26th June 2019 Current Affairs
Central Government move to set up Krishi Vigyan Kendras to double farmers’ income by 2022
- The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar announced that central Government has decided to use digital technology in rural India to double farmers’ income by the year 2022.
- For this, the Government has set up 713 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) and 684 Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMA) at the district level in the country for dissemination of technologies among the farming community.
- An inter-ministerial committee for the purpose has recommended the use of digital technology to transform and modernize agricultural activities.
- The technologies include Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics and Block Chair Technology.
Note:
About Krishi Vigyan Kendras
Formed: Pondicherry
Year: 1974
Asia-Pacific group endorses India for UNSC non-permanent seat
- India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat at the powerful UN Security Council for a two-year term has been endorsed by the Asia-Pacific group at the world body.
- Elections for five non-permanent members of the 15-nation Council for the 2021-22 term will be held around June next year.
- Among the 55 countries supporting India’s candidature are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey, UAE and Vietnam.
Note:
About UNSC
Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
Founded: 24 October 1945
Formation: 1945
Parent organization: United Nations
Girish Koushik has become India’s 63rd Grandmaster
- 22-year-old Girish Koushik from Mysuru became India’s 63rd Grandmaster at the 37th Balaton International Chess Festival in Hungary.
- He duly crossed the 2500 Elo rating after the win.
- Girish, who bagged his maiden norm back in 2011 at the World juniors, took a break from active chess in order to pursue his engineering in Bengaluru.
- He is the only Indian chess player to have won gold medals at the Asian U-8, U-10, U-12, U-14 and U-16 age-group categories.
Note:
About Chess
Players: 2
Skill(s) required: Strategy, tactics
Genre: Board game, Strategy game, Zero-sum game, Perfect information
World Archery appointed Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra to sort AAI trouble
- On June 20, 2019, World Archery appointed Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra as an independent person to sort out the ongoing trouble in the Archery Association of India (AAI).
- The development comes a day after the world body de-listed the Archery Association of India for violating the constitution by unanimously electing two parallel bodies in Chandigarh and New Delhi.
- The celebrated Indian shooter will be part of the selection panel, also consisting of IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta and a representative of Sport Ministry to pick the national teams till a new AAI body takes charge.
Note:
About AAI
AAI: Airports Authority of India
Headquarters: New Delhi
Founded: 1 April 1995
Rachna Khaira of The Tribune won RedInk Award for ‘Journalist of the Year 2019’ for Aadhaar expose
- Rachna Khaira of The Tribune News Service won RedInk Award for ‘Journalist of the Year 2019’.
- The award was bestowed for her expose on the functioning of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and its Aadhaar data cache in 2018.
- Her investigation confirmed that personal data of millions of citizens was at risk of being hacked or traded for a price.
- By running a series of stings with The Huffington Post, the journalist was able to raise serious doubts about the claims by government that Aadhar data stored in UIDAI servers was safe and secure.
Note:
About UIDAI
Headquarters: New Delhi
CEO: Ajay Bhushan Pandey (2010–Till Date)
Founder: Government of India
Founded: 28 January 2009, India
Amit Agarwal appointed as IAMAI chairman
- Amazon India head Amit Agarwal has been named as the new chairman of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
- According to recently launched Mary Meeker report, India accounts for 12% of the world’s internet users, behind only to China (21%).
- Agarwal assumes office at a time when the industry is on a growth trajectory with more than 500 million internet users in India.
Note:
About IAMAI
IAMAI: Internet and Mobile Association of India
Founded: 2004
Headquarters: Mumbai
SpaceX launched hefty rocket with 24 research satellites
- On June 25, 2019, Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) launched a hefty rocket with 24 payload military and scientific research satellites with a deep space atomic clock, solar sail, clean and green rocket fuel, and even human ashes, including an astronaut.
- It was the third flight of a Falcon Heavy rocket, but the first ordered up by the military.
- The Defense Department mission, dubbed STP-2 for Space Test Program, is expected to provide data to certify the Falcon Heavy — and reused boosters — for future national security launches.
- It marked the military’s first ride on a recycled rocket.
Note:
About SpaceX
CEO: Elon Musk (2002–Till date)
Founder: Elon Musk
Founded: 6 May 2002
Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, United States
‘Bumble’ became the first Astrobee robot to fly under its own power in space
- On June 14, 2019, National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Astrobee Robot “Bumble” became the first Astrobee robot to fly under its own power in space.
- It will help researchers in examining the new technologies in zero gravity and assist astronauts to perform routine work in the International Space Station (ISS).
- Astrobees also ensures that astronauts can focus more on tasks that are largely the preserve of humans.
Note:
About NASA
NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Founded: 29 July 1958, United States
Rajasthan, Andaman, West Bengal house best police stations in India: MHA
- The three best police stations in the country are in Rajasthan, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and West Bengal, an internal survey of the Union Home Ministry has found.
- The Kalu police station in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district is ranked number 1 as it had all facilities such as a women’s help desk, drinking water facilities and Wi-Fi.
- The second in the rank is Campbell Bay in Nicobar district. It has a child-friendly room and a separate waiting room for complainants and visitors.
Note:
About Andaman and Nicobar
Capital and largest city: Port Blair
Country: India
Area rank: 28th
Established: 1 November 1956
Veteran freedom fighter Mohan Ranade dies at 90
- Veteran freedom fighter Mohan Ranade passed away in Pune, Maharashtra at the age of 90.
- He participated in the Goa Liberation Movement.
- He was born in 1929 at Sangli in Maharashtra.
Note:
About Maharashtra
Capital: Mumbai
Chief minister: Devendra Fadnavis
Kerala aced NITI Aayog's health index
- Kerala has topped among large states on overall health performance in NITI Aayog’s Health Index followed by Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- The report ranks the states & UTs innovatively on their year-on-year incremental change in health outcomes.
- According to a report by the government think tank, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have emerged as the second and third best performers, respectively, on health parameters.
- The health index is a composite measure of States and Union Territories based on 23 health indicators with major weightage to the outcomes.
Note:
About NITI Aayog’s
Formed: 1 January 2015
Objectives: Foster involvement and participation in the economic policy-making process by the State Governments of India
Jurisdiction: Government of India
Headquarters: New Delhi
CEO: Amitabh Kant (Jan 2015–Till date)
Government of Jharkhand to get $147 Million Loan from World Bank
- On June 25, 2019, to provide basic urban services to the people and help improve the management capacity of the urban local bodies (ULBs) in Jharkhand, the World Bank approved a $147 million loan agreement to the state.
- The Jharkhand Municipal Development Project will focus on improving the municipal sector’s capacity to provide basic urban services.
- It will invest in urban services such as water supply, sewerage, drainage, and urban roads; and strengthen the capacity of the Jharkhand Urban Infrastructure Development Company (JUIDCO) as well as that of the ULBs to carry out reforms in the areas of urban finance and governance.
Note:
About World Bank
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
Membership: 189 countries (IBRD); 173 countries (IDA)
Founded: 1944
Wind and solar to deliver half the world’s power by the year 2050: BNEF report
- According to a “New Energy Outlook (NEO) report 2019”released by Bloomberg NEF, Wind and solar power are the new power in two-thirds of countries around the world and they will make up almost half of the electricity system by 2050.
- Since 2010, the cost of wind power has dropped by 49%, and solar has plummeted 85%, according to BNEF
Note:
About BNEF
BNEF: Bloomberg New Energy Finance Limited
Founded: 2004
Veteran Actor Anupam Kher pens an Auto-Biography “Lessons Life Taught Me, Unknowingly”
- Veteran Actor Anupam Kher, aged 64, has penned an Auto-Biography titled “Lessons Life Taught Me, Unknowingly”.
- It will be launched on August 5, 2019.
- It will look into the life and times of the actor.
Note:
About Anupam Kher
Born: 7 March 1955 (age 64 years), Shimla
Spouse: Kirron Kher
Education: National School of Drama (1978), D.A.V. School, Shimla
Children: Sikandar Kher
NTPC and PGCIL sign MoU to form a joint venture to enter Power Distribution Business
- On June 21, 2019, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and PowerGrid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to set up a Joint Venture (JV) the National Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCL).
- It will undertake the business for distribution of electricity in distribution circles in various states and Union Territories (UTs) and other related activities.
- NEDCL will be a joint venture of the two on 50:50 equity basis.
- “The main aim is to undertake business for distribution of electricity in distribution circles of India and related activities.
Note:
About NTPC
Founded: 1975
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Owner: Government of India
Organization type: State-owned enterprise
Try out the quiz ?
1. How many Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) has setup at the district level in rural India to double farmers’ income by the year 2022?
Government has set up 713 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) and 684 Agricultural Technology Management Agencies (ATMA) at the district level in the country for dissemination of technologies among the farming community.
2. Which group has endorsed India for UNSC non-permanent member?
India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat at the powerful UN Security Council for a two-year term has been endorsed by the Asia-Pacific group at the world body.
3. Who has become India’s 63rd Grandmaster?
22-year-old Girish Koushik from Mysuru became India’s 63rd Grandmaster at the 37th Balaton International Chess Festival in Hungary.
4. Who is Abhinav Bindra?
World Archery appointed Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra as an independent person to sort out the ongoing trouble in the Archery Association of India (AAI).
5. Who has won RedInk Award for ‘Journalist of the Year 2019’?
Rachna Khaira of The Tribune News Service won RedInk Award for ‘Journalist of the Year 2019’.
6. According to Mary Meeker report India accounts how many percent of the world's internet users?
According to recently launched Mary Meeker report, India accounts for 12% of the world's internet users, behind only to China (21%).
7. Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) has launched a hefty rocket with how many research satellites?
Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) launched a hefty rocket with 24 payload military and scientific research satellites with a deep space atomic clock, solar sail, clean and green rocket fuel, and even human ashes, including an astronaut.
8. What is the name of first Astrobee robot to fly under its own power in space?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Astrobee Robot “Bumble” became the first Astrobee robot to fly under its own power in space.
9. Which police station has become the best police stations in India?
The Kalu police station in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district is ranked number 1 as it had all facilities such as a women’s help desk, drinking water facilities and Wi-Fi.
10. Veteran freedom fighter Mohan Ranade has passed away. He was from which state?
Veteran freedom fighter Mohan Ranade passed away in Pune, Maharashtra at the age of 90.
11. Which country has topped among large states in overall health performance in NITI Aayog's Health Index?
Kerala has topped among large states on overall health performance in NITI Aayog's Health Index followed by Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
12. World Bank has approved a how many million loan agreement for Jharkhand Municipal Development Project?
On June 25, 2019, to provide basic urban services to the people and help improve the management capacity of the urban local bodies (ULBs) in Jharkhand, the World Bank approved a $147 million loan agreement to the state.
13. According to BNEF report by which year Wind and solar to deliver half the world’s power?
According to a “New Energy Outlook (NEO) report 2019”released by Bloomberg NEF, Wind and solar power are the new power in two-thirds of countries around the world and they will make up almost half of the electricity system by 2050.
14. “Lessons Life Taught Me, Unknowingly” is the an auto-Biography of which person?
Veteran Actor Anupam Kher, aged 64, has penned an Auto-Biography titled “Lessons Life Taught Me, Unknowingly”.
15. Which of the two Power Corporation Company has form a joint venture for Power Distribution Business?
On June 21, 2019, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and PowerGrid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to set up a Joint Venture (JV) the National Electricity Distribution Company Limited (NEDCL).
