GoI launches PM SVANidhi scheme

On June 1, 2020, Government of India launched the Pradhan Mantri SVANidhi Scheme for street vendors. The Union cabinet has cleared the credit amount for the scheme as well

Highlights

• The PM SVANidhi or PM Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi is a credit facility scheme that will help more than 50 lakh urban and rural street vendors. 
• The scheme will help the street vendors restart their livelihoods.
• Under the scheme, Rs 10,000 of credit is to be provided to street vendors. 
• The street vendors shall return the amount as monthly installments within a year.
• The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman during her announcement of package of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan

• The scheme announced Rs 20 lakh crore package to revive Indian Economy. 
• The amount allocated is 10% of India’s GDP.

How was 10% of GDP fixed?

• The member countries at the United Nations fixed that 10% of GDP is to be spent on reviving economies. 
• This was fixed by the Global Plan framed at the United Nations.

“Ultra Swachh” Booth developed by DRDO to disinfect PPEs

The Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) developed a disinfection unit called Ultra Swachh. The unit is used to disinfect articles such as electronic items, Personal Protective Equipment, fabrics, etc.

About the unit

• The Unit uses an advanced oxidative process called Ozonated Space Technology to disinfect the items. 
• The device also uses Ozone Sealant Technology that involves trapping of Ozone. 
• The Ultra Swachh Unit houses a catalytic converter that makes it environment friendly. 
• It also holds several safety features such as door interlocks, emergency shut down, delay cycle, dual doors, leak monitors, etc.
• The system complies to International Standards of Industrial, Personal, Occupations and Environmental Safety.

Ozone as dainfectntis

• Ozone is an oxidizing compound that rapidly oxidizes organic materials, manganese, iron, etc. 
• Ozone is highly unstable and oxidises to form oxygen within 15 to 20 seconds. 
• This property of ozone is used in disinfection.
• Because of its high oxidization potential, ozone disinfects or rather oxidises cell components. 
• When the cellular wall or membrane of a cell gets damaged, the cell falls apart. This process is called lysis. 
• It is through this process, ozone oxidises or kills microorganisms.

Rohit Sharma nominated for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award

On May 31, 2020, the BCCI nominated Rohit Sharma for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awards. The Award is considered to be the highest sporting honour award in India.

Highlights

• The period of consideration for a person to get nominated is from January 2016 to December 2019. 
• Rohit has become the first T20 cricketer to score four centuries. 
• Also, he holds record of 150 plus score in around 8 ODIs. 
• He also holds the greatest number of centuries in ODI matches since 2017, that numbered to 18.
• He was also the ICC ODI Cricketer of the year, 2019. 
• He received this award as he was the first player to score five ODI centuries in a single edition of the World Cup.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award

• The award is the highest sporting honour of India. The award is presented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and sports. 
• The award is presented for outstanding performance for a period of 4 years. 
• The award comprises of cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakhs.

What is “George Floyd” protest in news currently?

The United States is facing nation wide protests over the death of an African American George Floyd.

Highlights

• George Floyd, an African American man of age 46 died after the police arrested him near a shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 
• This has created the current unrest in the country.
• Mr Floyd was from Houston and has been living in Minneapolis several years. 
• He was left jobless due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• He was reported to the police by a shopkeeper to have used a counterfeit currency.
• People even claim that the “Black Lives Matter” movement is back

Black Lives Matter Movement

• The Black Lives Movement is an African-American movement that campaigns against violence and racism towards black people. 
• The movement campaigns against killings of black people, police brutality, racial profiling and racial inequality in the United States. 
• The movement began in 2013. The movement spread to Canada, Australia and Germany as well.

GoI discontinues 7.75% savings bonds

The Reserve Bank of India recently announced that the Government of India has discontinued 7.75% savings bonds.

Highlights

• The 7.75% savings bonds that are also called government bonds or RBI bons were issued in 2018. 
• They were available for the resident citizens of India alone. 
• The value of one bond was Rs 1000 and there was no maximum limit of investment. 
• The interests of the bonds were taxed under Income Tax Act, 1961.
• Apart from discontinuing savings bonds, GoI had also introduced other measures.

Other Measures

• The rates of Small Savings scheme were cut. 
• Also, the rates of PPF were cut from 7.9% to 7.1%. 
• On the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, the rates were cut from 8.4% to 7.6%. 
• RBI also reduced the repo rates twice after COVID-19.

Savings Bonds

• The bonds are like guarantees provided by the GoI. 
• On investing on these bonds, the GoI will return the amount with maturity at 7.75% interest rate. 
• However, due to global recession, Government has now recently stopped issuing these bonds.
• However, the move will deprive investors of the other saving options that provided high tax returns to the investors.

Scorpaenospsis neglecta: Rare fish found in Gulf of Mannar

The Researchers at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute have found a rare fish from the Gulf of Mannar. The specimen was deposited at the National Marine Biodiversity Museum of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

Highlights

The fish is locally called Scorpion Fish for its venomous tail. When the spines in the tail pierces an individual, the venom gets injected and causes severe pain. This is the first time, the species has been found alive in the Indian waters.

Gulf of Mannar

It is a shallow bay in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and India. A Chain of low islands and reefs called Ram Sethu separates Gulf of Mannar from Palk Bay. Ram Sethu is also called Adam’s bridge. Gulf of Mannar is also called Adam’s bridge. Gulf of Mannar is a biosphere reserve.

Biosphere Reserve

There are 18 Biosphere reserves in India. Biosphere reserves protect larger area than that of animal sanctuary and national park. The list of Biosphere Reserves in India are as follows

• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
• Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
• Gulf Of Mannar
• Nokrek
• Sundarbans
• Manas
• Simlipal
• Dihang-Dibang
• Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve
• Achnakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve
• Great Rann of Kutch
• Cold Desert
• Khangchendzonga
• Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
• Great Nicobar
• Dibru-Saikhowa
• Seshachalam Hills
• Panna

PM Modi launches “My Life My Yoga”

On May 31, 2020, PM Modi launched “My Life My Yoga”, a video blogging contest. The contest is to be conducted as a joint effort of Ministry of AYUSH and ICMR (Indian Council of Cultural Research).

Highlights

• The contest is being launched to inspire people to participate in the sixth International Day of Yoga (IDY) that is to be celebrated in 21^st June, 2020. 
• Any participant from the world can take part in the contest.
• In order to participate in the contest, the participants have to upload 3 minutes video on yogic practices such as Asana, Kriya, Bandha, Pranayama or Mudra. 
• The participants should also include the message how yogic practices influenced their lives.
• First, Second and third prizes of worth Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 have been announced.

Yoga

• India has taken several measures to make people in India and all over the world to adopt yogic practices. 
• India also took Yoga to United Nations in 2014. 
• A resolution was brought in and International Day of Yoga is being celebrated on June 21, 2015 since then.