Daily Current Affairs and GK | 1 July 2020

1. National Doctor's Day: 1 July

• The day is celebrated every year on 1 July to commemorate the contribution of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy, former CM of West Bengal, to the healthcare industry in India.
• Dr. Roy was born on 1 July 1882 and died on 1 July 1962.
• Dr. Roy was honoured with Bharat Ratna in 1961.
• The day also honour the contributions of the doctors to individual lives and communities.
• The role of doctors during the current global pandemic is praiseworthy.
• The first National Doctor's day was celebrated in July 1991.

(Source: News on AIR)

2. Permission to conduct human trials of first Vaccine of COVID-19 developed in the country.

• Recently the Central Drug Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) has given permission for human trials of the first vaccine of COVID-19 developed in the country.
• CDSCO is the national regulatory body for Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices
• The vaccine, named Covaxin, has been successful in trials conducted so far.
• The vaccine has been developed by private sector company Bharat Biotech India in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology, Pune.
• Indigenous, inactivated vaccine has been developed and manufactured at Bharat Biotech's Biosafety Level-3 laboratory located in Genome Valley in Hyderabad.
• The trial of this vaccine on people will be done in two phases and it will start next month.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was extended till November 2020.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to extend the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana by November 2020.
• Under this, 80 crore needy people will be given free ration throughout the country for the next five months.
• The government will have to spend more than 90 thousand crore rupees to extend this scheme till November.
• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana-
  • The plan, announced due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to ensure food security during the pandemic.
  • Under this, every member of poor families is provided five kg of wheat or rice and one kg of whole gram free every month.
  • The three-month period of the previously announced scheme was to end on 30 June 2020, which has now been extended.

(Source: News on AIR)

4. Launch of the world's first online BSc degree course in programming and Data Science.

• Recently HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched the world's first online BSC degree course in Programming and Data Science.
• The course is offered by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
• Data science is the fastest growing field of today's era.
• About 11.5 million people are expected to get employment in this sector by 2026.
• Any student who has passed 12^th standard, with English and Mathematics subject at the class 10 level, can apply for this course.
• Also, any student studying in any institution in the country by regular admission can take admission in Data Science course and can complete the studies online.

(Source: News on AIR)

5. Hul Divas organized in Jharkhand on 30 June.

• Hul Divas is celebrated every year in Jharkhand on 30 June.
• It is a day to celebrate the historical revolution in Jharkhand.
• On this day, in 1855, the Santhal tribals of Jharkhand revolted against the injustice of foreign rule.
• Together they protected the dignity of the country and inspired the countrymen.
• Fighters such as Sidhu-Kanhu, Chand-Bhairav, Phulo- Jhanu and others led the rebellion, causing a panic in British rule.
• Around 20,000 Santhals were killed during this revolution.

6. India's MyGov Corona Helpdesk received two awards at the Global Leadership Summit and Festival of AI & Emerging Technology, CogX 2020.

• Recently, AI enabled MyGov Corona Helpdesk of India has received two awards at the Global Leadership Summit and Festival of AI ​​& Emerging Technology, CogX 2020.
• It has been conferred under the two categories
  • Best Innovation for COVID-19 Society
  • People's Choice COVID-19 Overall Winner
• The awards have been won by JioHaptik Technologies Limited, the technical partner of MyGov.
• Haptik is a part of the Reliance group of companies, who acquired a majority stake in the company.
• MyGOV is the largest citizen engagement platform in the world, which facilitates two-way communication between government and citizen and facilitates participatory governance in India, the world's largest democracy.
• The Global Leadership Summit and Festival of AI & Emerging Technology:
  • It is held annually in London.
  • CogX20 AI is one of the world's largest events, with over 15,000 participants from business, government, industry and research areas.
  • CogX Awards are given for the best in AI and emerging technologies around the world.

7. Signing of Concession Agreement for 600 MW Kholongchhu Joint Venture Hydroelectric Project between India and Bhutan.

• Recently the concession agreement for 600 MW Kholongchhu Joint Venture Hydroelectric Project was signed between the Government of Bhutan and Khalongchhu Hydro Energy Limited in Thimphu.
• This deal was signed in the virtual presence of Dr. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India and his Bhutanese counterpart, Dr. Tandi Dorji.
• This 600 MW run-of-the-river project is located on the lower course of the Kholongchhu River in Trashiyangtse district in eastern Bhutan.
• The project envisages construction of four 150 MW turbine underground power stations with water surrounded by 95 m height concrete dam.
• Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited will implement this project, which is a joint venture company formed between Druk Green Power Corporation of Bhutan and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited.
• The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
• The hydropower sector is a major area of ​​India-Bhutan bilateral cooperation.
• The 720 MW Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project was inaugurated jointly by the Prime Ministers of India and Bhutan in August 2019.
• With this, four hydropower projects (more than 2100 MW) of bilateral cooperation are already operational in Bhutan.

8. Har Ghar Jal Project was launched for the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.

• Recently Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has launched the ambitious piped water project ‘Har Ghar Jal’ to provide water to every household in Bundelkhand region.
• The project is part of the Jal Jeevan Mission.
• The project will cover 3 districts of the region, Mahoba, Lalitpur and Jhansi, especially in areas where groundwater is contaminated with fluoride and arsenic.
• This will benefit 14 lakh people under 770 gram panchayats of these districts.
• The surface water and ground water will be used to provide drinking water through taps to each house in the area.
• The first phase is expected to be completed in the next 2 years.

(Source: News on AIR)

9. In Nagaland, the Mon district administration was awarded the SKOCH Award.

• Recently the Mon District Administration in Nagaland has been awarded the SKOCH Award at the 65^th SKOCH Summit under three different categories.
• The administration was awarded the SKOCH Crucible award for its initiative on financial inclusion, District Response to COVID-19 and skill development.
• SKOCH Award:
  • It was established in 2003.
  • It is the highest civilian honor of the country presented by an independent organization.

10. National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, established Advanced Virology Lab for testing of COVID-19.

• The National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow has established an advanced virology lab for testing of COVID-19.
• The facility has been developed based on the guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), World Health Organization (WHO), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The Advanced Virology Lab is a Bio Safety Level-3 facility.
• It has a suction feature that can suck any aerosol and pass it through the filter. It can filter out viruses or bacteria to create a secure COVID-19 test facility.
• This reduces the chances of infections at the cultural ceremonies.

(Source: News on AIR)

11. Government of Madhya Pradesh launched ‘Humara Ghar Humara Vidyalaya’ campaign.

• Recently the Government of Madhya Pradesh started ‘Humara Ghar Humara Vidaylaya’ campaign.
• In order to maintain the academic regularity of students during the Corona crisis, the State Education Center has taken this step.
• Under this, children will be taught at home in a school-like environment.
• Children will read at home, do yoga, listen to stories and make notes on them.
• Under this, the school bell will also be played in the houses of the state from July 6.

12. Continuous Galvanized Rebar production facility inaugurated at Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab.

• Recently, the Continuous Galvanized Rebar Production Facility at Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab was inaugurated by Union Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
• It is Asia's first continuous galvanized steel manufacturing facility center.
• Galvanized steel is a steel reinforcing material that is environmentally friendly and cost effective.
• There will be increase in the demand for galvanized steel for large-scale expansion in infrastructure sectors.
• This will prove to be helpful in making India self-reliant.
• Galvanized steel-
  • It is damage-resistant and UV-stable, so it does not require special handling precautions at the workplace.
  • The galvanizing process makes the steel impermeable. It also provides cathodic protection.
  • The zinc present in the steel does not allow corrosion to spread to minimize any damage and keep it localized.

(Source: News on AIR)

13. Russia will soon meet the defense requirements sought by India.

• Russia has agreed to quickly meet the defense requirements sought by India.
• Under this, long pending deals for AK-203 assault rifles and KA-226T light utility helicopters will be completed.
• The talks were held during the recent visit of India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to Russia.

• Russia:
  • Russia is an intercontinental country located in Eastern Europe and North Asia.
  • Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area, with a total area of ​​about 17 million square kilometers.
  • The capital of Russia is Moscow and the currency is the Russian ruble.

(Source: The Hindu)