Current Affairs - 2019-20

Notes:
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve became part of World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016. ABR includes the Indian Ecoregions of South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, South Western Ghats montane rain forests and Shola. It is the habitat for 2,000 varieties of medicinal plants, of which at least 50 are rare and endangered species. Rare animals include the tiger, Asian Elephant, and Nilgiri tahr. 

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A market economy is an economic system where decision regarding investment, production, and distribution are based on supply and demand basis. But China’s economic system is characterized by large number of state-owned companies, with subsidies, with dumping facilities in other states. Since China’s economic system is in contrast to that of economic integration, both EU and USA are reluctant to treat China as a “market economy” under World Trade Organisation rules.

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Custard apples are also known as sitaphal. Beed district of Maharashtra is famous for its organically grown custard apples. Beed’s custard apples were recently issued GI certificates.

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Recently, Scientists have discovered a new planet called Ross 128b that could possibly sustain life. This planet is located just 11 light-years away. It is a temperate planet that orbits a “quiet star”. It gets its name from the fact that it doesn’t spew out life-threatening bursts of radiation. The planet was discovered using ESO’s unique planet-hunting HARPS instrument.

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Section 8B of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 empowers the Central Government to impose Safeguard Duly on goods which enter in increased quantities and cause or threaten to cause serious injury to domestic industry producing like or directly competitive goods.

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SwachhSwasthSarvatra is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. The scheme aims to achieve open defecation free India by 2019, and create a deep impact on the health outcome of the country. The three key components of SwachhSwasthSarvatra are:

• Community Health Centers (CHCs) in ODF blocks supported to achieve Kayakalp certification
• Gram Panchayat of Kayakalp Primary Health Centers prioritized to become ODF
• Training in WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) of CHC/PHC nominees

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Genvoya is a new single-tablet drug has been approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a complete treatment for HIV. Genvoya contains a new form of the powerful antiviral medication tenofovir, which slows progression of the virus. This new form of the medication enters the body’s cells, including those infected with HIV and where the virus replicates, more efficiently than previous forms of tenofovir.

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Recently, the Department of Science and Technology has launched Rs 100-crore programme called National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) to support start-ups in India. The programme aims to facilitate in terms of both funding and incubation support across the country. A number of schemes will be taken up under NIDHI, such as NIDHI Prayas, NIDHI Seed Support System and NIDHI Centres of Excellence. The silent features of the scheme are: NIDHI Prayas is focused on addressing the gap between idea and prototype funding; NIDHI Seed Support System for funding early-stage start-ups & NIDHI Centres of Excellence, which will help start-ups, go global.

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At the 2017 convention in Aarhus, Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire and Federation of International Bandy became full members and the SportAccord was renamed as the GAISF.

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The motto of 2018 Asian Games is Energy of Asi