Daily Current Affairs and GK | 6 and 7 September 2020

1. International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies: 7 September

• On 19 December 2019, UNGA adopted a resolution to observe an international day of clean air for blue skies.
• The first International Day of Clean Air for blue skies will be observed on 7 September 2020.
• The day stresses on the need to raise public awareness at every level regarding air pollution and its impact and also to improve air quality.
• Only 12% of the cities in the world meet WHO standards on air quality.
• 92% of the world population is exposed to polluted air causing around 7 million premature deaths every year.
• Theme: “Clean Air for All”
• Indian Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar will chair a webinar on International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
• He will also review the progress of the measures taken under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

2. Andhra Pradesh topped the state Business Reforms Action Plan-2019 (BRAP-2019).

• Andhra Pradesh has obtained the first rank in the state Business Reforms Action Plan 2019 that represents ease of doing business for Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Andhra Pradesh was followed by Uttar Pradesh and Telangana.
• The rankings were released by the Department of Industrial Promotion and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in a virtual event chaired by Finance Minister.
• The rankings are based on a survey conducted by the investor community during January and February 2020.
• Andhra Pradesh was the first state that launched ReSTART package for business continuity of MSMEs in post COVID scenario. The Andhra Pradesh government exempted all shops and establishments from renewal under AP Shops & Establishments Act, 1988.
• It also introduced single Integrated returns under all labour laws.
• The Action Plan for State Reforms was developed by DPIIT in 2015. The last ranking was released in 2018 in which Andhra Pradesh topped, followed by Telangana and Haryana.
• BRAP 2019 has a list of 187 reform action points to be implemented by 19 state departments and Andhra Pradesh has achieved 100% compliance to all the reform action points.

3. Government is celebrating 3^rd Rashtriya Poshan Maah in September 2020.

• Government is celebrating 3^rd Rashtriya Poshan Maah in September to address malnutrition among young children and women.
• Through Rashtriya Poshan Maah, government aims to encourage Jan Bhagidaari and to create a Jan Andolan.
• Rashtriya Poshan Maah is celebrated every year under POSHAN Abhiyaan (PM’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment).
• First Rashtriya Poshan Maah was celebrated in September 2018 and second Rashtriya Poshan Maah was celebrated in September 2019.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan (PM’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment) was launched in March 2018. Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal Ministry for POSHAN Abhiyaan.
• Targets under Poshan Abhiyaan:
  • Reduce stunting by 2% per year and from 38.4% (NFHS-4) to 25% by 2022
  • Reduce under-nutrition by 2% per year
  • Reduce low birth weight babies by 2% per year
  • Reduce Anaemia among children, adolescent girls, and women by 3% per year

4. Bilateral talks held between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Iranian counterpart, Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran.

• Bilateral talks were held between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Iranian counterpart, Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran.
• The talks were held when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stopped in Tehran during his return from Moscow to New Delhi.
• During the talk, regional security issues, which include peace and stability in Afghanistan were discussed.
• Ways to achieve progress in bilateral cooperation were also discussed during talks between Defence Minister and Iranian Brigadier.
• Iran is located in Western Asia. Its capital and largest city is Tehran. Its President is Hassan Rouhani.

5. Chandrayaan-3 may be launched in early 2021.

• Minister of State for Space Dr Jitendra Singh has said that Chandrayaan-3 may be launched in early 2021.
• Like Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 will have a Lander and Rover. They will be similar to Chandrayaan-2.
• The names of lander and rover of Chandrayaan-2 are Vikram and Pragyaan, respectively. Chandrayaan-3 will not have an orbiter. 
• Minister of State for Space Dr Jitendra Singh has also said that despite disruptions due to COVID-19, efforts are being made to launch India’s first ever Human Space Mission Gaganyaan by 2022.
• Chandrayaan-2:
  • It was launched on 22 July 2019 by a GSLV Mark III M1 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. Its lander (Vikram), rover (Pragyaan) and orbiter were developed in India.
  • On 7 September 2019, ISRO lost contact with Vikram lander carrying the rover, whereas the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter is still in orbit.

(Source: News on AIR)

6. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu expresses sympathy for death of Kesavananda Bharati.

• Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has expressed sympathy for the death of Kesavananda Bharati.
• Vice President has said that his support of Yakshagana played an important role in its revival in Karnataka.
• Yakshagana is a type of traditional theatre in Karnataka which originated between 10^th and 16^th centuries. It is stringly influenced by the Vaishnava Bhakti movement.
• Kesavananda Bharati was the chief priest of Edneer Mutt in Kerala. He is remembered for the Kesavananda Bharati case of 1973.
• In this case, the Supreme Court introduced the Basic Structure doctrine and ruled that Parliament cannot change the basic structure of the Constitution under Article 368.
• He is also known as Shankaracharya of Kerala.
• The following are some of the basic elements of Basic Structure of the Constitution derived from various judgments:
  • Supremacy of the Constitution
  • Secularism
  • Federalism
  • Democracy
  • Judicial Review
  • Free and Fair elections
  • Independence of Judiciary
  • Separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judiciary
  • Principle of Equality
  • Rule of Law
  • Unity and Integrity of the nation
  • Social Justice

(Source: News on AIR)

7. 3^rd phase of ‘Back to Village’ programme announced.

• In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, 3^rd phase of the ‘Back to Village’ programme has been announced by the government.
• The third phase of the programme will continue from October 2 to 12, 2020.
• During the first two phases of the programme, Gazetted Officers from the J&K administration visited each and every Panchayat of J&K.
• Phase-I of the programme was aimed at understanding people’s grievances and demands.
• Phase-II of the programme emphasized on devolution of power to Panchayats and understanding their functioning, grievances and demands.
• Phase-III has been planned for grievance redressal.
• Jammu & Kashmir:
  • On 31^st October 2019, Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh.
  • Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is located to the north of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
  • Its winter capital is Jammu and summer capital is Srinagar.
  • Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha

8. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal addresses ACMA’s 60^th annual session.

• The Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has addressed the 60^th annual session of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA).
• He asked Automotive Component Manufacturers to work with cooperation, collaboration, and commitment.
• He also appealed to them to compete with the rest of the world. He told Automotive Component Manufacturers about the huge demand for trusted partners in resilient global supply chains.
• The contribution of the Indian Auto Component Industry to India’s GDP is 2.3%. The growth of Indian Auto Component Industry has recently declined due to slowdown in demand and COVID-19.
• Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) was formed in 1959. It is the apex body that represents the Indian Auto Component Industry.

(Source: News on AIR)

9. Germany joins the Indo-Pacific club.

• Germany has joined the Indo-Pacific club with the aim of securing trade routes from aggressive China.
• It has also drafted 40-page guidelines and formally adopted a strategy for the Indo-Pacific region.
• Germany’s move is a sign of good outcome for the Quad or Quadrilateral Dialogue.
• Quad or Quadrilateral Dialogue is an informal strategic forum formed in 2007. Its members are US, Australia, Japan and India.
• Germany: It is located in the central and western region of Europe. Its capital and largest city is Berlin.

10. Special Super Fast Express trains started between Trichy and Howrah.

• Special Super-Fast Express trains have been started between Trichy (Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu) and Howrah (West Bengal).
• The train services have been launched by the Southern railway. They will run twice a week from September 15, 2020.
• Earlier daily trains from Egmore to Madurai, Tuticorin and Karaikudi had also been announced.
• Southern Railway is headquartered in Chennai. It was created in 1951 and is the earliest of railway zones created in India after Independence. It is the fourth largest zone of Indian Railways.

(Source: News on Air)

11. Central government selects Virudhunagar district as fully Digital Economy district.

• The central government has selected Virudhunagar district as Tamil Nadu‘s first fully Digital Economy district.
• Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu has many small and medium enterprises in the firecrackers and allied sectors.
• Various forms of cashless transactions such as ATM debit cards, Internet banking are being implemented by all industrial units and commercial establishments in Virudhunagar.
• Tamil Nadu:
  • It is famous for its temples of Dravidian style such as Meenakshi temple in Madurai, Brihadeshvara Temple of Thanjavur and Airavatesvara Temple of Darasuram.
  • It was formed on 26 January 1950.
  • Chennai is its capital and largest city.
  • Banwarilal Purohit is the current governor and Edappadi K. Palaniswami is current Chief Minister.
  • Union Territory of Puducherry is located east of Tamil Nadu. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are located in the north of Tamil Nadu. Kerala is located in its west.