Daily Current Affairs
1) The government imposes Minimum Export Price (MEP) for Onions at the US $ 850 per Metric Ton
Union Government has decided that the export of all varieties of onions ( as described under Chapter 7 of Schedule 2 of ITC (HS)) shall be permitted only on Letter of Credit (LC) subject to minimum export price (MEP) of US $ 850 F.O.B. per Metric Ton until further orders. A Notification to this effect has been issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Government of India dated 13th September 2019.
2) Ayush Minister inaugurates Unani and Siddha Centres at Safdarjung Hospital
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH and Defence Shri Shripad Yesso Naik inaugurated an Unani Medical Centre and Siddha Clinical Research Unit at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi today. The Unani Medical Centre has been established by the Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) and Siddha Clinical Research Unit has been established by the Central Council for Research in Siddha Medicine (CCRS).
3) Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad launches Maritime Communication Services in India
Union Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched the maritime communication services at Mumbai. Maritime Connectivity will enable high-end support to those in the sea by providing access to Voice, Data and Video services while traveling on sailing vessels, cruise liners, ships in India, using satellite technology.
Who invented this technology?
Nelco, India's leading VSAT solutions provider is the first Indian company that will now provide quality broadband services to the maritime sector. Nelco through global partnerships, infrastructure including transponder capacity on the satellite of ISRO and a comprehensive service portfolio will help Energy, Cargo, and Cruise vessels by enhancing operational efficiency, improving crew welfare and enabling customers services. The IFMC license has not only enabled connectivity for onboard users on ships but also brings operational efficiencies for shipping companies which were less evolved until now.
In-flight and Maritime Communications (IFMC)
In December 2018, the Government of India announced the licenses for In-flight and Maritime Communications (IFMC) that allows voice and internet services while flying over the Indian skies and sailing in Indian waters, both for international and Indian aircraft and vessels. The IFMC license is a key initiative of the Telecom Ministry, a move to liberalize satellite communication services in India.
Shri Prasad also launched a web portal for reporting of stolen mobiles for tracing purposes in the august
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is supposed to be a unique identity of a mobile phone device. Generally, a phone with one/two slots of SIM card is programmed with one/two IMEI numbers as the case may be. IMEI number being programmable, some miscreants do reprogram the IMEI number, which results in the cloning of IMEI causing multiple phone devices with the same IMEI number. As on date, there are many cases of cloned/duplicated IMEI handsets in the network.
If such IMEI is blocked, a large number of mobile phones will get blocked being handsets with the same IMEI causing inconvenience to many genuine customers. Thus, there is a need to eliminate duplicate/fake IMEI mobile phones from the network.
4) A big push for Make in India in the Defence Acquisition Council meeting chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh here today and accorded approval for Capital Procurement for the Services amounting to approximately Rs 2,000 crores.
Maintaining focus on the 'Make in India' initiative, the DAC accorded approval for indigenous development and production of the main gun 125mm Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding-Sabot (APFSDS) ammunition for T-72/T-90 tanks by the Indian Industry, which would substantially enhance the enemy armor penetration capability.
The DAC also approved the procurement of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed and Industry manufactured Mechanical Mine Layer (Self Propelled) to improve automated minelaying capability with the Indian Army.
5) A major achievement for indigenous capability – LCA Tejas (Navy) makes a successful arrested landing
The First-ever arrested landing of LCA Tejas (Navy) at the shore-based test facility, INS Hansa Goa took place which will pave the way for this Indigenous platform to undertake Aircraft Carrier landing demonstration onboard the Indian Naval Aircraft Carrier, Vikramaditya.What has Arrested landing?
An arresting gear, or arrestor gear, is a mechanical system used to rapidly decelerate an aircraft as it lands. Arresting gear on aircraft carriers is an essential component of naval aviation, and it is most commonly used on CATOBAR and STOBAR aircraft carriers. Similar systems are also found at land-based airfields for expeditionary or emergency use. Typical systems consist of several steel wire ropes laid across the aircraft landing area, designed to be caught by an aircraft's tailhook. During a normal arrestment, the tailhook engages the wire and the aircraft's kinetic energy is transferred to hydraulic damping systems attached below the carrier deck. Other related systems use nets to catch aircraft wings or landing gear. These barricade and barrier systems are only used for emergency arrestments for aircraft without operable tailhooks.
This arrested landing heralds the arrival of true indigenous capability and displays the professional prowess of our scientific community Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) embedded with the design and build the capability of HAL(ARDC), DRDO and CSIR Labs involved in executing this landmark event.
6) 118 new Community Radio Stations to be set-up
Union Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar announced that 118 new Community Radio Stations (CRS) are in the process of being set-up.
The approved list of applicants having been granted a Letter of Intent for setting up CRS includes 16 from Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts, 6 from most LWE affected districts, 25 from coastal districts, 17 from Aspirational Districts, 3 from North-East and 2 from Jammu and Kashmir. Applications from NGOs, Educational Institutions - both private and public, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras have been granted approvals. It is expected that these Community Radio Stations will become operational within the next six months.
About Community Radio Stations
Community Radios are small (low power) FM radio stations with a coverage area of around 10-15 Km radius, depending on the geography of the area. CRS plays a significant role in the dissemination of agriculture-related information, government schemes for people’s welfare, weather forecast, etc. CRS is expected to produce at least 50% of their programs locally, as far as possible in local languages or dialects. More than two hundred sixty CRS across India, broadcasting in various languages including local dialects, give marginalized communities a platform to make their voice heard and an opportunity to express their views
7) Indian Railways signs Memorandum of Understanding with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) for the facilitation of green initiatives
Indian Railways have undertaken some major Green initiatives as part of India’s contribution towards the mitigation of global warming and combating climate change. To carry forward this green initiative, an MoU was signed between Ministry of Railways and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) for the facilitation of green initiatives in Indian Railways at New Delhi
The objectives of the MoU:
- Energy efficiency in manufacturing facilities and railway workshops.
- Greening of Railway properties.
- Demonstrative pilots of ‘net-zero energy buildings/ railway stations’.
- Capacity and skill development by continuous sharing of best practices on energy and environment through training programs.
- Development of Green procurement policy, waste management policy, solid waste disposal, carbon neutrality, phytoremediation.
8) Shri Arjun Munda Launches Biggest Tribal Movement to promote tribal enterprise through Bamboonomics at ‘COP 14 UNCCD: TRIFED-GIZ’
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda launched the Biggest Tribal movement to promote tribal enterprise through Bamboonomics in the country which will be a beacon for the rest of the world. He launched the movement for combating desertification and the climate change at “The Indian Perspective through Bamboonomics” session at ‘COP 14 UNCCD: TRIFED (The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India)-GIZ’
9) Odd-even scheme back in Delhi from November 4-15
The oddeven vehicle rationing scheme will return to the Capital for the third time in November The scheme will be enforced from November 4 to 15 as part of a seven point action plan mainly aimed at combating the detrimental effect that stubble and residual crop burning in neighboring states such as Punjab and Haryana have on the Capital'sambient air quality in winter months. The scheme entails allowing private vehicles whose registration number ends in even digits to ply on even dates and those with odd last digits to ply only on odd dates, with violators drawing a ₹2,000 fine. Women drivers and twowheeler riders were exempted from the scheme on both the previous occasions.
Other measures
The Chief Minister also announced other measures of the ‘Parali Pradushan’ plan such as the distribution of free antipollution masks to citizens. The Delhi government will make largescale procurement of around 5060 lakh of the best quality N95 antipollution masks which will be distributed among the people in October, before the spike in air pollution the next month.
Other components of the seven point plan include mechanized sweeping and water sprinkling on roads, tree plantation, and special measures to be put in place at 12 pollution hotspots in Delhi.
10) Vietnam has inaugurated Southeast Asia's largest solar power farm
Vietnam has inaugurated Southeast Asia's largest solar power farm which can produce 688 million kWh of electricity annually. The Dau Tieng Solar Power Complex, a joint venture with the Thai industrial group B.Grimm Power Public Company, occupies 540 hectares in Tay Ninh province, Vietnam. The complex was constructed on the Dau Tieng Reservoir the largest artificial lake in Vietnam and is expected to generate 10 percent of the country's solar energy to guarantee supply to 320,000 homes. It will also prevent the emission of 595,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.
11) DRDO hands over Netra to Indian Air Force.
The Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) has handed over the second airborne warning plane, Netr-a, to the Indian Air Force. The Netra, an Airborne Early Warning, and Control (AEWC) aircraft are useful for surveillance, tracking, identification and classification of airborne and sea surface targets and are useful in detecting incoming ballistic missile threats. The Netra had played a stellar role during the Balakot airstrikes that had been carried out by the IAF in February this year. It provided surveillance and radar coverage to the five Mirage jets that bombed terror launch pads in Balakot in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
12) Indian Bank to work on cardless cash withdrawal system
Public sector lender Indian Bank will start working on a system under which customers can withdraw cash without using a debit card, according to a top official. Indian Bank would start working on the system, with interoperability facility, soon after the National Payments Corporation of India comes out with specifications. In all probability, it would happen by June 2020
13) Pharma exports grew 11% in the first quarter
Pharma exports bucked the recessionary trend, to clock 11% growth in the first quarter this fiscal and followed it up with a robust, over 21% growth in July If the pace of growth is
maintained, exports may close the fiscal at a new high of $22 billion. That would be a more than 14% growth compared to the $19.2 billion achieved in 2018-19
Focus on China, Japan
The Pharmexcil, which is a body under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is keen on pharma companies sharpening their focus on China and Japan as the two countries are the biggest markets for the industry after the U.S.On the challenges faced by companies in tapping the export potential, he said the registration process of drugs in China was time-consuming, while in Japan, the level of acceptance of generics remained low. Towards providing a forum for interaction
between regulators and the industry, the council is organizing the international regulators meet in Hyderabad on September 1920. Health regulators from about 25 countries will attend the conference. Pharmexcil is also ready with the report of a study commissioned by the Minister to suggest strategies to reduce import dependence in APIs, KSMs, and intermediates. The report suggests a road
map for making the country selfreliant in manufacturing these raw materials, a good chunk of which is being sourced from China and is valued at around $2.5 billion.
14) SC asks govt. if it plans to link social media, Aadhaar
The Supreme Court on Friday decided to hear a plea by Facebook to call forth petitions pending in various High Courts concerning the linking of social media accounts of users with their Aadhaar numbers. A Bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose scheduled the case for hearing on September 24 Facebook wants the apex court to transfer the pending petitions to itself and decide them finally. The company has contended that any rule to enforce the linking of Aadhaar with social media accounts would be an invasion of privacy, which has been affirmed as a fundamental right by the Supreme Court.
15) 312 Indianorigin Sikhs removed from postmilitancy ‘adverse list’
At least 312 Indianorigin Sikhs living in foreign countries have been removed from a Ministry of Home Affairs “adverse list”, enabling them to apply for an Indian visa and visit the country, a
senior Ministry official said on Friday. Only two persons still remain on the list. The official said that in the future, Sikhs mentioned in the list could eventually apply for registration as Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) after they have applied for and held normal visa for a period of two years.
An official explained that in the 1980s when the Sikh militancy was at its peak, many members of the community in India and abroad were influenced by antiIndia propaganda.
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