DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 3 JULY 2020

   DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 3 JULY 2020    

1. SERB LAUNCHES ‘ACCELERATE VIGYAN’ SCHEME

·        The ‘Accelerate Vigyan’ (AV) scheme for research internships, was launched by the Union Government’s Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).

·        Accelerate Vigyan works on mission mode, particularly during consolidation or aggregation for scientific events.

·        The new SAMMOHAN component under AV is which is divided into: ‘SAYONJIKA’ and ‘SANGOSHTI’.

2. PMGKAY DURING APRIL – NOV 2020 

·        PM Narendra Modi, announced the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) from July, 2020 till the end of November 2020. 

·        Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has worked out estimated cost for distribution of food grains (Rice and Wheat) and pulses under PMGKAY, which will be Rs 1,48,938 crore approx for a period between 8 months from April to November 2020.

·        Initially launched from April, 2020 for 3 months, the scheme aims to provide  5 kg free wheat or rice per month along with 1 kg free whole chana (pulses) to each family per month covering 80 crore poor people.

3. IMRAN KHWAJA TAKES CHARGE AS INTERIM ICC CHAIRMAN

·        Shashank Manohar stepped down as International Cricket Council(ICC) chairman after his two 2 year tenure(4 years).

·        He is the first independent chairman.

·        His tenure ended on July 1, 2020.

·        Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja will take charge as interim chairman until the next chairman is elected.

·        Imran Khwaja is the former president of the Singapore Cricket Association.

·        He was elected as ICC’s deputy chairman in 2017. 

4. SCIENTIFIC GROUP FOR 2021 FOOD SUMMIT

·        Antonio Guterres, Chief of United Nations, named Prof. Rattan Lal and Dr. Uma Lele (Agricultural experts) from India as members of International Scientific group to offer foremost scientific evidence for sustainable food systems for global food summit 2021.

·        UN Secretary General, Gutters will Convene the Food Systems Summit in 2021, as a critical contribution to the decade of Action to deliver 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

5. INDRA MANI PANDEY APPOINTED AS PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF INDIA TO UN

·        Indra Mani Pandey,Indian Foregin Services (IFS) Officer was appointed as India’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations and the other International Organisations in Geneva, succeeding Rajiv Kumar Chander, IFS Officer of 1983 batch.

·        Ambassador T. S. Tirumurti was appointed as India’s Permanent representative at the United Nations(UN) at New York , the head of Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York on 29th April 2020.

6. ‘AIRBORNE LOCUST CONTROL SYSTEM’ ON TWO MI-17 HELICOPTERS

·        Chandigarh based 3 Base Repair Depot (BRD) of the IAF and Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) have indigenously developed an Airborne Locust Control System (ALCS) for two Mi-17 helicopters for spraying atomised pesticide malathion to arrest locust breeding.

·        These helicopters will spray 800 liters of pesticide in 750 hectare area in just 40 minutes.

·        Mi-17 Helicopter made in Russia is considered very powerful. This two-engine chopper can fly at a maximum speed of 260 kilometers per hour. It is capable of carrying 4000 kg.

7. INDIAN SPACE MISSION SHUKRAYAAN-1

·        The Indian Venus Mission Shukrayaan-1, the Swedish Institute of Space Physics will explore Venus for the second time. 

·        The Shukrayaan-1 is scheduled for launch at the end of 2023 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

·        Venusian Neutrals Analyzer (VNA), the satellite instrument of IRF will study the interaction between the charged particles of the sun and the atmosphere and exosphere of the planet.