Why are the recent Locusts Attacks the worst in history?

The Locusts swarming in the Northern parts of India have so far reached Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh.

Highlights

• According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, much of the movement of these locusts is mainly due to Westerlies. 
• The Locust Warning Organization that monitors locusts swarms announced that there are no immediate danger to Delhi due to these swarms.

History

• There were eight locust attacks between 1812 and 1889 in India. 
• Also, between 1926 and 1931 India faced Rs 2 crores (100 million USD today) of crop damages.

Desert Locust

• Desert Locusts are from the family of grasshoppers. They normally live and breed in desert regions. 
• However, they feed on green vegetation. 
• A single swarm of locusts consist of 40 to 80 million adults. 
• They are capable of travelling upto 150 km in a day.

How badly is India affected?

• The Locusts are said to have come from Ethiopia and Somalia after crossing Saudi Arabia, Iran and Pakistan. 
• As India has just finished harvesting its Rabi crops, the damages were not major.
• However, the Food and Agriculture Organization predicts that there are several severe successive waves of locust invasion that will come up in July and are expected to hit Rajasthan, Odisha and Bihar. 
• This is mainly due to wind movements. 
• Later the locusts are expected to return to Rajasthan along with South West Monsoon winds.
• As the locusts are invading in wind direction this year, they are considered to be the worst. 
• Also, the wind direction is changing that makes it difficult to predict the path of the locusts.

Control of Locusts

• The Locusts are controlled with spray of pesticides such as organo-phosphate. 
• This year chemicals such as deltamethrin, lambdacyhalothrin, chlorpyriphos, fipronil, malathion have been recommended.

Goa celebrates Statehood Day

On May 30, 2020, Goa celebrated its Statehood Day. Goa was the 25^th state to join the union of India.

History

• As India gained independence on August 15, 1947, India requested the Portugese to cede their territories. 
• However, Portuguese refused. In 1961, Indian Government launched Operation Vijay and annexed Daman and Diu, islands and Goa with the Indian mainland.
• On May 30, 1987, the territory was split and Goa was formed. Daman and Diu remained the Union Territory. Konkani is the official language of the state.

Controversy

• As Goa was formed controversies emerged that Goa should be merged with Maharashtra or Mysore. 
• However, in 1967 a opinion poll was conducted and was concluded that Goa will remain as state and Daman and Diu shall remain as union territory.

Role of Goa in history

• Goa attracted monks and missionaries that left great impression in the culture of Goa. 
• Apart from this, Goa was a part of Vijayanagar Empire in 1370 and later was a part of Bijapur Sultanate as well.

Portuguese in Goa

• The Portuguese conquered Goa in 1510 under the leadership of Afonso de Albuquerque. 
• As they conquered Goa, they took control of the spice trade.

GoI approves Rs 445 crores for Chhattisgarh under Jal Jeevan Mission

On May 29, 2020, the Union Government approved Rs 445 crores under Jal Jeevan Mission for Chhattisgarh for the year 2020-21.

Highlights

• The Funds will be used to help Chhattisgarh achieve its mission of providing tap water connection to all the households in the state by 2023-24. 
• There are 45 households in the state. 
• OF these, 20 lakh households have been provided with tap water connection under the mission.

Challenges of Chhattisgarh

• Chhattisgarh has been battling with ground water depletion and contamination due to chemicals such as fluoride, arsenic, iron, etc. 
• The state government is to use the migrant work force that have returned home to implement the scheme. 
• This is to be done under MGNREGA.

Jal Jeevan Mission

• The Mission aims to provide good quality drinking water to all the households in the country by 2024. 
• In order to achieve this, the Government of India has allocated Rs 3.6 lakh crores.

May 31: World No Tobacco Day

Every year, on May 31, World No Tobacco Day is being marked by the World Health Organization

Highlights

• The day creates awareness about the dangers of using tobacco. 
• The World No Tobacco Day initiative was adopted in 1987 by the WHO. 
• The day also draws attention to more than 8 million deaths that occurs due to Tobacco. 
• This year the day is celebrated under following theme
• Theme: Protecting Youth
• The theme focuses to protect youth from industry manipulation an preventing them from nicotine and tobacco use.
• This year, on world no tobacco day, initiatives are to be brought in that will demonstrate the young generation on taking control of tobacco addiction.

Significance

• The World Health Organization reports that around 17% of young people in the age of 15 and 24 are smoking. 
• A person who starts smoking before the age of 20 is more likely to develop an addiction. 
• Also, World No Tobacco Awards are distributed on this day.

Free Online Career Skills Training under National Career Service Project

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is to provide Career Skills Training under its National Career Service Project in partnership with TCS.

Highlights

• The National Career Service Project will provide employment related services to career counselling, job matching, vocational guidance, job search, information on skill development courses, etc. 
• Around 1000 employment exchanges are integrated with NCS. 
• This includes 200 model career centres as well.
• Currently, a new link for work from home has also been added.
• The NCS also offers functions to create video profiles of job seekers. 
• This platform helps the job seekers to showcase their ability through short videos.

National Career Service

• The National Career Service mainly works to bridge gaps between the people searching for jobs and those that hire them. 
• It mainly aims to reach out to the youth that are in search of employment.
• The NCS also offers counselling from trained professional. 
• They will act as a guide in job seeking.

23 additional Minor Forest Produce included in Minimum Support Price List

On May 29, 2020, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs announced that 23 additional Minor Forest Produce of Minimum Support Price has been included.

Highlights

• Also, the minimum support price for the existing forest produce was reduced for 50 items. 
• The increase in Minor Forest Produce is from 16% to 66%. 
• In certain cases such as Giloe, the increase is in the range of 190%.

Minor Forest Produce

• The Indian Forest Act, 1927 defines forest produce. 
• However, the Minor Forest Produce got its definition only in 2007. 
• Minor Forest Produce includes brushwood, bamboo, canes, honey, cocoon, tusser, roots, tuber, etc.
• The Forest Rights Act was enacted in 2007. 
• The act gives forest rights to live, cultivate, manage and regenerate.
• Around 100 million people living around the forest area are dependent on the forests for their livelihood. 
• The data was collected by the National Committee on Forest Rights Act. 
• Therefore, it is certainly important to regulate minor forest produce and make sure the tribals make maximum out of it.

CIPET renamed as Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology

The Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology has now been renamed as Central Institute of Petrochemicals, Engineering and Technology. The name change was registered under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975.

Highlights

• The main objective of CIPET is to contribute towards growth of plastics. 
• It also focuses on education and research programme. 
• The institute will focus on innovative plastic-based solutions.

UNDP

• The CIPET also receives United Nations Development Programme. 
• Apart from UNDP, the support to CIPET is also received from OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Corporation), World Bank and UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization).

UNIDO

• United Nations Industrial Development Organization was established in 1966. 
• It is one of the 15 specialized agencies of the United Nations. 
• The UNIDO aims to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals.

Petrochemicals in India

• The Petrochemical industry is growing fast in India. 
• There are four main categories in the petrochemical industry. 
• This includes polymers, elastomers, synthetic fibres and surfactant intermediate. 
• Mumbai is the hub of petrochemical industry.

GoI lifts ban on Paracetamol API exports

On May 28, 2020, the Government of India recently lifted the ban on export of paracetamol Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.

Highlights

• The removal of ban will now allow the export of pharmaceutical ingredients used for COVID-19 treatment. 
• In order to achieve this, the GoI has amended Section 3 of Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) act, 1992.

The Impose of Ban

• The Government of India had earlier imposed export ban on over 26 pharma ingredients. 
• This included paracetamol and hydroxychloroquine. 
• This was done to avoid shortages inside the country during the outbreak of COVID-19. 
• On April 6, 2020, the export ban on 24 APIs were lifted leaving out Paracetamol.

Supply of APIs to Europe

• India is to supply 1000 tonnes of API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) to Europe. 
• Europe is the largest buyer of Paracetamol from India. 
• Europe alone imports more than 12,000 tonnes of paracetamol annually.

Paracetamol

• Paracetamol is a pain reliever. It was first made in 1877. 
• It is placed in the Essential Medicine List of World Health Organization.
• In 2018-19, India exported 5.8 billion USD worth paracetamol. 
• The export of paracetamol in 2019-20 (till January 2020) was 5.41 billion USD.

Finance Minister launched instant Aadhaar based E-KYC

On May 27, 2020, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman launched instant Aadhaar based E-KYC.

Highlights

• The facility will be available for PAN applicants that possess valid Aadhaar number. 
• They should also have a mobile number registered with Aadhaar. 
• The process of allotting PAN is paperless and is also free of cost.

Union Budget

• The instant Aadhaar based E-KYC was introduced by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget 2020-21. 
• She announced that a system will be brought in that will instantly provide PAN without the requirement of filling up of application form.

About PAN

• PAN is Permanent Account Number. 
• It is a 10-digit alpha numeric number that is issued by Income Tax Department. 
• It enables income tax department to link the transaction of the person with the department. 
• The transactions include TDS, TCS, tax payments, income returns, correspondence, specified transactions, etc.
• It is now mandatory to provide PAN on return of income. 
• Also, it was made mandatory to provide PAN for all challan payments since 2005.

United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the year award to India’s major Suman Gawani

On the eve of International Day of UN Peacekeepers that is being marked on May 29, Indian major Suman Gawani and Brazilian Naval Officer Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo are to be presented with the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the year 2019 award.

Highlights

• For the first time, the award is being shared by two of the officers. 
• The Award was created in 2016. 
• The award recognizes the effort and dedication of military peace keepers that are involved in promoting peace and security in different parts of the world. 
• Major Suman Gawani is the first Indian to receive the award.

About Major Suman Gawani

• Suman joined the Indian Army in 2011. 
• She joined the Army Signal Corps after graduating from Officers Training Academy. 
• She completed her schooling in Uttarkashi. She is currently posted in Delhi.
• Suman is being presented with the award for her outstanding contribution in UNMISS.

UNMISS

• UNMISS is the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. 
• It was established in 2011. 
• As of May 2019, around 15,000 military personnel have been employed in the mission.

Delimitation Commission holds meeting

On May 28, 2020, the Delimitation Commission held a meeting to review the progress of directions that were provided during its meet in April, 2020.

Highlights

• The details of State Election Commissioner were received from the states of Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Assam. 
• The Census data has also been received from the Registrar General.

What is Delimitation?

• Delimitation is the act of redrawing the boundaries of state assembly and Lok Sabha seats with respect to the changes in population. 
• The main objective of delimitation is to provide equal representatives in the legislative assembly and parliament to equal segments of population.
• The Delimitation is conducted by the Delimitation Commission.

Delimitation Commission

• The Delimitation Act is brought about by the Parliament after every census under Article 82. 
• The commission is made of Supreme Court Judge, Chief Election Commissioner and also state election commissioners of respective states.
• The Delimitation exercise has been done four times. 
• They were implemented in 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002. 
• The Last delimitation exercise was begun in 2002 and ended in 2008 based on 2001 census.

Why no delimitation in recent past?

• The number of Lok Sabha seats allotted to a state is based on the ratio between that number and population of the state. 
• However, under this provision, the states that took less interest in population control ended up having greater representations.
• In 1976, during emergency period, the delimitation was suspended till 2001. 
• This was later extended to 2026. 
• Thus, recently no delimitation was carried in recent past.

May 29: International Day of UN Peacekeepers

Every year, the United Nations celebrates International Day of UN Peacekeepers on May 29. This year the day is being celebrated under the theme

Theme: Women in Peacekeeping: A key to Peace

Highlights

The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is celebrated to honour more than 3,900 peacekeepers that lost their lives serving under the United Nations. This year their challenges have increased as they not only protect the people but are also coping with COVID-19 pandemic.

Current Scenario

There are more than 1 million men and women that are serving 72 UN peacekeeping operations. The UN peacekeeping forces deploy more than 95,000 police, military and civilian personnel in around 13 operations.

Significance of the theme

This year the theme marks the 20^th anniversary of adoption of UN security council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

Why May 29?

The first UN Peace Keeping mission was established on May 29, 1948. The Peace keeping mission was established to monitor the Armistice Agreement that was signed between Israel and Arab.

Armistice Agreement

Armistice Agreement is an agreement that is signed to stop fighting. Armistice Day is marked on November 11. This is to mark the signing of treaties between allies of World war I and German Empire.

22nd Financial Stability and Development Council meeting chaired by Finance Minister

On May 28, 2020, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman chaired Financial Stability and Development Council meet.

Highlights

• The meeting reviewed current domestic and global economic situation, financial vulnerabilities issues, liquidity of Micro financial institutions, Non-Banking Financial corporations, regulatory responses, etc. 
• The council noted that COVID-19 posed a great threat to the global financial system and the timing of recovery is uncertain.

About the Council

• The financial stability and development council is an apex body constituted by GoI. 
• The idea was mooted in 2008 by the Raghuram Rajan Committee. 
• The Council was set up in 2010 by the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukerjee.
• The council composes of Governor of RBI, chief economic advisor, secretaries and chairman of SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India), IRDA (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority), PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority), IBBI (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India). The Finance Minister chairs the meeting.

Functions of the council

The Council deals with issues such as financial sector development, financial stability, inter-regulatory coordination, financial inclusion, financial literacy.

Apart from these, the council also coordinates with India’s International interfaces such as Financial Action Task Force. The Financial Minister has powers to change the functions of the council from time to time. Currently, the council is working to deal with financial issues created by COVID-19.

India and ADB sign 177 million USD to upgrade Maharashtra State Highways

On May 28, 2020, the Government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed an agreement to construct state highways in Maharashtra.

Highlights

• The funds received from the bank are to be used by the State Government of Maharashtra to improve road projects. 
• The projects will be used to increase connectivity between urban and rural areas. 
• This will help in increasing access to markets and employment opportunities.
• The State Government will also use the funds in training public work department project staff, build their climate change adaptation of roads and also help in disaster resilient features of road design, road safety and road maintenance.

Roads and Climate Change

• The supporting structures of transport are the biggest climate change challenges in the world. 
• The roads take the heat continuously during summer and damaged exclusively by flash floods in rainy season. 
• Therefore, it is important to focus on climate resilient roads.

May 28: World Hunger Day

Every year, May 28 is marked as World Hunger Day. The World Hunger Day is an initiative of the Hunger Project.

Significance

• The United Nations aims to increase agricultural productivity. 
• This is to feed 820 million people that are with inadequate food security. 
• The UN predicts that 2 billion are to come under poverty and face hunger by 2050.
• In order to eliminate hunger, the Sustainable Development Goal of “Zero Hunger” was included

India

• India in 2019-20 produced 281.95 million tonnes of food grains. 
• Still 69% of deaths of children under 5 in India is due to malnutrition. 
• The data was provided by the State of World Children Report.
• Also, India ranks at 102^nd position in Global Hunger Index.

Current Scenario of India

• World Bank says that Human Capital Index of India is 0.44. 
• This means that an Indian child grows only to 44% of her potential.
• Around 55% of Indian Children (of age 6 months to 23 months) had zero consumption of vegetables. 
• This is mainly due to lack of breast feeding and diet diversity.

Sports Authority of India deposits Rs 30,000 in Khelo India Athletes accounts

The Sports Authority of India recently transferred Rs 30,000 to the accounts of Khelo India athletes. The authority has spent Rs 8.25 crores in all to achieve this.

Highlights

• The Sports Authority of India recently deposited Rs 30,000 to more than 2749 Khelo India athletes accounts. 
• The sports allowance has been provided for the athletes to travel to their home town, to keep up their diet at home and to suffice other miscellaneous expenses.
• The Out of Pocket Allowance under Khelo India scholarship is Rs 1.20 lakhs annually.

Khelo India

• The Khelo India was launched to boost sports culture in India. 
• The scheme is being implemented by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. 
• The scheme also aims to make India a great sporting nation.
• The Government of India under the scheme provides financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs per annum over the period of 8 years.
• Under the Scheme, the ministry of sports conducts school level, college level and university level programmes.

Russia constructs its first Stealth Bomber

Under its Perspective Aviation Complex for Long Range Aviation (PAKDA) programme, Russia has constructed its first Stealth Bomber.

Highlights

• Russia is currently modernizing its military at a very fast pace. 
• The Stealth Bomber is one such advancement. 
• The bomber is the second-generation combat aircraft after Sukhoi Su-57 supersonic fighter jet

PAKDA

• The Stealth Bomber has been developed under PAKDA programme. 
• The PAKDA programme is to use latest technologies to reduce its radar signature. 
• This will make Russian weapons and bombers invisible to enemies. 
• The first test flight of PAKDA bomber is to be conducted in 2021-22.
• India is one of the largest Defence Partners of Russia

India-Russia

• India and Russia signed 14 Memorandums of Understanding in February 2020. 
• This was held during Defexpo 2020. This included production of S400 missiles and production of Kamov helicopters and Kalashnikov rifles.
• The active participants in the defence deal included HAL, DRDO, BHEL, etc. 
• The deals are set to cross 16 billion USD. 
• India is to buy Ka-226 helicopters from Russia.

World Gold Council Report: 37% of Indian Women never bought gold

On May 27, 2020, the World Gold Council released its report on Retail Gold Insights: India Jewellery Report. According to the report, around 37% of Indian women never bought jewellery.

Highlights

• The report says that gold jewellery was the second most popular item among “Fashion and Lifestyle” shoppers next to clothes and silk sarees. 
• Around 60% of Indian women already owned jewellery.
• The 37% of Indian women that do not buy gold are now being seen as new target by the gold industry. 
• Of these, 44% of the women are from rural areas and 30% are from urban.

Challenges

• According to the World Gold Council, the current young Indian women show least interest towards gold ornaments. 
• Only 33% of women in the age group 18-24 bought gold jewellery. Their future purchase intent is low.
• This is a great threat to the gold market. 
• India is one of the largest gold market in the world and decrease in gold purchase in the country will affect gold industry badly.

India attends New Development Bank Governors meet

On May 27, 2020, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman attended the Special Board of Governors meet of New Development bank through video conference.

Highlights

• The leaders that attended the meet elected the president, vice president of new development bank. 
• The bank has so far approved 16.6 billion USD to over 55 projects in its member countries.
• Mr Marcos Troyjo of Brazil was elected as the president at the meet.

New Development Bank

• New Development Bank was founded in 2014. 
• The headquarters of the bank is located in Shanghai, China. 
• It aims to foster development of its member countries, support economic growth, promote competitiveness and build knowledge sharing platform. 
• The bank was formed by the BRICS nations.

5^th Annual Meet and COVID-19

• The 5^th annual meet of board of governors of the New Development Bank was held in April 2020. 
• During the meet, the bank allocated 5 billion USD to BRICS countries and 1 billion USD of emergency funds to India.

Current Affairs FAQs: Saharan Cheetah

For the first time in a decade, the naturalists have filmed a Saharan Cheetah in a Hoggar Mountains national park in Algeria.

What is Saharan Cheetah?

• Saharan cheetah (Zoological name: Acinonyx jubatus hecki) or Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) is a subspecies of Cheetah endemic to Sahara and the Sahel regions of Africa.  
• It is a critically endangered fauna and its total population was suspected to be less than 250 in 2008.

How it is different from other African Cheetahs?

• Saharan Cheetah is different from other Cheetah species in Africa because of shorter coat and nearly white colour. 
• Its face has few or no spots and tear stripes are almost absent.

In which countries, Saharan Cheetah is found?

• The Saharan cheetah used to be found in fragmented populations in western and central Sahara and Sahel regions of Africa. 
• The main countries where it is found include Algeria, Chad, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. 
• However, it is now extinct from most of the countries in wild.

What are key climatic adaptations in Saharan Cheetah?

• This subspecies is found in hot and dry regions and has some behavioural and physiological adaptation to suit to the harsh environment. 
• For example, they are predominantly nocturnal and can subsist without direct access to water for several days (by obtaining water from blood of their prey).

What is current population of Saharan Cheetah?

• It is thought that currently, only 37 individuals may be alive in world in wild.

J.K. Rowling announces “The Ickabog”

On May 26, 2020, British author J.K. Rowling released first two chapters of her new Children’s book “The lckabog”. The story is to be published in installments on The Ickabog website for free before its official publication in November 2020. The Ickabog is her first children’s book since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was published in 2007.

About J. K. Rowling

• J. K. Rowling (original name Joanne Rowling) is a British author, film & TV producer, screenwriter and philanthropist, best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series. 
• He first book in Harry Potter series is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone published in 1997. 
• The Harry Potter book series is bestselling book series in the history and have served has basis of Harry Potter film series. 
• She published her first book for adults, The Casual Vacancy, in 2012. 
• In 2013 she also released a crime novel under the pen name “Robert Galbraith”.

Supreme Court’s suo motu cognisance of Migrant Workers’ plight

On May 26, 2020, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of migrant workers issue and noted that there have been “inadequacies and certain lapses” on the part of the Central and State governments in dealing with the migrant workers crisis during the lockdown.

What is suo moto cognisance?

• Suo motu is a latin phrase which means “on its own”. 
• This means that the court has taken the matter into cognisance on its own and without any plaintiff. 
• A plaintiff is a person or entity which files a case or petition in the court. 
• Normal court cases need a plaintiff and a defendant, while in suo moto, there is no plaintiff.
• In the current matter, the court has taken suo motu cognisance on the basis of newspaper and media reports on helpless migrants forced to travel thousands of miles on foot or cycles.

Supreme Court Directions

• The three judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan has ordered the centre and states to immediately provide transport, food and shelter free of cost to the stranded migrant workers. 
• The court has also asked Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta to inform the court by May 28, 2020 about the measures taken by the Centre to alleviate the migrants’ sufferings.

What is next?

• The court has issued formal notice to the centre, states and Union Territories to file their responses by May 28.

Char Dham Highway Development Project: Chamba Tunnel inaugurated

On May 26, 2020, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs Shri. Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the breakthrough event of Chamba Tunnel under Chardham Pariyojana through video conference.

About Chardham Pariyojana

• The foundation stone of Char Dham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojana (Char Dham Highway Development Project) was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 December, 2016. 
• Its a two lane National Highway project currently under construction in Uttarakhand with a total investment of around Rs. 12000 Crore.

Char Dham Route

• Originating from Rishikesh, Char Dham highway network will have four distinct routes connecting the four holy places in Uttarakhand viz. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. 
• The project includes two tunnels, 116 big and small flyovers, several culverts and bypass roads.

Location of Chamba Tunnel

• Chamba Tunnel has been dug by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on National Highway 94 below the Chamba town / hill station in Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand on Rishikesh-Dharasu route. 
• The tunnel will also avoid congestion in Chamba town and open avenues of socio-economic developments in the region.