11th July 2019 Current Affairs
The phase-II of the Direct Benefit Transfer of Fertilizer Subsidy (DBT 2.0) was launched by the Union Minister for Chemicals
- Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda launched the Phase-II of the Direct Benefit Transfer of Fertilizer Subsidy (DBT 2.0).
- Minister of State for Shipping (IC) and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya also graced the occasion.
- The Department of Fertilizers (DoF) has implemented the Phase-I of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system in fertilizer subsidy pan-India in Fertilizers w.e.f. March 2018.
Note:
About DBT
DBT: Direct Benefit Transfer
Launch year: 2013
Sector: Finance
Launched by (prime minister): Narendra Modi
Ministry: Ministry of Finance
Saudi Arabia adopts Digital India &‘equality of women’ motto for Haj 2019
- Indian Haj mission in Saudi Arabia has adopted digital technology to reach out to a large number of pilgrims as part of the Government of India’s initiative of Digital India.
- With the introduction of Haj App, Indian diplomats in Saudi Arabia are trying to form a bridge with the pilgrims not only to facilitate a smooth and hassle-free Haj operation but also to receive grievances and feedbacks to improve the service.
- This was announced by Indian Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed yesterday at a press conference along with Consul General Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh to brief about ongoing Indian Haj operation in Saudi Arabia.
Note:
About Saudi Arabia
Capital: Riyadh
Currency: Saudi riyal
King: Salman of Saudi Arabia
Overall Homicide Rate declined by 10% in India: UN Report
- On July 8, 2019, The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a report titled Global Study on Homicide 2019.
- It stated that the overall Homicide Rate declined by 10% in India over the period 2009- 2015, from 3.8 to 3.4 per 100,000 population but it was increased ‘Noticeably’ in some Northern States.
- Males constitute less than 20 per cent of the total homicide victims in 2016 in India, the UN report revealed.
Note:
About UN
Headquarters: New York,United States
Founders: United States, India, Venezuela, United Kingdom, MORE
NHAI inks pact with NIIF to fund highway projects
- National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Monday inked a deal with quasi-sovereign wealth fund National Investment Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) to fund large greenfield road projects, which will be executed by the highway authority in the future.
- In 2015, Centre had set up NIIF to fund commercially viable greenfield, brownfield and stalled projects, thereby giving boost to the country’s infrastructure sector.
- “This arrangement of innovative alternate source of funding is being looked into by NHAI to attract international investors and fund houses who are willing to invest in road projects in India but not very keen to take risk related to the project execution.
About NHAI:
Chairman: Nagendra Nath Sinha
Founded: 1988
Headquarters: New Delhi.
Parliament adopts a statutory resolution for levying 200% duty on all Pakistani goods
- Parliament has adopted a statutory resolution for levying 200 per cent duty on all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan.
- The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha approved the amendment in the first schedule of the Custom Tariff Act in this regard.
- India had notified the basic custom duty to 200 per cent on all goods exported from Pakistan with effect from 16th of February this year.
Note:
About Pakistan
Capital: Islamabad
Currency: Pakistani rupee
Prime minister: Imran Khan
President: Arif Alvi
Dutee Chand wins 100m gold at World University Games
- Ace Indian sprinter Dutee Chand has won the gold medal in women’s 100-metre sprint at the 30th Summer University Games in Napoli, Italy becoming the first Indian to win do so.
- She clocked 11.32s in the final.
- The 23-year-old had qualified for the finals with a 11.41s finish in the semifinal heats and led the final race from start to finish.
- This is the first gold medal for India at this edition of the games.
Note:
About Italy
Capital: Rome
Currency: Euro
Sunil Chhetri & Ashalata Devi bag top honours at AIFF Awards.
- Indian men’s football team captain Sunil Chhetri & women’s footballer Ashalata Devi bagged the top honours at the AIFF Awards.Chhetri was named the men’s footballer of the year, while the title in the women’s category was won by Devi.
- Chhetri was named the men’s footballer of the year, while the title in the women’s category was won by Devi.
- The Bengaluru FC and India skipper, who scored a brace in India’s loss to Tajikistan in the opening match of the Intercontinental Cup, won the award for the third consecutive year.
Note:
About AIFF
AIFF: All India Football Federation
President: Praful Patel
FIFA affiliation: 1948
AFC affiliation: 1954
SAFF affiliation: 1997
Founded: 23 June 1937
Headquarters: Dwarka, Delhi
‘Best Innovation Award’ won by NEFR
- Northeast Frontier Railway has won the‘Best Innovation Award’ for unique strategy adopted to keep wild elephants away from train tracks.
- A cash prize of Rs 3 lakh was awarded.
- Northeast Frontier Railway has won the‘Best Innovation Award’ for unique strategy
Arun Kumar appointed as DGCA chief
- Arun Kumar will hold the full-time charge of the head of aviation regulator DGCA.
- Kumar is an IAS officer of 1989 batch of Haryana cadre.
- In between June 2016 and December 2016, Bhullar was heading the DGCA as additional charge.
Note:
About DGCA
DGCA: Directorate General of Civil Aviation
Headquarters: New Delhi
Minister responsible: Suresh Prabhu
Jurisdiction: India
Russia Launches Soyuz Carrier Rocket with 33 Satellites from Vostochny Spaceport
- Russia successfully launched its Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with a hydro meteorological satellite and 32 small satellites.
- The rocket blasted off at 8.41 a.m. (local time) from the Vostochny spaceport in the Far Eastern Amur Region.
- The satellite will be able to provide images of clouds, the surface of the Earth, ice and snow covers in the visible, infrared and microwave ranges.
Note:
About Russia
Capital: Moscow
Currency: Russian ruble
President: Vladimir Putin
India’s first cow sanctuary Kamdhenu Gau Abhyaranya in Madhya Pradesh to be privatised
- India’s first cow sanctuary Kamdhenu Gau Abhyaranya in Agar Malwa, Madya Pradesh (MP), set up in September 2017, will be privatised due to financial crises.
- Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Akshaypatra has showed interest to look into the issues of poor management & regular deaths of cow in the sanctuary and manage it at no profit no loss basis.
- Kamdhenu Gau Abhyaranya in Agar Malwa, 190 km north west of Bhopal, was developed by the MP Gau Samvardhan Board by spending about Rs 32 crore.
- Around 4,000 cows are living in the sanctuary which is spread across 472 hectares.
Note:
About Madya Pradesh
Capital: Bhopal
Chief minister: Kamal Nath
Governor: Anandiben Patel
Districts: 52
India’s first elephant rehabilitation centre will be set up at Kerala’s Kottoor
- The Kerala government is working to set up the country’s first elephant rehabilitation centre in Kottoor, an ecotourism village near the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
- The first phase of the Rs 105 crore-project was launched last month by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
- It is being planned on the lines of the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka.
Note:
About Kerala:
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Governor :P. Sathasivam
National Parks: Eravikulam National Park, Silent Valley National Park, Pampadum Shola National Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, Anamudi Shola National Park.
National Museum of Indian Cinema's news bulletin launched
- A fortnightly bulletin of the National Museum of Indian Cinema, brought out by the Films Division, was launched, with veteran film maker Jahnu Barua hoping that it will become a platform for movie buffs and other stakeholders.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in January inaugurated the museum, whose portions occupy a 19th century heritage bungalow and a modern building in south Mumbai.
Try out the quiz ?
1. Who has launched the second phase of the Direct Benefit Transfer of Fertilizer Subsidy?
Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda launched the Phase-II of the Direct Benefit Transfer of Fertilizer Subsidy (DBT 2.0).
2. Dutee Chand has become first Indian to win the gold medal in women's 100-metre rance Summer University Games in Napoli? Napoli is situated in which country?
Ace Indian sprinter Dutee Chand has won the gold medal in women's 100-metre sprint at the 30th Summer University Games in Napoli, Italy becoming the first Indian to win do so.
3. Sunil Chhetri & Ashalata Devi bagged the top honours at the AIFF Awards. Both of them are related with which game?
Indian men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri & women's footballer Ashalata Devi bagged the top honours at the AIFF Awards.Chhetri was named the men’s footballer of the year, while the title in the women’s category was won by Devi.
4. Which Railway zone has won "Best Innovation Award"?
Northeast Frontier Railway has won the‘Best Innovation Award’ for unique strategy adopted to keep wild elephants away from train tracks.
5. Who has become full-time incharge of aviation regulator DGCA?
Arun Kumar will hold the full-time charge of the head of aviation regulator DGCA.
6. Russia has launched how many satellites by soyuz Carrier Rocket?
Russia Launches Soyuz Carrier Rocket with 33 Satellites from Vostochny Spaceport.
7. India’s first cow sanctuary Kamdhenu Gau Abhyaranya is situated in which state?
India’s first cow sanctuary Kamdhenu Gau Abhyaranya in Agar Malwa, Madya Pradesh (MP), set up in September 2017, will be privatised due to financial crises.
8. In which city National Museum of Indian Cinema's news bulletin has launched ?
A fortnightly bulletin of the National Museum of Indian Cinema, brought out by the Films Division, was launched, with veteran film maker Jahnu Barua hoping that it will become a platform for movie buffs and other stakeholders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in January inaugurated the museum, whose portions occupy a 19th century heritage bungalow and a modern building in south Mumbai.
9. Which country has adopted Digital India & ‘equality of women’ motto for Haj 2019?
Indian Haj mission in Saudi Arabia has adopted digital technology to reach out to a large number of pilgrims as part of the Government of India’s initiative of Digital India.
10. Homicide Rate in India has declined by what percent, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime?
Overall Homicide Rate declined by 10% in India: UN Report. On July 8, 2019, The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a report titled Global Study on Homicide 2019.
11. What is the full form of NHAI?
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Monday inked a deal with quasi-sovereign wealth fund National Investment Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) to fund large greenfield road projects, which will be executed by the highway authority in the future.
12. What percent of custom duty will be levying on all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan?
Parliament has adopted a statutory resolution for levying 200 per cent duty on all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan.
13. In which state India’s first elephant rehabilitation centre will be set up?
India’s first elephant rehabilitation centre will be set up at Kerala’s Kottoor The Kerala government is working to set up the country’s first elephant rehabilitation centre in Kottoor, an ecotourism village near the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.