Daily Current Affairs and GK | 4 August 2020

1. Draft Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020 formulated.

• Recently the Ministry of Defense has formulated the Defense Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020.
• Highlights of the Defense Production and Export Promotion Policy 2020:
  • The objective of this policy is to become self-sufficient in defense manufacturing under the Self-Reliant India Scheme.
  • This policy aims to achieve a turnover of Rs 1 lakh 75 thousand crore, including export of 35 thousand crore by 2025, in aerospace and defense goods and services.
  • The policy also prescribes the development of a dynamic, strong and competitive defense industry, including aerospace and naval shipbuilding industries, to meet the needs of the armed forces with quality products.
• At the same time, emphasis has also been placed on reducing the dependence on imports and taking the initiative of Make in India through domestic designs.
• The policy will also seek to encourage research and development, promote innovation, create Indian IP ownership, and develop an environment that promotes a strong and self-sufficient defense industry.

(Source: News on AIR)

2. Recent amendments to FDI in commercial coal mining have to be followed.

• The government has said that recent amendments will have to be followed to implement FDI in commercial coal mining.
• The government has recently revised its FDI policy.
• According to this policy-
  • Any company of a country with which India shares its land boundary, or where the beneficial owner of an investment in India is located or is a citizen of any such country, can invest here only through government route.
  • A citizen of Pakistan or an entity incorporated in Pakistan can invest in sectors and activities other than defense, space and nuclear power, only under the government route.
  • The government previously allowed 100% FDI in coal mining activities under the automatic route, including the associated processing infrastructure for the sale of coal.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. UAE, the first country in the Arab world to produce nuclear power.

• Recently the United Arab Emirates has become the first country in the Arab world to produce nuclear power.
• The first unit of the Barakah nuclear plant in the United Arab Emirates has recently commenced operations.
• After the commissioning of this new plant, UAE's dependence on oil and gas will be reduced.
• The plant is located in the Al-Dhafrah region of Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• It is powered by South Korean technology. It is expected to meet 25% of UAE's power requirements.
• Recently, the United Arab Emirates also sent Mars Mission Hope Probe into space.
• United Arab Emirates:
  • It is a country in western Asia at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf.
  • It shares border with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
  • Capital: Abu Dhabi
  • Currency: United Arab Emirates Dirham
  • President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

(Source: News on AIR)

4. Five more modern food storage systems will be built in Bangladesh.

• Five more modern food storage systems in Bangladesh will be built with World Bank assistance.
• Three of these are already under construction.
• The World Bank has approved an additional $ 202 million financing for modern food storage facilities in Bangladesh.
• This financing will help to increase the storage capacity of grain reserves to 5.35 lakh tonnes for 4.5 million households in Bangladesh.
• The project will support the construction of eight modern grain storage steel silo complexes for rice and wheat in eight districts.
• Currently Bangladesh has a storage capacity of about 2 million tonnes of grain, most of which is in poor condition leading to loss of grain quantity and nutritional values.
• This project will help improve the efficiency of grain storage management in the country by at least 50%.
• Bangladesh:
  • It is a South Asian country that lies to the east of India.
  • Capital: Dhaka
  • Currency: Bangladeshi Taka

5. World Breastfeeding Week: 1 to 7 August.

• World Breastfeeding Week is an annual festival, held every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 120 countries.
• The theme of World Breastfeeding Week this year is to support breastfeeding for a healthier planet and taking precautionary measures in light of the global pandemic.
• In India, the Ministry of Women and Child Development plans to organize online activities to sensitize citizens about the importance of breastfeeding.
• Breastfeeding until the first 6 months of childbirth and then continuous breastfeeding for at least 2 years is important to combat malnutrition.
• Mother milk is also known as liquid gold, is the protective shield an infant receive in its early days.
• Mother's milk serves as the first vaccination to provide overall nutrition and immunity against infection.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu launched e-Gyan Mitra mobile app.

• Recently Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have launched e-Gyan Mitra mobile app.
• This app has been launched to provide online education.
• This app has been launched by the Education Department of Daman Administration.
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu:
  • It is a union territory in western India.
  • They were merged together by the Indian government by passing a law in December 2019.
  • The region was part of Portuguese India and came under Indian administration in the mid-20th century.

7. India withdrew its participation from the Women's World Squash Team Championship.

• Recently India withdrew its participation from the Women's World Squash Team Championship.
• The reason for this has been attributed to lack of time for preparation and travel uncertainties amid the covid-19 pandemic.
• Cyrus Poncha, secretary of the Squash Rackets Federation of India, said the decision was taken after consulting top players.
• The Women's World Squash Championship will be held from 15 to 20 December 2020 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

(Source: News on AIR)

8. Two NASA astronauts who went into space through Space X mission have returned to Earth.

• Recently, two NASA astronauts who went into space through Space X mission have returned to Earth.
• Both passengers have successfully completed their historic two-month mission of staying at the space station.
• Astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Bob Behnken return to the splashdown by their capsules parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico.
• It was an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk's Space X Company.
• The first commercially built and operated spacecraft was to take people into or near orbit.
• This launch experience paves the way for possible tourist flights next year.

9. NGT has imposed an interim ban on the felling of coconut trees in Agatti Island.

• Recently NGT has put an interim ban on the felling of coconut trees in Agatti Island.
• Coconut trees are being felling indiscriminately in Agatti island of Lakshadweep for the purpose of constructing a beach road.
• Agatti Islands:
  • Is a 7.6 km long island.
  • It is an atoll located on the coral called Agatti Atoll in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, India.
• National Green Tribunal:
  • It is the body responsible for speedy disposal of matters related to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
  • It was established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
  • India is the third country in the world to establish NGT. Also only Australia and New Zealand have such bodies.

(Source: The Hindu)

10. According to a study, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh rank high in the conservation of endangered dhole in India.

• According to a recent study, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh occupy a high position in the conservation of endangered dhole in India.
• These three states were sufficiently geared to consolidate forest reserves and to reduce the pressure on forests and good prey populations for dhole.
• On the other hand, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana and Goa have been directed to increase financial investment in forest and wildlife sectors.
• Dhole:
  • It is one of the highest social carnivores found in tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia.
  • It is also known as the Asian wild dog, red dog and the whistle dog.
  • Its IUCN status is endangered.
  • Scientific name:  Cuon alpinus
  • Family: Canidae

(Source: The Hindu)

11. According to the Madhesi leader, India should be invited to China’s quadrilateral.

• According to Madhesi leader, Upendra Yadav, India should be invited for the quadrilateral of China, which will send a positive message to the entire South Asian region.
• Upendra Yadav is the president of the Janata Samajwadi Party of Nepal.
• Mr. Yadav played an important role in the blockade of Nepal during 2015-16 which was mainly organized to address the representative deficit to the Madhesis or people of the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar border.
• Quadrilateral arrangement:
  • Recently, this process has been initiated by China to coordinate and cooperate on several issues of regional concern.
  • This includes Afghanistan, China, Nepal and Pakistan.
  • The China-led virtual quadrilateral ministerial discussion was held on 27 July.
  • Three of the four quadrants China, Pakistan and Nepal are in territorial disputes with India.

(Source: The Hindu)

12. Irish politician John Hume died at the age of 83.

• Recently Irish politician John Hume died at the age of 83.
• He joined the Northern Irish Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.
• A moderate Social Democratic and Labor Party Catholic leader, Hume was awarded the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize for ending violence in Northern Ireland.
• He shared the award with David Trimble.

(Source: The Hindu)

13. Leopard census report will be released soon.

• Recently the Wildlife Institute of India has said that the Leopard Census Report will be released soon.
• As part of the global tiger census, this report dedicated to leopards is set to be released.
• The last formal census on leopards of India was conducted in 2014, with a population of between 12,000 and 14,000.
• The Wildlife Institute of India has also estimated 8,000 leopards in the area around the tiger habitat this year.
• This year, an unprecedented number of camera traps were deployed in the survey.
• Around 26,838 camera traps were installed in 72,000 square km of tiger habitat.
• Wildlife Institute of India:
  • It is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
  • It was established in 1982.
  • The institute is located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

(Source: The Hindu)

14. eVIN is ensuring necessary immunization services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Recently, the government said that the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network i.e. E-VIN has ensured the necessary vaccination facilities to prevent people from disease during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The e-vin network has been expanded to 32 States and Union Territories and will be expanded soon in the remaining states and Union Territories.
• At present, there are 23 thousand 507 cold chain points in 585 districts of 22 states and two union territories of the country, in which E-VIN technology is being used to deliver vaccines at the right time.
• eVIN:
  • This is a new technology related solution.
  • The aim is to provide information about vaccine stocks and their availability and temperature requirements for storage.
  • The system is also used to maintain continuity of vaccine-related services to children and pregnant women in various diseases during the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • It is being implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the National Health Mission.
  • This has helped strengthen the supply-chain system of vaccination across the country.

(Source: P.I.B)