Current Affairs 07th July 2020| Current Affairs News

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

World Chocolate Day

• World Chocolate Day (also known as International Chocolate Day) is an annual observance taking place globally on 7th July.
• The day is said to be chosen to celebrate the introduction of chocolate to Europe in 1550.
• It is marked by eating chocolates and sharing with dear ones.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Indian Railways to transform itself as ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030

• Indian Railways is taking decisive steps to transform itself as a ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emission Mass Transportation Network by 2030. It is endeavouring to be self reliant for its energy needs by utilising its vacant land for renewable energy projects.
• Railways is committed to utilize solar energy for meeting its traction power requirements and become a complete ‘Green mode of transformation. The Railways Ministry has decided to install solar power plants on its vacant unused lands on mega scale. The use of solar power will accelerate Rail Minister Piyush Goyal’s mission to achieve conversion of Indian Railways to ‘Net Zero’ Carbon Emission Railway.
• The present demand of Railways would be fulfilled by the solar projects being deployed, making it the first transport organization to be energy self-sufficient. This would help in making Railways green as well as Atma Nirbhar.
• Railways has started energy procurement from various solar projects like 3 MWp solar plant set up at MCF, Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh. Besides, one project of 1.7 MWp at Bina in Madhya Pradesh which shall be connected directly to the Overhead Traction System has already been installed and is presently under extensive testing.
• It is likely to be commissioned within 15 days. Railway Energy Management Company Ltd. is working to proliferate the use of solar energy on mega scale. It has already floated tenders for 2 GW of solar projects for Indian Railways to be installed on unutilized railway lands.

About Indian Railways:

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Piyush Goyal: Minister of Railways
• Suresh Angadi :Minister of State for Railways

Kolkata Port Starts new Shipping service from Kolkata to Bangladesh’s Chattogram port

• A new shipping service to augment Indo-Bangla trade was inaugurated between SMP (Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port) Kolkata and Chattogram Port at Kolkata Dock
• new regular service connection between Kolkata Dock system and Chattogram has been started from Kolkata Dock System (KDS) of SMP Kolkata by Zim Integrated Services in Association with Bengal Tiger Lines.
• The maiden voyage the vessel ‘M.V Asiatic Moon” (Singapore Flag) is expected to carry around 300 containers of Indian exports to Bangladesh. Primary goods that are exported include ferro metal alloys and garments.
• So far, this is the biggest vessel by size to ply between Kolkata and Chattogram. Earlier, only small barges with a capacity of 80-100 containers were operational on this route.
• Vinit Kumar, Chairman, SMP, Kolkata stated, Another similar service is scheduled to start from Kolkata Dock to Chattogram. The vessel MV Xpress Godavari operated by Xpress Feeders shall commence the voyage to Chattogram Port in the second week of July.
• With Global shipping players venturing into direct Bangladesh calls from Kolkata Port, it is expected that this tradeline shall be strengthened and Kolkata Port is poised to be the hub for Bangladesh Trade, he added.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

Indian Coast Guard & Indonesia Coast Guard sign MoU to boost maritime relations

• In a significant step towards bolstering the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Indonesia, a MoU has been signed between the Indian Coast Guard and Indonesia Coast Guard.
• This will enhance collaborative and cooperative engagements in the domains of maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue and marine pollution response.
• This is likely to entail exchange of information towards combating transnational maritime crimes, facilitation of coordinated search and rescue operations at sea and conduct of capacity and capability building activities.

About Indonesia:

• Capital: Jakarta
• Currency: Indonesian rupiah

Current Affairs 05th & 06th July 2020| Current Affairs News

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

International Day of Cooperatives

• The United Nations International Day of Cooperatives is observed every year on the first Saturday of July. This year the International Day of Cooperatives will be celebrated on July 4, 2020 .
• The main aim of this celebration was to increase awareness of cooperatives and highlight the contributions of the cooperative movement to resolving the major problems addressed by the United Nations.
• This year the theme is Cooperatives For Climate Action.

World Zoonoses Day

• World Zoonoses Day is held every year on July 6. The day commemorates July 6, 1885, when Louis Pasteur successfully administered the first vaccine against Rabies virus, a zoonotic disease.
• Zoonoses are disease which can be transmitted from aniamls to humans. In fact, 2 out of every 3 infectious disease in people originated within animals.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Centre Approves Rs 574 Crore Annual Plan For National Highway In Jammu And Kashmir

• The central government has approved an annual plan worth Rs 574.16 crore for national highway works in Jammu and Kashmir for 2020-21.
• The major works incorporated in the approved annual plan included construction of 3.23 km three fly-overs in Srinagar on NH-44 (Jammu-Srinagar highway) at Bemina, Sanatnagar and Nowgam with Rs 220.68 crore.
• The other works incorporated in the approved annual plan included expressway, four laning, construction of 6 km 3rd bypass on NH-444 Shopian bypass with Rs 120 crore, and construction of 13.60 km bypasses in Pulwama and Kulgam with Rs 62.98 crore.

About MoRTH

• Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Minister of Shippingand MSME: Nitin Gadkari
• Constituency: Nagpur, Maharashtra

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

Delhi government to set up a COVID-19 war room to monitor the situation in the national capital

• The Delhi government will set up a ‘COVID-19 War Room’, which will 24×7 monitor the city’s fight against thenovel coronavirus, and suggest measures to effectively deal with the prevailing situation.
• The ‘COVID-19 War Room’, which is being set up at the Delhi Secretariat, will be manned by around 25 experts. It is expected to become operational in the next few days.
• The new strategic facility will cover all aspects such as testing, bed strength, medical equipment, ambulance infrastructure and containment zones.
• “The ‘COVID-19 War Room’ will closely monitor measures being taken by the authorities. It will also project the future requirements of medical infrastructure to deal with surging coronavirus cases.

About Delhi

• Chief Minister: Aravind Kejriwal
• Governor: Anil Baijal

Current Affairs 04th July 2020| Current Affairs News

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

World Sports Journalists Day

• Every year July 02 is celebrated as World Sports Journalists Day or International Sports Journalists Day.
• It is to acknowledge the sports journalists and also mark the anniversary of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). The association was established in 1924 during the Summer Olympics in Paris.

Independence Day USA

• Independence Day USA is celebrated on 4 July. United States Independence Day is also known as the Fourth of July or the Fourth.
• This day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July, 1776 from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri announces a new category of awards titled ‘Prerak Dauur Samman’ as part of Swachh Survekshan 2021

• Puri announced a new category of awards titled ‘Prerak Dauur Samman’ as part of Swachh Survekshan 2021.
• The Prerak Dauur Samman has a total of five additional sub- categories –Divya (Platinum), Anupam (Gold), Ujjwal (Silver), Udit (Bronze), Aarohi (Aspiring) – with the top three cities being recognized in each. In a departure from the present criteria of evaluating cities on ‘population category’, this new category will categorize cities on the basis of six select indicator wise performance criteria which are as follows:

Segregation of waste into Wet, Dry and Hazard categories
• Processing capacity against wet waste generated
• Processing and recycling of wet and dry waste
• Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste processing
• Percentage of waste going to landfills
• Sanitation status of cities

Govt sanctions Rs 4,000 cr under Atma nirbhar programme to improve infrastructure for Food Parks in K’taka

• Karnataka Agriculture Minister B C Patil informed that Central Government has sanctioned 4,000 crore rupees under Atma nirbhar programme to improve infrastructure for the Food Parks in the state.
• Infrastructure will be improved in four Food Parks developed in the state and plans will be afoot to set up more. Food Parks will help the economic stability of farmers.
• Agri start-ups will be encouraged in the state to set up units in the Food Parks. Malur, Bagalkote, Hiriyuru and Jewargi have Food Parks. Food Karnataka Limited is a special purpose vehicle appointed to manage these parks.

About Karnataka

• Chief minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
• Capital: Bengaluru
• Governor: Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala

Current Affairs 03rd July 2020| Current Affairs News

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Private Train Operations Likely To Begin By April 2023

• Private train operations in the country will begin by April 2023, and the ticket fares in these trains will be competitive with airfares on similar routes.
• The improvement in technology will also mean that the coaches that now require maintenance after running 4,000 km, will need maintenance after every 40,000-km, that is either once or twice a month.
• Private participation in passenger train operations will only be five per cent of the existing 2800 Mail/Express trains over IR.
• The private entity has to ensure 95 per cent punctuality and record not more than one failure per lakh kilometre of travel.

About Indian Railways

• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Chairman: VK Yadhav

Govt clears Defence acquisition worth Rs 38,900 Cr

• Defence Acquisition Council ( DAC) in its meeting accorded approval for Capital acquisitions of various platforms and equipment required by the Indian Armed Forces. Proposals for an approximate cost of 38900 Crore rupees were approved. The meeting chaired by Defence minister Rajnath Singh focused on indigenous design and development. These approvals include acquisitions from Indian Industry amounting to 31130 Crore rupees.
• The equipments are to be manufactured in India involving Indian Defence Industry with participation of several MSMEs as prime tier vendors. The Indigenous content in some of these projects is up to 80 per cent  of the project cost.
• A large number of these projects have been made possible due to Transfer of Technology by DRDO to the Indigenous Industry. These include Pinaka ammunitions, BMP armament upgrades and Software Defined Radios for the Army, Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile Systems and Astra Missiles for Navy and Air Force. The cost of these Design and Development proposals is in the range of 20400 crore rupees.
• Further, addressing the long felt need of the Indian Air Force to increase its fighter squadrons, the DAC also approved the proposal for procurement of 21 MIG-29 . It also approved upgradation of existing 59 Mig-29 aircraft and procurement of 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft.

Drug Discovery Hackathon jointly launched by Union Ministers Dr Harsh Vardhan and Ramesh Pokhriyal

• Human Resources and Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan jointly launched the Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020. It is an online competition and anybody from anywhere in the country or world can participate.
• Mr Pokhriyal stated, Drug Discovery Hackathon is first of its kind national initiative for supporting drug discovery process. He stated, to attract international talent, the hackathon will be open to participation from across the globe from professionals, faculty, researchers and students.
• Dr Harsh Vardhan emphasized the need to establish the culture of computational drug discovery in the country. In this initiative, HRD Innovation cell and AICTE will focus on identifying potential drug molecules through the Hackathon while CSIR will take these identified molecules forward for synthesis and laboratory testing.
• He stated, the objective of this Hackathon is to identify drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2 by in-silico drug discovery through the hackathon and follow up by chemical synthesis and biological testing.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

World Bank approves US $500 mn budgetary support for Pak to tackle Covid-19

• The World Bank (WB) has approved US $500 million in budgetary support for Pakistan to address the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The money will help Pakistan strengthen fiscal management, promote transparency and private sector growth, and undertake foundational reforms in the energy sector to transition to low-carbon energy.
• The money support for Pakistan has been approved under the “Resilient Institutions for Sustainable Economy”
• The project will be financed by a US $250 million credit from the International Development Association and a US $250 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

About World Bank

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• President: David Malpass

ICICI Bank launches instant loan facility against mutual funds

• ICICI Bank has launched a facility that enables retail customers to get loan of up to 1 crore instantaneously by pledging their holdings in both debt and equity mutual funds.
• The fully digital and paperless facility empowers the customers to avail this loan as an overdraft (OD) in a matter of few minutes, without visiting a branch and submitting physical documents.
• ICICI Bank has launched ‘Insta Loans against Mutual Funds’ in partnership with ‘Computer Age Management Services’ (CAMS). ‘Insta Loans against Mutual Funds’ is an extension of the Insta LAS, an instant loan facility against equity.

Salient features of ‘Insta Loans against Mutual Funds’

• Instant access to funds:The customers get access to instant liquidity by leveraging their existing mutual fund portfolio, without selling them.
• Flexibility of mutual funds:The loan can be availed against a wide range of debt and equity schemes of mutual funds serviced by CAMS and approved by the Bank
• Wide range of loan amount:Minimum loan amount is Rs. 50,000 for both debt and equity schemes of MFs. Maximum loan amount is Rs. 1 crore for debt schemes of MFs and Rs. 20 lakh for equity schemes of MFs
• Competitive margin:Minimum 20% for debt and 50% for equity MFs
• Advantage of OD; No fixed EMI:Since the loan is available as an OD, the customers do not have to pay fixed EMI. They only need to pay interest on the limit utilised and for the number of the days it was utilised
• No foreclosure charges:The customers have the flexibility to repay the principal as and when they choose to, without any foreclosure charges

About ICICI bank

• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO): Sandeep Bakhshi

Kotak Mahindra Bank, Innoviti tie up to offer EMIs

• Kotak Mahindra Bank and Innoviti Payment Solutions announced that they have collaborated to offer equated monthly instalments (EMI) billing options on Kotak debit cards swiped on Innoviti POS terminals.
• The facility will allow over 1 crore Kotak customers to pay for their purchases in instalments by using the EMIs on debit cards facility at over 70,000 Innoviti POS terminals across more than 1,000 cities.
• Importantly, with over half of Innoviti’s POS terminals installed in 350 smaller cities and towns in India with a population of less than 20 lakh, this arrangement will help consumers particularly in tier 2 and 3 cities access credit conveniently through their Kotak debit cards, Kotak Mahindra Bank stated.

About Kotak Mahindra Bank:

• CEO: Uday Kotak
• Headquarters: Mumbai

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Carlyle Group to acquire 25% stake in Airtel’s data centre biz for $235 mn

• US-based Carlyle Group will invest $235 million (approximately Rs 1770 crore) for approximately 25 per cent stake in Nxtra Data Ltd, an arm of Bharti Airtel engaged in the data centre business.
• The transaction is subject to the necessary regulatory approvals, including approval from the Competition Commission of India.
• US-based Carlyle has prior experience in data centre ownership through investments in Coresite in the US and Itconic in Spain.
• Nxtra, which is building multiple large data centres across India, will use the proceeds from the deal to scale up its infrastructure.
• Carlyle invested $700 million during the first half of 2020, excluding $235 million for 25 per cent stake in Airtel’s data which was announced today. In 2019, the company invested $698 million over three deals which rose to $700 million during the first half of 2020.
• Besides Airtel data center investment, the other top investments by Carlyle in India includes $200 million in Financial Services firm Destimoney (in February 2015), $260 million in payment services firm SBI Cards & Payment Services (in December 2017), $653 million SBI Life Insurance (March 2019) among others.

Fitch slashes India’s growth projection from 9.5% to 8% for FY22

• Fitch Ratings cut India’s growth forecast for 2021-22 fiscal to 8 per cent from 9.5 per cent projected last month. It retained its projection of Indian economy contracting by 5 per cent in the current fiscal.
• Indian economic growth stood at an estimated 4.2 per cent in 2019-20. In its June update of Global Economic Outlook, Fitch projected Indian economy to grow 5.5 per cent in 2022-23.
• In India, where authorities imposed one of the most stringent lockdowns globally to try to halt the spread of the virus, measures are being relaxed only very gradually; with a limited policy easing response and ongoing financial sector fragilities, we have pared our 2021 forecast to 8 per cent from 9.5 per cent in the previous GEO, Fitch stated.
• In May update to the outlook, Fitch had predicted 9.5 per cent growth in 2021-22.
• S&P has forecast a 5 per cent contraction in the fiscal year starting April, and the growth to recover to 8.5 per cent next fiscal.
• Moody’s expects India’s real GDP to contract by 4 per cent in fiscal 2020 due to the shock from the coronavirus pandemic and related lockdown measures, followed by 8.7 per cent growth in fiscal 2021 and closer to 6 per cent thereafter.

About Fitch Ratings:

• Headquarters: New York, United States
• CEO: Paul Taylor

Current Affairs 02nd July 2020| Current Affairs News

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

World UFO Day

• The World UFO Day is celebrated by some on June 24 and by others on July 2.
• The World UFO Day is celebrated to create awareness about Unidentified Flying Objects and alien life forms.
• In 2001, an organisation World UFO Day Organisation (WUFODO) decided to celebrate this day as all the UFO enthusiasts gather to show evidence they collected to support the theory of the existence of extraterrestrial beings.

National Anisette Day

• National Anisette Day is observed on 2nd July every year and is popular in Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France.
• Aniseed from the anis herb gives anisette its licorice or fennel flavor. While usually a dry dry liqueur, distillers sometimes add a sugar syrup for a sweeter result.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

MoRTH prepares blueprint for scheme of cashless treatment of motor accident victims 

• The Road Transport and Highways Ministry has prepared a blueprint for implementing the scheme of cashless treatment of motor accident victims. The scheme also includes creation of a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.
• The Ministry has asked the States and Union Territories to share their views by the 10th of this month. The National Health Authority with over 21 thousand hospitals on board has been entrusted to implement the scheme.
• It has been envisaged in the scheme to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in the country. The fund would be utilized for treatment of road accident victims and for payment of compensation to the injured or to the family of person losing life in hit and run cases.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE

“Dream Kerala project” announced for rehabilitation of Keralites returning from abroad

• Kerala has announced “Dream Kerala project” for rehabilitation of the Keralites returning from abroad and for the overall development of the State.
• The project aims, not only, the rehabilitation of returnees but also, using their skill and knowledge for reviving the State.
• The various departments under the State Govt will be coordinating the project. Through the Dream Kerala project , ideas and suggestions from public will be invited.
• Steering committee headed by Chief Minister is entrusted with the task of making the final decision on ideas selected.
• Stipulated time frame has been fixed for early implementation of projects.

About Kerala:

• Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
• Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
• Governor: Arif Mohammad Khan

Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrated in Maharashtra

• Ashadhi Ekadashi, one of the most significant festivals in Maharashtra which also marks the culmination of the pilgrimage undertaken by the Warkaris (devotees of Lord Vitthal) from different parts of the state on their feet to travel hundreds of kilometres to reach temple town Pandharpur in Solapur district.
• As per the tradition, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray performed the Mahapooja of Lord Vitthal and Goddess Rukmini at the temple town of Pandharpur in the wee hours.
• The CM prayed to make Maharashtra and the country free of Corona virus and to grant peace and prosperity to farmers in the state.

About Maharashtra:

• Capital: Mumbai
• Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
• Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Andhra Pradesh CM inaugurates cancer care centre at GGH in Guntur

• Andhra Pradesh Chief MinisterS. Jagan Mohan Reddy remotely inaugurated a comprehensive cancer care centre jointly set up by the State government and the NATCO Trust at the Government General Hospital (GGH) in Guntur, from his camp office.
• On the occasion, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy complimented NATCO Trust chairman Nannapaneni Venkaiah Chowdary for collaborating with the government in providing free cancer treatment to the poor.
• The cancer centre, which has the approval of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), would render medical, surgical and radiological services. Another such centre was being established in Kurnool, and it was targeted to be completed in a year.

About Andhra Pradesh:

• Capital: Amaravati, Hyderabad
• Chief Minister: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy
• Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

World Bank approves $750 mn emergency response fund for India’s MSME sector

• The World Bank approved a $750 million loan to support increased flow of finance into the hands of India’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), severely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.
• The World Bank’s MSME Emergency Response program will aim to address the immediate liquidity and credit needs of some 1.5 million viable MSMEs to help them withstand the impact of the current shock and protect millions of jobs.
• This takes the World Bank’s total commitment to $2.75 billion to support India’s emergency Covid-19 response.
• The first $1 billion emergency support was announced in April this year for immediate support to India’s health sector. Another $1 billion project was approved in May to increase cash transfers and food benefits to the poor and vulnerable, including a more consolidated delivery platform – accessible to both rural and urban populations across state boundaries.

About World Bank

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• President: David R. Malpass

RBI announces special liquidity scheme for NBFCs and HFCs through SPV

• The government of India has approved a scheme to improve the liquidity position of NBFCs/HFCs through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to avoid any potential systemic risks to the financial sector. To be eligible under the scheme, RBI laid out the conditions:
• The Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFCs), including Microfinance Institutions that are registered with the RBI, under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, excluding those registered as Core Investment Companies.
• Housing Finance Companies that are registered under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987
• CRAR/CAR of NBFCs/HFCs should not be below the regulatory minimum, i.e., 15% and 12% respectively as on March 31, 2019.
• The net non-performing assets should not be more than 6% as on March 31, 2019.
• They should have made net profit in at least one of the last two preceding financial years (i.e. 2017-18 and 2018-19)
• They should not have been reported under SMA-1 or SMA-2 category by any bank for their borrowings during last one year prior to August 01, 2018
• They should be rated investment grade by a SEBI registered rating agency
• They should comply with the requirement of the SPV for an appropriate level of collateral from the entity, which, however, would be optional and to be decided by the SPV.
• SBICAP which is a subsidiary of the State Bank of India has set up a SPV (SLS Trust) to manage this operation. The SPV will purchase the short-term papers from eligible NBFCs/HFCs, who shall utilise the proceeds under this scheme solely for the purpose of extinguishing existing liabilities. The instruments will be CPs and NCDs with a residual maturity of not more than three months and rated as investment grade.
• The facility will not be available for any paper issued after September 30, 2020 and the SPV would cease to make fresh purchases after September 30, 2020 and would recover all dues by December 31, 2020.

About RBI:

• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Governor: Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy Governors: B.P. Kanungo, Mahesh Kumar Jain and M. D. Patra

HDFC Bank launches instant auto loan product

• HDFC Bank announced its plans to offer instant auto loans called ZipDrive to its customers in 1,000 cities.
• The offering is now being extended to Tier 2 and 3 cities, such as Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh, Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh, Thalassery in Kerala, and Balasore in Odisha among other places, across India.
• The move comes amidst demand for entry-level cars as people try to avoid public transport.
• Under the scheme, HDFC Bank customers are given pre-approved loan offers using the bank’s proprietary algorithm and analytics.

About HDFC Bank:

• Headquarters: Mumbai
• MD and CEO: Aditya Puri
• Tagline: We Understand Your World

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION

Shri Ravinder Bhakar assumes charge as CEO, CBFC

• Shri Ravinder Bhakar, has taken over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Board of Films Certification (CBFC).
• Prior to his appointment as CEO, CBFC, Mr. Bhakar was posted as the Secretary & Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railways.
• He replaces Anurag Srivastava.

About CBFC

• Headquarters: Mumbai
• Chairperson: Prasoon Joshi

Current Affairs 01st July 2020| Current Affairs News

CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

International Day of Parliamentarism

• The United Nations General Assembly designated June 30 as the day to celebrate International Day of Parliamentarism in
• The date also marks the day in 1889 when the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global organization of parliaments, was established.
• The day also celebrates the way parliamentary systems of government improve the day-to-day lives of people the world over.

National Doctors’ Day

• India celebrates the national doctor’s day every year to pay tribute to the contributions of doctors across the country.
• It is celebrated on July 1 to mark the birth as well as death anniversary of Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, former chief minister of West Bengal and one of the most popular doctors of the nation.
• This year’s theme for the occasion is ‘Lessen the mortality of Covid-19’ and includes spreading awareness about hypoxia and aggressive therapy.

National Postal Worker Day 

• On July 1, National Postal Worker Day is marked in recognition of postal workers across the world.
• National Postal Worker Day is a unique opportunity to say ‘thank you’ not only to postmen but also to all delivery personnel, as online shopping has become a lifeline for many of us.

Chartered Accountants Day

• Chartered Accountants Day or CA Day is celebrated onJuly 1 every year to commemorate the finding of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) by the parliament of India in 1949.
• A chartered accountant is a profession that gives direction to the financial condition of any country.
• ICAI is the second largest accounting body in the world after American Institute of Public Accountants.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

PM Modi extends Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana till November

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for a further five months till November-end for distributing free foodgrains to the poor.
• The government will keep providing free foodgrains to the poor section of the society due to the increased need during the festivals. And it will incur an additional expenditure of Rs 90,000 crore to provide 5 kg rice or wheat and 1 kg gram every month to the poor.
• The Modi government had announced an additional allocation in the world’s largest food security scheme – PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana – earlier this year, which aimed to ensure sufficient foods with the poor and needy amid the coronavirus crisis.
• The foodgrains were to be distributed to all the beneficiaries under the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and priority household (PHH) ration cardholders.
• The eligible individuals were to receive 5kg of foodgrains and 1 kg Gram per month for a period of three months between April and June, 2020, which has now been extended for five more months.
• In the last three months, 20 crore poor households have received direct benefit transfers worth Rs 31,000 crore under the government’s Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, which was announced immediately after the coronavirus-induced lockdown. During this period, Rs 18,000 crore has been deposited in the bank accounts of more than nine crore farmers.
• Simultaneously, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan was also launched to provide employment to shramiksin rural areas.

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment  launches Nasha Mukt Bharat

• “Nasha Mukt Bharat: Annual Action Plan (2020-21) for 272 Most Affected Districts’ was e-launched by Shri Rattan Lal Kataria, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment on the occasion of “International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”
• The Action Plan has the following components:Awareness generation programmes; Focus on Higher Educational institutions, University Campuses and Schools; Community outreach and identification of dependent population; Focus on Treatment facilities in Hospital settings; and Capacity Building Programmes for Service Provider.
• The funds for this programme in the year 2017-18 was Rs 49 crores and now in the year 2019-20 it was Rs 110 crores and in the year 2020-21, the fund has been increased to Rs 260 crores, i.e. more than 5 times.
• Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment could not conduct the presentation of the National Awards for outstanding Services in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse

About MoSE

• Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment: Thaawar Chand Gehlot
• Constituency: Madhya Pradesh

HRD Minister launches World’s first ever online B.Sc. degree in Programming & Data Science

• Human Resources and Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank virtually launched World’s first ever online Sc. degree in Programming and Data Science.
• The programme has been prepared and offered by the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Madras.
• Data Science is one of the fastest growing sectors that is predicted to create 11.5 million jobs by 2026.
• Online education is a trend being rapidly embraced for high quality education on a large scale.
• This programme is open to anyone who has passed Class 12th, with English and Maths at the Class 10th level, and enrolled in any on-campus UG course.
• Mr Pokhriyal informed that the current batch of students who are completing their Class 12th in 2020 are eligible to apply. He stated, Graduates and working professionals can also take up this programme.
• Mr Pokhriyal added that this unique offering removes all barriers of age, discipline or geographic location and provides access to a world-class curriculum in data science which is in huge demand for skilled professionals.
• The Minister stated, the students who are currently enrolled in a different on-campus program anywhere in the country can pursue this degree program without needing to switch careers or courses.

About Ministry of Human Resource Development:

• Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’: Cabinet Minister
• Constituency: Haridwar
• Sanjay Shamrao Dhotre, Minister of State

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