జూన్ 2020 : కరెంట్ అఫైర్స్ 01

మే 2020 : కరెంట్ అఫైర్స్ - 04

“MY IAF”: Indian Air Force launches new mobile application for aspirants

 

As part of the ‘Digital India’ initiative, the Chief of the Air Staff, Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria has launched a mobile application named ‘My IAF’ containing career-related information with job details that are going to be useful for candidates.

How will it serve the candidates?

The app will serve the candidates by providing information regarding the selection process, training, pay scale, and other important details for the post of officer and airmen.

About the app

• The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) has developed the mobile app.
• The app will provide brief information about the history and stories of IAF.
• It contains entertaining videos and adventurous games.
• Other than the candidates, one can have the experience to observe the aircraft in the inventory.
• Real-time updates of IAF will also be visible.

What is the function of C-DAC?

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing is an autonomous scientific society, founded in 1988 and conducts its operation under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It is associated with various research initiatives related to the High-Performance Computing, Multilingual Computing and Heritage Computing, Professional Electronics, Software Technologies, Health Informatics, and Education.

Indian Air Force

IAF is the supreme air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. It was founded in 1932. It is headquartered at New Delhi (Vayu Bhawan). The motto of the organization is ‘Glory that touches the sky’. Arjan Singh is the first and only Officer to be promoted to the five star rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force.

India’s longest ropeway service opened in Guwahati over Brahmaputra

 

Northeast Indian city, Guwahati has earned the longest river crossing ropeway in India across the Brahmaputra river. The project has been completed with an enormous effort of 11 years.

About the ropeway

• It was installed by Kolkata-based Samir Damodar Ropeways.
• The 1.8-kilometer long ropeway linked North Guwahati to Guwahati City.
• The carrying capacity of the ropeway is 31, including 1 Operator.
• It has been designed according to the relevant Indian and international standards.

What are the benefits of the ropeway?

• It will reduce the travel time to cross the river which usually takes a long time using ferries.
• It will ensure an uninterrupted transportation facility. Previously the rise in the river caused impediments in the transport as well as more prone to accidents.
• A total of about 250 persons per hour would be able to cross the river.
• The newly launched ropeway will boost tourism.
• The ropeway provides a bird’s eye view of the Urvashi Island and Umananda Temple on Peacock Island.

Some facts about the ropeway system in India

• Gulmarg Gondola is the second-highest cable car in the world and the highest and longest cable car in Asia.
• Pavagadh Gujarat is the third busiest ropeway of India.
• Haridwar Uttarakhand is the first city of India having two passenger ropeways.

Mansa Devi ropeways service is the busiest ropeway of India.

ASTROSAT detected UV light from a galaxy, 9.3 billion light-years away

Pune based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics confirmed that the AstroSat satellite has detected an extreme ultraviolet (UV) ray from a galaxy that is 9.3 billion light-years away from Earth.

What is ASTROSAT?

• Astrosat is the first multi-wavelength space telescope launched by ISRO from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in 2015. 
• It has a set of five unique X-ray and ultraviolet telescopes. The mission duration was planned for 5 years.

About the IUCAA led global team

• The discovery of UV light was conducted by a team that consists of scientists from India, Switzerland, France, the USA, Japan, and the Netherlands.
• The team was led by Dr. Kanak Saha.
• The news of the discovery was published in an online, peer-reviewed, scientific journal called “Nature Astronomy”.
• The team observed the galaxy that is located in the Hubble Extreme Deep Field.

Key findings could be made

• It will help to find how the dark ages of the universe ended and transition in the light ages took place in the universe.

NASA’s previous approach

• NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope was commissioned with the same objective as ASTROSAT but it failed to detect any UV emission. 
• As reported by experts, the background noise in the ultraviolet detector of ASTROSAT is much less than that of the Hubble Space Telescope.

What is the special OMO which has been launched by the RBI? How does it impact the economy?

 The Reserve Bank of India recently declared that it is going to conduct simultaneous purchase and sale activities of government securities under the Open Market Operations for an amount of Rs 20,000 crore in two channels.

Open Market Operation (OMO)

• An open market operation (OMO) is the activity of the central bank that is associated with giving or taking liquidity in its currency to the banks or from the banks. 
• The central bank, (generally RBI In the case of India) can either buy or sell government bonds in the open market.

Impacts on the economy

• OMO help to regulate the money supply in the economy.
• Purchasing government securities injects the money supply in the economy.
• Selling government securities flows out liquidity from the system.
• RBI conducts the Open Market Operations through commercial banks.
• OMO reduces the impact of liquidity on the interest rate and inflation rate.

RBI decided to buy government securities including
6.18% maturing on 4th November 2024.
8.24% maturing on 15th February 2027.
5.79% maturing on 11th May 2030.
7.95%maturing on 28th August 2032.

The purchase and sale operation of government securities at the same time includes purchasing government securities of longer maturities and selling the same amounts of securities of shorter maturities.

Atma Nirbhar Bharat, to get a boost with ‘Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge

 The ministry of electronics and IT of the government of India launched a contest titled ‘Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge’ with the vision of going one step further towards self-reliance or “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”. In the launching event, Union electronics and information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stated, the contest is going to provide impetus to the Start-up ecosystem, innovation as well as in the field of research in India.

Swadeshi Microprocessor Challenge

The initiative aims at designing microprocessors for the development of various technological products. The challenge not only seeks innovative solutions for the future requirements of different sectors but it should also have the ability to overcome the domestic as well as global challenges regarding security, technological glitch, and import dependency.

• Students from all levels and startup companies can participate in the challenge.
• Prize money of total Rs. 4.30 crore will be provided by the government in the following way.
• Total of 1 crore to 100 semi-finalists. For 25 finalists, a total of 1 crore and Rs. 2.3 crore for the top 10 teams.
• Top 10 finalists will also have incubation support for 1 year.

‘Shakti’ and ‘Vega’:  ‘Shakti’ and ‘Vega’ are the names of two microprocessors,  indigenously developed by the Indian Institute of Technology,  Madras, and Center for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC).

Atma Nirbhar app challenge: Previously, the Government of India had launched this program to identify the best designed Indian Apps that are being used by citizens. A total of 24 mobile apps won the challenges.

USD 1 billion loan approved by ADB for 2025 visioned Delhi-Meerut Rapid transit system

 

Manila based Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a total of 1 billion  USD  loan to provide assistance for the construction of modern, high-speed Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System. ADB’S finance will include the construction of railway tracks, station buildings, maintenance facilities, and traction, and power supply.

Aim

• The project aims at smoothening regional connectivity by establishing transit options across the densely populated sectors of the National Capital Region connecting Delhi to Meerut in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

What is the Delhi-Meerut Rapid transit system?

• Delhi-Meerut RRTS is an 82-kilometer long semi high-speed rail corridor that connects Delhi and Meerut via Ghaziabad. 
• The network is the first of three priority rail corridors, planned under Phase-I of the RRTS project of NCR Transport Corporation.

What are the advanced features of the RRTS?

• A high technology signaling system
• Special constructional design set up for interchange with other modes transport
• Special arrangement for women, children, elderly people, and differently-abled people

Long term objectives

• The project will ensure safe, reliable, and uninterrupted travel considering the factor of air pollution and other environmental impacts.

Asian Development Bank

• ADB is a regional development bank that was established in 1966 with the objective of social development including poverty alleviation through economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. 
• It is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.

ILO-ADB report: concern expressed on job loss of 41 lakh youth in India amid the Covid-19 pandemic

 The joint report of the International Labour Organization and the Asian Development Bank titled ‘Tackling the COVID-19 youth employment crisis in Asia and the Pacific’ apprehended that the COVID-19 pandemic may hit with a job loss of 41 lakh youth in India. The report also added that a major percentage of job loss will be faced by the workers associated with the construction and farm sector.

What are the key findings of the report?

The report conducted a regional evaluation of the ‘Global Survey on Youth and COVID-19’. 

• The youth of the age group of 15-24 are going to experience the maximum impact
• The pandemic outbreak severely affected the apprenticeship and internship program.
• The report considered three factors as responsible for this condition i.e. reduced working hours and wages, job losses, lack of training, and education.

Measures suggested by the report

• The report suggested the government to take some actions with immediate effect on employment generation, training & education, and prevention of any further impact.
• It suggested wage subsidies and public employment programs for the youths of India.
• More inclusion of youth in the labor market with innovative solutions for better allocation of resources.

Global picture

• The report showed an increasing trend of youth unemployment rates in countries like Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, China.

International Labour Organization

• ILO is an agency under the United Nations whose objective is to set international labor standards for the advancement of social and economic justice. 
• It was established in 1919 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland

Death Valley in Southern California witnessed its hottest temperature in more than a century

 Furnace Creek of the Death Valley in the Southern California desert recorded its highest air temperature on Earth since July of 1913. The Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration measured 54.4 degrees Celsius temperature in that area. However, the verification of the recorded temperature is yet not confirmed by the concerned authority.

What is Death Valley?

• Death Valley is a graben (a down-dropped block of land between two mountain ranges), located in Eastern California region. 
• Due to its location in the rainshadow area of four mountain ranges, the valley is extremely dry in nature. 
• According to scientists the high temperature is caused by Solar heating, warm air tapping, warm air migration, hot mountain winds.

Why is it making news?

• Death Valley is considered one of the  hottest places on Earth. 
• It is best known for creating a record for the highest recorded air temperature on Earth at 56.7 degrees Celsius on 10th July 1913. 
• Recently, the thermometer near the area has soared to 54.4 degrees Celsius, which is the highest temperature in more than a century.

NOAA

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a scientific agency in America, associated with the observations regarding the conditions of the oceans, major waterways, and the atmosphere.

What are the other hottest places in the world?

• Other than the Death Valley, California several hottest places are there in the world i.e. Kebili (Tunisia), Mitribah (Kuwait), Turbat (Pakistan), Dallol (Ethiopia), Aziziyah (Libya).

Highest temperature recorded in India

• In 2016 Palodi, Rajasthan witnessed 51.0 degrees Celsius which is the highest ever recorded temperature in India. 
• Recently, Rajasthan’s Churu recorded a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius.

RBI formulated new regulations framework for Umbrella entity for retail payments

 The Reserve Bank of India formulated a new framework for the establishment of a new umbrella entity for retail payments. According to RBI, the entity will be handed over the responsibility of setting up, managing, and operating new payment systems in the retail space following the same way as the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) does.

• The guideline of RBI says such an entity must have a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 500 crore. 
• The entity will be registered under  ‘for-profit’ or a Section 8 Company as per the Companies Act, 2013.

What is the Companies Act 2013?

• It is an Act of the Parliament of India to regulate the incorporation, responsibilities, directors, dissolution of a company. 
• It has 29 chapters that contain 470 sections. Section 8 Company is registered for charitable or non-profit purposes.

What is retail payment?

• Retail payments are the transactions between consumers and businesses and public authorities like store payments, online payment.

NPCI

• National Payments Corporation of India is a non-profit organization that is registered under section 8 of the Companies Act 2013. 
• It is the umbrella organization that looks after the matter of retail payments and settlement systems in India.

Maharashtra’s First Woman Election Commissioner passed away

On July 16, 2020 the former IAS officer and the first woman election commissioner of Maharashtra Smt Neela Satyanarayan passed away. The 1972 batch officer was admitted at the Seven Hills Hospital, Mumbai after she was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Highlights

• Neela Satyanarayan retired in 2014. 
• She has penned more than 150 songs. 
• Also, she has composed music for several Marathi movies. 
• The officer just like every other election commissioners faced several challenges in her career.
• The GoI has constituted several committees and brought about law reforms to keep up the autonomy of these executives.

Recommendations: Changes in Election Commissions

• The second administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) recommends that the state election commissioner should be recommended by the Governor based on the recommendation made by a collegium. 
• The Collegium should comprise of Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition of Legislative Assembly and the speaker of state legislative assembly.
• The 255^th report on Electoral Reforms prepared by the Law Commission recommends that a new sub clause should be included in the constitution to provide an independent and permanent secretariat to the Election Commission of India and also to the State Election Commission. 
• This will help to ensure autonomy of the commission and also help in conducting free and fair local body election.

State Election Commission

• Under Article 243, the State Election Commission is vested with the powers to control, direct and prepare electoral rolls of all Panchayats and Municipalities. 
• The State Election Commissioner, who heads the commission is appointed by the Governor of the state.
• The article also states that the tenure and appointment of the state election commissioner is directed according to the law made by the state legislature.

2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar

On July 15, 2020, the Federation Internationale de Football Association announced that the 2022 World Cup is to be held in Qatar. The governing body also released schedule of matches.

Highlights

• The 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the first world cup to be held in Arab World and also the first in a muslim-majority country. 
• The World Cup would be the last to involve 32 teams as the teams are to be increased to 48 in 2026 tournament.
• The tournament is to be held in November-December. 
• The final match of the tournament has been scheduled on December 18, 2020, which is also Qatar National Day.

India

• India has never participated at the FIFA World Cup. 
• Indian National Team ranks 108 in the latest FIFA rankings that was released in 2019.
• The Indian Football team has participated in AFC Asian Cup and Olympics.

India-Bhutan open new trade route

On July 16, 2020, India and Bhutan opened a new trade route between Jaigon in West Bengal and Pasakha in Bhutan.

Highlights

• The land route will help to move industrial raw materials and goods destined for Pasakha Industrial Estate. 
• The route will help boost trade and commerce and will lead to decongestion of vehicular traffic.
• Bhutan is India’s closest partner.

The China Factor

• India had recently proposed to build road in Yeti territory of Bhutan which China claimed recently. 
• The road will also help India access Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh quickly. 
• The road will reduce distance between Guwahati and Tawang by 150 kilometres
• China claims Tawang to gain absolute control over Tibet.

Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary

• In June 2020, China tried to block funding of Sakteng wildlife sanctuary at the United Nations Development Programme-global Environment Facility Council. 
• The sanctuary is located in eastern Bhutan. 
• According to China, the sanctuary was part of disputed territory.

Punjab Government hands over request letter for setting up one of the Proposed Bulk Drug Park in Bhatinda

On behalf of the State Government of Punjab, Manpreet Singh Badal (Finance Minister of Punjab) met DV Sadananda Gowda (Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers) on 13^th July 2020 at New Delhi.

• The Finance Minister of Punjab handed over the request letter to the Union Minister for setting up of one of the three proposed Bulk Drug Park of India in Bhatinda district of Punjab.

Background

• For encouraging the production of Medical Devices and Active Pharmaceutical Products (API) / Key Starting Material domestically in order to promote Make in India in the Healthcare sector, on 12^th March 2020 the Union Cabinet has approved a scheme under which a total of 4 medical devices parks and three Bulk Drug Parks (API) will be set up in the country.
• The scheme will be a production linked incentive scheme from the Central Government and a total expected Rs 13760 crore will be borne by the Central Government. 
• Once developed and operational, the Bulk Drug Parks and Medical Devices Parks will result in the production of Rs 46,400 crore and Rs 68,437 crore of incremental production respectively resulting in a significant number of employment opportunities

Nepal’s Prime Minister accused India of Cultural Encroachment by Stating ‘India Created Fake Ayodhya and Lord Rama was Nepali’

On the occasion of Bhanu Jayanti, Nepal’s Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli attended an event organized at his residence in Kathmandu in which he has now accused India of Cultural Encroachment.

Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Remarks on Ramayana

• According to Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Knowledge, India has manipulated the history, Lord Rama was Nepali, Not Indian, and the Ayodhya City in which Lord Rama was born is a part of Nepal’s Parsa district’s Birgunj city.
• He has further added that the holy place where King Dashrath had executed the rites to get the son and the Balmiki Asharam is also in Nepal.
• The Nepali Prime Minister defended his words by stating that how it is possible for Lord Rama (from the Ayodhya in India) to travel to Janakpuri (in Nepal) to marry Sita at that time without any means of transportation. 
• He explained further by saying that without any telephone or mobile phone how could Lord Rama (from Ayodhya in India) have come to know about Janakpuri.
• By changing the Indian Epic ‘Ramayana’ in which Lord Rama is born in Ayodhya City in India’s State Uttar Pradesh, the intentions of the Nepali Prime Minister are quite clear as he further continues to deteriorate relation’s with India under China’s influence.

SHUDH: UV Sanitizing Device developed by IIT Kanpur

The IIT Kanpur has developed an Ultra Violet Sanitizing product called “Shudh”. The device is capable to disinfect 10 ×10 square feet room in just 15 minutes

Highlights

• The disinfection helper, SHUDH is smartphone operated and is handy. 
• It has six UV lights. Each UV light is of 15 watts. 
• The device can be used to assist at highly prone places such as hotels, hospitals, malls, offices and schools.
• As it has the feature of smartphone attached to it, the device can be operated remotely as well.

UV Sanitization

• Usually UVC (Ultra Violet-C) is used to kill micro organisms. 
• This includes drug resistant bacteria as well. 
• UVC is the most dangerous to human beings, especially to their skin and eyes. 
• The other UV forms such as UV-A and UV-B can cause sunburns and premature aging.
• UVC light does not reach the earth surface as the atmosphere absorbs it. 
• The UVC used in sanitizers is man made.

World’s First Reusable PPE Kits with Triple Viral Shield Technology launched

Indian Manufacturing Company- Loyal Textile Mills on 9^th July 2020 launched the first of its kind in the world- reusable PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Kits. Along with reusable PPE kits, reusable garments and face masks with zero virus penetration were also unveiled by Loyal Textile Mills.

• The reusable masks, garments, and PPE Kits was launched by Loyal Textile Mills with collaborating with Reliance Industries Limited and Switzerland based textile innovation company- HeiQ Materials AG.
• The 3 products will be available in the market under the brand ‘Supera Shield’ of Loyal Textile Mills.

Triple Viral Shield Technology of the Reusable Masks, Garments and PPE Kits

1. The reusable masks, garments, and PPE kits are made with the Viroblock Technology of HeiQ Materials AG.
2. The fiber used for making the reusable masks, garments, and PPE kits was ‘R ELAN Fibre’ of Reliance Industries Limited. R ELAN Fiber inhibits bacterial and viral growth.
3. Viral Barrier PU film Lamination: The fabric in the reusable mask and PPE kit has been engineered with viral barrier PU film lamination imported from the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Number of Times Reusable

As per Loyal Textile Mills, the garments and masks can be washed for up to 25 times for reuse while the PPE kit can be washed up to 10 times for reuse.

Prime Minister e-Inaugurated 750 MW Asia’s Largest Solar Power Plant in Rewa

Through video conferencing, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Plant on 10^th July 2020. To date, the 750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project is the largest single-site solar power projects in India and also in Asia.

Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project

• The Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project is located in Gurh Tehsil of Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district. 
• It is spread over 1,590 acres of land.  
• For the successful implementation of the Power Project, a Joint Venture Company between Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) and Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikash Nigam Limited (MPUVNL) was set up. 
• The name of the Joint Venture Company is Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL).
• The entire cost of the Solar Power Project is worth around Rs 4000 crore. 
• International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the transaction adviser for the Solar Power Project.  
• On 31^st January 2018, the World Bank Group has approved a loan of USD 30 million (approx Rs 225 crore) for the internal infrastructure of the project.
• Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is an institutional customer of the 750 MW Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power Project. 
• 24 percent of the power generated by the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Plant will be supplied to Delhi Metro.

Boeing Completes Delivery of 37 Military Helicopters to India

The United States-based multinational Aerospace Company- Boeing had completed the delivery of all 37 Military Helicopter in the month of June 2020 that were ordered by the Defence Ministry for the Indian Armed Forces in 2015. This was informed by Boeing through a news release statement on their website on 10^th July 2020.

• Out of the 37 Military Helicopter- 22 were AH-64E Apache Helicopter and 15 were CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift Helicopter. 
• The last five of the 22 Apache Helicopters were delivered in June 2020 to the Indian Air Force at the Air Force Station in Hindan while the delivery of Chinook Helicopters was completed in the month of March 2020.

Background

• On 22^nd September 2015, the Union Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the procurement of the 37 Military Helicopters from Boeing.  
• A week later on 29^th September 2015, the contract for the purchase of the 37 Military Helicopters was signed.
• The contract has a follow on orders clause as per which apart from the 22 Apache and 15 Chinook, India can place an order for 11 more AH-64E Apache Helicopter and 7 additional CH-47F(I) Chinook Military Helicopters.

New Helicopters Deal Signed in February 2020

• During the visit of the United States President to India in February 2020, a combine USD 3 billion deal has been signed for the purchase of 24 MH-60 Romeo Seahawk Helicopter(built by Lockheed Martin’s subsidiary company-Sikorsky Aircraft) for the Indian Navy at USD 2.6 billion and another 6 AH-64E Apache Military Helicopters.

Uttar Pradesh ‘Startup Policy 2020’ gets Cabinet Approval

For making the State more conducive for Startups, the State Cabinet of the Uttar Pradesh Government has given its approval to an independent and comprehensive ‘Startup Policy 2020’ on 8^th July 2020. Until the Startup Policy 2020, Uttar Pradesh did not have an independent and comprehensive Policy for the Startups in the state, policy for Startups was governed under the- Uttar Pradesh Information Technology and Startup Policy 2017.

The Uttar Pradesh ‘Startup Policy’ was prepared by the State Government with the help of NITI Aayog back in 2018. The Policy got the approval of the State Cabinet on 8^th July 2020.

Startup Policy 2020

• From the date of notification by the State Government, the Startup Policy 2020 will be applicable for a period of 5 years. 
• The aim will be of the corporatization of more than 10,000 startups across the state in these 5 years.
• For achieving the aim, 100 incubators will be set up across all the 75 districts of the state by making sure at least one incubator in a district has been set up. 
• As per Government estimates, this Startup Policy will generate 50,000 direct and 1,00,000 indirect jobs across the state.
• Other Major Goals under the Policy are:  To establish the largest incubator of India in the state and also to establish the first dedicated Incubator for the Defence Sector in the country.

Startup Fund

• On 20^th May 2020, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath had launched the Uttar Pradesh ‘Startup Fund’. 
• This Startup Fund will be managed by SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India).

IIT Alumni Council signs Agreement with CSIR-IGIB

On 8^th July 2020, an agreement has been signed between the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) and IIT Alumni Council.

About the Agreement

• As per the Agreement Signed, joint research work on COVID-19 will be conducted and data of COVID-19 positive patients will also be analyzed jointly by the CSIR-IGIB and the IIT Alumni Council.
• Along with the statement for the signing of the agreement, it was also informed that Imaging data of over 8500 COVID-19 patients have been handed over to CSIR-IGIB by the IIT Alumni Council. 
• The imaging data of 8500 patients are from the temporary COVID Care Facility at the National Sports Club of India Dome (NSCI Dome) at Southern Mumbai’s Worli. 
• The imaging data will be provided in the de-identified form by the CSIR-IGIB.

First Line of MegaLab Mumbai by the End of July

• On 29^th May 2020, the IIT Alumni Council had announced that it will set up one of the largest COVID-19 testing facility of the world in Mumbai. 
• The name of the facility will be MegaLab Mumbai. Mumbai University was announced as a partner for the MegaLab Mumbai initiative.
• The MegaLab Mumbai will have three independent lines. First-line with a capacity of 1 million (10 lakh) tests per month), Second with 3 Million Tests per month, and the Third line with 6 Million Tests per Month. In combination, all three independent lines will have a total capacity of 1 crore (10 million) tests per month.
• The First Line of the MegaLab Mumbai is expected to be ready by the end of July 2020, which will have the capacity to test 10 million samples per month.
• MegaLab Mumbai is part of the C19 initiative. C19 initiative was launched by IIT Alumni Council in February 2020.

Six Strategic Bridges in Jammu & Kashmir e-Inaugurated by Defence Minister

On 9^th July 2020, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has e-Inaugurated 6 strategic bridges in sensitive border areas of Jammu & Kashmir. All the six bridges with strategic importance along the International Border and Line of Control were constructed in record time by working in extremely difficult weather conditions and terrains by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

About the Bridges

• 2 bridges out of the 6 are on the Tarnah Nallah of the Kathua district
• In Jammu district’s Akhnoor-Pallanwala road, 4 bridges are located
• All these 6 bridges were constructed by Borders Roads Organisation under Project Sampark
• The length of the 6 bridges ranges from a minimum of 30 metres to a maximum of 300 metres
• Total cost for the construction of the 6 bridges was Rs 43 crore
• The 6 bridges are constructed by focusing on the strategic importance of the region as all these bridges will help in facilitating the movement of the Indian Armed Forces

Tarnah Bridge

• Two Bridges out of the six have been constructed at Tarnah Nallah of Kathua district. 
• Out of these 2 bridges, one bridge is 160 metres (named Tarnah I bridge) long while the other is 300 metres (named as Tarnah II bridge) long.
• Tarnah I bridge of 160 metres is on the old Samba Kathua Road. Tarnah II bridge of 300 metres is on Jammu-Kathua National Highway.

Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

• The Former and First Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru is credited as the founder of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). 
• It is headquartered in New Delhi and was founded on 7^th May 1960.
• At present, BRO operates under 18 projects in the country. 
• It maintains across 32,885 Kilometers of road and more than 12,200 meters of permanent bridges across the country. 
• In the last two years, BRO has constructed around 5,800 metres of permanent bridges across the country.

From Air Pollution- New Delhi has the Most Economic Impact in the World in the First Half of 2020

Environmental Groups has launched an Online Tool on 9^th July 2020 as per which India’s Capital New Delhi has the most Economic Impact (based on Per Capita) in the World from Air Pollution during the first half of the year 2020.

About the Online Tool

• The online tool is named ‘Clean Air Counter’. To estimate the health impact due to Air Pollution, the Clean Air Counter tool uses models that have been devised under the epidemiological observational study of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD).
• The tool was launched under a combined effort of the Regional South East Asia Office of the global environmental organization- Greenpeace, Centre For Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA- Headquartered at Finland’s Helsinki) and IQAir AirVisual.
• Clean Air Counter Tool has measured Smog Pollution in 28 major cities across the world.

Highlights from the Report by Clean Air Counter Tool (1^st January to 30^th June 2020)

• China’s Shanghai registered the highest an estimated 27,000 deaths due to Air Pollution among the 28 cities, followed by New Delhi with an estimated 25,000 and China’s capital Beijing with estimated 22,000 deaths.
• On Per Capita Basis:  New Delhi has suffered the most economic impact. An estimated 5.8 percent of New Delhi’s annual GDP was lost due to Air Pollution. Beijing and Mumbai are ranked in 2^nd and 3^rd Place respectively in terms of annual GDP loss.
• USD 3.5 billion is the total estimated cost of air pollution in New Delhi during the first half of 2020. Out of USD 3.5 billion, USD 2.57 billion is the estimated cost in New Delhi due to Year of Life Lost (as a result of high PM2.5).

Bhutan: Boundary with China hasn’t been Demarcated, under Negotiation with China

The Foreign Ministry of the People’s Republic of China had claimed last week that their boundary with Bhutan has never been delimited and there are long-standing disputes between the two countries in eastern, central and western sections.

The Royal Bhutanese Embassy in India has clarified China’s claim on 7^th July 2020 that the boundary talks between Bhutan and China is under negotiation and hasn’t been demarcated yet. Further Bhutanese Embassy has also stated that 24 rounds of ministerial-level talks have been conducted to date for demarcating the boundary between the two countries, the 25^th round of talks was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

• On June 2^nd, 2020, during the 58^th meeting of the U.N. Development Programme’s Global Environment Facility (GEF), China objected to the funding for the development of Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary by claiming the area to a disputed region between Bhutan and China. 
• Bhutan denied the claims of China by stating the Wildlife Sanctuary is an integral and sovereign territory of Bhutan.
• Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary comes under Trashigang Dzongkhag district in Eastern Bhutan. 
• The Trashigang Dzongkhag district is the bordering district of Bhutan with India’ Arunachal Pradesh.

China’s Claim in Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary is to pressurize India

• Between 1984 to 2016, in a total of 24 boundary talks between Bhutan and China, there are no records of talks regarding the Trashigang Dzongkhag district or the Eastern part of Bhutan as a disputed area, neither China had claimed the any of the Eastern regions of Bhutan in the past at any international forum or during its talks with Bhutan.
• China does not have a boundary with the Trashigang Dzongkhag District of Bhutan, its sudden claim in an international forum is clearly meant to target India.

State Finance Commission of Odisha Recommends Rs 23,848 crore for PRIs and ULBs in the state

Over the period of next six financial year (2020-21 to 2025-26), an amount of Rs 23,848 crore for the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the state of Odisha has been recommended by the 5^th State Finance Commission of Odisha on 7^th July 2020.

• These funds allocated will be for strengthening the ULBs and PRIs in the state financially so that various developmental projects and maintenance of existing assets can be taken up by these institutes and bodies.
• Projects on which the funds will be invested by PRIs and ULBs: drainage networks, sanitation, drinking water, solid waste management, maintenance of public Health Sub Centers and Anganwadis, construction of roads, etc.

Breakdown of the Rs 23,848 crore funds

• Rs 15,715.60 crore for Panchayat Raj Institutions
• Rs 8,132.52 crore for Urban Local Bodies
• These funds will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of Panchayati Raj Institutions (Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishads) by using ‘PRIA Soft’- Panchayati Raj Institutions Accounting Software. PRIA Soft for the fund transfer will be integrated with the IFMS- Integrated Financial Management System.
• This Funds to be transferred in two tranches in a financial year: The first tranche will be released in the months on May-June while in the month of October-November the second tranche will be released. 
• For the second tranche to be released, the ULBs and PRIs will have to complete 30 percent of the work they had taken up under the first tranche provided in the financial year.

United States submits notice to U.N Secretary-General to withdraw from WHO by 6th July 2021

The formal notification to the United States Congress was provided on 7^th July 2020 by President Donald Trump-led Administration on the decision of ending the United States relations with the World Health Organization (WHO: Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for public health globally).

• As per the notification, the United States Government has submitted its notice to the Secretary-General of the United Nations to withdraw from the WHO by the 6^th of July 2021.
• The withdrawal of membership from the WHO will be a yearlong process as several factors are likely to come up in between in which the Donald Trump-led administration won’t have control. 
• One such factor is the Presidential Elections in November 2020, if Trump loses and Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden is elected as the President of United States then United States will remain as a member of the WHO as Joe Biden has publically announced that he would have the United States rejoin WHO if elected as the President.

Background

• Citing the global outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic, the United States President on 18^th May 2020 has threatened to freeze the fundings of the WHO and also reconsider United States Membership with the organization as he accused the WHO of repeated missteps taken by them in handling the pandemic.
• On 29^th May 2020, Donald Trump announced that the funding to the WHO from the United States will be halted as he accused China of having entire control over the WHO.
• The United States is the largest contributor to the annual budget of the WHO, over the current two years budget period- 15 percent of the WHO’s total funding was made by the United States. 
• USD 450 million is being contributed by the United States in a year.