Daily Current Affairs and GK | 29 September 2020

1. PM Modi inaugurates six Mega projects in Uttarakhand.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated six mega projects in Uttarakhand under the Namami Gange Mission.
• These projects include construction of Sewage Treatment Plants in Haridwar and Rishikesh, Chandreshwar Nagar, Chorpani and Badrinath.
• The first museum on Ganga, Ganga Avalokan, located at Chandi Ghat, Haridwar, was also inaugurated that will showcase the culture, biodiversity and rejuvenation activities done in Ganga river.
• He also launched a book titled ‘Rowing down the Ganges’ that conceptualizes the story of the Ganga. The book has been co-published by National Mission for Clean Ganga & Wildlife Institute of India.
• PM Modi also launched the logo of Jal Jeevan Mission and ‘Margdarshika’ for Gram Panchayats and ‘Paani Samitis’ under Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Namami Gange Mission:
  • It is a flagship program of Government of India launched in 2014.
  • It is an umbrella program that aims to abate pollution, conserve and rejuvenate Ganga.
  • It is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG).
  • Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) carries out the water quality monitoring of river Ganga.

2. World Heart Day: 29 September.

• World Heart Day is a global campaign to highlight that by controlling risks factors like tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, etc. at least 80% of the premature deaths from CVDs can be avoided.
• The day was created by the World Heart Federation, the only CVD organization in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) including heart disease and stroke accounts for 17.9 million of deaths globally.
• World leaders committed to reduce global mortality from Non-Communicable Diseases by 25% by 2025.
• Theme 2020: “Use Heart to Beat CVD”

(Source: WorldHeartFederation)

3. Former Assam CM Syeda Anwara Taimur passes away.

• The only woman Chief Minister of Assam, Syeda Anwara Taimur, passed away at the age of 84.
• She served as the Chief Minister of Assam from December 1980 to June 1981. During that time, the anti-foreigner movement in Assam was at its peak.
• She nominated to Rajya Sabha in 1988 and got elected in 2004.

(Source: The Hindu)

4. Dr. P.D. Vaghela to become chairman of TRAI.

• Dr. P.D. Vaghela will become chairman of TRAI by replacing current chairman Ram Sewak Sharma (R.S. Sharma) from 1 October for a period of three years or until the age of 65 years.
• The name of Dr. P.D. Vaghela has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
• Dr. P.D. Vaghela is an IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre and is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, since August 1, 2019.
• He has played an important role in the launching of GST in 2017 and also served as chairman of Kandla Port Trust.
• Ram Sewak Sharma (R.S. Sharma) has served as chairman of TRAI since August 2015.
• Appointment Committee of Cabinet:
  • It is the committee that finalizes the appointment to some senior positions like chairman and member of Railway Board, Chiefs of three military services, RBI governor, etc.
  • The committee is chaired by the Prime Minister and has the Union Home Minister onboard.    
• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI):
  • It is a statutory body established under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
  • It issues directions, orders and regulations concerning tariffs, interconnection, quality of service and governance.
  • It is headquartered in New Delhi.

(Source: Indian Express)

5. Famous Economist Isher Judge Ahluwalia passes away.

• Isher Judge Ahluwalia, an Indian economist, passed away due to brain cancer.
• She served as the director and chairman of Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).
• She was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2009.
• Some of the books written by her are:
  • Industrial Growth in India: Stagnation since the Mid-Sixties
  • Productivity and Growth in Indian Manufacturing
  • Breaking Through: A Memoir
  • Urbanization in India: challenges, opportunities and the way forward

(Source: Indian Express)

6. Three New National Investigation agency branches will be set up at Imphal, Chennai and Ranchi.

• Home Ministry has approved the establishment of three new NIA branches at Imphal, Chennai, and Ranchi.
• These new branches will help in quick response to any emergent situation.
• It will also increase the capability of the agency against terrorism and other matters.
• National Investigation Agency (NIA):
  • It was constituted under the provision of the NIA act 2008 in 2009.
  • It is a central agency to investigate any terror-related cases across the country.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • At present, it has nine branches in India.
  • Chief of NIA: Y.C. Modi

7. Railway digitalizes its supply chain through User Depot Module.

• User Depot Module is developed by the Centre for Railway Information system to digitalize its supply chain management.
• This system will be implemented in all Zones of Indian Railways.
• It will digitalize the information with real-time transactions and online information exchange among all stakeholders.
• It will digitalize user depots and will facilitate efficiency and transparency in asset management.
• Indian Railways:
  • It comes under the Ministry of Railways.
  • Indian Railways network is the fourth largest in the world by size.
  • It is divided into 18 zones and 70 divisions.
  • Current Chairman of Railway Board: Vinod Kumar Yadav

8. ICMR Vaccine Web portal and National Clinical Registry launched for COVID-19.

• Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Health and Family Welfare Minister, has launched the ICMR’s vaccine web portal and National Clinical Registry for Covid-19.
• Vaccine web portal: It will provide information related to the COVID-19 vaccine development in India and abroad.
• National COVID-19 Clinical Registry: It will collect data regarding clinical and laboratory investigations, treatments, management protocols and outcomes of hospitalized COVID patients in India.
• Initiatives like Eat Right Movement, Fit India Movement and Poshan Abhiyaan have played a vital role in making people aware of a healthy lifestyle.
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR):
  • The Indian Council of Medical Research is the apex body in India for the creation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
  • It is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi

9. Gan Samragni Lata Mangeshkar award conferred to Usha Mangeshkar.

• Veteran female playback singer Usha Mangeshkar was conferred Gan Samragni Lata Mangeshkar by the Maharashtra Government for the year 2020-21.
• She is the sister of famous playback singer Lata Mangeshkar.
• Usha Mangeshkar has sung songs in Marathi, Hindi and several other Indian language films.
• This award is given by the cultural department of the Maharashtra government.
• This award includes a cash prize of five lakh rupees, a certificate and a memento.

(Source: News on AIR)

10. Odisha government launches Slum Upgradation Programme.

• The Chief Minister of Odisha has launched a programme to make Odisha slum-free in three years.
• The slum upgradation programme is launched to improve the living condition of slum dwellers by providing them basic necessities.
• The programme aims to provide them with piped water supply, paved roads, street lights, sanitation, household electricity, community spaces and recreational areas.
• It will start initially in 1000 slums and will be extended in 3000 slums across the state in three years to make Odisha a slum free-state.
• An MoU has been signed between the Housing and Urban Development Department and the center of policy research for assistance in the implementation of the programme.
• Odisha:
  • It is a state on the Bay of Bengal in the east of India.
  • It is known for its tribal cultures and many ancient Hindu temples.
  • Its capital is Bhubaneswar.
  • The Chief Minister is Naveen Patnaik and Governor is Ganeshi Lal.

(Source: News on AIR)

11. UP make a clean sweep in the awards for Implementation of Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan.

• UP government won eight awards out a total eleven award by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for cleanliness and constructing maximum community toilets.
• UP has got the second rank in the implementation of the Gandagi Mukt Bharat scheme.
• In the individual category Prayagraj, Hardoi and Fatehpur got the first position in the Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan.
• The award will be distributed on 2^nd October in a virtual ceremony.
• Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyan:
  • It was launched on 20^thJune 2020 to provide employment and livelihood opportunities for migrant workers returned to their villages.
  • The Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal Ministry for this campaign.
  • It is a mission mode campaign for 125 days.
  • A total of 116 districts from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Odisha have been selected for this campaign.