IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR UPSC PRELIMINARY EXAM ( AUGUST-PART -3)

OPERATION MUSKANN II:

·         It is a campaign to trace and rescue missing children. It was launched by the union ministry of home affairs.

·         Thousands of childrens have been rescued so far.

ANDHRA PRADESH BECOMES FIRST STATE TO LAUNCH DNA PROFILING OF CRIMINALS:

·         Andhra Pradesh became first state in the country to launch DNA Index system for DNA profiling of criminals.

DNA Profiling Technology:

·         DNA finger printing or DNA profiling is method of isolating and identifying variable elements within the tax - pair sequence of DNA.

·         It is utilised by police all over the world for foot proof identification of criminals who leave their traces at the crime scene while committing crime.

SAARC STAT:

·         Eight meeting of heads of SAARC statistical organisation (SAARC STAT) was recently inaugurated in Delhi.

·         India is hosting the three day meeting on “Trade statistics –Merchandise & Services.

·         It is being attended by delegates from SAARC member states and other international organisations including FAO, PARIS 21 and ADB.

BCIM:

·         Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar Economic corridor is an intiative conceptualised for significant gains through sub-regional economic cooperation within BCIM.

·         The multi modal corridor will be the first expressway between India and China and will pass through Myanmar and Bangladesh.

·         Project will link Kolkata with Kunming the capital of China’s Yunnan province, parring through Myanmar and Bangladesh with Mandalay and Dhaka among the focal points.

·         BCIM will be access to numerous markets in south cast Asia, Improvement of transportation infrastructure and creation of industrial zones.

·         News: Recently Aung San Suu Kyi (Myanmar State Counsellor) visit to China, announced Myanmar support to China backed Silk Road intiative and BCIM economic corridor.

MADHUKAR GUPTA COMMITTEE ON INDIA – PAKISTAN BORDER SUBMITS REPORT:

·         National Security Council headed by Former Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta recently presented report on India – Pakistan border to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

·         This committee is to strengthen border protection and address the issue of gaps and vulnerability in border facing along the India – Pakistan border.

MEGA FOOD PARK SCHEME:

·         It aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processor and retailers and it will maximise value addition,minimise wastages, increases farmer’s income and create employment opportunities particularly in rural sector.

·         Aim of Scheme: it provides modern infrastructure facilities along the value chain from farm gate to the market with strong backward and forward linkages.

·         News: Recently Government planned to set up 100 new cold chain projects. It has also stated the process to invite investors to set up six new mega food parks.

·         This will boost farm sector incomes by establishing farm to fork linkages and more than $ 1 billion FDI has come into sector in past two year, including some very big multinational firms such as kellogg’s, McCain foods and Mass International.

·         Food passes will increase the level of processing of agricultural and horticultural produce with particular focus on perishables, in the country and there by to check the wastage.

DEEN DAYAL ANTYODAYA YOJANA – NRLM:

·         Aajeevika – NRLM was launched by the ministry of Rural Development (MORD) in June 2011.

·         It is part of investment by World Bank, the Mission aims at creating efficient & effective institutional platforms of the rural poor, enabling them to increase household income through sustainable livelihood enhancements and introduced access to financial services.

·         Under the scheme, the poor would be facilitated to achieve increased access to rights, entitlements and public services, diversified risk and better social indicators of empowerment.

·         As per RBI notification banks will lend women SHGs in rural areas at 7% in 250 districts further SHGs will also provide an additional 3% subvention on the prompt repayment of loans.

CHINA LAUNCHES WORLD’S FIRST QUANTUM COMMUNICATION SATELLITE:

·         It is called as Quantum Experiment at space Scaler (QUESS) satellite and it could be the future of wireless communication & set new standards in Internet Security.

·         QUESS satellite is nicknamed as MICIUS after the ancient Chinese Scientist & Philosopher it will try to communicate with earth using the principle of Quantum entanglement.

·         And this satellite will help China to establish hack proof communications system by transmitting uncrackable keys from space to the ground.

NATIONAL GREEN HIGHWAY MISSION:

·         NGHM is launched under Green Highways Policy, 2015 to provide a holilstic vision of developing ecofriendly and Green National Highways.

·         It aims to provide green canopy along highways and creates job to youth.

·         Government has made it mandatory to set aside 1% of the total project cost of any national highways contract to a Green fund for plantation.

NAMAMI GANGA PROGRAMME:

·         Namami Ganga is an ambitious integrated Ganga conservation Mission that was launched by PM Modi in 2015. The programme integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga river in a comprehensive manner.

·         News: Recently IIT Kanpur adopted five Villages in Uttarpradesh under Nammai Ganga Programme.

BRO LAUNCHES AMBITIONS TREE PLANTATION DRIVE:

·         Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under Ministry of Defence, has launched a massive tree plantation drive in the Northern & Eastern states in India. The main aim is to project the ecology and increase the green cover along the border areas of the country.

·         Bro develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighbouring countries.

·         Currently the organisation maintains operation in 21 states. One UT (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) and neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar and Srilanka.

PROJECT ALLOY:

·         It is virtual reality headset unveiled by intel recently. The head mounted display consist of a set of goggles that contain computing power needed to run the headset.

·         Headset is completely stand alone device, with no need to hook up to a computer or external sensors, so wearers can move around and explore virtual environment with total freedom.

·         It uses the Real sense technology to enable people to use their hands to interact with elements of the virtual world without using cables to connect computer.

UDAIPUR DECLARATION:

·         It was adopted during the two-day meeting of Ministers of Disaster Management of BRICS countries in Udaipur.

·         It has been decided to set up a dedicated joint task force for Disaster Risk management for regular Dialogue, exchange, mutual support and collaboration among BRICS countries.

SOUTH INDIA’S FIRST CHILDREN’S COURT IN HYDERABAD:

·         After Delhi & Goa, Telangana has become third state to have child friendly court and sixth in the country with features like separate waiting rooms for children and a video camera trial for the accused, mandated under protection of children from serval officers (POSCO) Act 2012.

UJALA SCHEME – GUJARAT BECOME THE FIRST STATE TO DISTRIBUTE LED BULBS UNDER UJALA:

·         The main objective of the scheme is to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient equipment which reduce electricity bills and help preserve environment.

·         Scheme is implemented by energy efficiency services Ltd, a joint venture of PSUs under the union Ministry of power.

·         Scheme will not only help reduce consumers their electricity bills but also contribute to energy security of India.

·         Scheme is being monitored in a transparent manner through national dash board.

·         Distribution of LED bulbs will happen through Discom offices, Discom bill connections centres, designated EESL KIOSKS, weekly haat markets etc.

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