Daily Current Affairs and GK | 2 September 2020

1. World Coconut Day: 2 September

• Every year all coconut growing countries in Asia, as well as the Pacific region, celebrate World Coconut Day on 2 September.
• The day aims to raise awareness regarding the importance of coconut and to bring the attention of the national and international community towards this crop.
• Coconut Development Board in India is responsible for the celebration of World Coconut Day in the country.
• India is one of the largest producers of coconut in the world and ranks third in terms of area under coconut.
• World Coconut Day 2020 theme is – “Invest in Coconut to save the world”.
• Coconut is rich in fiber, vitamins B6, iron, and minerals like magnesium, manganese, zinc. They also have antiviral and antimicrobial properties.

2. Rajiv Kumar assumes charges as Election Commissioner of India.

• Rajiv Kumar has assumed the charge as the new Election Commissioner of India.
• He is a 1984 batch IAS officer. He retired as the Finance Secretary in February 2020.
• He then served as Chairman Public Enterprises Selection Board from April 2020 till 31^st August 2020.
• He replaced Ashok Lavasa, who resigned to serve as the Vice President of the Asian Development Bank.
• The current Chief Election Commissioner of India is Sunil Arora and the other election commissioner is Sushil Chandra.
• Election Commission of India:
  • It is an autonomous constitutional body.
  • It is the body responsible for the conduct of Union and State election procedures in India.
  • Articles 324 to 329 of the Constitution provide for the powers, functions, tenure, eligibility, etc. of the Election Commission and its members.
  • The Commission consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and two Election Commissioners, who are appointed by the President.
  • Their tenure is for six years or till the age of 65, whichever is earlier.

3. One of the farthest star galaxies in the Universe has been detected by Indian Astronomers.

• Astrosat, India’s first multi-wavelength space observatory, has detected extreme UV light coming from a galaxy which is located very far away from the Earth.
• The galaxy named AUDFs01 is 9.3 billion light-years away from the Earth.
• A team of Astronomers from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune discovered this galaxy.
• Astrosat was launched by ISRO on 28 September 2015. A team led by Shyam Tandon, Ex Emeritus Professor, IUCAA, developed this observatory with the full support of ISRO.

4. S R Sarma assumes charge as Chief of Materiel of Indian Navy.

• Vice Admiral S R Sarma has assumed charge as the Chief of Materiel of the Indian Navy.

• He is a post-graduate in Computer Science and Engineering.
• The Admiral has served onboard Indian Naval ships Vindhyagiri, Rana, Krishna and Mysore in various capacities.
• He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal. He was also a recipient of Lt VK Jain Gold Medal in 1994.

(Source: PIB)

5. Govt. approved 27 integrated cold chain development projects. 

• The government has approved 27 integrated cold chain development projects and value addition infrastructure under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY).
• Under these projects, modern infrastructure and cold chain facilities will be created for the food processing sectors in different states like Bihar, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, etc.
• These projects will generate direct and indirect employment for more than 16,000 people.  
• The government has also considered 85 cold chain projects for financial assistance under PMKSY.
• Under the Central Sector Scheme of Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid is provided at the rate of 35% for general areas and 50% for North-Eastern States, Himalayan States, ITDP Areas, and Islands for storage and transport infrastructure.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY):
  • The scheme was introduced in 2017.
  • It is an umbrella scheme that is implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing and Industries.
  • Schemes that will be implemented under PMKSY are:
    • Mega Food Parks
    • Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure
    • Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing/ Preservation Capacities (Unit Scheme)
    • Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters
    • Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages
    • Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure
    • Human Resources and Institutions

6. UAE launched e-market platform ‘Agriota’.

• In order to bridge the gap between Indian rural farmers and UAE food industry, UAE has launched e-market platform ‘Agriota’.
• The initiative is launched by Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and the government of Dubai's authority on commodities trade and enterprise.
• Through this platform, millions of Indian farmers will be able to connect directly to the UAE food industry.
• This platform will eliminate the intermediaries, optimize the supply chain and ensure traceability to create value for stakeholders.
• India exported more than USD 38 billion of agricultural and processed food products in 2019.

7. Government signed contract to supply Six Pinaka regiments to Indian Army.

• The government has signed contracts to supply six Pinaka regiments to the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.
• The contracts worth Rs 2,580 crore has been signed with Tata Power Company Limited (TPCL), Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML).
• The project will be completed under the Buy-Indian category with 70% indigenous content.
• These missiles are planned to be inducted into Indian Army by 2024.
• Pinaka Rocket system will be deployed along Pakistan and China border.
• Pinaka rocket system:
  • It is a multi-barrel rocket system that can fire a salvo of 12 rockets within 44 seconds.
  • Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has designed and developed Pinaka multiple launch rocket system.
  •  It was first used during the Kargil War of 1999.

8. Japan to provide development assistance loan worth Rs. 3,500 crores to India.

• India will receive development assistance loan worth Rs. 3,500 crores from Japan.
• The loan will be provided for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Support.
• Dr C S Mohapatra and Chief Representative of JICA in New Delhi Katsuo Matsumoto signed the loan agreement.
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is the coordinating agency of Official Development Assistance for the Government of Japan.
• Notes were exchanged between Dr C.S. Mohapatra and Ambassador of Japan to India Suzuki Satoshi for the grant-in-aid of Rs. 70 crores from Japan.
• This grant assistance will be for providing medical equipment to fight COVID-19.
• India and Japan share good bilateral relations and cooperation since 1958.
• Japan:
  • It is an island country located in the northwest Pacific Ocean.
  • It shares its border with Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and East China Sea.
  • Capital: Tokyo
  • Currency: Japanese Yen

9. Air Force Sports Control Board awarded with ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020’.

• Air Force Sports Control Board (AFSCB) was awarded with ‘Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020’.
• The board was awarded for the outstanding contribution in helping sportsperson to excel in their respective disciplines and implement effective sports welfare measures.
• AFSCB is the apex body for planning and conduct of sports activities within Indian Air Force and at Inter-services level.
• Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar:
  • The award is presented to the corporate entities (both in private and public sector) and individuals who have played a critical role in the area of sports promotion and development.
  • The recipients of Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar 2020 are as follows:

10. RO-RO train service started between Bengaluru and Solapur.

• Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO-RO) train service has been started from Nelamagala station on the outskirts of Bengaluru to Solapur (Maharashtra).
• South Western Railway (SWR) has said that the Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO-RO) train service will have an open flat wagon. Trucks with goods are loaded on the wagon.
• Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO-RO) train service reduces transportation costs, reduces road accidents and saves fuels. It also ensures faster transport of goods.
• In Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO-RO) service, railway wagons directly transport loaded trucks with their drivers to their destination. Then, drivers drive the trucks to their final destination.
• Konkan Railway has started first ever RO-RO service in India.

11.  Rs 1.22 lakh crore to be invested by Coal India.

• Rs 1.22 lakh crore will be invested by Coal India to make India self-reliant in coal and achieve production target of 1 billion tonnes by 2023-2024.
• The amount will be invested in 500 projects related to coal evacuation, infrastructure exploration and clean coal technologies.
• The investment will be made in two phases in 49 First Mile Connectivity projects of coal India.
• 15 Greenfield projects have also been identified by Coal India. These projects will be operated under the Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) model.
• Coal India has also lowered experience criteria for mining tenders from 65% to 50%. The work experience criteria have been relaxed by 50% in case of turnkey contracts. In turnkey contracts, contractor plans and builds the facility and delivers it in ready to use condition.
• Coal India:
  • It is a Maharatna coal and mining refining company.
  • Its headquarters are located in Kolkata.
  • It is owned by the Government of India with a 70.96% stake.
  • Anil Kumar Jha is its CEO.

(Source: News on AIR)

12. Pan-India Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) in electricity launched.

• Pan-India Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) in electricity has been launched by the Minister of State-Independent Charge for Power and New & Renewable Energy.
• GTAM platform will increase the number of participants in the renewable energy sector and lower the burden on Renewable Energy-rich States.
• GTAM will benefit both sellers of renewable energy and buyers of renewable energy. The buyers will be benefitted through competitive prices and transparent and flexible procurement.
• The sellers of renewable energy will get access to the pan-India market. GTAM will benefit renewable energy generators by providing more avenues for the sale of energy.
• Currently, the government is targeting to install 175 gigawatt (GW) renewable energy capacity by 2022. Out of this 175 GW target, 100 GW will be solar energy and 60 GW will be wind energy. 10 GW will come from bio-power and 5 GW will come from small hydro-power. 
• The names of eight renewable energy-rich states are Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

13. Progress of DFCCIL reviewed by Minister of Railways.

• Progress of Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation India Limited (DFCCIL) was reviewed by Minister of Railways, Piyush Goyal.
• He suggested some measures to fast track the project. One of the suggested measures is weekly meetings with all contractors, vendors and suppliers.
• He also suggested the creation of a Dashboard by DFCCIL for real-time Km by Km project monitoring.  
• Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation India Limited (DFCCIL) is a public sector undertaking formed in 2006. It is headquartered in New Delhi. Vinod Kumar Yadav is the chairman of DFCCIL.
• It plans and mobilizes financial resources for dedicated freight corridors. It also constructs, maintains and operates dedicated freight corridors.

14. UP government to name a road after late Chetan Chauhan.

• UP government will name a road after Chetan Chauhan, who was a cabinet minister in UP and a cricketer.
• The announcement for naming a road after late Chetan Chauhan was made by UP’s Deputy Chief Minister while launching Major Dhyan Chand Vijaypath Yojana.
• Under this scheme, road connectivity will be provided to the houses of 19 international players from UP.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Piyush Chawla and Mohammad Kaif will gain from Major Dhyan Chand Vijaypath Yojana.
• Chetan Chauhan has passed away due to Covid-19. He was UP Minister for Sainik Welfare, Home Guards, Civil Security and Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD).
• He was the first player in international cricket to finish his career with more than 2000 runs without a century.
• Uttar Pradesh:
  • UP is the most populous state of India. Its population is 200 million.
  • In terms of area, UP is the fourth largest state of India. Its capital is Lucknow.
  • It was formed in 1937 and renamed Uttar Pradesh in 1950.
  • It has 75 districts and 18 subdivisions.
  • On 9 November 2000, Uttarakhand was separated from UP.
  • Rajasthan is located to the west of UP. Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi are located to the northwest.
  • Uttarakhand is located to its north. Bihar is located to its east. Madhya Pradesh is located to its south. Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are located to its southeast. 
  • 67.68% people are literate in UP, and its sex ratio is 912 females per 1000 males.

15. Renati Chola era inscription found in Andhra Pradesh.

• Renati Chola era inscription has been found in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.
• The inscription was found on a dolomite slab and shale and was written in Archaic Telugu.
• The inscription is said to belong to 8^th Century A.D. At that time, Chola Maharaja of Renadu ruled in the region.
• The inscription explains the record of a gift of six Marttus (a measuring unit) of land that was gifted to a person, Sidamayu.
• The inscription has been shifted to the State Archaeological Museum.

(Source: The Hindu)

16. Third leadership summit of USISPF to be addressed by PM.

• The third leadership summit of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) will be addressed by PM Narendra Modi tomorrow.
• He will deliver the keynote address to 3^rd USISPF titled as ‘US-India Week: Navigating New Challenges’.
• On Monday, the summit was addressed by US Vice President Mike Pence.
• Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal have addressed it.
• The summit draws attention to Indo-US bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, energy, fintech, healthcare, technology.
• US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) is a non-profit organization founded in 2017 to strengthen U.S.-India bilateral and strategic partnership.