Current Affairs 19 September 2020 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 19 September 2020 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

1. Kosi Rail Mahasetu
2. Facts on Parliament Session
3. India Beach Recommended Blue Flag
4. Nandankanan Zoological Park Sloth Bears Death

Kosi Rail Mahasetu

Why in News ?

Prime Minister dedicated the Kosi Rail Mahasetu to the Nation and inaugurated new Rail Lines and Electrification Projects in Bihar for the benefit of passengers through video conference.

About Kosi Rail Mahasetu

• Kosi Rail Mahasetu is 1.9 KM long and its construction cost is Rs. 516 Crore.
• This bridge is of strategic importance along the India-Nepal border.
• The project was completed during the COVID-Pandemic where the migrant labour also participated in its completion.
• The dedication of the Kosi Rail Mahasetu is a watershed moment events in the entire region connecting to the North East.
• What was the Historic Aspect ?
  • In 1887, a meter gauge link was built in between Nirmali and Bhaptiahi (Saraigarh).
  • During the heavy flood and severe Indo Nepal earthquake in 1934,
  • The rail link was washed away and thereafter due to meandering nature of river Kosi no attempt was made to restore this Rail link for long period.

Source : PIB

Topic

Prelims : About the Kosi Rail Mahasetu

GS III : Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc

Facts on Parliament Session

The monsoon session of the Parliament Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha started from September 14, 2020 and will continue till October 1. Here we include some Facts on Parliament Session and figure based on the parliament session. This will help you in Quoting in mains answers.

Steps supporting Indian System of Medicines Under AYUSH Ministry

• Scheme for Voluntary Certification of Yoga Professionals which aims at certifying the competence level of Yoga professionals.
• Yoga Certification Board (YCB) has been established with the objectives to bring synergy, quality and uniformity in knowledge and skills of Yoga professionals.
• International Day of Yoga is celebrated in 190 countries and Ayurveda day is celebrated in more than 35 countries.
  • Besides Ministry has been organizing International Yoga Conference every year since 2015.
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) in the country through State and UT governments
  • This aims the promotion and development of AYUSH systems.
• AYUSH Gram :
  • AYUSH based lifestyles promoted through behavioral change communication, training of village health workers towards identification and use of local medicinal herbs and provision of AYUSH health services.
• Incentives schemes for drug manufacturers, entrepreneurs, AYUSH institutions
  • Participating in International exhibitions, conferences, workshops, trade fairs, etc. for generating awareness amongst the public about the AYUSH systems of medicine.
  • Registration of AYUSH products with regulatory authorities of the foreign countries.
  • 50 products (Unani and Ayurveda) have been registered in 8 countries : Kenya, USA, Russia, Latvia, Canada, Oman, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka under the IC scheme of the Ministry.
• 33 AYUSH Information Cell have been set up in 31 countries.
• Misleading advertisements related to Ayush claims and provisions
  • State/UT authorities to initiate necessary action against the defaulters and alleged manufacturers/ advertisers
  • Law against misleading Ads
    • Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
    • Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954
• Extra Mural Research (EMR)
  • Supports scientists in the country to conduct research in Homoeopathy.
  • Designed to encourage R&D in priority areas based on disease burden in alignment to National Health Programmes.
  • Make scientific exploration of AYUSH system with interdisciplinary approaches.

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare – Doubling Farmers’ Income

Steps for Doubling Farmers’ Income

• Seven sources of income growth
  • Improvement in crop productivity
  • Improvement in livestock productivity
  • Resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production
  • Increase in the cropping intensity
  • Diversification towards high value crops
  • Improvement in real prices received by farmers
  • Shift from farm to non-farm occupations.
• Supplementary income transfers under PM-KISAN
  • PM Kisan is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India.
  • Income support of 6,000/- per year in three equal installments will be provided to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of upto 2 hectares.
• Creation of ‘Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF)’ worth Rs. 1 lakh crore
• Allocation of Rs 500 crore for Bee Keeping initiative (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture)
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan MaanDhan Yojana (PM-KMY)
  • Providing old age pension to these farmers.
  • Under this Scheme, a minimum fixed pension of Rs. 3000/- will be provided to the eligible small and marginal farmers, subject to certain exclusion clauses, on attaining the age of 60 years.
• Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
  • Launched from Kharif 2016 season.
  • This scheme provides insurance cover for all stages of the crop cycle including post-harvest risks in specified instances, with low premium contribution by farmers.
• National Bamboo Mission extended
• Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) : The Scheme is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce
• Agriculture credit flow target was set at Rs. 13.50 lakh crore for the F.Y.2019-20 and Rs.15.00 lakh crore for F.Y. 2020-21.
• Interest Subvention Scheme 2018-19 continuation.
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC) extended to the farmers practicing animal husbandry and fisheries related activities.
• National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) scheme
  • Online virtual trading platform, to provide farmers with opportunity to directly sell their produce.
  • 1000 wholesale regulated markets across 18 States and 3 Union Territories (UTs) have been integrated with e-NAM platform.
  • A total of 1.67 crore farmers, 1.44 lakh traders and 83,958 commission agents and 1722 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been registered on e-NAM platform.
  • A total trade value of Rs. 1,04,313 crore has been recorded on e-NAM platform.
• Organic Farming in the Country
  • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
    • Promotes cluster based organic farming with PGS certification.
    • Assistance of Rs.50,000 per ha /3 years is provided out of which 62%
    • Rs. 31,000 is given as incentive to a farmer towards organic inputs.
  • Capital investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS)
    • Under Soil Health Management Scheme
• Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
  • Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers.
  • All loans under this financing facility will have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. 2 crore.
  • This subvention will be available for a maximum period of 7 years.

Ministry of Women and Child Development

• Malnutrition in India
  • It can increase morbidity and mortality by reducing resistance to infections.
  • The overall under five mortality rate (number of deaths per thousand live births) reduced from 74.3 in 2005-06 to 49.7 as 4th National Family Health Survey report released in 2015-16.
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan has been launched in March 2018.
• SoS Safety App : 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), which provides for a single number (112) based assistance in emergencies to women in distress.
• Fastrack Investigation of Child Sex Abuse Cases : 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including 389 exclusive POCSO Courts, for expeditious trial and disposal of cases related to rape and POCSO Act.
• Reduction in Maternal Mortality Rate :
  • Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India per 100,000 live births has declined to 113 in 2016-18 from 122 in 2015-17 and 130 in 2014-2016.
  • Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) : Demand promotion and conditional cash transfer scheme is implemented with the objective of reducing Maternal and Infant Mortality by encouraging institutional deliveries.
  • Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram : Every pregnant woman is entitled to free delivery, including caesarean section in public health institutions.
  • Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) : has been launched to provide fixed-day assured comprehensive and quality antenatal care universally to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month.

Source : PIB

Topic

GS II : Developmental Studies of government initiatives

Indian Beach Recommended Blue Flag

Why in News ?

International Coastal Clean-Up Day, Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) announced for the first time eight beaches of India are recommended for the coveted International eco-label, the Blue flag certification.

Blue flag certification

• Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world.
• The eight beaches are
  1. Shivrajpur in Gujarat
  2. Ghoghla in Daman&Diu
  3. Kasarkod beach in Karnataka
  4. Padubidri beach in Karnataka
  5. Kappad in Kerala
  6. Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh
  7. Golden beach of Odisha
  8. Radhanagar beach in Andaman and Nicobar.
• Also launch India’s own eco-label BEAMS by e-hoisting the flag -#IAMSAVINGMYBEACH at these eight beaches.
• BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services) under its ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) project.
  • This is one of the several other projects of ICZM that Govt of India is undertaking for the sustainable development of coastal regions.
  • Aims to tackle
    • Pollution in coastal waters.
    • Promote sustainable development of beach facilities.
    • Protect & conserve coastal ecosystems & natural resources.
    • Seriously challenge local authorities & stakeholders to strive and maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene & safety for beach-goers in accordance with coastal environment & regulations.
    • This program promotes beach recreation in absolute harmony with nature.

Integrated Coastal Zone Management

• Integration and coordination of various coastal and marine management efforts is the major objective of the integrated coastal zone management.
• Addresses the governance of human activities affecting the sustainable use of goods and services generated by coastal and marine ecosystems.
• Key activities proposed for coastal zone development that consist of
  • Mangrove afforestation/shelter beds
  • Habitat conservation activities such as restoration of sea-grass meadows, eco-restoration of sacred groves, development of hatcheries, rearing/rescue centres for turtles and other marine animals
  • Creation of infrastructure for tourism, restoration and recharge of water bodies, beach cleaning and development, and other small infrastructure facilities.
• ICZM was introduced in 1992 during the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro and most of the coastal countries in the World have been adopting ICZM principles for managing their coastal zones.
  • Adoption of ICZM principles for managing and sustainably developing our coastal regions is helping India in keeping with its commitments to international agreements on ICZM.

Source : PIB

Topic

GS II : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Nandankanan Zoological Park Sloth Bears Death

Why in News ?

Authorities of the Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP) are concerned over the back-to-back deaths of two sloth bears at the park.

About the News

• A total of three bears have died in the Nandankanan Zoo since August 30. NZP is left with 14 bears.
• One of them was a Himalayan black bear.
• The average lifespan of a Himalayan black bear is estimated to be 30 years.
• The bear that died at Nandankanan was already 28 years old and the death was said to be age-related.
• But the deaths of two sloth bears is said to be a cause for worry.
• What was the concern of the authority ?
  • A male sloth bear named Debasish, which was rescued in 2013, died.
  • It was only seven years old.
  • It probably died due to irreversible neurological disorders.
  • Female sloth bear called Aarti died with similar symptoms, both multiple haemorrhages were detected in both bears.
  • Suspecting some kind of viral infection, the authorities have kept the bears in separate cells.

Sloth Bear

• The shaggy-coated sloth bear is native to India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
  • Sloth bears have also been reported in Bangladesh and Bhutan.
• Sloth bears primarily eat termites and ants, and unlike other bear species, they routinely carry their cubs on their backs.
• Conservation Status :
  • Vulnerable
  • Appendix I in CITES listing
  • Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• First valid scientific description of this species was by George Shaw in 1791.

Source : The Hindu

Topic

GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Current Affairs 19 September 2020 : Our major Sources for the Current Affairs are The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB. For more queries and mentor-ship please contact us.