CURRENT AFFAIRS OF INDIA- National
NATIONAL
Govt. Launches SATYABHAMA Portal
The Mines Ministry on June 19, 2020 announced the launch of a portal named SATYABHAMA (Science and Technology
Yojana for Aatmanirbhar Bharat in Mining Advancement) with an aim to promote research and development in the mining and minerals sector. This portal will allow online submission of project proposals along with monitoring of the same and utilisation of funds.
India to become UNSC President for
August, 2021
India, which has been elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), will serve as the President of the powerful UNSC for the month of August, 2021.
The presidency of the UNSC is held by each of the members in turn for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the member state's names.
Micro Loan Facility for Street Vendors
Launched
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed an MOV on June 19, 2020 in order to engage SIDBI to implement PM Street Vendor's Aatmanirbhar Nidhi (PM Svanidhi) - a special micro-credit facility for street vendors. PM SVANidhi aims to provide affordable working capital loan to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to Covid -19 lockdown.
India's First Mobile I - Lab Launched
Union Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan on June 18,2020 launched India's first rapid response mobile laboratory I - Lab (Infectious disease diagnostic lab) for Covid -19 testing. It will be deployed in remote, interior and inaccessible parts of the country and have capability to perform 25 Covid -19 RT PCR tests / day, 300 ELISA tests / day, additional tests for TB, HIV etc. as per CGHS rates.
Sports Ministry to Establish KISCE The sports ministry on June 16, 2020 announced that it will establish Khelo India
State Centre of Excellence (KISCE)
The sports ministry on June 16, 2020 announced that it will establish khelo India State centre of Excellence (KICSE)
to enhance India's olympics performance.
One KISCE will be identified in each State and Union Territory, with an effort to create a roburt sporting ecosystem in the entire country.
The ministry has identified state owned sports facilities in eight states, which will be upgraded into KISCE.
India Gas Exchange Launched
Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra
Pradhan on June 15, 2020 launched the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX), first nationwide online delivery based gas trading platform for natural gas.
The IGX is incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the IGX - India's energy market platform. It will enable market participants to trade in standardised gas contacts.
India joins GPAI as founding Member
India, on June 15, 2020 joined the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) as a founding member to support responsible and human centric development and use of Artificial Intelligence (Al). With this, India has joined the league of leading nations and economies including the USA, EU, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and Singapore for launch of GPAI.
DRDO Developed Sanitising Chamber
Germi lean
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has designed and
developed a dry heat treatment chamber named 'Germiklean'. This chamber is designed to sanitise 25 pairs of uniforms of security forces within 15 minutes. The sanitising chamber has been set up at Parliament Street Police Station.
Sahakar Mitra : Scheme on Internship
Programme Launched
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh
Tomar Launched Sahakar Mitra: Scheme Internship Programme (SIP) on June 1 1, 2020.
In the series of initiatives by National
Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), this new scheme will provide the young professionals an opportunity of practical exposure and leaming from the working of NCDC and Cooperatives as a paid intern.
The scheme will help cooperative institutions access new and innovative ideas of young professionals while the interns will gain experience of working in the field to be
self-reliant.
NHAI becomes First Construction Sector
Organisation to go fully Digital
In view of the novel coronavirus outbreak the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on June 12, 2020 said it has gone fully digital with cloud based 'Data Lake Software', becoming the first such construction sector organisation.
The NHAI has gone fully digital with the launch of unique cloud based and artificial intelligence powered big data analytics platform - Data Lake and Project Management Software.
NIRF India Rankings 2020 Released
The HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' announced the National Institutional Ranking Framework
(NIRF) India Rankings 2020
The HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' announced the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Indian Railways 2020 via live webcast on June 1 1, 2020. The rankings has been released for various categories - Overall, University, Engineering, College, Management, Pharmacy, Law, Architecture and Medical. The 11T Madras ranked first in overall category followed by the IISc Bangalore and 11T Delhi.
Gairsain Declared Summer Capital of Uttarakhand
The tiny hill town of Gairsain has officially been decreed the summer capital of the
state of Uttarakhand after State Governor Baby Rani Maurya gave her assent to the move on June 8, 2020.
Gairsain also known as Bhararisen, in the Chamoli district has been the subject of debate for over two decades since Uttarakhand gain statehood in 2000. CM Trivendra Singh Rawat had declared
Gairsain to be the summer capital of Uttarakhand on March 4, 2020 during his budget session speech.
Information Booklet on Covid -19
Launched
Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on June 5, 2020 digitally launched the information booklet titled Safe Online Learning in the Times ofCovid-19 to raise awareness of students and teachers on staying safe online in New Delhi. The NCERT and UNESCO New Delhi office developed this booklet. The booklet will be instrumental in keeping children, young people safe online through basic do's and don'ts that will help parents and educators teach their children how to use the internet safely.
DRDO Developed Ultra Swachh for
Disinfection of PPEs
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a disinfection unit named Ultra Swachhto disinfect a wide range of materials, including Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs), electronics items, fabrics etc. The system uses an advanced oxidative process comprising of multiple barrier disruption approach using Ozonated Space Technology for disinfection.
It has been developed by the Delhi based laboratory of DRDO named Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS).
Mudra Shishu Loan for Small Businesses
Announced
The centre has announced the launch of Mudra Shishu Loan to benefit small businesses and cottage industries on June 1, 2020.
Under the scheme, one lakh beneficiaries can avail an interest benefit of 2% for a year. The interest subvention will be provided to prompt payees for a period of 1 2 months. The scheme is expected to provide benefit of? 1500 crore to about 3 crore people.
National Al portal of India Launched
Communications Minister Ravi Shankar
Prasad launched India's National Artificial Intelligence Portal called www.ai.gov.in, on There will be a special Jaan Bhi, Jahaan Bhi pavilion to create health awareness among
The portal has been jointly developed by the the people with the theme of Say no to
This portal shall work as a one stop digital platform for Al related developments in India, sharing of resources such as articles, startups, ivestment funds in Al, resources, companies and educational institutions related to Al in India.
CIPET gets a New Name
The Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) has got a new name on May 29, 2020.
It will now be called the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET).
The primary objective of CIPET has been contributing to the growth of the plastics industry. It will now fully devote itself to the petrochemicals sector.
Indian Dispute Resolution Centre
Inaugurated
Former Supreme Court Judge Justice AK Sikri on May 24, 2020 e- inaugurated Indian Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC).
It is India's first of its kind Institutional ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) centre which provides offline and also eADR facility through its state of the art eArbitration, eMediation and eConciliation software portal. It provides a completely paperless dispute resolution environment.
Mizoram Grants Industry Status to Sports
Mizoram Cabinet on May 23, 2020 has accorded Industry status to sports in order to create more jobs as the state's effort} to attract investment for industry yielded very less response.
Mizoram's Sports Minister Robert Romawia Royte, a businessman turned politician, is credited for creating a conducive atmosphere for sports in Mizoram.
The economy in Mizoram is agriculture based and lack of proper infrastructure and communications facilities have failed to attract private invertors to set-up industry in the state.
'Hunar Haat' to Restart from September 2020 Ayushman Bharat Beneficiaries Crosses
I Crore Mark
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has revealed that the beneficiaries under the government's health scheme Ayushrnan Bharat scheme had crossed I crore in just 2 years of its launch,
The Prime Minister had a telephonic interaction with the 1 croreth beneficiary from Meghalaya, Pooja Thapa, who is also the wife of an Indian Army personnel.
PM Narendra Modi has appreciated doctors, nurses, healthcare workers and all others associated with Ayushman Bharat.
PM Modi Conducts Aerial Survey of Cyclone Amphan-hit West Bengal &
Odisha
PM Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of Cyclone Amphan-hit areas in West Bengal & Odisha on May 22, 2020.
PM Modi has announced an advance interim assistance of? 1,000 crore for West Bengal and 500 crore for Odisha in the wake of cyclone Amphan.
PM Modi also announced 2 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of those killed and 50,000 to the injured ones from the PM Relief Fund.
HRD Minister Launches IGNOU's Online
MA (Hindi) Programme
Union Human Resource Development
Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launched
IGNOU's online programme for Master in Arts (MA) in Hindi, among other courses through Facebook Live session on May 21, 2020. This would strengthen our 'Padhe India' online initiative and commended IGNOU's role in promoting online education.
'GOAL' Programme Launched for Digital
Skilling of Tribal Youth
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun
Munda has launched GOAL (Going Online As Leaders) programme with Facebook to provide mentorship to tribal youth through digital mode. The programme will help to provide skill and empower 5000 tribal youths connecting them with the domestic and international markets.
Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas The programme will focus on three core
Naqvi announced on May 23, 2020 that areas -- Digital Literacy, Life Skills and Hunar Haat will restart from September this Leadership and Entrepreneurship, and on year with the theme of 'Local to Global'. sectors such as Agriculture, Art & Culture, The last Hunar Haat was held in end of Handicrafts & Textiles, Health, Nutrition, February to March 8 in Ranchi. among others.
Ministry of Electronics and IT and IT industry. panic, yes to precautions,
NIV Develops COVID KAVACH ELISA
Test Kit
National Institute of Virology, Pune, has developed India's first indigenous antibody-based ELISA test kit - COVID KAVACH for diagnosis of novel Corona Virus. It can test around 90 samples in approx. two and a half hours.
ELISA stands for Enzyme-linked Immune Sorbent Assay. It is a test that is used to detect and measure antibodies in the blood sample of a person.
MSME Ministry Launched Champions
Portal
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has launched
CHAMPIONS portal (www.champions.gov.in).
The CHAMPIONS stands for Creation and
Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and National Strength.
The portal will help in grievance registration and management of complaints lodged by MSMEs.
Government Sets up 'Rice Export
Promotion Forum'
Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF) has been set .up by the Government of India to provide stimulus to the rice exports.
The Rice Export Promotion Forum has been set up under the aegis of the Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Promotion Development Authority (Apeda).
RBI Monetary Policy
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced an
extension of the moratorium on EMIS and term loan by three months, i.e. August 31,
2020 (June 1 to August 31). Moratorium period refers to the period of time during which you do not have to pay an EMI on the loan taken. This period is also known as EMI holiday.
RBI cut repo rate by 40 basis points (bps) to 4% from 4.40%. The reverse repo rate has also been reduced to 3.35% from 3.75%. The bank rate stands reduced to 4.25%. RBI has increased export credit period to 1 5 months from 12 months.
11T Alumni Council Launches 'COVID-19
Test Bus'
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Alumni Council launched a 'COVID-19 test bus' in Mumbai, Maharashtra on May 7, 2020. The COVID-19 Testing bus will reduce 80% of the testing cost without compromising on the testing capacity.
The 11T C 19 bus is based on the Kodoy architecture model that is made to support the affordable and rapid testing which involves euehicles for contactless sample collections and Telemedicine, Al-based teleradiology.
ICGS-Sachet & Two Interceptor Boats
Commissioned Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet and two interceptor boats (IBS) C-450 and C-451 in Goa via video conference. The ICGS Sachet is the first in the series of five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and has been designed & built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). It is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment.
The IBS C-450 and C-451 are 30 metre long boats indigenously designed & built by Larsen & Toubro Shipyard Hazira, and fitted with latest navigation and communication equipment.
Indian Navy Launches Operation
Samudra Setu
Operation Samudra Setu has been launched by the Indian Navy as a part of a national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas, on May 5, 2020.
Under the operation, a total of 1000 persons are planned to be evacuated during the first trip, catering for COVID related social distancing norms vis-a-vis the carrying capacity and medical facilities available onboard.
NITI Aayog Launches 'Surakshit
Dada-Dadi & Nana-Nani Abhiyan'
NITI Aayog has launched virtual 'Surakshit
Dada-Dadi & Nana-Nani Abhiyan' to ensure well being of senior citizens during the' COVID-19 pandemic in association with Piramal Foundation, on May 5, 2020.
The aim of the campaign is to create awareness about various aspects of senior citizens' health and lifestyle including preventive measures and requisite behavioural changes in view of COVID-19 pandemic.
Manipur Black Rice & Gorakhpur Terracotta Gets Gl Tag
Black rice of Manipur, also called the Chak-Hao, Gorakhpur Terracotta and Kashmir Saffron bagged Geographical Indication tag on May l, 2020.
Chak-Hao, a scented glutinous rice which has been in cultivation in Manipur over centuries, is characterised by its special aroma.
The terracotta work of Gorakhpur is a centuries-old traditional art form, where the potters make various animal figures like, horses, elephants, camel, goat, ox, etc. with hand-applied ornamentation.
India's First Mobile Testing Lab for
COVID-19 Testing Launched
India's First Mobile Testing Lab for COVID-19 testing was launched on April 23, 2000 via a video conferencing by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The name of mobile testing lab is Mobile
Virology Research and Diagnostics Laboratory (MVRDL). This lab can be positioned anywhere in the country, as per requirement. It has been developed by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) in association with ESC (Employees' State Insurance Corporation) Hospital, Hyderabad and Private industry
DRDO Developed COVSACK for
COVID-19 Sample Collection
Defence Research & Development Laboratory
(DRDL), a laboratory of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed a COVID Sample Collection Kiosk (COVSACK) to combat COVID-19 pandemic. It will be used by healthcare workers for taking COVID-19 samples from suspected infected patients.
India becomes Top Hydroxychloroquine Producer & Exporter
India has become the largest producer and exporter of Hydroxychloroquine with 7096 of annual global production.
Currently, our nation is producing 40 tonnes, or 20 crore tablets of 200 mg each, of HCQ every month. The top pharma companies manufacturing this drug are Ipca Laboratories Ltd., ZydusCadila and Wallace Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Ordinance Promulgated to Amend the
Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897
The Union Cabinet on April 22, 2020 approved promulgation of an Ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 to protect healthcare service personnel and property including their living/working premises against violence during epidemics. The President has given his assent for promulgation of the Ordinance. ICMR Recommended Hydroxychloroquine for Caregivers of COVID-19 Patients
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended the use of hydroxychloroquine for healthcare workers
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