Top Current Affairs September 2020

India elected as member of UN’s Commission on Status of Women.

India and Afghanistan have been elected as the member of the UN’s Commission on Status of Women (CSW). The term for India as a member will be for 4 years from 2021-25. India, Afghanistan and China contested for the elections, but China failed to become the member. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). The 64th session of the Commission on Status of Women was suspended due to COVID-19. Its theme was “Beijing +25: Realizing Gender Equality and the Empowerment of All Women and Girls.”

Methane hydrate deposits in the KG basin richer source of biogenic methane.

Methane hydrate deposits in the KG basin will be a richer source of biogenic methane than the Andaman and Mahanadi basins because a study by Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) has shown that the KG basin has maximum diversity of methanogenic bacteria. The study carried out by ARI, an autonomous institute of DST, has also shown that methane hydrate deposits in Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin are of biogenic origin (produced by living organisms). The study also shows that the KG basin has Methanosarcina, Methanoculleus, and Methanobacterium. But, Methanosarcina is more diverse than the other two genera (groups). One cubic meter of methane hydrate can produce 160-180 cubic meters of methane. It is estimated that methane hydrates in KG Basin are twice that of all fossil fuel reserves available worldwide.

Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0 launched.

The Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0 was launched by the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri. CSCAF aims to provide a roadmap to cities in combating climate change during the planning and implementing various actions. CSCAF will help in building Climate-Sensitive Approach towards Urban Planning and Development.

P-7 Heavy Drop System developed by DRDO.

P-7 Heavy Drop System that can para drop military stores up to 7 tonne-weight class from IL-76 aircraft has been made by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The system has been inducted in the Indian Army. The system has a platform and a specialized parachute system. The platform is made up of Aluminium or steel alloys. The parachute system is a multi-stage system that consists of – five main canopies, five brake chutes, two auxiliary chutes, one extractor parachute. The system was developed using 100% indigenous resources.

22 Bamboo clusters and logo of National Bamboo mission launched.

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has launched 22 bamboo clusters in 9 states and released logo of National Bamboo mission. 22 bamboo clusters has been launched in Gujarat, MP, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Karnataka. The logo contest was won by Shri Sai Ram Goudi Edigi of Telengana from entries recieived on MyGov Platform. The logo is a circle with its half part made up of an industrial wheel and half part made up of farmers. The circle has a bumboo culm in its centre. It is coloured green and yellow. The colors symbolize bamboo often termed as green gold.

Successful Flight Test of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) by DRDO.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight-tested the Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV). The demonstration of hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology was done from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Launch Complex at Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast. With this technology, cruise missiles can now travel at hypersonic speeds. Hypersonic vehicles are those vehicles that travel >= 5 times faster than the speed of sound or greater than Mach 5. A scramjet engine is a variant of ramjet engine that operates at hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion.

Government is celebrating 3rd Rashtriya Poshan Maah in September 2020.

Through Rashtriya Poshan Maah, government aims to encourage Jan Bhagidaari and to create a Jan Andolan. Rashtriya Poshan Maah is celebrated every year under POSHAN Abhiyaan (PM’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment). First Rashtriya Poshan Maah was celebrated in September 2018 and second Rashtriya Poshan Maah was celebrated in September 2019.

First manned test flight of Japan’s Flying car completed.

Japanese company SkyDrive has completed its first manned test flight of a single-seater SD-03 car model. The pilot operated the flight with the assistance of a computer control system. The car has been designed as the world’s smallest electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) model. The car has eight electric motors that rotate eight rotors in opposite directions. The rotors are in a group of two.

Launching of National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) approved.

Union cabinet has granted approval to launching of Mission Karmayogi-National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB). The institutional structure of Mission Karmayogi comprises of Prime Minister’s Public Human Resources Council (PMHRC), Capacity Building Commission, Special Purpose Vehicle, Cabinet Secretary headed coordination unit. Comprising of some Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, eminent public HR practitioners, thinkers, global thought leaders and Public Service functionaries, PMHRC will be the apex body to give strategic direction to reforms aimed at capacity building.

Third leadership summit of USISPF to be addressed by PM.

The third leadership summit of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) will be addressed by PM Narendra Modi tomorrow. He will deliver the keynote address to 3rd USISPF titled as ‘US-India Week: Navigating New Challenges’. On Monday, the summit was addressed by US Vice President Mike Pence. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal have addressed it. The summit draws attention to Indo-US bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, energy, fintech, healthcare, technology.

World’s largest Solar Tree built by CSIR-CMERI.

The world’s largest Solar Tree has been developed by CSIR CMERI and is installed at CMERI Residential Colony in Durgapur. The installed capacity of this Solar Tree is more than 11.5 kW. This solar tree can generate 12,000-14,000 units of Clean and Green power. The solar tree has been designed in such a way to ensure the minimum Shadow Area so that these can be used for agricultural activities as well. The cost of each solar tree is Rs. 7.5 lakhs.

Top Current Affairs August 2020

India decided not to participate in Kavkaz 2020, a multilateral military exercise.

Recently India has decided not to participate in Kavkaz 2020, a multilateral military exercise to be held in Russia. The defense officer attributed the decision to logistic difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, this decision has been taken mainly due to the continuing deadlock in Ladakh, due to Chinese troops participating in the exercise. The exercise is scheduled to be held in the Astrakhan region of southern Russia from 15 to 26 September 2020

Chunauti, the next generation Start-up Challenge Competition launched by IT Ministry.

Recently Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched Chunauti, the Next Generation Startup Challange Competition. Under this, startups and software products will be further promoted with a special focus on India's Tier-2 cities. The objective of this program is to identify about 300 start-ups working in the identified areas and provide them initial funds and other facilities up to Rs 25 lakh. The government has earmarked a budget of Rs 95.03 crore for this program for a period of three years.

According to the CRISIL report, the average income of MGNREGA workers doubled during coronovirus lockdown.

According to a recently released CRISIL report, the average income of MGNREGA workers during the coronovirus lockdown has doubled. The average income per month for unskilled workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has increased to about Rs 1,000 per month during the first four months of the current financial year. The average wage per day has increased by 12% in this period. Many migrant workers have had to return to their villages during the Coronavirus lockdown.

Ministry of Culture announced 7 new circles of Archaeological Survey of India.

Recently, the Ministry of Culture has announced 7 new circles of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). New circles have been formed in states like Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Gujarat. Among them Trichy, Raiganj, Rajkot, Jabalpur, Jhansi and Meerut have been declared as new circles. Earlier there were 29 ASI circles across the country. Two new circles have been announced, including Lucknow and Agra in Uttar Pradesh, Jhansi in Bundelkhand and Meerut in western Uttar Pradesh.

Teacher of a government school in Ladakh was selected for the 2020 National Teacher Awards.

Recently a government school teacher in Ladakh has been selected for the 2020 National Teacher Awards. Sonam Gyaltsan, head teacher of middle school Taknak Sakti in Kharu block of Leh-Ladakh, has been selected for the prestigious national award. Mr. Sonam Gyaltsan has

made all efforts to build trust among the villagers about government schools, improving the convenience and outcomes of the students in the

school for which he is being honored.

An innovation-cum-incubation center will be set up to promote start-ups in the field of aerospace technologies.

Soon an innovation-cum-incubation center will be set up with external private financing to promote start-ups in the field of aerospace technologies. For this, an agreement has been signed by the National Research Development Corporation and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories in New Delhi. It will mentor and support the start-up in the field of aerospace engineering, along with its product and prototype development and recognition.

Rakesh Asthana appointed as Director-General of Border Security Force.

Recently Rakesh Asthana has been appointed as Director-General of Border Security Force (BSF). He is a 1984 batch IPS officer of the Gujarat cadre. He will hold this post till July 31, 2021. Mr. Asthana is currently serving as the Director-General of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. He will continue to hold the additional charge of Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina retired from international cricket.

Recently, former captains of the Indian cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina announced their retirement from international cricket. Right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the highest run-scorers in One Day Internationals. Dhoni has scored more than 10,000 runs in this format. India won 2007 ICC Twenty-Twenty World Cup, 2010 and 2016 Asia Cups, 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and ICC in 2013 ICC Champions Trophy under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

In Manipur, Patriots Day was celebrated on 13 August to commemorate the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.

Every year in Manipur, August 13 is celebrated as Patriot Day in commemoration of the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891. During the Anglo-Manipuri of 1891, many Manipuris sacrificed their lives to protect the independence of the state. This day is celebrated on 13 August every year to pay tribute to those great martyrs. On this day in 1891, brave Manipuris including the then prince of Manipur Bir Tikendrajit and Thangal General were hanged before the general public in the present Imphal region.

Mauritius declared an environmental emergency due to an oil spill from a Japanese ship stranded in the Indian Ocean.

Mauritius declared an environmental emergency recently due to an oil spill from a Japanese ship stranded in the Indian Ocean. The ship, named MK Wakashio, is owned by Japan but registered in Panama. It crashed into a cliff on July 25 while travelling from China to Brazil, although its crew was evacuated. Later due to bad weather and frequent strong ocean waves, the ship began to leak fuel, with a capacity of 4,000 tons. This environmental crisis may threaten not only aquatic life but also the economic condition of the people dependent on it.

Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra to be inaugurated by PM.

Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra, an interactive experience centre on the Swachh Bharat Mission, will be inaugurated by PM. Rashtriya Swachhata Kendra will provide information to future generations about journey of Swachh Bharat Mission. The installations in the centre will information, awareness and education on Swachhata and related aspects.

G C Murmu appointed as new CAG of India.

Former J&K Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu has been appointed as new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. He will replace Rajiv Mehrishi. G C Murmu was appointed as Lieutenant Governor of J& K in October, 2019. He is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Gujarat Cadre. He also served as the Principal Secretary to the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Anandiben Patel.