DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS OF 2nd JULY 2019

Daily Dose of current affairs:

• Abu Dhabi is hosting the ISALEX19, the International Security Alliance (ISAs) first joint security exercise. The exercise began on 30 June. The exercise will simulate a real-life security threat in a virtual context. It also aims to test the readiness of the different teams and to evaluate the tools, strategies and procedures developed jointly between member countries. ISALEX19 is based on the unexpected scenarios where the teams of the ISA countries will operate according to different security theories and strategies in order to test the readiness of the international teams in facing security threats. The realistic experience in the exercise is one of its kind in the world.

• The Appointment Commitments of the Cabinet has approved the re-appointment of NS Viswanathan as Deputy Governor of RBI for a period of one year with effect from 4 July. Earlier on June 24, RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya resigned six months before the scheduled end of his term to return to New York University.

• The Uttar Pradesh government has launched massive door to door campaign "DASTAK" against Acute Encephellitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephallitis (JE) disease. The campaign, which was launched in association with UNICEF, will run from 1st to 31st July. Under this state-wide campaign teams will go door to door in every village of the 75 districts of the state to create awareness about the communicable diseases as well as JE and AES. In this massive campaign, many departments of the state especially health, rural development, primary education will work together to spread awareness about the diseases through mass media communication and will ensure availability of clean drinking water, initiate sanitation drive, ensure vaccination and early treatment so that disease should be nipped in the bud.

• The Union Finance Ministry, Government of India reduced the interest rate on small savings schemes by 0.1 per cent (10 basis points) for the July-September quarter.The schemes include Public provident fund (PPF), National Savings Certificate (NSC), Kisan Vikas Patra(KVP), Sukanya Samriddhi Account, Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS). PPF&NSC: For the July-September quarter, PPF and National Savings Certificate will fetch an annual interest rate of 7.9% as compared to 8% earlier.KVP: Kisan Vikas Patra will yield 7.6 percent with a maturity of 113 months. At present, the interest rate on KVP is 7.7 percent and maturity is 112 months.The girl child savings scheme: Sukanya Samriddhi Account will offer 8.4 percent from 8.5 percent.SCSS: Senior Citizens Savings Scheme will offer 8.6 percent from 8.7percent.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stated that India's Current Account Deficit (CAD) increased to $57.2 billion or 2.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in FY19 as against 1.8% of 2018 which stood at $48.7 billion. It was the highest in 6 years on due to higher trade deficit caused by high crude oil imports.An increase in trade deficit to $180.3 billion for the year as a whole as against $160 billion in 2018 led to the widening of the CAD in FY19.

• Aparna Kumar, a 2002 batch IPS officer from UP cadre, has created history by becoming the first civil servant and IPS officer to achieve the incredible and rare feat of completing '7 Summits' challenge.She hoisted India's tricolour on Mount Denali in Alaska, which is the highest peak of North America standing at 20,310 ft. She is also the first woman IPS DIG and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officer to successfully complete the South Pole expedition. The Seven Summits is a mountaineering challenge which includes scaling the highest mountains from each of the 7 continents. It includes Mount Everest in Nepal, Aconcagua in Argentina, Denali in the US, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Elbrus in Russia, Mount Vinson in Antarctica, and Puncak Jaya and Mount Kosciuszko in Australia.

• Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad planned to launch the commemoration of four years of Digital India initiative. The event will take in New Delhi.The main aim of this initiative is to bridge the digital divide and create awareness about Information Technology. These digital services are offered by the government as well as the private sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched various initiative of Digital India on 1st of July, 2015. The Digital India plan comprises various initiatives that are targeted to prepare India for becoming a knowledge economy. To bring good governance to citizens through synchronized and coordinated engagement of the entire government. The Digital India Project main aim to connect all gram panchayats by broadband connectivity.It works under BharatNet Project to promote e-governance.

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the bill to fine people with Rs 10,000 for blocking ambulances. The rule is the part of Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill. The newly approved bill will update the Motor Vehicles Act 1988.

• Om Prakash Dhankar, Haryana agriculture, and farmers' welfare minister launched 'Krishi kiosk' for farmers at Panchkula, Haryana. The kiosk comes under state's ''Digital Kisan Suvidha' plan, will give farmers information about government schemes and also help them file claims under the 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' Scheme. It has been connected with the Deputy Commissioners' offices of the state, and a telephone facility has also been made available for farmers, who in turn could give information through telephone.

• As a part of the Western Fleet Overseas Deployment programme, Indian Navy Ship(INS), Tarkash reached Alexandria in Egypt for three days visit. This visit to Egypt will seek to strengthen the ties between the two countries & increase the footprint and operational reach of the Indian navy. Due to the geostrategic location, Egypt will provide the unique advantage of being at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe and, all important sea lines of communication pass through the Red Sea into the Mediterranean through Suez Canal in Egypt.

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will put forward the proposal of National Mission on Natural Language Translation with an outlay Rs 450 crore for next 3 years before the Union Cabinet. It is one of the key missions identified by the Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).

• An Indian engineer, Nitesh Kumar Jangir, from Bangalore has won the Commonwealth Secretary-General's Innovation for Sustainable Development Award 2019 in the "People" category in London, UK (United Kingdom)for the creation low-cost neonatal breathing device named "Saans" for saving the lives of newborn babies. Saans: It is breath supporting device used for tackling avoidable deaths of premature babies from Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)and It is world's first neonatal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device powered in multiple ways through direct source electricity, including rechargeable battery, vehicle's electrical supply, etc.

• West Bengal Government launched a crop insurance scheme, Bangla Shashya Bima (BSB) for the 2019 'Kharif' season to protect farmers from losses due to natural disasters and provide a steady income in case of unstable market prices. The scheme was launched in collaboration with Agriculture Insurance Company of India (AIC). The crop insurance scheme would be "free of cost for farmers" as the state government would pay the entire premium. It includes Aman and Aus paddy, jute and maize under the scheme.