Daily Current Affairs and GK | 1 August 2020

1. KVIC has signed an MoU for the supply of mustard oil to ITBP.

• Recently the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has signed an MoU for the supply of mustard oil to ITBP.
• The ITBP is the nodal agency appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to procure provisions on behalf of all paramilitary forces.
• ITBP will soon order 1200 quintals of high-quality raw mustard oil, which will be supplied by KVIC through the Prime Minister Employment Generation Program units.
• This memorandum is another major step towards making India self-reliant.
• Recently, Home Minister Amit Shah made it mandatory to sell only indigenous products through CAPF canteen across India.
• KVIC recently supplied products such as honey, pickles, edible oils, incense sticks, papad, amla candy, and cotton towels for CRPA canteen for testing.

2. Meeting of Bureau of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization was organized by video conference.

• Recently a meeting of the Bureau of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization was organized by video conference.
• The Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan presided over the meeting through video conference.
• In the meeting, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that timely, adequate, and coordinated action is needed at the global level to deal with the situation like a corona pandemic.
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan called for large-scale cooperation from all countries to combat the risk of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
• At the same time, he requested the member countries of the World Health Organization to form a multi-level alliance of cooperation and coordination at the global level to combat such diseases.
• World Health Organization:
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
  • It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • It was established on April 7, 1948.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan Logo Design Competition launched by MyGov.in platform.

• Recently MyGov.in platform has launched Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan logo design competition on its website.
• Indian citizens can post their entries online without any hassle.
• The government plans to develop a logo to give special recognition to the self-reliant India campaign.
• This logo will be based on creative and new information received from the citizens of the country.
• A cash prize of Rs 25,000 will be awarded to the people selected as the best winners.
• MyGov Initiative:
  • This citizen-centric platform was launched on July 26, 2014, to connect people with the government, empower them, and to promote good governance in the country.
  • It also allows users to upload documents in various formats.
  • The website is hosted and managed by the National Informatics Center.

4. The High-Level Group on Agricultural Exports set up by the Fifteenth Finance Commission submitted its report to the Commission.

• The High-Level Group on Agricultural Exports (HLEG), recently set up by the Fifteenth Finance Commission, has submitted its report to the Commission.
• A high-level group was set up to recommend better performance incentives to states to promote agriculture to encourage agricultural exports and enable higher import substitution.
• The recommendations of HLEG are as follows-
  • Demand-driven approach and focus on 22 crop value chains.
  • Creation of a state-led export scheme with participation from all stakeholders.
  • Suggestions for private-sector veterans to play an anchor role in driving results and execution of the agricultural export scheme.
  • The additional exports generated after the implementation of these recommendations are expected to create an estimated 7 to 10 million jobs in the country.
  • Also, it will increase agricultural productivity and farmer income.

(Source: News on AIR)

5. Sixth Conference of Environment Ministers of BRICS countries concluded through video conference.

• Recently the sixth conference of Environment Ministers of BRICS countries was concluded by video conference.
• The meeting was chaired by Russia.
• Union Minister of Environment Prakash Javadekar represented India in this meeting.
• On this occasion, Mr. Javadekar called for the sharing of best practices among BRICS nations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
• He also elaborated on the efforts made by India in the areas related to sustainable urban management, marine waste, air pollution, and cleaning of rivers.
• To control air pollution, India started monitoring air quality index in 10 cities in 2015. Currently, it has been extended to 122 cities.
• India launched the National Clean Air Program in the year 2019, which aims to reduce particulate pollution by 20-30% by 2024 relative to 2017-18.
• India will assume the post of President of BRICS in 2021.
• BRICS:
  • BRICS is a group formed by five major emerging countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
  • Originally the first four were classified as BRIC in 2006, South Africa joined the group and the group in 2010 became BRICS.
  • Together these countries represent 42% of the population, 23% of global GDP, 30% of geographical regions and 18% of global trade.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. ISA amended the framework agreement to include the member countries of the United Nations into the group.

• Recently the International Solar Alliance (ISA) has amended the framework agreement to enable UN member states to join the group.
• After ratification of this amendment, all those member countries of the United Nations will now be able to join the International Solar Alliance, which is outside the Tropics.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA):
  • It was jointly launched by Prime Minister Modi and the President of France during the COP-21 in Paris in 2015.
  • The alliance aims to contribute to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement through rapid and large-scale use of solar energy.
  • So far, those countries could have been members of this group, which were situated between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

 7. The US imposed sanctions on China's Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and its two officials.

• Recently, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo imposed restrictions on China's Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and its two officials.
• Mr. Pompeo has imposed these restrictions on the Uyghur community in Xinjiang due to serious human rights abuses.
• In addition, the US Secretary of State has urged countries around the world to consistently condemn the Chinese Communist Party for its human rights abuses against its own citizens.
• Uyghurs:
  • A Turkic-speaking minority Muslim groups.
  • It is culturally associated with the general region of Central and East Asia.
  • They are recognized as native to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwestern China.

(Source: News on AIR)

8. A public awareness campaign, Ek mask Anek Zindagi, was started in Madhya Pradesh.

• Masks are the simplest and effective means to prevent corona infection. Keeping this perception in mind, a public awareness campaign, Ek mask Anek Zindagi, has been started in Madhya Pradesh.
• This campaign will be conducted from August 1 to August 15 in several districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• During this campaign, people will be told about measures to prevent COVID-19 infection.
• A public awareness chariot will also be run by the Municipal Corporation in the city on the same theme.
• Under this, a mask bank will also be established. In this mask bank, masks from donors will be collected and distributed to poor people for free.

9. Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the upstream carriageway of Mahatma Gandhi Bridge on the Ganges River in Bihar.

• Recently, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the upstream carriageway of Mahatma Gandhi bridge on the  Ganga River in Bihar through video conference.
• It is more than 5.5 kilometers long, four-lane bridge situated on NH-19 between Patna and Hajipur.
• It has been constructed at the cost of 1,742 crores. Work on the bridge was started in June 2017.
• In this, the existing concrete superstructure of the old bridge has been replaced by the new steel deck superstructure.
• This is the first bridge to use modern technology to improve the existing structure.
• Simultaneously, Nitin Gadkari also announced a new bridge over the Ganges River in Patna.

(Source: News on AIR)

10. In Bengaluru, COVID Raksha Initiative was launched for Covid-19 patients.

• Recently in Bengaluru, COVID Raksha Initiative has been launched for Covid-19 patients.
• It is a one-stop digital solution initiative.
• It has been launched under the leadership of Bengaluru South MP Tejashwi Surya.
• Through this initiative, a helpline number has also been issued to citizens for reporting Covid-19 symptoms, conducting tests, and seeking guidance from hospitals for treatment.
• The COVID Raksha Initiative will also provide emergency care to patients at home until transferred to a hospital or COVID care center. Specialist doctors will provide tele or video counseling to such people.
• More than 10 start-ups and 300 volunteers will operate the system.

(Source: News on AIR)

11. Production of eight core infrastructure industries declined by 15% in June.

• In June this year, the production of eight core infrastructure industries declined by 15% for the fourth consecutive month.
• The decline was due to a decline in the production of coal, crude oil, natural gas, steel, cement, and electricity. Whereas, in June 2019, there was an expansion of 1.2% in eight major sectors.
• In May this year, the output of the sector declined by 22%.
• According to the data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently, the following areas fall as follows:
  • Coalfield production 15.5%
  • Crude oil production 6%
  • Natural Gas Production 12%
  • 8.9% in refinery products
  • Steel Sector Production 33.8%
  • Cement sector production 6.9%
  • Power generation 11%
• Eight core industries account for 40.27% in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
• The eight main industries are coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizer, steel, cement, and electricity.

(Source: News on AIR)

12. NASA launched Mars Rover Perseverance to look for signs of ancient life on Mars.

• Recently, the US space agency NASA has launched Mars Rover Perseverance to search for signs of ancient life on Mars.
• The rover is equipped with state-of-the-art landing technology. Apart from this, the rover has many cameras and 2 microphones, which will record pictures of Mars and the sound there.
• Super-sensitized sample return tubes fitted to it will collect samples from rocks to find evidence of human life on Mars in ancient times.
• This rover will attempt landing near the Jezero crater on Mars.
• Curiosity rover is already monitoring another Gale crater on Mars.
• Along with this, NASA has also sent an Ingenuity helicopter to Mars.
• Recently China and UAE have also sent their respective missions to Mars.
• Two other NASA landers are also running on Mars, including the Insight of 2018 and Curiosity Rover of 2012. Six other orbiters are exploring the planet from orbit, including three from the US, two from Europe and one from India.

(Source: The Hindu)