current affairs july (23-31), 2019...salient features of the festival ... • over fifty percent of...

PT CURRENT AFFAIRS LUKMAAN IAS

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CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY (23-31), 2019

• Next Generation Sequencing Facility

• Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Products Pipeline

• Nishagandhi Monsoon Ragas Music Festival

• Bhabha Kavach

• IUCN Red List

• Chandrayaan-2

• Right to Information Amendment Act, 2019

• Virtual Museum Software

• Deepfakes

• Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak

• Tiangong-2

• Global Innovation Index-2019

• New Space India Limited

• Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019

• Transiting Exo-planet Survey Satellite

• National Security Guard

• National Institute of Miners’ Health


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NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING FACILITY

The Context: Union Health Minister and Family Welfare has inaugurated Next Generation Sequencing Facility (NSG) at Hyderabad (Telangana).

About Next Generation Sequencing Facility

• Located at the facility of Cellular and Molecular Biology Centre.

• Works toward high genome sequencing and also diagnostic sequencing of clinical samples.

• Capable of sequencing 30 genomes per day.

Application

• Helps in prenatal genetic screening and counselling, thus generating large amount of genomic data critical for diagnosis and therapy.

• Can be useful in treating rare genetic disorder.

• Much of the existing body of knowledge for therapies for genetic disease comes from studies done with Caucasian population but this would help in generating large-scale genomic data from Indian population.

MOTIHARI-AMLEKHGUNJ PETROLEUM PRODUCTS PIPELINE

The Context: The landmark Motihari-Amlekhgunj Petroleum Products Pipeline between India and Nepal is now completed and is ready for commercial operation.

About the Pipeline

• It is the first pipeline in Nepal, constructed with the assistance of the India.

• The pipeline will be a game-changer for Nepal as it will ensure smooth, cost and eco-friendly supply of petroleum products to Nepal.

• It will resolve the issue of oil storage in Nepal and doing away with transportation of petroleum products to Nepal.

• Since 1974, Nepal has been importing its entire major petroleum products from India.

Indo-Nepal Relation

• Both the countries share a unique relationship of friendship and cooperation characterized by open border and deep-rooted people-to-people contacts.

• The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relation that exists between India and Nepal.

• Under the Treaty, the Nepali Citizens enjoy certain advantages in India, availing facilities and opportunities at par with Indian Citizen.

• Nearly, six million Nepali Citizens live and work in India.

• Nepal shares a border of over 1850 kms in the east, south and west with five Indian States – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

• There are regular exchanges of high level visits and official interactions between India and Nepal. In 2014, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Nepal twice.

About Genome Sequencing

✓ A genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides.

✓ The human genome is made up of over 3 billion of these genetic letters.

✓ The very first human genome was completed in 2003 as part of the Human Genome Project, which was formally started in 1990.


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Trade Relations

• India is Nepal’s largest trading partner and the largest source of foreign investments, besides providing transit for almost the entire third country trade of Nepal.

• India is also the largest investor in Nepal, accounting for about 40% of the FDI.

Indian Assistance to Nepal

• India has always stood with Nepal during crisis period.

• During 2015 earthquake, Indian government swiftly dispatched NDRF teams along with others relief materials.

• Nepal is one of the largest recipient of the development assistance from the India, including various infrastructure projects.

Defense Co-operation

• Both the armies have long standing cooperation.

• India continues to assist Nepalese Army in their modernization effort through the provision of equipment and training.

• Around 250 Nepalese cadets are trained in various Indian Army Training Institutions.

• Currently, about 32,000 Gorkha Soldiers from Nepal are serving in the Indian Army.

• Exercise SURYA KIRAN is a biannual military exercise which is conducted alternatively in Nepal and India.

Current Status

• In recent times, there has been deterioration in the relation between both the countries due to various issues.

• The Nepalese people resents the Indian government involvement in domestic issues which is being vehemently denied by the Government of India.

• The blockade by the Madhesi people further deteriorated the situation.

Way Forward

• The Government of India must change its policy toward Nepal.

• Indian Government must avoid in embroiling in the domestic issues of the Nepal.

• India must have state to state relation rather than inclining towards a specific political parties such as Nepali Congress.

• After the demonetization, thousands of Nepali Citizen were left with Indian demonetized currency which is still not being exchanged by the RBI but the same issues was being amicably resolved with the Bhutan.

• The government of India must amicably resolve such issues so that China could not exert influence on the Nepal.

About NDRF

✓ A specialized force for disaster management, constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

✓ The "Apex Body for Disaster Management “is the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

✓ Prime Minister the Chairman of NDMA. ✓ Works under the Ministry of Home Affairs. ✓ Currently, it has 12 battalions and four

additional battalions has been sanctioned, including one company of the women in each battalions.


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NISHAGANDHI MONSOON RAGAS MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Context: The Kerala tourism department has organized a five-day annual music festival to attrack more tourists to Kerala.

Salient Features of the Festival

• Features both vocalists and instrumentalists.

• Organising such events promotes art and culture of state and moreover harmony of ragas enriches listeners’ minds with lights of optimism.

• Eminent classical musicians Parassala B Ponnammal and T V Gopalakrishnan have been selected for inaugural Nishagandhi Sangeetha Puraskaram.

About the Award

• Instituted by Kerala Tourism to honour artists who have made outstanding contribution to music.

About Kerala

• Located on the southwestern Malabar Coast of India.

• The Chera Dynasty was the first prominent Kingdom based in Kerala.

• The region was a prominent trade center as noted in the work of Pliny as well as the Periplus.

• Formed in 1956, following the passage of the State Reorganization Act.

Human Development of Kerala

• Lowest positive population growth rate in India.

• Highest life expectancy rate (77 years) and highest sex ratio.

Kerala Economic Status

• It has witnessed significant emigration, especially to Arab states which provides significant remittances to the states.

• One of the most sought after tourist destination such as secluded beaches, palm fringe, backwaters etc.

• Produces more than 90% of the total rubber in the country.


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BHABHA KAVACH

The Context: Indigenously developed lightweight bullet proof jacked Bhabha Kavach was launched at International Police Expo 2019 held at Pragati Maidan.

Current Status

• Recently, Union Home Ministry has given permission for the induction of the Bhabha Kavach

Into paramilitary forces.

About Bhabha Kavach

• Developed by Ordnance Factory Board and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI).

• A state-of-art jacket that can withstand 7.62 mm hard steel or bullet fired from an AK-47.

• Provides 360 Degree Protection to the end-users.

IUCN RED LIST

The Context: IUCN has added more than 7,000 animals, fish and plants to its endangered Red List which shows that more and more species assessed are being threatened with extinction.

Key Findings by the IUCN

• Shows that every 5th species are threatened with extinction.

• False Shark Ray is on brink of extinction after overfishing in waters off of Mauritania, a country in Northwest Africa.

• Over fifty percent of Japanese endemic freshwater fishes are on the brink of extinction.

• Listing of more than 500 deep-sea bony fish and molluscs poses something of a conservation challenge as these species inhabit is 1,000 metres beneath surface that is often beyond national boundaries.

• Primates species are closer to extinction such as Roloway Monkey of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, with fewer than 2,000 individuals left in wild.

Reason for the Extinction

• Human behavior which includes overfishing, deforestation are some of the biggest threat to the species.

• Decline of free flow of rivers and severe pollution in water bodies.

• Destruction and fragmentation of habitat.

• Spurt in agriculture and urban pollution.

About IUCN

• An international orgnisation working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

• Founded by Julian Huxley on 5 October 1948 in Fontainebleau, France.

• Headquartered at Gland (Switzerland).


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CHANDRAYAAN-2

The Context: The ISRO has successfully launched Chandrayaan-2 by GSLV-MkIII from Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

About Chandrayaan-2

• It is second lunar mission after Chandrayaan I.

• The mission includes a lunar orbiter, rover (Pragyan) and a lander (Vikram).

• Initially, the lander was supposed to be developed by Roscosmos but it could not provide the lander.

• Subsequently, ISRO developed the lander on its own.

• It was launched by GSLV Mark III.

• The mission will make India fourth country to soft land on the surface of the moon after USA, Russia and China.

Objective of the Mission

• The primary objective of Chandrayaan-2 is to demonstrate the ability to soft-land on the lunar surface and operate a robotic on the surface.

• The other scientific goal includes the studies of unar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, the lunar exosphere etc.

• The evidence of water molecule discovered by Chandrayaan-1 requires further studies.

About GSLV Mark III

• A three stage launch vehicle developed by ISRO.

• Contains two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage.

• Dubbed as Baahubali for its ability to carry heavy payloads.

• Designed to carry 4 tons class of satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

• Chandrayaan-2 was the GSLV-MKIII’s 1st operational flight.

About ISRO

• In 1962, Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was established under the visionary Dr Vikram Sarabhai.

• In 1969, ISRO superseded the erstwhile INCOSPAR.

• Works under the Department of Space which functions under the Prime Minister Office.

• Throughout the years, ISRO has upheld its mission of bringing space to service of the common man.

• In the process, it has become one of the six largest space agencies in the world.

• Currently, ISRO budget is 10,000 crore growing steadily from 6,000 crore five years ago.

• However, demand for space-based services in India is far greater than what ISRO can supply.

• Even SapceX founder Elon musk appreciated the ISRO capability.

RIGHT TO INFORMATION AMENDMENT ACT, 2019

The Context: The parliament has passed the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 despite the strong opposition from the opposition.

Salient Feature of the Amendment

• Allows Central government to regulate the salaries, allowances, and other terms and conditions of service of CIC and ICs.


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• Tenure of the Information Commissioner will be determined by the Central government.

• As per RTI Act, 2005 at time of the appointment of CIC and ICs, if they are receiving pension or any other retirement benefits for previous government service, their salaries will be reduced by an amount equal to pension. The RTI (Amendment) Bill, 2019 removes these provisions.

• This amendment is an assault on the idea of federalism.

Government Stance on the Amendment

• The government is claiming that Information Commissioners are not constitution entity thus they can’t be equivalent to a constitutional body.

• The government also claims that as the decision of the CIC can be challenged in the respective High Court, they can’t be equated with the Supreme Court Judges.

• But the government contention has little substance due to various reasons.

• Transparency is the basic feature of the vibrant democracy which is under the threat due to this recent amendment.

• Even Supreme Court of India recognizes Right to Information as fundamental right.

• Even the Election Commission order can be challenged in the respective High court.

Implication of the Amendment

• Activists and other former CIC fear that the amendment will snatch away the autonomy enjoyed by the commission.

• Soon after the enactment of the Act, government has been trying to weaken the autonomy of the institution.

• The government fear that a embolden Information Commissioner at state and Union will expose their malpractice as many CIC order are against the interests of the parties such as declaring political parties as state under section 2(H) of RTI.

• Before the amendment, the government was obstructing the working of the institution by not appointing the Information Commissioners which caused the pending of more than 20,000 cases.

• This amendment is a cause of concern as it will damage the transparency regime in the country.

VIRTUAL MUSEUM SOFTWARE

The Context: The government has inaugurated JATAN: Virtual Museum Software which is being developed by the C-DAC, Pune.

About JATAN

• Aims for creating digital collection in various museum and digital archival tools.

• The digitized information will used for National Portal and Digital Repository for Indian Museums.

• Currently, there are 48 Archaeological Site Museums under Archaeological Survey of India.

• The digitization will be done in the phased manner.

About Centre for Development of Advanced Computing

• In 2003, C-DAC was created.

• Works under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

• Vijay Bhatkar was the first director of C-DAC.


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DEEPFAKES

• An artificial intelligence (AI) software that superimposes a digital composite on to an existing video (or audio).

• Creates real fake and deceptive videos, which makes differentiating fake from real even more complex.

• Fake celebrity footage, videos or even revenge porn are all outcome of the deepfake.

• The origin of the word “deepfake” can be traced back to 2017 when a Reddit user, with the username “deepfakes”, posted explicit videos of celebrities.

• The debate around “deepfakes” has been rekindled recently with the popularity of applications such as FaceApp (for photo-editing) and DeepNude ( that produces fake nudes of women).

LOKMANYA BAL GANGADHAR TILAK

The Context: On 23 July, the birthday of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak is celebrated across the country with great fervor.

About Bal Gangadhar Tilak

• An Indian nationalist, social reformer and lawyer.

• The Britishers called him, “The Father of Indian Unrest”.

• Staunch supporter of the Swarajya.

• Part of 'Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate'.

Important Publication

• Started two newspaper, ‘Kesari’ in Marathi and ‘Maratha’ in English.

• The Arctic Home in the Vedas (1903), Srimad Bhagvat Gita Rahasya (1915).

Important Orgnisations

• Orgnised ‘Deccan Education Society’ along with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Mahadev Ballal Namjoshi and Vishnushastri Chiplunkar’.

• Founded the India Home Rule League’ in 1916 along with Joseph Baptista, Muhammad Ali Jinnah etc.

Cultural Contribution

• Transformed the household worshipping of Ganesha into a grand public event ‘Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav’ in 1894.

• Tilak was the poineer for the celebration of "Shiv Jayanti", the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

• In 2007, the Government of India released a coin to commemorate Tilak on his 150th birth anniversary.

TIANGONG-2

The Context: Chinese Space Station Tiangong-2 has officially ended its mission after its platform de-orbited and burned up as planned.

About Tiangong-2

• A Chinese space laboratory and which was launched on 15 September 2016.

• Part of the Project 921-2 space station program.

• An experimental space station which carried out research and human operation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

• Deployed first-ever Cold Atomic Fountain Clock.


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GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX-2019

The Context: India has improved its ranking in recently published Global Innovation Index (GII).

Theme of the Index

• Creating Healthy Life- The Future of Medical Innovation

Salient Feature of the Report

• Switzerland is the world’s most-innovative country followed by Sweden, the U.S etc.

• Middle-income economies especially in Asia are increasingly contributing to global R&D.

• Public R&D expenditures particularly in some high-income economies are growing slowly or not at all.

• Increased protectionism poses risks. It may lead to a slowdown of growth in innovation productivity.

• Innovation inputs and outputs are still concentrated in very few economies.

• Most top science and technology clusters are in the U.S., China and Germany.

• Brazil, India, Iran, the Russian Federation, and Turkey feature in the top 100 list.

India’s ranking in the Report

• India maintains its top place in the Central and Southern Asia region as the 52nd ranked (57th in 2018).

• India remains 2nd among middle-income economies in the quality of innovation.

• It maintains top ranks in indicators such as productivity growth and exports of services related to information and communication technologies.

• Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi features in the GII ranking on the world’s top science and technology clusters.

India’s Challenge

• Overall quality of education.

• Access to information and communication technologies.

• Student to teacher ratio in secondary level education.

• Proportion of women with advanced degrees in the workforce.

About Global Innovation Index

• Co-published by World intellectual property organisation (WIPO), Cornell University and INSEAD.

• The CII, Dassault Systèmes and the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and SEBRAE are its Knowledge Partners.

• Ranks 129 countries based on 80 indicators.

NEW SPACE INDIA LIMITED

The Context: NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, has been set up to scale up industry participation in Indian space programmes.

About NewSpace India Limited

• Work under the administrative control of the ‘Department of Space’.

• Aims to commercialise the ISRO Product to industries.

• Collaborate with private sector to manufacturer the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle.

• Transfer of technology developed by ISRO.


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• It will work along with the commercial arm of ISR, Antrix.

• Antrix Corporation looks at foreign markets whereas NSIL will focus mostly on domestic industries for commercialisation activities.

COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2019

The Context: The parliament has passed Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for the stricter compliance of CSR.

Salient Feature of the Amendment

• It mandates that companies would have to mandatorily keep unspent money into a special account.

• The companies would have three year to spend funds.

• If money remains unspent for four years, then the money would be moved to an escrow account or could even be Prime Minister Relief Fund.

• In case of companies violating any law, it can be deregistered from the Register of Companies.

• It re- categories compoundable offence mentioned in the parent Act as civil defaults wherein heavy penalty will be imposed.

TRANSITING EXO-PLANET SURVEY SATELLITE

The Context: NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) recently discovered new dwarf star and planetary system named as TOI 270.

About the Planetary System

• Its members include Dwarf star named TOI 270, which is 40 % smaller than the Sun in size and mass.

• Three exoplanets (planets outside solar system) that have been named TOI 270b, TOI 270c and TOI 270d.

• These three planets orbit their star every 3.4 days, 5.7 days, and 11.4 days respectively.

• TOI 270b is innermost planet and is expected to be a rocky world about 25% bigger than Earth.

About Transiting Exo-planet Survey Satellite

• It is the next step in the search for planet outside of our solar system, including those that could support life.

• The mission will find exoplanets that periodically block of the light from their host stars.

• It will survey 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun to search for transiting exoplanet.

NATIONAL SECURITY GUARD

The Context: ITBP Director S S Deswal has been given additional charge of the counter-terror force NSG.

About NSG

• Created in the aftermath of the Operation Blue Star in 1984.

• Formed on the pattern of the GSG 9 (Germany) and SAS (UK).

• Under the administrative control of the Ministry of the Ministry of the Home Affairs.

• It does not come under the central armed forces and it has Special Force mandate.

• Generally, officers from the Indian Police Service become the DG of the NSG.

• The strength of the NSG is estimated to be about 7000+ personnel.


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Training of NSG

• Operations and training is under senior army officers on deputation to NSG.

• A Major General of Indian Army, on deputation, designated as Inspector General (operations), is responsible for planning and conduct of operations.

• They are further assisted by two Brigadiers on deputation from Indian army as DIG (Operations) and DIG (Training).

• Another Brigadier from army usually from Indian Army Corps of Signals is deputed as DIG (Communication) to look after communication systems of the force.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MINERS’ HEALTH

The Context: Union Cabinet has approved to dissolve the National Institute of Miners Health and merge it with ICMR-NIOH (Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Occupational Health).

About National Institute of Miners Health

• Set up in 1990 by government of India.

• Registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960.

• NIMH’s registered office is located at Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka and Central Laboratory in Nagpur.

• Conducts applied research in occupational health and hygiene.

• Specializes in providing technical support services to mining as well as mineral based industry with special reference to metalliferous sector.

About National Institute of Occupational Health

• The National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), Ahmedabad, was established by the Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi.

• To cater local needs of the Southern and Eastern regions, the Institute established two Regional Occupational Health Centres (ROHC) at Bangalore and Calcutta.

NSG

Special Ranger Group

Drawn from State and Paramilitary

Forces

Responsible for VIP Protection

Special Action Group

Drawn from Military

Responsible for Special Operation


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The Objective of the National Institute of Occupational Health

• To promote intensive research to evaluate environmental stresses/factors at the workplace.

• To promote the highest quality of occupational health through fundamental and applied research.

• To develop control technologies and health programmes through basic and fundamental research and to generate human resources in the field.

current affairs july (23-31), 2019...salient features of the festival ... • over fifty percent of...

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