DAILY GK 22 JULY 2020

DAILY GK 22 JULY 2020

1. INDIA’S 1ST PUBLIC EV CHARGING PLAZA

·        MoS for Power, and New & Renewable Energy, Raj Kumar Singh inaugurated two initiatives by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) focusing on energy efficiency (EE), improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and promoting e-mobility.

·        Notably, both initiatives are on the lines of the pledge undertaken by EESL and other key stakeholders during the “#iCommit” campaign held on World Environment Day i.e. on June 5, 2020.

·        India’s first public EV (Electric Vehicle) charging plaza inaugurated at Chelmsford Club in New Delhi in order to make e-mobility hassle free and convenient for the consumers.

·        The minister also launched a national programme namely “Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor Air Quality for Safety and Efficiency (RAISE)” in order to alleviate the issue of bad air quality in workspaces and to develop healthy and energy efficient buildings.

2. INDIAN NAVY HOLD PASSEX WITH WORLD’S LARGEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER

·        Indian Navy undertook a short joint naval Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the United States (US) Navy near the Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) islands in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to conduct maritime drills, against the backdrop of the India-China border standoff in Ladakh.

·        US was represented by US Navy carrier strike group which was led by USS (United States Ship) Nimitz (CVN 68),  a nuclear-powered World’s largest aircraft carrier USS Nimitz .

·        The larger exercise i.e. “Malabar” is delayed amid COVID-19 and set to be held by the end of 2020.

·        It is usually held between India, the US and Japan.

·        This year Australia is likely to join the trio. 

3. CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 2019 COMES INTO FORCE

·        The Consumer Protection Act (CPA), 2019, which has replaced old Consumer Protection Act 1986 has came into force w.e.f. July 20, 2020 aiming to enforce and protect the rights of consumers, and provide an effective mechanism to address consumer grievances.

·        Notably, the rules for prevention of unfair trade practice by e-commerce platforms will also be covered under this Act. 

·        The Act proposes the establishment of a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers, and make interventions in situations of unfair trade practices.

4. MINE PLOUGH FOR BATTLE TANK T-90

·        To boost Make in India Initiative of the Indian government, the Defence Acquisition Council(DAC) chaired by Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of Defence signed the contract worth Rs.557 crores (approximately) with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for the procurement of 1,512 mine plough(MP) for the battle tank T-90 S/SK of Indian Army.

·        The mine plough is a device fitted with the tanks that helps to clear a lane through the minefields for armoured fighting vehicles and reduces the risk factors to the men and machines.

5. “ARUN JAITLEY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR GROUP C EMPLOYEES”

·        The Rajya Sabha Secretariat launched “Arun Jaitley Financial Assistance for Group C Employees”, an Employees Welfare Scheme in the name of former Union Minister of Finance, Arun Jaitley .

·        The Scheme will be funded by the pension his family receives as he has been a member of the upper house.

·        The scheme was formulated and approved based on the decision of Sangeeta Jaitley, wife of Arun Jaitley.