27/7/2019

CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 July 27, 2019

MALNUTRITION

The Minister of Women and Child Development informed Lok Sabha the scenario of Malnutrition in India.

About:

• The data on nutritional indicators of women and children across the country is captured under the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• As per NFHS - 4 (2015-16), 52.1% children under 5 years age are underweight and 49.3% are stunted and 31.3% are wasted.
• Further, 37.5% women (age 15-49 years) have chronic energy deficiency (BMI less than 18.5) among the tribal population of Rajasthan.
• Malnutrition is not a direct cause of death among children under five years of age; however, it can increase morbidity and mortality by reducing resistance to infections. Therefore, data regarding child mortality due to malnutrition is not maintained by this Ministry.
• The overall child mortality rate as per NFHS- 4 is 9.4 which is declined from 18.4 as per previous NFHS- 3.
• For monitoring the level of malnutrition among the children (0-6 years of age), recently POSHAN Abhiyaan has been launched under which near real time monitoring is done through ICDS-CAS Mobile based Software Application.

Source : PIB

 Social Issues

CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 July 27, 2019

KRISHONNATI YOJANA

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers informed Rajya Sabha about the ‘Green Revolution - Krishonnati Yojana’.

About: 

• What is it? ‘Green Revolution– Krishonnati Yojana’ is an Umbrella Scheme comprising both Central Sector as well as Centrally Sponsored Schemes/Missions.
• Objective of this Umbrella scheme: Developing the agriculture and allied sector in a holistic and scientific manner.
• Components: The 12 Schemes that are part of the Umbrella Schemes are –
  1. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH);
  2. National Mission on Oil Seeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP);
  3. National Food Security Mission (NFSM);
  4. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA);
  5. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE);
  6. Sub-Mission on Seeds & Planting Material (SMSP);
  7. Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM);
  8. Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Plant Quarantine (SMPPQ);
  9. Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Census, Economics and Statistics;
  10. Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Cooperation;
  11. Integrated Scheme on Agricultural Marketing (ISAM);
  12. National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A).

Important Info :

Background: 

• All these schemes/missions were approved independently as separate scheme/mission. 
• In 2017-18, it was decided to club all these schemes / missions under one umbrella scheme 'Green Revolution - Krishonnati Yojana'. 
• This Yojana was approved coterminous with the period of the Fourteenth Finance Commission from 2017-18 to 2019-20. 

Source : PIB

 Economy

CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 July 27, 2019

OMEGA BLOCK

Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have recorded their highest ever temperatures as the second extreme heatwave in as many months to be linked by scientists to the climate emergency grips the continent.

About: 

• The latest heatwave, caused by an “omega block” – a high-pressure pattern that blocks and diverts the jet stream, allowing a mass of hot air to flow up from northern Africa and the Iberian peninsula – follows a similar extreme weather event last month that made it the hottest June on record.
• Western Europe’s weather is largely governed by the jet stream. This high-altitude, high-velocity river of air meanders around the globe and is constantly changing position.
• When an omega-shaped wave is present on the jet stream which arcs over Europe, warm dry air from southern Europe and Africa can be pulled north, pushing temperatures higher than normal. If this upper level feature coincides with high pressure at the surface with relatively low pressure to the east and west an omega block is formed.
• This pattern of flow can be very persistent and lead to long periods of fine weather in summer.
• Decreased cloud cover and transport of warm air over a number of days can produce very high temperatures. Such a situation occurred last week, replacing the usually cool westerly air stream with warm air from over continental Europe.
• An important consequence of this situation has been the formation of a Spanish plume, which transports warm dry air from over Spain to the UK. 

Source : Graphic News

 Geography

CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 July 27, 2019

DRAFT NOTIFICATION FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE CENTRAL MOTOR VEHICLES RULES

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has issued a draft notification for amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

Key highlights of draft notification: 

• It provides a boost to electric vehicles, ensuring divyang friendly features in buses, and providing an enabling mechanism for scrapping of vehicles older than 15 years.
• The renewal of certificate of fitness in respect of transport vehicles older than 15 years has been proposed to be conducted every six months from the current requirement of testing once a year.
• The fees have been increased further for conducting fitness test and grant and renewal of certificate of fitness for motor vehicles older than 15 years.
• Priority seats, signs, securing of crutches/ canes/ walkers and wheel chair entry/ housing/ locking arrangement for wheel chair for Differently Abled passengers to be checked and ensured at the time of Fitness Inspection for buses has been introduced.
• Battery Operated Vehicles will be exempted from the payment of fees for the purpose of issue or renewal of registration certificate and assignment of new registration mark.

Source : All India Radio

 Economy

CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 July 27, 2019

20th ANNIVERSARY OF KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS

On the 20th anniversary of India's victory in the Kargil war, Army chief General Bipin Rawat warned Pakistan of a "bloodier nose" if it chooses to go into another war with India while advising the neighbouring country of not repeating "misadventures".

About: 

• The year 2019, marks the 20th anniversary of victory in ‘Operation VIJAY’ popularly known as the ‘Kargil War’. 
• The Kargil War will always be remembered for its strategic and tactical surprises, the self-imposed national strategy of restraint in keeping the war limited to Kargil - Siachen Sectors and swiftly executed tri-services military strategy and plans.
• The ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’ celebrations for the year 2019 are being celebrated with the theme ‘Remember, Rejoice and Renew’.
• The objective of these celebrations is to evoke feeling of nationalism and patriotism through nationwide campaigns especially amongst youth and to pay homage to the valiant soldiers.

Important Info :

Background: 

• On May 3, 1999 some shepherds alerted the nearest military post about Pakistani infiltrators on Kargil and neighbouring heights building bunkers for themselves, the country knew nothing about this grave happening.
• The invaders were not just “mujahideen”, but also soldiers of Pakistan’s Northern Light Infantry. Soon, it became known that this misadventure was the brainchild and handiwork of the then army chief and later military dictator of Pakistan, General Prevez Musharraf.
• Pakistani men had captured 5,000 square kilometres of territory on the Indian side of the Line of Control in Kargil and adjoining areas. Had Pakistan been able to consolidate its control of that region, it could have denied us the use of the all-weather road between Srinagar and Leh, thus separating the Kashmir Valley from Ladakh.
• It was launched with the sole objective of wresting Kashmir from India by armed force. It was also the first and, so far, the only limited and conventional war between two countries possessing nuclear weapons. That was a factor of prime importance.

Source : Times of India

 Internal Security

CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 July 27, 2019

VANDE MATARAM

The Delhi High Court dismissed a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to declare "Vande Mataram" on par with "Jana Gana Mana".

About: 

• Vande Mataram (also pronounced Bande Mataram) is a Bengali poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1870s, which he included in his 1882 novel Anandamath. 
• The title 'Bande Mataram' means "I praise thee, Mother" or "I praise to thee, Mother" was written as an ode to the Motherland. 
• The poem was composed into song by Rabindranath Tagore. It was first sung in a political context by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. 
• In 1950, the first two verses of the song were declared the "national song" of India, distinct from the national anthem of India, Jana Gana Mana. 
• There is no time limit or circumstantial specification for the rendition of this song (unlike the national anthem Jana Gana Mana that specifies 52 seconds). 

Important Info :

Recent development:

• A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar said it finds no reason to entertain this petition while exercising its powers under Article 226 of the Constitution.
• The plea, filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, wanted "Vande Mataram", written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, be given the same respect as the national anthem, "Jana Gana Mana" penned by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Source : All India Radio

 History

CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 July 27, 2019

KIREN RIJIJU COMMITTEE

A high-level 10-member Committee has been constituted to coordinate and strategize the preparation for the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.

About: 

• Composition: The Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju. The committee comprises prominent sportspersons like Olympic medallists tennis ace Leander Paes and shooter Gagan Narang. 
• Objective of the committee: To ensure that the performance of the Indian athletes is optimised in the Olympics and other multidisciplinary events. 
• Strategy:
  • The aim of the committee for the Tokyo Games would be to provide all possible support to potential and qualified athletes. 
  • For the 2024 Paris Games, the committee would chart out a road-map for the preparation and then will continuously review and suggest course correction whenever required. 

Source : All India Radio

 Sports

CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 July 27, 2019

COTTON MSP

The Union Minister of Textiles informed Lok Sabha about the various initiatives by Government of India to provide remunerative price of cotton to farmers.

Government of India initiatives to provide remunerative price of cotton to farmers: 

• Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India fixes the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of two varieties of seed cotton (kapas) every year before commencement of the Cotton Season (October to September).
• The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has been Nominated as the nodal agency to undertake MSP operation in all cotton growing States, in the event when prices of seed cotton (kapas) touches the MSP level.
• Cott-Ally, a farmer friendly mobile app has been developed to keep the cotton farmers informed about various information related to Minimum Support Price operations, tracking of payments status etc.

Source : PIB

 Economy

CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 July 27, 2019

FIRST BAMBOO INDUSTRIAL PARK

Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) reviewed the status of the implementation of various projects under MDoNER.

Key highlights of the meeting: 

• During the meeting, it was informed that India’s first Bamboo Industrial Park will be set up in Manderdisa in Dima Hasao district of Assam in an area of 75 hectares at a cost of Rs 50 crore.
• The in-principle approval will be granted to this project in August this year.
• It was informed that the target is to complete the project by March 2021.
• The Minister was also informed that another project for Bamboo Park in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh would be taken up by NEC.

Source: PIB

 Economy

CURRENT AFFAIRS 
 July 27, 2019

RED MUD

Ministry of Mines, in association with the Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) Nagpur, organized a workshop in New Delhi on Effective utilization of ‘Red Mud’.

About: 

• Names: Bauxite tailings is also known as red mud, red sludge, bauxite residue, or alumina refinery residues (ARR). 
• What is it? Red Mud, a Bauxite Residue, is a solid waste generated during the aluminum production process. 
• Concerns: This is an environmental concern due to the presence of impurities such as caustic soda and other minerals. 
• Global scenario: Global generation of red mud is more than 150 million tons and there exists a global inventory of more than 3 billion tons. 
• Indian scenario: The red mud generation in India is around 9 million tons per year. 

Source: PIB