Current affair of 30th August 2019

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is observed on 30 August

The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances is observed on 30 August every year. The Day was established by the international organization General Assembly resolution.

Key highlights:

1. The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances aims to lift awareness on enforced or involuntary disappearances that occur with arrest, detention, abduction or deprivation of the State with support by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the fate. 
2. Enforced disappearance became a global issue as it was not restricted to a particular region of the world. It is also concerned to stop the rising issues concerning the ill-treatment, harassment, and intimidation of witnesses of disappearances or relatives of persons who have disappeared.
3. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution because of its concern to the increased enforced or involuntary disappearances in various regions of the world.
4. The Assembly adopted the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. It then decided to declare 30 August the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The day was first observed in 2011.

National sports day award winners awarded on 29 August

President Ram Nath Kovind presented the National Sports Day Awards 2019 on the National Sports Day which was observed on 29 August.

Key highlights:

1. The list of National Sports Day Award winners 2019 is given below: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: Deepa Malik (Para-Athletics), Bajrang Punia (Wrestling).
2. Dhyan Chand Award:
3. Manoj Kumar (wrestling), Nitten Kirrtane (tennis) and Manuel Fredricks (hockey), C Lalremsanga (archery), Arup Basak (table tennis).
4. Dronacharya Award (lifetime category):
5. Sanjay Bhardwaj (cricket), Rambir Singh Khokar (kabaddi) and Mezban Patel (hockey).
6. Dronacharya Award:
7. Mohinder Singh Dhillon (athletics), Sandeep Gupta (table tennis) and Vimal Kumar (badminton).

National sports day was celebrated on 29 August

The National Sports Day is celebrated nation-wide on 29 August 2019. The Day is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand. 2019 National Sports Day marked the 114th birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand.

Key highlights:

1. The Day aims to raise awareness about staying fit and healthy. The Day spreads awareness on the importance of sports and daily activities in every individual's life.
2. Dhyan Chand is popularly known as the Wizard of Indian Hockey. He secured over 400 goals in 22 years during the period 1926 to 1948. 
3. He is regarded as India's greatest hockey player ever. Under his leadership, the Indian Hockey team achieved several victories. He led India into 3 Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932 and 1936.

India First Sky Cycling Park At a Height of 9000 Feet In Manali to Open Soon

Cyclists are often spotted on roads and mountains enjoying the ride, while they pedal away to glory. They will be spotted cycling through the skies of Himachal Pradesh. The main aim is to boost tourism and give and an all-new experience to visitors. Forest Department and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports joined hands and developed sky cycling park in Gulaba area near Manali.

Key highlights:

1. The eco-friendly park, which is 350-meter long, is the first sky cycling park in the country. The sky cycling path is at a height of 9,000 feet above sea level, news agency ANI quoted Neeraj Chadha, Division Forest Officer, Kullu.
2. The adventure sport, sky cycling will be open to tourists in another fortnight.This will give a fillip to tourism in Manali and visitors will get an enriching experience of adventure sports at this park. 
3. They provide employment to locals.It is one the most popular hill stations in the country, Manali in Himachal Pradesh is blessed with scenic beauty, lush green forests and gushing blue streams.
4. People from various parts of the country and abroad, travel to Manali to get an experience of skiing and paragliding at Solang Valley.

Prestigious award to Sattriya danseuse

Noted Sattriya danseuse and scholar Dr Anwesa Mahanta chosen for the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman for her contributions to the Sattriya tradition. Sayanacharya Ghanakanta Bora, a Sangeet Natak Akademi and Padma Shri awardee, Anwesha extensively in India also overseas, including the USA, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, France, England, Northern Ireland, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.

Key highlights:

1. The academic presentations in various institutions of higher learning and research.
2. She was also awarded Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by Sangeet Natak Akademi. Currently, Dr. Anwesa is the Director of Kalpavriksha that imparts training in Sattriya dance, music and theatre.
3. The coveted Kelucharan Mohapatra National Award instituted by Srijan, an acclaimed institution of Odissi in memory of its founder guru, is offered to both senior and young scholars and practitioners to mark the 25th anniversary of Srijan.

Cabinet approved the launch of international CDRI

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister approved the international Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) together with its supporting Secretariat office in Delhi. The CDRI is expected to be launched at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, the USA on 23 September 2019.

Key highlights:

1. The event is organized by the UN Secretary-General that will bring together the largest Heads of States to come up with commitments for combating the consequences of climate change and ensuing disasters and can offer the high-level visibility needed for the CDRI. 
2. Cabinet has approved for the establishment of the International CDRI together with its supporting Secretariat workplace in New Delhi.
3. Also, it also approved the establishment of the Secretariat of the CDRI as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
4. Cabinet approved for the government of India's support of Rs.480 crore to CDRI to fund research projects. 

Assam govt gears up security in view of publication of final NRC list

Assam government asserted there is no reason to be worried as the state is all set to publish the final NRC. The Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Political) Kumar Sanjay Krishna that adequate security measures have been put into place across the state. There is a security threat on the day of publication of NRC but the security forces are to maintain peace.

Key highlights:

1. The district administrations have met opinion leaders and prominent people in confidence building measures. 
2. The people whose names do not appear in the final NRC would get opportunities to appeal in the Foreigners Tribunals.
3. The 200 Foreigners Tribunals will become functional from 1st of next month at Nagaon, Tezpur, Guwahati, Bongaigaon, Dhubri and Nalbari. He also said that legal aid cell will provide assistance to the needy people. 
4. The social media is being monitored by the police to prevent spreading rumours. 

Indian Navy signs MoU with IMD

Indian Navy (IN) signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India Meteorological Department (IMD) at naval Base in Kochi, Kerala. The MoU aims to handle the Cyclone Detection radar (CDR) building by IMD to the IN.

Key highlights:

1. The MoU was signed by the flag officer RJ Nadkarni, AVSM, VSM, Chief of employees, Southern naval service Command (SNC) and Dr. D Pradhan, further Director General of Meteorology.
2. The CDR building was constructed during 1983–86 within the naval Base having associated with S-band Cyclone Detection radar that restricted.
3. The ability to operate buildings by IMD is from 1987-2017 to produce weather support for civil aviation at the Kochi aerodrome. 
4. But IMD commenced in operation a replacement of Doppler radio detection and ranging (DWR) at Mundamveli in  Kochi because the S-band microwave radar had become obsolete in 2017.

India and Nepal organize training programme on EXIM Bank's guidelines

The Embassy of India in Nepal and National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) of Nepal organized a two-day training programme in Kathmandu on the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India’s Line of Credit guidelines and procedures.

Key highlights:

1. The EXIM Bank of India conducted the training programme attended by 27 officials from Government of Nepal.
2. The first day of the training covered a general introduction to the EXIM Bank of India’s Line of Credit (LOC) modality including project identification, pre-qualification and tendering process, evaluation of tender documents, empanelment process, project implementation and monitoring.
3. The second-day training included a session by Nepal Government officials on Import/Export and domestic tax for Indian contractors involved in LoC projects in Nepal. A total of 28 Indian contractors attended this training session.
4. The training programme organized as part of a bilateral understanding reached between the Government of Nepal and Government of India during the 7th Line of Credit (LOC) Review Meeting held on June 2019 in India.

Obama The Call of History written by Peter Baker reveals Barack Obama years in office

A new book on Barack Obama give an in-depth account of the former US President years in office while examining his legacy publishers Penguin India.Obama: The Call of History. The book is written by Peter Baker, the Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times, chronicles a period of great hope, tumult, accomplishments.

Key highlights:

1. The book is written by Peter Baker, the Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times, chronicles a period of great hope, tumult, accomplishments.
2. The book tells the story of a young president who took on the worst financial disaster since the Great Depression, forged a controversial health care program.
3. The book features new details about the final months of the Obama presidency as Russia sought to intervene in American democracy and assesses the impact of the ongoing Donald Trump presidency on Obama's legacy.Vivid colour photographs by New York Times photographers and others of events, major and minor, public and behind-the scenes that defined Obama eight years in office will also be part of the book.

Obama The Call of History written by Peter Baker reveals Barack Obama years in office

A new book on Barack Obama give an in-depth account of the former US President years in office while examining his legacy publishers Penguin India.Obama: The Call of History. The book is written by Peter Baker, the Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times, chronicles a period of great hope, tumult, accomplishments.

Key highlights:

1. The book is written by Peter Baker, the Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times, chronicles a period of great hope, tumult, accomplishments. 
2. The book tells the story of a young president who took on the worst financial disaster since the Great Depression, forged a controversial health care program.
3. The book features new details about the final months of the Obama presidency as Russia sought to intervene in American democracy and assesses the impact of the ongoing Donald Trump presidency on Obama's legacy.
4. Vivid colour photographs by New York Times photographers and others of events, major and minor, public and behind-the scenes that defined Obama eight years in office will also be part of the book.

Indian railways to go 100 percent electrified in 10 years

Centre plans to achieve 100% electrification of railways in the next 10 years. The announcement was made by the Union Minister Piyush Goyal at the CII's 14th Sustainability Summit held in New Delhi on 28-29 August 2019.

Key highlights:

1. More than half of the trains of the Indian Railways that come to New Delhi are still based on diesel. Reports said that in 2018-19, Indian Railways consumed about 3.1 billion litres of high-speed diesel (HSD) and 20.44 billion units of electricity and for its energy requirement.
2. Apart from this Indian Railways is taking various environment-friendly or energy-efficient measures to reduce carbon footprint and protect the environment.

V K Vismaya won gold in womens 400m held at MJS athletics Czech Republic

Indian sprinter V K Vismaya won a best timing of 52.12s and won the gold medal in the women's 400m run at the International Athletic Meeting Josef Seckr Memorial (MJS) in Brno, Czech Republic.

Key highlights:

1. The 22-year-old Indian won the yellow metal, while compatriots Poovamma Machettira and Subha Venkatesan finished second and third with timings of 53.47s and Sudha 53.67s respectively.
2. Vismaya scored a personal best of 52.48 at Nove Mesto and Metuj (CZE) along with the quartermilers  in Europe .Hima Das recently won six gold medals in European races.

PM Modi launched Fit India Movement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nation-wide Fit India Movement on the National Sports day, 29 August. The event was launched at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. The movement has been appealed to each subject to stay healthy and work. Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju participated in the event.

Key highlights:

1. Fit India Movement is a nation-wide campaign. The movement aims to encourage drill physical activity and sports in their everyday lives. 
2. The entire program has been conceptualized by PM Modi. He also launched a Fitness Logo, Fitness Pledge that said I will encourage my relations and neighbors to physically work and build the nation.
3. To support the move. the University Grants Commission (UGC) directed everyone to steer a minimum of 10,000 steps and follow it up in their daily routine.
4. Centre has set up a 28-member committee comprising government officials to advise the government on the Fit India Movement.

Tamil Nadu 150-year-old Dindigul locks and Kandangi sarees secure GI tag

The Geographical Indication Registry of India finally gave Geographical Indication (GI) tag to the state of Tamil Nadu for Dindigul lock and Karaikudi Kandangi sarees.

Key highlights:

1. The handmade Dindigul locks are known for their traditional design, superior quality. They are manufactured in more than 3,125 units in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu and they are concentrated in the villages of Nagal Nagar, Nallampatti, Kodaiparailpatti, Kammalapatti, and Yagappan Patti.
2. The manufacturing unit is 150 years old. It is introduced by the Sankaralinga Acharya brothers.
3. Each lock has its own special unique name such as Mango Lock, Almirah Lock, Export Lock, and In 2013. 
4. An application filed by the Dindigul Lock, Hardware and Steel Furniture Workers Co-operative Society Ltd.

Cabinet approved Sugar export policy to sugar mills

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved to provide Rs.10,448 per metric tonne (MT) as an export subsidy to sugar mills for the sugar season 2019-20.

Key highlights:

1. It will be used to promote prices as well as handling, upgrading, and different process prices, prices of international and internal transport and freight charges on export of up to 60lakh metric ton (LMT) of sugar restricted to most admissible Export amount (MAEQ) that is allotted to sugar mills for the sugar season 2019-20. 
2. The sugar season 2019-20 is predicted, to begin with, a gapping stock of concerning 142 LMT and season finish stock square measure expected to be concerning 162 LMT. 
3. The excess stock of 162 LMT of sugar would produce downward pressure resulting in the accumulation of cane value arrears of farmers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to present Yoga Awards and release 12 AYUSH Commemorative Postal Stamps

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi present Yoga awards to the winners of PM’s Award for Outstanding Contribution for Promotion and Development of Yoga, announced during the International Day of Yoga, 2019 at Ranchi. The two winners of the previous year in an event organized by the Ministry of AYUSH at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Key highlights:

1. Prime Minister release 12 commemorative postal stamps to honour eminent scholars, Practitioners and great Master Healers of AYUSH Systems.
2. These commemorative postal stamps highlight the great work and acknowledge the achievements of the great Master Healers of AYUSH Systems. 
3. The PM’s award for outstanding contribution for Promotion and Development of Yoga institutionalized and announced during 2nd International Day of Yoga (IDY) event held at Chandigarh on 21st June 2016, The awards conferred to the notable contributors in the field. 
4. The different categories out of 79 nominations for the current year and 186 nominations in the previous year Each of the winners won a Cash Award of Rs. 25 lakh, Trophy and a Certificate.

Centre released Rs.47,000 crore for compensatory afforestation in 27 states

The Ministry of Environment released over Rs.47,000 crore for compensatory afforestation in 27 states. The fund also includes other green activities like prevention of forest fire, biodiversity management, and soil conservation. The funds were released by the Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

Key highlights:

1. The fund will be utilized for wet conservation works in forests, voluntary relocation of villages from protected areas, management of biological resources and diversity, analysis in biological science and observance of CAMPA works among others.
2. The states that will be receiving the funds for afforestation are Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Assam, Bihar, Sikkim, Manipur, Goa, West Bengal, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
3. Among the states, Odisha received the highest amount of Rs.6,000 crore followed by Chhattisgarh with Rs.5,791 crore and Madhya Pradesh with Rs.5,196 crore respectively. Kerala got the least with Rs.81.59 crore.

Peacock Parachute Spider was sighted in Tamil Nadu

Researchers of the Puducherry-based Indigenous Biodiversity Foundation (IBF)  discovered a Peacock Parachute Spider or Gooty Tarantula in the Pakkamalai Reserve Forests close to Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu. The species was found at totally different locations within the reserve forests.

Key highlights:

1. The species was cross-matched with photographic proof printed by the installation reaching Organisation and life data Liaison Development Society.
2. The spider was found in 1899 by Reginald Innes Pocock on the premise of one feminine specimen in Gooty, Andhra Pradesh. After 102 years later this species has been recorded at a degraded forest between Nandyal and Giddalur, Andhra Pradesh.
3. After 102 years later this species has been recorded at a degraded forest between Nandyal and Giddalur, Andhra Pradesh.

DoT allocates two additional dedicated frequencies for running Community Radio

The 7th National Community Radio Sammelan organized by Ministry of Information & Broadcasting at Dr. BR Ambedkar Bhawan, New Delhi. The Telecommunication department agreed to dedicate two additional frequencies namely 89.6 and 90.0 MHz for running Community Radio Stations.

Key highlights:

1. The lines of the recent hike in advertisement rates for print and electronic media rates for Community Radio will be revised by the Bureau of Outreach and Communication within two months.
2. Community Radio Cell set up in the Ministry for grievance redressal  and collating actionable suggestions received from stakeholders. The Media and Communication Plan of all Ministries of the Government include Community Radio to leverage their deeper ground level penetration.
3. The programmes running on Community Radio Stations all across the country released by Union Minister Shri Prakash Javadekar.
4. The main aim is to sensitize them for utilization of Communication Radio in their local communication.

Gorewada International Zoo to be set up at Nagpur

The Government planned to establish an International Standard Zoo and Biopark on the forest land at Gorewada, Nagpur.  The main aim is to protect forests. The Zoo will have attractions like Bio Park, Indian Safari, African Safari, Night Safari, Research, Education and Training, facilities for tourists.

Key highlights:

1. The Government of Maharashtra accorded permission for establishing the International Zoo, through Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (FDCM. Ltd.), Nagpur. 
2. The formation of Special Purpose Vehicle of FDCM. Ltd and a Joint Venture Company of private investors under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode of financing with government stake at 51% was approved.
3. The Government agreed to provide Viability Gap Funding (V.G.F) of Rs. 200 crore.