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20 JULY 2021 CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS CAPF NDA SSB

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Written by NDI EDITOR

Jul 20 2021

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20 JULY 2021 CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS CAPF NDA SSB
1. NATIONAL LOGISTICS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
With a view to turn the spotlight on the logistics sector, the Government today announced the launch of National Logistics Excellence Awards.

About:

  • The awards are in two categories, the first group includes logistics infrastructure/service providers and second one is for various user industries.

  • The awards will highlight best practices including consolidation, process standardisation, technological upgrade, digital transformations, and sustainable practices.

Important Info :
  • While the Indian logistics sector has been growing at a CAGR of 10.5%, reaching approximately USD 215 billion in value in 2020, there are systemic, interconnected problems that must be addressed to enhance its efficiency.
  • Comprehensive logistics costs amount to almost 14% of India’s GDP.
  • Closing India’s competitiveness gap vis-à-vis the global average of 8 percent, would make the Indian logistics sector advanced, organised and efficient, on par with global peers with the ambition of being amongst the top 25 countries in the global Logistics Performance Index (LPI).
Source : outlook

2. STARTUP INDIA SHOWCASE
104 startups from different sectors have currently on boarded on the Startup India Showcase Platform.

About:

  • Startup India Showcase is an online discovery platform for the most promising startups of the country.

  • These innovations span across various cutting-edge sectors such as Fintech, EntrepriseTech, Social Impact, HealthTech, EdTech, among others.

  • Ecosystem stakeholders have evaluated, nurtured, and supported these startups.

  • These startups are solving critical problems and have shown exceptional innovation in their respective sectors.
Source : The Hindu

3. INDIAN INSTITUTE OF HERITAGE
The government has decided to set up the ‘Indian Institute of Heritage’ at Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar.

About:

The Institute is being set up as Deemed to be University by integrating

  • Institute of Archaeology (Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology),

  • School of Archival Studies under National Archives of India, New Delhi,

  • the National Research Laboratory for Conservation of Cultural Property (NRLC), Lucknow,

  • National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology (NMICHM) and

  • Academic Wing of Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi.

  • These shall become various schools of Institute.

  • Indian Institute of Heritage will be a world-class university that would focus on the conservation and research in India’s rich tangible heritage, while offering research, development and dissemination of knowledge associated with heritage.
Source : PIB

4. SHEKATKAR COMMITTEE
Raksha Mantri informed Rajya Sabha about the status of Implementation of CoE Recommendations Related to Defence Reforms.

About:

  • The Committee of Experts (CoE) constituted by the Ministry of Defence under the chairmanship of Lt Gen (Retd) DB Shekatkar to recommend measures to enhance combat compatibility and rebalance defence expenditure of the armed forces, submitted its report in December 2016.

  • The Report was taken up by the Ministry of Defence to frame key action points and roadmap for implementation.

Measures recommended by the Committee and taken up for the implementation include:

  • Optimisation of Signals Establishments to include Radio Monitoring Companies, Corps Air Support Signal Regiments, Air Formation Signal Regiments, Composite Signal Regiments and merger for Corps Operating and Engineering Signal Regiments.

  • Restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include Base Workshops, Advance Base Workshops and Static/Station Workshops in the field Army.

  • Redeployment of Ordnance echelons to include Vehicle Depots, Ordnance Depots and Central Ordnance Depots apart from streamlining inventory control mechanisms.

  • Better utilisation of Supply and Transportation echelons and Animal Transport Units.

  • Closure of Military Farms and Army Postal Establishments in peace locations.

  • Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army.

  • Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps.
Source : PIB

5. DAIRY INVESTMENT ACCELERATOR
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, with a view to provide dedicated focus towards promoting & facilitating investments in the Indian Dairy sector, has setup Dairy Investment Accelerator under its Investment Facilitation Cell.

About:

  • This Investment Accelerator is a cross functional team constituted to serve as the interface with investors.

  • It shall provide support across the investment cycle:
    • Offering specific inputs for evaluation of investment opportunities

    • Addressing queries about application to govt. schemes

    • Connecting with strategic partners

    • Providing on-ground assistance with state departments & relevant authorities



Important Info :

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development fund (AHIDF)

  • Dairy Investment Accelerator is also generating awareness among investors about Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development fund (AHIDF).
  • AHIDF is one of the flagship schemes by DAHD, Government of India whereby Rs. 15,000 crorefund has been setup for offering financial support to entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs), and Section 8 companies.
Source : PIB
6. ROAD ACCIDENTS
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways informed Rajya Sabha about the steps taken to reduce Road Accidents in the country.

Education

  • Observance of National Road Safety Month/Week every year for spreading awareness and strengthening road safety.

  • A Certification Course for Road Safety Auditors has been commenced in Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE).

Road engineering

  • High priority to identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone spots) on national highways.

Vehicle engineering

  • Safety standards for automobiles have been improved.

  • Ministry has notified fitment of Speed Limiting devices on all transport vehicles.

  • Scheme for setting up one model Inspection & Certification Centre in each State/UT with Central assistance for testing the fitness of vehicles through an automated system.

Enforcement

  • The recently passed motor vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for strict enforcement through use of technology and further provides for strict penalties for ensuring strict compliance and enhancing deterrence for violation of traffic rules.

  • Issue of Guidelines for protection of Good Samaritans and draft rules as per MV (Amendment) Act, 2019 has been published.

Emergency care

  • The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 provides for a scheme for the cashless treatment of victims of the accident during the golden hour.

  • The National Highways Authority of India has made provisions for ambulances at all toll plazas on the completed corridor of National Highways.
Source : PIB

7. GREEN NATIONAL HIGHWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways informed Rajya Sabha about the status of Green National Highway Corridor Project.

About:

  • The Government had signed loan agreement with the World Bank to develop Green National Highway Corridors (GNHCP).

  • The project include Upgradation of about 781 km length of various National Highways passing through the states of Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

  • Out of total length of 781 km, work on 287.96 km having Civil Cost of Rs. 1664.44 cr. has been awarded.

  • The schedule date of completion is December, 2025.
Source : PIB

8. NEA SCOUT
NASA announced that its new spacecraft, named NEA Scout, has completed all required tests and has been safely tucked inside the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

Artemis I

  • NEA Scout is one of several payloads that will hitch a ride on Artemis I, which is expected to be launched in November.

  • Artemis I will be an uncrewed testflight of the Orion spacecraft and SLS rocket.

  • Under the Artemis programme, NASA has aimed to land the first woman on the Moon in 2024 and also establish sustainable lunar exploration programs by 2030.

What is NEA Scout?

  • Near-Earth Asteroid Scout, or NEA Scout, is a small spacecraft, about the size of a big shoebox.

  • Its main mission is to fly by and collect data from a near-Earth asteroid.

  • It will also be America’s first interplanetary mission using a special solar sail propulsion.
Source : Indian Express

9. MONKEY B VIRUS (BV)
China has reported the first human infection case with Monkey B virus (BV) after a Beijing-based veterinarian was confirmed with the same a month after he dissected two dead monkeys in early March. Till date, only one case has been documented of an infected person spreading B virus to another person.

About:

  • The virus, initially isolated in 1932, is an alphaherpesvirus enzootic in macaques of the genus Macaca. B virus is the only identified old-world-monkey herpesvirus that displays severe pathogenicity in humans.

  • The infection can be transmitted via direct contact and exchange of bodily secretions of monkeys and has a fatality rate of 70 per cent to 80 per cent.

  • Macaque monkeys commonly have this virus, and it can be found in their saliva, feces (poop), urine (pee), or brain or spinal cord tissue. The virus may also be found in cells coming from an infected monkey in a lab.

  • Humans can get infected if they are bitten or scratched by an infected monkey; get an infected monkey’s tissue or fluid on broken skin or in eyes, nose, or mouth; scratch or cut oneself on a contaminated cage or other sharp-edged surface or get exposed to the brain (especially), spinal cord, or skull of an infected monkey.

  • Symptoms: The first indications of B virus infection are typically flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills, muscle ache, fatigue and headache, following which an infection person may develop small blisters in the wound or area on the body that came in contact with the monkey.

  • Currently, there are no vaccines that can protect against B virus infection.
Source : Indian Express

10. ETHANOL BLENDING
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas informed Lok Sabha about Ethanol Blending.

About:

  • The Notified National Policy on Biofuels – 2018, provided an indicative target of blending 20% ethanol in petrol by 2030.

  • Ethanol Blending has Improved from 1.53% during Ethanol Supply Year 2013-14 to 7.93% ongoing ESY 2020-21

  • Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has published a Notification dated June 02, 2021, wherein, it has been stated that OMCs shall sell ethanol blended petrol with percentage of ethanol upto 20% as per BIS Specifications in the whole of India and Union Territories and shall come into effect from April 01, 2023.

  • E-100 pilot projects has been launched at Pune city by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) on June 05, 2021. 

Source : Business Standard
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Written by NDI EDITOR

National Defence Institute's Editor

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