Comprehensive Current affairs 8 August 2020

 

Massive sunspot is turning towards Earth this can result in major solar flares that can effect electrical systems.

The sunspot AR2770 was detected earlier this week and is expected to grow in size in the upcoming days.

A report by SpaceWeather.com - a space weather forecasting website - said that multiple minor flares have been emitted by the sunspot already as it faced towards the earth. These flares have caused "minor waves of ionization to ripple through Earth's upper atmosphere" but nothing major yet. sunspots are dark spots on the sun that are comparatively colder than the rest of the star. These are formed as a result of interactions with the sun's magnetic field. The intense magnetic activities lead to the release of a great amount of energy that erupts out in the form of solar flares and storms known as coronal mass ejections (CME).

Although the entire mechanism is not yet understood, these spots occur on the photosphere region of the sun and can be huge in size - up to 50,000 kilometres in diameter. While solar flares are huge explosions on the sun, a CME is an 'enormous bubble of plasma' expelled by the sun.

A clear picture of the AR2770 has also surfaced that gives a better idea into the current phenomenon. It was captured by an amateur astronomer Martin Wise from Trenton, Florida. The size of the "primary dark core" is about as wide as Mars and it has several "spotlets" on its surface, which are similar to the craters on the surface of the moon.

According to the report in International Business Times, Wise captured the dark sunspot using an 8-inch telescope with safe solar filters and it's dimensions make this sunspot "one of the largest sunspot groups of the current Solar Minimum.”

With the spot growing and turning towards earth, its flares might grow in impact and affect electrical operations and facilities greatly.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), strong solar storms can cause "fluctuations of electrical currents in space and energize electrons and protons trapped in Earth's varying magnetic field". These events can affect radio communications, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) connectivity, power grids and satellites.

 

 

 

National handloom day was observed.

National Handloom Day is being organised today by the Ministry of Textiles on a virtual platform. Textiles Minister SmritiIrani will be the Chief Guest on the occasion. During the function, handloom clusters across India, NIFT campuses, all the 28 Weaver Service Centres, National Handloom Development Corporation and others will be connected online.

7th August was chosen as the National Handloom Day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on the same date in the year 1905. The objective is to generate awareness about the Handloom Industry among the public and its contribution to socio-economic development.

To mark the occasion and to instil pride in the workmanship of handloom weaving amongst citizens, a social media campaign is planned for the handloom weaving community.

Modi has said, the Handloom and Handicrafts of India encompass a glorious history of hundreds of years.

In his Mann Ki Baat address on All India Radio last month, the Prime Minister urged everyone to use Indian Handloom and Handicrafts as much as possible, and also communicate to more and more people about them. He said, local artisans and weavers will benefit from conversations about the richness and diversity of Indian handloom and handicrafts.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the correct and positive approach always goes a long way in transforming distressing times into opportunities, adversities into triggers of development and progress. 

Indian government is going to launch national clinical registry for COVID-19.

The Government is set to launch a National Clinical Registry for COVID-19. The main objective of this registry is to collect real time clinical data which will help in evidence based clinical practice, research, formulation of guidelines and policy making.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences have proposed to establish a COVID-19 clinical registry for data collection from 100 hospitals across the country.

The duration of the study will be one year and any COVID-19 lab confirmed and hospitalized patient will be enrolled.

ICMR invited a letter of intent from institutions, hospitals identified as dedicated COVID Hospitals and COVID Health Centres to establish this registry.This study is aimed at collecting data regarding clinical and laboratory features, treatments and outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in India.

Agri-infra fund: Modi is going to launch financing facility of ₹1 lakh cr.

Indian PM Modi is going to launch financing facility of ₹1 lakh crore under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund through video conferencing. Govt in July had approved the setting up of an agri-infra fund with a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore to extend subsidised credit for farm infrastructure project also release 6th installment of ₹17,000 crores fund to 8.5 crores farmers under PM-KISAN scheme.

The agri-infra fund was part of the over ₹20 lakh crore stimulus package announced in response to the COVID-19 crisis it’s duration will be 10 years till 2029.

It aims to provide medium-to-long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and financial support.It also aimed to boost private investment and generate more jobs in rural areas.

Rs. 10,000 crore for current year

About Rs.1 lakh crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans to primary agri credit societies, farmer groups, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), agri-entrepreneurs, start-ups and agri-tech players.

Loans will be disbursed in four years starting with sanction of ₹10,000 crore in the current year and ₹30,000 crore each in the next three financial years.

All loans under this financing facility will have interest subvention of 3 per cent per annum up to a limit of ₹2 crore. This subvention will be available for a maximum period of seven years.

Management Information System.

agri-infra fund, which will be managed and monitored through an online Management Information System (MIS) platform, will enable all the qualified entities to apply for loan under the fund.

The online platform will also provide benefits such as transparency of interest rates offered by multiple banks, scheme details including interest subvention and credit guarantee offered, minimum documentation, faster approval process as also integration with other scheme benefits.

RBI decides to leave policy rates unchanged at 4%

RBI governor Dr.Shaktikanta Das today said that the apex bank's monetary policy committee has decided to unanimously leave the policy repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent. He added that RBI will continue with the accommodative stance of monetary policy as long as necessary to revive growth, mitigate the impact of COVID-19, while ensuring that inflation remains within the target going forward.

In an address after the conclusion of the three day MPC meeting today via video conferencing, Dr.Das said the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank rate remain unchanged at 4.25 per cent.

He said, the reverse repo rate stands unchanged at 3.35 per cent. He said the MPC’s assessment is that the global economic activity has remained fragile and in retrenchment in the first half of 2020.

The RBI Governor said the headline CPI inflation, which was at 5.8 per cent in March 2020, was placed at 6.1 per cent in the provisional estimates for June 2020.

He said given the uncertainty surrounding the inflation outlook and extremely weak state of the economy in the midst of an unprecedented shock from the ongoing pandemic, the MPC decided to keep the policy rate on hold, while remaining watchful for a durable reduction in inflation to use available space to support the revival of the economy.

RBI to broaden scope of priority sector lending

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday decided to broaden the scope of priority sector lending (PSL) by including start-ups and enhancing borrowing limits for renewable energy sectors.

The central bank would also increase the targets for lending to ‘small and marginal farmers’ and ‘weaker sections’ under the PSL. Eligible entities get access to credit on easier terms from banks under the PSL.

Banks are required to assign 40% of adjusted net bank credit or credit equivalent amount of off-balance sheet exposure, whichever is higher, to priority sector, including agriculture and micro-enterprises, it said.

Can Two Police Forces Investigate the Same Case?

Sushant Singh Rajput’s body was found at his residence in Mumbai. But the Bihar Police, too, is probing his death. This arises the question whether two police forces can investigate the Same case.

Accidental Death Report (ADR):

• After actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s dead body was found in Mumbai, the local police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) in the matter.

• As per Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, an ADR is taken when an accidental death, suicidal death or unnatural death comes to light. The officer in charge of a police station receives information that a person has committed suicide, he/she shall proceed to the place where the body of such deceased person is, and there, draw up a report of the apparent cause of death.

• The officer then records statements of those who can shed light behind the cause of death. If no one makes any allegations and the post mortem report does not indicate murder, an ACP rank officer then ends the report at ADR stage.

What happens if the family makes an allegation or some foul play comes to light?

Generally, the Post Mortem report points out if a person died of suicide or was killed.

• There have been cases where an ADR was later turned into a murder case, under Section

302 the Indian Penal Code (Punishment for murder), after the post mortem report indicated a person was murdered. Apart from this, if the family members allege someone drove the person to die by suicide, or if a suicide note is found, the police can register an abetment to suicide case under Section 306 of IPC.

What cases have the Mumbai Police and Bihar Police Registered?

• Since the family members of Rajput did not make any allegations and the post mortem reports did not indicate any foul play, the matter is still as an ADR at Mumbai Police Station.

• However, Bihar Police registered an FIR based on the allegations made by Rajput’s father.

It is as part of this FIR that a police team from Bihar came to the Mumbai, resulting in a tussle between the Two Forces.

Can two police forces investigate the same case?

• A case can be Formally transferred to another agency like the CBI, but two agencies cannot probe the same FIR simultaneously.

• In cases where a money laundering aspect emerges, the Enforcement Directorate registers an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and restricts its probe to the money laundering aspect of it.

• Even in the Sushant Singh Rajput case, after his father alleged to Bihar Police that money had been transferred to unidentified accounts from Rajput’s bank account, the ED registered an ECIR under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

• However, under regular crimes, if an offence has taken place in Mumbai and the family is in Bihar, they can go to the nearest police station in Bihar and register a Zero FIR.

What is Zero FIR?

• In order to Ensure that a Citizen does not have to run from one police station to another to register an FIR, the law has allowed any police station across the country to register an FIR as soon a cognisable offence is disclosed to them.

• Hence, a zero FIR is Registered by a police station when an offence reported to it has been committed in the area under the jurisdiction of a different police station.

• As per Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code, a police officer is duty bound to register the Zero FIR Irrespective of Territorial Jurisdiction.

Controversy in the Sushant Singh Rajput case?

• In the current case, after registering the FIR, the Bihar Police themselves came to Mumbai to investigate the case instead of transferring the case to the local police.

• There is also a demand from former Maharashtra CM that the case be transferred to the CBI. The Supreme Court will take a final call on who will investigate the matter.

EWS Quota Challenge referred to Constitution Bench.

The Supreme Court referred to a five-judge Bench the “substantial question of law” whether grant of 10% reservation to economically weaker sections of the society is unconstitutional and violates the 50% ceiling cap on quota declared by the court itself.

Who are “Economically Weaker Sections”?

For the purposes of article 15 and article 16, “economically weaker sections” shall be such as may be notified by the State from time to time on the basis of family income and other indicators of economic disadvantage.’

• Central Government of India has specified certain criteria for identifying the EWS. This will be a class distinct from the already specified classes of SCs, STs and socially and educationally backward classes (OBCs).

• The EWS quota applies to household with

✓ Annual household income below Rs 8 lakh.

✓ Agriculture land below 5 acres.

✓ Residential house below 1000 sq ft.

✓ Residential plot below 100 yards in notified municipality.

✓ Residential plot below 200 yards in non-notified municipality area.

What are the Implications?

• The 10% reservation will be in addition to the existing cap of 50% reservation for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes, taking total reservation to 60%. The quota targets the poor among the upper castes. This will be over and above 50% mandated by Constitution and hence the need for Constitution amendment Bill.

Supreme Court in Indira Sawhney case:

• The Proposed law would face roadblocks if challenged in the Supreme Court.

• A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the Indira Sawhney case of 1992 specifically answered the question “whether backward classes can be identified only and exclusively with reference to the economic criterion.”

• The constitution bench had categorically ruled that a backward class cannot be determined only and exclusively with reference to economic criterion. The bench had held that economic criterion may be a consideration or basis along with, and in addition to, social backwardness, but it can never be the sole criterion.

• The bench in its judgement declared 50% quota as the rule unless extraordinary situations “inherent in the great diversity of this country and the people” happen. Even then, the court stated that extreme caution is to be exercised and a special case should be made out.

What is the Centre’s Argument?

• The Centre had argued that it was every State’s prerogative to provide 10% economic reservation in State government jobs and admissions in State-run education institutions.

• Whether or not to provide reservation to the economically weaker section (EWS) of the society for appointment in State government jobs and for admission to State government educational institutions, as per provisions of the newly inserted Articles 15(6) and 16(6) of the Constitution, is to be decided by the State Government Concerned.

RaTG13 Sarbecovirus

The recent study published in Nature Microbiology, the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been circulating unnoticed in bats for decades. Bats have been the ‘primary reservoirs’ for SARS-CoV-2, which is likely to have diverged from closely related bat viruses called the RaTG13 sarbecovirus, 40-70 years ago. 

Highlights:

• The study confirms an earlier Chinese study and also suggests the probable time of divergence of the two viruses.

• The SARS-CoV-2 is most closely related to RaTG13, which was isolated from a horseshoe bat in Yunnan province in 2013.

• It is based on the nearly 96% genome sequence identity between SARS-CoV-2 and

RaTG13, it was held that an origin in bats is probable for the Covid-19 outbreak.

• The SARS-CoV-2 has not arisen from recombination of any sarbecovirus.

• Recombination is a process by which pieces of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are broken and recombined to produce new combinations of alleles (forms of a gene). This process creates genetic diversity at the level of genes that reflects differences in the DNA sequences of different organisms.

• The ability of the spike protein in the virus to bind to Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2

(ACE2) human receptors had emerged within bats and is an ancestral trait shared with bat viruses and not one acquired recently via recombination.

• The results of the study suggest the presence of a ‘single lineage’ circulating in bats with properties that allowed it to infect human cells. This was also the case with the bat sarbecoviruses related to the 2002 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) lineage.

About the Evolutionary History of SARS-CoV-2:

• The researchers analysed the evolutionary history of SARS-CoV-2 using genomic data on sarbecoviruses.

• They employed three approaches to identify regions in the virus that had not undergone recombination and that could be used to reconstruct its evolution.

Comprehensive Current affairs 7 August 2020

Ravi Development authority to be announced.

Pak. P.M Imran Khan is going to inaugurate the Ravi Development Authority project in Lahore to overcome the problems of congested traffic, water and environment in Lahore city.

During the visit, PM Imran is also expected to chair meetings of National Coordination Committee on Housing, Construction and Development, and on education reforms in Punjab.

Most modern city.

According to a statement, Punjab C.M had given the green signal to establish “River Ravi Front Authority” for developing a “most modern city” in the north of Lahore.

The provincial government will promulgate an ordinance for the establishment of this authority with the chief minister as its chairman.

The authority would work to develop the new city over an area of more than one 100,000 acres. It is expected that Rs5 trillion would be invested by the private sector to develop the city.

A large lake and free barrages will also be built in the new city.

Serum Institute of India, Novavax in covid vaccine deal, may produce 100 crore doses.

Pune-based Serum Institute of India and US-based Novavax have announced an agreement for the development and commercialization of Novavax’ COVID‑19 vaccine candidate in India and other low- and middle-income countries. The agreement is expected to support minimum of 1 billion doses of NVX-CoV2373 for India and low- and middle-income countries, Novavax said.

This agreement excludes major upper-middle and high-income countries, for which Novavax continues to retain rights.

world’s largest vaccine manufacturer in terms of doses delivered, Serum Institute is the ideal partner to advance NVX‑CoV2373 throughout India and the low- and middle-income countries. This partnership continues to build on our companies’ collaborative history."

According to the agreement, for low- and middle-income countries, Novavax and Serum Institute are partnering on clinical development, co-formulation, filling and finishing and commercialization of Novavax's covid vaccine. Serum Institute will be responsible for regulatory submissions and marketing authorizations. Novavax will provide to Serum Institute both vaccine antigen and Matrix‑M adjuvant.

The companies are in discussions to have Serum Institute manufacture vaccine antigen in India. Novavax and Serum Institute will split the revenue from the sale of product, net of agreed costs.

Serum Institute has also partnered with Oxford University-Astra Zeneca for manufacturing covid vaccine in India. Recently, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given approval to Serum

Institute of India, Pune to conduct Phase II+III clinical trials of Oxford University-Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine (COVISHIELD) in India.

Delhi government launches electric vehicle policy, announces incentives of up to ₹1.5 lakh.

The Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi on Friday launched the Electric Vehicle Policy for the national capital under which the AAP government will waive registration fee, road tax, and provide an incentive of up to ₹1.5 lakh for new cars.

➡This policy will help govt. to generate employment and will give a boost to Delhi's economy and reduce pollution levels in Indian capital.

➡Delhi CM termed the new EV policy as "progressive" and said the policy also aims to constitute 25% electric vehicles by 2024, which is currently just 0.29% in the in the national capital.

➡Delhi Govt will provide financial assistance to those buying electric vehicles under Electric Vehicle Policy. ➡Financial assistance of Rs 30,000 will be given on the purchase of 2-wheelers, Rs 1.5 lakh on cars & Rs 30,000 on auto-rickshaws & e-rickshaws.

➡The Delhi government is also going to provide low-interest loan on electric commercial vehicles  

➡Establishment of an 'EV Cell' to implement the Electric Vehicle Policy in the national capital and it is expected that 5 lakh new electric vehicles will be registered in next five years.

➡ 200 charging stations will be set up in a year to ensure that people driving these vehicles can get a charging station within the radius of three kilometers.

➡Youth will be trained so that they get jobs as electric vehicle sector will need them at a large scale after the implementation of this policy.

There was already the Centre's scheme on electric vehicles called 'Fame India Phase-2', under which the Union government also provides some incentives. And the Delhi government scheme will be an addition to the Centre's scheme and people can also avail benefits under both the schemes.

Trump passes executive order on procuring essential drugs from US firms.

The US commissioner of food and drugs has been directed to create a list of medicines,medical countermeasures, and critical inputs that are essential for public health in America based on which every US agency involved in the procurement of medicines "will consider using its authority to limit competition in government procurement of these essential items to American manufacturers.

In potential trouble for Indian pharmaceutical companies, US President Donal Trump on Thursday passed an executive order to ensure that the world’s largest market procures 'essential medicines' from domestic production and reduces dependence on imports.

The executive order, part of Trump’s ‘buy American’ plan, comes on the back of the covid-19 pandemic that originated in China, leading to a severe disruption in supply chains of pharmaceuticals, among other things. Trump had highlighted this in his speech at Whirlpool Corporation’s manufacturing plant in Ohio, US, on Thursday.

To support the production of advanced pharmaceutical ingredients and essential medicines in America, the order also directs agencies to prioritize permitting and approvals for domestic manufacturers.

The move could potentially be disruptive for Indian drugmakers like Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Lupin and Cipla, for whom the US is either the largest or second-largest market.

Australian Citizenship

Out of the over 200,000 people who became Australian citizens in 2019-2020, 38,209 were Indians, the Highest Number on Record.

Australia:

• Australia comprises of mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.

• It is the largest country in Oceania and the world’s sixth-largest country by total area.

• Canberra is the capital and Sydney is the largest city. Other major cities are Melbourne,

Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. A megadiverse country, its size gives it a wide variety of landscapes, with deserts in the centre, tropical rainforests in the north-east, and mountain ranges in the south-east. Australia is a highly developed country, with the world’s 14th- largest economy. It has a high-income economy, with the world’s tenth-highest per capita income. Natural Resources found in Australia include alumina, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, rare earth elements, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum. Australia is the world’s largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports

• Australia is a member of the United Nations, G20, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade

Organization, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Pacific Islands Forum, and the ASEAN Plus Six mechanism.

Khadi agarbati Aatmanirbhar Mission.

Minister for MSME approves the Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar Mission.

Khadi Agarbatti Aatmanirbhar Mission:

• This is an employment generation programme proposed by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

• The idea is to make India Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) in Agarbatti Production.

bjective of the Mission:

✓ The mission aims at creating employment for unemployed and migrant workers in different parts of the country while increasing domestic Agarbatti production substantially.

The scheme will operate on a PPP model.

• Under the scheme, KVIC will provide Automatic Agarbatti making machines and powder mixing machines to the artisans through successful private Agarbatti manufacturers who will sign the agreement as business partners.

• KVIC has decided to procure only locally made machines by Indian manufacturers which also aims at encouraging local production.

• KVIC will provide a 25% subsidy on the cost of the machines and will recover the remaining 75% of the cost from the artisans in easy installments every month.

• The business partner will provide the raw material to the artisans for making Agarbatti and will pay them wages on a job work basis.

• The cost of artisans’ training will be shared between KVIC and the private business partner wherein KVIC will bear 75% of the cost while 25% will be paid by the business partner.

• Each automatic Agarbatti making machine makes approximately 80 kg Agarbatti per day which will provide direct employment to 4 persons. One powder mixing machine, to be given on a set on 5 Agarbatti making machines, will provide employment to 2 persons.

• The supply of raw material to the artisans, logistics, quality control and marketing of the final product will be the sole responsibility of the business partner.

• The programme aims at handholding artisans and supporting the local Agarbatti industry.

The current consumption of Agarbatti in the country is approximately 1490 MT per day; however, India’s per day production of Agarbatti is just 760 MT. There is a huge gap between the demand and the supply and hence, immense scope for job creation.

Aspirin nanorods to prevent Cataract.

Context:

• The scientists from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST) have recently developed nanorods from the Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) Aspirin to prevent cataracts in an economical and less complicated way.

• INST is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India.

About Cataract:

• It is a major form of blindness that occurs when the structure of crystallin proteins that make up the lens in human eyes deteriorates.

• It causes damaged or disorganised proteins to aggregate and form a milky blue or brown layer, which ultimately affects lens transparency.

• As with aging and under various conditions, the lens protein crystallin aggregates to form opaque structures in the eye lens, which impairs vision and causes cataract.

• The prevention of the formation of these aggregates as well as their destruction in the early stage of disease progression is a major treatment strategy for cataracts.

About Aspirin:

• Aspirin is a popular medication used to reduce pain, fever, or inflammation and now it has been found to be an effective non–invasive small molecule-based nanotherapeutics against cataract. The scientists have used the anti-aggregation ability of self-build aspirin nanorods as an effective non –invasive small molecule-based nanotherapeutics against cataract.

• It prevents the protein aggregation through biomolecular interactions, which convert it into coils and helices and consequently fail to aggregate.

Significance:

• The Aspirin nanorods due to their nano-size are expected to enhance bioavailability, improve drug loading, lower toxicity, etc. The delivery of the aspirin nanorods as eye drops is going to serve as an effective and viable option to treat cataract non-invasively.

• It is easy to use and a low-cost alternative nonsurgical treatment method and will benefit patients in developing countries who cannot access expensive cataract treatments and surgeries.

Prevention of cataract

• INST scientists develop simple economical nonsurgical prevention of cataracts.

Cataract:

• A cataract is a dense, cloudy area that forms in the lens of the eye.

• A cataract begins when proteins in the eye form clumps that prevent the lens from sending clear images to the retina. The retina works by converting the light that comes through the lens into signals.

A cataract is a form of blindness that occurs when the structure of crystallin proteins that make up the lens in our eyes deteriorates, causing damaged or disorganised proteins to aggregate and form a milky blue or brown layer, which ultimately affects lens transparency.

• Thus, prevention of the formation of these aggregates as well as their destruction in the early stage of disease progression is a major treatment strategy for cataracts.

Study:

• A team of scientists from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST), an autonomous institute under the DST, has developed nanorods from the nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drug

(NSAID) Aspirin and found it to be an effective non-invasive small molecule-based nanotherapeutics against cataract.

• The team has used the anti-aggregation ability of self-build aspirin nanorods for this purpose.

• Aspirin nanorods prevent the aggregation of crystallin protein and various peptides derived from its fragmentation, which play a crucial role in cataract formation.

• These were found to prevent cataract formation by inhibiting aggregation of crystallin, and crystallin derived peptide aggregates.

• The targeted disaggregation of the accumulated alpha-crystallin protein and crystallin derived peptide aggregates in aged and cataractous human lenses are considered as a viable therapeutic strategy for the prevention of cataract formation.

• The aspirin nanorods are produced using the process of molecular self-assembly, which is a low cost and high-yield technique to generate the aspirin nanorods as compared to the high cost and laborious physical methods generally used for the synthesis of nanoparticles.

Coin in Honour of Mahatma Gandhi

• Recently, Britain is considering minting a coin to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi.

Highlights:

• It is seen as part of efforts to celebrate achievements of people from the Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

• The British Finance Minister has written a letter to the Royal Mint Advisory Committee

(RMAC), to consider recognising the contribution of BAME communities on Britain's coinage.

• The RMAC is an independent committee made up of experts who recommend themes and designs for coins. It supports a campaign called ‘We Too Built Britain’, which seeks representation of non-white icons on British currency.

• The murder of a Black man, George Floyd, in the United States due to police butuality has led to Black Lives Matter protests against racism, colonialism and police brutality across the globe.

• Triggered by the death of George Floyd, some British institutions began re-examining their past, which includes their History, Colonialism and Racism.

About Black Lives Matter Protest:

• It is a global movement advocating for non-violent civil disobedience in protest against incidents of police brutality and all racially motivated violence against African-American people. Its mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.

• The movement was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s (African-American) murderer in the USA.

SKOCH Gold Award.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has received the SKOCH Gold Award for its Empowerment of Tribals through IT-enabled Scholarship Schemes project.

• Under the project, MoTA has integrated all 5 Scholarship Schemes with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Portal under the DBT Mission.

SKOCH Award:

• Skoch Award instituted in 2003.

• It is the highest civilian honour in the country conferred by an independent organisation.

• The awards recognise leadership and excellence in accelerating socio -economic changes.

• Conferred to people, projects and institutions.

• Awardees are selected based on the nomination, jury evaluation, presentation of shortlisted nominees, focus group discussions, interactions and peer evaluation.

• The 66th SKOCH 2020 Competition was entitled India Responds to COVID Through Digital Governance.

Programmes launched under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana

Recently, the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) approved a programme for the benefit of artisans involved in the manufacturing of Agarbatti and to develop village industry under ‘Gramodyog Vikas Yojana’.

Highlights:

• As per the programme, initially, four Pilot Projects will be started, including one in the North Eastern part of the country.

• Each targeted cluster of artisans will be supported with about 50 Automatic Agarbatti making machines and 10 Mixing machines. Accordingly, a total of 200 Automatic Agarbatti making machines and 40 Mixing machines will be provided to the artisans.

Role of KVIC:

• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), one of the statutory organizations, working under the MSME, will provide training, and assist artisans working in this area, with Agarbatti manufacturing machines.

• KVIC will tie-up with Khadi institutions / Agarbatti manufacturers in the country, having a good track record, to provide work and raw material to ‘Agarbatti making artisans.

Expected Benefits:

• Act as a catalyst in reviving Agarbatti manufacturing in the villages and small towns.

• Generate a minimum of about 500 additional jobs.

• Boost domestic Agarbatti Industry.

• Reduce imports of Agarbatti.

Gramodyog Vikas Yojana:

• Along with Khadi Vikas Yojana, Gramodyog Vikas Yojana are the two umbrella schemes of formed after merging of 8 different schemes of Khadi & Village Industries.

• Gramodyog Vikas Yojana aims to promote and develop the village industries through common Facilities, Technological Modernization, Training etc.

Components of Gramodyog Vikas Yojana:

• Research & Development and Product Innovation: R&D support would be given to the institutions that intend to carry product development, new innovations, design development, product diversification processes etc.

• Activities of Existing Dedicated Verticals of Village Industries: This includes Agro-Based & Food Processing Industry, Mineral-Based Industry, Handmade Paper, Leather & Plastic Industry among others.

• Capacity Building: Under the Human Resource Development and Skill Training components, exclusive capacity building of staff as well as the artisans.

• Marketing & Publicity: The village institutions will be provided market support by way of preparation of product catalogue, Industry directory, market research, new marketing techniques, buyer-seller meet, arranging exhibitions etc.

Agatti Island.

The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently granted an interim stay on felling of coconut trees on Agatti Island in Lakshadweep.

Highlights:

• The petition was moved in the NGT over indiscriminate cutting of coconut trees for a Beach Road.

• The tree-felling was violating the Union Territory’s (UT) Integrated Island Management Plan (IIMP), which was formulated on the basis of a report submitted by the Supreme Court-appointed Expert Committee, headed by Justice R.V. Raveendran, a former judge of the SC.

The IIMP includes holistic island development plans prepared by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) for implementation by coastal States/ UTs.

• It undertakes scientific approaches, coupled with indigenous knowledge for the better management of the islands and its resources.

• Due to the large scale cutting of the coconut trees, local residents are affected by losing income from the tree produces.

• It also poses an environmental challenge because the trees on the coastline act as a green belt to protect the rest of the island during cyclones and other natural calamities.

About Agatti Island:

• It is at a distance of 459 km (248 nautical miles) from Kochi (Kerala) and is located to the west of Kavaratti Island. The Kavaratti is the capital of the UT of Lakshadweep.

• It has an area of 3.84 sq km and has a north-east, south-west trend with a long tail on the south.

• The lagoon area of this island is 17.50 sq km and there is plenty of coral growth and multicoloured coral fishes in the lagoons.

• The Fishing is the most important industry of Agatti which is perhaps the only island besides Minicoy getting surplus fish. The coir (coconut fibre) and copra (dried meat or kernel of the coconut) are the Main Industries.

Cut Gratuity Period to One Year, says Panel.

Parliamentary Committee on Labour has, in its latest report, recommended that the eligibility period for gratuity payable to an employee on termination of his employment should be reduced to one year from the present provision of Five Years.

What is Gratuity?

• Gratuity is the monetary benefit provided by the employer to his/her employee for the services rendered by him during the period of employment.

• A minimum of five years of service with an organisation is mandatory for availing the benefit of Gratuity.

About the Payment of Gratuity Act 1972:

• The Payment of Gratuity Act 1972 makes it mandatory for the employers to pay their employees gratuity at the time of quitting, provided certain conditions were met.

• An organisation comes under the purview of the Payment of Gratuity Act 1972 if it has 10 or more employees on any single day in the preceding 12 months.

• The Payment of Gratuity Act follows the rule of ‘Once Covered, Always Covered’ which implies that that once an organisation comes under the Act, it will always remain covered even if the number of employees falls below 10.

• The Ministry of Finance has now enhanced the income tax exemption for gratuity under Section 10 (10) (iii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 to Rs 20 lakhs.

What did the Panel Recommended?

• Keeping in view the nature of India’s Labour Market where most employees are employed for a short duration period only, making them ineligible for gratuity as per extant norms, the Committee desires that the time limit of five years as provided for in the Code for payment of gratuity be reduced to continuous service of One Year.

• It has further recommended that this facility be extended to all kinds of employees, including contract labourers, seasonal workers, piece rate workers and fixed term employees and daily/monthly wage workers.

The committee has stressed that there should be a robust redressal mechanism in case an employer does not pay up the dues.

• The panel has recommended that the Social Security Code should have provisions to hold the employer liable for payment of gratuity to the employees within a stipulated time frame.

• There should not be any leniency, as strong deterrent provisions would reduce wilful default and delinquent negligence on the part of employers in timely payment of gratuity to the needy and Deserving Employees.

What are the other Recommendations?

• On similar lines, the Committee also flagged the concern that the threshold limit of 20 or more employees for EPFO registration can be used by the employers to exclude themselves from EPFO coverage.

• The Committee desires that possibilities be explored to make the EPF Act applicable to all the workers, including self-employed.

• The panel has recommended that the social security code should empower the Central government to reduce the employee’s contribution to EPF in exceptional circumstances like disasters in terms of the Disaster Management Act, including pandemics, because this would enable the Government to provide relief to the affected persons in COVID-19 like pandemics.

Why it is Significant?

• The Committee made this recommendation in its report on Social Security Code, which has been evolved subsuming nine Central Labour laws.

• This comes in the wake of extensive retrenchment in all sectors in COVID-19 pandemic-Induced Economic Slowdown.