DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 17-18 MAY 2020

DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 17-18 MAY 2020

1. CENTRE APPROVES MODIFIED DPR OF UJH MULTIPURPOSE PROJECT

·        The Centre approved to modification of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Ujh multipurpose Project (MPP) located on the river Ujh, main tributaries of river Ravi in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir at the estimated cost of Rs.9,167 crore.

·        The installed power capacity of the main powerhouse was 186 MW with a dam to power house comprising four units of 2.5MW to harness the hydro-electric potential of the water for environmental release.

·        The total capacity is 196 MW.

2. ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ABHIYAAN PART-3

·        Nirmala Sitharaman detailed the third part of the Special economic and comprehensive package of Rs 20 lakh crores to support Indian economy in the fight against COVID-19 during her 3^rd press conference in New Delhi.

·        The Part 3 of “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan” (self-reliant India Movement) is consisted of 11 measures. 8 measures are for improving agricultural infrastructure and 3 measures are for administrative and governance reforms, including removing restrictions on sale and stock limits of farm produce.

–NABARD anchored Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers

·        This fund will be financed and managed by National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD). This fund will be used for setting up cold chains and post-harvest management infrastructure.

–Rs 10,000 crore scheme for Formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (MFE)

·        With an objective to promote “Vocal for Local with Global outreach”, Rs 10,000 crore schemes have been launched by the government to help 2 lakh MFEs with technical upgradation to attain FSSAI food standards, build brands and marketing.

–20,000 crore allocated for fisherman through Pradhan Mantri MatsyaSampada Yojana (PMMSY)

·        The development will lead to additional Fish Production of 70 lakh tones over 5 years, and double the exports to Rs 1,00,000 crore. It also generates employment to over 55 lakh persons and doubles the exports to Rs 1,00,000 crore.

–Rs. 13,343 crNational Animal Disease Control Programme launched

·        Centre has launched National Animal Disease Control Programme for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis with total outlay of Rs. 13,343 crore to ensure 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population (total 53 crore animals) for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and for brucellosis.

·        Till date, 1.5 crore cows & buffaloes tagged and vaccinated.

–Rs. 15,000 cr Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund to be formulated

·        An Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)worth Rs 15,000 crorewill be set upby the Centre to support private investment in dairy processing, value addition and cattle feed infrastructure.The incentives will be given for establishing plants for exports of niche products

–Rs. 4,000 cr allocated to promote Herbal Cultivation

·        To cover 10,00,000 hectareunder Herbal cultivation in next two years.This will lead to Rs. 5,000 crore income generation for farmers and will also develop a network of regional Mandis for medicinal plants.

–Rs 500 cr allocated towards Beekeeping initiatives

–From ‘TOP’ to TOTAL: “Operation Greens” extended with Rs 500 cr

·        “Operation Greens” run by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) will be extended from tomatoes, onion and potatoes to ALL fruit and vegetables with an allocation of Rs 500 crore.

·        The Scheme would provide 50% subsidy on transportation from surplus to deficit markets, 50% subsidy on storage, including cold storages and will be launched as pilot for the next 6 months.

·        This will lead to better price realisation to farmers, reduced wastages, affordability of products for consumers.

·        Following are the 3 measures for administrative and governance reforms, including removing restrictions on sale and stock limits of farm produce

·        –Amendments to Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to enable better price realisation for farmers

·        The government will amend the 65 years old Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955to enable better price realization for farmers

–Agriculture Marketing Reforms to provide marketing choices to farmers

A Central law will be formulated to provide

·        Adequate choices to the farmer to sell their produce at remunerative price;

·        Barrier free Inter-State Trade;

·        A framework for e-trading of agriculture produce.

–Agriculture Produce Pricing and Quality Assurance:

·        The Government will finalise a facilitative legal framework to enable farmers to engage with processors, aggregators, large retailers, exporters etc. in a fair and transparent manner framework.

3. LOAN AGREEMENTS WITH AIIB & WORLD BANK FOR $413 MN

·        The Government of India and West Bengal Government have inked two loan agreements worth $413.8 million for the “West Bengal Major Irrigation and Flood Management Project” to improve irrigation services and flood management in the   Damodar Valley Command Area (DVCA) of West Bengal.

·        The Government of West Bengal has infused $123.8 million for this project.

·        One agreement is inked with the World Bank (WB) for a loan of $145 million.

·        The other agreement was inked with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for $145million.

4. RS 1,500 CRORES SANCTIONED FOR PUNJAB

·        The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development(NABARD) has sanctioned Rs 1,500 crores for Punjab to ensure continuous credit flow to farmers, through state cooperative banks, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

·        Out of the total amount Rs 1,000 crores is sanctioned to Punjab State Cooperative Bank and Rs 500 crores to Punjab Gramin Bank.

·        The Amount given is part of NABARD’s Rs 25,000 crores nationwide special liquidity facility(SLF), which has been made available to state cooperative banks, regional rural banks, and microfinance institutions (MFIs), to ensure flow of credit to farmers for agricultural operations during COVID-19 pandemic

5. GODREJ CONSUMER ACQUIRED 25% STAKE IN CANON CHEMICALS

·        Godrej East Africa Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of FMCG (Fast-moving consumer goods) firm Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), has acquired the balance 25% stake in Kenya-based Canon Chemicals Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

6. BOOK -“WUHAN DIARY: DISPATCHES FROM A QUARANTINED CITY”

·        The book titled as “Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City” authored by Chinese literary writer Fang Fang is a compilation of online diary entries and social media posts that document 60 days of lockdown during COVID-19.

·        Published by HarperNonFiction.

7. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF LIGHT 2020- MAY 16

·        The day marks the anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore Maiman.

·        Maiman’s laser led to the subsequent development of many other types of laser.

8. NATIONAL DENGUE DAY 2020-MAY 16

·        To create awareness about measures on dengue prevention and to control the spread of the vector-borne disease and preparedness before the transmission season of dengue begins.

·        It is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of infected AedesAegypti, a type of mosquito.

9. AP GOVT FORMS 5-MEMBER PANEL TO PROBE VIZAG GAS LEAK

·        The Andhra Pradesh (AP) state government has formed a 5-member high-powered committee led by Neerabh Kumar Prasad to probe into the causes behind the leakage of styrene gas from the LG Polymers India Ltd located at RR Venkatapuram in Visakhapatnam.

·        The panel required to submit its final report within one month.

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