GK & Current Affairs Quiz: July 30, 2019

Notes:
On 30th July 2019, the Government of India (GoI) has kick off the 7th Economic Census from Tripura. It will be launched in other states and union territories in August and September. The census is being conducted by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) & will be held this year after a gap of five years. The ministry has partnered with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Electronics and Information. The census would also cover all establishments, including household enterprises, engaged in production or distribution of goods and services. The data will be collected through door to door survey of each household and commercial establishment under the provisions of Collection of Statistics Act 2008. The fieldwork is expected to be completed by December and the results at the national level is expected to be available by March 2020. The economic census is the only source of information on the significantly large unorganized sector in the country. As per the last Economic Census conducted in 2013, there were 58.5 million establishments employing around 131 million workers.

Notes:
The 22nd National Conference on e-Governance 2019 will be held with the theme “Digital India: Success to Excellence” on 8-9th August 2019 at Shillong, Meghalaya. It is being organized by Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), in association with Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), and the State Government of Meghalaya. This is the first time that the event is being organized in the North-Eastern region of the country. The conference will provide a platform to disseminate knowledge on effective methods of designing and implementing sustainable e-Governance initiatives to provide end-to-end Digital services, exchange experience in solving problems, mitigating risks, resolving issues and planning for success. The Conference at Shillong is part of the DARPG’s 100 days initiatives in the new Union Government. 28 States and 8 Union Territories will participate in the 22nd National e-Governance Conference. Over 450 delegates are expected to attend the Conference.

Notes:
Researchers from China and the U.S. have developed a novel computer model that can help accurately predict air pollution levels in the region a season in advance. The statistical model uses certain climatic patterns related to the oceans which have a regulatory effect on the wintertime air pollution over northern India. The new model could allow the government to forecast aerosol pollution conditions in winter and accordingly improve plans for pollution control. The study found that the inter-annual variability of wintertime aerosol pollution over northern India is regulated mainly by a combination of El Nino — a climate cycle in the Pacific Ocean with a global impact on weather patterns — and the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO), a low-frequency mode of atmospheric variability of the southern hemisphere. Both El Nino sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies and AAO-induced anomalies can persist from autumn to winter, offering prospects for a pre-winter forecast of wintertime aerosol pollution over northern India.

Notes:
Dr. Donkupar Roy (64), the current Meghalaya Assembly Speaker and former Chief Minister of the state, has passed away in Gurugram on July 28, 2019. Donkupar Roy – who headed the United Democratic Party (UDP) – was seen as one of the most influential politicians from the Khasi community. The UDP was a key partner in the Conrad Sangma’s National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government.

Notes:
Congress floor leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has been appointed chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Chowdhury is the lone member of the party in the PAC from the House. The appointment was made by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The PAC has 15 members from the Lok Sabha and seven from Rajya Sabha. It is one of the most important finance committees in the Parliament along with the Estimates committee (EC) and Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU). The purpose of PAC is to audit the revenue and the expenditure of the Government of India (GoI). Beside this, the Estimates Committee (EC) will be headed by Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, COPU will be headed by Meenakshi Lekhi and Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be headed by Kirit Premjibhai Solanki.