Daily Current Affairs 8 August 2020 | UPSC Current Affairs 2020

 Current Affairs Of Today Are

1) Consumer Confidence Survey and Household Inflation Expectation Survey

• CONSUMER CONFIDENCE in the country plummeted to a historic low in July 2020
• The current situation index plunged to an all-time low of 53.8 inJulywhencomparedwith the index one year ago, as against 63.7 in May this year, according to the RBI’s latest consumer confidence survey
• However, the future expectations index (FEI) charted back into the positive territory, indicating signs of recovery for the year ahead, the RBI survey said.
• As per RBI’s households’ inflation expectations survey, inflation expectations for both three months and one-year horizons increased by10 basis points each, over the previous round.

About Consumer Confidence Survey

• RBI conducts quarterly ‘Consumer Confidence Survey’ in which RBI collects responses on household’s perceptions and expectations on the general economic situation, the employment scenario, the overall price situation, and their own income and spending. 

About Household Inflation Expectation Survey

• RBI conducts the ‘Inflation Expectation Survey’ of households every quarter wherein RBI gauges the household’s expectation regarding inflation for the three months ahead and one-year ahead period. Basically, RBI asks people what do you think, what will be the inflation next year. These surveys are used for monetary policy purposes.

Source: Indian Express

2)  Electric Vehicle Policy of Delhi Government

• The Delhi government launched its ambitious Electric Vehicle Policy, which aims to boost the city’s economy, reduce pollution levels, and generate employment in the transport sector. It also includes various incentives for the promotion of the purchase of electric vehicles in the city. 
• China is considered in the first position when discussions on electric vehicles are held across the world.
• there were two objectives behind launching the EV Policy: as another step to kickstart the city’s economy and to combat pollution. 
• The aim of the Delhi government was to ensure that 25% of the newly registered vehicles across the city by the year 2024 were electric vehicles. Today, he said, this percentage was only 0.2%. 
• Under the EV Policy, the Delhi government would also provide a subsidy of up to ₹30,000 on the purchase of two ­wheelers, auto-rickshaws, e­-rickshaws, freight vehicles, each, and of ₹1.5 lakh on cars. 
• These would be in addition to the incentives under the Central government’s ‘FAME India’ Phase 2. The Delhi government would also provide scrapping incentives in a first across the country
• The government would also officer low-interest rates for the purchase of electric commercial vehicles, waive off registration fees and road tax on newly registered electric vehicles and aim to create a network of charging stations in the city. 
• The target is to create 200 charging stations in the next 1 year in Delhi. The aim is to create one charging station every 3 km. We hope that at least 5 lakh electric vehicles in Delhi will be registered in the next five years

FAME India Phase 2

• 'Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME India Phase II)' scheme for promotion of Electric Mobility in the country.
• The scheme with a total outlay of Rs 10000 Crores over three years (2019-20 to 2021-22) will be implemented with effect from 1st April 2019.
• This scheme is the expanded version of the present scheme titled 'FAME India1’ which was launched on 1st April 2015, with a total outlay of Rs. 895 crores.
• Objectives
• Encourage Faster adoption of Electric and hybrid vehicle by way of offering upfront Incentive on purchase of Electric vehicles.
• Establish a necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles.
• The scheme will help in addressing the issue of environmental pollution and fuel security.
• Salient Features
• Emphasis on the electrification of public transportation that includes shared transport.
• In 3-Wheel (W) and 4-Wheel (W) segment incentives will apply mainly to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes.
• In the 2-Wheel (W) segment, the focus will be on the private vehicles.
• To encourage advanced technologies, the benefits of incentives, will be extended to only those vehicles which are fitted with an advanced battery like a Lithium-Ion battery and other new technology batteries.
• The scheme proposes for the establishment of charging infrastructure, whereby about 2700 charging stations will be established in metros, other million-plus cities, smart cities and cities of Hilly states across the country so that there will be the availability of at least one charging station in a grid of 3 km x 3 km.
• The establishment of Charging stations is also proposed on major highways connecting major city clusters.
• On such highways, charging stations will be established on both sides of the road at an interval of about 25 km each.

Source: The Hindu

3) Arakunomics

• The Rockefeller Foundation has selected Hyderabad-based non­profit, Naandi Foundation, as one of the "Top 10 Visionaries" in the world for the Food Vision 2050 Prize, announced in New York. The recognition fetches Naandi prize money of $200,000.
• The award recognized the application of the Arakunomics model in regions of Araku, Wardha and New Delhi, leading to the Food Vision 2050 that follows an “ABCDEFGH” framework centering on: Agriculture, Biology, Compost, Decentralised decision­making, Entrepreneurs, Families, Global Markets, and ‘Headstands’, or turning current approaches on their head.
• Naandi’s vision titled “Arakunomics” was based on work with tribal farmers in Araku for nearly 20 years. It is a new integrated economic model that ensures profits for farmers, quality for consumers through regenerative agriculture. The model is a tribute to the tribal farmers of Araku region for the world­class coffee produced and launched in Paris in 2017, as well as for the high carbon landscape transformation they did in over 955 villages, thereby planting 25 million trees. 

Source: The Hindu

4) TRAFFIC India on Leopard poaching 

• A recent study by TRAFFIC India on the seizure and mortality of ‘common leopards’ (Panthera pardus fusca) revealed that of the total of 747 leopard deaths between 2015­2019 in India, 596 were linked to illegal wildlife trade and activities related to poaching. 
• These records indicated that 140 leopards were killed by poachers and their carcasses were recovered from the forest areas, whereas body parts belonging to the equivalent of 456 leopards were seized during various operations by law enforcement agencies during the study period
• The paper titled ‘‘SPOTTED’ in Illegal Wildlife Trade: A Peek into Ongoing Poaching and Illegal Trade of Leopards in India’ also said that the highest numbers of poaching incidents were reported from the States of Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.
• During the period 2015 to 2019, there were more than 140 cases of seizures of leopard body parts in Uttarakhand, and about 19 incidents where the deaths of these cats could be directly linked to poaching. More than 40 cases of seizure of leopard body parts and 16 cases of poaching were recorded from Maharashtra between 2015 to 2019. 
• Among all the derivatives found in illegal wildlife trade, skin remained the most in­demand product, accounting for 69% of all seizures, while derivatives like claws, teeth, and bones were also traded.
• It is also believed that bones of the leopard are possibly traded as tiger bones as they have a larger international demand for traditional medicines
• Another concern raised in the paper is the incidence of live animal trade involving leopard cubs in seizures in Chennai and in Maharashtra

TRAFFIC

• The TRAFFIC, the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, is a leading non-governmental organization working on wildlife trade in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
• It is a joint program of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• It was established in 1976 and has developed into a global network, research-driven and action-oriented, committed to delivering innovative and practical conservation solutions.
• Headquarters: Cambridge, United Kingdom
• It aims to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
• Illegal wildlife trade is one of the main reasons that many species are endangered.
• For example, rhino poaching to fuel to demand the illegal rhino horn trade reached an all-time high in 2011, with 448 rhinos poached in South Africa alone.
• This could unravel years of conservation success with African rhinos.

TRAFFIC and India

• TRAFFIC operates as a Programme Division of WWF-India, based in New Delhi since 1991.
• It has since worked closely with the National and the State Governments and various agencies to help study, monitor, and influence action to curb illegal wildlife trade.
• Bridging the gap in effective wildlife law enforcement in India through capacity building programs:
• Under this program, TRAFFIC provides training and inputs to a diverse group of officials working on wildlife enforcement and other related issues.
• Conducting research and providing analysis of wildlife trade and its trends:
• TRAFFIC India’s on-going projects include a study on Leopard and Tiger poaching and trade in India, peacock feather trade, owl trade, dynamics of the hunting community, trade in medicinal plants, bird trade and more.

Source: The Hindu

5) Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana:

• Ministry of Agriculture funding start-ups under the innovation and agripreneurship component of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana in 2020-21.
• A component, Innovation and Agri-entrepreneurship Development program has been launched under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to promote innovation and agripreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem.
• These start-ups are in various categories such as agro-processing, artificial intelligence, digital agriculture, farm mechanization, waste to wealth, dairy, fisheries, etc.
• Agripreneurship Orientation – 2 months duration with a monthly stipend of Rs.  10,000/- per month.  Mentorship is provided on financial, technical, IP issues, etc.
• Seed Stage Funding of R-ABI Incubatees – Funding upto Rs. 25 lakhs (85% grant & 15% contribution from the incubatee).
• Idea/Pre-Seed Stage Funding of Agripreneurs – Funding up to Rs. 5 lakhs (90% grant and 10% contribution from the incubatee).
• RKVY-RAFTAAR will continue to be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the ratio of 60: 40 (Government of India and State Share respectively) except in the case of northeastern and hilly states where the sharing pattern is 90:10. For UTs the grant is 100% as Central share.

About Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana:

• RKVY scheme was initiated in 2007 as an umbrella scheme for ensuring holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors.
• The scheme incentivizes States to increase public investment in Agriculture & allied sectors.
• The Cabinet has approved (as on 1st November 2017) for the continuation of the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme (State Plans) – Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR).

The main objective of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is to develop farming as the main source of economic activity. Some of the objectives also include:

• Risk mitigation, strengthening the efforts of the farmers along with promoting agri-business entrepreneurship through the creation of agri-infrastructure.
• Providing all the states with autonomy and flexibility in making plans as per their local needs.
• Helping farmers in increasing their income by encouraging productivity and promoting value chain addition linked production models.
• To reduce the risk of farmers by focusing on increasing the income generation through mushroom cultivation, integrated farming, floriculture, etc.
• Empowering the youth through various skill development, innovation, and agri-business models.

Source: PIB

6) Tsunami Ready

Odisha has achieved another milestone in disaster management. Venkatraipur in Ganjam and Noliasahi in Jagatsinghpur have been recognized by UNESCO-IOC as Tsunami-Ready Communities.

About Tsunami Ready:

• Tsunami Ready is a community performance-based program.
• Initiated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO to promote tsunami preparedness through the active collaboration of public, community leaders, and national and local emergency management agencies.

Objectives of the program:

• To improve the coastal community’s preparedness for tsunami emergencies.
• To minimize the loss of life and property.
•     To ensure a structural and systematic approach in building community preparedness.

About the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC):

• IOC-UNESCO was established in 1960 as a body with functional autonomy within UNESCO and is the only competent organization for marine science within the UN system.
• The purpose of the Commission is to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programs in research, services, and capacity-building, in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the improvement of management, sustainable development, the protection of the marine environment, and the decision-making processes of its Member States.
• The IOC is recognized through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the competent international organization in the fields of Marine Scientific Research and Transfer of Marine Technology.

Source: PIB

7) National Handloom Day

• On the occasion of the 6th National Handloom Day on 7th August 2020, the Ministry of Textiles is organizing a virtual function in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The first National Handloom Day was celebrated in Chennai in 2015.
• The date, 7th August, was chosen as the Swadeshi Movement was launched on the same date in the year 1905, which was based on the Gandhian ideology of Swadeshi.
• On this day, the handloom weaving community is honored and the contribution of this sector is highlighted.

Objectives:

• To generate awareness about the handloom industry amongst the public at large and its contribution to socio-economic development.
• To protect India’s handloom heritage and to enable the handloom weavers and workers with greater opportunities.
• To ensure sustainable development of the handloom sector thereby empowering handloom workers financially and instilling pride in their exquisite craftsmanship.

Significance:

• The handloom sector is a symbol of India’s glorious cultural heritage.
• India’s soft power has long been endorsed by the handloom and handicraft space. ‘Saree diplomacy’ and ‘Khadi diplomacy’ are some such examples.
• The textiles and handloom sector in India is the second-largest source of employment to people, after agriculture.
• According to the Fourth All India Handloom Census 2019-20, 31.45 lakh households are engaged in handloom, weaving, and allied activities.
• It is an important source of livelihood in the country and a key to women empowerment as over 70% of handloom weavers and allied workers are women.

Source: PIB

8) Volcanoes on Venus

• According to a recent study, published in Nature Geoscience, Venus is still geologically active.
• The study identified 37 active volcanoes, in the form of ring-like structures known as coronae, on the surface of Venus.
• The coronae form when plumes of hot material deep inside the planet rise through the mantle layer and crust.
• Earlier, it was believed that the surface of Venus had no geological activity. However, scientists have known for some time that Venus has a younger surface than planets like Mars and Mercury, which have cold interiors.
• The new study will help to identify target areas for future missions such as Europe's EnVision that is scheduled to launch in 2032.
• EnVision aims at determining the level and nature of the geological activity and the sequence of events that generated the surface features of Venus.

Venus

• It is the second closest planet to the sun and the sixth-largest planet in the solar system. It is also known as the earth's twin.
• It is the hottest planet in the solar system and its extreme temperatures (450o C) and acidic clouds make it an unlikely place for life.
• Along with Uranus, it spins backward with respect to other planets i.e. Its sun rises in the west and sets in the east.
• Along with Mercury, it has no moons and no rings.