Daily Current Affairs 26 September 2019

Current Affairs Of Today

1) Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh commissions Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Varaha’

• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh commissions Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Varaha’ at the Commissioning Ceremony of Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) ‘Varaha’ in Chennai.
• ICGS ’Varaha’ as a fine example of collaboration with industry and ‘Make in India’ were Larsen & Toubro (L&T) shipbuilding has built it.
• The name ‘Varaha’ is taken from Puranas, who was the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu which took the form of Boar to protect mother earth by carrying her out of the sea on his tusks. It reminds us of the principle of sacrifice and rescue in the duty of saving mother earth
• ICGS ‘Varaha’ is capable of carrying pollution response equipment.
• ICGS ‘Varaha’, the state-of-the-art offshore patrol vessel, was commissioned into the Coast Guard fleet. It is the fourth among the series of seven ships to be delivered by L&T with features like ultra-advanced navigation, communication sensors, and machinery. It will operate from the port of New Mangalore on the West Coast covering Exclusive Economic Zone up to Kanyakumari.
• ICGS ‘Varaha’ is capable of operating the indigenously-developed Advanced Light Helicopter by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The ship is well equipped with high-speed boats, medical facilities, and modern surveillance systems.

2) PM Narendra Modi receives ‘Global Goal Keeper Award’ for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi received the ‘Global Goalkeeper’ Award by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, on 24 September 2019. The award ceremony took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.

3) Dr. Harsh Vardhan launches ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega’ Campaign and National TB Prevalence Survey.

• Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare launched the new TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign, along with the National TB Prevalence Survey.
• The Union Health Minister also flagged off a van for the National TB Prevalence Survey.  25 such vans will be part of the prevalence survey, which shall take 6 months and be carried out across the country. This shall present national and state-level data, which will be used as a policy tool for further interventions.
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan also released the TB India Report 2019
• An announcement of a partnership with the World Bank which is providing a $400 million credit for accelerating TB response in 9 states through private sector engagement and other critical interventions
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan also awarded states for their excellent performance in tackling TB
• Among states with a large population (>50 lakhs), Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat were awarded as best performers
• while Tripura and Sikkim were recognized for their efforts among medium population (less than 50 lakhs) states.
• Puducherry and Daman and Diu were judged as the best performers among Union Territories.
• The new TB campaign aims to improve and expand the reach of TB care services across the country, by 2022.

4) Government of India has instituted ‘Sardar Patel National Unity Award’ - Highest Civilian Award for contribution to Unity and Integrity of India

Government of India has instituted the highest civilian award in the field of contribution to the unity and integrity of India, in the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. A notification instituting the Sardar Patel National Unity Award was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 20th September 2019.

• The Award seeks to recognize notable and inspiring contributions to promote the cause of national unity and integrity and to reinforce the value of a strong and united India. The award will be announced on the occasion of the National Unity Day, i.e. the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel on 31st October.
• An Award Committee would be constituted by the Prime Minister, which would include the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary to the President, Home Secretary as Members and three-four eminent persons selected by the Prime Minister

5) Government reconstitutes Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister

The government of India has reconstituted the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) for two years with effect from 26th September 2019.Dr. Bibek Debroy and Shri Ratan P. Watal will continue to be the Chairman and Member Secretary respectively of the reconstituted EAC-PM. Apart from these two Full-Time Members, the EAC-PM will have two Part-Time Members. While Dr. Ashima Goel continues to be one of the Part-Time Members, Dr. Sajjid Chinoy has been made as another Part-time Member.

6) BPR&D to organize a National Level Seminar cum Exhibition and Demonstration on Anti-Drone Technology

The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is organizing a National Level Seminar cum Exhibition on Anti-Drone Technology at BPR&D, HQ New Delhi on September 26, 2019, and Demonstration on September 27, 2019, at BSF Campus, Bhondsi, Haryana.

The Seminar would be covering three sessions, as given below

• Threat Perspective Border Oil/Gas Critical Infrastructure Civil Aviation Terrorism Law enforcement' would be covered by distinguished panelists from States Police, CAPFs, IAF, Industry, and ONGC to highlight threats from rogue drones.
• 'Understanding Anti-Drone Detection, Identification, Tracking, Mitigation of Rogue Drone's would be covered by distinguished panelists from the industry so that the participants are familiarised with the latest Anti Drone technologies/equipment available.
• 'Policy Framework for Anti-Drone Technology' would be covered by distinguished panelists from DGCA, Bureau of Civil Aviation, Airport Authority of India and Industry.

7) Dr. Jitendra Singh launches CPGRAMS reforms in the Department of Posts

The MoS (PP) Dr. Jitendra Singh launch of Centralised Public Grievances Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) reforms in the Department of Posts

• The new version of CPGRAMS will lead to a reduction in grievance disposal time and improved quality of grievance redressal.
• The DARPG (Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances) launched the CPGRAMS for receiving, redressing and monitoring of grievances from the public. 
• The CPGRAMS provides the facility to lodge a grievance online from any geographical location. 
• It enables the citizen to track online the grievance being followed up with Departments concerned and also enables DARPG to monitor the grievance. The citizen can then access the system through www.pgportal.nic.in.

8) One in five Indian women suffer from PCOS

• An increasing number of women in the reproductive age are suffering from a hormonal disorder called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). 
• An estimated one in five (20%) Indian women suffer from PCOS
• Women with PCOS are at a high risk of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health complications.

9) PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Solar Park, Peace Garden at UN

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with UN chief Antonio Guterres and other world leaders, inaugurated the Gandhi Solar Park and Gandhi Peace Garden at the headquarters of United Nation
• At a contribution of about $1 million, India has gifted solar panels that have been installed on the roof of the U.N. Headquarters here, one panel each for every 193 U.N. member states
• Energy generated in the park is equivalent to the energy that would have been created through the use of 30,000 kg of coal. It also has carbon sequestration of 1,000 seedlings which will grow into trees over 10 years.
• The ‘Gandhi Peace Garden’ is an innovative initiative under which the Consulate­General of India in New York, Long Island­based NGO Shanti Fund and the State University of New YorkOld Westbury have entered into an agreement to plant 150 trees

10) India and the United States will hold their first tri-services exercise 'Tiger Triumph'.

India and the United States are set to hold their first trilateral-service military exercise codenamed 'Tiger Triumph' at Visakhapatnam and Kakinada in November 2019. The exercise is being organized under the aegis of the headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS).

11) The Centre has introduced a new scheme named Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing for Tamil Nadu

The Centre has introduced a new scheme named Assistance for Deep Sea Fishing for Tamil Nadu fishermen. The announcement was made by the Union Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Giriraj Singh. For the scheme, the Centre has allocated Rs.300 crore to the Tamil Nadu government. The scheme is introduced specifically to benefit four districts in the Palk Bay area, including Ramanathapuram district.

12) India's second-largest railway overbridge was come up in West Bengal

Indian Railways has completed the construction of the giant four-lane cable-stayed railway overbridge (RoB) at Burdwan Junction in West Bengal. The RoB, considered to be the second largest in the country will be inaugurated by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. India's second-largest railway overbridge. The railway overbridge was completed in 197 days without affecting traffic for even a single day.

13) India reluctant to deepen defense ties with Afghanistan

India is the largest regional contributor to Afghan reconstruction not shown any inclination to pursue a deeper defense relationship with Kabul The US Policy In Brief dated 19 September and compiled ahead of the meetings of US President Donald Trump with Pakistan's prime minister Imran Khan and with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar met Special US Representative on Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad. India is the largest regional contributor to Afghan reconstruction, but New Delhi has not shown any inclination to pursue a deeper defense relationship with Kabul.

14) Odisha government made mandatory online pollution certificate from October 1

An online pollution certificate will be mandatory in Odisha from October 1, The manual Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUC) issued before September 30 will remain valid. The fee for Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUC) for two and three-wheelers is Rs. 60, for a light motor vehicle (LMV), is Rs. 100 and for a medium and heavy motor vehicle is Rs. 150 (GST extra) The Pollution Testing Centres will stop issuing manual certificates from October 1.