Daily Current Affairs 3 January 2020

Current Affairs of Today Are

1) Aadhaar must for welfare pension in Odisha

• The Odisha government has announced that from April 1 only beneficiaries with Aadhaar card will be given pension under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and the Madhubabu Pension Yojana (MBPY).
• The warning came after Aadhaar seeding of all beneficiaries under the NSAP and the MBPY could not be completed by October last year. Aadhaar seeding is about 91% in the case of NSAP and about 73% for MBPY in Odisha.
• Under the NSAP, elderly, widows and persons with disabilities get a pension.  The MBPY beneficiaries, who include elderly, widows, persons with disabilities and HIV/AIDS­ affected patients, get ₹500 to ₹700 per month. But they must not be part of any Central schemes.

Reason

• Aadhaar seeding needs to be enhanced to 100% immediately for ensuring complete transparency in respect of these two schemes Beneficiaries whose Aadhaar verification or seeding is pending will be asked to mandatorily bring a copy of their Aadhaar card when they come to receive their pension on January 15
• Beneficiaries without Aadhaar card will be taken to block office on January 15, where a team will collect their particulars for the issue of Aadhaar card

2) India records less than 100 tiger deaths for the first time in three years

• For the first time in the past three years, the number of tiger deaths in a year in the country has been less than 100. According to data from the Ministry of Forest Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC), there were 84 cases of tiger deaths in the country and 11 cases of seizures (in which a tiger is presumed dead based on body parts seized by authorities). Both put together, the number of tiger deaths in 2019 was 95. 
• In 2018, the number of tiger deaths recorded was 100 (93 mortalities and seven seizures). The number was 115 (98 mortalities and 17 seizures) in 2017, and 122 (101 mortalities and 21 seizures) in 2016.
• The last tiger census report, released in July 2019, had placed the number of tigers in India at 2,967, up by a third when compared with the numbers reported in 2014  
• The reduced numbers of tiger mortalities are because of surveillance, good management of Tiger Reserves and a lot of awareness
• The data for 2019 on tiger mortality also confirmed 22 cases of poaching and one case of tiger poisoning across the country. An analysis showed that 16 out of the 22 poaching incidents were reported outside tiger reserves
• Madhya Pradesh, which has the highest number of tigers in the country (526, as per the last census), recorded the most number of cases (31) of tiger deaths. This was followed by Maharashtra, which reported 18 deaths. Karnataka, another state with a high tiger population, recorded 12 deaths, and Uttarakhand recorded ten deaths. Tamil Nadu recorded seven cases of tiger deaths. Deaths were also recorded from non­tiger bearing States like Gujarat
• With the increase in tiger numbers, more areas in the country need to be declared Tiger Reserves. “We have 50 Tiger Reserves with an area of about 73,000 sq. km. With tigers coming out of Reserves and covering long distances, we need more Tiger Reserves

3) Air defense command plan

• In his first meeting with the officials of the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat, outlined priorities towards creating an air defense command and common logistics support pools as part of measures to create jointness and synergy among the three services
• The areas identified for jointness and synergy include the creation of common logistics support pools in stations where two or more services have their presence
• Gen. Rawat directed various branch heads to come up with recommendations for inter­service synergy and jointness in a time-bound manner. Emphasizing collegiate system of functioning, he directed that all three services and the Coast Guard must be consulted and their views obtained in a timebound manner
• The broad mandate of the CDS includes bringing about jointness in operations, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance of the three services “within three years of the first CDS assuming office”
• The air defense command and common logistics support pools are steps towards creating theatre commands in the future, which is also in the mandate of the CDS. However, there is no consensus among the services on theatre commands and the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been especially opposed to the move
• A joint services Act is also being worked out which is being formulated by the Army Adjutant­General’s branch in coordination with the Navy and the IAF. The three services are currently guided by their respective Service Acts

4) 5 DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories to the Nation

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation 5 Young Scientists Laboratories of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in Bengaluru today.
• DRDO Young Scientist Laboratories (DYSLs) are located in five cities viz, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad. Each lab will work on key advanced technology of importance to the development of futuristic defense systems viz, Artificial intelligence, Quantum technologies, Cognitive technologies, Asymmetric technologies, and Smart Materials.
• The inspiration to start such laboratories came from the Prime Minister on the occasion of the DRDO award function held on August 24, 2014. Shri Narendra Modi had then asked DRDO to empower the youth, by giving them decision making powers and challenging research opportunities.
• The establishment of the five DRDO Young Scientist Labs lays down the foundation for research and development of futuristic technologies. It will be a big leap forward for DRDO  from the goal of making India self-reliant to future-ready in defense technologies.
• Research in the area of rapidly evolving Artificial Intelligence will be carried out at Bengaluru. The all-important area of Quantum Technology will be based out of IIT Mumbai. The future is dependent on Cognitive Technologies and IIT Chennai will house the lab embarking in this area of research. New and futuristic area of Asymmetric Technologies, which will change the way wars are fought, will be based out of the campus of Jadavpur University, Kolkata. The research in the hot and critical area of Smart Materials and their applications will be based out of Hyderabad.
• DRDO's innovations would play a huge role in strengthening programs like Make in India and in promoting a vibrant defense sector in the country.

5) 40,000 indigenous people to get land deeds in Assam

• The Assam government decided to distribute land deeds to over 40,000 indigenous people
• The deeds will be handed over on January 28, and the number of beneficiaries will be increased to one lakh
• The meeting also decided to give ₹2 lakh each a year to 160 ‘satras’ (Vaishnav monasteries) and ‘devalayas’ (temples), besides the annuity. 
• The Arundhati Gold Scheme will be launched in the first week of March. Under it, the poor will be given money for buying 10 g of gold ornaments for registering the marriage

6) 107th Indian Science Congress 

• India’s largest annual gathering of scientific luminaries from countries across the world, the '107th Indian Science Congress', will be held from January 3 to 7, 2020 at University of Agricultural Sciences (UASB), GKVK Campus, Bangalore, Karnataka focusing on ‘Science & Technology: Rural Development’.
• Congress is a major focal point for scientists, researchers, and academicians interested in various aspects of scientific discoveries and technologies.  The five-day-long event aims to bring together science fraternity across the world to discuss scientific innovation and research.
• The Nobel Laureates who will be participating include German Physicist, Prof. Stefan Hell who is one of the directors of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen, Germany. He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2014 ‘for the development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy’ and Prof. Ada E. Yonath from Israel. She is a protein crystallographer who was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
• There are 28 Plenary Sessions on areas ranging from Climate Smart Agriculture for Food Security, Crop Improvement Towards Food & Nutrition Security, Materials Science And Technology For Rural Development, Challenges and Opportunities In Cancer Drug Discovery, Artificial Intelligence And Medical Technology, Advances In Basic Medical And Clinical Interactions, Non-Communicable Diseases In Rural Population as well as Cancer Research - Therapeutic Applications. The areas also include Nano Materials for Energy, Environment and Health Care, Novel Solutions for Oil and Gas Industry Problems and so on in which senior scientists and officials will discuss on the status, challenges, opportunities, and scope in these research areas.

Public Lectures

Four Public lectures by eminent personalities like Nobel laureate Prof. Stefan Hell, Dr. Subra Suresh among others, covering topics like Ultrasharp Fluorescence Microscopy, science across disciplines ranging from basic science to applications in the industry, acute problem of modern medicine, lifestyle diseases to recent advances in cardiac sciences will be organized in the Science Congress.

Farmers Science Congress

With a focus on Rural Development through Science and Technology, for the first time in the history of the Indian Science Congress, a Farmers Science Congress is being held. It will cover themes ranging from farmer's innovation on integrated agriculture and entrepreneurship for doubling farmer's income, climate change, biodiversity, conservation, ecosystem services & farmer's empowerment to agrarian distress, rural bio-entrepreneurship, policy issues.

Rashtriya Kishore Vaigyanik Sammelan (Children’s Science Congress)

The aim is to provide a unique opportunity for children to view selected projects and interact with the student delegates and children will also have the opportunity to listen, interact with eminent scientists and Nobel Laureates. 

Women Science Congress

The women’s science congress aims to provide a single platform for women working in different arena of science and technology to showcase their achievements and experiences. It will also prepare a vision document or a road map for women in science and technology and recommend policies to enhance the role and utilize the full potential of women in science and technology. In this session, women are invited to share ideas and experiences to motivate younger women to actively participate in science to identify and find simpler solutions through Science and Technology.

Vigyan Sancharak Sammelan - 2020 (Science Communicators Meet - 2020)

• “Vigyan Sancharak Sammelan” is an initiative for Science communicators' for professional growth. This program will focus on the theme of "Science & Technology: Rural Development ".  Science Communicators’ role is to facilitate public engagement with scientific issues. Science communication plays an integral part in one’s scientific career. Being able to effectively disseminate research findings within the community and to consider collective opinions in prioritizing research needs is an important attribute of scientific maturity. Thus, dissemination of scientific information and inculcation of scientific attitude among masses at large is the need of the hour.
• With this broad goal, Science Communicators’ Meet will be held to bring together experts in the field of science communication with particular reference to rural development. It will provide an opportunity for academicians, science journalists, activists, filmmakers, scientists and other communicators from all over the world to meet, deliberate and exchange their views on how to develop science communication.

Mega Science Exhibition - PRIDE OF INDIA ISC EXPO

Pride of India (PIO) ISC Expo is a unique platform for organizations from the government, private and public sectors to showcase their achievements in the field of science and technology. The POI Expo brings together and displays hundreds of new ideas, innovations, and products covering the entire canvas of the scientific world. The five days will witness a large number of visitors from the corporate sector, scientific fraternity and academia, R&D institutes, defense, government, PSUs and so on.

7) Turkey approves Libya military deployment

• Turkey’s Parliament passed a Bill y approving a military deployment to Libya, aimed at shoring up the UN-­backed government in Tripoli. 
• The beleaguered Tripoli government has been under sustained attack since April by military strongman General Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by Turkey’s regional rivals Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. 
• President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office confirmed that a request for military support had been received from the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).
• No details have been given on the scale of the potential deployment
• A UN report in November said several countries were violating the arms embargo on Libya in place since the overthrow of its long­time dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. 

8) Pakistan airspace

• The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)  warned American airlines and their pilots that there is risk involved in operating flights in Pakistan airspace due to “extremist or militant activity”
• Exercise caution during flight operations. There is a risk to U.S. civil aviation operating in the territory and airspace of Pakistan due to extremist/militant activity in a notice to airmen (NOTAM) 
• The NOTAM applies to all U.S.­based airlines and U.S.­based pilots.
• There continues to be a risk to the U.S. civil aviation sector from attacks against airports and aircraft in Pakistan, particularly for aircraft on the ground and aircraft operating at low altitudes, including during the arrival and departure phases of flights.
• The ongoing presence of extremist/militant elements operating in Pakistan poses a continued risk to U.S. civil aviation from small­arms fire, complex attacks against airports, indirect weapons fire, and anti­aircraft fire, any of which could occur with little or no warning

9) Illegal immigrants from Bangladesh

• Nearly 1,000 Bangladesh nationals were detained in Bangladesh in 2019 for living in India “illegally”, and the Bangladesh government has initiated legal proceedings against them, Major General Shafeenul Islam, DirectorGeneral of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), said 
• This is the first time in recent decades that Bangladesh has made public the number of its citizens who had lived “illegally” in India.
• The announcement came following the talks between the Directors­-General of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh in New Delhi from December 25 to 30, 2019. 
• Nine hundred and ninety-nine Bangladesh nationals 135 children, 258 women, and 606 men were detained, Major General Islam said And 312 of them were arrested in November and 133 in
• December. 
• They were arrested on the border while going to India or returning home. Their identities were ascertained and legal proceedings initiated “as per law for illegally entering and staying” in another country. Those arrested were either kept in custody or freed on bail. 
• Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s foreign policy adviser Gowher Rizvi said in Kolkata that Bangladesh would take its citizens back if they were illegally staying in India. “But it has to be proved that the person is a Bangladesh citizen,”
• Bangladesh also submitted a list of 96 Indians “illegally” staying in Bangladesh. Of them, 62 were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) and the rest were detained. Legal proceedings were opened against them. At least 35 Bangladesh nationals have been killed in border firing