Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 July 2020

1. Inauguration of India's first public electric vehicle charging plaza at Chelmsford Club, New Delhi.

• Recently, the Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh has inaugurated India's first public electric vehicle Charging Plaza in New Delhi.
• It is the first electric vehicle charging plaza of its kind in India.
• Such innovative initiatives are necessary for building a strong e-mobility ecosystem in the country.
• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) in association with New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has set up this public EV charging plaza.
• The plaza will facilitate 5 types of electric vehicle chargers of various specifications.
• Simultaneously, the Minister has also launched a retrofit of air conditioning to improve indoor air quality for the Safety and Efficiency (RAISE) National Program.

(Source: News on AIR)

2. 'Manodarpan' initiative launched by Ministry of Human Resource Development.

• The Manodarpan initiative has been initiated by Ramesh Pokhriyal, Union Minister of Human Resource Development.
• This initiative is part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
• The initiative aims to provide psychosocial support to students for their mental health and well-being.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has taken this step on the educational front due to the need to focus on continuing education and mental well-being of the students.
• It will cover a wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support for the mental health and well-being of students.

3. Indian Navy and US Navy conducted an exercise named 'PASSEX' in the Indian Ocean region.

• Recently Indian Navy and US Navy conducted an exercise named PASSEX in the Indian Ocean region.
• US Navy Carrier Strike Group led by USS Nimitz and Indian Navy conducted the maritime exercise PASSEX.
• The objective of this exercise is to further enhance interoperability between the navies of the two countries.
• Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is on track to be deployed in the Gulf region from the South China Sea.
• The Indian Navy had recently conducted similar joint exercises with the Japanese and French Navy.
• PASSEX:
  • A passing exercise (PASSEX) is a practice conducted between two navies.
  • This ensures that the Navy is able to communicate and cooperate in times of war or humanitarian relief.

(Source: News on AIR)

4. The title of Dekho Apna Desh webinar series, "The Mystical Triangle - Maheshwar, Mandu and Omkareshwar" was organized.

• Recently the Ministry of Tourism's Dekho Apna Desh webinar series titled, "The Mystical Triangle - Maheshwar, Mandu and Omkareshwar" was organized.
• The webinar showcased the richness of sites falling under the mysterious triangle at Maheshwar, Mandu and Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh.
• Maheshwar or Mahishmati is one of the quiet places of historical importance which is 90 km from the city of Indore. Lord Shiva is known as Maheshwara, the city was named after him. The great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata also mentions Mahishmati.
• Omkareshwar has 33 deities and 108 impressive Shivalingas and is the only Jyotirlinga located on the northern bank of the Narmada.
• Mandu is mainly known for the love story of Sultan Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati. Baz Bahadur's palace, built in the 16^th century, is famous for its large hall and courtyard surrounded by high terraces.
• Dekho Apna Desh webinar series is an attempt to showcase India's rich diversity under 'Ek Bharat-Shrestha Bharat'.

(Source: News on AIR)

5. COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Oxford University gave promising results in human trials.

• The COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the Oxford University has yielded promising results in first and second stage human trials.
• Early stage human test data of the vaccine suggests that it is safe and induces an immune response. Mild side effects have been observed in only a few participants.
• The study revealed that 90% of the people involved developed antibodies to neutralize the virus after one dose.
• This vaccine has been developed using genetically engineered virus that causes common cold in chimpanzees.
• The vaccine - called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, is being developed at an unprecedented pace.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. Youth Affairs Secretary Usha Sharma signed a statement for partnership with UNICEF India, Yuwaah India and the United Nations in India.

• Recently the Secretary of Youth Affairs, Usha Sharma has signed a statement of Intent for partnership with UNICEF India, Yuwaah India and United Nations in India.
• This partnership leverages the efforts of both the Ministry and the United Nations to work closely with youth, to co-create and implement large-scale solutions to address the challenges of education, skills and unemployment among India's youth.
• The following things will be focused under this partnership-
  • To provide support to young people engaged in entrepreneurship.
  • To develop skills among young people.
  • To establish a relationship with aspirational social economic opportunities.
  • Promoting civic participation.
  • Providing assistance to the youth for guidance.
  • Providing direct communication support.
  • Establishing feedback mechanisms between youth and policy-making stakeholders.
  • Also seek cooperation between NSS and NYKS Cadre and volunteer Force on capacity building to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

(Source: PIB)

7. Godhan Nyay Yojana was started in Chhattisgarh.

• Recently in Chhattisgarh, the first of its kind Godan Nyay Yojana has been started on the occasion of the traditional festival of Hareli.
• Hareli is an agricultural festival celebrated by many rural farming communities in the state.
• Under the Godhan Nyay Yojana, the Chhattisgarh government will buy cow dung at Rs 2 per kg from livestock owners and use it to prepare organic manure.
• Women self-help groups will prepare vermi-compost using dung purchased under the scheme. This vermi-compost will be sold at the rate of Rs 8 per kg.
• The state government will build cowsheds/ gaushalas in all 20 thousand villages in phases. These cowsheds are being developed as day care centers for cattle.
• The Godhan Nyay Yojana will be implemented through these gaushalas only.
• The Godhan Nyay Yojana will not only help the cattlemen to earn additional income, but will also end the problem of open grazing of cattle.

(Source: News on AIR)

8. Inauguration of the state's first mega food park in Zoram, Mizoram.

• Recently Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurated the state's first mega food park in Zoram, Mizoram.
• This mega food park is equipped with a dry warehouse of 3000 MT capacity and cold storage of 1000 MT.
• This mega food park will benefit farmers, producers, processors, consumers and will prove to be a major boost for the development of food processing sector in the North East region.
• The Mega Food Park will provide direct and indirect employment to 5,000 people and will benefit about 25,000 farmers.
• The Zoram Mega Food Park will not only play an important role in connecting agricultural production to the market, but will also help to keep food spoilage to a minimum and prevent post-harvest losses.
• A total of 88 projects supported by the Ministry of Food Processing in the North East region have been approved and 41 have been implemented.
• The capital of Mizoram is Aizawl, which lies north of the Tropic of Cancer.

(Source: News on AIR)

9. Unique hand sanitizer ‘G-bands’ created by innovators from Gujarat Technological University.

• Recently a unique hand sanitizer ‘G Bands’ has been created by innovators from Gujarat Technological University.
• This band is formed using thermoplastic elastomers.
• These bands can be used to sanitize by just pressing them by hand.
• The G bands offers people a convenient option to maintain hand hygiene.
• One dose of liquid sanitizer, once filled in the G bands, can be sprayed more than 20 times a day.
• This product will soon be available to the public. A petition has also been filed for its patent.

10. Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon passed away.

• Recently the Governor of Madhya Pradesh Lalji Tandon died in Lucknow. He was 85.
• Tandon ji made invaluable contribution in the service of the society. He has played an important role in strengthening BJP in UP.
• He has been a member of the 15^th Lok Sabha from Lucknow.
• He has been known as an associate of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has declared a 3-day state mourning expressing grief over the demise of Lalji Tandon.

(Source: The Hindu)

11. Unique yellow colored turtle spotted in Balasore district of Odisha.

• Unique yellow colored turtle has been seen in Balasore district of Odisha.
• It is a rare species.
• The turtle's pink eyes and its color indicate albinism.
• It is an albino Indian flapshell turtle, these turtles are found all over India.
• This is particularly very special because only 1 in 10,000 infants have albino.
• Albinism:
  • Albinism is a genetic disorder that leads to lack of color. Recently a golden albino tiger has been found in Kaziranga national park.
  • In this condition, a person produced little or no melanin and the risk of skin cancer increases.
  • Most people suffering from albinism have sensitive skin, eye and hairs.
  • No treatment exists, but the skin can be protected and the condition of the eyes can be treated.

(Source: ANI)