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VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE TNPSC Current Affairs JULY - 2020

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01 - 36 HISTORY 01 . Important Days . Defence National Security and Terrorism . World Organisations – Pacts and Summits . Eminent Persons . Sports and Games . Books & Authors . Awards & Honours . Cultural Panaroma . & its Neighbours . Appointments – Who is who?

37 - 39 POLITICAL SCIENCE 37 .India’s Foreign Policy .Latest Court Verdicts .Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility

40 - 43 GEOGRAPHY 40 .Policy on Environment and Ecology .Natural Disasters – Safeguard Measures

44 - 48 ECONOMICS 44 .New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector .Current Socio - Economic Problems 49 49 - 68 SCIENCE .Latest Inventions in Science & Technology . Latest Discoveries on Health Science . Mass Media & Communication

67 67 NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENTS

92 92 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

99 99 TAMIL NADU AFFAIRS

104 104 PRACTICE QUESTIONS Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Important Days History

1.1 Important Days

Date Day Theme / Remark The theme of 2020 Doctors Day is “Lessen July 1 National Doctors Day 2020 the Mortality of COVID-19” Goods and Service Tax (GST) day is observed annually on July 1. This year marks the 3rd anniversary of the launch of the day and was marked by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and all its field offices across India. Most of the interactions with stakeholders to mark this day were made in virtual mode due to COVID-19. 3rd Anniversary of GST Gist about GST July 1 day 2020 GST came into effect on 1st July 2017, through GST Act passed in parliament on 29th March 2017. GST has replaced various indirect taxes in India like, excise duty, Value-Added Tax (VAT) and services tax among others. About CBIC: It is a part of the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. International Day of The theme of the 2020 celebration is July 4 Cooperatives 2020 “COOPS 4 Climate Action”.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 1 Important Days Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

India celebrates 10th July every year as the “National Fish Farmers Day” to honor the fish farmers, aquapreneurs & fisher folks in National Fish Farmers Day July 10 recognition of their accomplishments in the 2020 field and their contribution in the growth of the fisheries sector in the country. This year it was 63rd National Fish Farmer’s Day. Theme of World Population Day 2020: Putting the brakes on COVID-19: July 11 World Population Day Safeguarding the health and rights of women and girls. The Second Counter-Terrorism Week at the United Nations was observed from 29 June to 3 July 2020 at the UN Headquarters, New York. The Virtual Counter-Terrorism Week Counter-Terrorism Week will be held from 6-10 July and convened under the overarching theme of “Strategic and Practical Challenges of Countering Terrorism in a Global Pandemic Environment” The theme of World Youth Skills Day 2020 15 July World Youth Skills Day is “Skills for a Resilient Youth“. The United Nations (UN) has adopted the Resolution on declaration of 2021 as International Year of Peace and Trust to strengthen the ideals of peace, both International Year of Peace within and between countries, which was and Trust 2021: UN initiated by the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the 106th plenary meeting of the 73rd session of the United Nation General Assembly. National Broadcasting Day July 23 2020

2 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Important Days

The 82nd Raising Day of Central Reserve Police Force was observed on 27 July 2020. The CRPF was founded as Crown Representative’s Police on July 27, 1939 and became the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on the enactment of the CRPF 82nd Raising Day of Central Act on December 28, 1949. Reserve Police Force CRPF has the mandate to secure internal security scenario and is at the forefront to keep our nation safe. The first battalion of the force was raised on July 27, 1939, as the Crown Representative’s Police (CRP) under the British in Neemuch town of Madhya Pradesh. 24th July 2020 is marked as the 160th Income Tax day or Aaykar Diwas by the . The Income Tax Day has been celebrated in India on 24th July since 2010. July 24 Income Tax Day 2020 In 2010, The Income Tax Department declared July 24th as the annual Income Tax Day to mark the 150th year of this levy, the income tax was first imposed as a duty and came into force on 24th July 1860. The theme of 2020 World Hepatitis Day is July 28 World Hepatitis Day 2020 “Hepatitis-free future”. The Global Tiger Day slogan for 2018, July 29 International Tiger Day 2020 2019 and 2020 is “Their Survival is in Our Hands”

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 3 Defence, National Security and Terrorism Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 1.2 Defence, National Security PM quotes from ‘Tirukkural’ again for soldiers in and Terrorism Prime Minister Narendra Modi quoted India, Japan Hold PASSEX Naval from Tamil classic ‘Tirukkural’ to Exercise to Promote Understanding reinforce that Indian armed forces have in Indian Ocean always followed the time honoured traditions of valour and honour.

In order to promote mutual Addressing troops during a surprise understanding, Indian Navy and visit to Ladakh, Modi quoted saint poet Japanese Navy (Japanese Maritime Self- Tiruvalluvar’s couplet “Maramanam Defence Force) have conducted a day manda vazhichelavu thetram yena long Naval Exercise PASSEX (Passing nangey yemam padaikku.” Exercise) for tactical and communications That is, the tradition and credibility of training, towards the Malacca Strait in the valour, honour, dignified behaviour, Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This was the these four qualities are the reflection of 15th exercise undertaken by the navies of the army of any country. Indian forces these two nations in the last three years. have always followed this path The Prime Minister has quoted from the ff The overall content of this PASSEX ‘Tirukkural’, which offers guidance to was goodwill training and to promote people from all walks of life, on earlier understanding. occasions too. ff Participants: The exercise consisted The verses quoted by him today are of four warships viz. Rajput-class from the 766th couplet under the chapter destroyer INS (Indian Naval Ship) ‘Padadi Matchi’ which means the dignity Rana and Kora-class missile corvette and honour of the armed forces. INS Kulish of Indian Navy and JS Tirukkural is a revered classic work in Kashima (TV 3508) and JS Shimayuki Tamil and the ancient treatise deals with (TV 3513) of JMSDF’s training several subjects. squadron. ‘Operation Setu’ gets completed; ff India-China Tension: The Indian and Indian Navy brings back 3,992 Indians Chinese armies are engaged in a tense

standoff in several locations in eastern Operation ‘Samudra Setu’ has been completed successfully by Indian Ladakh and the tension increased Navy by bringing back 3,992 Indians manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were stranded overseas amid the outbreak of killed in a violent clash in Galwan novel Coronavirus. The operation was Valley on June 15. launched on May 5. INS Shardul, INS ff Japan-China Tension: There is also Airavat, INS Magar (Landing ship Tanks) growing tension between Japan and and Jalashwa (Landing Platform Dock) China over Senkaku islands. participated in operation.

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DRDO developed fully indigenous P7 AS, Norway for the construction and Heavy Drop System for IL 76 aircraft supply of the two autonomous electric As a part of programme, ferries along with an option to build two DRDO has developed P7 Heavy Drop more identical vessels. System (HDS) which is capable of para This autonomous electrical vessel project dropping military stores (vehicle/ is an ambitious one in Norway, partially ammunition/ equipment) up to 7-ton funded by the Norwegian Government, weight class from IL 76 aircraft [Ilyushin and aims at emission-free transport of Il-76 or Gajraj (elephant king)]. goods across the Oslo fjord.

The design of this fully indigenous These vessels will be managed system has been developed by Aerial by Massterly AS, a joint venture Delivery Research and Development between Kongsberg, the world leader Establishment (ADRDE), a pioneer in autonomous technology, and Research & Development (R&D) lab of Wilhelmsen, one of the largest maritime DRDO based in Agra, (UP). shipping companies in the world. It’s platform system was manufactured by Indian Navy Conducts Naval Exercises L&T (Larsen & Toubro) while parachutes in Andaman and Nicobar Islands manufactured by Ordnance Factory. Indian Navy conducted major Naval Armed forces get special financial exercises in the Andaman and Nicobar powers Islands led by Sanjay Vatsayan, Chief The Defence Ministry has granted special Rear Admiral of Eastern naval fleet as a powers to the three services for individual display of strategic intents against China capital procurement programme worth amid the current military conflicts in the Rs 300 crore to meet emergent operational Northeastern borders in Ladakh. requirements. About Indian Navy: This will shrink the procurement Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)– Admiral timelines and ensure placement of orders Karambir Singh. within six months.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Indian Navy hold PASSEX with US’s the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) Nimitz carrier group in Indian Ocean headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Region Singh. Indian Navy undertook a short joint Cochin Shipyard Limited signs naval Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with contract for construction of world’s the United States (US) Navy near the first Autonomous electric vessels for Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) islands in Norway the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to conduct Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has maritime drills, against the backdrop signed a contract with ASKO Maritime of the India-China border standoff in

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Ladakh. are sent in order to provide accurate India was represented by Rajput class surveillance along the Line of Actual destroyer INS (Indian Naval Ship) Rana Control in high altitude and mountainous (D52), two Shivalik class indigenously terrains of Eastern Ladakh. built stealth frigates – INS Sahyadri Bharat Drones is a series of drones that (F49) and INS Shivalik (F47) and anti comes under one of the world’s lightest submarine corvette of the Kamorta class and agile drone surveillance systems and INS Kamorta (P28). is made in India. Bharat drones are equipped with artificial Trials of anti-tank guided missile intelligence which helps the drone to ‘Dhruvastra’ conducted in Odisha detect friends from foes and helps take The trials of Helicopter-launched any action accordingly. Nag Missile anti-tank guided missile The drones are further being developed ‘Dhruvastra’ were conducted on July 15- to perform in harsher weather. 16 at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore, Odisha. The missile was earlier Indian Air Force Commanders’ named as HELINA. Conference begins in The trails were conducted without a Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has helicopter in direct and top attack mode. inaugurated the Air Force Commanders’ In July 2019, the DRDO had conducted Conference (AFCC) at Air Headquarters three successful test firings of the Nag (Vayu Bhawan) . missiles in the Pokhran firing ranges. The Air Force Commanders’ Conference Nag was one of the first five strategic (AFCC) will be held with the theme “IAF missiles, which was planned to be in the Next Decade”. developed under the Integrated Missile AFCC is a three days conference which Development Programme initiated in will be chaired by the Chief of the Air Staff the 1980s. The other missiles developed (CAS), Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. under the project include Agni, Prithvi The plan of action for operational and Akash, all of which were successfully capability enhancement of the IAF in the developed and inducted into the armed next decade would be deliberated during forces. the conference.

Indian Army gets ‘Bharat’ drones for IAF to get HAMMER missiles accurate surveillance The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to Defence Research and Development further boost the capabilities of its Rafael Organisation (DRDO) has provided combat fighters, which are set to arrive drones named ‘Bharat’ to the Indian from France soon, by equipping them Army. with the deadly HAMMER missiles. The indigenously developed drones HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular

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Munition Extended Range) is a medium- and 7th Port globally to sign up for the range air-to-ground weapon designed Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). and manufactured for the French Air By signing the commitment letter to Force and Navy initially. SBTi, APSEZ is committed to set science- The HAMMERs would give India the based emissions reduction targets (across capability to take out any bunkers or their entire value chain) that keep global hardened shelters in any type of terrain warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial including the mountainous locations levels. such as Eastern Ladakh, according to the APSEZ is one out of 43 Indian companies defence experts. who have signed a commitment letter to HAMMER – the new generation medium- SBTi. range modular air-to-ground weapon APSEZ has also signed a commitment as had been designed and manufactured by a supporter to the Task Force on Climate Sagem (Safran group) for the French Air Related Financial Disclosure (TCFD). Force and Navy. Science-based targets The science based targets are greenhouse Largest Solar Power Plant of Indian gas emissions reduction targets that are Navy Commissioned in line with the level of decarbonisation Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla, required to meet the goals of the Paris Commanding-in-Chief of Southern Climate Agreement ie., to control global Naval Command commissioned a 3 MW warming below 2°C above pre-industrial Solar Power Plant at the Indian Naval levels and pursue efforts to limit warming Academy, Ezhimala through virtual to 1.5°C. conferencing. The solar plant is Indian Navy’s largest DRDO launches ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ plant and has an estimated life of 25 contest years. Its launch is in line with the centre’s An innovation contest ‘Dare to Dream initiative of ‘National Solar Mission’ to 2.0’ has been launched by the Defence achieve 100GW of solar power by 2022. Research and Development Organisation All components of the plant were (DRDO). indigenously sourced including 9180 The contest was launched on the 5th highly efficient monocrystalline solar death anniversary of former President panels employing the latest technology. and noted scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. ‘Dare to Dream 2.0’ has been launched APSEZ Becomes the 1st Indian Port as an open challenge to promote the and 7th Port Globally to Sign Up for innovators and startups of the country. the Science-Based Targets initiative The contest has been launched for Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone emerging technologies to encourage the Ltd (APSEZ) becomes the 1st Indian port individuals & startups for innovation in

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defence and aerospace technologies in the country. After due evaluation, an expert committee will decide the winners of the contest. The winners would be awarded with prize money of up to Rs 10 lakh for startup and Rs five lakh to individual category.

Five Rafale fighter jets arrive in Ambala Nearly 23 years after Sukhoi aircraft were imported, a fleet of five French- manufactured Rafale multi-role combat jets touched down in India, giving the country’s air power a strategic edge over its adversaries in the neighbourhood. The aircraft, having an undisputed track record and considered one of the most potent combat jets globally, landed at the Ambala Air Force base after covering a distance of 7,000 km from the Merignac airbase in French port city of Bordeaux. The Rafales were escorted by two Sukhoi 30 MKIs after they entered the Indian air space. The touchdown of Rafale combat aircrafts in India marks the beginning of a new era in our Military History. These multirole aircrafts will revolutionise the capabilities of the IAF. The fleet, comprising three single seater and two twin seater aircraft, are being inducted into the IAF as part of its Ambala-based No 17 Squadron, also known as the ‘Golden Arrows’.

8 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits 1.3 World Organisations – China is the biggest contributor to e-waste with 10.1 million tonnes (mt) followed by Pacts and Summits the United States (US) with 6.9 mt and India with 3.2 mt at 2nd and 3rd rank respectively. 45.8 million Women Missing in India This report is jointly prepared by the over the Past 50 Years: UNFPA Report Global E-waste Statistics Partnership According to the report, “State of World (GESP), formed by UN University (UNU), Population 2020: Against my will – the International Telecommunication Defying the practices that harm women Union (ITU), and the International Solid and girls and undermine equality” Waste Association (ISWA), in close released by United Nations Population collaboration with the UN Environment Fund (UNFPA), the world organisation’s Programme (UNEP). sexual and reproductive health agency, Static Points: India accounts for 45.8 million of the E-waste is a health and environmental world’s 142.6 million “missing females” hazard because it contains toxic additives over the past 50 years & it has the highest or hazardous substances such as mercury number of missing women after China which damages the human brain and / or (72.3 million). coordination system.

Missing females are women missing India is the only country in South Asia to from the population at given dates due draft legislation for e-waste. to the cumulative effect of postnatal and prenatal sex selection in the past. India Ranked 117th in SDG Index Missing women more than doubled in 2020, Sweden Tops the last 50 years: In accordance with the “Sustainable As per the report, the number of missing Development Report 2020- The Sustainable women has more than doubled in the Development Goals and Covid-19”, last 50 years – from 6.1 crores in 1970 to comprising of SDG index 2020, there 14.26 crores by 2020. will be severe negative impacts on most of the United Nations (UN)-mandated UN Global E-waste Monitor 2020 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Report due to COVID-19 pandemic. India, which In accordance with “The Global E-waste has ranked at 117th position with a score Monitor 2020 report-Quantities, flows, of 61.92 is also facing major challenges in and the circular economy potential” 10 of the 17 SDGs including zero hunger, report, the world dumped a record 53.6 good health, gender inequality among million tonnes of e-waste in 2019, an others. increase of 21% in 5 years. The index has been topped by Sweden with a score of 84.72.

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The 2020 report has reviewed the has been ranked eighth with an overall performance of 193 UN Member States score of 51.6 for cancer preparedness out of which 166 were ranked under SDG among 10 Asia-Pacific countries. index 2020. The report sponsored by Roche, examined Rank Country Score (out of 100) the findings from the EIU’s Index of 117 India 61.92 Cancer Preparedness (ICP) which was 1 Sweden 84.72 created upon the findings of the global ICP (evaluated 28 countries based on 45 2 Denmark 84.56 separate indicators). 3 Finland 83.77 The 10 Asia-Pacific countries included SDG Annual Report: in this report were - Australia, China, Since its launch in 2016, this annual India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the report provides the most up-to-date data Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and to track and review the performance of all Vietnam. 193 UN member states on the 17 SDGs. Rank Country Score (out of 100) U.S. from World Health Organization 8 India 51.6 over coronavirus response 1 Australia 92.4 2 South Korea 83.4 The Trump administration has begun the process of withdrawing the United States 3 Malaysia 80.3 from the World Health Organization, a Only Vietnam (44.5) and the Philippines th th move that could hurt the U.N. agency’s (42.6) after India at 9 and 10 position response to the coronavirus pandemic respectively. and reshape public health diplomacy. Helen Clark to co-chair WHO panel The notice of withdrawal, effective July 6, 2021, was sent to United Nations to review handling of Covid-19 Secretary General António Guterres. pandemic Under the terms of a joint resolution The World Health Organisation passed by Congress in 1948, the United (WHO) announced it was setting up an States must give a year’s notice and pay independent panel to review its handling its debts to the agency to leave. of the Covid-19 pandemic and the response by governments worldwide. th India Ranked 8 for Cancer The announcement follows strong Preparedness among 10 Asia-Pacific criticism by US President Donald Trump’s Countries; Australia Tops: EIU Report administration, which accused the WHO In accordance with the Economist of being “China-centric”, and US formal Intelligence Unit (EIU) report on “Cancer notification that it was withdrawing from preparedness in Asia -Pacific: Progress the UN agency in a year’s time. towards universal cancer control”, India

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Former New Zealand prime minister The India VNR 2020 report titled Decade Helen Clark and former Liberian of Action: Taking SDGs from Global to president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have Local was also unveiled during this event. agreed to head the panel, annpunced About Economic and Social Council by the WHO Director-General Tedros (ECOSOC): Adhanom Ghebreyesus ff President– Mona Juul The magnitude of this pandemic, which ff Headquarter– New York, United has touched virtually everyone in the States (US) world, clearly deserves a commensurate evaluation, an honest evaluation,” UNICEF, FICCI joined hands to Tedros told a virtual meeting with Initiate “#Reimagine Campaign” to representatives of WHO’s 194 member Support Vulnerable Populations and states. Children in India NITI Aayog presented India’s 2nd United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Voluntary National Review at UN’s India joined hands with Federation of High-Level Political Forum Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FICCI) to initiate UNICEF’s NITI (National Institution for “#Reimagine Campaign” for the support Transforming India) Aayog presented of most vulnerable populations and India’s second Voluntary National children during the ongoing COVID-19 Review (VNR) at the United Nations response and its aftermath in India. High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sustainable Development, 2020, which UNICEF has launched Reimagine – an is being held virtually from July 7, 2020 urgent appeal to governments, the public, to July 16, 2020, under the aegis of the donors and the private sector to support Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), UNICEF’s efforts to respond, recover and amid COVID-19 pandemic. reimagine a world severely impacted by The theme of HLPF is “Accelerated action COVID-19. and transformative pathways: realizing Importantly, Ogilvy, a New York the decade of action and delivery for (United States) based advertising agency sustainable development”. is offering free of charge support in The India VNR 2020 presented by Dr developing the creative narrative for the Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI campaign. Aayog represented NITI Aayog’s efforts towards the whole-of-society approach About FICCI: and its commitment towards localisation ff President– Sangita Reddy of the Sustainable Development Goals ff Secretary General– Dilip Chenoy (SDGs). ff Headquarter– New Delhi

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 11 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

About UNICEF: More than half of world’s population ff Other name– United Nations lacks access to air quality data International Children’s Emergency A new report to be released on July 9 by Fund. Open Air Quality an international NGO ff Headquarter–New York, United based in Washington DC reveals the huge States (US) global inequality in access to information ff Executive Director–Henrietta Holsman about air quality. Fore The study, ‘Open Air Quality Data: ff UNICEF Representative in India–Dr The Global State of Play’, examined 212 Yasmin Ali Haque countries and found that 109 (51 per cent) governments are not producing 8.9% of the world’s population, went air quality data of any major pollutants, hungry in 2019 while 103 are. Among the defaulters are In accordance with the United major powers like China, India, Russia, Nations’(UN) annual report “The state of the Philippines, Brazil and South Africa. food security and nutrition in the world- The research is being supported by Tansforming food systems for affordable scientists at NASA, who use the OpenAQ healthy diets”, nearly 690 million people, system. Combining NASA’s satellite data or 8.9% of the world’s population, went of air pollution with OpenAQ’s system hungry in 2019, an increase of 10 million “has the potential to bring air quality since 2018 and of nearly 60 million information to everyone in the world. since 2014. The report warned that International Conference on the COVID-19 pandemic may add an additional 83 to 132 million people to the Sustainable Agriculture and Global ranks of the undernourished in 2020. Food Security The number of hungry people worldwide The International Research Conference has been slowly rising and if this trend is a federated organization dedicated to continues, the number of undernourished bringing together a significant number of people will exceed 840 million by 2030. diverse scholarly events for presentation The report has been prepared by 5 within the conference program. Events UN agencies, Food and Agriculture will run over a span of time during the Organization (FAO), International conference depending on the number and Fund for Agricultural Development length of the presentations. With its high (IFAD), United Nations Children’s Fund quality, it provides an exceptional value (UNICEF), World Food Programme for students, academics and industry (WFP) and World Health Organization researchers. (WHO). International Conference on Sustainable Agriculture and Global Food Security aims to bring together leading academic

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scientists, researchers and research Besides the Prime Minister, Norway PM scholars to exchange and share their Erna Solberg and UN Secretary-General experiences and research results on all Antonio Guterres will also be addressing aspects of Sustainable Agriculture and the event. Global Food Security. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for India lifted record 273 million out of researchers, practitioners and educators poverty in 10 years, says UN report to present and discuss the most recent About 273 million Indians moved out of innovations, trends, and concerns as multidimensional poverty between 2005- well as practical challenges encountered 6 and 2015-16, according to a UN report, and solutions adopted in the fields of which noted that India has recorded the Sustainable Agriculture and Global Food largest reduction in the number of people Security living in this category. The data, released by the United UNICEF India Partners with SAP Nations Development Programme India to Provide Career Counselling (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and to Young People Human Development Initiative (OPHI), World Youth skills Day, The United shows that 65 out of 75 countries Nations International Children’s studied significantly reduced their Fund (UNICEF) India announced its multidimensional poverty levels between partnership with SAP India, to provide 2000 and 2019. career counseling to young people. UNICEF India collaborates with YuWaah World Bank Country Classifications – UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited by Income Level 2020-2021 initiative to provide digital education According to the New World Bank country and skills required for employment. classifications by income level 2020- About UNICEF India: 2021, India remains in the classification, UNICEF Representative in India– Dr. Lower-Middle-Income Economy. In total Yasmin Ali Haque. 218 countries have been included in this classification. PM Modi to address ECOSOC on 75th The World Bank classifies countries into anniversary of UN on 17 July four income groups namely: low income, PM Narendra Modi will be virtually lower-middle income, upper-middle addressing the session of Economic and income, and high-income economies. Social Council (ECOSOC) on 17th July The classifications are updated each year on the occasion of 75th anniversary of on July 1 and are based on Gross National the United Nations. This will be PM Income(GNI) per capita in current Modi’s first speech at the UN after being USD(using the Atlas method exchange elected to the UN Security Council. rates) of the previous year.

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India to attend G20 Digital Ministers About World Trade Organization Meet (WTO): The Union Minister of Information ff Director-General – Roberto Carvalho Technology Shri Prasad is de Azevedo (Retire on August 31, to attend G20 Digital Ministers’ Meet. 2020). Highlights ff Members– 164 countries and 25 The Digital Economy Ministers Meet Observer nations. is hosted by Saudi Arabia. The Saudi ‘COVID-19 Law Lab’ Initiative Arabia Presidency has chosen the theme launched to provide legal information as Theme: Realizing Opportunities of the 21st century for all Under the theme, the worldwide ministers representing the G20 member The World Health Organization (WHO) countries will discuss the following. along with other key bodies had Empowering people by creating launched COVID-19 Law Lab (www. conditions where all people especially COVIDLawLab.org). the youth and women can live, work and It is a database of laws that countries thrive. had implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. th Turkmenistan became 25 country The lab is a joint project of the United with Observer Status in World Trade Nations Development Programme Organization (UNDP), WHO, the Joint United Nations Turkmenistan became the 25th country Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) who was granted observer status in and the O’Neill Institute for National the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Global Health Law at Georgetown enabling the nation to establish permanent University. residence at WTO headquarter in Geneva, About WHO: Switzerland and monitor it’s proceedings. ff Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland Turkmenistan also became the last former ff Director-General – Tedros Adhanom Soviet republic to establish formal ties Ghebreyesus with the trade body. This observer status was granted 22 million children from South during the 5th virtual session of WTO Asia missed out on early childhood General Council which was held from education due to COVID-19: UNICEF WTO headquarters and attended by In accordance with the new research representatives of its member-states. titled “Childcare in a global crisis: The impact of COVID-19 on work and family life” by the United Nations International

14 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits

Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), About SCO: 22 million children from South Asian ff Headquarters– Beijing, China countries, including India, have missed ff Secretary-General- Vladimir Norov out on early childhood education in their pre-school year due to the ongoing UNICEF Publishes First of its kind Covid-19 pandemic closure. This report report on Health crisis: was produced by UNICEF’s Office of United Nations Children’s Fund Research – Innocenti. (UNICEF) and Pure Earth, international In the South Asia region, UNICEF covered non-profit organization authored Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and published the first of kind report the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri on the health crisis titled “The Toxic Lanka for the research. Truth: Children’s Exposure to Lead At least 40 million children worldwide, Pollution Undermines a Generation of of which nearly 22 million are from South Future Potential” states that around Asia, have missed out on early childhood lead poisoning affects large number of education in their critical pre-school year children all across the globe. Prolonged school closure and limited access to distant learning have deprived The Toxic Truth: children of their universal right to The Toxic Truth, is an analysis of education. childhood exposure to lead conducted by About UNICEF: the Institute of Health Metrics Evaluation. It was verified with the study approved ff Headquarters– New York, United for publication in Environmental Health States of America (USA) Perspectives. ff Executive Director– Henrietta According to a new study, one in three Holsman Fore children worldwide are threatened by Harsh Vardhan Participated Virtually unacceptably high lead levels in the in the SCO Health Minister’s Digital blood. One of the major contributors Meet to lead poisoning is an increase in the recycling of lead in automotive batteries Union Minister of Health and Family to satisfy the increasing usage of cars Welfare, Harsh Vardhan participated and trucks, especially in the developing digitally in the Shanghai Cooperation world. Organization (SCO) Health Minister’s The study notes that lead recycling is often Digital Meet at Nirman Bhawan, Delhi. done haphazardly in poor and middle- The meeting was chaired by Mikhail income countries where industrial Murashko, Minister of Health of the pollution safeguards are poorly enforced Russian Federation. or nonexistent. The key topic discussed in the meet was Lead can be found almost everywhere, in about the ongoing COVID crisis. dust and fumes from fires and smelters,

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 15 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

vehicle batteries, old water pipes, old peeling paint, electronic junkyards, and even cosmetics and lead-infused spices. This represents a huge risk to the mental and physical development of a generation of children, warns the study that released on July 29, 2020. The study also found that almost 1 million adults a year die prematurely because of lead exposure. About UNICEF: ff Executive Director– Henrietta Holsman Fore ff Headquarter– New York, United States of America

16 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Eminent Persons 1.4 Eminent Persons Centre for tele-medicine consultation in Gujarat, has won the praise of Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Lt Col Bharat Pannu Becomes First Khan is India’s Indian To Secures Podium Position first Lt Col Bharat transgender Pannu, Indian Army operator of officer, secured the Common 3rd position on the Service Centre leaderboard at the from Vadodara district of Gujarat and is first edition of the working with a vision to support the Virtual Race Across transgender community in making them America (VRAAM) 2020 held from 16th digitally literate & give them better June to 28th June 2020 and became the opportunities. first ever Indian to secure a podium The Common Service Centre is a special position in the international ultracycling race. vehicle of the Ministry of Electronics and Lt Col Pannu finished with a total distance IT, and features a host of services of 4086km in 12 days and a total elevation that can be accessed remotely including gain of 71,000 meters in a stationary social welfare, healthcare, agriculture bicycle in Pimple Nilakh, Pune. and more. It falls under the ambit of the ‘Digital India ‘Programme. VRAAM 2020: Due to the current global pandemic, the Full-figured bronze statue of novelist organisers of the Race Across America Nedunchezhiyan (RAAM) (a 5000Km transcontinental Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy has race from the west coast to east coast of announced that Navalar Nedunjeriyan the United States of America) cancelled will have a full-scale bronze statue and the events of 2020 and adopted the his birthday will be celebrated as a state virtual format Virtual Race Across festival. America (VRAAM) 2020. The novelist Ira Nedunchezhiyan was The cyclist will use the FulGaz, an born on 11.7.1920 in Thirukkannapuram, indoor trainer application. Nagapattinam district. He holds a Around 22 cyclists participated in the VRAAM 2020. Masters Degree in Tamil Literature from Annamalai University, Chithambaram . India’s first transgender woman working on tele-medicine wins praise Malala Day 2020 – July 12 from Ravi Shankar Prasad The United Nations (UN) designated 12th July of every year as Malala Day, Zoya Khan, India’s first transgender to commemorate the birthday of Malala woman to operate a Common Service

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 17 Eminent Persons Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

Yousafzai, Pakistani activist and the First performance of Amala Shankar youngest recipient of the Nobel prize was in Kaliya Daman which was staged for peace. In 2013 first “Malala Day: in Belgium in 1931. She also acted in the An Education for All Children” was film “Kalpana” which was released in celebrated. 1948. She gave her last performance at the age of 92, in the dance drama Sita Top Indian mathematician CS Swayamvar, where she played the role of Seshadri passes away King Janaka. India’s renowned mathematician and Renowned writer, literary critic Kovai Gnani passes away at 85 awardee Conjeevaram Kovai Gnani, famous Srirangachari Seshadri Tamil writer and passed away in literary critic, passed Chennai. He was 88. away at his house in CS Seshadri founded Coimbatore. He was 85 the Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI) years old. as part of the SPIC Science Foundation According to reports, in 1989 and was its director-emeritus Gnani died due to until his demise. The mathematician age-related illnesses. was known for his work in algebraic A writer who authored around 50 books, geometry, the Seshadri Constant, which Gnani was born K Palaniswami in 1935. is named after him. Among his notable He studied Tamil literature in Annamalai works are the Narasimhan–Seshadri University and worked as a teacher for theorem, proved together with fellow over 30 years. He was one of the greatest Mathematician MS Narasimhan in 1965. Tamil Marxist critiques of his times, and researched and wrote about Marxism for Eminent danseuse & choreographer over 40 years. He was also a mentor for Amala Shankar passes away several Tamil writers of modern times. Eminent danseuse and choreographer Amala Shantharam is India’s first legislator Shankar passed away. from African-origin Siddi community She was honored with in Karnataka the West Bengal Shantharam Budna government’s Banga Siddi, one of the five Bibhusan award in newly nominated MLCs 2011 for her by Karnataka’s BJP contributions to art. government, is from the Siddi community a

18 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Sports and Games

small group of the community believed the Portuguese, to work for them. The to be descendants of the Bantu people community is included in the list of the from Southeast Africa. Scheduled Tribes in Karnataka. About The Siddis are spread along the coast 50,000 Siddi people reside in India of Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, today, of which, more than a third live in and Andhra Pradesh. According to northern Karnataka. Their mother tongue Shantaram, the Siddi community is is called Siddi Basha and many are fluent an ethnic African group brought to in Kannada. India in the early seventh century by

1.5 Sports and Games

Nitin Menon Becomes the 3rd Indian represented India in 49 test matches, 165 & Youngest Umpire to Enter ICC Elite ODIs and 49 T20Is as of 2020. Panel Akash Become India’s 66th Nitin Menon (36 years Grandmaster old) from India became the youngest member The 23 year-old G. Akash of the International from Chennai, Tamil Cricket Council’s (ICC) Nadu become the Elite Panel of Umpires. country’s 66th He replaces Nigel Grandmaster with rating Llong (England) for the of 2495. The title was upcoming 2020-21 season. confirmed at the recent He becomes the 3rd Indian umpire to be meeting of International Chess Federation included in the ICC’s after former captain (FIDE) Council Srinivas Venkatraghavan and Sundaram ff He has won the national title in 2012. Ravi. ff He is coached by K. Visweswaran, a former National Champion. Ravindra Jadeja named India’s ‘most valuable player’ by Wisden India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was named as the country’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ (MVP) of the 21st century by Wisden. He made his debut in 2009 and

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 19 Books & Authors Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 1.6 Books & Authors “Getting Competitive: A Practitioner’s Guide for India” authored by R C Bhargava M Venkaiah Naidu Virtually Releases a Book “Future of Higher Education – The Chairman of Maruti Nine Mega Trends” Suzuki, RC Bhargava has authored the book Vice President of India, M “Getting Competitive: A Venkaiah Naidu virtually Practitioner’s Guide for released a book, “Future of India” from his experience Higher Education – Nine as a policymaker and a Mega Trends“. The book is leading industrialist. The authored by CA V Pattabhi book published by HarperCollins India. Ram, a Public Speaker, author and Teacher. The Virtual event A Book Titled ‘Mahaveer: The Soldier was hosted by ICT Academy. Who Never Died’ Authored by A.K. Essence of the book Srikumar & Rupa Srikumar

The book covers the new norms in the key The book, titled ‘Mahaveer: The Soldier areas of higher education such as Student- who never died’ is authored by award Teacher relationship, Learning methods, winning author A.K. Srikumar and his Laboratories & Examinations among wife, Rupa Srikumar. The book is a others which has taken a paradigm shift patriotic story about the courage and during this COVID pandemic. selfless love of Jaswant Singh Rawat The book is based on a survey of about who is one of the legendary Garhwali 5000 educators across India who were soldiers fought in Indo-Chinese battle of part of ICT Academy’s “SkyCampus” Nuranang in 1962. The book is published Digital Knowledge Series. by Rupa Publications and represented by The Book Bakers. Urjit Patel pens book ‘Overdraft: Saving the Indian Saver’ A book on Dalai Lama’s biography to Former RBI governor, Urjit release in 2020 Patel has written a book A book titled ‘His titled ‘Overdraft: Saving Holiness the the Indian Saver’. The Fourteenth Dalai book focuses on the non- Lama: An Illustrated performing assets (NPAs) Biography’ will be issue that has afflicted released in 2020. Indian banking in recent years. It will be The book is published published by Harper Collins India. by Roli Books. The book is authored by

20 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Books & Authors

one of the Dalai Lama’s closest aides and Pradesh’ was released by Arunachal advisor of over 40 years, Tenzin Geyche Chief Minister Pema Khandu. Tethong. Book is based on the Tangams, a critically The biography is a memorable portrait of endangered speech community of the , Tenzin Gyatso. Arunachal Pradesh domiciled at Kugging The book gives a glance of an important village, Upper Siang district of Arunachal part of the history before he was forced to Pradesh. flee to India in March 1959. The book has been published by Centre for Endangered Languages, Rajiv Gandhi A Book Titled ‘A Song of India’ University and Himalayan Publishers, Authored by Ruskin Bond to be New Delhi. Released The book titled ‘A Song A new book “The India Way: of India’ authored by Strategies for an Uncertain World” Ruskin Bond to be The India Way: released on July 20, 2020, Strategies for an which will mark the 70th Uncertain World, a year of the author’s book authored by literary career. The book External Affairs is the 4th installment in Minister Dr. S his memoir series (a Jaishankar, argues written record of a person’s own life and about the standards of experiences). The book portrays his India in the global unknown life before he became a order. The book was published under the successful author. It is published by HarperCollins India publications. The Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin book centers about the three burdens that Random House India. India’s foreign policy carries. He insisted that India should not only Chief Minister Pema Khandu releases visualise its interest but also try to book on endangered tribe communicate effectively.

A new book titled “Quest for Restoring Financial Stability in India” The book titled “Quest for Restoring Financial Stability in India” authored by former (RBI) deputy governor Viral V.Acharya. The The book titled ‘The Tangams: An book portrays his quest to restore financial Ethnolinguistic Study Of The Critically stability in India and offers a concrete Endangered Group of Arunachal

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 21 Books & Authors Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

plan for sustained improvement. The book is published by SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd.

Indian Origin Author Avni Doshi’s ‘Burnt Sugar’ on 2020 Booker Prize A debut novel ‘Burnt Sugar’ authored by Avni Doshi has been published in the United Kingdom (UK) and it was one among the 13 authors longlisted for the prestigious 2020 Booker Prize. A version of the same novel has been published in India under the title Girl in White Cotton.

22 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Awards & Honours 1.7 Awards & Honours platform to enhance the provided service and solutions.

India’s AI enabled “MyGov Corona Former RBI Governor C Rangarajan Helpdesk” wins two global award at conferred with 1st P C Mahalanobis 4th Annual CogX 2020 Award India’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chakravarthi enabled “MyGov Corona Helpdesk” Rangarajan has been won two awards under the categories conferred with the first “Best Innovation for Covid-19 Society” Prof. P C Mahalanobis and “People Choice Covid-19 Overall Award in Official Winner” in 4th CogX, the annual Global Statistics for lifetime Leadership Summit and Festival of achievements for his AI and Emerging Technology held in contribution in London from June 8th to 10th. providing solutions in The theme of CogX 2020 is “How do we the issues related to the get the next 10 years right?” estimation of national CogX 2020: income. The award has Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic been instituted by the Ministry of the CogX team has prepared the Virtual Statistics and Programme Implementation CogX to ensure the participation of the (MoSPI) from 2020, and will henceforth people all around the world. be awarded annually for the outstanding All the 16 Topics will be streamed online and meritorious contribution of an including the virtual meet-the speaker individual for the development and and Q&A sessions. promotion of official statistics. MyGov Corona Helpdesk: Mon District Administration received The AI enabled Helpdesk was designed, 3 SKOCH Awards in 65th SKOCH developed and deployed by JioHaptik Summit Technologies Limited in collaboration with the WhatsApp team in 5 days. The District Administration of Mon, MyGov is the World’s largest citizens Nagaland received 2020 SKOCH awards enabled platform which demonstrates under three categories in the 65th SKOCH the Public, Private and Public Partnership summit from Sameer Kochar, Chairman (PPPP). of SKOCH group. MyGov provides two-way Mon’s SKOCH Awards: communication between the government SKOCH Crucible award for the district’s and citizens. initiatives on skill development, financial MyGov was factored in on a daily basis inclusion and COVID-19 response. based on the public opinion about the The SKOCH Crucible Award for its

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 23 Awards & Honours Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

focus on mission mode implementation -Divya (Platinum), Anupam (Gold), of opening bank accounts through the Ujjwal (Silver), Udit (Bronze), Aarohi Indian post Payment Bank (IBBP). (Aspiring) - with top three cities being SKOCH Order of Merit for its quick recognized in each. In a departure from and innovative response to contain and the present criteria of evaluating cities on prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its ‘population category’, this new category initiative to home deliver the essentials to will categorize cities on the basis of six assist the citizens. select indicator wise performance criteria About SKOCH Award: which are as follows: The highest civilian award of the ff Segregation of waste into Wet, Dry country for public service by non a non- and Hazard categories governmental organisation SKOCH ff Processing capacity against wet waste Group Established– 2003. generated ff Processing and recycling of wet and ‘PRERAK DAUUR SAMMAN’ NEW dry waste CATEGORY OF AWARDS INTRODUCED ff Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste processing ff Percentage of waste going to landfills ff Sanitation status of cities

Global Tamil Award in the Name of the Novel author Nedunchezhiyan at the University of Toronto, Canada Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Consisting of world-renowned tradition State (Independent Charge) for Ministry of 193 years of Canada’s University of of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Toronto, Navalar Nedunchezhiyan name while launching the toolkit for Swachh Global Tamil Award One chamber has Survekshan 2021, the sixth edition of the established. The ‘Hindu Tamil Direction’ annual cleanliness survey of urban India exclusively announces the signing of conducted by MoHUA has stated that, an official agreement with the Tamil “Every year, the Swachh Survekshan is community in Canada . redesigned innovatively, to ensure that The University of Toronto is proud the process becomes more robust, with to have created 4 Prime Ministers, 14 focus on sustaining the behaviour change. Supreme Court Justices for Canada, 10 Sh Puri announced a new category of Nobel Prize-winning Governors and 4 awards titled ‘Prerak Dauur Samman’ other leaders. Moreover, it is a university as part of Swachh Survekshan 2021. dedicated to teaching and research, The Prerak Dauur Samman has a providing ample opportunities for higher total of five additional sub- categories education, study students and linguistic

24 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Awards & Honours

scholars. The university is giving high WHD takes pride in honouring these stars importance to Tamil language. who are promoting the best for humanity. Canada’s January 2016 declared January The major objective of this event was as Tamil Heritage Month. Accordingly, to show gratitude and honour to the January 2017 is celebrated as Tamil incredible volunteers who have always Heritage Month across Canada . been contributing to the betterment of First Global Award humanity especially during this crisis It has decided to award a Lifetime of Covid-19. When the entire world was Achievement Award to a person who shut down and afraid to step out, these has spent most of his life promoting stars lend a helping hand to the world out the greatness of Tamil. The agreement there that was battling against Corona. has been signed with the Canadian 2020 Great Immigrants’’: Indian- community and the Tamil doctor (who American Pulitzer Winner, Harvard did not wish to be named) who has Professor Honoured In US donated a large sum of money to establish the award. To Remember the Century Man When the Anna DMK saw it, Anna was the General Secretary, then the General Secretary, the Editor of the Party, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Two renowned Indian-Americans who Council, the Leader of the Party, the big have contributed towards the efforts in successor in the Cabinet. mitigating the COVID-19 health crisis are among the 38 immigrants honoured by a WHD identifies & honours a well- prestigious American foundation ahead known Indian Association in Kuwait of US Independence Day commemoration The Covid stars serve as the best example this year. for this phrase. These stars got into Pulitzer Prize-winning author and action and are helping humanity to fight oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee, and against the deadly Covid-19. “Stars of Professor of Economics at Harvard Covid” is a part of World Humanitarian University Raj Chetty have been named Drive (WHD) founder Mr. Abdul Basit by the Carnegie Corporation of New York Syed, initiative called “Honouring The as ‘’2020 Great Immigrants’’ honourees. Honourable”. Since the initiative started Indian battalion wins UNIFIL in 2018 it has inspired millions across the environment award world as a mode to encourage, recognise Indian battalion (INDBATT) has and felicitate popular figures to common stationed with the United Nations Interim men who have contributed for the welfare Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has won an of the society and the world. environment award for a project that

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 25 Awards & Honours Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

aims to decrease waste generation, reuse President of IAA. plastic, build greenhouses and compost The Award is annually presented to pits. recognise the distinguished contributions The second-place award was shared by and lifetime achievements in any branch the Mission’s Sector West Headquarters of science. for the Sector West Infrastructure About International Academy of Management Centre (IMC) for the Astronautics (IAA): generation of compost from food ff Founder– Dr Theodore Von Karman waste and Irish-Polish Battalion ff Headquarters– Paris, France (IRISHPOLBATT) for its project in supporting the host communities by Chhattisgarh awarded “Elites reducing the environmental hazards. Excellence Awards 2020” French-led Force Commander’s Reserve, Chief Minister Darpan website and Indonesian Battalion, Republic of Korea mobile app prepared for monitoring Battalion and Italian Battalion are the Chhattisgarh Government’s ambitious other units of UNIFIL who received the Suraji Gaon Scheme and other flagship awards and recognitions. schemes, has been awarded “Elites IAA named ISRO Chief K Sivan As the Excellence Awards-2020” at the national level. Recipient of 2020 Von Karman Award Chhattisgarh has been awarded this The International honour by the country’s prestigious IT Academy of institution Elites Technomedia, New Astronautics (IAA) Delhi under the ‘Digital India initiative’. has announced Dr. Kailasavadivoo Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa Sivan, Chief of Indian named as the new VP of Asian Space Research Development Bank Organisation (ISRO) Election Commissioner as the recipient of the Ashok Lavasa, who was 2020 Von Karman next in line to head the Award, the highest distinction of the poll panel, was named IAA. as the new vice- The award will be presented to Dr.K.Sivan president of the in March 2021 at Paris. Philippines-based Asian IAA’s Von Karman Award: Development Bank The premier award of IAA was instituted (ADB) - a position he in 1982 in the memory of Dr. Theodore can take only after resigning from his Von Karman, renowned aerospace current job. scientist and the founder and the first Lavasa, who would have retired as the

26 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Awards & Honours

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ($1.15 million) recognized her ability to in October 2022, would be the second mobilize younger generations for the election commissioner to step down from cause of climate change. the poll panel before the completion of The entire prize amount would be his term. donated by Greta Thunberg to the project The ADB has appointed Ashok and organisations who are working to Lavasa as Vice-President for Private help people on the front lines affected by Sector Operations and Public-Private the climate crisis and ecological crisis. Partnerships. TNAU researcher bags ICAR-Nehru Narendra Singh Tomar declared award nd the 2019 ICAR Awards in 92 ICAR Dr. Vinod Kumar Selvaraj Foundation Day of Tamil Nadu Agricultural Narendra Singh Tomar, the Union University was conferred Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ the ICAR-Jawaharlal Welfare inaugurated the Virtual Nehru award under the celebration of the 92nd Foundation day of crop protection category Indian Council of Agricultural Research for his research work on (ICAR) and declared the 2019 ICAR “Emergence of tobacco Awards from Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. streak virus infecting The National Academy of Agriculture cotton: Investigations on symptom Research Management (NAARM), expression, transmission, spread and Hyderabad, received 4 awards in management” different categories. He has published his research works in Peer reviewed high impact journals. Environmental activist Greta The ICAR awards for the year 2019 were Thunberg won 1st edition Gulbenkian announced through live stream in the Prize for Humanity presence of Union Agriculture & Farmers A 17 years old climate Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar activist from Sweden and Ministers of State for Agriculture & namely Greta Tintin Farmers Welfare Parshottam Rupala and Eleonora Ernman Kailash Choudhary. Thunberg became the India’s first solar ferry “Aditya” wins first recipient of the Gustave Trouve Award inaugural (1st edition) Gulbenkian Prize for India’s first solar-powered ferry, Aditya Humanity, awarded by Calouste has won the prestigious Gustave Trouve Gulbenkian Foundation. Award for Excellence in Electric Boats The award in the amount 1 million euro and Boating.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 27 Awards & Honours Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

The ferry was adjudged the world’s best Sunil ydv SS honoured with Karamveer electric boat in the category of ferries Chakra Award from UN and ICONGO designed for paid passenger service. The founder of SS The Aditya, from Navalt Boats, is a sun- Motivation, Sunil ydv SS powered commuter ferry that is one of was honoured with the great stories of the future of electric “Karamveer Chakra marine propulsion. Award” by Global The ferry belongs to the Kerala State Fellowship Award Water Transport Department (KSWTD) instituted by United and has been playing on the Vaikkom- Nations and International Thavanakkadavu route in Alappuzha Confederation of NGO (iCONGO) at the district since January 2017. ReX ConcLIVE hosted in IIT Delhi. He received the award for his relentless NIOT director honoured with National contribution to society through his Award of Excellence in Ocean Telegram channel “SS Motivation.” Technology He addresses social issues and motivates Dr M A Atmanand, the director of the people every day through his channel. National Institute of Ocean Technology The awards he won last year include (NIOT), Chennai has been honoured with Rastra Prerna, Iconic Personality of India, National Award of excellence in Ocean Incredible Indian Icon and Humanitarian Technology of the Ministry of Earth Excellence. Sciences (MoES). Atmanand is known for being a pioneer in the area of deep sea technologies in India which include leading a team in design and development of underwater crawler for deep sea operation. He and his team also developed the in-situ soil tester which was tested at a depth of 5200 m in the Central Indian Ocean Basin for the first time in the country. It was under his supervision that India’s first Polar under water mooring observatory and the Polar Remotely Operable Vehicle (PROV) were developed and tested. The mooring was established at Kongsfjorden in the Arctic region.

28 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Cultural Panorama 1.8 Cultural Panorama Discovery of Weight stones in Underground Excavation

Gujarat Coral Coal Detection in Wight stones were found in the following Kodumanal excavations near Thirupuvanam in Sivagangai district . A Large number of objects, including the The sixth phase of archaeological work on Gujarat stone quarry, have recently been behalf of the Tamil Nadu Archaeological excavated during the excavation process Survey has been going on since 19th at Kodumanal near Chennimalai. February. The work is being done in four There were many objects, including green locations - Adakaram, Akaram, Kondagai stones and moss beads. and Manalur. The cemetery known as the Great Weights are in orbital shape. Their Emblem, we found 10 bowls for the ritual, underside is flat. They each weigh 8 g, 18 five jars, 41 pots, five steels with an iron g, 150 g and 300 g respectively. sword and three small knives. Each tomb has a different set of objects. The discovery of the inscription on the inscription near Avinashi ‘Aalangankulam’ is the source of foreign trade The archaeological Survey of Archeology Center at Ramanathapuram Village near Archaeological excavations at Karuvalur in Avinasi circle, Tirupur Azhakankulam in Ramanathapuram district. The inscription was found . district confirmed that the place was a Researchers Monarasu and Sivakumar port and a trading center with various announced: The Kongu region is an countries of the world over 2,400 years important industry for cattel grazing. ago.The foreign co-operation of the The intial year 1760, 1820, 1880, 1940. house with the coins found in a house There is a good chance that the inscription in Azhagankulam has proved to be very is dated 1820 with a specific pattern of recent. writing and date. The ancestors of the former Azhagankulam former councilor, lawyer Ministry of Culture Released the First Asokan, traded overseas, including Sri five Re-printed Volumes of Mongolian Lanka. There were old coins in a box. The Kanjur Manuscripts most important of these were the Rajaraja Under the National Mission for Josan era Eelam, India, Sri Lanka, UK Manuscripts (NMM), The Ministry of silver, copper coins and money released Culture has taken up the project of re- by Travancore. printing 108 volumes of Mangolian Kanjur. A set of First Five manuscripts were presented to Shri Ram Nath Kovind,

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 29 Cultural Panorama Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

the President of India on Guru Purnima for a museum at Konthagai village (Dharma Chakra Day) on 4th July 2020. near Keeladi in Sivagangai district. The Mangolian Kanjur museum will showcase the artefacts The Bhuddhist Canonical text in 108 unearthed from the Keeladi ancient site. volumes is the most important religious The museum will be built by the heritage text in Mongolia. wing of public works department at Rs ‘Kanjur’ means ‘Concise Orders’, the 12.21 crore on 81 cents of land. words of Lord Buddha. The first excavation was carried out at The ‘Mongolian Kanjur’ is a source of Keeladi from 2014 to 2015. providing a cultural identity to Mongolia. In 2014, the Archaeological Survey of The ‘Mongolian Kanjur’ in 108 volumes India (ASI) started excavating the 110 was published by Prof. acres site located 13km away from (Former MP of Rajya Sabha) in India in Madurai on the Rameswaram road. the 1970s.

The present edition is being published Kavanthappadi written as by the National Mission for Manuscripts Kamunthappadi in 13th century (NMM). Inscriptions Objective of Mission Research on a thirteenth century To publish rare and unpublished inscription has revealed that it was manuscripts, as the knowledge enshrined Kavanthappadi alias Kamunthappadi. in them can be spread to researchers, There is a famous Nedumkanni scholars and the general public. Udanam Andamuluthudaya temple Note- It is expected that all the 108 near Kavanthappadi in Erode district. volumes of the Mangolian Kanjur will be The temple has recently undergone published by March 2022. renovations. Asokan, who was in charge ‘Smriti Van’ on Harela festival of the work at the time, informed us about the inscription. Chief Minister (CM) Inscriptions were engraved on both sides Trivendra Singh Rawat inaugurated of the inscription. It had 17 lines on one ‘Smriti Van’ at Asthal village of side and 24 lines on the other. It dates district in memory of late Jeet Singh Negi, back to the 13th century Hoysala King famous folk singer of the state on the Veeravallalan. occasion of Harela festival. On the 12th of Avani 1332 AD, it is To mark the celebration of Harela festival mentioned that Sandhya had paid 10 2020 CM urged to plant a sapling each. rupees to light a lamp for a temple Tamil Nadu CM lays foundation stone in Kanchikuval, one of the 24 Kongu for Keeladi museum countries. Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami laid the foundation stone

30 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Appointments – Who is who? 1.9 Appointments – Who is who? Govt Appoints Injeti Srinivas as the 1st Chairman IFSC Authority KK Venugopal Reappointed as Government appointed Attorney General of India former corporate affairs secretary and IAS The Appointments Committee of the officer, Injeti Srinivas Union Cabinet has as the 1st chairman of approved the re- the International appointment of Financial Services senior advocate K.K. Centre Authority Venugopal as (IFSCA) for a 3 years Attorney General of term.

India for a year, whose 3 year tenure ends In addition to the chairman, IFSCA in June 2020. has other members who have been nominated from the Reserve Bank of Senior advocate Tushar Mehta as Solicitor General for a period of three years. K.K. India (RBI), Securities and Exchange Venugopal succeeded Mukul Rohatgi Board of India (SEBI), The Insurance on June 30, 2017. He is the 15th Attorney Regulatory and Development Authority General of India. of India (Irdai), Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) About Appointment Committee: and two members from the Centre. Members of the committee-Prime Minister(PM) of India, Narendra Modi Sijo George appointed to Centre’s (who is the Chairman) and the Union committee on STIP 2020 Home Affairs minister, Amit Shah Sijo Kuruvilla George has been appointed Pak Army appoints Nigar Johar as 1st to the Central Government’s committee female Lt. General on Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2020 (STIP 2020). He is a founding Pakistan Army has CEO of Startup Village and founder of appointed Major Re-think Foundation. With this, he has General Nigar Johar as become the part of the eight-member 1st female lieutenant panel which is led by Harkesh Mittal, who general. She is the 1st also heads the Department of Science and female officer to be Technology. The Science, Technology and promoted as Lieutenant Innovation Policy 2020 (STIP 2020) was General. The officer has formulated by the Department of Science been appointed as 1st and Technology and Principal Scientific female Surgeon General Advisor of the Union government. of Pak Army.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 31 Appointments – Who is who? Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

UK India Business Council appoints In his new position, Parag Chitnis Jayant as Group CEO will replace Dr Scott Angle, who has The UK India accepted the position of Vice President of Business Council Agriculture and Natural Resources at the announced Jayant University of Florida in Gainesville. Krishna will take Gyanendro Ningombam elected as over as its new new Hockey India President Group Chief Executive Officer Hockey India Executive from August 3. Board held an Emergent Krishna has Executive Board previously led key meeting naming initiatives of the Skill India mission as Manipur’s Gyanendro CEO, and Executive Director and Chief Ningombam as the Operating Officer of the National Skill Officiating President of Development Corporation. Hockey India. He will be the first Indian CEO of UKIBC This was following the and the first CEO of the Council to be resignation letter of Mohd Mushtaque based in India. Ahmad received by Hockey India due to his personal and family commitments. Indian-American Scientist Appointed Acting Head of Top US Agriculture Justice U U Lalit to become part of Research Organisation Supreme Court collegium Prominent Indian- The Supreme Court American scientist collegium will have Dr Parag Chitnis Justice U U Lalit as has been appointed its new and fifth as the Acting member, with Justice Director of the R Banumathi prestigious superannuating as a National Institute judge of the top of Food and court. Chief Justice of Agriculture (NIFA), India (CJI) S A Bobde and Justices N V which drives all federally funded Ramana, Arun Mishra and R F Nariman agricultural research in the US. are part of the collegium. Chitnis was named Associate Director for The apex court collegium, which Programmes earlier this year and leads comprises the five senior-most judges implementation of NIFA’s approximately as its members, selects and recommends USD 1.7 billion research projects. names for the appointment of judges in

32 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Appointments – Who is who?

the Supreme Court. Justice Lalit, who Chairman of the Security Platform from was directly made a judge of the top July 2022 to July 2024. The decision to court from the Bar on August 13, 2014, nominate Arun Kumar was taken during will remain part of the collegium till he the 96th UIC General Assembly. demits office as the CJI on November 8, International Union of Railways (UIC) 2022. develops and formulates analysis and policy positions on account of the rail Mr. Sahil Seth appointed as honorary sector in various matters related to security advisor for BRICS CCI of persons, property and installations. It The Deputy Commissioner of encourages the exchange of information Customs and a 2011 batch Indian Revenue as well as experience among the security Service Officer, Mr. Sahil Seth, has been agencies of UIC members. appointed as an honorary advisor for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and IAS Officer P Amudha Appointed Joint South Africa) Chamber of Commerce Secretary in Prime Minister’s Office and Industry (CCI) for the period 2020 to Senior bureaucrat P 2030. Amudha has been The Role is a non-financial, voluntary appointed as Joint basis, zero – remuneration appointment. Secretary at the Prime About BRICS CCI Minister’s Office ff Parent Organization of BRICS nation (PMO) after a bureaucratic ff Chairman – Mr. Vishwas Tripathi reshuffle. Amudha is ff Theme for 2020 – “BRICS Partnership a 1994 batch India for Global Stability, Shared Security Administrative Services (IAS) officer of and Innovative Growth”. Tamil Nadu cadre and she will be joining Arun Kumar nominated as Vice- the PMO with 15 other senior officials of Chairman of UIC elite services from different categories, according to the Business Standard. The Director General of Railway Protection Govindan Rangarajan appointed as Force (RPF), Arun new IISc Director Kumar has been Professor nominated as the Vice- Govindan Chairman of UIC Rangarajan is (Union Internationale appointed as the Des Chemins/ new director of International Union of the 111-year-old Railways), Security Platform from July Indian Institute of 2020 to July 2022. He will take over as

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 33 Appointments – Who is who? Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

Science (IISc) located in Bengalur. on a government order dated July According to an official statement from 29 sanctioning the creation of ‘’one the premier institution, the new temporary post’’. appointment is in the wake of incumbent Mr. Somayaji was the Advocate General Director Prof. Anurag Kumar between March 2013 and August 2016, superannuating from his service on July when J. Jayalalithaa was the Chief 31. Minister. He was succeeded by Senior Prof. Govindan Rangarajan has been Counsel R. Muthukumaraswamy, who formally appointed by the Governing resigned on health grounds in August Council of the Institute as the next 2017. Director of IISc with effect from August 1, 2020, after obtaining approval from the Visitor, the Honourable President of India.

New Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres named Archana Soreng among 7 members to his new Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. They will advise him regularly on accelerating global action and also provide solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis. This is to mobilize climate action as part of the COVID-19 recovery efforts. The members are between the ages of 18 and 28 years old.

TN govt appoints Special Senior Counsel Senior advocate A L Somayaji has been appointed ‘’Special Senior Counsel for Government’’ by the Tamil Nadu government to deal with cases of ‘’special importance and complicated nature.’’ The appointment which has been made with immediate effect is based

34 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 India and its Neighbours

as part of a previous commitment. The 1.10 India and its Neighbours India-Bangladesh container train service on the other hand, will lower import- India-Bangladesh form 50:50 Joint export costs and improve trade between Venture Company for LPG Business the two countries. in Bangladesh The first-ever container train from India India and Bangladesh signed an arrived at Benapole in Bangladesh, agreement for formation of 50:50 Joint indicating furtherance of the Indian Venture Company (JVC) of Liquified foreign policy that has come to be known Petroleum Gas (LPG) business in as ‘neighbourhood-first’. Concor India had signed an MoU with the Bangladesh. Bangladesh Container Company Ltd in Joint Venture Company:- 2017. A trial run of the first container train It helps to reduce the cost of import of was staged in April 2018 from Kolkata to LPG for customers of Bangladesh. Bangabandhu Setu West railway station. The JVC takes the ‘neighborhood first’ policy of Indian Government. India to set up Solar Power Plant in The JV intends LPG export Sri Lanka

New trade route opens between India & Bhutan India and Bhutan have unanimously opened a new trade route to Under the aegis of International Solar ease Alliance (ISA) NTPC Ltd, Largest power connectivity generation utility of India plans to between both establish solar power plants in Sri Lanka the countries. as a part of the strategy to exhibit the The route presence of India in the Indian Ocean stretches from Pasakha in Bhutan to West Bengal’s Jaigaon. The Indian Government Region (IOR) amid China’s attempt to has opened up an additional Land attract nations into the “Belt and Road” Customs Station at Ahllay, Pasakha to initiative. pave way for movement of trucks. About International Solar Alliance(ISA): First-ever container train from India ff Director General– Upendra Tripathy arrives in Bangladesh ff Headquarters– Gurugram, Indian Railways will be handing over 10 locomotives to its Bangladeshi counterpart

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 35 Latest Historical Events Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 1.11 Latest Historical Events

Kargil Vijay Diwas

India marked Kargil Vijay Diwas. The Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid tribute at National War Memorial. The day marks India’s victory over Pakistan in the Kargil war. Highlights On July 26, 1999, Indian Government culminated “Operation Vijay” and declared victory after three-month long battle in Kargil. Kargil War The Kargil War is an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place along Line of Control. India used its air power on a large scale for the first time in Kargil war after India-Pakistan War in 1971. Kargil is located very close to Line of Control. Operation Vijay The operation was launched by the Indian Army twice in Indian history. The first Operation Vijay was launched in 1961 that led to the capture of , Anjediva islands and Daman and Diu.

36 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Govt – Welfare oriented... POLITICAL 2. SCIENCE

2.1 Govt – Welfare oriented infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens. ClimateSmart Cities Govt schemes, their and DataSmart Cities are two important programs under the Smart Cities Mission. utility Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) 5 years of PMAY (U), Smart Cities Launched on June 25, 2015, the objective Mission (SCM) and AMRUT completed of PMAY-U is to provide pucca house to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs all eligible beneficiaries of Urban India (MoHUA) organized an online event to by 2022 with the vision of ‘Housing mark the 5th Anniversary of Pradhan for All’. The Ministry of Housing and Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) (PMAY-U), Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has received Smart Cities Mission (SCM) and Atal a validated demand of about 1.12 Cr Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban houses under PMAY (U). Transformation (AMRUT). The event addressed by Hardeep Singh Puri, New scheme will generate investment Minister of State for Housing and Urban of Rs 35,000 crore Affairs(I/C) organized to celebrate the The “PM Formalisation of Micro Food achievements and boost implementation Processing Enterprises (PM FME)” will of the urban missions. generate investment of Rs 35,000 crore Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and and employment for 9 lakh skilled and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) semi-skilled workers, Food Processing Launched on June 5, 2015, AMRUT Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur aims at ensuring universal coverage of Badal announced officially launching the drinking water supply and substantial scheme announced by Prime Minister improvement in coverage and treatment Narendra Modi as a part of “Atmanirbhar capacities of sewerage across 500 cities, Bharat Abhiyan” during the Coviid-19 covering more than 60% of urban crisis. population. To be implemented over a period of five Smart Cities Mission (SCM) years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an Launched on June 25, 2015, its objective outlay of Rs 10,000 crore, the expenditure is to promote cities that provide core will be shared in 60:40 ratio between

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 37 Govt – Welfare oriented... Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

the Central and State Governments, new initiative ‘Sabuja Odisha’. in 90:10 ratio with North Eastern and The initiative will increase green cover Himalayan states, 60:40 ratio with UTs through extensive plantations over with legislature and 100% by Centre for 1,30,264 Hectares of land. other UTs. A web-based system will be set up or real-time monitoring and supervision of SERB Launches ‘Accelerate Vigyan’ the programme. Scheme The ‘Accelerate Vigyan’ (AV) scheme Rajya Sabha Launches Employees for research internships, was launched Welfare Scheme in Arun Jaitley’s by the Union Government’s Science and Name Engineering Research Board (SERB). The Rajya Sabha Objective: - To encourage high-end Secretariat launched scientific research and prepare scientific “Arun Jaitley Financial manpower which leads to research Assistance for Group C careers and knowledge based economy. Employees”, an Portal:- www.acceleratevigyan.gov.in Employees Welfare Scheme in the name of Features:- former Union Minister of It identifies research potential, mentors Finance, Arun Jaitley funded by his and helps in training on national scale. pension to his family. The scheme was It will organise about 10,000 High-end formulated and approved based on the Workshops to provide opportunities decision of Sangeeta Jaitley, wife of Arun to about 25000 doctoral PG students in Jaitley. another 5 years Arun Jaitley Financial Assistance for The SERB will launch an application to Group C Employees: attain early success. After the demise of Former Finance It has started to call applications for the minister Arun Jaitley on 24th August process under ABHYAAS scheme for 2019, Sangeeta Jaitley, submitted a winter. request to the chairman of rajya sabha, M Venkaiah Naidu, to utilise the family Odisha Government to Implement an pension (Rs 3 lakhs at present) entitled to Initiative ‘Sabuja Odisha’ her for the benefit of Group C employees Odisha of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat with low government in a salaries. high-level meeting held under the Home Minister to launch Chairmanship of “Vriksharopan Abhiyan” in New Delhi Chief Secretary “Vriksharopan Abhiyan” will be Asit Tripathy decided to implement a launched by the Union Home Minister

38 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Govt – Welfare oriented...

Shri Amit Shah in New Delhi. distributed 100 electric potter wheels Ministry of Coal will organize the abhiyan under Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana along with all Coal/Lignite PSUs. Under of KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries the “Vriksharopan Abhiyan”, large scale Commission). plantation would be carried out in mines, Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana colonies, offices and other suitable areas The scheme was launched by KVIC. of Coal/Lignite PSUs in order to promote It reaches out to potters in the states “plantation by the society”. of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, West SWAMIH funds Bengal, Haryana, West Bengal, Haryana, The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Rajasthan, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Sitaraman recently reviewed the Telangana, Odisha, Bihar, and Gujarat. performance of Special Window for Affordable and Mid Income Housing TRIFED signs MoU with IIT Delhi (SWAMIH). under govt’s ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ Highlights The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Around 81 projects have been approved Development Federation of India under the SWAMIH funds with an (TRIFED) has entered into a partnership investment of Rs 8,767 crores. The with IIT Delhi under the HRD Ministry’s fund was formed to complete stalled flagship ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’ (UBA) construction, mid-income housing to boost livelihood opportunities and projects, RERA-registered affordable income generation for tribal communities. projects. The fund has a target corpus of The UBA connects higher education Rs 12,500 crores. The green shoe option of institutions with villages for the the fund is Rs 12,500 crores. economic and social betterment of rural The fund was cleared to be set up in communities. November 2019. The Secretary of Ministry To cement and formalise this of Finance is the sponsor of the fund on partnership, a tripartite Memorandum behalf of Government of India. SBICAP of Understanding (MoU) was signed Ventures of the investment manager of between TRIFED, IIT Delhi and Vijnana the funds. Bharati, a swadeshi science movement. TRIFED functions under the Tribal Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana Affairs Ministry. Under TRIFED’s ‘Van Dhan’ programme, tribal entrepreneurs will now be able to get access to the expertise of the entire network of more than 2,600 academic and research institutions under the UBA. The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 39 Policy on Environment and Ecology Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 3. GEOGRAPHY 3.1 Policy on Environment and Ecology

Indian Railways Plans Transformation of 194 mm that is 4 mm larger than that to Net Zero Carbon Emission by 2030 of the Southern Birdwing with 190 mm Indian Railways takes decisive steps to wingspan while the largest wingspan in transform itself as ‘Net Zero’ Carbon the male species of the Golden Birdwing Emission Mass Transportation Network is 106 mm. The largest female Golden by 2030. Birdwing’s forewing length is 90 mm. It has already floated tenders for 2 GW ff The female Golden Birdwing of solar projects for Indian Railways to be was recorded from Didihat in installed on unutilised railway lands. Uttarakhand, the largest male was Pilot project in Bina getting from the Wankhar Butterfly Museum operationalised soon and under extensive in Meghalaya capital Shillong. testing and trial. ff The new measurements of Golden Mission Atma Nirbhar Bharat remains Birdwing and 24 other species, the driving force. are published in the latest issue of Solar Energy to make Indian Railways a Bionotes, a quarterly newsletter for complete ‘Green mode of transportation’. research on life forms.

“Golden Birdwing” from Uttarakhand About Southern Birdwing: surpassed “Southern Birdwing” to Southern Birdwing (190 mm) was recorded in 1932 by Brigadier Evans, a become India’s largest butterfly after British military officer and lepidopterist 88 years (a person who studies or collects butterflies and moths).

Mean Average Global Temperature could rise by 1.5° Celsius in 5 years: WMO

The Himalayan butterfly named “Golden The United Nations (UN) weather Birdwing (Troides aeacus)” has surpassed Agency, World Meteorological the “Southern Birdwing (Troides minos)” Organization (WMO) in its “Global after 88 years to become the largest Annual to Decadal Climate Update for butterfly in India. The female species of 2020-2024” has forecasted that the annual the Golden Birdwing has a wingspan mean global temperature is likely to be 40 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Policy on Environment and Ecology

at least 1° Celsius above pre-industrial resources and data. levels (1850-1900) in each of the coming The population of the tiger has increased five years (2020-2024) and there is a 20% 33% since 2014 that is from 2,226 in 2014 chance that it will exceed 1.5 degrees to 2967 in 2018 making India the safest Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) in at least one and biggest habitat for the wild cats in year. Overall, it is very likely to be within the world. the range 0.91 – 1.59°C. Key Points: The 1.5 C mark is the level to which The website of Guinness Book of World countries have agreed to try to limit record cited that the fourth iteration of global warming as per 2015 Paris accord. the survey conducted in 2018-2019 was The agreement sets a goal of keeping the most comprehensive to date in terms global warming well below 2 degrees of resources and data. Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally no more The All India Tiger Estimation survey than 1.5 C. conducted every four years is guided The earth’s average temperature is by the National Tigers Conservation already over 1.0 C above the pre-industrial Authority with the technical support of period. The last five-year period (2015- Wildlife Institute of India implemented 2019) has been the warmest five years on by the State Forest Departments. record. More than 1492 tigers are found in About World Meteorological the forest areas of Madhya Pradesh, Organization (WMO): Karnataka and Uttarakhand. ff Secretary-General (SG) – Petteri Taalas UNODC’s World Wildlife Crime Report ff Headquarter – Geneva, Switzerland The United Nations Office on Drugs ff Members – 187 Member States and 6 and Crime (UNODC) released its World Member Territories Wildlife Crime Report stating that the Seizure of the scales of the Pangolins, the India’s 2018 Tiger Census - Largest most trafficked wild animal in the world Camera Trap Wildlife Survey sets has increased 10 times between the year Guinness Record 2014 and 1018.

The 2018 tiger Census of India entered The report states that the number of the Guinness Record book as the largest legally imported pangolin scales went camera trap wildlife survey following the from zero to around 13 tonnes between application sent to the Guinness Book of 2013 and 2017. World Record. About UNODC: Guinness Book of World record cited ff Director-General/ Executive Director– that the fourth iteration of the survey Ghada Fathi Waly conducted in 2018-2019 was the most ff Headquarters– Vienna, Austria comprehensive to date in terms of

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 41 Policy on Environment and Ecology Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

Poba Reserve Forest in Assam”s ‘Bathynomus Raksasa’ is the second- Dhemaji to be upgraded to wildlife largest isopod species known to sanctuary researchers to date and is the sixth The chief minister (CM) of Assam has “supergiant” species from the Indo-West announced the upgradation of Poba Pacific. Reserve Forest, a vital biodiversity Rare yellow turtle spotted in Odisha’s hotspot in Dhemaji district of Assam, as Balasore district a wildlife sanctuary. The announcement was made during a meeting with senior A rare yellow officials of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and turtle was Majuli districts at Jonai. discovered and Declared in 1924 as Poba Reserve Forest, it rescued by has an area of 10,522 hectares and is home villagers in to a large number of flora and fauna. Odisha’s Balasore district .The whole CM also visited the Outer Jonai and Bera shell and the body of the rescued turtle is Sapori areas in the district and took stock yellow. of the devastation caused by the flood. India to Have 60% Renewable Energy ‘Bathynomus raksasa’ in Indian by 2030 Ocean Raj Kumar Singh, Minister of State (MoS) (IC) Power and New & Renewable Energy stated that India will have around 60% of the installed capacity of the electricity generation from renewable resources by 2030, in the webinar on Energy Transition at the second pre-event hosted by The A team of researchers from Singapore World confirmed the discovery of a new species Sustainable called ‘Bathynomus raksasa’ (Described Development as “cockroach of the sea”). Summit The scientists reported their findings (WSDS) 2021 in the biodiversity research journal in collaboration with Energy Transitions ‘ZooKeys’. Commission (ETC) India on 21st July The researchers found the new species in 2020. 2018 during a deep-sea survey off of the Gist of the Webinar: coast of Banten, Western Java, Indonesia Prime Minister Modi announced that (Indian Ocean). India will increase the renewable energy

42 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Policy on Environment and Ecology

target to 450 GW by 2030 from 175 GW by ff Chile 2022, in the United Nations (UN) Climate ff Vietnam Action Summit held in September 2019. ff Turkey R K Singh highlighted the progress of India on clean energy and stated that Nitrogen Dioxide levels fell by more including the projects under development than 70 percent in New Delhi during and hydroelectric power the clean energy lockdown: UN capacity of India is around 190 GW which The nitrogen dioxide levels fell by more is higher than the targeted 175 GW by than 70 per cent in New Delhi during the 2022. lockdown, as per a UN policy brief. By 2030, the renewable energy capacity of The UN Secretary-General’s Policy Brief India would reach 510 GW with around on ‘COVID-19 in an Urban World’ though 450 GW of power generation capacity highlighted that the environmental gains from renewable sources like solar and made could be temporary if the cities wind and 60 GW from Hydroelectric re-open without policies to prevent air power. pollution and promote de-carbonisation. An estimated 90 percent of all reported Global Forest Resources Assessment COVID-19 cases, urban areas have of FAO: India ranks third in raise in become the epicentre of the pandemic. forest cover The size of the population of the areas The Food and Agriculture Organization and their high level of global and local of the United Nations recently released interconnectivity make them particularly Global Forest Resources Assessment vulnerable to the spread of the virus.

(FRA) report. According to the report, New scientific studies suggest that poor air quality is correlated with higher India ranked third among top 10 countries COVID-19 mortality rates. where forest cover has increased in the Regarding COVID-19 outbreaks in last decade. informal settlements, the brief stated Highlights that in Mumbai, as of mid-April 2020, The Food and Agriculture Organization 30 percent of designated containment bring out the report once in every five zones were in slums, while 60 percent years. The report assesses state of forests were within 100 metres of an informal in the member countries, their conditions settlement. and management. The UN Secretary-General Antonio According to the report, the following 10 Guterres stressed that the state of countries have gained forest area between public services in many cities requires 2010 and 2020. urgent attention, especially in informal ff China settlements. The brief also recommends ff Australia that nations must pursue a green, resilient and inclusive economic recovery. ff India

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 43 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

4. ECONOMICS 4.1 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

Fitch Slashes India’s Growth Forecast Switzerland and Russia, as per the report For FY22 to 8% released by IMF - International Monetary Fitch Ratings Inc., an American credit Fund. rating agency in Global Economic Outlook (GEO), has lowered India’s growth forecast for FY 2021-22 to 8% from 9.5 % projected in may 2020 due to the toughest lockdown imposed by the central government to prevent the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19). However, Fitch has not made any change

in its previous estimate of a 5% decline in The foreign exchange reserves of India the economy during the current financial are almost equal to one fifth of India’s year (FY 2020-21). GDP. ff Global Projections: Fitch has also India’s GDP Likely to Contract by predicted growth in the global 6.4% in 2020-21 economy at 4.9 % in 2021& in 2022 it is CARE Ratings Limited ( formerly estimated to be 3.4 %. Credit Analysis and Research Limited) About Fitch Ratings: in its report, ‘Revised GDP growth ff Headquarters– New York, US projections for FY21’ has projected a 6.4 ff President– Ian Linnell % contraction (or -6.4%) in India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth for the th India’s Forex Reserves 5 largest in current financial year FY 21 (2020-21) due the world to the continuous lockdown imposed for The foreign exchange reserves of India prevention of coronavirus (COVID-19) is the fifth largest in the world at more epidemic. than USD 500 billion. The first four Forex About CARE Rating: Reserves on the list are China, Japan, ff Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra

44 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Income tax department amends TDS the global economy will not reach pre- rules, seeks more disclosure in form pandemic levels of activity again before After introducing new TDS (tax deducted 2022. at source) rates for high-value cash About Dun & Bradstreet (D&B): withdrawals from banks, the income tax Dun & Bradstreet’s Country Risk department has now amended TDS rules Indicator provides a comparative, cross- further to tighten the noose and seek border assessment of the risk of doing more disclosures. business in a country. The risk indicator In its latest notification, the Central Board is divided into seven bands, ranging from of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has amended DB1 to DB7, with DB1 being lowest risk. TDS forms to give effect to the new Headquarter– New Jersey, United States withholding provisions under Finance (US) Act, 2020. Location in India– Mumbai, Maharashtra The new forms are more comprehensive and require payers to report not only India Moves up a Rank, Becoming the those cases where TDS is deducted, but Second-Largest Foreign Investor in also cases where TDS is not deducted for UK any reason. Separate codes have been According to the United Kingdom’s provided to cover different situations government’s figures released on 10 July of deduction of TDS at lower rate/ non- 2020, India has become the second largest deduction of TDS Foreign Direct Investor in the United The income tax department has revised Kingdom (UK) after the United States format of Form 26Q and 27Q, where in 2019, by investing in 120 projects and details of TDS deducted and deposited creating 5,429 new jobs in the UK. on various resident and non-resident Top Foreign Direct Investors in UK payments is required to be deposited. 2020: The United States of America remains as Global economy to contract by 5.2 pc the top source of Forign Direct Investment in 2020: Report (FDI) of the UK, delivering 462 projects In accordance with the Dun and and 20,131 jobs. Bradstreet’s (D&B) Country Risk and The List is followed by India, Germany, Global Outlook Report, which has France, China and Hong Kong. covered 132 countries, the global economy Improvisations: is likely to contract by 5.2% in 2020. This India increased with a 4% FDI increase for is the biggest decline since the Second the UK on 2018-19 with 1,852 new inward World War and a far stronger contraction investment projects in the 2019/2020 than the 1.7% recorded in 2009 during financial year. the global financial crisis. As per report,

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 45 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 India’s annual median GDP growth in The Health Ministry has also revised its FY21 to contract 4.5% requirement of around 4.9 lakh crores to 6.04 lakh crores in view of the COVID In accordance with the latest round of pandemic. Economic Outlook Survey of FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Indian Government launches Commerce and Industry), India’s annual implementation guidelines for median Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Animal Husbandry Infrastructure growth forecast for FY2020-21 has been Development Fund declined to (-) 4.5% with a minimum and maximum growth estimate of (-) 6.4% The Union Government launched the and 1.5% respectively, as compared to implementation guidelines for Animal January 2020 estimate of 5.5%. Husbandry Infrastructure Development As per the survey, there is a possibility Fund on July 16, 2020. The AHIDF fund of V-shaped recovery with government worth Rd 15000 crore was approved expenditure as in the current situation; it by the Union Cabinet last month under is the only helping hand for the financial the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan position of the economy. economic package to boost growth in Economic activity-wise annual forecast several sectors. indicated a median growth of 2.7% The fund has been set up to promote for agriculture and allied activities for and incentivise MSMEs and Private 2020-21. companies to encourage their involvement in processing and value addition About FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry): infrastructure. India is increasingly engaged in ensuring breed improvement ff Secretary General– Dilip Chenoy to increase milk production and taking ff President– Sangita Reddy care of the processing sector. ff Headquarter– New Delhi ICRA projects India’s GDP to contract Govt aims to increase public health by 9.5% in FY21 from earlier 5% expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025 In a meeting with the 15th Finance Commission, the Union Health Minister Dr.Harsh Vardhan, highlighted that the government aims at gradually increasing the public health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of the nation’s GDP by the year 2025. ICRA Limited (formerly Investment The Minister asserted that the outlay for Information and Credit Rating Agency) primary health expenditure will also be projects India’s Gross Domestic Product made nearly two third of the total public (GDP) to contract by 9.5% (-9.5%) in health expenditure in the country.

46 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

FY2021 from 5% earlier forecasted as card, FamCard. FamPay with National ongoing lockdowns in some states have Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) affected the recovery seen in May and developed this card. June. This card is accepted across the RuPay India’s economy to contract by 25% in the payment network of merchants. It is 1st quarter of FY21, in the 2nd quarter to similar to a debit card which enables contract by 12.4%, in the 3rd quarter to teenagers to transact in a cashless manner. contract by 2.3% and in the 4th quarter to Teenagers can use the card independently contract by 1.3%. without the intervention of the parents.

FM Sitharaman attends 3rd G20 India’s GDP to contract by 6.1% in Finance Ministers & Central Bank FY21: Nomura Governors Meeting As per the report of Nomura Holdings, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Inc, a japanese brokerage firm, India’s Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman participated Gross domestic Product (GDP) is likely in the 3rd G20 Finance Ministers and to contract by 6.1%(-6.1%) as economic Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) activity continues to be weak due to meeting under the Saudi Arabian COVID-19 pandemic. Presidency through Video Conferencing. India’s economy to contract by 15.2% in The main aim of the meeting is to discuss the June quarter. For the rest of this fiscal the global economic outlook amid year, GDP will never be positive. evolving COVID-19 pandemic crisis It estimated contractions of 5.6% in the along with other G20 Finance Track September quarter, 2.8% for the December priorities for the year 2020. quarter and 1.4% in the March quarter. The FM discussed regarding the progress About Nomura Holdings, Inc: of G20 Action Plan against COVID ff Headquarters– Tokyo, Japan 19. This plan laid out in detail a list of collective commitments under the heads India’s GDP to contract by 6% in of health response, economic response, FY21: DBS strong and sustainable recovery and As per the report of DBS (Formerly, international financial coordination Development Bank of Singapore), aimed at coordinating a committed effort Singaporean brokerage, India’s Gross on the part of the G20 countries. domestic Product(GDP) will contract by 6% (-6%) in FY21 as the economy is FamPay launched India’s 1st yet to stabilise the COVID -19 infection numberless card, Famcard curve and the due to the caseload in the FamPay, India’s first Neobank for economically key states. teenagers, in partnership with IDFC First This will affect the economy badly. In Bank launched India’s 1st numberless

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 47 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

its earlier forecast, the brokerage had About Nasscom: forecasted the growth as -4.8%. ff Headquarters – New Delhi, India About DBS Group: ff President– Debjani Gosh. f f Headquarters– Singapore About ICRIER ff CEO– Piyush Gupta ff Headquarters – New Delhi, India RIL becomes world’s second most ff Chairperson, Board of Governors – valuable energy company Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) became the world’s second most valuable energy company, overtaking American oil giant ExxonMobil after its market capitalization (m-cap) reached over Rs 14 lakh crore (14.1 trillion or USD 189.3 billion). Aramco tops the list. ExxonMobil has an m-cap of USD 184.7 billion. It is to be noted that no Indian company has ever crossed the m-cap of Rs 14 trillion.

India’s GDP boosts to 2.5% by AI : Report by ICRIER, Google & NASSCOM According to The report titled, ‘Implications of AI on the Indian Economy’ by National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) along with the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and Google stated that: A unit increase (measured as the ratio of AI to total sales) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) intensity can result in a 2.5% increase in India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the immediate term.

48 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology 5. SCIENCE

5.1 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology

Indian Space Mission Shukrayaan-1 and Central Scientific Instruments The Indian Venus Mission Shukrayaan-1, Organisation (CSIO) have indigenously the Swedish Institute of Space Physics will developed an Airborne Locust Control explore Venus for the second time. The System (ALCS) for two Mi-17 helicopters Shukrayaan-1 is scheduled for launch at for spraying atomised pesticide malathion the end of 2023 from Sriharikota, Andhra to arrest locust breeding. Pradesh. ff These helicopters will spray 800 liters Key Points:- of pesticide in 750 hectare area in just 40 minutes. Venusian Neutrals Analyzer (VNA), the satellite instrument of IRF will study the interaction between the charged particles of the sun and the atmosphere and exosphere of the planet. Plasma properties around Venus are measured intimately through the satellite TV for pc instruments. The Union Agriculture and Farmers’ The primary technology SARA Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was launched on Indian spacecraft has flagged off a Bell206-B3 helicopter Chandrayaan-1 that explored the Moon for effective control of crop threatening in 2008-2009. locusts in the worst affected areas in About Indian Venus Mission: Rajasthan. ff Operator: ISRO About Mi-17 Helicopter:

ff Launch: 2023 Mi-17 Helicopter made in Russia is considered very powerful. This two- Indian Air Force & CSIO Have Develops engine chopper can fly at a maximum Indigenous ‘Airborne Locust Control speed of 260 kilometers per hour. It can System’ carry 24 jawans in addition to two pilots simultaneously. It is capable of carrying based 3 Base Repair Depot 4000 kg. (BRD) of the Indian Air Force (IAF)

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 49 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Mangalyaan captures Image of Mars India’s 1st NPNT compliant Drone Biggest Natural Satellite “Phobos” flight successfully completed The Mangalyaan Mission (also known India’s First No- as Mars Orbiter Mission) of the Indian Permission No- Space Research Organization (ISRO) has Takeoff (NPNT) captured the image of Phobos (the largest compliant drone flight Moon or Natural Satellite of Mars) on 1st on the A200 Remotely July 2020. The image was shared by ISRO Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) has been on 3rd July 2020. completed successfully by Quidich The image of Phobos was captured from Innovation Labs and Asteria Aerospace. a distance of 4200 kilometres by the This NPNT drone flight is under the Mars Orbiter Mission on 1st July. At that Ministry of Civil Aviation MoCA & time, the Mars Orbiter Mission was at a DGCA comprehensive policy on the use distance of 7200 kilometres from Mars. of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), ISRO has further stated that 210 metres which came into effect on 1st Dec 2018. is the spatial resolution of the captured image. IIT Roorkee researchers develops disinfection box “Unisaviour” ISRO to release Space policy, Space “Unisaviour”, a disinfection box has Activities Bill soon been developed by the researchers Indian Space Research Organisation at IIT Roorkee. The disinfection box (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan announced “Unisaviour” can be used to sterilize recently that the space policy and space personal belongings, apparels, PPE, activities bill are in the final stages. A medical equipment among others form dedicated space policy was in making for the COVID-19. The disinfection box some time now for legislation of space can also be installed easily at the public activities. spaces such as cinema halls, malls etc to The policy was fast-tracked after the ensure the highest standard of hygiene. government announced major reforms in the space sector, allowing the private Study reveals secret life of lithium in sector to use ISRO’s services to carry out Sun-like stars space activities such as building rockets It is the key ingredient in the batteries of and satellites. our mobile phones and electric vehicles. The space policy and the Space Activities Lithium is a special element - it was the Bill will help address legal issues in the only metal produced in the Big Bang 13.7 space sector. A new navigation policy is billion years ago. While other elements also being proposed along with necessary were produced in copious amounts by changes in the Remote Sensing Data stars over the eons (by factors of mil-lions Policy and SATCOM policy. in some cases), lithium has only increased

50 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology by a relatively small amount. The source Key Info of even this small amount of lithium is NVAITC will also accelerate the research still a matter of scientific debate. About of faculty at IIT-H. IIT-H has 2 systems half is thought to come from high-energy namely, NVIDIA DGX-1TM systems and cosmic rays breaking up the heavier NVIDIA DGX-2TM system, which are elements, like carbon and oxygen, in dedicated to the research carried out at interstellar space. the institute. Recently, a team of researchers, led by About NVIDIA: Prof. Gang Zhao and Dr. Yerra Bharat ff NVIDIA is a multinational technology Kumar from National Astronomical company, Observatories of Chinese Academy of ff Headquarters- California, United Sciences (NAOC), studied Lithium (Li) States content in hundreds of thousands of Sun-like stars, using large spectroscopic ‘Compact XL’ system for covid-19 surveys of GALAH and LAMOST. tests lauched by MyLab NASA Astronaut observed comet Mylab Discovery Solutions has launched “Neowise” from ISS the ‘Compact XL’ system for conducting a wide range of tests, including RT-PCR The images of the comet Neowise(C/2020 tests for COVID-19. F3), were captured by NASA astronaut This is India’s first machine to automate Bob Behnken from International the manual processes of molecular Space Station (ISS) camera, which was diagnostic tests such as RNA/DNA- discovered by the Neowise space based tests including COVID-19 RT-PCR telescope, short for the Near-Earth Object tests. Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. UAE to be first Arab nation to send IIT-H collaborates with NVIDIA probe to Mars to establish India’s 1st NVIDIA AI Technology Centre United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced to send probe to Mars to Indian Institute of Technology – capture comprehensive image of the Hyderabad (IIT-H) collaborates with weather in the atmosphere of Mars. NVIDIA to establish India’s first ‘NVIDIA With this, the UAE will be the first Arab Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology nation to achieve the milestone. The Centre’ (NVAITC) to speed up the UAE’s probe will help pave the way for research work on AI and its commercial scientific breakthroughs in studying the purpose. Mars Atmosphere. The collaboration focuses on improvising AI research in the aspects of agriculture, smart cities and language understanding.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 51 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 ISRO to Launch Brazil’s Amazonia-1 Boeing delivers final Apache & Earth Observation Satellite on PSLV Chinook helicopters to IAF Indian Space Research Organisation Boeing India has delivered the last of the (ISRO) is set to launch the Amazonia five AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to – 1 onboard the Polar Satellite Launch the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Hindan Vehicle (PSLV) as a primary payload by Air Force Station. August 2020. Amazonia -1 is Brazil’s first Boeing has satellite for Earth observation – designed, completed assembled and tested in Brazil. delivery of all Purpose of Amazonia -1: 22 new AH-64E Amazonia – 1 will help in observing and Apache to the monitoring the deforestation in the region Indian Air of Amazon through the satellite images. Force (IAF).

The importance of this satellite has The Apaches were deployed at the Leh increased due to the recent forest fire in airbase as part of the forward movement amazon. of assets, amid the stand-off with China The images from the Brazilian satellite in Ladakh. will also help in the agriculture and Boeing also handed over the last five of vegetation sector. the 15 CH-47F (I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to the IAF. Key Points: India contracted 22 Apache helicopters The launch of Amazonia -1 is one of the and 15 Chinook helicopters from Boeing 36 space and satellite missions of ISRO through the Foreign Military Sales that has been scheduled over the next programme of the U.S. government in two years including the Chandrayaan-3, September 2015 under a $3 billion deal. uncrewed mission for Gaganyaan. Countries like Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Telecommunication Satellite Chile, Colombia and Bolivia have space “APSTAR-6D” Successfully Launched cooperation agreements with ISRO China’s 1st Kuaizhou-11(means ‘Fast at different levels because of ISRO’s Ship’), solid-fuelled carrier rocket launch commercial consideration. was failed. The rocket was launched The cost effective programmes of ISRO from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center have attracted multiple countries all over in northwest China. On July 9, 2020 the world. China launched its new commercial telecommunication satellite “APSTAR- 6D” by a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

52 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology During the failed launch, Kuaizhou- Russia first nation to complete clinical 11(KZ-11) carried Jilin-1 Gaofen-02E or trials of COVID vaccine BilibiliSat and the CentiSpace-1 S2 – also Russia has designated Xiangrikui 2. successfully Kuaizhou-11 & APSTAR-6D was completed the developed by the China Aerospace human trials of Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) Coronavirus and commercialized by the China Space vaccine. With Sanjiang Group Corporation (Expace). this, Russia has become the first country to complete the trials of COVID vaccine. JNCASR spinoff launched molecular The volunteers who took part in the trials probes used in COVID-19 test kits will be discharged soon. The trials were aimed at showing the safety of vaccine for human health.

Turmeric may help in treating blood cancer

VNIR Biotechnologies Private Limited, a spinoff by Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras Government of India launched (IIT-M) researchers have shown that indigenous fluorescence probes and curcumin the active principle from Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mix turmeric may enhance cancer cell death, for Reverse transcription polymerase said a statement from the institution. chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection which The study showed that curcumin are molecular probes used in COVID-19 significantly increased the sensitivity of test kits. VNIR Biotechnologies Private leukemia cells to a protein that causes Limited is incubated at Bangalore Bio- death of cancer cells. The research innovation Centre (BBC) of Government however showed these results in-situ of Karnataka. (in a test tube) and the outcome may

This initiative of developing products vary in the human body. This doubt locally is in line with our Prime Minister’s arises because curcumin is known to be ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission. poorly absorbed into the blood from the gut and its bioavailability for therapeutic purposes is generally poor.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 53 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

There have been considerable efforts COVID-19 Diagnostic Kit “Corosure”. in developing therapeutic agents that The kit has been e-launched by the Union trigger death of cancer cells. One such Human Resource Development Minister, agent that has been found promising is a Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. protein called ‘TNF-Related Apoptosis- The kit has also received the approval Inducing Ligand’ (TRAIL). from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as well as the Drug IIT Kanpur develops UV sanitizing Controller General of India (DCGI). device ‘SHUDH’ The launch of this kit is expected to significantly bring down the cost of COVID-19 RT-PCR testing.

India’s 1st Fully Indigenously Developed Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine

IIT Kanpur has developed an Ultraviolet (UV) sanitizing device named Smartphone operated Handy Ultraviolet Disinfection Helper (SHUDH). The Ministry of Health and Family Features of SHUDH Welfare (MoHFW) informed that, the SHUDH has 6 UV lights each of 15 Watts, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) which can be monitored individually has given approval to India’s first from a distance. fully indigenously developed vaccine The product’s location, speed, on/off against pneumonia, Pneumococcal can be remotely controlled by installing Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine. The an android application using the vaccine has been developed by M/s. smartphone. Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, Pune. On its full operation it can disinfect DCGI has also granted permission to a 10×10 square feet room in about 15 manufacture the vaccine domestically. minutes. This was proven in the initial About Pneumococcal Polysaccharide testing. Conjugate Vaccine The Pneumococcal Polysaccharide IIT Delhi develops COVID-19 Conjugate Vaccine is used for active Diagnostic Kit “Corosure” immunization against invasive disease Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has and pneumonia caused by ‘Streptococcus developed the world’s most affordable pneumonia’ in infants.

54 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology

It is administered in an intramuscular developed a portable hospital unit called manner (intramuscular injection is a ‘MediCAB’. technique used to deliver a medication MediCAB can be installed anywhere deep into the muscles). within two hours by four people. It has been launched recently in Wayanad Department of Biotechnology District of Kerala where the units are being supported COVID 19 Vaccine begins deployed to treat COVID19 Patients. Adaptive Phase I/II clinical trials The Medicab is foldable and is composed Vaccine of four zones: a doctor’s room, an Discovery isolation room, a medical room/ward Programme and a twin-bed ICU, maintained at supported by negative pressure. It aims to decentralize the Department the approach to detect, screen, identify, of Bio isolate and treat COVID-19 patients in technology, their local communities through these Govt. of India under the National portable microstructures. Biopharma Mission, implemented by BIRAC moves into clinical trials Long March-5 rocket in position for BIRAC has announced that ZyCoV-D, China’s first Mars probe the plasmid DNA vaccine designed and China has taken another major step developed by Zydus and partially funded toward its first Mars probe mission, by the Department of Biotechnology, Tianwen-1. The Long March-5 Y4, the Government of India has initiated carrier rocket commissioned for the Phase I/ II clinical trials in healthy probe, was vertically transported to subjects, making it the first indigenously the launch area at the Wenchang Space developed vaccine for COVID-19 to be Launch Center in South China’s Hainan administered in humans in India. Province on Friday morning ahead of the The adaptive Phase I/II dose escalation, launch scheduled to take place between multi-centric study will assess the safety, the end of July and the beginning of tolerability and immunogenicity of the August, according to the China National vaccine. The human dosing of the vaccine Space Administration (CNSA.) marks a key milestone since the launching According to a CNSA press release of the accelerated vaccine development the Global Times attained on Friday, programme for COVID-19. the Long March-5 Y4 rocket arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in IIT Madras start-up developed a late May this year, and has completed portable hospital called “MediCAB” preparation work including assembly Indian Institute of Technology Madras and pre-launch tests. (IIT-M) start-up Modulus Housing, has

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 55 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 COPS: COVID-19 Protection System possible to predict the path of lightning unveiled by CSIR-CSMERI and predict the impact of lightning in this CSIR-CMERI unveiled COVID-19 village 45 minutes in advance. protection System (COPS) for workplaces. Lightning detection technology will be introduced within the next one year. The Highlights next Geo satellite to be launched into The COPS include contactless solar based space will be equipped with lightning intelligent mask automated dispensing detection sensors. unit cum thermal scanner (IntelliMAST), If the path of the lightning is predicted 360-degree car flusher and touchless by the sensors fitted in the satellite, it is faucet. These sub units are now available possible to accurately calculate the time for technology transfers. The COPS is of thunder and lightning in any village the conglomeration of the above listed before 3 o’clock. People in the area can technologies. be alerted immediately through cell UAE launches ‘Hope’ mission to Mars phone text messages or other media. Can from Japan’s space center prevent casualties. In the interest of farmers and the public,

The United Arab Emirates launched we have already introduced a processor its first-ever interplanetary Hope called Tamini. Probe mission to Mars from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Centre. Nano-sanitiser developed by The Hope probe launched on an H2-A SNBNCBS can help in combatting rocket from Tanegashima spaceport, and COVID 19 is now on a 500-million-km journey to An active respirator mask with attached study the planet’s weather and climate. exhalation valve and suspended The spacecraft is expected to reach Mars particulate matter filter for comfortable orbit in about 200 days from now and and hygienic breathing while wearing then begin its mission to study the Red masks has been developed by Professor Planet’s atmosphere. Samir K. Pal & his group under the Lightning advance detection leadership of Professor Samit Kumar Ray, technology Director S.N. Bose National Centre For Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata, an Lightning strikes more than 2,500 people autonomous research Institute under the a year across the country. These casualties Department of Science and Technology can be prevented if lightning is predicted (DST), Government of India. in advance. A nano-sanitizer with a Dispensing States including Andhra Pradesh, Orissa Antimicrobial Layer has also been and Assam are using the technology of developed by the institute. The Long- the US ‘Earth Dot Net’ to detect lightning Lasting Nano-sanitiser innovation is a in advance. With this technology it is

56 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology solution to the problems caused by the use Comet NEOWISE of the general sanitisers like dehydration The comet NEOWISE will be making its of skin due to frequent use, and nature closest approach to Earth, passing by at a of instantaneous antimicrobial action of distance of 103 million kilometres. common sanitisers without protective The comet will be visible after sunset role. This innovative sanitiser technology around the world in the north west assures comfortable and hygienic hand direction. In India, it will be visible until sanitisation for a longer duration. around 9:30pm. Before 12 July, the comet was visible in the early hours of the IIT Madras develops technology to morning. remove haze in surveillance camera This passage increases the comet’s orbital images period from about 4400 years to about Indian Institute of Technology Madras has 6700 years. Its closest approach to Earth developed enhanced image processing occurred on July 23, 2020. techniques to mitigate the impact of haze on images captured by surveillance COVISHIELD: India to take up clinical cameras. This can prove crucial in helping trials of OXFORD Vaccine law enforcement agencies solve crimes Central Drugs Standard Control and help the common public as many Organization announced that it will take communities are now installing CCTVs up clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine, to safeguard themselves. COVIDSHIELD developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Oxford COVID-19 vaccine ‘AZD1222’ early trial shows positive result Highlights The trials are being considered by CDSCO The human trial of COVID-19 vaccine after the request from Serum Institute of candidate developed by the University India. The phase III of the trials is to be of Oxford and backed by AstraZeneca conducted in India. During phase III, Plc has shown a positive result. Officially around 4000-5000 people shall be tested. known as AZD1222, the vaccine has The Vaccine is already being tested in prompted a protective immune response UK, South Africa, and Brazil. The cost of in hundreds of people who got the shot. the vaccine is estimated to be less than Rs The researchers said that they found 1000. their experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response in IIM-Kozhikode start-up develops people aged 18 to 55. wearable device ‘Veli Band’ The vaccine uses a weakened version Indian Institute of Management of chimpanzee adenovirus as a vector, Kozhikode (IIM-K) based incubated infused with the genetic material of startup Qual5 India Pvt. Ltd, has SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. developed a wearable device called ‘Veli

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 57 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Band’ which helps in maintaining social Guwahati gets “BANDICOOT” the first distancing by sending out an alarm in manhole cleaning robot in Northeast case of proximity with another person. Siddhartha Bhattacharya, PM Modi launches 3 high-volume Minister of Covid test labs Guwahati PM Modi launched three high-throughput Development labs in , Kolkata and Mumbai for Department testing of samples to detect Covid-19. inaugurated The facilities, which will enable testing Guwahati’s first of over 10,000 samples a day and reduce manhole turnaround time and exposure of lab cleaning robot personnel to infectious clinical material, named will not remain restricted to testing “BANDICOOT”, an automatic sewer for Covid-19 but will be expanded for cleaning device. Guwahati became the testing of many other diseases including first city in the Northeast region to get a Hepatitis B and C, HIV and dengue in manhole cleaning robot. future. BANDICOOT: China launched new high-resolution BANDICOOT was developed by mapping satellite Ziyuan-III 03 from Genrobotics, an Indian startup company Shanxi under the Make in India initiative. The funding for the development of

China sent a new high-resolution BANDICOOT was provided by the mapping satellite namely “Ziyuan III Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) 03”, developed by the China Academy under the Corporate Social Responsibility of Space Technology, into space through (CSR) initiative. Long March-4B carrier rocket from The robot supports easy removal of Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the sludge from the underground drain Northern Province of Shanxi, China. and will help the elimination of manual

It was the 341st flight mission by the Long scavenging. March rocket series. Along with high-resolution mapping NASA launches its Mars Mission; to satellite, there were two small satellites reach Mars by February 2021 used for dark matter detection and The National Aeronautics and Space commercial data acquisition were also Administration (NASA) has its Mars sent which were developed by the mission named Mars Perseverance Rover Shanghai ASES Spaceflight Technology 2020 on July 30. The Mars Rover aims to Co. Ltd. reach the Red Planet by the year 2021. The rover was launched aboard Atlas

58 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology V-541 in Florida. The Mars Perseverance Highlights rover is a robot that will deploy first-ever According to ICMR, the annual decline interplanetary helicopter. of annual new HIV infections between 2010 and 2017 was 27%. Under the new DIAT developed ‘Aashray’, the target, GoI intended to reduce AIDS in Medical Bed Isolation System to the country by 75% by 2020. This seems Combat COVID-19 highly ambitious and now has become The Defence Institute of Advanced challenging with COVID-19 crisis. Technology (DIAT) has developed ‘Aashray’, the Medical Bed Isolation System to fight against COVID-19 pandemic by controlling the spread of infection released by the patient. It is a low cost, reusable solution. The model of Aashray was manufactured by M/s Cleancore Solutions Pvt Ltd. Bhosari, Pune. About Aashray It will maintain proper isolation by creating suction (negative pressure) near exhale of COVID-19 patients and further filtering and disinfecting the aerosol. Bed Isolation System envelopes are made up of specialized material and manufacturing process with transparent and translucent (7.5(l) ×7 (w) ×6.5 (h) ft3) size supported on medical grade materials structures.

ICMR Study” India likely to miss AIDS target by 2030 The Indian Council of Medical Research has warned that India is likely to miss the national target of ending AIDS in the country by 2030. According to the council, this is mainly due to the halted progress of several health programmes due to COVID-19.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 59 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 5.2 Mass Media & Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for blocking these malicious Communication apps.

Government bans 59 Chinese mobile Rijiju Launches NADA App to Help apps prejudicial to sovereignty and Athletes Stay Updated on Banned integrity of India Substances The first mobile app for the National Anti- Doping Agency was released by Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju. The initiative is an important step towards dope free sports, providing updates about the banned substances and their use. Key Points:- The Ministry of Electronics and It acts as a bridge between athletes and Information Technology (MEITY), the NADA by providing easy accessible invoking its power under section 69A of information about sports and banned the Information Technology Act read with substances and their use which affects the the relevant provisions of the Information career of athletes. Technology (Procedure and Safeguards The app allows doping control officers to for Blocking of Access of Information by record their availability to conduct a test Public) Rules 2009 has decided to ban through this app for quicker process of 59 apps due to their activities which are dope test for athletes. prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of HDFC Bank Launches ‘e-Kisaan Dhan’ India, defence of India, security of state App for Farmers and public order. ff It should be noted that all of the HDFC Bank has launched ‘e-Kisaan blocked apps are Chinese including Dhan’ App for Farmers in India. This app popular ones such as TikTok, Helo, provides information and knowledge to WeChat, UC Browser, Shareit and farmers which will help them to meet the CamScanner. needs of the rural ecosystem.

ff This move comes at a time of rising With this app, farmers can access a tensions between India and China bouquet of services in banking and following clashes at the Line of Actual agriculture, through their mobile phones. Control (LAC). The app provides the users information in regard to new government schemes ff This decision also followed the and ways to access them. exhaustive recommendations of the

60 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Mass Media & Communication “COPAL-19”app to track plasma Prime Minister launched donors launched Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical For building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat Science) doctor along with a team of IIT- using Digital Technologies, an App Delhi students have developed an app Innovation Challenge was launched on “COPAL-19” which enables users to 4th July 2020 by the Prime Minister of track willing plasma donors who have India Narendra Modi. In partnership recovered from Covid-19. with NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission, the App Innovation Challenge is Banning apps digital strike to protect an initiative by the Ministry of Electronics data and Information Technology. Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Objective of the App Innovation announced New Delhi’s decision to ban Challenge 59 China-linked apps days after violent The objective is to explore the vibrant tech brawl between Indian and Chinese and startup ecosystem that India has by soldiers in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley was identifying those existing Applications a “digital strike”. from each respective category (that are This is the first time a minister has already in use in the country), those have described the ban as a “strike” against the potential to become a world-class China. On social media, many drew application. a comparison with India’s air strike, The Innovation Challenge will further carried out in response to the Uri attack, provide a platform for providing against Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps momentum and mentorship to the in Pakistan’s Balakot. innovative efforts made by an individual or entity. IIT Kanpur develops teaching setup ‘Mobile Masterjee’ Delhi Govt Launches an E-Portal, The Indian Institute of Technology ‘LEAD’ for its Students (IIT) Kanpur has developed a virtual Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and classroom aid, ‘Mobile Masterjee’. education minister Manish Sisodia It is a classroom-to-home teaching launched an e- portal, ‘Learning through setup, which enables students to record E-Resources Made Accessible for Delhi’ teachers’ lectures/instructions while (LEAD) for its students to strengthen the using smartphones. It is developed by the children’s online education. Imagineering Lab of IIT Kanpur. The e- portal contains 10,000 instructional Purpose of the setup– To help rural materials and course content for Classes schools overcome the teaching and I to XII. learning challenges caused by the It is developed by the State Council pandemic. of Educational Research and Training

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 61 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 (SCERT), the Delhi government. offer remployment opportunities to The state government will upload its local residents. The portal will help in curriculum and share teaching-learning recruitment of skilled, semi-skilled and material on the ministry of Human unskilled employees by bridging the gap Resource Development’s (HRD) online between employers and local wokers. platform, DIKSHA through this portal. Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation will run the Maha job portal. Elyments – India’s First Social Media Super App Launched by the Vice MSDE launches AI-based “ASEEM” President of India digital platform Vice President of India Shri Venkiah Naidu launched India’s first social media super application: Elyments virtually Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based on 5th July 2020. “Aatamanirbhar Skilled Employee The app provides Employer Mapping (ASEEM)” digital free audio/video platform has been launched by the calls, and private/ Ministry of Skill Development and group chats through vibrant feed. Entrepreneurship. Key Points: The platform aims to bridge demand- Around 1,000 IT professionals worked to supply gap of skilled workforce across create a homegrown application, which sectors and to improve the information is a massive boost to ‘Make in India’ flow. initiative. The details of workers will be mapped The app is available in eight Indian by the portal on the basis of regions and languages including Tamil, Telugu, local industry demands. Kannada, and English. It will also help the skilled workforce The date of the users will be stored in in attaining the industry-relevant skills India and will not be shared without and explore emerging job opportunities permission of user. especially in the post COVID era. ASEEM has been developed by National Maharashtra government launches Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) “Maha” Job portal in partnership with Bengaluru-based “Maha” Jobs Portal has been launched company Betterplace. by the Maharashtra government. The platform will be managed by National The job portal has been rolled out to Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

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The portal comprises of three IT based more than 30 minutes. interfaces namely:Employer Portal , It further mentions that two online Dashboard and Candidate Application. sessions of up to 30-45 minutes each should be conducted for classes 1 to 8 and Google Launches $10 Billion four sessions for classes 9 to 12. Digitization Fund in India ‘CybHER’, Virtual Awareness Campaign to Tackle Cyber Crime against Women & Children Women Safety Wing (WSW), Telangana Police along with Telangana Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai Director General announced an investment of $10 billion of Police (DGP) (Rs 75,000 crore) in India which will be Mahender utilised in another five to seven years to Reddy, IPS digitize the Indian Economy. launched ‘CybHER’, a month-long virtual Key Points: awareness campaign to make cyberspace The fund will be used to accelerate Google’s safe for women and children. The effort through a mix of Investments, campaign is organised by WSW in partnerships, operations, infrastructure, collaboration with Legal Aid Centre, and ecosystem investments. Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad. Google will partner with CBSE and Note– Cyber Expert Rakshit Tandon, will provide new initiatives to digitize lead the campaign. classrooms. About CybHER It partners with Prasar Bharti, a public The campaign covers a wide range of broadcasting agency for edutainment themes related to cyber safety. series for small and medium-sized It will be held on multiple online platforms, business in the country. including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, HRD Minister releases ‘Pragyata’ YouTube and other mediums. guidelines for online education GoI hails KURMA mobile app to Union Human Resource Development conserve Indian turtles Ministry has released ‘Pragyata’ The Union Environment and Information guidelines for Digital Education. Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar As per the guidelines, online classes for hailed “KURMA” application to track pre-primary students should not be for and report Indian turtles.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 63 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Highlights technology and will ensure maximum The KURMA app was launched in coverage of the scheme. May 2020 on World Turtle Day. The The mobile app will promote paper-less application was developed by Indian digital accessing of micro-credit facilities Turtle Conservation Action Network by the Street Vendors and will give (ITCAN), The ITCAN was joined by impetus to the implementation strategy Wildlife Conservation Society-India. The of the PM SVANidhi scheme. application provides database to identify The application have various features a species. Also, it helps to locate the such as vendor search in the survey nearest rescue centre for turtles across the data, e-KYC of applicants, processing country. of applications, as well as real time monitoring. ICAT launched automotive technology Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs e-portal ASPIRE launched the PM SVANidhi scheme The International Centre of Automotive to provide affordable Working Capital Technology (ICAT) has launched loan to street vendors in order to enable an automotive technology e-portal, them resume their livelihoods that have Automotive Solutions Portal for Industry, been adversely affected due to COVID-19 Research and Education (ASPIRE). lockdown. The key objective of this portal is to enhance the technological capability Researchers develop PROSIT app of Indian automotive sector through that tracks mental health by studying exchange of knowledge & expertise. phone usage It was launched to facilitate the initiative of the Department of Heavy Industry The researchers of Dalhousie University (DHI), Govt. of India to promote Research have come up with a new app that can and Development (R&D) and product detect mental conditions like anxiety and development in India for various sectors. depression based on how you use your phone. Mobile App of “PM Street Vendor’s The app is called PROSIT and includes AtmaNirbhar Nidhi” launched tracking features like exercise, sleep, call The mobile application of PM Street frequency, message histories and music Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM tastes SVANidhi) has been launched to offer Also, the app will ask the users to record user friendly digital interface to the a 90-second audio clip to talk about their Lending Institutions (LIs) as well as to best and exciting part of the week and their field functionaries in order to source they will be asked to self-report their and process loan applications to the street feelings on a five-point scale. vendors under the scheme. The launch of the mobile app is a step towards boosting the use of digital

64 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Mass Media & Communication ‘Pravasi Rojgar’ app to help workers Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai. The app, find jobs to be used by the ticket checking staff at Actor Sonu Sood launched an app to offer Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, support to workers in finding right job would help them discharge their duties opportunities in various sectors across without any fear, as the app has OCR the country. and QR code scanning features to check Sood, who catapulted to the national PRS and UTS tickets from a safe distance. spotlight for his work in helping migrants Hand-held thermal guns were also reach their homes amid the COVID-19 provided for the thermal screening of pandemic, has come out with a free of cost passengers. online platform called ‘Pravasi Rojgar’, Delhi government launches portal which will provide all the necessary “Rozgar Bazar” information and right linkages to find jobs. Delhi government has launched the portal named as “Rozgar Bazar”, a sort Nitin Jairam Gadkari Launches of marketplace for job seekers and the Mentoring Platform ‘RestartIndia’ to people recruiters. Support MSME Sector The portal will proved to be a boon for Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Union Minister the employers as well as the job seekers. of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise The recruiters can visit the website and (MoMSME), launched www.restartindia. update their requirements, similarly job com, a mentoring platform. It was seekers are also required to visit the portal initiated jointly by Muthoot Fincorp and and update their qualification, experience INKtalks to support the MSME sector to and requirement. restart the business across the nation. The “Rozgar Bazar” portal is an effort The RestartIndia platform provides global of the Delhi Government to revive the management information and expertise lockdown-hit economy of Delhi. to the common people and connects There are many people who want jobs them to the experts and professionals and there are traders, businessmen, from various fields, that are in line with professionals, contractors who are not the self-dependent India (Atmanirbhar getting the right person for their work. Bharat) project. This portal will fill the gap by bringing them together on one platform. Check-in- Master app Union Minister of Earth Sciences, In a bid to contain the spread of Harsh Vardhan launched “Mausam” Coronavirus, the Central Railway App Mumbai Division launched an App called the ‘Check-In Master’ for contactless In the event of celebration of 14th ticket checking at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Foundation day of the Ministry of Earth

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 65 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Sciences (MoES), Harsh Vardhan, Union ISI-marked and hallmarked products Minister of Earth Sciences launched the through this Application. mobile app “Mausam” designed and The consumers can also lodge complaints developed by the International Crops using the app. The government has taken Research Institute for the Semi-Arid several steps to protect the interests of Tropics (ICRISAT), the Indian Institute consumers in the country. Certification of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and surveillance are important aspects of and the India Meteorological Department BIS functioning. (IMD). The Bureau of Indian Standard is strengthening its capacity of enforcement BIS-Care mobile app launched by the implementation of e-BIS. The Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan launched the Bureau of Indian – Swatantra Standard’s (BIS) Mobile App BIS-Care. Bharat The Consumer Affairs Minister launched As part of forthcoming Independence three portals on Standardization, Day Celebrations 2020, the concept of Conformity Assessment and Training of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ is being promoted e-BIS. in a big way. An online quiz competition The BIS-Care mobile app can be operated on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Swatantra on any Android phone. Consumers will Bharat’ is being conducted by Ministry be able to check the authenticity of the of Defence (MoD) in coordination with MyGov during July 29 - August 10, 2020 in order to create patriotic feeling among youth and masses.

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Maharashtra launches largest plasma will manufacture ZNCOAT TEMPCORE therapy trial “Project Platina” TMT bars. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Jyoti is the first of its kind in Asia to apply Thackeray has launched the world’s CGR technology with enhanced life and largest plasma therapy trials “Project low maintenance cost. Platina” for COVID-19 patients. The state government has approved Rs 16.65 crore Launched India’s for the project from the Chief Minister’s First Plasma Bank for COVID-19 Relief Fund. There are 21 centres have Treatment been picked for the trial, including 17 medical colleges under the department of medical education and drugs, the government of Maharashtra and four BMC medical colleges in Mumbai.

Asia’s First Continuous Rebar Production Facility in Punjab Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister launched India’s first Plasma Bank for the of Steel & Petroleum and Natural Gas treatment of the patients tested positive virtually inaugurated the Asia’s first for coronavirus. Continuous Rebar Production Facility near Gobindgarh, Punjab launched by Plasma Facility: Madhav KRD Group in association with The Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences International Zinc Association (IZA) with (ILBS) will house the plasma bank facility the support of Hindustan Zinc Limited. which will be available to government and private hospitals. Facility: The facility will coordinate the donors The facility will produce the new and recipients and helps in connecting Continuously Galvanized Rebar (CGR). the donors and recipients. The annual capacity of the facility is over The plasma bank will start its operation 30,000 tonnes. by 2nd July 2020. Under the brand “JYOTI”, the facility

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Key Points: He Newsletter “MATSYA SAMPADA” The government will bear the conveyance is an outcome of the endeavours of the for people to commute to the facility to Department of Fisheries to reach out to donate plasma. the stakeholders especially fishers and The helpline to answer the queries fish farmers through various means of regarding the plasma donation is to be set communication, and toinform and educate up by the . them about the latest developments in the fisheries and aquaculture sector. It would Madhya Pradesh launches “Hamara be published on a quarterly basis starting Ghar-Hamara Vidyalaya” scheme from the first quarter of the year 2020-21. Principal Secretary Rashmi Arun Shami The Newsletter “MATSYA SAMPADA” launched “Hamara Ghar-Hamara is likely to serve as an effective tool and Vidyalaya” over a virtual platform to platform in disseminating the intent and maintain academic regularity of the initiatives of PMMSY for crystalizing students during the Lockdown due to public opinion in the collective effort COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme will towards reaching the envisaged goals. It start from 6th July 2020. would also enable to showcase the best practices in fisheries and aquaculture Giriraj Singh launches the first edition undertaken by the fishers, fish farmers of the Fisheries and Aquaculture and entrepreneurs including the latest Newsletter “Matsya Sampada” developments and success stories.

Infant mortality rate highest in Madhya Pradesh, lowest in Kerala; Bihar has highest birth rate Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest infant mortality rate of 48 for every 1,000 live births while Kerala has registered the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal lowest just seven, according to the latest Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Giriraj data of the Registrar General and Census Singh todaylaunched the first edition of Commissioner of India. the Fisheries and Aquaculture Newsletter The data showed the infant mortality rate “MATSYA SAMPADA” published by in India has improved, albeit slightly, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry from 33 in 2017 to 32 in 2018. The infant for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and mortality rate is highest in Madhya Dairying, Government of India and the Pradesh and stood at 48 per thousand Operational Guidelines of the Pradhan live births in 2018 while Kerala has the Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana lowest with just seven deaths. (PMMSY). Bihar has the highest birth rate at 26.2

68 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event and Andaman and Nicobar Islands has and Data science through the webinar, a birth rate of 11.2. Chhattisgarh has the programme was prepared by the highest death rate at 8 and Delhi Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has a death rate of 3.3. These data were (IIT-Madras). released by the Registrar General and The programme is prepared with a Census Commissioner in its Sample focus on Data Science which is predicted Registration System (SRS) bulletin based to grow and provide 11.5 million job on information collected for 2018. opportunities by 2026. The rates are calculated per 1,000 of the Students who have enrolled in any on population. The death rate in India has campus Undergraduate course can also witnessed a significant decline over the apply. Diploma graduates and working last four decades from 14.9 in 1971 to 6.2 professionals can also apply to the course. in 2018. The decline has been steeper in rural areas. In the last decade, death rate Covaxin, India’s Covid-19 vaccine at an all-India level has declined from 7.3 candidate to 6.2. India’s top drug The corresponding decline in rural areas regulator, the Central is 7.8 to 6.7 and in urban areas, 5.8 to 5.1. Drugs Standard Control Birth rate is a crude measure of fertility Organisation, has of a population and a crucial determinant allowed Bharat Biotech of population growth. India’s birth rate India (BBIL) to conduct has declined drastically over the last four human clinical trials for decades from 36.9 in 1971 to 20.0 in 2018. ‘Covaxin’, making it the The birth rate has continued to be higher first indigenous in rural areas compared to urban areas Covid-19 vaccine in the last four decades. There has been candidate to receive this about 11 per cent decline in birth rate in approval. the last decade, from 22.5 in 2009 to 20.0 What is ‘Covaxin’? in 2018. The corresponding decline in Covaxin is a vaccine candidate to rural areas is 24.1 to 21.6, and in urban developed by BBIL against the novel areas, it is 18.3 to 16.7. coronavirus (Covid-19) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical HRD Ministry Launches the World’s Research’s National Institute of Virology First Online B.Sc Degree (NIV).

Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Union As part of this collaboration, NIV isolated Minister of Human Resource and a strain of the virus from an asymptomatic Development (HRD) launched the world’s Covid-19 patient and transferred it to first online B.Sc Degree in Programming BBIL early in May. The firm then used it to work on developing an “inactivated”

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vaccine, a vaccine that uses a the dead to facilitate investment in the highway virus at its high containment facility in sector. Hyderabad. In this regard, a new company will also be The Drug Controller General of India, set up to act as the Investment Manager who heads CDSCO, has given Bharat to the proposed NHAI InvITto have a Biotech approvals to begin testing its professional management structure. vaccines on humans through phase I and Therefore, NHAI has constituted a II clinical trials. search-cum-selection committee under the chairmanship of Dr Sukhbir Singh Delhi Govt to Launch ‘Podhe Lagao Sandhu (Chairman of NHAI) for the Prayavaran Bachao’ appointment of two independent Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai Directors and one Chairman for the informed that a 17 day campaign ”Podhe Investment Manager Board. Lagao, Paryavaran Bachao” (Plant Trees, About National Highway Authority of Save Environment) will be launched India (NHAI): from July 10 to July 26 from the National ff Administrator– Ministry of Road Highway(NH) 20 near ITO to reduce air Transport and Highways pollution. During the campaign 31 lakh ff Headquarter– New Delhi saplings will be planted. Key Info e-Learning Technology by NSDC Gopal Rai will inaugurate the plantation NSDC’s Learning Resources and drive at ITO nursery near the Yamuna Technology (LRT) team catalyzes skilling Bank on July 10. initiatives by facilitating the availability In addition to him, all the ministers, of instructional material and learning Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly resources, thus enabling structure and the MLAs will also be present in the and consistency in skilling content. It inauguration. supports aggregation and delivery of instructional content such as textbooks, st NHAI to set up India’s 1 govt digital aids, apps etc. through various sponsored InvIT media platforms to provide a wide array National Highway Authority of India of innovative learning material. (NHAI) is undertaking the establishment LRT Team facilitates the creation of India’s first government or semi of content and resources aligned to government promoted Infrastructure Qualification Packs (QPs) in association Investment Trust (InvIT) under the with other stakeholders from the Indian Trust Act, 1882 and Securities and skilling ecosystem. These resources Exchange Board of India (Infrastructure include Model Curriculum, Instructional Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 Material for Short Term Training and Apprenticeship Training, Skilling

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Content such as Participant Handbooks, ff Gyan Vigyan: An interview with a Facilitator Guides, etc. prominent Sanskrit language literate. NSDC presents e-skills India Portal, a ff Ek Bharat- Shreshtha Bharat: Sanksrit unique initiative by the Ministry of Skill to Hindi translation of five commonly Development and Entrepreneurship, used words. which aggregates best of content ff Anvikshiki: This will be the closing available with leading content providers, segment in which with focus on training partners, and professionals (also India’s culture and tradition, Major known as Knowledge Partners) across historical events of the week will be the skilling ecosystem. covered. This eLearning platform provides opportunities to training partners and President Inaugurates Dhamma skill seekers to choose resources from a Chakra Day 2020 Celebrations catalogue that aggregates material from In partnership with the International various partners’ platforms. Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the Union Ministry of Culture will be organizing AIR starts its First-Ever Sanskrit News the celebrations for the Dhamma Chakra Programme “Sanskrit Saptahiki” Day on Asadha Poornima on the 4th of From 4th July 2020, All India Radio (AIR) July 2020. The celebrations for the day FM news channel will be broadcasting its were inaugurated from the Rashtrapati first-ever news programme in Sanksrit Bhawan at New Delhi by the President of language for 20 minutes duration. India, Ram Nath Kovind. All India Radio has named the news Every year on the first full moon day programme ‘Sanskrit Saptahiki’. in the month of July is celebrated as Sanskrit Saptahiki will be broadcasted Dhamma Chakra Day. The first full moon every Saturday. Repeat broadcast will be day of July is called Asadha Poornima available on Sundays. The news program in India, Esala Poya in Sri Lanka and will have the following components: Asanha Bucha in Thailand. f f Sukti: This will be the opening Dhamma Chakra Day segment. It will be in the form of a The day is celebrated all over the world shloka, a quote from Sanskrit literature to commemorate the first sermon that will be explained in this segment as a Gautama Buddha gave to his five ascetic shloka. disciples (five monks). Gautama Buddha ff Prasang: A story from Indian epics, gave his first sermon on the day on the full history or from the art and culture moon in the month of Asadha (Asadha field of India. means the month of July). The first sermon ff Saptahiki: Top news of the week. by Gautama Buddha is recorded in ff Sanskrit Darshan: News from the Buddhist text- Dhammacakkappavattana world of Sanskrit. Sutta.

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Gautama Buddha gave the first sermon at Odisha launches ‘Balram’ scheme the in Rsipatana (present-day to provide credit to 7 lakh landless Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh). farmers The Odisha state government has ‘Dhanvantari Raths’ used as mobile launched ‘Balram’ scheme to provide OPDs agricultural credit worth Rs 1,040 crore to Dhanvantari Arogya Raths, the landless farmers who are facing hardships scheme launched for well-being of the due to the coronavirus outbreak. construction workers in Gujarat, are The scheme is expected to benefit around being deployed across the state as mobile 7 lakh landless cultivators in the next two OPDs for the hotspots . years. The decision regarding the same In Ahmedabad, 12 such vehicles are was taken during a high-level meeting deployed around hotspots and isolation chaired by Chief secretary AK Tripathy zones. on July 2, 2020. The diagnosis also served as screening Under the scheme, the landless farmers, mechanism, especially near the hotspots, who were not able to avail farm credit to identify potential Covid-19 cases. earlier, will get loans through joint liability groups that will act as ‘social MGNREGA : Chhattisgarh secures collateral’. second spot in providing jobs during The scheme has been developed in lockdown collaboration with the National Bank During the lockdown period, for Agriculture and Rural Development Chhattisgarh accomplished 37 percent of (NABARD). The village agriculture its annual target on offering various rural workers will implement the programme employment under the Mahatma Gandhi at the field level. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). ‘Fit Hai to Hit Hai India’ webinar & The state yet again emerges on top, ‘Fit India Talks’ Sessions for School achieving 37 percent of its annual Students MNREGA target by generating “Fit Hai To Hit Hai India” webinar employment of 5.03 crore person-days program was launched, under the of work during the month of April and India’s flagship Fit India campaign, by May for 25.97 lakh rural labourers. In all, the Union Minister of Human Resource Rs 1114.27 crore has been paid as wages Development Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal so far. ‘Nishank’ and Minister of State (MoS) for Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and Ministry of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju. This webinar marked the launch of ‘#FitIndiaTalks’, which will see a series of

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talks and interactive sessions being held The country reported 19,906 new by leading sports celebrities for students. infections and 410 new deaths from The first session was held on 3rd July itself the virus, bringing the total to 528,859 with the participation of P.V. (Pusarla positive cases and 16,095 fatalities. Venkata) Sindhu and Sunil Chhetri. Delhi became the country’s worst-hit city There will be a total of six sessions on Wednesday, surpassing Mumbai’s under “Fit India Talks” which are being coronavirus tally. Only the west India organized by the Sports Authority of state of Maharashtra with 159,133 cases India (SAI) and the Ministry of Human has had more infections than the capital. Resource Development (MHRD) till July 14, 2020. Large projects on to augment India’s border infrastrcuture India opens one of the world’s largest To augment India’s border infrastructure, hospitals to fight coronavirus a large number of highway projects are underway including in Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, both by the BRO as well as NHIDCL, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said. Work is also progressing on 17 strategic India has opened one of the largest highway-cum-airstrips, three of which hospitals in the world to help fight have been completed coronavirus, as health authorities Besides, work is on in full swing on the Rs announced the country’s biggest one-day 12,000 crore ambitious Chardham project increase in the number of new infections. for providing all-weather connectivity The Sardar Patel COVID Care Centre, the to Gangotri, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and largest facility of its kind in India, became Badrinath. partly operational on Sunday, with 2,000 The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has of its 10,000 beds available, according to achieved a major milestone in the project the Delhi government. by successfully digging a 440-metre long The remaining 8,000 beds at the facility, tunnel below the busy Chamba town on which is located in the Chattarpur area of the -Dharasu national highway. Delhi, will be in use The opening of the hospital coincided Corona Environment: Emergency with the release of India health ministry Control Center in Delhi data on Sunday which showed the largest The Delhi government will set up a rise in the daily number of new Covid-19 control center to monitor the coronavirus cases. situation in Delhi 24 hours a day and to

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take appropriate measures to control it. disasters. A higher figure means more There are 25 professionals engaged in exposure to risks. The report considers surveillance. The Control Center will the following while framing the index. monitor the coronary examination, bed rest, medical equipment, critical areas NHRC Constitutes 11-Member and ambulance facilities. Committee Headed by K S Reddy to The Control room will identify which Assess Covid-19 Impact on Human areas need additional attention and Rights make recommendations for speeding The National Human Rights Commission up operations in those areas. While the (NHRC) has set up an 11-member district’s corporations are in the process expert committee headed by Dr K S of preventing coronation, the center will Reddy, president of Public Health also work to coordinate him. Foundation of India to study impact of coronavirus (Covid-19) on human rights st India Ranked 31 in INFORM Risk of individuals, particularly marginalized Index 2020 for Humanitarian crises and vulnerable sections of the society, & Disasters together with migrant labourers & will In accordance with the “INFORM Report also study the future response of the 2020: Shared evidence for managing government. crises and disasters” released by research About National Human Rights centre INFORM, operating under Commission (NHRC): European Commission (EU), India has ff Headquarters– New Delhi ranked at 31st place with an inform ff Chairman– Justice H. L. Dattu risk of 5.4, means risk of humanitarian crises and disasters . The report ranked Karnataka launches Weavers’ the countries based on “INFORM Risk Sammaan Yojana Index” which has been topped by Somalia Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa with an inform risk of 8.9. The report has launched Weavers Sammaan Yojana. analyzed 191 countries. Under the scheme, the state government Notably, this report is produced by will provide annual financial assistance the United Nations Office for the worth Rs 2000 to around 19,744 handloom Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs weavers in the state through Direct (UN-OCHA) on behalf of all INFORM Benefit Transfer. Partners. A total of 40,634 handloom weavers were About INFORM Risk Index: registered in the Seva Sindhu software. It is the first global, objective and Among them, 37,314 applications for transparent tool for understanding the financial assistance have been approved risk of regions based upon crises and by the state. Karnataka state government has allocated

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Rs 10.98 crore under the programme. The where 100% households have LPG gas state CM had earlier stated that one-time connections. The feat was achieved by the financial assistance worth Rs 2000 has state with the help of ‘Himachal Grihini been approved for 8,897 workers out of Suvidha Yojana’ with the help of which the total 1.25 lakh workers in this sector. the state government covered the left out families in the state, who were not New Building of IARI, covered under the Central government’s named after Dr.Shyama Prasad Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojna. Mukherjee The new administrative and academic UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurates building of the Indian Agricultural “Mission Vriksharopan-2020” research Institute (IARI), at Gouria Karma Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand is named Uttar Pradesh inaugurated “Mission after Dr.Shyama Prasad Mukherjee the Vriksharopan-2020” in Kukarel Forest, founder of Bharatiya Jan Sangh, on the Lucknow, on account of Guru Purnima, event of his birth anniversary. under which around 25 crore saplings Key Points: of medicinal, herbal, environmental, In the 2020-2021 Budget, The government fruit producing, shady, fodder plants of has allocated Rs.2.83 lakh crores (highest around 201 species will be planted across allocation ever) for activities related the state. to agriculture, irrigation and rural Mission Vriksharopan-2020: development. The drive focuses on the prevention of The 16 point action plan announced in the malnutrition, conservation of biodiversity budget is targeted to double the income and plantation on the banks of Ganga and of the farmers by the end of 2022. its tributaries. For the development of rural and Under this scheme geo-tagging of all the agriculture sector, new schemes under plantations sites will be done. Around Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan like the 5crore saplings were planted under this Rs.1 lakh crore infrastructure fund for scheme on 5th July 2020. the agricultural sector and the growth The 201 species of plants include: Ficus packages for fisheries, animal husbandry, Religiosa, Pipal, Ficus Virens,-Pakad, herbal farming, beekeeping etc. were Mulvari, Neem, Jamun, Arjun, Sahjan announced. and Banyan.

HP becomes first state where Indian Railways’ plan behind ‘Super everyone possess LPG connection Anaconda’ and ‘Sesh Naag’ Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has Indian Railways’ South East Central announced that the Himachal Pradesh Railway (SECR) zone has recently has become the first state in India operated two freight trains which

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 75 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 garnered a lot of eyeballs due to their Railways has set up a solar power plant massive length. The two freight trains in Bina in Madhya Pradesh to power the were named as ‘Super Anaconda’ and Railway overhead lines that power the ‘Sesh Naag’ electric locomotives. This is the first time The first was a fully loaded three rake in the world that solar power will be used combined frieght train which was named to run trains. ‘Super Anaconda’ and it was followed It can produce 1.7 megawatts of electricity by a 2.8km long four empty BOXN rakes and is ready to run trains with this power. train combined together which was BHEL has framed the complete design of named ‘Sesh Naag’. the plant ‘Sesh Naag’ also earned the distinction of being the longest railway train to run on PM Modi to inaugurate 750 MW the Indian Railways network. Madhya Pradesh Solar Project Prime Minister Narendra Modi will Yotta Data Centre Near Mumbai – dedicate to the nation the 750 MW Solar nd World’s 2 Largest & Asia’s Largest Project set up at Rewa, Madhya Pradesh Data Centre via video conferencing. This project Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister adds momentum to our commitment of of Maharashtra and Ravi Shankar increasing renewable energy capacities Prasad, Minister of Communications, by 2022. Electronics and informational technology ff The Project comprises of three solar inaugurated the World’s 2nd Largest & generating units of 250 MW each Asia’s Largest Data Center, NM1, of Yotta located on a 500-hectare plot of land Infrastructure of Hiranandani Group at situated inside a solar park (total area Panvel data centre park, Mumbai over a 1500 hectare). virtual platform. ff The Solar Park was developed by the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited In a first in the world, Indian Railways (RUMSL), a joint venture company sets up solar power plant in Madhya of Madhya Pradesh UrjaVikas Nigam Pradesh to run trains Limited (MPUVN), and Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a Central Public Sector Undertaking. ff The Rewa Solar Project was the first solar project in the country to break the grid parity barrier. ff This project will reduce carbon emission equivalent to approx. 15 lakh ton of CO2 per year. In a significant development, Indian

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ff The project has also received World The Survey, based on the Note on Bank Group President’s Award for Performance measurements which innovation and excellence and was includes, Crime prevention and proactive included in the Prime Minister’s “A measures, Execution, Disposal of cases, Book of Innovation: New Beginnings”. Law and Order etc. The best performing police station is Nadaun Police Station of Himachal based on the addressing of Property Pradesh declared as one of the best offence, crime against women and weaker in India sections. Amit Shah, The Union Minister of Home Affairs announced the Annual Ranking 41,000 Ayushman Bharat centres of Police Stations for 2019 prepared by the provided healthcare services to 8.8 cr Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of people amid COVID-19 pandemic India in the Director General of Police’s The Centre has announced that over (DGP’s) conference. 41,000 Ayushman Bharat-Health and Nadaun Police Station of Hamirpur Wellness Centres (HWC) ensured that District in Himachal Pradesh is ranked as people get both COVID-19 and non- one of the best Police Stations of India. essential health services amid the Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home coronavirus outbreak in India, thereby Affairs presented the Certification of catering to over 8.8 crore people in the Excellence to Jai Ram Thakur, Chief past five months. Minister of Himachal Pradesh during Testing and treatment for COVID-19 the ceremony on 9th July 2020 which will be free of cost for Ayushman Bharat was handed to Sanjay Kundu, IPS, beneficiaries at private laboratories the Director General of Police (DGP), and empanelled hospitals. Hospitals Himachal Pradesh. empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Annual Police station ranking: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB- The ranking system of Police Stations PMJAY) can use their authorised testing was introduced by the Ministry of Home facilities or tie up with an authorised Affairs in 2018. testing facility.

The ranking is made through data Ayushman Bharat is the world’s analysis, direct observation and public largest health insurance scheme and feedback. was launched by the Narendra Modi The ranking is a two stage process, government in 2018. PM Modi in May shortlisting the police stations – 3 stations said that the number of people who are selected from the states having more have benefited from the scheme crossed than 750 police stations, 2 stations from the one crore-mark. The scheme aims to other states and Delhi and 1 station from cover more than 500 million beneficiaries each Union Territories (UT). and provide coverage of Rs 500,000 per

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 77 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 family per year. create mobile apps. Virtual mentoring Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan sessions will be given to the kids during Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is a part the Modules learning course. of the Indian government’s National Health Policy which aims to provide free Chhattisgarh organises India’s first health coverage at the secondary and E-Lok Adalat tertiary level to its bottom 40% poor and Chhattisgarh State Legal Service vulnerable population. PM-JAY is the Authority and the high Court organised world’s largest and fully state sponsored India’s first e-Lok Adalat to ensure the health assurance scheme which covers a administration of justice and to solve population of the combined size of USA, the financial crisis of the parties and Mexico and Canada. It was launched lawyers amid COVID-19 pandemic. The in September 2018, under the aegis of high court Chief Justice P R Ramchandra Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in Menon inaugurated the e-Lok Adalat India. through video conferencing. What is Lok Adalat? NITI Aayog Launches ATL App Lok Adalat is one of the alternative dispute Development Modules grievance mechanisms or a forum where ‘ATL App Development Modules’ was pending cases or disputes in the court of launched for school children across the law are settled or compromised whereas country in line with the Aatmanirbhar e-lok adalat will be handled virtually. Bharat initiative to transform school E-Lok Adalat: students from smartphone-based Lok Adalat is moved to a virtual platform applications users into innovative as e-Lok Adalat to handle the pending smartphone-based applications cases amid COVID-19. developers. The ‘ATL Device This is aimed to settle over 3000 pending Development Modules’ are launched by cases through more than 200 benches NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission in various districts across chhattisgarh (AIM) under its Atal Tinkering Labs including the Bilaspur high court. (ATL) initiative, in partnership with E-Lok Adalat will be continued further Plezmo- a mobile application(lndian following the success of the first Startup Company-Gunakar Private experimental trial. Limited). Modules for the Development MP govt to run ‘Roko -Toko’ campaign

The Modules are part of an online course The Madhya Pradesh government has that is available to everyone at no cost. decided to run a Roko -Toko campaign The online course consists of a total of 6 for those who do not wear masks. Under project-based learning modules which the campaign, the district collector will allow school children to learn how to select voluntary organizations, which

78 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event will provide masks to those who don’t During the event a brief description of wear masks in public places and charge the challenge was given and the online them Rs 20 per mask. portal for application submission of the The number of people available, credibility participating cities was launched. and efficiency of the organization will be India Cycles4Change Challenge: taken into consideration while making Aim: To connect the cities with citizens the selection. and experts to develop a vision to

The collectors will then make suitable promote cycling. places available to these organizations The eligible cities can register through for the distribution of masks. The selected the portal from 10th July 2020 to 21st July organizations will be provided 100 masks 2020. created under ‘Jeevan Shakti Yojana’ on credit. Rajasthan launches campaign ”Pure for Sure” to ensure purity of milk & Indian Railways will be the largest dairy products Railway in world to have 100 per cent electrification by 2030: Piyush Goyal A week-long campaign ”Pure for Sure” has been launched in Rajasthan to ensure

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has said purity of milk and its products. that Indian Railways will be the largest Samples of milk and dairy products will Railway in the world to have 100 per cent be collected under the campaign ‘Pure for electrification replacing diesel at the India Sure’ from July 8-July 14. Global Week-2020. Under the campaign samples of milk and It will be the world’s first Green Railways dairy products will be collected for testing running on 100 per cent clean energy by at Food Testing Laboratory available at 2030. the divisional level. The government has opened up for bidding for additional 151 trains inviting MP govt begins ‘Mera Ghar Mera private participation so the passengers Vidyalaya’ scheme to facilitate can enjoy world-class facilities and high students speed journeys. Trying to facilitate learning among public school children amid the COVID-19 Smart City Mission opens the pandemic, the Madhya Pradesh registration for India Cycles4Change government has started Mera Ghar Mera Challenge Vidyalaya Scheme. The Smart City Mission of the Ministry The scheme aims to provide students of Housing and Urban Affairs opened with a school-like atmosphere at home. the registration for India Cycles4Change After the launch of the scheme, several Challenge launched by Hardeep teachers and staffers of the schools were Singh Puri, Minister of State Housing seen delivering books and study material and Urban Affairs on 25th June 2020. to the children.

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st Indian Railways’ 1 cable-stayed rail FASTag Car Parking in collaboration bridge, to connect Katra and Reasi in with National Payments Corporation of J&K India (NPCI), integrating with 10 NETC The Minister of Railways, Piyush FASTag issuing banks. Vedprakash Goyal, has announced that The parking payment is done using the the India’s first cable-stayed Indian Reloadable Electronic Radio Frequency Railways bridge namely “Anji Khad Identification (RFID) tag linked to a Bridge” being developed by Konkan prepaid account which enables the Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), a automatic deduction of the parking Government of India undertaking, is all charges. set to connect Katra and Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Construction bids for new Parliament The cable-stayed railway bridge is a part to close on July 14, work to begin of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla after winter session Rail Link (USBRL) project, which passes The pre-qualification bids to construct through the Young Himalayas. the new Parliament building, an integral Notably, the USBRL project also involves part of the Central Vista’s redevelopment the Chenab river bridge. The Chenab project, will close on July 14 and its Bridge once completed, will become the construction is likely to begin after the world’s highest rail bridge. Parliament’s winter session. The Central Public Works Department Hyderabad International Airport (CPWD) began the process to select a firm Introduces India’s First Fully to construct a new Parliament building Contactless Car Parking which will come up adjacent to the The GMR Hyderabad International existing Parliament. Airport (GHIAL), introduced India’s first CPWD invited pre-qualification bids in ever fully contactless airport car parking a two-bid system to construct the new with contact less toll transaction for building, which will comprise halls with their passengers and visitors to provide greater seating capacity for the Lok Sabha a safe airport amid COVID-19. The and the Rajya Sabha, a foyer, offices for NETC FASTag Car Park is a part of the members of Parliament, as well as a “One Nation One Tag” – NETC FASTag courtyard, dining facilities and a lounge programme of Indian Government. for lawmakers. NETC FASTag Car Park: The proposed work is of very prestigious The GMR airport introduced the first nature and is required to be completed ever National Electronic Toll Collection strictly within the prescribed time limit of (NETC) FASTag Car Park in India in 21 months with the highest standards of November 2019. quality and workmanship. GHIAL updates the existing NETC

80 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event India ranks among top ten nations in solid and liquid waste, overall cleanliness intellectual property filings etc.

India is ranked among the top ten It also included plantation of trees at nations in the total (resident and abroad) ITCOocean campus, single-use plastic Intellectual Property (IP) filing activity, avoidance pledge, campus sanitization as per World Intellectual Property etc. Indicators-2019 Report. Vallarpadam Terminal, Cochin Port India’s IP filing and grant activity is likely to increase with the government’s Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya, increasing push to a scheme like ‘Make in Minister of State (I/C) for the Ministry India’, ‘Skill India’ and now ‘Atmanirbhar of Shipping reviewed the development Bharat’. activities of the Vallarpadam Terminal India’s Industry 4.0 is witnessing new of Cochin Port which is proposed to inventions and breakthroughs as it develop as India’s first and Asia’s leading faces challenges in providing the right trans-shipment port to ensure that Indian environment to stimulate innovation, cargoes are trans-shipped through Indian especially in AI and machine learning. Port. IP-intensive industries have been Key points: identified as an important and integral Mansukh Mandaviya directed the part of a country’s economy and account officials to outline a strategy to solve for more jobs and a larger share of its the challenges in achieving the vision of GDP. Trans-Shipment hub of India. Resolving the issues faced in the INCOIS Hyderabad observes development of the Trans-shipment Swachhata Pakhwada terminal is considered as one of the top The Indian priority of the Ministry. National Vallarpadam Terminal: Centre for The Kochi International Container Trans- Ocean shipment Terminal (ICTT), is known as Information the Vallarpadam Terminal is located in Services the Indian Coastline which satisfies the (INCOIS), criterias required for the development of Hyderabad trans-shipment hub. observed “Swachhata Pakhwada”. First on-line NISHTHA programme During the event, several activities were launched in Andhra Pradesh conducted to aware people about the First on-line NISHTHA programme mission objectives such as to eradicate has been launched by the Union HRD open defecation, efficient management of Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’

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and Minister of State for HRD Shri Sanjay Rank Country Dhotre in Andhra Pradesh. Date Science Domain Online NISHTHA programme has been 51 India launched for 1200 Key Resources Persons of Andhra Pradesh, hence making it the 1 Russia first ever state in the country. 2 Switzerland NISHTHA has been customized for online 3 Belgium mode because of COVID-19 pandemic Business Domain situation which has affected the conduct 34 India of this programme in face-to-face mode. 1 Switzwerland

Online NISHTHA programme would 2 Austria be conducted through DIKSHA and 3 Denmark NISHTHA portals by the National Technology Domain Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). 40 India National Initiative for School Heads’ 1 Russia and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement 2 Belarus (NISHTHA) is a capacity building 3 Switzerland programme that was launched by the government of India on 21st August, 2019 1st container ship from Kolkata Port to improve the quality of school education to Agartala via Chattogram port through Integrated Teacher Training. (Bangladesh) Union Minister of State for Shipping Global Skills Index 2020 Report (I/C) Mansukh Mandaviya flagged off The report of Global Skills Index 2020, the first trial container ship from Kolkata an in depth view at the state of the skills (West Bengal) to Agartala (Tripura) across the world prepared by “Coursera”, through Chattogram Port of Bangladesh World’s largest online learning platform in a virtual ceremony. shows that India Surges ahead of the This will not only provide an alternative peers in the business and technology and shorter route for India to connect skill sets because of the growing young it’s North East Region (NER) through population. Bangladesh but will also further boost About Coursera: India-Bangladesh maritime relations. Founders– Daphne Koller and Andrew This has been done under the Agreement Ng on use of Chattogram and Mongla CEO– Jeff Maggioncalda Ports for movement of India’s transit Headquarters– Mountain View, cargo through Bangladesh, the standard California operating procedure (SOP) for which was signed and exchanged between both

82 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event nations during the Bangladesh Prime Eastern states through rail network by Minister Sheikh Hasina visit to India in 2023. Railways is already implementing a October 2019. project in this regard. As of today, the capitals of Assam, Apple iPhone assembler joins wave Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh are of tech investment in India already connected. The work to connect Pegatron, Apple’s second-largest contract capitals of Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, manufacturer, has registered a subsidiary and Meghalaya is in progress. in India, setting the stage for expanding The capitals of Assam, Tripura and the manufacturing capacity of iPhones in Arunachal Pradesh are already connected. the country, amid heightened US-China In Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and tensions. Meghalaya, the capital connectivity work Pegatron has registered its India is in progress. Manipur will be connected subsidiary in Chennai,” a person familiar in March 2022, Mizoram in March 2023, with the development told ET. “Currently, Nagaland in March 2023, Meghalaya the company’s officials are in discussions in March 2022 and Sikkim in December with multiple state governments to find 2022. land to set up factories after which they would import plant and machinery. ‘Manodarpan’, Education Ministry mental health initiative, to be Doubt yourself; Not the others: New launched Corona Awareness Union Human Resource Development As the corona epidemic spreads across the Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal will launch country, a new awareness campaign has ‘Manodarpan’ initiative. It is an initiative been launched in the northeastern state of under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, to Nagaland “Do Not Doubt Yourself”. provide psychosocial support to students A new kind of awareness campaign has for their mental health and well-being. started in Mon district of Nagaland. In it, The platform will act as a sustainable it is announced that instead of doubting psychosocial support system for all whether the corona will come to us from students, teachers & families. others, let us doubt whether it may have The ‘Manodarpan’ initiative has been spread from us to others. included in the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, as a part of strengthening human Capitals of NE states to be connected capital and increasing productivity and through rail network by 2023 efficient reform and initiatives for the During a virtual interaction with the education sector. media, Railway Board Chairman Vinod Kumar Yadav has announced the connectivity of all capitals of North-

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 83 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Maharashtra becomes the 1st State to initiatives are imperative for the creation use drones to inspect power lines of a robust e-mobility ecosystem in the country. Maharashtra State Electricity Energy Efficiency Services Limited Transmission Company Limited (EESL), a joint venture of public (MSETCL) has started to use drones for service undertakings (PSUs) under the aerial surveillance and inspection of extra administration of Ministry of Power, has high voltage (EHV) power transmission been a key part of India’s EV revolution lines and towers. Maharashtra becomes and development of the appropriate the 1st state to do so. The Union Ministry infrastructure for EVs, including EV of Home Affairs and the Director General charging infrastructure, across the of Civil Aviation (DGCA) gave approval country. Furthermore, it has also started for this purpose. demand aggregation to obtain EVs and MSETCL becomes the 1st power utility to determine novel business models for get approval from DGCA for powerline implementation of Public Charging inspections with drones in the country Station (PCS). MSETCL will use 16 drones that will fly Harsimrat Kaur Badal E-Inagurates at a maximum height of 50 metre. First Operationalized Mega Food Park EESL, New Delhi Municipal Council of Mizoram: Zoram Mega Food Park open EV charging plaza Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Union Minister The state-run Energy Efficiency Services of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) (EESL) in collaboration with New Delhi e-inaugurated the First operationalized Municipal Council (NDMC) has set up a mega food park of Mizoram, Zoram public EV charging plaza at Chelmsford Mega Food Park, in Khamrang Village Club, New Delhi. The EV plaza was in Kolasib District, Mizoram, promoted inaugurated by R K Singh, the Minister by M/s Zoram Mega Food Park Pvt. Ltd, for Power, New & Renewable Energy, which will provide direct and indirect government of India. employment to more than 5000 people. Benefits: The park will leverage an additional investment of Rs. 250 Crore in about 30 food processing units and will lead to a turnover of Rs.450-500 crores annually. The modern infrastructure for food processing will benefit the around 25,000 farmers in the Core Processing Centre The EV charging plaza is a new avenue (CPC) and PrimaryProcessing Centre for making e-mobility ubiquitous and (PPC), processors and consumers of convenient in India. Such innovative Mizoram.

84 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event UP Govt launches “Navin Rojgar will be launched in six to seven months Chhatri Yojana” for SCs and will be linked to Centre’s ‘one nation, Uttar Pradesh government has launched one ration card’ scheme. ”Navin Rojgar Chhatri Yojana” for all- The scheme will help the beneficiaries get round development of the Scheduled ration delivered at home. They will not Castes. have to come to the ration shops. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath The scheme is expected to benefit lakhs transferred financial assistance of 17.42 of people in the national capital through crore online to 3,484 people under the 2016 PDS shops. ‘Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Swarojgar At present subsidised ration is provided Yojana’ and interacted with some under the National Security, 2013 Act and beneficiaries from Rae Bareli, Gorakhpur, this new programme would add to the Basti, Meerut, Azamgarh and Moradabad benefits of the Act. districts through video conferencing. The state government has extended One more unit at Kakrapar achieves the financial help to make people criticality, ready to produce atomic self-dependent. power Rajasthan Cabinet Approved ‘One- The third unit of Kakrapar Atomic Stop Shop’ Scheme to Fast-Track Power Plant (KAPP) in Gujarat is ready Investments to generate electricity, with the 700 MWe reactor achieving ‘criticality. A nuclear Rajasthan Cabinet has approved ‘One- Stop Shop’ Scheme – OSS (earlier known reactor reaches ‘criticality’, when it is as single window clearance system) ready for ongoing nuclear reaction or to fast track investment and capacity fission that generates energy.

expansion proposals by facilitating time- Criticality of Kakrapar Atomic Power bound approvals and clearances. Plant-3 is indigenously designed 700 MWe KAPP-3 reactor is a shining This will help revive industries in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. example of Make in India. As per the scheme, entrepreneurs who Chhattisgarh govt launches invest above Rs 10 crore will be able to ‘Mukhyamantri Suposhan Yojana’ to get 98 types of clearance under one roof combat malnutrition in state at OSS under the Bureau of Investment Promotion (BIP) of the State Industries Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Department. Baghel launched Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan with an aim to tackle Delhi Cabinet approves “Mukhya the menace of malnutrition and anemia. Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana” The CG Mukhyamantri Suposhan scheme Delhi Cabinet has approved ‘Mukhya will benefit mothers and children. Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana’, which

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The scheme will be implemented by the effective tracking and monitoring of Women and child welfare department of Covid-19 positive and suspect patients. the state. The new device, a wristband is designed in collaboration with IIT Jodhpur and IIT Chandigarh to introduce ambulances Nagpur, looks to overcome the limitations to treat sick trees of existing online mobile apps used for Chandigarh Environment Department tracking and monitoring coronavirus has decided to launch ambulances for patients. the treatment of sick trees in the Union The device will operate on a technology Territory. that is more effective than the GPS system. The announcement was made by The data collected through wristband Debendra Dalai, Director of Environment will be collected and archived on cloud Department, who said that this will be an facilitating monitoring by health workers emergency service to treat trees affected from a distance. by termites & other insects. Dalai also stated that the Department will India’s maternal mortality ratio be issuing a dedicated phone number declined to 113 in 2016-18 where people can inform the department In accordance with the “Special Bulletin if they come across any such sick tree. The on Maternal Mortality in India 2016-18”, department will then send experts for the released by the Office of the Registrar treatment of the tree. General’s Sample Registration System (SRS), the Maternal Mortality Ratio Covid 19 testing lab Ladakh (MMR) in India has declined to 113 in As Covid cases continue to rise, a testing 2016-18 from 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in centre for human coronavirus samples has 2014-2016 and almost 100 deaths lesser been established at the Defence Institute than in the period of 2007-2009. of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Leh. States have been categorized into three Apart from utility during the ongoing groups namely, Empowered Action pandemic, the infrastructure set up can Group (EAG) States, Southern States and play a pivotal role in enhancing capability Other States during the survey. to address future bio-threats and also The southern States registered a lower in research activities pertinent to agro- MMR — Andhra Pradesh (65), Telangana animals diseases. (63), Karnataka (92), Kerala (43) and Tamil Nadu (60) as compared to states of AIIMS Nagpur launched smart Assam & EAG. wristband to tracks Covid-19 patients In the category of other status Punjab has All India Institute of Medical Sciences a maximum MMR of 129. (AIIMS), Nagpur has designed and developed a ‘smart wristband’ for

86 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event About Office of the Registrar General & complete by the next 12 months. Census Commissioner, India (ORGI): About the tunnel The Office of the Registrar General, About 2500 to 500-million-year-old India works under the Ministry of Home proterozoic rocks were broken to build Affairs (MHA). the tunnel. Registrar General & Census The tunnel is capable of running 25 tonne Commissioner– Dr. Vivek Joshi. axle load electric goods train with double Central Water Commission: 155% stack containers that runs at a speed of more water in reservoirs than 2019 100 km per hour (kmph). The tunnel connects Mewat and The Central Water Commission (CWC) districts, Haryana. recently announced that reservoirs have One end of the tunnel is at Rewari, 155% more water as compared to that of Haryana and the other end is at Dadri, 2019. Uttar Pradesh (UP). Highlights According to CWC, around 123 reservoirs First by Indian Government: World were monitored. There are 66.372 billion Class State of the Art Honey Testing cubic metres of water currently available Lab in the reservoirs. This is 39% of total live Union Minister of Agriculture and storage capacity of the reservoirs. Farmers’ welfare Shri Narendra Singh The states such as Madhya Pradesh, Tomar inaugurated the ‘World Class Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar State of Art Honey Testing Laboratory’ Pradesh had the highest live storage of all virtually. This is considered to be the first the states. Government Honey Testing lab in India. The testing lab was established by First in the World: India builds National Dairy Development Board electrified rail tunnel capable to run (NDDB) in Anand, Gujarat with support double-stack containers of NBB (National Bee Board). India builds one kilometer (km) long World’s first electrified rail tunnel that fits Lt. Governor, G.C Murmu announced double stack containers. It cuts through the ‘Macadamisation Program’ Aravali mountain on the Western Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) near Kashmir (J&K), Girish Chandra Murmu Sohna, Haryana. launched the ‘Macadamisation program’ The project is implemented by the to improve the roads across Jammu and DFCCIL (Dedicated Freight Corridor Kashmir. Corporation of India Limited). The program covers 100% macadamisation The tunnel Breaking was completed on of all roads along with 11,000 Km of fair- 24, July 2020. The project is expected to weather roads.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 87 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Members of the committee ILBS organises “2nd Empathy A committee has been constituted to e-Conclave” with AAI prepare the road map and financial plan Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences that will be submitted on August 10, 2020. (ILBS) has organised “2nd Empathy The committee comprises, Financial e-Conclave” in collaboration with Airport Commissioner, Principal Secretary, Authority of India (AAI). Public Work (PW (R&B)), Secretary of The conclave was held on the occasion of Planning and Rural Development. “World Hepatitis Day”. The theme of 2nd Centre to convert ravines of Chambal Empathy e-Conclave is “Keep your Liver region into arable land with World Safe in COVID times”. Bank support During the conclave, ILBS highlighted the importance of healthy liver as well as the The Centre, in collaboration with the features of “Empowering People Against World Bank, has decided to convert large Hepatitis: The Empathy Campaign” area of ravines in Gwalior-Chambal belt which has undertaken several innovative of Madhya Pradesh into arable land, initiatives across India to reach out to and a preliminary report for the same diverse populations. will be prepared in a month, Agriculture Event featured the participation of Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. Speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla; Union India will be looking at a demand Minister of Law and Justice, Ravi Shankar drop in electricity between 7-17 Prasad; and Union Minister of Health and percent by 2025: TERI Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan. According to TERI’s new report, demand India accounts for 70% of world’s for electricity in India will be lower by 7 tigers to 17% due to covid-19 by 2025. India now accounts 70 percent of the The report, titled ‘Bending the Curve: world’s total population of tigers, the 2025 Forecasts for Electricity Demand by environment ministry announced while Sector and State in the Light of the COVID releasing its fourth detailed national tiger Epidemic’, also suggests policy-makers, estimation report. developers, distribution companies, and Despite India’s constraint of 2.5 percent of investors need to be better prepared global land, four per cent of rainfall and for the future, if the decline in demand 16 percent of world’s human population, growth persists. India is home to eight percent of world’s All 10 of India’s largest power-consuming biodiversity which includes 70 percent of states will see a demand drop between 5 world’s tiger population to 15%. There are currently 13 tiger range countries — India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR,

88 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Major Reforms Thailand and Vietnam. Enrollment: 50% gross enrollment ratio LIDAR based survey technology will be by 2035. used for the first time. Lidar is a method UGC-AICTE merged: The cabinet has for measuring distances by illuminating approved merger of the All India Council the target with laser light and measuring for Technical Education (AICTE) and the reflection with a sensor. University Grants Commission.

HRD Ministry renamed as Ministry of Smart India Hackathon 2020 Education, National Education Policy Prime Minister will 2020 launched address Grand The Ministry of Human Resource and Finale of the Development (MHRD) has been renamed world’s largest as Ministry of Education. The decision ever online was taken during a cabinet meeting hackathon- Smart chaired by Prime Minister Narendra India Hackathon Modi. 2020- on August 1, An official announcement regarding the 2020. The Human same was made by Education Minister Resource Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal during a press Ramesh Pokhriyal conference after the cabinet meeting. The Nishank made the Union Cabinet has also approved a new announcement on education policy- National Education July 28, 2020. Policy 2020. The Human Resource Minister had National Education Policy 2020 chaired a high-level meeting on Smart The Union Cabinet under the India Hackathon (SIH) and discussed chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra achievements of the already conducted Modi approved a new education policy hackathons. The grand finale of the for the 21st century. Union Minister Smart-India Hackathon 2020 will be held Prakash Javadekar revealed the new till August 3, 2020. policy stating that it is important, as there Key Highlights were no changes in the education policy The Grand Finale for Smart India for almost 34 years. Hackathon will be held from August The National Education Policy 2020 1-3 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi comprises major reforms in the higher is scheduled to address the participants education sector including a target of on the first day on August 1 through 50% gross enrollment ratio by 2035 and a video-conference. provision for multiple entry and exit.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 89 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur tops Niti’s As per the NEP and IITT will be delta ranking of Aspirational districts established that will make extensive use In accordance with the delta rankings of technology to aid in its translation and for aspirational districts by government interpretation efforts. think-tank Niti (National Institution Helicopter service from Dehradun to for Transforming India) Aayog, Bijapur Gauchar begins district in Chhattisgarh has topped the list of aspirational districts in Overall A helicopter service from Dehradun Delta Ranking for the February-June 2020 to New Tehri, Shrinagar and Gauchar period. began. Bijapur has been followed by Ri-Bhoi Marking the beginning of the new service, (Meghalaya) and Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh) a private helicopter took off from the Jolly at 2nd and 3rd positions respectively. Grant Airport here for New Tehri after an The delta rankings for aspirational online flag-off by Union Civil Aviation districts considers an incremental Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Chief progress in six developmental areas Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat. viz. Health and nutrition, education, The service has been started under the agriculture and water resources, financial UDAN Yojana and regional connectivity inclusion, skill development and basic scheme. infrastructure . New Track Construction (NTC) What is an aspirational districts Machine Used for the First Time by programme? Indian Railways The aspirational districts programme, launched in January 2018, aims to Indian Railways has, for the first time, transform districts that have shown used the New Track Construction (NTC) relatively lesser progress in key social machine in order to construct the Khurja- areas and have emerged as pockets of Dadri Section of the Eastern Dedicated under-development. Freight Corridor. At present, seven such machines have been deployed along the Trilingual policy Dedicated Freight Corridor alignment.

The New Education Policy (NEP) Four out of these seven machines are approved by the Union Cabinet proposes deployed in the Eastern Dedicated Freight the setting up of an Indian Institute of Corridor whereas the rest are deployed in Translation and Interpretation (IITI) the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. while also laying significant emphasis on The Khurja-Dadri Section is the link Sanskrit and other Indian languages. between the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors on which

90 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 National – Diary of Event freight trains run at a speed of 100 kmph ensuring fast logistics movement.

Mauritius SC building inaugurated by PM Modi PM Narendra Modi and Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated the new Supreme Court Building of Mauritius on July 30 through video conferencing. In his address during the launch of building, PM Modi stated that Mauritius is the centre of India’s approach towards the Indian Ocean region.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 91 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 7. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Uganda, First African Country to L&T delivers single section of world’s Submit Results of REDD+ to UNFCCC largest nuclear fusion reactor The 1250-MT cryostat base manufactured by L&T Heavy Engineering the single largest section of the world’s largest nuclear fusion reactor was successfully lifted and placed into a reactor building in France ITER is a first of its kind futuristic Uganda became the first African country global project. The cryostat is the largest to submit the results for Reducing vacuum vessel ever built with 29.4 meter Emissions from Deforestation and forest in diameter, 29 meter in height weighing Degradation (REDD+) to the United 3,850 MT. Successful delivery of such Nations Framework Convention on complex projects is ingrained in L&T’s Climate Change (UNFCCC), which has culture opened the way for potential results The cryostat forms the vacuum-tight based payments to Uganda. container surrounding the reactor The submitted documents will help vacuum vessel and the superconducting Uganda to claim the funds through the magnets, and acts essentially as a very Green Climate Fund’s forest conservation large refrigerator. The reactor base the scheme single largest and heaviest Tokamak About REDD+: component of the world’s largest UNFCCC developed the Redd+ stainless-steel, high-vacuum, pressure mechanism to reduce the emissions due chamber cryostat will eventually contain to deforestation and forest degradation. the rest of the reactor. About UNFCCC: Tamil Nadu to provide Rs 3000 Executive Secretary– Patricia Espinosa monthly stipend to lawyers (Mexico) Headquarters– Bonn, Germany Tamil Nadu has announced to provide Rs 3000 as monthly stipend to the lawyers in state for next two years. The move will help the lawyers in dealing

92 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 International Affairs with the financial difficulties during this Narendra Modi is set to deliver an COVID-19 crisis situation. inaugural address on Day-1 of the India Global Week 2020 beginning in UK. Russian President Vladimir Putin A three-day virtual conference themed records victory in Presidential polls “BeThe Revival: India And a Better New President of Russia, Word”, the India Global Week 2020 will Vladimir Putin has have more than 5,000 global participants recorded a victory in from over 30 nations being addressed by the recently held 250 global speakers across 75 sessions. Presidential polls. st With a victory, he is Maldives & Sri Lanka are the 1 two set to stay in power countries in South-East Asia until the middle of the According to the World Health next decade i.e. until 2036. Russians Organisation’s (WHO) South East Asian citizens went to the polls to cast ballots in Region (SEAR) office, Maldives and Sri a nationwide referendum on Lanka were verified to eliminate both Constitutional Amendments. A measles and rubella, making them the preliminary tally of results was released first two countries in the WHO South- by the Central Election Commission of East Asia region to achieve beyond their Russia after processing 50% of ballot, and 2023 target. stated that 76.24% of the citizens voted in It is to be noted that, a country is support of the amendments. considered to have eliminated measles and rubella when there is no evidence of Israel launches a new spy satellite endemic transmission of the viruses for Israel’s Defence Ministry announced more than three years and there is a better that it has successfully launched a new surveillance system. spy satellite. The satellite is expected to About Measles: serve as an additional tool to keep tabs on It is a highly contagious viral disease and is many threats across the region. particularly dangerous for children from The spy satellite, “Ofek 16” will join the economically weaker background, other Israeli spy satellites that have been as it attacks malnourished children and launched in the past two decades. those with reduced immunity. The satellites are being used to monitor Symptoms: It can cause serious any threats on the state of Israel, including complications, including blindness, arch-enemy Iran. encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, ear infection and pneumonia. India Global Week 2020 Rubella (also called German Measles): For the first time since the outbreak of It is a contagious, generally mild viral Coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister infection that occurs most often in

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 93 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

The Iranian government cited delays from children and young adults. Rubella the Indian side in funding and starting infection in pregnant women may cause the project, for its decision of dropping fetal death or congenital defects known India from the project. as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), Now, Iranian Railways will go ahead which causes irreversible birth defects. without India’s assistance and utilize About World Health Organisation’s around $400 million from the Iranian (WHO): National Development Fund. ff Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland ff Director-General- Tedros Adhanom World Population Day 2020: India set to overtake China by 2027 India-EU summit to be held on July 15 through video conference The 15th India-EU summit will be held through video conference on July 15, 2020. During the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold detailed talks with Europea Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on a wide range of issues. India’s total fertility rate fell from 5.9 The leaders are expected to reiterate their children per woman in 1950 to 2.2 determination to promote multilateralism children per woman in 2020. This is very and a rules-based multilateral order with close to the replacement level fertility of the United Nations and the World Trade 2.1 children per woman Organisation at its core. The United Nations (UN) began The summit is expected to help strengthen observing World Population Day every the EU-India strategic partnership based year from 1989 to bring attention to the on shared principles and values of increasing global population and the democracy, freedom and rule of law. It associated factors. The date was chosen will aim to deliver concrete benefits for to commemorate 11 July, 1987, the day the people in the EU and India. when the global population hit the 5 billion mark. Iran drops India from Chabahar rail India also enjoys one of the youngest project global population with average national Iran has dropped India from Chabahar age at around 29 years, while 41 percent rail project which comprises rail line of our population is under 18 years of from Chabahar port to Zahedan, along age, according to the last census. This the border with Afghanistan. means that most Indians are yet to hit

94 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 International Affairs their peak wages and have a majority of their working years ahead of them. This population can contribute to nation- building and economy, if equipped with the right skills, training and jobs.

11th edition of the Global Real Estate Transparency Index 2020; UK tops According to the 11th edition of the ‘Global Real Estate Transparency Index 2020’, which covers 99 countries and territories and 163 cities, released by Jones Lang LaSalle’s (JLL), India has improved by one place to 34th with a total score of 2.69 under ‘semi-transparent’ zone. Regulatory reforms, better market data and sustainability initiatives led to a one- point improvement in the nation’s ranking. While, the United Kingdom (UK) has topped the list with a score of 1.31 followed by United States, Australia. Here’s the list of top 3 nations at Global Real Estate Transparency Index 2020:

Country / Investment Market Listed Regulatory Transaction Sustainability Rank Score Territory Performance Fundamentals Vehicles & Legal Processes 34th India 2.69 3.55 2.35 1.92 2.63 1.92 3.18 United 1 1.31 1.00 1.80 1.00 1.17 1.00 2.36 Kingdom United 2 1.35 1.15 1.41 1.00 1.24 1.28 2.45 States 3 Australia 1.39 1.18 1.64 1.00 1.51 1.13 2.00 India at Real Estate Transparency Index : Government’s efforts are paying off: A major reforms by the government and the effect of continuous improvement in Indian real estate has excited global investors. Institutional investment created a new norm of $ 5 billion annually over the last three years. Major structural reforms such as the Real Estate Regulation and Development Act 2016 (RERA), GST, Benami Transaction Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2016, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and digitisation of land records in the realty sector have brought more transparency. This was a largely irregular area a few years ago.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 95 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020

World population in 2100 could be 2 The index has been topped by China and billion below UN forecasts followed by the United States (US) at 2nd Global population growth may peak rank. sooner than expected if the lot of women As per property consultant Cushman continues to improve, according to a & Wakefield India is an upcoming study that says the world’s population manufacturing hub globally from could be 2 billion below UN forecasts by an operating conditions and cost- the end of the century. competitiveness perspective.

Such a fall would remove some of the About Cushman & Wakefield: projected strain on natural resources but f would present governments with stark f President– John Forrester policy choices over migration and the ff Headquarter– Chicago, Illinois, economy. United States (US) The world’s population will peak at 9.7 billion in 2064 and decline to 8.8 billion India looking forward to partner Italy by the end of the century, according in food processing sector to research led by the University of Food processing minister Harsimrat Washington in the US and published in Kaur Badal announced India is looking the Lancet. forward to partner Italy in the area of It says some countries, including Japan, food processing which has a huge market Spain and Italy, will see their populations potential in the country. The opening halve, while sub-Saharan Africa’s session of ‘Digital Indo-Italian Business population will triple in the next 80 years. Mission on Food Processing’, held India Ranked 3rd in 2020 Global virtually. Manufacturing Risk Index; China ICWA-RIAC conference: India & Tops: Cushman & Wakefield Russia explores Active Joint Projects in Asia and Africa India and Russia explores the active joint projects in Asia and Africa in the webinar on “India-Russia Relations in the Context of Post-Pandemic Global order” chaired TCA Raghavan, Director General of ICWA and organised by Russian In accordance with the “Cushman & International Affairs Council (RIAC) and Wakefield’s 2020 Global Manufacturing Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). Risk Index (MRI)” India ranks third in the The potential of digital technologies list of most-suitable locations for global to activate economic relations and the manufacturing among 48 countries reforms on the current negative trends. in terms of cost competitiveness and operating conditions. 96 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 International Affairs

India Established Individual Bilateral On the region front, Middle East and ‘Air Bubbles’ with France, Germany North Africa (MENA) is the worst region and US with 4.44 rating followed by Asia-Pacific with 4.09 in the world for working people Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep for seven years (2014-2020). Singh Puri informed that India has established individual bilateral ‘air International Trade Union Confederation bubbles’ with France and the United The ITUC established in 2006. It is States(US). In addition to this, a similar based in Brussels, Belgium. It was arrangement with Germany has been formed on the merger of International established and Lufthansa will be Confederation of Free Trade Unions and operating the flights. This agreement World Confederation of Labour. India is allows countries’ airlines to operate a member of ITUC. international flights. India is planning to establish such India Business Council to host India agreements with the UK, under Ideas Summit 2020 which 2 flights a day will be operated

between Delhi and London. The similar India Business Council will host the 45th arrangements with the United Arab India Ideas Summit 2020 on July 22nd. Emirates(UAE) till 26th July, 2020. The Summit convenes business and will operate flights to France, government leaders for discussions on Germany and the US under bilateral air the future of the U.S.-India Partnership bubbles. and the trends shaping globalization, trade and investment, and the future India ranked among 10 worst of work in the COVID-era and beyond. countries for working people: ITUC This year’s focus is on “Building a Better Global Rights Index 2020 Future”. In accordance with the 7th edition of “International Trade Union Confederation India-EU Summit renews agreement (ITUC) Global Rights Index 2020-The on scientific and technological World’s Worst Countries for Workers”, cooperation India became the new entrant in the 10 India and the European Union have worst countries for working people in the renewed their agreement to expand world, with a rating of 5 that states “No scientific and technological cooperation guarantee of rights”. The index ranked aimed at strengthening their collaboration 144 countries on the basis of respect for in this area in the next five years. workers’ rights.

The other countries among the worst The two sides agreed to renew the ten are- Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, agreement on scientific cooperation till Kazakhstan, Philippines, Turkey and 2025 at the 15th India-EU Summit, which Zimbabwe along with Egypt & Honduras was led by Prime Minister Narendra being other two new entrants apart from Modi from the Indian side. India. The European Union delegation was

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 97 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 headed by European Council President INDIA-UK’s 14th Joint Economic and Charles Michel and President of the Trade Committee meeting 2020 held European Commission Ursula von der virtually Leyen. The agreement was initially signed The 14th Joint Economic and Trade on November 23, 2001, and renewed in 2007 and 2015. Committee (JETCO) 2020 was held virtually for the first time amid COVID-19 Hyderabad Ranked 16th in World’s between India and United Kingdom most Surveilled Cities & China tops: (UK), which was co-chaired by Minister Comparitech for Commerce and Industry Piyush Vedprakash Goyal and UK Secretary of As per the new analysis by Comparitech on the World’s Most Surveilled Cities, State for International Trade, Elizabeth in 150 major cities across the globe, Mary Truss. Hyderabad has positioned in 16th rank Both nations have affirmed their shared among the list of top 20 cities with the commitment towards Free Trade maximum number of Closed-circuit Agreement (FTA). In this regard, the television (CCTV) surveillance cameras. two sides will engage in early harvest It has most CCTV surveillance in India. schemes or limited trade agreements in a The List was topped by Taiyuan, China. staged manner as steps towards FTA.

Chennai (21st rank) and Delhi (33rd rank) It should be noted that the Early Harvest made into the top 50 list. Programme basically consists of those The research is based on the number of projects which are to be implemented cameras per 1,000 people. within a short timeline. Ranking List India-Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Top 20 Cities in the World Dialogue held in New Delhi Cameras per Rank Cities Defence Ministers’ Dialogue between 1,000 people India and Indonesia was held in New 16 Hyderabad, 29.99 cameras Delhi. India The Indian delegation was led by the 1 Taiyuan, China 119.57 cameras Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while the 2 Wuxi, China 92.14 cameras Indonesian delegation was led by Defence 3 London, England 67.47 cameras Minister General Prabowo Subianto. (UK) During the defence ministers dialogue, Other Indian cities in top 50 General Subianto was honored with 21 Chennai 25.52 cameras ceremonial Guard of Honour. 33 Delhi 14.18 cameras About Comparitech: ff Headquarters– England

98 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Tamilnadu Affairs 8. TAMILNADU AFFAIRS

GoI and World Bank Sign Agreement Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), to Increase Access to Affordable India’s marine fish production has Housing in Tamil Nadu increased marginally by 2.1% to 3.56 The World Bank and the government of million tonnes (mt) in 2019 as compared India signed an agreement along with the to 3.49 mt in 2018. Government of Tamil Nadu to help the ff As per the report, Tamil Nadu grabbed low-income groups in the state of Tamil the top in annual fish production with Nadu to get access to affordable housing. 7.75 lakh tonnes followed by Gujarat (7.49 lakh tonnes), which had been Agreements signed:- holding the first position earlier, Legal agreements of two projects and Kerala (5.44 lakh tonnes) which were signed to strengthen the state’s retained the third position. housing sector policies, institutions, and ff The estimated value of fish landings regulations. in the country last year was Rs 60,881 First Tamil Nadu Housing Sector crore with 15.6% increase over 2018. Strengthening Programme worth $200 million (Rs 1,510 crore), ff It should be noted that the term Tamil Nadu Housing and Habitat “Landing” in the report means getting Development Project worth $50 million fish out of the water and brought to (Rs 377 crore). the land. ff Notably, in the global front, India is Indian marine fish landings raise ranked 3rd after China and Indonesia 2.1% to 3.56mt in 2019 in marine fish production. In accordance IIT-Madras launches online diploma, with the report BSc in programming and data science “Annual Marine Fish The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Landings in Madras the best Indian institute in India, India for 2019” as per the NIRF ranking has launched by Central an online diploma and BSc programme Marine in data science and programming. The course will be imparted online while

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 99 Tamilnadu Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 its assessment including the exams will year bonds in the auction conducted by be done in an offline mode. The course RBI. has no age limit and students who have The Finance Secretary projected that the passed class 12 can also take it up. TN will witness a shortfall in revenue of The institute aims to reach a larger number about `12,000-`13,000 crore a month. of students. The course comes with The GST (Goods and Services Tax) multiple entries and exit points. Students collection of TN has sharply reduced by can get a certificate, diploma, and degree 15% in June 2020, higher than the 3% fall based on when they exit the course. After in national GST collections due to the completing class 12, students will have to pursue a foundation course while those continuous lockdown. who have a college-level degree can About Reserve Bank of India (RBI): directly enroll at the diploma level. ff Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra Students can exit with a certificate after ff Governor– Shaktikanta Das completing a foundation-level course and after a year, one can get a diploma, Rotary Foundation Honours TN CM and on completing three years, a degree Edappadi K Palaniswami with Paul will be awarded. Harris Fellow Recognition Tamil Nadu Tops Market Borrowings The Rotary Foundation of Rotary among States in India with a International, Chicago, has honoured Collection of `30,500 crore for 2020- Tamil Nadu (TN) Chief Minister (CM) 21: RBI Edappadi K Palaniswami with Paul Harris Fellow recognition. According to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Tamil Nadu (TN) has About Paul Harris Fellow recognition topped market borrowings among States The recognition is in the honor of Rotary in India with a collection of Rs.30,500 founder, Paul Harris who contributed to crore in the fiscal 2020 2 (FY 21). The Rotary Foundation. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition is TN, which has accounted for 17% of conferred to honour the efficient service the borrowings done through the issue of people who provide drinking water, of bonds (known as state development sanitation, prevention of diseases, loans), has been followed by Maharashtra environment, world peace etc. to its `25,500 crore (14%), Andhra Pradesh people. `17,000 crore (9%), Rajasthan `17,000 It also acknowledges individuals who crore (9%). contribute, or who have contributions TN’s borrowing: made in their name, of USD 1,000 to The Earlier on July 7, 2020, Tamil Nadu raised Rotary Foundation. The person recognised as the fellow will `1,250 crore at the low interest rate of receive a certificate along with a lapel pin. 6.63% for the 35-year bonds and `1,250 They are also eligible to buy a Paul Harris crore at the rate of 4.54% for the three- Fellow medallion.

100 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Tamilnadu Affairs

Tamil Nadu’s case Count The Institute will be established at a cost The Chief Minister laid the foundation of Rs 30 crore. for an international flower auction centre, Turmeric is currently cultivated on which will come up at Moranapalli 13,955 acres in Erode, Kodumudi, village in Hosur at a cost of `20.20 Modakurichi, Bhavani, Anthiyur and crore. The centre, to be spread over 7.68 Gobichettipalayam areas. acres, envisages 3,702 ha under flower Tamil Nadu Government Signed 8 cultivation, with a production capacity MoUs worth Rs 10,399 crore with of 39,383 tonnes. The export turnover is Industrial Groups for Employment estimated to be `150 crore - `200 crore. Creation Reservation to Government School Students in Admission to Medical Studies The Postgraduate Teachers’ Association has thanked the Cabinet for approving 7.5 per cent internal quota for government school students in medical admissions . The Government of Tamil Nadu for The Tamil Nadu government signed approving the Tamil Nadu Cabinet 8 Memorandums of Understandings meeting to provide 7.5 per cent (MoUs) worth Rs 10,399 crore with internal quota for students studying companies to create employment in government secondary schools for opportunities for over 13,507 people. The admission to medical courses. MoUs were signed in the presence of Through this initiative, about 500 Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami poor and simple students studying in in the Secretariat at Fort St George in government high schools in Tamil Nadu Chennai. will get a place to join the medical course. Out of these 8 projects, MoUs were signed The Government of Tamil Nadu should for 5 projects directly and for 3 projects come forward to pay the application fee through video display. for NEET examination for government Industry Minister M.C. Sampath, school students. Chief Secretary Shanmugam, senior TN govt to set up turmeric research government officials and representatives institute of industry among others were also present on the occasion. The Tamil Nadu govt has proposed to Proposed Projects– The proposed projects establish a Turmeric Research Institute include the following: production of at Modakurichi in the district to enhance solar cells and modules, air compressors, production and help the growers realize ductile iron foundry, industrial parks, more income.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 101 Tamilnadu Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 cashew nut processing, data centre and a will provide employment to over 67,212 foundry expansion project. persons. Out of 16 MoUs, 6 were signed directly LHB Introduction of freight train with and 10 through virtual link. boxes 7 MoUs have been signed in the In order to increase the carrying capacity technology space. Of these, 6 will come of the freight train, the new LHB Chennai up in Chennai and one in Coimbatore. Railway has introduced a freight train A new portal HYPERLINK Launched with compartments. The Chief Minister launched a The Railway Board has directed all new portal HYPERLINK (https:// the zones to improve the freight traffic investingintamilnadu.com/) for the in the railways. Various measures are government’s investment promotion being taken to improve freight traffic agency. and increase revenue on the Southern Railway. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami Accordingly, the new LHB in the Chennai lays foundation for Rs. 2,368 worth railway line. Freight train with boxes projects introduced. This new LHB is designed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami to increase the carrying capacity of the has laid the foundation stone for the basket and increase revenue. A freight construction work on eight new industrial train called the Posel Van has been projects that would come up in the state introduced. This train is equipped with for an investment of Rs 2,368 crore. high capacity boxes. Designed under Besides, he inaugurated 11 completed Joman technology. The first service of this projects which fetched Rs 3,185 crore freight train was launched from Chennai investment. Egmore to Thiruvananthapuram. The projects for which the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone included TN government signed 16 MoUs International Tech Park Chennai (ITPC) worth Rs 5,137 crore with companies promoted by the CapitaLand group-a for employment creation Rs 1,500 crore project and TATA The Tamil Nadu (TN) government Chemicals’ silica manufacturing unit in has signed 16 Memorandum of Cuddalore SIPCOT Industrial Park with Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 5,137 an investment of Rs 350 crore. crore to create employment opportunities The companies have committed a total for over 6,555 people. The MoUs were investment of Rs 2,368 crore and will signed by TN Chief Minister Edappadi create employment for 24,870 people, the K. Palaniswami. The government has release added. Further, the 12 completed signed three tranches of MoUs worth projects in various sectors, including Rs 30,664 crore within 2 months, which automobiles, would usher in Rs 3,185

102 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Tamilnadu Affairs crore of investment and job opportunities to 6,966 persons. As many as six of the eight projects for which the foundation stones were laid were signed in the Global Investors Meet held in 2019.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 103 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 9. PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. “Nekar Samman Yojana” a scheme for the weaver’s community launched by which of the following state? (A) Telangana (B) Andhra Pradesh (C) Odisha (D) Karnataka 2. The duties of Indian Prime Minister with respect to the furnishing of information to the President is mentioned in the Indian Constitution under ______. (A) Article 77 (B) Article 78 (C) Article 79 (D) Article 80 3. Which State becomes first State in India to have LPG connection to all households? (A) Gujarat (B) Rajasthan (C) Kerala (D) Himachal Pradesh 4. “Sakteng Wild life Sanctuary” recently seen in News disputed between which of the following two countries? (A) China-Bhutan (B) India-China (C) India-Bhutan (D) Nepal-Bhutan 5. The portable Hospital Named “Medicab” has been developed by______. (A) IIT Mumbai (B) DRDO (C) IIT Madras (D) IIT Kanpur 6. Which of the following countries signed “New Delhi” Declaration on Asian Rhinos -2019” to conserve rhinos? 1. Malaysia 2. Bhutan 3. Nepal 4. Indonesia (A) 2, 3 (B) 2 only (C) 2, 3, 4 (D) All the above 7. Aarogyasri is a health care scheme of ______. (A) New Delhi (B) Andhra Pradesh (C) Telangana (D) Madhya Pradesh 8. Where Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is located? (A) Chandigar (B) Tanjavur (C) Kolkata (D) New Delhi 9. “Black Rock” recently seen in News it is a______. (A) New Plant Variety (B) New Pest (C) New Variety of Fish (D) Malware 10. “ASPIRE” Portal Developed by the Ministry of______. (A) Ministry of HRD (B) Ministry of Finance (C) Ministry Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises (D) Ministry of Aviation 11. World Chess Day is being celebrated on______. (A) 19 July (B) 20 July (C) 21 July (D) 22 July 12. Which state added Transgenders community to getting pension under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana? (A) Madhya Pradesh (B) Maharashtra (C) Odisha (D) chattishgarh 13. Which country Hosted the 3rd G20 Finance ministers meet held recently? (A) UAE (B) Saudi Arabia (C) India (D) England

104 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Practice Questions 14. The National Target of ending AIDS in the county by______. (A) 2025 (B) 2030 (C) 2032 (D) 2035 15. Which of the following organisation launched innovative contest “Dare to Dream” on the death Anniversary of Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam? (A) NITI Aayog (B) National Skill Development Council (C) ISRO (D) DRDO 16. Which Indian recently joined United Nations New Climate Change advisory group? (A) Archana Soreng (B) Jeyanthi Natarajan (C) Nandhini (D) Setha Lakhsmi 17. Nagarjuna Sagar – Srisailam Tiger Reserve is located in which of the following state? (A) Telangana (B) Andhra Pradesh (C) Karnataka (D) Maharshtra 18. The nomadic Gujjar and Bakarwal tribel people are found in ______region. (A) Karakoram ranges of Himalayas (B) Pir Panjal ranges of Himalayas (C) Western Ghats (D) Jaintia Hills 19. Which of the following Countries participating “Operation Breathing Space”? 1. India 2. USA 3. UK 4. Israel (A) 1, 2 (B) 2, 3 (C) 1, 3 (D) 1, 4 20. Which of the following Ministry recently launched “BIS-care” mobile App? (A) Consumer Affairs (B) Road Transport (C) Finance (D) Home Affairs 21. Which state is going to host 4th edition of Khelo India Youth Games? (A) Punjab (B) Uttar Pradesh (C) Kerala (D) Haryana 22. Who is the Author of the book titled The Indian Way: Strategies for an uncertain world? (A) Ajith Doval (B) Jai Shankar (C) Sasi Tharoor (D) Arun Jaitley 23. The pobitora Wild Life sanctuary is located on the southern bank of river______. (A) Krishna (B) Cauvery (C) Ganga (D) Brahmaputra 24. Who has been recently awarded the life time achievement award for his contribution to statistics ? (A) D.Sivaraman (B) Bimal Jalan (C) Y.V.Reddy (D) C.Rangarajan 25. Which State inaugurated India’s 1st Plasma Bank for COVID-19 treatment? (A) Maharashtra (B) Tamil Nadu (C) New Delhi (D) Karnataka 26. How many fruits and vegetables were added to operation Green Scheme recently? (A) 8 (B) 18 (C) 7 (D) 17 27. Which of the following Ministry launched Web Portal for Street vendors loan scheme PM SVANidhi? (A) Ministry of Finance (B) Ministry of Commerce and Industry (C) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (D) Ministry of Panchayat Raj 28. National Institute of Food Technologies Entrepreneurship and management (NIFTEM) is located at ______. (A) Tamil Nadu (B) Haryana (C) Punjab (D) Bihar

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 105 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 29. “PASSEX” Naval exercise recently seen in News conducted between which of the following two countries? (A) India-USA (B) India-Russia (C) India-Japan (D) India-Australia 30. Government of India recently enforced the Amendments to the India Stamp Act______. (A) 1899 (B) 1947 (C) 1919 (D) 1935 31. “Towards a clean Energy Economy” Report has been released by______. (A) Ministry of Environment (B) NITI Aayog (C) IIT-Madras (D) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy 32. AH-64E Apache Helicopters made by ______. (A) Dassault Aviation (B) Rafael Advanced Defence Systems (C) Boeing (D) Hindustan Aeronautical Limited 33. Where Keelback snake has been spotted for the first time in 129 years? (A) Poba Reserved Forest (B) Pakke Tiger Reserve (C) Namdappha National Park (D) Kaziranga National Park 34. Which Indian American has been appointed as the Director of USA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture? (A) Abhijit Banerjee (B) Har Gobind Khorana (C) Subramanyan Chandrasekar (D) Parag Chitnis 35. APSTAR-6D Telecommunication satellite successfully launched recently which belongs to______. (A) Japan (B) France (C) China (D) Israel 36. Solar Energy Corporation of India is functioning under which Union Ministry? (A) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (B) Ministry of Power (C) Ministry of Coal (D) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas 37. National Fish Farmers day was celebrated on______. (A) 13 July (B) 12 July (C) 11 July (D) 10 July 38. Bhashan Char Island frequently seen in news which is located in______. (A) Srilanka (B) Maldevis (C) India (D) Bangladesh 39. What is the Name of Haryana State Government’s one time loan settlement scheme? (A) Vivad se Vishwas (B) Sab ka Vishwas (C) Samadhan se Vikas (D) Vivad se Vikas 40. India’s Best Police Station “Nadaun Police Station” is located in the state of______. (A) Arunachal Pradesh (B) Kerala (C) New Delhi (D) Himachal Pradesh 41. The Helicopter launched Nag missile HELINA Successfully test fired recently, The missile has now been renamed as______. (A) Trishul (B) Pinaka (C) Dhruvastra (D) QRSAM 42. Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant located in______. (A) Madhya Pradesh (B) Maharashtra (C) Rajasthan (D) Gujarat

106 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Practice Questions 43. Who has won 1st edition of Gulbankian Prize for Humanity? (A) Malala Yousafzai (B) Greta Thunberg (C) Melinda Gates (D) Melinia Trump 44. Recently Global Multi dimensional Poverty Index 2020 was released by______. (A) United Nations Development Programme (B) World Bank (C) Food and Agricultural Organisation (D) International Monetary Fund 45. “Julio Ribeiro” Committee on Police Reforms was created in the year of ______. (A) 1982 (B) 1992 (C) 1998 (D) 2002 46. Indian Army gets “Bharat drones” for accurate Surveillance belong border from which of the following organization? (A) DRDO (B) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (C) Indigo (D) Boeing Drones 47. “PASSEX” Naval exercise has been conducted between which of the following countries? (A) India-Japan (B) India-United Kingdom (C) India-USA (D) United Kingdom-USA 48. A rare yellow turtle rescued recently in which of the following state? (A) Andhra Pradesh (B) Tamil Nadu (C) Odisha (D) Chattigarh 49. Which state has launched Navin Rojgar Chhatri Yojana? (A) Uttar Pradesh (B) West Bengal (C) Punjab (D) Himachal Pradesh 50. Which of the following country’s Railways created world’s first solar power plant to directly power overhead line? (A) USA (B) France (C) United Kingdom (D) India 51. Asia’s largest tier IV Data Centre has been inaugurated in ______. (A) Tamil Nadu (B) Maharashtra (C) Gujarat (D) Kerala 52. The Dudhwa National Park is recently seen in News located in which of the following state? (A) West Bengal (B) Uttar Pradesh (C) Uttarkand (D) Maharashtra 53. New species of “Fan-throated Lizard” Sitana Dharwarensis” Discsovered from______. (A) Kerala (B) Assam (C) Karnataka (D) Megalaya 54. According to National Centre for Biological Sciences which state has the highest count of inbreed tigers in the country? (A) Rajasthan (B) West Bengal (C) Karnataka (D) Madhya Pradesh 55. Who has been recently appointed by the Central Government to the committe on Science, Technologies and innovation policy 2020. (A) S.K.George (B) Nandhan Nilakeni (C) Y.S.Reddy (D) K.S.Shivan 56. Jharkhand Indian Agricultural research institute’s New Administrative Building named after whom? (A) B.R.Ambedkar (B) Lal Bahadur Shastri (C) Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (D) Jawaharlal Nehru

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 107 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 57. Name the company which in collaboration with ICMR-NIV developed India’s 1st COVID-19 vaccine? (A) SANOFI (B) Biogenomics (C) Bharat Biotech (D) Hindustan Uniliver Labs 58. Indian Railways 1st Cable stayed rail bridge “ANJI KHAD BRIDGE” being developed in which of the following state? (A) Ladakh (B) Jammu & Kashmir (C) West Bengal (D) Uttarkhand 59. World wildlife crime Report has been released by______. (A) IUCN (B) United Nations General Assembly (C) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (D) International Animal conservation 60. Who has been honoured with “Top publicist” award in the Global Humanitarian Awards 2020 in London? (A) Sachin Awasthi (B) Vandana (C) Sunita Narain (D) Chandi Prasad Bhatt 61. What is the name of robotic helicopter that is going to be deployed in mars 2020 mission of NASA? (A) Persevarance (B) NASA copter (C) Red copter (D) Ingenuity 62. Who has been appointed as New Vice president of Asian Development Bank? (A) T.S. Krishna Murthy (B) Sunil Arora (C) Ashok Lavasa (D) Om Prakash Rawat 63. Which International Airport introduces India’s first fully contactless car parking? (A) New Delhi (B) Chennai (C) Hyderabad (D) Bengaluru 64. “Decade of Action: Taking SDG’s from Global to local” Report has been released by______. (A) Statistical Survey of India (B) NITI Aayog (C) Ministry of Finance (D) Ministry of Human Resource Development 65. Which year critical information Infrastructure protection centre was setup under Information Technology Act 2000? (A) 2001 (B) 2004 (C) 2012 (D) 2014 66. Which article under the constitution of India places a limit on the strength of the Council of Ministers? (A) Article 72 (B) Article 75 (C) Article 164 (D) Both B and C 67. The Tiwa Tribes recently seen in news is an indigenous community habiting in the states of ______. 1. Assam 2. Megalaya 3. Manipur 4. Nagaland (A) 1, 2 (B) 2, 3 (C) 1, 2, 3 (D) All the above

108 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Practice Questions 68. Which of the following Ministry implements the “PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana” Scheme? (A) Ministry of Rural Development (B) Ministry of Finance (C) Ministry of Food and Public Distribution (D) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare 69. Which of the Indian American honoured as “2020 Great immigrant” recently? (A) Thumpa Lahiri (B) Fareed Zakaria (C) Sanjay Gupta (D) Sidhartha Mukherjee 70. What is the length of Indian Railways recently introduced “Shesh Naag Train”? (A) 1.4 km (B) 2.8 km (C) 3.2 km (D) 3.5 km 71. Miyawaki method of forest creation was originated from______. (A) South Korea (B) Japan (C) China (D) Russia 72. India’s first accredited honey testing lab is inaugurated in ______. (A) Himachal Pradesh (B) Assam (C) Sikkim (D) Gujarat 73. What is the India’s Rank in the recent Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) report released by Food and Agriculture Organization? (A) 3 (B) 10 (C) 15 (D) 21 74. The Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana was launched by______. (A) Ministry of Finance (B) Ministry of Culture (C) Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) (D) Ministry of MSME 75. When Kargil Vijay Diwas observed in India? (A) July 25 (B) July 26 (C) July 27 (D) July 28 76. Which of the following Hurricane, recently affected USA recently? (A) Dorean (B) Katrina (C) Hanna (D) Michael 77. India collaborated with which country to develop 30 second rapid testing kit for covid-19? (A) Germany (B) Israel (C) France (D) South Korea 78. “Serological Survey” has been conducted recently in which of the following state? (A) Maharashtra (B) New Delhi (C) West Bengal (D) Odisha 79. Maternal Mortality Rate has been considered on the basis of ______live Births. (A) 100 (B) 1000 (C) 10000 (D) 100000 80. Which of the following state topped on attracted fresh investment in the first quarter of 2020- 21 financial year? (A) Maharashtra (B) Tamil Nadu (C) Rajasthan (D) Gujarat 81. Animal Welfare Board of India was established under the prevention of cruelty to Animals Act______. (A) 1950 (B) 1960 (C) 1962 (D) 1972

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 109 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 82. India’s only Golden Tiger was spotted in which of the following region? (A) Kanha National Park (B) Sathiyamangalam Tiger Reserve (C) Manas Tiger Reserve (D) Kaziranga National Park 83. Who is the Head of Defence Planning Committee recently seen in news ? (A) Home Minister (B) Defence Minister (C) Prime Minister (D) National Security Advisor 84. Commerce and Industry young leaders institution (CII) has been launched by______. (A) ASEAN (B) BRICS (C) G20 (D) G-7 85. The Pasakha trade route is seen in news recently between which of the following Two countries? (A) India-Nepal (B) India-Bhutan (C) India-Pakistan (D) India-Bangladesh 86. What is the Rank of India in recent Global manufacturing Risk Index? (A) 1st (B) 2nd (C) 3rd (D) 4th 87. The Azad Pattan hydel power project to be implemented on which river ? (A) Beas River (B) Chenab River (C) Ravi River (D) Jhelum River 88. Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) Pension Scheme is for ______. (A) Widow Womens (B) Physically Challenged (C) Senior Citizens (D) Army Soldiers People 89. The ministry of skill development and Entrepreneurship has launched ASEEM portal to help skilled people, what is the correct expansion of “ASEEM”. (A) All India skilled Employee Employer mapping (B) ATAL skilled Employee Employer mapping (C) Associated skilled Employee Employer mapping (D) Aatmanirbhar skilled Employee Employer mapping 90. Who has won 2020 Dada Saheb Phalke award for documentary name “chi lupo”? (A) Vinod Khanna (B) Manoj Kumar (C) Mrinal Sen (D) Kazang D Thong dok 91. The UN’s World Population Day is observed annually on ______. (A) July 11 (B) July 12 (C) July 13 (D) July 14 92. Recently Researchers found ophiocordycepsnutans fungus for the first time in “Kanger Valley National Park” is located in ______. (A) Assam (B) Gujarat (C) Chhatisgarh (D) Gujarat 93. Which country world first successfully tested New Vaccine against to Covid-19 on Human Trials? (A) USA (B) Japan (C) India (D) Russia 94. Who was the first writer to translate the Great Epic of Ancient India “Ramayana” from Sanskrit to Nepali? (A) Dhayanantha Saraswati (B) Eshwar Chandra Vidhya Sahar (C) Bhanu bhakta Acharya (D) Shyama Prasad Mukherjee

110 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, July - 2020 Practice Questions 95. “Zardozi Metal Zari Art works on silk patronized by which of the following Kings? (A) Delhi Sultanate (B) Mughals (C) Marathas (D) Scindhiyas 96. Bubonic Plague is recently seen news cost by ______. (A) Bacterium (B) Virus (C) Fungus (D) Some type of Pests 97. What is the theme of International Day of cooperatives 2020 (A) Cooperatives across the globe (B) Cooperatives and their challenges (C) Cooperatives and SDG (D) Cooperatives for Climate Action 98. The World’s Largest COVID care centre has been inaugurated in______. (A) Maharashtra (B) Tamil Nadu (C) New Delhi (D) Gujarat 99. “Over draft : Saving the Indian Saver” book authored by______. (A) Rangarajan (B) Raguram Rajan (C) Urjit Patel (D) Amartya Sen 100. What is the Rank of India in Global Real Estate Transparency Index (GRETI)? (A) 34th (B) 40th (C) 77th (D) 117th

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