CURRENT AFFAIRS MONTH OF FEBRUARY-2019 Plot-1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRP Square, Bhubaneswar Ph : 8093083555, 8984111101 Web : www.vanikias.com | E-mail : [email protected] www.facebook.com/vanikias CURRENT AFFAIRS – FEBRUARY–2019 Source-PIB 01.02.2019 A unique travelogue series ‘Rag Rag Mein Ganga’ launched on Doordarshan Union Minister for Water Resources, 1. Budget Highlights 2019-20 River Development and Ganga Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Rejuvenation launched travelogue (PM-KISAN) program “Rag Rag Mein Ganga” on To extend direct income support at the Doordarshan. rate of Rs. 6,000 per year to farmer This series has been made by families, having cultivable land upto Doordarshan in collaboration with 2 hectares. National Mission for Clean Ganga Under this Government of India funded (NMCG). Scheme, Rs.2,000 each will be The show relays the message of the transferred to the bank accounts of need of rejuvenating River Ganga around 12 crore Small and Marginal while also informing about the efforts farmer families, in three equal of the Government to clean Ganga – instalments. presented in a unique and interesting This programme would be made effective format. from 1st December 2018 and the first Topic- GS Paper 1 –Art and Culture instalment for the period upto31st Source-PIB March 2019 would be paid. DIPP renamed as DPIIT The government has notified changing the name of the Department of Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP) to Under the scheme, an assured the Department for Promotion of monthly pension of Rs 3,000 per Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). month will be provided to workers in The notification has also included the unorganised sector after 60 years four new categories of responsibilities of age. to DIPP. It includes To avail of the scheme, workers will The promotion of internal trade have to contribute Rs 100 month. (including retail trade) Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog The welfare of traders and their • To upscale sustainable genetic employees upgradation of cow resources and to Matters relating to facilitating enhance production and productivity Ease of Doing Business of cows. Matters relating to start-ups. Topic- GS-3- Economy Plot-1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRP Square, Bhubaneswar-751015 1 Ph. : 8093083555, 8984111101 Web : www.vanikias.com, E-mail : [email protected] CURRENT AFFAIRS – FEBRUARY–2019 Related Information • He got this award for the Department of Industrial Policy and transformational changes brought Promotion by him during his tenure as Union Department of Industrial Policy & Minister of Power. Promotion (DIPP) functions under the Related Information Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Carnot Prize Government of India. The Carnot Prize is the annual It is responsible for formulation and recognition by the US-based implementation of promotional and Kleinman Center for Energy Policy developmental measures for growth for distinguished contributions to of the industrial sector, keeping in energy policy through scholarship view the national priorities and socio- or practice. economic objectives. The prize has been named after It is also responsible for facilitating French scientist Sadi Carnot, who and increasing the foreign direct in 1824 published Reflections investment (FDI) flows to the country. Motive Power of Fire, which Topic- GS Paper 3 – became the basis Economics Source- The Hindu for the second law of Polar Vortex thermodynamics. Recently the south-directing current Carnot recognized that the power of the North Polar vortex has brought of the steam engine would “produce a deadly cold waves to the USA. greatrevolution”inhuman Reason - During winter in the development. northern hemisphere the vortex Topic-GS Paper-2–Important becomes weak and expands, sending awards/prizes Arctic cold air southward due to Source- Indian Express which North Polar vortex has brought Global Warming Affect El Niño in deadly cold waves to the USA. the Related Information st Century Polar vortex The most recent projection of The Polar vortex is a large area of global warming impact on El Niño low pressure that consistently appeared in scientific journal overlies the North and South poles. ‘Nature ‘in which has thrown some It always exists near the poles but light on the effects weakens in summer and strengthens of global warming on El Niño in the in winter. 21st Century. Finding of the study They are called ‘vortexes’ because of El Niño remains the largest climate the mass of cold, dense air that spins phenomenon that occurs frequently counter-clockwise like a hurricane. producing droughts, floods, The polar vortex can lead to major wildfires, dust and snow storms, cold air outbreaks in the Northern fish kill, and even elevated risks of Hemisphere, including North civil conflicts. America, Europe and Asia. The theatre of action for El Niño is It is capable of delivering subzero the tropical Pacific Ocean but its temperatures in the new areas for global reach costs the global several days at a time. community tens Topic- GS Paper 3 –Science and of billion dollars each Technology time. Related Information EI Source- Science Daily Nino Piyush Goyal has been awarded the In a normal year, a surface low Carnot Prize 2018 pressure develops in the region of The Union Minister of Railways, northern Australia and Indonesia Piyush Goyal has been awarded the and a high-pressure system over Carnot Prize 2018. the coast of Peru. Plot-1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRP Square, Bhubaneswar-751015 2 Ph. : 8093083555, 8984111101 Web : www.vanikias.com, E-mail : [email protected] CURRENT AFFAIRS – FEBRUARY–2019 El Nino refers to the unusual Other examples of biopolymers include warming of the central and east- rubber, suberin, melanin central equatorial Pacific Ocean and lignin. which leads to air pressure drops Topic- GS Paper 3 –Science and over large areas of the central Pacific Technology and along the coast of South Source-The Hindu America. Cow urine may be a reason for global warming: Study The warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean In a study Cow urine — a minor fount of cause the winds in various regions to research in India for its medicinal benefits reverse — may also contribute to global warming. This change in wind direction leads to The urine from the ruminant is a source warmer winters and summers and a of nitrous oxide emissions (N2O), a gas decrease in rainfall during the monsoon. that is 300 times more powerful than Effects of El Nino’s carbon dioxide. El Nino affects global weather. The cattle and livestock are a significant El Nino reduces upwelling of cold water, source of methane, a greenhouse gas, decreasing the uplift of nutrients from and therefore a contributor to global the bottom of the ocean which affects warming is well- marine life, seabirds and the fishing known. industry. Related Information Drought caused by El Nino can be India had estimates for dung and urine widespread, affecting southern Africa, production per cow or buffalo or other India, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the livestock animals as well as their overall Pacific Islands. estimates for their populations as per A recent WHO report on the health 2012 livestock census. consequences of El Nino forecasts a rise But the exact contribution of cow urine to in vector-borne diseases, including those the total nitrous oxide emission from spread by mosquitoes, in Central and India is not estimated precisely. South America. Topic- GS Paper 3 –Science and Cycles of malaria in India are also linked Technology to El Nino. Source- The Hindu Topic- GS Paper 3 –Environment African Asian Rural Development Source- Down to Earth Organisation Biopolymer research to focus on new An international workshop on fisheries products and aquaculture has called for regional Rajasthan is promoting research in the cooperation among member countries of biopolymer sector with an emphasis on the African Asian Rural Development the fabrication of new products and Organisation (AARDO) generation of more employment to develop joint fisheries management opportunities. plans. The research on Biopolymer is carried out Related Information by the Centre for Skilling and Technical AARDO Support and the National Institute of AARDO is an autonomous inter- Fashion. governmental organization comprising 33 The initiative will also be helped the members from Africa and Asia formed in handicraft industry. 1962. Biopolymer Its headquarters is in New Delhi. Biopolymers are polymers that are produced by living organisms. The Organization was set up with a view They are generally polymers of starch. to promoting coordinated efforts, These are composed of monomeric units. exchange of experiences and cooperative Cellulose is the most common organic action for furthering the objectives of compound and biopolymer on Earth. development of the rural areas. India is one of the Founder Members of the Organization and is the largest contributor in terms of membership contribution. Plot-1441, Opp. IOCL Petrol Pump, CRP Square, Bhubaneswar-751015 3 Ph. : 8093083555, 8984111101 Web : www.vanikias.com, E-mail : [email protected] CURRENT AFFAIRS – FEBRUARY–2019 The first Afro-Asian Conference on The United Nations Security Council Rural Reconstruction held its historic has adopted a resolution 2454 to Session in New Delhi during 18-25 extend sanctions against the Central January 1961. African Republic (CAR) for another Topic- GS Paper 2 –Important year. Organisation Features of Resolution 2454 Source- The Hindu It has adopted unanimously by the 15-member council, decides to renew 04.02.2019 the sanctions regime – an arms embargo, travels ban and asset Inkjet’ solar panels set to freeze till January 31, 2020. reshape green energy It also decides to extend the A PhD scholar has developed a novel mandate of the panel of experts, inkjet processing method which helps the Security Council with for perovskites — a new the implementation of the sanctions, generation of cheaper solar cells. until Feb 29, 2020.