Daily Current Affairs and GK | 27 June 2020

1. A virtual ministerial meeting of the Alliance for Multilateralism concluded.

• Recently a virtual ministerial meeting of the Alliance for Multilateralism was concluded.
• The External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. Jaishankar, while addressing the meeting said that the world is at a transformative moment and a multilateral investigation and reform of all multilateral institutions is needed to make them purposeful for the present time and representative of this century.
• Alliance for Multilateralism:
  • It is an informal alliance.
  • It was launched by the French and German foreign ministers on 2 April 2019.
  • It is a network of countries believing in rule-based multilateral order, an effort to bring international stability and peace.

(Source: News on AIR)

2. India and Germany held a virtual consultative meeting of Foreign Secretary level.

• Recently India and Germany held a virtual consultative meeting of Foreign Secretary level.
• The following points were discussed during this meeting-
  • Promoting cooperation in handling COVID-19.
  • Bilateral cooperation in various fields
  • Regional and global issues of mutual interest.
  • India’s membership in the United Nations Security Council in 2021-22 and G20 Presidency in 2022.
  • Germany's current membership of the UN Security Council and subsequent chairmanship of the European Union.
• Germany:
  • It is a Western European country.
  • Its capital is Berlin and the currency is the euro.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. Web portal of Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan was launched.

• Recently, Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the web portal of Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan through video conference in New Delhi.
• Through this portal, works undertaken with allocation of Rs 50,000 crore will be monitored.
• Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan:
  • This campaign was recently started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • It is a program to develop infrastructure and generate employment in rural areas.
  • The objective of this campaign is to provide employment to migrant laborers in their native villages for the next four months.

(Source: News on AIR)

4. Indigenously built torpedo decoy system in the fleet of Maareech Indian Navy.

• Recently Indian Navy has included indigenously built Advanced Torpedo Decoy System Maareech in its fleet.
• The system is designed and developed indigenously in the laboratories of the Defense Research and Development Organization- NSTL and NPOL.
• This system is capable of being fired from all frontline warships.
• Bharat Electronics Limited will undertake the production of this decoy system.
• Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO):
  • It is an agency of the Government of India.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
  • It was established in the year 1958.

(Source: The Hindu)

5. The date of online nomination for Sardar Patel National Unity Award was extended till 15 August.

• Recently, the date of online nomination for Sardar Patel National Unity Award has been extended till August 15.
• It is the highest civilian award given for contributing to the unity and integrity of the country.
• The award was instituted in 2019 in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by the Central Government.
• Any Indian citizen or institution or organization can nominate any individual for this award. Individuals can also nominate themselves.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India.
• In 2014, it was decided to celebrate 31 October, birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, as National Unity Day to unite India.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. ‘Surakshit Dada-Dadi, Nana-Nani Abhiyan’ for Senior Citizens.

• Recently, Surakshit Dada-Dadi, Nana-Nani Abhiyan has been launched for senior citizens.
• The campaign has been launched to ensure the well-being of 2.9 million seniors during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
• The campaign has been launched as a collaborative effort between NITI Aayog, Piramal Foundation and 25 Aspirational districts.
• The Social Welfare Department and the District Administration are also supporting it.
• More than 150 volunteers are engaged in this campaign.

(Source: News on AIR)

7. Battery Swapping Facility, Quick Interchange Service (QIS) inaugurated in Chandigarh.

• Recently Battery Swapping Facility, Quick Interchange Service (QIS) was inaugurated in Chandigarh.
• It was inaugurated jointly by Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator VP Singh Badnore and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in an online organized function.
• India's top oil firm IOC has introduced battery swapping facility for electric vehicles at its petrol pumps, which allows the replacement of fully charged batteries in just minutes.
• Started battery swapping as a pilot project at one of its outlets at IOC, Chandigarh, gradually it will be extended to 20 stations.
• Each electric mobility station will be set up under the pilot project in Chandigarh, Amritsar and Bengaluru.
• New Delhi, Gurugram and other cities will also be covered under the pilot.
• Benefits of Electric Mobility Station:
  • This will reduce emissions.
  • Will check air and noise pollution
  • Will help prevent climate change.
• Battery Swapping Techniques:
  • It provides the best option for slow charging and helps drivers make maximum use of operating time.
  • The model is initially targeted at commercial vehicles such as electric autos, rickshaws and electric two-wheelers and EVTs.

(Source: News on AIR)

8. Start of Adarsh ​​Police Station Scheme in Chhattisgarh.

• Adarsh ​​Police Station scheme will be started in Chhattisgarh from July 1, 2020.
• Under this, an effort will be made to develop all police stations in the state as Adarsh ​​police stations in Chhattisgarh.
• Some standards have been set for this, police stations that meet the prescribed criteria will be rewarded.
• These standards include the following points:
  • Conduct of Police In-charge and other employees with general public.
  • The atmosphere of the police station should be such that victims, women and children can tell their problems in police stations without any fear.
  • Maintenance of records at the police station should also be in line with the standard.
• Apart from this, the state government has also decided to review and withdraw small cases filed against tribal people in Bastar region of the state.

9. The world's first yoga university outside India was launched in Los Angeles.

• The world's first yoga university outside India was started in Los Angeles on the occasion of commemoration of the 6^th International Yoga Day.
• The name of this university is Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU).
• It combines scientific principles and modern research approaches to ancient Indian practice, yoga.
• Eminent Indian Yoga Guru Dr. H.R. Nagendra, Chancellor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Institute (SVYASA), is the first president of Vivekananda Yoga University.

10. Madhya Pradesh became number one wheat contributing state of the country this year.

• Madhya Pradesh has become the number one contributing state of wheat, outpacing Punjab this year.
• However, Punjab is still ahead of Madhya Pradesh in productivity per hectare of wheat.
• The area of ​​Punjab under wheat cultivation has remained close to 3.5 million hectares every year for the past decade.
• Meanwhile, the area of ​​MP under wheat has grown sequentially every year, doubling from 41 LH in 2007-08 to around 77.22 LH in 2018-19.
• Of the total wheat area in the country, Madhya Pradesh had a share of 31 percent, while Punjab cultivated wheat on 10.6 percent of the total national area.

11. New biomolecules were discovered to fight drug resistance in Kala-azar.

• Recently, researchers at Pune's National Center for Cell Science have discovered new biomolecules to fight drug resistance in Kala-azar.
• Kala-azar-
  • It is a disease affecting about 100 tropical countries including India.
  • It is caused by a parasite called Leishmania, which is spread by the bite of sand flies.
  • Leishmaniasis of the intestine is usually found in India, which is fatal if left untreated.
  • There are three types of leishmaniasis.

• 1. Visceral Leishmaniasis - affects many organs and is the most severe form of the disease.
  2. Cutaneous leishmaniasis- causes skin lesions and is the most common form.
  3. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis- causes skin and mucosal lesions.
• National Center for Cell Science (NCCS):
  • It is an autonomous organization under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
  • This organization was established in 1986.
  • It was established to facilitate cell biology research in the country.