Assam Current Affairs – August 08-14, 2020

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Assam Current Affairs & GK – August 08-14, 2020

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the week of August 08-14, 2020)

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August 08, 2020

IIT Guwahati, Imperial College London develop nano-particle to boost LED performance

  • Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) and Imperial College London in the UK, have developed a tailored ‘meta-grid’ of nanoparticles that could make light-emitting diodes (LEDs) brighter, energy-efficient and durable.
  • Meta-grid or metamaterial grid is a specifically patterned array of nanoparticles acting as metamaterials, capable of exhibiting extraordinary optical properties.
  • The research team has developed a nanoparticle ‘meta-grid’, which needs to be placed at an appropriate location within the epoxy casing of the LEDs, for improving light output from LEDs.
  • A meta-grid is a specially-designed, optimised, a two-dimensional array of specific nanoparticles, of size much smaller than the wavelength of light.
  • With the continuous advancement in nanofabrication technology, it is now possible to fabricate metallic nanoparticles that have a very narrow spread.
  • The research team has developed this novel scheme of boosting the transmission of light generated inside an LED chip across the LED-chip/encapsulant interface.
  • The technique has revealed optimal design parameters for such meta-grids to produce greater light output over any narrow/broadband emission spectrum, besides boosting LEDs’ lifetime by eliminating heating of the chip from unwanted reflections within the chip.

BEL setup Solar-Powered Classrooms in 122 Karnataka Schools

  • Govt of India enterprise Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) has set up solar-powered smart classrooms in 122 government schools across the backward Yadgir district in Karnataka state.
  • About 13,000 children studying in 122 government schools of Yadgir district will benefit from smart classrooms, powered by solar power and equipped with hi-tech facilities.
  • With a total cost of Rs 3.8 crore, the smart classrooms offer visually attractive content to help students assimilate the information effectively. It also enables teachers to explain difficult concepts, thereby improve teaching and enhancing academic performance.
  • The smart-class facilities include a 50-inch LED television, CPU with accessories, green board and LED lights charged with solar batteries
  • The company is also installing hand-wash facilities costing Rs 1.02 crore in 100 state-run primary schools across the district to protect children and staff from coronavirus and maintain hygiene.

Manoj Sinha takes oath as new Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir

  • Former Union minister Manoj Sinha was administered the oath of the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Justice Gita Mittal in Raj Bhavan.
  • Manoj Sinha  succeeds Girish Chandra Murmu who has now been appointed as the new Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG).
  • Sinha was former Minister of State for Railways and later and later held an independent charge of Ministry of Communication. He has been a member of the BJP national council from 1989 to 1996. He was elected to the Lok Sabha a third term in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

Banaras Hindu University -NHAI tie-up to improve road quality

  • A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between Indian Institute of Technology in Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for improving the quality of roads in India.
  • This research work will be carried out under Nikhil Saboo, Assistant Professor /Civil Engineering department, as the principle investigator.
  • This project is aimed at construction of durable and long-lasting roads in India. It will also help in reducing the lifecycle cost by delaying the need for frequent maintenance.
  • The outcome of this project will be implemented through construction of test sections in collaboration with NHAI. This will also help to gain more confidence in adopting the developed technology for construction of durable roads in the country.

Delhi CM launches Electric Vehicle Policy

  • Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a Electric Vehicle Policy, in a bid to reduce air pollution and boost the economy along with creating new jobs in the national capital.
  • Under the Electric Vehicle Policy, Delhi Government will provide financial assistance to those buying electric vehicles. An assistance of Rs 30,000 will be given on the purchase of 2-wheelers, Rs 1.5 lakh on cars and Rs 30,000 on auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws.
  • A dedicated ‘EV Cell’ will be set up to implement the policy and additionally the government will soon form the ‘State Electric Vehicle Board’ in this regard.
  • 200 charging stations will be set up in one year for the ease of e-vehicle users. There will be no registration fee, road tax under electric vehicle policy as well as low-interest loans for electric commercial vehicles.

GK Quiz for Aug 7-9, 2020 – see video

August 09, 2020

Tripura’s 29% school students have no access to phone, cable TV for online classes

  • Around Twenty nine per cent of school students in Tripura don’t have access to any sort of smart phone, cable TV network or such connectivity to attend online classes.
  • The state government started experimental schooling like online classes, recorded videos etc streamed via local cable television channels, social media under ‘Ektu Khelo Ektu Padho’ project but the students of interior places of the state faced problems due to non-availability of internet devices and cable TVs.
  • State Govt organised the survey, conducted among 3,22,297 students from all eight districts of Tripura during Ektu Khelo Ektu Padho classes, revealed 94,013 students didn’t have access to any sort of phone.
  • Out of 3.2 lakh students, 1, 42,238 didn’t have access to any kind of television, rendering them unable to take the televised recorded lectures or live classes conducted by the state education department.

Girish Chandra Murmu Murmu appointed as CAG of India

  • Former Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor and retired IAS officer Girish Chandra Murmu was sworn in as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. He will have a tenure up to November 20, 2024.
  • He is the 14th CAG of India and had server as the first Lt. Governor of UT of Jammu Kashmir.

FACTFILE – Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)

  • The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is constitutional position established by Article 148 of the Constitution of India, which audits all receipts and expenditure of the Govt of India and the state govts, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government.
  • Various provisions of the CAG are mentioned in the Constitution of India under Article 148 – 151.
  • CAG is also the external auditor of Government-owned corporations and conducts supplementary audit of non-banking company in which Union Government has at least 51 per cent of equity share.
  • The reports of the CAG are laid in Parliament/ State Legislatures and taken into consideration by the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and Committees on Public Undertakings (COPUs) in the Parliament and the state legislatures.
  • CAG is also the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department and Indian Audit and Accounts Service.
  • The CAG is ranked 9th and enjoys the same status as a judge of Supreme Court of India in Indian order of precedence.

PM Modi inaugurates Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra in Delhi

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Rashtriya Swacchata Kendra in New Delhi.
  • RashtriyaSwachhata Kendra, an interactive experience centre on the Swachh Bharat Mission was first announced by the Prime Minister on 10th April 2017, on the occasion of the Centenary Celebrations of Gandhiji’sChamparan Satyagraha.
  • In the Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra, visitors will experience a unique 360 degree audio visual immersive show, which will narrate India’s Swachhata Story – a journey into the largest behaviour change campaign in the history of the world.
  • It contains a series of interactive LED panels, hologram boxes, interactive games and much more, to tell the story of the work done to achieve Gandhiji’s vision of a Swachh Bharat.
  • It will showcase three exhibits which are anecdotes from the journey of India from Satyagraha to Swachhagraha. The wall murals around the Kendra also chronicle the core elements of the Mission’s success.

Proposals of stressed Financial Companies worth Rs 6,400 crore sanctioned under special liquidity scheme

  • Union Finance Ministry informed that 15 proposals worth Rs 6,399 crore of stressed NBFCs and HFCs have been sanctioned under the special liquidity scheme announced as part of approximately Rs 21 lakh crore ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ package. Additionally 37 more applications seeking financing of up to Rs 11,037 crore are under process.
  • The scheme permits both primary and secondary market purchases of debt and seeks to address the short term liquidity issues of non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and housing finance companies (HFCs).
  • Any NBFC including microfinance institutions registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the RBI Act, 1934 (excluding those registered as Core Investment Companies) and any HFC registered with the National Housing Bank under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987 are eligible to raise funding from this facility.

Boat ambulance service to be launched in Maharashtra

  • The Maharashtra government has approved for launching a “boat ambulance-cum-mobile medical unit” service between Mumbai and Raigad, on an experimental basis.
  • The boat ambulance will be a speedboat which can accommodate an ambulance to shift patients from Raigad or Ratnagiri requiring urgent medicare at hospitals in Mumbai.
  • This will help slash the crucial two-three hours or the ‘golden hours’ which the patients from these areas spend travelling by road to Mumbai.
  • Procurement of the requisite vessel, equipment, medical supplies, staff, etc and the operational expenses for the project are to done under the supervision of the National Health Mission.

Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new PM

  • Leader of Sri Lanka PodujanaPeramuna party Mahinda Rajapaksa took oath as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister. Rajapaksa was sworn in as the prime minister of the country for the fourth time.

BIOGRAPHY – Mahendra Rajapaksa

  • Percy Mahendra Rajapaksa is a Sri Lankan politician serving as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and Minister of Finance since 2019.
  • He previously served as President of Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2015 and was Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2004 and 2018 to 2019.

FACTFILE – Sri Lanka

  • Sri Lanka (Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka) is an island country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea.
  • Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is its legislative capital, and Colombo is its largest city and centre of commerce.
  • It is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. Its geographic location and deep harbours made it of great strategic importance from the time of the ancient Silk Road through to the modern Maritime Silk Road.

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August 10, 2020

Eminent Vaishnavite scholar and xatradhikar Narayan Chandra Goswami passes away

  • Eminent Vaishnavite scholar and the xatradhikar of Majuli’s Natun Kamalabari Xatra, Narayan Chandra Goswami passed away at the age of 80, due to liver cirrhosis disease.
  • Goswami was known for his work on the Brajawali language and neo-Vaishnavite traditions and Sattriya culture.
  • He translated Ramayana from Sanskrit into Assamese.
  • Goswami also edited the Kirtan Ghosa and Naam Ghosa written by Sanakarvdeva and Madhabdeva respectively.
  • He was conferred with the honorary Doctor of Literature (D Lit) degree by Dibrugarh University in 2010. He has been appointed visiting professor of Dibrugarh University by the University authority.
  • Narayan Chandra Goswami has been adorned the ‘Srimanta Sankardev Award’ by the Government of Assam in 2004.
  • ‘Sattra Ratna’ title was awarded to the Sattradhikar by the Assam Sattra Mohasobha in 2005.
  • He recieved the Sahitya Academy Award in 2012.

PM Modi launches Agriculture Infrastructure Fund  of Rs 1 lakh crore

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a financing facility of Rs 1 lakh crore under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund for agri-entrepreneurs, startups, agri-tech players and farmer groups for post-harvest management and nurturing farm assets.
  • The beneficiaries of the scheme will include farmers, PACS, Marketing Cooperative Societies, FPOs, SHGs, Joint Liability Groups, Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, agri-entrepreneurs, startups, and central/state agency or local body sponsored public-private Partnership Projects.
  • PM Modi also released the sixth installment of Rs 17,100 crore to more than 8.55 crore farmer beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM KISAN) scheme.
  • The fund would bring about the creation of post-harvest management infrastructures and community farming assets such as cold storage, collection centres and processing units.

India bans import of 101 defence items for self-reliance

  • The government of India will suspend the import of 101 defence items to boost indigenous production. The “embargoed items” include high technology weapon systems like artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, and transport aircraft.
  • The embargo on imports is planned to be progressively implemented between 2020 to 2024. Between April 2015 and August 2020, India’s defence services had contracted around Rs 3.5 trillion worth of items that are now on the hold list. Around Rs 4 trillion worth of orders will now be placed with the domestic industry over the next five to seven years.

Separate emission norms for agri, construction machinery proposed

  • The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to separate the emission norms for agricultural machinery, including tractors, power tillers and combined harvesters along with those for construction equipment vehicles.
  • It has also proposed to change the nomenclature of emission norms from Bharat Stage (CEV/TREM)-IV and Bharat Stage (CEV/TREM)-V to TREM Stage-IV and TREM Stage-V for agricultural tractors and other equipments and CEV Stage-IV and CEV Stage-V for construction equipment vehicles, to avoid any confusion, between the emission norms of other motor vehicles which have BS as the norm.
  • Suggestions and comments from public and all the stakeholders are invited on the draft notification within 30 days.

August 11, 2020

Assam Cabinet nod for Private Educational Institutions

  • Assam state cabinet also approved the Assam Non-Government Education Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Rules, 2020 that seeks to regulate the fee structure in private institutions. The Rules envisages formation of two committees – one fee regulatory committee and an appellate authority.
  • The cabinet also decided to upgrade the Bajali subdivision to a full-fledged district with creation of 10 officer posts and 85 other posts.
  • The Assam Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Scheme, 2020, which seeks to regularise the street vendors and organise them, was also approved.
  • The State Cattle and Buffalo Breeding Policy, 2020 was also approved by the cabinet and a decision was also taken for implementation of ‘Uberization’ scheme of the ASTC.

Gujarat CM announces ‘Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana’ to compensate farmers for crop damage

  • Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani announced ‘Mukhya Mantri Kisan Sahay Yojana’ scheme under which more than 56 lakh farmers in the state facing crop damage due to natural calamities will get compensation without paying any premium.
  • The state government has decided to implement a scheme where the entire state is covered and none of the farmers are devoid of its benefits like crop loss aid in situations of calamities during kharif season.
  • The scheme covers drought and excess or unseasonal rain. In cases of drought, those tehsils having rainfall less than 10 inches or where there is a gap of more than four weeks between two rainy days, will be considered as calamity affected.
  • The irregularity of rains is the biggest factor in economic loss to the farmers. The benefits of this scheme will be available only to those farmers who have carried out sowing in their fields.
  • For those farmers with 33 per cent to 60 per cent crop damage, financial help of Rs 20,000 per hectare will be given for a maximum of 4 hectares while those farmers who have incurred more than 60 per cent crop loss will get compensation of Rs 25,000 per hectare up to a maximum of four hectares.

Finance Minister launches online dashboard for National Infrastructure Pipeline

  • Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the National Infrastructure Pipeline’s online dashboard through video conferencing. The dashboard is envisaged as a one-stop solution for all the stakeholders looking for information on infrastructure projects.
  • The dashboard is being hosted on the India Investment Grid (IIG) site indiainvestmentgrid.gov.in. IIG is an interactive and dynamic online platform that showcases updated and real-time investment opportunities in the country.
  • The NIP will improve project preparation, attract investments, both domestic and foreign, into infrastructure.
  • Out of the total expected capital expenditure of Rs 111 lakh crore, projects worth Rs 44 lakh crore are under implementation, while projects worth Rs 33 lakh crore are at a conceptual stage. Projects worth Rs 22 lakh crore are under development project identified and DPR prepared, but yet to draw-down funds and the balance projects worth Rs 11 lakh crore are unclassified.

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August 12, 2020

Central Govt releases Rs 6000 crore to assist 14 states including Northeast

  • The Central Govt has released the 5th instalment of states share of revenue deficit grant amounting to over Rs 6,000 crore in an attempt to assist states effectively address the situation arising out of Covid-19.
  • The grant had been released for 14 states – Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and all northeastern states excluding Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The government released Rs 6,195.08 crore to 14 states as the 5th equated monthly instalment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant as per the recommendation of the 15th Finance Commission (FC).
  • The money has been released ahead of schedule and as a special dispensation to meet immediate funding needs of the state governments looking to restore economic activity and minimise losses to its citizens due to disruptions caused by lockdowns.

IIT Kharagpur develops novel vegetable oil to keep heart healthy

  • Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur have developed a vegetable oil powder to keep the heart healthy.
  • The innovation involved tailoring vegetable oils through preparation of oil blends inherently endowed with natural antioxidants as well as well-balanced fatty acids.
  • The team was led by Professor Hari Niwas Mishra from the Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering. The novelty is in its formulation of a nutritionally balanced polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) enriched with antioxidants and producing a synergistic vegetable oil blend.
  • The PUFA-rich oil powder will find extensive use in replacing dairy fat in bakeries and confectionaries, believe researchers Monalisha Pattnaik and Dr. Mousumi Ghosh from the Food Chemistry and Technology Laboratory.
  • The research team has already received several awards for this product including the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation (GYTI) Award, 2020. This work has been recognized for the Young Student Invention and best thesis work at IIT-Kharagpur.

Defence procurement proposals of Rs 8,722.38 crore approved

  • The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved procurement proposals totalling Rs 8,722.38 crore, including for 106 Basic Trainer Aircraft worth over Rs 7,600 crore.
  • The DAC approved the procurement of 106 such aircraft from HAL to address the basic training requirements of the Indian Air Force. Post-certification, 70 aircraft will be initially procured from HAL and another 36 after operationalisation of the HTT-40 fleet in the IAF.
  • To improve the fire power of the Indian Navy, the DAC approved the procurement of an upgraded version of the Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM), which is fitted as the main gun onboard Navy and Indian Coast Guard ships, from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.
  • The upgraded version of the SRGM has the enhanced capability to perform against fast manoeuvring targets like missiles and Fast Attack Craft and increased maximum engagement range.
  • The DAC approved procurement of 125 mm APFSDS (Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot) ammunition for the Army as a ‘Design and Development Case’.

Himachal Pradesh to compensate flower growers

  • The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet decided to compensate flower growers for losses incurred during the lockdown. The government has also decided to recruit 2,322 people in the Irrigation and Public Health department.
  • The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown thereafter have resulted in cumulative losses of Rs 15.77 crore to the floriculturists from March to May 2020 due to non-transportation of flowers.
  • The state cabinet approved the guidelines for providing financial assistance or relief amounting to Rs 4 crore.
  • In order to ensure smooth operationalization of National Ambulance Services 108, it has decided to make payments over and above the provisions of concession agreements as a special interim measure and stopgap arrangement to employees of GVK-EMRI by enhancing the take home salary of its employees.
  • The Cabinet approved the amendment of the Himachal Pradesh War Awards Act, 1972 for enhancing the grant of War Jagirs from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 annually for all those eligible.

Russia announces world’s first Covid-19 vaccine ‘Sputnik V’

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a coronavirus vaccine, touted as the world’s first such vaccine. The registration of the vaccine lays ground for mass inoculation even as the final stages of clinical trials to test safety and efficacy continue.
  • Russia dubbed its newly launched vaccine against coronavirus “Sputnik V” after the Soviet satellite.
  • The vaccine underwent the necessary tests. However, the vaccine’s registration is conditional and trials will continue while production gets underway.
  • WHO and Russian health authorities are discussing the process for possible WHO pre-qualification for its newly approved COVID-19 vaccine.
  • The coronavirus vaccine is developed jointly by Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry.

FACTFILE – Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology

  • The Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology is a Russian medical research institute which is headquartered in Moscow and is currently under the purview of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
  • The institute was founded in 1891 by Felix Blyumental and was named after the prominent Russian scientist Nikolay Gamaleya, a pioneer in microbiology and vaccine research in Russia.
  • The institute is developing a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 in collaboration with the 48th Central Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense and the Vector Institute of the Rospotrebnadzor.

Israel shares AI based medical equipment, technology with AIIMS to tackle COVID19

  • The embassy of Israel and private Israeli companies gave medical equipments and Artificial Intelligence based technologies to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to fight COVID-19.
  • The technologies include contactless monitoring applications, advanced medical management systems, and AI-based solutions such as AI assistant robots that can help medical teams perform various tasks remotely.
  • Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated a mission, and located the most advanced medical equipment that has been developed in Israel using cutting edge technologies to fight Covid-19. The most useful products were collected, some equipment was contributed, and some purchased with special funds allocated by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabi Ashkenazi.

Google develops Android phone-based earthquake detection tool

  • Google announced an Android-based earthquake detection feature that will alert smartphone users when the earth is about to shake.
  • The Android phone will become a mini seismometer, joining millions of other Android phones out there to form the world’s largest earthquake detection network.
  • All smartphones come with tiny accelerometers that can sense signals that indicate an earthquake might be happening.
  • If the phone detects something that it thinks may be an earthquake, it sends a signal to their earthquake detection server, along with location of where the shaking occurred. The server then combines information from many phones to figure out if an earthquake is happening.
  • The company has collaborated with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to send earthquake alerts, powered by ‘ShakeAlert’, directly to Android devices in California.
  • The ‘ShakeAlert’ system uses signals from more than 700 seismometers installed across the state by USGS, Cal OES, University of California Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology.

Govt launched National Portal “SURAKHSYA” on Human Elephant conflict

  • India is committed to the cause of saving Elephants and other animals and is working towards robust, practical and cost effective solutions to end the Human Animal Conflict.
  • To manage conflicts and avoid loss of valuable lives of both the humans & elephants, it is important to strengthen the human-elephant coexistence, the Enviornment Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar released a booklet on “Best practices of Human-Elephant Conflict Management in India” on eve of World Elephant Day.
  • The booklet is a pictorial guide of a variety of management inventions successfully adopted by the elephant range states and serves as a reference manual for adoption of the best possible site specific mitigation measures that can be adopted to reduce human – elephant conflict.
  • The National Portal on human elephant conflict called “Surakhsya” for collection of real time information & also for managing the conflicts on a real time basis will help to set the data collection protocols, data transmission pipelines and data visualization tools to enable policy-makers to leverage HEC data for policy formulation and for preparation of Action Plans for mitigation of conflicts. 

FACTFILE – World Elephant Day

  • World Elephant Day is celebrated on August 12 is an international annual event, dedicated to the preservation and protection of the world’s elephants. 
  • The goal of World Elephant Day is to create awareness on elephant conservation, and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better protection and management of wild and captive elephants.

Walter Martos sworn in as new Prime Minister of Peru

  • Walter Roger Martos Ruiz was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Peru to replace Pedro Cateriano.
  • The new President of the Council of Ministers had served as Defense Ministerand is a retired Army General.
  • Martos has a Master’s degree in Management and Development with special mention in Business Management and Administration and a PhD in Management and Development from the Army’s Scientific and Technological Institute.
  • He also served as the Army Chief of Staff and the Armed Forces Chief of Staff.

FACTFILE – Peru

  • Peru (Republic of Peru) is a country in western South America.
  • It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean.
  • Peru is the 19th largest country in the world, and the third largest in South America.
  • Lima is the capital and largest city

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August 13, 2020

Assam Govt to launch “Orunodoi” scheme for women’s financial empowerment

  • The Assam government would provide Rs 830 per month each to 17 lakh poor families under the ambitious “Orunodoi” scheme.
  • Under the new scheme, district-wise selection of beneficiaries would begin from August 17, 2020 and the beneficiaries would start receiving the amount in the bank account of a female family member on the first day of every month, starting from October 2020.
  • The scheme mains to empower women while contributing to economic development. While selecting the beneficiaries, there would be economic criteria and those who have certain movable and immovable assets including land, big houses, vehicles, electronic gadgets, and most government and semi-government employees, would be excluded.
  • A sum of Rs 280 crore has been earmarked for the new scheme which would mean an additional annual income of Rs 10,000 to the poor households to meet their various needs.
  • The beneficiary should be a permanent resident of Assam and their composite household income should be less than Rs two lakh per annum.
  • Priority would be given to households with widows, divorced, unmarried or separated women, and disabled persons.

Ganga Prasad Prasin appointed as vice chancellor of Tripura University

  • Ganga Prasad Prasin is the new vice chancellor of the Tripura University. He is currently working as the Dean in the Department of School of Social Sciences at Manipur Central University. Before that he was a professor of Benares Hindu University.
  • Previous VC, Professor Dharurkar, who joined in the University in 2018, has resigned from his post as corruption charges were raised against him.

FACTFILE – Tripura University

  • Higher education in Tripura has its beginning with Maharaja Bir Bikram College (MBB), the first degree college in the state, established in 1947, and affiliate to Calcutta University (CU).
  • This was followed by Ramkrishna Mahabhidyalay in 1950, Belonia College in 1964 and Ramthakur College in 1967.
  • A post-graduate wing of CU, named Calcutta University Post graduate Centre (CUPGC), established in 1985. And in the same place, Tripura University was established through the Tripura University Act, in 1987.

Ordnance Factory makes bullet-resistant jackets for TN Police

  • The first batch of bullet-resistant jackets made by the Ordnance Clothing Factory, Avadi, was handed over to the Tamil Nadu Police. The bullet-resistant jackets were completely designed and fabricated by Ordnance Clothing Factory Avadi.
  • The unit has the capacity to design and produce different variants of bullet resistant jackets. The jackets supplied to Tamil Nadu Police has special features like high density water repellence, flame retardance and provide protection from bullets fired from hand guns, pistols, AK-47 rifles and others.

Punjab CM launches ‘Smart Connect Scheme’, gives smartphones to students

  • The Punjab government launch Rs 92 crore ‘Punjab Smart Connect Scheme’ accross the state. Simultaneous distribution of phones was done at 26 places by various Ministers, legislators and others.
  • The scheme, for which Rs 100 crore was allocated in the state budget for 2017-18, will benefit 174,015 Class XII students of government schools in the first phase, to be completed by November.
  • This initiative will bridge a major divide that was obstructing these students from affordable access to digital education.

Andhra Pradesh launches Rs 17,000 crore ‘YSR Cheyuta’ scheme to promote women entrepreneurs

  • Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy rolled out Rs 17,000 crore scheme ‘YSR Cheyuta’ for promoting entrepreneurship among women in the state.
  • The scheme aims to give freedom to eligible women to use the amount deposited in their unencumbered accounts for any purpose of their choice.
  • The govt would provide marketing and technical assistance to women and the banks would provide loans.
  • About 23 lakh women in the age group between 45-60 years, from the SC/ST, backward classes and minority communities would get an incentive of Rs 18,750 per annum aggregating to Rs 75,000 in four years.
  • Andhra government had recently signed MoUs with industries like Proctor and Gamble, Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL), Hindustan Unilevel Limited (HUL) and India Tobacco Limited (ITC) to strengthen the rural economy where the scheme beneficiaries could be stakeholders.

NITI Aayog, Dell Technologies launch 2nd student entrepreneurship programme

  • Dell Technologies in association with NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) announced the second Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP 2.0) that would mentor eight teams to foray into the world of innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • The virtual SEP 2.0 will help students receive support and guidance to manufacture fully-functional, market-ready products along with patenting their ideas/processes.
  • The first edition of the Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP 1.0) helped top 6 innovations of the Atal Tinkering Marathon transform their innovative prototypes into functioning, scaled go-to-market products across six crucial themes having broader social impact.
  • The SEP 2.0 will allow student innovators to work closely with Dell volunteers and avail mentorship to create a test bed for their innovation and collect customer feedback.

FACTFILE – Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs)

  • AIM is establishing ATLs in schools across India with a vision to cultivate one million children in India as neoteric innovators.
  • It is aimed at disrupting the Indian education system, creating a paradigm shift where children as young as 12 years of age are being introduced to the world of technology innovation.
  • It’s objectives are to foster curiosity, creativity and imagination in young minds; and inculcate skills such as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive learning, physical computing etc.
  • AIM provides grant-in-aid of Rs. 20 Lakh to each school that includes a one-time establishment cost of Rs. 10 lakh and operational expenses of Rs. 10 lakh for a maximum period of 5 years to each ATL.
  • ATL is a work space where young minds can give shape to their ideas through hands on do-it-yourself mode; and learn innovation skills.

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August 14, 2020 

Rajiv Gandhi University in Arunachal ranked India’s 2nd best central university

  • Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), the only central university of Arunachal Pradesh, has secured the second spot among all other central universities in India, according to the rankings released by the Union Ministry of Education.
  • RGU secured the second position with 83% in the grading of performance of central universities by the Ministry of Education while Jamia Millia Islamia topped the rankings with a score of 90 percent.
  • RGU is closely followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University and Aligarh Muslim University with 82 and 78 percent respectively.
  • The scoring/grading was based on an evaluation of 17 key parameters fixed under a tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding which the RGU, like other central universities had signed in 2019-20 with the Ministry of Education.
  • The objective of the MoU was to access and facilitate the performance of the Central University on selected key parameters against the targets so as to incrementally improve the performance of the University.

FACTFILE – Rajiv Gandhi University

  • Rajiv Gandhi University, formerly known as Arunachal University, is the oldest university in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The foundation stone for the university was laid in 1984 by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The university was renamed as Rajiv Gandhi University in 2005.
  • In May 2020, this year after the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports selected it to establish a centre of sports science education and research under MYAS scheme of National Centre of Sports Sciences and Research (NCSSR). The sports science education and research center, once established would be the first of its kind in the northeast and 6th in the entire country.

Indian Navy sets up New Innovation and Indigenisation Unit

  • Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO). This organisation will put in place dedicated structures for the end-users to interact with the academia and the industry to foster innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence, in keeping with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
  • The NIIO is a three-tiered organisation. The Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC) will bring together the twin aspects of innovation and indigenisation and provide apex level directives.
  • A working group under the N-TAC will implement the projects. A Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC) has also been created for the induction of emerging disruptive technology in an accelerated time frame.
  • The Indian Navy already has a functional Directorate of Indigenisation and the new structures will build upon the ongoing indigenisation initiatives, as well as focus on innovation.

PM unveils ‘Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest’ faceless income tax scrutiny, taxpayer charter

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a faceless tax scrutiny programme to honour honest income tax payers in the country.
  • Launching the platform ‘Transparent Taxation – Honoring the Honest’, PM Modi said the department will start faceless appeals from September 25, 2020.

NITI Aayog selects Oracle Cloud to transform Aspirational Districts

  • Niti Aayog has selected Oracle to help it modernise vital IT infrastructure in 112 most backward districts as part of its Aspirational Districts Programme.
  • These 112 districts constitute 28 per cent of population and the new cloud solution aims to aid district magistrates to improve overall performance and transform the quality of life of citizens.
  • Oracle Autonomous Database, the world’s first and only true autonomous database, is at the heart of data management in this programme. Being self-driving, self-securing and self-repairing it requires a minimal IT team and resources to support it.
  • The Oracle Cloud solution incorporates
    • Oracle Content Experience to ensure data and reports are easily accessible.
    • Detailed reporting for the District Magistrates to track their district’s progress real-time, via insights generated with Oracle Analytics Cloud service.
    • Key Performance Indicator tracking by citizens to check how their districts are faring, made available by the use of Oracle Application Express (APEX), a low-code development platform that’s at the heart of this reporting process.
    • Oracle Cloud is also able to integrate and track projects undertaken by District Magistrates to improve their rating.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launches Swachh Bharat Mission Academy

  • Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission Academy’, an IVR-based training course with modules on Open Defecation Free (ODF) Plus programme.
  • The ODF Plus is an extension of the ODF programme under the Swachch Bharat Mission. Its objective is to sustain the ODF programme and to take up Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM).
  • The SBM Academy was launched as part of the ongoing week-long behaviour change campaign ‘Gandagi Mukt Bharat’. The SBM Academy course has four chapters, each with four audio lessons and a multiple-choice quiz at the end of the chapter.

Reliance Foundation launches W-GDP Women Connect Challenge

  • Reliance Foundation has forged a new partnership with US Agency for International Development and Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) to bridge the gender digital divide in India.
  • The partnership was announced at a W-GDP event hosted by Deputy Secretary of State of the United States Stephen Biegun and with special guest, Ivanka Trump, Advisor to the President of the United States, and Deputy USAID Administrator Bonnie Glick.
  • The W-GDP Fund was created to source and scale the most innovative programmes to advance women’s economic empowerment. The W-GDP Women’s Connect Challenge supports private sector-led approaches that close the gender digital divide, expands business opportunities, and empowers women.
  • W-GDP will partner with the Reliance Foundation to create an India-specific expression of the WCC and incorporate the lessons of previous W-GDP WCC Rounds.
  • W-GDP seeks to reach 50 million women in the developing world by 2025 by focusing on three pillars women prospering in the workforce, women succeeding as entrepreneurs, and women enabled in the economy.

 

Test Series for Junior Admin Asst (Assam Secretariat) 2020

 

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