Daily Current Affairs and GK | 30 July 2020

1. July 30: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.

• World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is observed every year on 30 July to raise awareness about the threat of human trafficking and to protect the human rights of victims.
• The theme of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2020 focuses on the first responders to human trafficking.
• For the first time in 2013, the United Nations General Assembly designated July 30 as World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
• According to the United Nations Drugs and Crime (UNODC), more than 2 million victims of trafficking have been detected worldwide since 2003.
• Globally, governments are trying to locate victims of trafficking and bring them justice.
• The UN has also started The Blue Heart Campaign to raise global awareness of human trafficking and its effects on society, so that crime can be prevented by encouraging the participation of governments, civil society, corporate sector and individuals.

2. Union Cabinet approved the National Education Policy 2020.

• Recently the National Education Policy 2020 has been approved by the Union Cabinet.
• The new education policy submitted by the committee constituted under the chairmanship of K.K Kasturirangan followed the TSR Subramanian Report (2016). The new National Education Policy format has also been made based on the suggestions received online.
• The following points have been emphasized in the National Education Policy-2020:
  • Creating a single regulator for higher education institutions except for legal and medical colleges.
  • Ending M.Phil courses.
  • Do not give much importance to board exams.
  • Conducting joint entrance examination for admission to universities.
• Also, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has now been named the Ministry of Education.
• The aim of the new National Education Policy-
  • Increase the gross enrollment rate in the field of higher education to 50% by 2035. The rate in 2018 was 26.3%.
  • At least 3.5 crore new seats will be increased in higher education institutions.
  • Provision of broad-based, multi-disciplinary, holistic undergraduate education, in which the curriculum will be flexible, creative and integrated with vocational education.
  • Also, the education of a graduate can be of three or four years, in this course one can also come out with certificates and diplomas at different levels.
  • The mother tongue or regional languages ​​will be the medium of instruction till the fifth grade.
  • Vocational education will also be given to children from sixth grade.
  • In the next 15 years, the system of associating colleges with universities will be phased out.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. Namami Gange project also included in the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration.

• This year the Namami Gange project has also been included in the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence.
• The project has been included in the Prime Minister's Awards for outstanding performance in the field of public administration.
• Namami Gange Project:
  • The project was launched in 2014.
  • The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga and its state equivalent organizations.
  • The National Mission for Clean Ganga aims to make Ganga clean and continuous.
  • It also aims to develop a socio-economic zone around the Ganges and its tributaries, which can strengthen the self-reliant India campaign.

4. Brajendra Navnit presented the credentials of his post to Roberto Azevedo, DG of World Trade Organization.

• Brajendra Navnit has presented his post of introduction to the Director General of the World Trade Organization, Roberto Azevedo.
• Recently, Brajendra Navnit has been appointed as the new Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the World Trade Organization.
• World Trade Organization (WTO):
  • It is an intergovernmental organization responsible for the regulation of international trade between different nations.
  • Headquarters - Geneva, Switzerland
  • Establishment - 1 January 1995

5. Agreement on Smart Grid Technology between PFC and IIT Kanpur.

• Recently, an agreement has been signed between Power Finance Corporation and IIT Kanpur on smart grid technology.
• The objective of this agreement is to assist IIT Kanpur to prepare the infrastructure for research and development regarding smart grid technology.
• Under this agreement, PFC will provide financial assistance of Rs 2,38,97,000 to IIT Kanpur.
• Under the project, IIT Kanpur will train 90 participants about smart grid technology. Out of this, 9 selected participants will also get fellowship and they will be assisted by Start-Up Innovation and Incubation Center Enterprise.
• Power Finance Corporation (PFC):
  • It is a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Power.
  • It was established in 1986.
  • It is the financial backbone of the Indian power sector.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank presented a report on Digital Education 2020.

• Recently Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has launched a report on Digital Education 2020.
• This report details in detail the new methods adopted by education departments of states and union territories to ensure accessible and inclusive education to children at home.
• A number of projects have been initiated to help learners such as DIKSHA platform, Swayam Prabha TV channel, On Air-Shiksha Vani and e-Pathshala etc.
• Students are also using online classes through social media tools such as WhatsApp groups, YouTube channels and Google.

(Source: News on AIR)

7. MoU between India and Zimbabwe on cooperation in the field of traditional medical systems and homeopathy approved by the Cabinet.

• Recently the agreement between India and Zimbabwe on cooperation in the field of traditional medical systems and homeopathy has been approved by the Union Cabinet.
• A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India and Zimbabwe on 3 November 2018 on the subject.
• The main objective of the MoU is to strengthen cooperation in the field of traditional medical systems on the basis of quality and mutual benefit.
• Zimbabwe:
  • It is a landlock country in southern Africa.
  • Its capital is Harare and the currency is the United States Dollar.

(Source: News on AIR)

8. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa laid the foundation stone of Life Sciences Park in Electronics City, Bangalore.

• Recently Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has laid the foundation stone of the much awaited Life Sciences Park at Electronics City, Bengaluru.
• The first phase of this park is expected to be completed by December 2022 based on the public private partnership model.
• Equipped with the world's best biotechnology infrastructure, Life Sciences Park has the potential to generate over 50,000 jobs.
• Also, it is estimated to house over 150 companies.
• Karnataka has a 9% market share in the biotechnology sector of Asia while India has a total of 35%.

(Source: News on AIR)

9. Green-Ag project launched in Mizoram.

• Recently Mizoram Agriculture Minister C Lalrinsanga has launched Green-Ag project in the state.
• The project aims to encourage sustainable change in agriculture without compromising the country's food security.
• The project will be implemented at Dampa Tiger Reserve in West Mizoram Mamit District and Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary in Lunglei District in the southern part of the state covering 30 villages.
• Mizoram is one of the five states where the green-ag project is being run. Other states are Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
• Green-Ag project:
  • This project is funded by the Global Environment Facility, while the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare is its national execution agency.
  • The project seeks to integrate biodiversity, climate change and sustainable land management objectives and practices in Indian agriculture.
  • The pilot project in all these states will end on 31 March 2026.

10. AstroGen project or Astronomy Genealogy project started in US.

• The AstroGen project has recently been launched by the American Astronomical Society and its Historical Astronomy Division.
• It is a genealogy project for academics, especially for those who have earned thier doctorate on research related to astronomy.
• The project allows these academics to trace their ancestors.
• The database used for this provides information about more than 33,000 astronomers, their advisors and links to universities and their dissertations.

11. NTPC Simhadri plant developed rail cycle.

• Recently, NTPC Simhadri plant near Visakhapatnam has developed a rail cycle.
• This is the first model of this kind.
• It can easily reach emergency places during rainfall.
• Rail bicycle is a light weight structure. It will be useful for patrolling on closed section or low traffic tracks due to Covid-19.
• NTPC Limited:
  • There is a Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power.
  • It is the largest power generation company in India.
  • The company was established on 7 November 1975.

(Source: The Hindu)

12. The latest report on the ‘Status of tigers, co-hunters and prey in India’ has been released by the central government.

• Recently, the latest report on the status of tigers, co-hunters and poaching in India has been released by the central government.
• This report states that there is very little hunting for tigers in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve.
• Therefore, focusing on the prey population is essential for the health and development of tiger populations in the Reserve Forest.
• It is mandatory to control anthropological pressure inside the park, such as grazing of animals and hunting of wild animals.
• Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve:
  • It is the largest tiger reserve in India.
  • The reserve is spread over five districts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The region consists mostly of Nallamala Hills.
  • The Krishna River flows through the reserve.

13. Stolen Natesa statue of Rajasthan temple returned to India.

• Recently, the Natesa statue of the Rajasthan temple that was stolen in 1998 has returned to India.
• In 1998, suspected thieves had stolen it and replaced it with a fake statue and sold it outside the country.
• Eventually, a London collector J. Kasmin, who received the statue in 2003, then handed it over to the Indian High Commission.
• It is currently in the Indian High Commission, London.
• Natesa Idol:
  • This is a beautiful Shiva statue of 4 feet height; it has a beautiful depiction of Nandi behind the right leg.
  • It was built in the ninth century from a rare sandstone.
  • It is a rare idol in the Pratihara style.
  • It was originally associated with Ghateshwara temple, Baroli, Rajasthan.

(Source: The Hindu)