Daily Current affairs - August 1st, 2018 for all competitive exams
World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every
year from 1 to 7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of
babies around the world.
World Breastfeeding Week was first celebrated in 1992 by
World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) and is now observed in over
120 countries by UNICEF, WHO and their partners including individuals,
organizations, and governments. WABA itself have been formed on 14 February
1991 with the goal to re-establish a global breastfeeding culture and provide
support for breastfeeding everywhere.
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Government launches free software e-Aksharayan
for editing text on scanned images
The IT ministry launched a desktop
software e-Aksharayan to enable editing of text printed on scanned documents
and it can be downloaded for free from its website.
- e-Aksharayan is a desktop software for converting
scanned printed Indian language documents into a fully editable text
format in Unicode encoding. The software supports editing in seven Indian
languages – Hindi, Bangla, Malayalam, Gurmukhi, Tamil, Kannada &
Assamese.
Loksabha passes Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill 2018
Lok Sabha has
passed the Homoeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill 2018. It seeks to replace the Central Council of Homoeopathy (CCH)
with a board of governors and is aimed at bringing accountability and quality
in homeopathy education system.
- Supersession of the Central Council: It amends the 1973 Act to provide for
the supersession of the Central Council with effect from May 18,
2018. The Central Council will be reconstituted within one year from
the date of its supersession. In the interim period, the central
government will constitute a Board of Governors, which will exercise the
powers of the Central Council.
- The Board of Governors will consist of up to seven members including: (i)
persons of eminence in the field of homoeopathy education, and (ii)
eminent administrators, appointed by the central government. The
central government will select one of these members as the Chairperson of
the Board. With regard to policy decisions, the directions of the
central government will be final.
Common service centres to implement Ayushman Bharat
Common Service
Center (CSC) and National Health Accounts (NHA) have signed a memorandum of
understand to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme through three-lakh CSCs across
the country.
As per the
MoU:
- A beneficiary can now visit the nearby CSC to get the
benefit of this scheme and CSC will help the beneficiary to identify his
name in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare database and his
entitlement for the scheme.
- The CSCs will help the beneficiary to scan/ upload his
KYC documents for verification of his/ her identity and claim his/ her
entitlement.
- The beneficiary will also have facility to print his/
her Ayushman Scheme card through the centre which will be his/ her base
source claim. CSCs will also provide requisite information about the
scheme and promote the same.
Ayushman
Bharat is the National Health Protection Scheme, which will cover over 10 crore poor vulnerable families
(around 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage of up to Rs.5 lakh (per family per year) for secondary and
tertiary care hospitalisation. It will
subsume the on-going centrally sponsored schemes –Rashtriya Swasthya Bima
Yojana (RSBY) and the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).
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Telangana to set up Biopharma scale-up lab
The government of Telanganawill set up of a
state-of-the-art B-Hub, which will have a scale-up manufacturing facility for
Biopharma based R&D.
- The proposed facility, to come up with an estimated
cost of Rs 60 crore, will be set up through Public Private Partnership in
Genome Valley, which is India’s first organised cluster for life sciences
R&D and clean manufacturing
Chhattisgarh CM launch Mobile distribution
scheme ‘Mobile Tihar’
Actress Kangana Ranaut and Chhattisgarh CM
Raman Singh launched a smartphone distribution scheme called ‘Mobile
Tihar’ under Sanchar Kranti Yojna.
The scheme includes distribution of smartphones
to 45 lakh women and 5 lakh children, and setting up of 556 new mobile towers.
- The Chhattisgarh government is working towards
improving network connectivity and empowering youth with smartphones.
Meghalaya launches milk mission, bull fair
The state government launched Meghalaya Milk
Mission and First Meghalaya Bull Fair to bridge the gap between demand and
supply of milk.
- The programme, organised by the state animal husbandry
and veterinary department was graced by governor Ganga Prasad, Union
minister of agriculture and farmers welfare Radha Mohan Singh and deputy
chief minister Prestone Tynsong, among others.
Rajasthan first State to implement biofuel policy
Rajasthan has become the first State in the country to implement the
national policy on biofuels unveiled by the Centre in
May this year. Its implementation was approved by
high-power Biofuel Authority. It was also decided that state Government will
release Biofuel Rules, 2018.
- The policy lays emphasis on increasing production
of oilseeds and establish a Centre for Excellence in Udaipur to promote research in the fields of alternative fuels
and energy resources.
- The Policy categorises biofuels as “Basic Biofuels”
viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and “Advanced
Biofuels” – Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to
drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to enable
extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each
category.
- The Policy expands the scope of raw material for
ethanol production by allowing use of Sugarcane Juice, Sugar containing
materials like Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials like
Corn, Cassava, Damaged food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes,
unfit for human consumption for ethanol production.
1st generation biofuels are also called
conventional biofuels. They are made from things like sugar, starch, or
vegetable oil. Note that these are all food products. Any biofuel made from a
feedstock that can also be consumed as a human food is considered a first
generation biofuel.
2nd generation biofuels are produced from
sustainable feedstock. The sustainability of a feedstock is defined by its
availability, its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, its impact on land use,
and by its potential to threaten the food supply. No second generation
biofuel is also a food crop, though certain food products can become second
generation fuels when they are no longer useful for consumption. Second
generation biofuels are often called “advanced biofuels.”
3rd generation biofuels are biofuel derived
from algae. These biofuels are given their own separate class because of
their unique production mechanism and their potential to mitigate most of the
drawbacks of 1st and 2nd generation biofuels.
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Rajasthan signs MoU with Sohanlalji Buladeviji
Ojha Gaushala Samiti for the 1st cow sanctuary in state
Rajasthan Governmentsigned an MoU with a
private trust Sohanlalji Buladeviji Ojha Gaushala Samiti to build its
first ‘Cow Sanctuary’, a shelter for 10000 cows.
- The cow sanctuary will be spread over an area of more
than 220 hectares in Bikaner district. This will be the first cow
sanctuary in Rajasthan and will be situated in Bikaner’s Napasar.
BEML and HEC sign pact to Manufacture Mining
equipment
Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) and Heavy
Engineering Corporation (HEC) have signed pact for making mining
equipment.
- The MoU will result into additional Rs
150-200 crore revenue for both PSUs.
- It will reduce working capital and create capability
for high capacity equipment. The mining products could be co-branded and
will come under ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Invest India and UAE Ministry sign MoU for
technological cooperation
Invest India and the UAE Minister for
Artificial Intelligence (AI) signed an MoU forIndia – UAE Artificial
Intelligence Bridge in New Delhi.
- This partnership will generate an estimated USD 20
billion in economic benefits during the next decade for both countries.
Government imposes 25% safeguard duty on import
of solar cells from China and Malaysia
Union Government has imposed safeguard duty of
25% on import of solar cells (whether or not assembled in modules or panels)
from China and Malaysia.
- The move is aimed at helping domestic solar cell
manufacturing sector. But it could affect existing projects dependent on
cheap imports and hike solar power tariffs in India since around 90% of
panels sector uses solar cells made in China and Malaysia.
Safeguard Duty is tariff barrier imposed by
government on the commodities to ensure that imports in excessive quantities
do not harm the domestic industry. It is mainly temporary measure undertaken
by government in defence of the domestic industry which is harmed or has
potential threat getting hared due to sudden cheap surge in imports.
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US elevated India’s status to STA-1 to ease
Export controls for high-tech product sales
United States has eased export controls
for high-technology product sales to Indiaby elevating its status to a
Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) country. The information was
shared by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
- Strategic Trade Authorisation (STA) allows for license exception with regards to
exports from the US. This type of US government authorisation allows a
certain item to be exported under defined conditions without a
transaction-specific license.
- Items eligible for export to STA-1 nations include
those under control for national security, chemical or biological weapons,
nuclear non-proliferation, regional stability, crime control.
- The categories also include electronics, lasers and
sensors, information security, computers and electronics, navigation,
telecommunications, aerospace, etc.
Significance of this move:
The move
means that India can get easy access to latest defence technologies, with the
reduction of the number of licenses needed for exports from the US.
It is also a
boost for the foundational Communications, Compatibility and Security
Agreement (COMCASA).
STA-1
provides India with greater supply chain efficiency, both for defence, and
for other high-tech products.
The status
eases export controls for high technology product sales to India, granting it
the same access as NATO allies — Australia, Japan and South Korea.
India is the
only South Asian nation on the STA-1 list that has 36 countries. Other Asian
countries designated as STA-1 are Japan and South Korea. Till recently, India
was classified as an STA-2 country along with seven others.
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China launches Gaofen-11 to monitor Belt and
Road Initiative BRI
China has successfully launched
an optical remote sensing satellite – Gaofen-11, as part of its
high-resolution Earth observation project which will also provide data for
the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
- The satellite can be used for land survey, urban planning,
road network design, agriculture, and disaster relief.
Scientists discover new shape ‘Scutoid’ from
Human cells
American and Spanish Scientists have
discovered a new shape called ‘scutoid’ while studying nature’s
way of moulding tissue to form the skin, cavity linings and the building blocks
of organs.
- The shape has five sides on one end and six on the
other and a triangular surface on one of its longer edges.
- A scutoid is a solid geometric shape, like a cube or a
pyramid, which had not been described until now. The epithelial cells
adopt this form when the tissue curves, giving it a more stable structure.
It could be said that they look like ‘twisted prisms’.
- These new and beautiful shapes are the solution that
nature has found to fold and curve the epithelia, which lines the outer
surfaces of organs.
The
epithelial cells are the construction blocks with which an organism is
formed. They are like ‘pieces of Tente or Lego from which animals are made.
The
epithelial cells form structures with multiple functions like forming a
barrier against infections or absorbing nutrients.
This study
opens the door to understanding how organs are formed during their
development and what might be missing in some diseases in which this
process is altered.
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Nokia signed world’s first big 5G deal worth
$3.5 billion
Finland’s Nokia will supply T-Mobile, the third
biggest U.S. mobile carrier, with $3.5 billion in next-generation 5G
network gear, marking the world’s biggest 5G deal so far.
- In February, T-Mobile was working both with Nokia
and rival network vendor Ericsson of Sweden to build out 5G networks in 30
U.S. cities during 2018.
Reliance beats TCS to become India’s most
valued company
India’s richest person Mukesh Ambani-led
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) beat Tata Consultancy Services
(TCS) to become the most valued company in India.
- RIL’s market capitalisation during the day was Rs7.44
trillion as compared to TCS’ Rs7.39 trillion.
- RIL had recently reported its highest ever quarterly
net profit of Rs9,459 crore, for the April-June quarter.
India Monetary Policy: MPC hikes rates for
Second straight time
India’s Monetary Policy Committee decided to
raise the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points at its meeting. The
committee voted 5-1 to hike the repo rate from 6.25 percent to 6.5 percent.
Committee member Ravindra Dholakia voted against the resolution. Chetan Ghate,
Pami Dua, Michael Debabrata Patra, Viral Acharya and Urjit Patel voted in
favour of the decision; Ravindra Dholakia voted against the decision.
Highlights of MPC meeting:
- MPC hikes repo rate by 25bps to 6.5%
- MPC hikes reverse repo rate by 25 bps to 6.25%
- MPC maintains ‘Neutral’ stance on policy
- MPC voted 5-1 in favor of a rate hike
- CPI inflation seen at 4.6% in Q2, 4.8% in H2 FY19, 5%
in Q1 FY20
- GDP growth forecast retained at 7.4% for FY19
- Banks, NBFCs allowed to co-originate loans for priority
sector
- GDP growth projection for 2018-19 is retained at 7.4
percent, ranging 7.5-7.6 percent in H1 and 7.3-7.4 percent in H2.
- Inflation is projected at 4.6 percent in Q2FY19, 4.8
percent in H2 of FY19 and 5 percent in Q1FY20.
Monetary policy in consonance with the
objective of achieving the medium-term target for consumer price index (CPI)
inflation of 4 percent.
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UN E-Government Index: India ranks 96th,
Denmark tops
India has jumped 22 places to 96th rank to
break into the top 100 of the United Nation’s
E-Government Development Index (EGDI) 2018. Denmark, with an
index value of 0.9150, topped the 2018 E-Government Development Survey.
- India, which was ranked 118 in 2014, jumped 11 places
to be ranked 96 in 2018.
The E-Government survey is released by the
United Nations in every two years. The 2018 edition was titled
as 'Gearing E-Government to Support Transformation towards sustainable
and resilient societies'.
The EGDI is a composite index based
on the weighted average of three normalised indices Telecommunications
Infrastructure Index (TII), Human Capital Index (HCI), Online Service Index
(OSI).
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Government constitutes high level empowered
committee to revive stressed thermal power plant
Union Government has constituted High Level
Empowered Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha to address issues of
Stressed Thermal Power Projects.
- The committee has representatives from Ministry of
Railways, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Coal and
lenders having major exposure to the power sector.
- the Committee would look into various issues with a
view to resolve them and maximise the efficiency of investment including
changes required to be made in the fuel allocation policy and regulatory
framework.
Unified Commanders’ Conference (UCC) for the
year 2018 has started at New Delhi
The Unified Commanders’ Conference (UCC) for
the year 2018 has started at New Delhi on July 30 to review external security
challenges as well as the country’s preparedness.
- The 2-day annual conference will provide a platform for
discussions at the Apex Level on all ‘Joint Issues’ among the three
Services & Ministry of Defence.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi to get 24th Rajiv Gandhi
National Sadbhavana Award
Gopalkrishna Gandhi has been chosen for
the 24th Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award for his contribution
in promoting communal harmony, peace and goodwill. Gopalkrishna Gandhi is
a former governor of West Bengal.
- He will be presented with this award at an event
on 20th August 2018 at Jawahar Bhawan in Delhi.
- The award contains a citation and a cash prize of Rs 10
lakh. The award is presented on the birthday anniversary of former Indian
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Neeraj Chopra wins Gold medal at Savo games in
Finland
Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won a
gold medal in the Savo Games in Lapinlahti, Finland. Neeraj Chopra
made a throw of 85.69 metres and won the gold medal.
- Chao-Tsun Cheng of Chinese Taipei made a throw of
82.52m and won a silver medal. Chao-Tsun Cheng is the only Asian to
have thrown the javelin to a distance more than 90m.
Dustin Johnson won 2018 RBC Canadian Open Golf
Title
Dustin Johnson won the 2018 RBC Canadian
Open at the Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville in Canada. He is
currently in world number one position.
- Now he has become the first player after Tiger
Woods (2005-09) with at least three wins in three consecutive
seasons. Dustin Johnson was awarded $1,116,000 for the win.
