Daily Current Affairs 10 September 2019

Daily Current Affairs

1) President Kovind to Confer Visitor’s Awards 2019 Announced by President’s Secretariat

Visitor’s Awards 2019 has been announced on September 09, 2019 by the President’s Secretariat. This year Visitor’s Awards will be presented for Research in - Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Physical Sciences; and Biological Sciences - and for Technology Development. 

Awardees

• For Research in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences will be presented to Prof. Sibnath Deb from the Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, for his research in the field of child protection, especially his focus on child abuse and neglect, student’s mental health, and HIV/AIDS.

• Research in Physical Sciences will be presented to Prof. Sanjay Puri from the School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, for his research in the field of nonequilibrium statistical physics and nonlinear dynamics.

• Research in Biological Sciences will be jointly presented to Prof. Asad Ullah Khan from the Inter-disciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, for identifying Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) problem in India: mechanism of spread and control of AMR; and to Dr Partima from the Special Centre for Nanoscience, Jawaharlal Nehru University, for her research on nano biosensors and nano-bio interactions especially early-stage cancer diagnosis using nanomaterials bases biosensing platform. 

• Technology Development will be conferred on Dr. Shaon Ray Chaudhuri from the Department of Microbiology, Tripura University, for her developing microbial biofilm reactor for the conversion of dairy wastewater into biofertilizer. 

About Visitor's Award

Visitor’s Awards had been instituted in 2014 to promote healthy competition amongst Central Universities and motivate them to adopt best practices from around the world in pursuit of excellence. Since then, the President annually confers Visitor’s Awards in various categories. 

2) India-France Strategic Partnership

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu interacting with a delegation of French Parliamentarians led by Mrs. Sophie Primas, the Chair, and Senate Standing Committee for Economic Affairs, in New Delhi yesterday.

Strategic Discussion in meeting

• On defense cooperation, maritime security, counter-terrorism, space co-operation, economic partnership, and the other areas, the Vice President suggested the setting up of Indo-French Parliamentary Friendship Group to promote closer ties between the two nations. France decided to partner with India under the Smart Cities initiatives. India’s development needs require massive investments in urban renewal and clean energy.

• Calling for greater trade, technology, and capital flows between the two nations, the bilateral trade momentum needs to be multiplied to reach the set target of trade in goods to 15 bn Euros by 2022.

• Climate Change was an article of faith for the Indian government, Vice President reaffirmed India’s commitment to Paris Agreements and said that India was on way to achieve the goals well in advance. He commended France on the initiatives in this regard and in particular, for holding the One Planet Summits.

3) Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch National Animal Disease Control Programme on 11th September 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall be launching the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) for eradicating the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis in the livestock, on 11th September from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.

About National Animal Disease Control Programme 

• There will be 100 Percent funding from the Central Government, of Rs 12,652 Crores for five years till 2024, the program aims at vaccinating over 500 Million Livestock including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and pigs against the FMD
• The program also aims at vaccinating 36 Million Female Bovine Calves annually in its fight against the Brucellosis disease.
• The Programme has two components – to control the diseases by 2025 and eradication by 2030.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall also be launching the National Artificial Insemination Programme on that day.

The simultaneous launch of the nationwide workshops in KrishiVigyanKendras in all the 687 Districts of the country on the topic of vaccination, disease management, artificial insemination, and productivity.

4) Prime Minister to Launch Kisan Man Dhan Yojana on the 12th of September

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall launch the Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana on the 12th of September at Ranchi, Jharkhand.

About the scheme

• The Scheme shall secure the lives of 5 Crore Small and Marginal Farmers by providing a minimum pension of Rs 3000 per month, to those who attain 60 years of age.
• The scheme has an outlay of Rs 10,774 Crores for the next three years.
• All the small and marginal farmers who are currently between the ages of 18 to 40 years can apply for the scheme.
• Farmer’s monthly contribution can be made from the installments of PM-KISAN or through CSCs (common service center).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall also inaugurate 400 Ekalvya Model Residential Schools to provide quality upper primary, secondary, and senior secondary level education to ST Students in Tribal dominated areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shall also inaugurate the New Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha Building and lay the foundation stone for the New Secretariat Building at Ranchi.

During his visit, he shall also inaugurate the Multi-Modal Terminal at Sahebganj.

5) DPIIT to Launch Plastic Waste Management Campaign for Swachhta Hi Sewa 2019

Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, is playing a critical two-fold role for the success of the campaign as mandated by Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti

Objective

• DPIIT will ensure recycling of plastic waste collected on 2nd October 2019 in cement kilns, 
• Collect plastic waste through nationwide shramdaan on 2nd October 2019. For this DPIIT has requested all the State Governments and Union Territories to mobilize the Industrial Parks in States and Union Territories for collection of plastic waste across all Industrial Estates, Parks, Corridors, Nodes and Industrial Areas for the Swachhta hi Sewa 2019 campaign beginning from 11th September 2019

7) India Participates in Thessaloniki International Fair in Greece

• An Indian delegation led by Minister of State (MoS) for Commerce and Industry, Hardeep Singh Puri participated in the 84th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) in Greece recently. Senior officials and businessmen and prominent Indian entrepreneurs were part of the delegation.
• India is the honored country at the 84th TIF. New India Pavilion was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Hardeep Singh Puri on 7th September 2019.
• Greece, which is a member of the EU, Eurozone, and International Organizations, can become a European country-hub for Indian companies in key sectors like technology, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, agricultural production and processing, energy, shipping, tourism, mining, food, and culture.

8) ‘ANGAN’- A three-day International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Building Sector begins in New Delhi

Experts from 16 countries to discuss various options and technologies for energy-efficient buildings

An international conference ANGAN (Augmenting Nature by Green Affordable New-habitat) focussed on Energy Efficiency in Building Sector began here today. The Conference is being organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India in collaboration with GIZ under the Indo German Technical Cooperation. Shri Raj Pal, Economic Advisor, Ministry of Power and Shri Abhay Bakre, DG, BEE inaugurated the Conference in the presence of eminent experts in the field.

About BEE

The BEE is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power, Government of India. It assists in developing policies and strategies with the primary objective of reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy. BEE coordinates with designated consumers, designated agencies, and other organizations to identify and utilize the existing resources and infrastructure, in performing the functions assigned to it under the Energy Conservation Act.

9) Secretary, DePWD Participated In 22nd Session of UN Committee on CRPD at Geneva 

• India is a signatory of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). It ratified this Convention on 01-10-2007 in pursuance of Article 35 of the Convention. India submitted its First Country Report on Status of Disability in India on November 2015.
• The UN Committee on CRPD in its 22nd Session took up India’s First Country Report for consideration during 2nd & 3rd September 2019 at UNHRC, Geneva. An Indian delegation headed by Mrs. Shakuntala D. Gamlin, Secretary, DEPwD deposed before the UN Committee during the process of consideration of the report.
• Secretary, DEPwD highlighted various initiatives taken by the Government for inclusion and empowerment of PwDs in line with the obligations under UNCRPD. She specifically drew the attention of the UN Committee on the enactment of the Comprehensive RPwD Act, 2016, the launch of Accessible India Campaign, the establishment of National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR) to address issues concerning psycho-social disability, the establishment of Centre for Disability Sports, achievements in distribution of aids and assistive devices, etc.

10) UNHRC asks India to end lockdown in J&K

The UN Human Rights Council urged India on Monday to end the lockdown in Kashmir and restore basic communication services.  Delivering the opening statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet cited the situation in Kashmir and Assam, where lakhs have been

excluded from the National Register of Citizens and asked the Centre to “respect” civil rights

11) India has been declared free from Avian Influenza (H5N1)

India has been declared free from Avian Influenza (H5N1) by the OIE-World Organisation for Animal Health. The status will last only until another outbreak is reported. H5N1 is a highly contagious viral disease that particularly affects domestic poultry such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks. The virus can also infect humans causing death in some cases.

12) Rashid Khan has become the youngest captain in test cricket

Rashid Khan of Afghanistan became the youngest captain in test cricket at 20 years & 350 days in the one-off Test against hosts Bangladesh at Chattogram. He has now broken Zimbabwe Tatenda Taibu's 2004 record of 20 years & 358 days.

13) Ashok Leyland becomes the first Indian original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to meet the BS-VI emission norms.

Ashok Leyland Ltd has become the first Indian original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to meet the BS-VI emission norms. It met the BS-VI emission norms across the full range of heavy-duty trucks - Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 16.2 tonnes and above. The company received the certificates, confirming compliance to BS-VI emission standards, from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

14) SLINEX joint maritime naval exercise between India and Sri Lanka

The 9th edition of the weeklong joint maritime naval exercise between India and Sri Lanka(SL) named SLINEX for the year 2019 has commenced in the port of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Two Sri Lanka Navy ships (SLNS) namely Sindurala and Suranimala that are offshore patrol vehicles left the Trincomalee port of Srilanka to participate in the exercise. Wide-ranging naval exercise to enhance cooperation in the Indian Ocean region and helicopter operations.

15) 11 NPA accounts did PNB puts off for sale to recover dues of Rs 1,234 crores

Punjab National Bank, a government-run put up for sale nearly a dozen Non Performing Assets (NPA) to recover dues of over 1,234 crores. The bank invited bids from Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs)/ NBFCs/ banks/ financial institutions for 11 NPA accounts. The accounts having the bad loans include Visa Steel, which has irrecoverable dues of 441.83 crores, Ind-Barath Energy (Utkal) 414.23 crore, Aster Pvt Ltd 113.57 crore, and Om Shiv Estates 100.16 crore.

16) The Fifteenth Finance Commission holds a meeting with the Government of Rajasthan

The 15th Finance Commission headed by Chairman, Shri N.K. Singh along with its Members and senior officials met with the Shri  Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister, Shri Sachin Pilot, Deputy Chief Minister, Rajasthan along with his Cabinet colleagues and senior State Government officials.

The Commission observed that

• Rajasthan is the largest state in terms of area. It constitutes 10.45% of the total state’s area of the country.
• The State has 5.76% of the total population of the country with an urbanization rate of 24.9%.
• The population density of Rajasthan is 200, which is way below the national average compared to the national average of 382.
• Though comprising 5.76% of the total population of the country, the state’s share in interest devolution in XIV-FC was 5.495.
• The contribution of the primary sector to GSVA is high as compared to the other General Category States. Share of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary sectors in GSVA is 33, 23 and 44% in 2017-18.
• Per capita Income of Rs. 98,078 in 2017-18 is below India’s average of Rs. 1,14,958.
• In 2017-18, transfers from the Centre constituted around 48.6% of the total revenue receipts of the state.
• Rajasthan also has the third-highest solar capacity of 3072.43 MW (till March 2019).
• Rajasthan State Industrial Development & Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO) and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) have collaborated for facilitating Japanese investment in the State of Rajasthan during the period 2006-2016. 
• Rajasthan is the second-largest crude oil-producing state in India after Bombay High offshore field being operated by ONGC.  

Tourism Potential in Rajasthan

• The state offers the vast and unexploited potential for domestic tourists who, along with the foreign tourists, could contribute towards pushing the economic growth further, while providing employment opportunities.
• According to Tourism Statistics at a Glance 2018, the State ranks 5th amongst all Indian States in attracting foreign tourists visits in the country in 2017. 6 percent of all Foreign Tourist visits were attracted by the State of Rajasthan in 2017.
• The state ranks 10th amongst all Indian States in attracting domestic tourists visits in the country in 2017. 2.8 percent of all Domestic Tourist Visits were attracted by the State of Rajasthan in 2017.

SDG INDEX – NITI AAYOG- 14th Rank

• The state has an SDG Index value of 59, slightly higher the national average value of 57. The State ranks 14th amongst the Indian States.
• The state is a front runner in SDG-4- Quality Education, SDG-10-Reduced Inequality, SDG-15- Life on Land, SDG-16- Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. However, the state needs to improve on SDG-2 Zero Hunger, SGD -3 Good Health and Well Being SDG 5 Gender Equality SDG-6 Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG-11 sustainable cities and communities

Low Water Endowment and Severe Problem of Drinking Water

•  The state comprises of only 1.1 percent surface water and 2. 5 percent of groundwater resources. The per capita water availability in India is 1700 cubic meters per year, whereas, in Rajasthan, the availability is only 640 cubic meters per year.
• The groundwater condition in the State has become quite alarming due to overexploitation in the last two decades. Out of a total of 295 blocks in the State, only 52 blocks are safe, 191 overexploited, 11 critical, semi-critical and 3 are saline.
• 34 Blocks have been identified by Central Ground Water Board as highly critical.

In the Power Sector, specifically on UDAY:

• The State has achieved 100 % progress in Feeder Metering, Rural feeder audit and reducing the ACS-ARR gap per unit.  GoR appears to have done all financial restructuring (loan, subsidy, equity) as per UDAY Scheme. However, the operational reforms and efficiency reforms are behind targets.
• The state has not initiated metering of DTs in rural areas, poor performance is noted in feeder segregation.
• The State has not achieved the target of reduction of AT&C loss to 15 % by 2018-19. 
• Out of 92.21 lakh total household as in July 2018, 71.82 lakh households (77%) have been electrified. Remaining 20.38 lakh (22.10) still remained un-electrified.
• There is a need for Improvement in power supplies and services with the provision of 24 hours uninterrupted proper power supply to the rural domestic individual consumers
• Reducing the T&D loss and the Distribution Transformers (DT) failure rate should be a priority for the state Government.
• Wrong classification of consumers and Non-billing/delayed billing of the consumer should be curtailed.

Additional Current Affairs

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Aurangabad Industrial City (AURIC), India's first industrial smart city, in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The program aims to boost the Government of India's Smart Cities program.

• The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Assam and Piramal Water Pvt Ltd (Piramal Sarvajal), launched a project on the deployment of the first Internet of Things (IoT) solution in a single village mini piped water supply scheme at Amingaon, Assam. Internet of Things (IoT) The Internet of Things is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers.

Current Affairs of 9 September 2019