to be hosted away from England in India and Pakistan.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 112
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
GERMAN F1 GRAND PRIX 2019:
News:
Max Verstappen picked up his second win of the season on Sunday in wet conditions at the German Formula One Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring, while Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton finished P11 after hitting the barriers twice. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel—who started 20th on the grid—took advantage of the chaos to secure second place, while Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat also made it onto the podium.
TAMIL NADU GIRL WINS GOLD IN WORLD DEAF YOUTH BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIP:
News:
Jerlin Anika, 15, has recently won gold medal at the World Deaf Youth Badminton Championships, Taiwan. She has also bagged two silver and one bronze medal in the championship. In recently held competition in Taipei, she has won a gold medal. This medal is for India. It is a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 113
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
NEWS BITS
An 82-member Special Rhino Protection Force which is trained to combat poachers and understand animal behaviour was recently deployed in Kaziranga National park. 2-day Meeting of Expert Working Group on Paris Pact Initiative on Illicit Financial Flows deriving from the trafficking of Opiates originating in Afghanistan was heldin New Delhi. Prime minister Narendra Modi has constituted a high powered committee of chief ministers to be convened by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for transforming Indian agriculture and raising farmers‘ income. Goa:An amendment proposed in the Factories Act, 1948 will facilitate women to work in night shifts from 7 pm and 6 am. Cabinet on Wednesday approved the amendment Bill and introduction of the same in Goa legislative assembly. Haryana government has introduced a scheme called ‗Jal Hi Jeevan Hai‘ in its northern districts. It is a crop diversification scheme and promotes farmers to diversify paddy area into maize, arhar dal (pigeon pea) and soybean crops which require less water. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Maldives for the establishment of passenger and cargo services by sea. India batsman Ambati Rayudu announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Wednesday, the 33- year-old confirmed through a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Karnataka Bank Ltd has launched the web tool – ‗Vasool So-Ft‘ (Vasool So-Fast) – for digitalising the NPA (non-performing asset) recovery process of the bank. The world's largest burn and plastic surgery institute in Dhaka started functioning from yesterday. Reliance Jio on Wednesday announced a digital literacy initiative for the first-time Internet users in the country.As part of the "Digital Udaan" initiative in collaboration with Facebook, Jio will engage with its users every Saturday to help them learn about JioPhone features, use of various apps and Internet safety including use of Facebook. The Prime Minister unveiled the statue of former Prime Minister Sh. Lal Bahadur Shastri at the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi. He then launched the tree-plantation drive at Anand Kanan Vatika in Varanasi. Assam Government will be developing around 316 tourist spots in the state in a move to promote tourism in the region. As per the latest news reports, Managing Director of Assam Tourism Development Corporation Bhaskar Phukan informed that INR 150 crore will be infused to develop these locations under the scheme called AXOM DARSHAN. A Home For Gentle Giants: Kerala Gets India's First Ever Elephant Rehabilitation Centre. Tourists may soon have to mandatorily pay a ‗green tax‘ in Uttarakhand.The tax would be decided by the urban local body of the place and the revenue generated thus would be utilised for the area‘s development and sustenance of eco-friendly practices. The centuries-old Puja was inaugurated by the Chief Minister in the presence of a host of ministers, dignitaries and people from different parts of the country, officials said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted everyone, especially the people of Tripura on the occasion of the auspicious Puja. France to Impose Green Tax on All Outgoing Flight Tickets, 180 Million Euros Yearly Revenue Expected Seeking to limit the environmental impact of air travel, the new measure is expected to bring in about 180 million euros a year which will be invested in greener transport infrastructure, notably rail. Centre bans pro-Khalistan fringe group Sikhs for Justice, Punjab CM welcomes move. The Home Ministry on Wednesday banned pro-Khalistan fringe group Sikhs for Justice. Delhi girl Isha Kanth is one of the two persons in the world to have bagged an internship programme at the International Court of Justice based in Hague. Japan‘s Hayabusa2 space probe made a ―perfect‖ touchdown on a distantasteroid, collecting samples from beneath the surface in an unprecedented mission that could shed light on the origins of the solar system. This is the first time the sub-surface material from a celestial body further away than the moon is collected.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 114
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Ulut Rath Yatra', the return car festival of Lord Jagannath was celebrated at Mayapur, the global headquarters of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Nadia district, apart from different parts of West Bengal. Madhya Pradesh, continuous rain has damaged Asia's largest solar Power project in Rewa.The damage was caused after heavy rain triggered a mudslide. Now the rain has stopped, and experts are busy repairing this power plant. Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh was honored last week in New Delhi with the first-ever Gandhi Mandela Peace Prize. The Gandhi Mandela Peace Initiative was organized by Dr. Annurag Batra of the Believe Foundation, based in India, Tarina Patel of the Dr. Ramanbhai Patel Foundation of South Africa, and Kartikeya Sharma of the Sunday Guardian Foundation. Agri Business Incubation Centre has started in Chhattisgarh. The centre has been set up by the Union Agriculture Ministry in Indira Gandhi Agriculture University of Raipur. The United Nations, at its General Assembly in November 2014, declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day. WorldSkills is proud to be part of a global recognition and promotion of skills. Theme: "Learning to learn for life and work". K. Jennitha Anto Wins GOLD in the Women Section of the 19th IPCA World Individual Chess Championship-2019, held in SLOVAKIA at Ruzumberok from 27-06-2019 to 07-07-2019. Pakistan has agreed to give year-long visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to the holy Gurdwara of Kartarpur Sahib. According to data compiled by the Internet Society‘s Online Trust Alliance, globally, losses from ransomware rose by 60% last year to $8 billion. The Golden Jubilee Edition of International Film Festival of India, IFFI will be held from 20th Nov till 28th November 2019 in Panaji, Goa. China's economic growth slowed to 6.2 % in the second quarter of this year. This is the weakest growth rate in the last 27 years for the world's second-largest economy. The government said on Monday that it plans to set up 4,200 Ayush wellness centres in the country in FY 2019-20 across several states. The government Wednesday permitted export of 1,239 tonnes raw sugar under its tariff-rate quota (TRQ) to the US, which enables shipments to enjoy relatively low tariff. The brand "Tata" has become India‘s most valuable brand for the second straight year in 2019, according to the Brand Finance India 100 2019 report. The Election Commission of India has appointed Ex- DG IT Chennai Sh B Murli Kumar (ex IRS - 1983) as Special Expenditure Observer for 8-Vellore Parliamentary Constituency that goes to polls now on 5th August 2019. The ICC suspended Zimbabwe Cricket for failing to fulfil their obligation of ensuring that there is no government interference in its administration. ICC's chairman Shashank Manohar said that what happened in Zimbabwe is a 'serious breach' of the ICC Constitution. G7 -Finance Ministers meeting in France today agreed a plan for taxing digital companies such as Facebook and Google that will set a minimum level of taxation for them. Kolkata Municipal Corporation has decided to launch special cleanliness drive in Dengue prone 22 wards in the city. In a jolt to the Andhra Pradesh government, the World Bank has "dropped" out of the Amaravati Sustainable Infrastructure and Institutional Development Project, pushing the state capital city's development into further jeopardy. Nelson Mandela International Day is an annual international day celebrated each year on 18 July in honour of Nelson Mandela and on his Mandela's birthday. A new species of flowering tree, Mischogyne iddi trees, was discovered in the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. It has been categorised ‗Endangered‘ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature‘s list. Tiruvallur Collector Mageswari Ravikumar appoints ―Venda‖ as ―Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Ambassador‖ for Tiruvallur district.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 115
Unique IAS Academy – TNPSC Current Affairs July 2019
Andhra Pradesh becomes first state to reserve 75% jobs in private industries and factories. state legislative assembly has passed a new act to this effect. Under the AP Employment of Local Candidates in Industries/Factories Act 2019. Reliance has toppled state-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) as the top-ranked Indian company. Indian companies in the Fortune Global 500 list include ONGC, State Bank of India, Tata Motors, Bharat Petroleum. Cars24, an online marketplace for used vehicles, has received the licence of a non-banking financial company (NBFC) from the Reserve Bank of India, and is venturing into the consumer lending business. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu released titled 'New-Age Technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0' book written by Rajya Sabha Member, Narendra Jadhav on Thursday. Recently, a pilot project which stores overflowing water from the Yamuna river in its floodplains, received a final approval with clearance from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday launched a statewide plantation programme themed ‗Clean-Green Arunachal 2019‘ with the aim of planting one lakh saplings within the next 24 hours. Gujarat government has passed 'The Gujarat Irrigation and Drainage (Amendment) Bill' which provides for stringent punishments including two years' jail term for ―Water Theft‖. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has launched an online encyclopedia called Securitypedia and a video interface for its personnel called CISFTube.CISF aims to empower its personnel by making technical know-how available to them at the click of a button. Kochi hosts global meet on shark trade. A four-day global expert meeting on shark trade got under way at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) with a call to address deep knowledge gaps and support the management of existing shark and ray fishery across the globe. IT major Wipro on Wednesday announced the launch of a global digital product compliance lab in Hyderabad with international standards for reliability, safety and security for customers across industries. The Tamilnadu State government has increased the MLA constituency development scheme allocation to the 3 crore per year from 2.5 crore per year. The MLACDS is fully funded by the State Government and each MLA identifies and proposes the works to be executed in his Constituency. India and Myanmar on Monday signed a defence co-operation agreement providing for boosting bilateral military engagement, weeks after the two countries carried out a coordinated operation targeting several militant groups operating in the Northeast. In the 20 conflict situations monitored in the 2018 edition of the Annual Report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, released Tuesday, more than 12,000 children were killed or maimed that year. IN LCU L-56, the sixth indigenously built Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class ship was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 29, 2019. Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar on Monday released the latest report of green ratings on fertilizer sector in New Delhi. The Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel has announced to include the remaining 02 languages from the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution i.e. Nepali and Santhali in the Sub- Field of Field ―Literature‖ in the scheme component ‗Award of Senior/Junior Fellowships to Outstanding Artistes in the Fields of Culture‘ Rajiv Kumar, Secretary, Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance, was on Tuesday designated as Finance Secretary.A 1984 batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, Mr. Kumar is the most senior official among the five Secretaries in the Ministry. stice SN Shukla of the Allahabad High Court has become the first sitting high court judge to be prosecuted while in office in nearly three decades. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to lodge an FIR against Justice Shukla.
0422 4204182, 9884267599 NVN Layout, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore Page 116