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.

8th July: Rythu Dinotsavam (Farmer’s Day) in Andhra Pradesh

Add caption

The birth anniversary of Former and the 14^th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy is celebrated as Rythu Dinotsavam meaning Farmer’s Day.

The day was first celebrated in 2019 when the current Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy issued a government order designating the day as Farmer’s Day in Andhra Pradesh.

Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy

• Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy was elected as a member of Lok Sabha for 4 consecutive terms. 
• He served as the full term Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009 and was re-elected as the Chief Minister in the 2009 Assembly Election. 
• On 2^nd September 2009, Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy died in a helicopter crash. In his career, he had never lost in an election.
• The former Chief Minister is known for various reforms that have made a long-lasting transformational impact on the agricultural and health sector of the state, as on the first day of his tenure in 2004, he launched a campaign project under which free electricity was provided to the farmers in the state.
• Some of the projects and reforms made by Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy during his tenure are Jalayagnam water management program: To bring 8.2 million acres of land under irrigation, Indiramma Illu: housing for rural poor, Pavala Vaddi program: to encourage small business and entrepreneurship of rural women by providing loan at a subsidized rate, 108 and 104 helpline services were first introduced in the state under his tenure, etc.

2020 Farmer’s Day Celebrations

• Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Government will be launching new 412 ambulances in the state and 656 new mobile medical units.

Injeti Srinivas appointed as the 1st Chairman of IFSCA

Retired  1983 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Odisha Cadre- Injeti Srinivas has been appointed as the 1^st Chairman of the International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) on 6^th July 2020.

• Injeti Srinivas has retired as the Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on 31^st May 2020. 
• He has been appointed for a period of three years as the Chairman of International Financial Services Centre Authority.

International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA)

• During the winter session of the Parliament in 2019, on 12^th December the bill to set up a unified authority that will be regulating the financial activities across all the International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) in the country was passed by the parliament.
• On 27^th April 2020, through a notification by the Union Ministry of Finance, the International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA) was established. 
• The notification also stated that the headquarter of the IFSCA will be in Gujarat’s capital city Gandhinagar (GIFT City: Gujarat International Finance Tec-City is the first IFSC of India which is also located at Gandhinagar).
• IFSCA will consist of a Chairman, and one member will be nominated by each of the regulators under the IFSCA Act 2019 (SEBI, RBI, IRDAI etc are the regulators). 
• Apart from this, there will also be two members of the Central Government in IFSCA.

First of its Kind Project in the World Commissioned by Indian Railways in collaboration with BHEL

Under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Scheme, the largest power generation equipment manufacturer in India- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) had undertaken a project with the Indian Railways for setting up a 1.7 MWp (megawatt peak) solar energy project at the Madhya Pradesh’s Bina district that will connect directly to the Overhead Traction System of the Indian Railways. The solar power project between the Indian Railways and BHEL was signed on 9^th October 2019.

• The solar power project was completed as of 6^th July 2020 and is currently under extensive testing and trial. 
• The solar power project is expected to be commissioned with 15 days. 
• The Solar Power Project is the first solar power plant in the world in which the power generated from the plant will be directly fed to the Overhead Traction System of the Railways.

Challenges

• The major challenge in the project was that the Indian Railways use single phase 25 kV AC (Alternating Current) in its Overhead Traction System to power the locomotives, while the Solar Panels at the Solar Power Plant produces DC (Direct Current) Power.  
• Hence the DC power from the Solar Panels had to be converted into AC power.
• High Capacity Inverters with single-phase output were installed for converting DC into AC power. 
• To directly feed power to the TSS (Traction Sub Station of the Indian Railways), through the transformer the 25 kV AC is being stepped up from the inverters.

Benefits of the Project

• The Solar Power Plant will save Rs 1.37 crore for the Indian Railways in a year.  
• Approx 25 lakh units of energy every year will be produced by the Solar Power Plant for the Indian Railway.

‘Golden Birdwing’ dethrones ‘Southern Birdwing’ to become the largest Butterfly in India

In 1932, British Army officer Brigadier William Harry Evans (also a Lepidopterist: a person who studies or collects butterflies and moths) had recorded a Southern Birdwing (Troides minos) butterfly with 190 mm. Since then, for the last 88 years, Southern Birdwing butterfly is considered the largest butterfly in India. Brigadier Evans measured the butterfly from the centre of the thorax to the tip of forewing apex, the outcome of measurement was then doubled to obtain the exact measurement.

• Recently, new measurements of a Himalayan butterfly named ‘Golden Birdwing (Troides Aeacus)’ and 24 other species of butterfly were published in the BIONOTES (It is a quarterly newsletter that published Research Notes and News related to various aspects of life forms). 
• This new measurement study was done by Peter Smetacek (from Butterfly Research Centre in Nainital districts’ Bhimtal town) and Shistee Panthee (from University of Chinese Academy of Science in China’s Yunnan Province).
• As per the study, based on the length of wingspan, Golden Birdwing is the largest butterfly in India.

Highlights from the new Measurements found by the Study

• The female species of the Golden Birdwing had a wingspan of 194 mm that is 4 mm larger than that of the Southern Birdwing with 190 mm wingspan.
• The largest wingspan in the male species of the Golden Birdwing was recorded during the study was of 106 mm.
• The female Golden Birdwing with 194 mm wingspan was recorded at Uttarakhand’s  Pithoragarh district’s Didihat town, while the male Golden Birdwing with 106 mm wingspan was recorded at the Wankhar Butterfly Museum (in Shillong).

World Bank Group approves USD 400 million for SNGRBP

Last week the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank Group has approved a loan of USD 400 million for the rejuvenation of the Ganga River under the NAMAMI Gange Program of the Government of India. The loan approved by the World Bank Group is for strengthening the river basin.

• Back in 2015, the World Bank Group has approved USD 1 billion for the First National River Ganga Basin Project. 
• The loan approved for USD 400 million is for the Second National River Ganga Basin Project (SNGRBP).

Financing for the Project

• Lending arm of the World Bank Group- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) will be sanctioning the loan amount. 
• USD 381 million is the loan amount that will be sanctioned by IBRD, while USD 19 million is for the IBRD Payment Guarantee for the loan amount. 
• The Guarantee expiry date is 18 years for the date of effectiveness. 
• Including a grace period of 5 years, the loan amount has a maturity of 18.5 years.

Objectives of SNGRBP

• Expand the sewage treatment infrastructure to more cities in the Ganga Basin
• In the long term, the assets related to sewage treatment is operated and maintained effectively
• Help develop State-of-the-art tools for National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) for effective management of the riverfront
• To help control pollution discharge, sewage networks and treatment plants will be set up in select cities across the Ganga Basin
• New infrastructure projects will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) to ensure long term effectiveness and are well maintained

Unemployment Rate fell to 10.9 % in June from 23.5 % in May 2020

With Unlock 1 from 8^th June 2020, economic activities have resumed in the country as a result of which after two months the unemployment rate has fallen significantly. As per the data for the month of June 2020 released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the unemployment rate in June 2020 was 10.9 percent in India (Urban-12.02 % and Rural- 10.52%).

• The unemployment rate reached an all-time high of 23.52 percent in the country in the month of April due to the nationwide lockdown. 
• It remained similar in May 2020 with 23.48 percent. 
• But with the significant fall in June 2020 and the GST collection for June 2020 reaching 91 percent of the GST collection in June 2019, it can be suggested that the worst for the Indian economy has passed for now.
• With Unlock 2 beginning on 1^st July 2020, it can be expected that the Unemployment Rate can further normalize during the month.

Unemployment Rate in India has continuously declined

• As per data by CMIE, the unemployment rate in India on 8^th June was 21.33 percent. 
• Since then, this rate has declined every day.

State-wise Unemployment Rate in June 2020

• Assam with 0.6 percent unemployment had the lowest unemployment rate in the country in the month of June 2020, while Haryana with 33.6 percent had the highest unemployment rate in June 2020 among all the states in the country.

17 days ‘Paudhe Lagao, Paryavaran Bachao’ Campaign in New Delhi from 10th July

A mega tree plantation drive has been announced by the Delhi Government on 2^nd July 2020. The name of the campaign is ‘Paudhe Lagao, Paryavaran Bachao’ meaning ‘Plant Trees, Save Environment’. The campaign will begin on 10^th July 2020 and will continue until 26^th July 2020.

Objective of the Campaign

• In the last few years, the National Capital has recorded a high level of air pollution. 
• The campaign is to reduce air pollution by increasing the green cover in and across New Delhi.
• In 2017, green cover in New Delhi was 299 square kilometers, this was increased to 325 in 2019. 
• The Delhi Government’s Environment Ministry has set a target of 350 square kilometers of green cover by 2021.

About the Campaign

• In 17 days, 31 lakh (3.1 million) saplings will be planted under the campaign. 
• Near ITO in National Highway 20 (NH 20) the campaign will be launched.
• Out of the 31 lakh saplings, Delhi Government’s various departments will be planting 18 lakh, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will be planting 9 lakh 40 thousand saplings, 2 lakh by Delhi Municipal Corporation and another 2 lakh will be planted in combine by Delhi Metro, Northern Railways and BSEB.
• Out of the 31 lakh saplings, 20 lakh saplings will be of big trees while the remaining 11 lakh saplings will be of shrubs that will be planted on both sides of the roads.

1st July: National Doctor’s Day

To express gratitude towards the doctors and physicians for their dedicated service, the day 1^st July the birth as well as the death anniversary of one of the renowned physicians in India, Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy was chosen to be celebrated as National Doctor’s Day in India. The First National Doctor’s Day was celebrated in the year 1991. The day is organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).

The Theme of 2020 National Doctor’s Day: Lessen the Mortality of COVID 19

Importance of the Theme

• During the time of a global COVID 19 pandemic, it is the duty of each and every citizen of the country to acknowledge the important role the doctors have played and will continue to play by offering their round the clock services in saving thousands of lives.
• The theme of this year’s National Doctor’s Day is to thank the doctors and medical professionals and to further spread awareness about COVID-19 symptoms of silent hypoxia and its aggressive therapy.

2020 Celebrations

• In a mark of respect and the sacrifices the medical professionals and other frontline workers have put up since the beginning of the pandemic, the West Bengal State Government has declared a holiday on 1^st July for all the medical professionals who have been putting their lives at stake in this pandemic.
• Across the country, webinars and virtual meetings will be conducted for acknowledging the efforts made by the health care professionals during this pandemic

Centralized System of Stamp Duty collection comes into effect from 1st July 2020

Through Finance Act 2019, amendments were brought to the Indian Stamp Act, 1899. The amendments made comes into effect from 1^st July 2020 onwards. These amendments were made for building a pan-India securities market and to boost Ease of Doing Business.

About the Amendments

• For building a pan-India securities market, a centralized system of stamp duty with a unified rate has been brought under the amendments. 
• A uniform stamp duty across all the states will be imposed for all financial securities transactions. 
• For stock exchange, duty on the transaction of securities will be deposited to the Central Government. 
• As per the legal and institutional mechanism, the stamp duty is collected by the State Government, under the uniformity, the Central Government will deposit it to the State Government based on the place from where the trade took place.
• For other financial securities transactions (non-stock exchange), depositories will collect stamp duties on behalf of the State Government.
• For Transfer and reissue of debentures, the rate of duty proposed under the unified system is 0.0001 percent. 
• The rate of duty would vary for financial securities transactions related to the stock exchange or derivate products such as Mutual Funds etc in between 0.0005 percent to 0.015 percent

USD 750 Million approved under COVID-19 Emergency Response Program for MSMEs in India by World Bank Group

A USD 750 Million loan was approved for the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India by the World Bank Group. The Approval for the loan amount was given on 30^th June 2020 by the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank Group.  As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the MSME sector is under severe financial stress due to lack of exports and domestic businesses, loan approval is under Emergency Response Program to ensure increased financial support for the MSMEs in India.

• The loan amount will help in addressing the immediate need for liquidity and credit for around 15 lakh (1.5 million) MSMEs in the country. 
• The amount will be disbursed through Small Finance Banks (SFBs) and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), which will further help in strengthening the SFBs and NBFCs.

Financing of the Loan Amount

• The loan amount will be sanctioned by the lending arm of the World Bank Group- International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). 
• Including a grace period of 5 years, the loan amount will be has a maturity of 19 years.

Total of USD 2.75 billion committed to date

• With this USD 750 Million loan amount, this is the 3^rd loan amount that the World Bank Group has approved under Emergency COVID-19 response to India. 
• The first was USD 1 billion in the month of April 2020 for support to the health care sector, while another USD 1 billion in May 2020 for providing food benefits and cash transfers to the financially weaker sections of the society. 
• This takes the total World Bank Group has committed to India to USD 2.75 billion under the COVID-19 response to India