Current Affairs - 2019-20

Notes:
B.N. Mohapatra, an officer of Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) of 1980 batch, has been appointed the new Financial Commissioner (FC) of Indian Railways. Prior to this posting, he served as Additional Member (Finance) since November 2016,

Notes:
The Unified Commanders’ Conference (UCC) for the year 2018 has started at New Delhi on July 30 to review external security challenges as well as the country’s preparedness. The 2-day annual conference will provide a platform for discussions at the Apex Level on all ‘Joint Issues’ among the three Services & Ministry of Defence. The scope of this conference is to enable the forum to facilitate joint stock taking of the previous year’s performance of all Services & Departments of Ministry of Defence and jointly chart the course for the next year. The conference will be attended by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force among others.

Notes:
In 2015, Sikkim fully implemented organic farming statewide, becoming India's first "organic state", while in 2016, it restricted the usage of plastic water bottles (in government functions and meetings) and Styrofoam products, becoming India's “cleanest state”. No one here uses plastics, no one smokes in public places, no one urinates in the open, and no one litters. There is a penalty for every violation in Sikkim.

Notes:
The Ganga and Yamuna at Allahabad are home to some of the most endangered fauna like turtles (Batagur Kachuga, Batagur dhongoka, Nilssonia gangetica, Chitra indica, Hardella thurjii etc.), the National Aquatic Animal — Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica), the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) and numerous migratory and resident birds. As a part of efforts made to protect the rich aquatic biodiversity of river Ganga from “escalating anthropogenic pressures,” the government decided to establish a turtle sanctuary in Allahabad.

Notes:
Almost every year, maximum part of the sum of money allotted to the Defence Ministry for capital acquisition lapses and return backs to government. To cope of with the issue, the Defence Ministry sent a proposal to Finance Ministry for creation of “Non-lapsable Capital Fund Account” for capital acquisitions of Indian defence.

Notes:
The First Indian Mushroom Growers Association (IMGA) was launched recently by Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) at Bengaluru. Mushroom production is indoor actively using vertical space well suited to small farmers & landless labourers. Mushroom cultivation does not require large tracts of land and can be grown on marginal lands under sheds prepared for its cultivation. Mushroom cultivation thus not only meets the dietary requirements but also adds to the income.

Notes:
The Helsinki Rules are an international guideline that regulate how rivers and their connected groundwaters that cross national boundaries may be used. The International Law Association (ILA) adopted the Helsinki Rules in Helsinki, Finland in 1966. The Helsinki Rules established a common legal framework guiding the use of surface water and connected groundwater in international drainage basins. The Helsinki Rules describe in detail the relevant factors to be considered, including the drainage area within each basin state, hydrology, and climate in the basin. These factors determine basin water resources within each state and their variability.
The Helsinki Rules were succeeded by the Berlin Rules on Water Resources in 2004. The ILA adopted the Rules on International Groundwaters, also known as the Seoul Rules, in Seoul, Korea in 1986.

Notes:
The Pam Rajput committee recently submitted its interim report on “Status of Women in India” to the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD). The committee has strongly supported the passage of Women’s Reservation Bill which has been hanging fire in Lok Sabha after being passed by the Upper House in 2010. However, it has called for 50% reservation instead of the current 33% reservation provided in the bill.

Notes:
Pratham is an Indian Ionospheric research satellite built by the students of IIT Bombay. It is a part of Student Satellite Initiative. Its primary mission is to count electrons in the Earth’s ionosphere. Its weight is10 kg and is a cube with 30cm sides. Pratham was successfully launched on 26 September 2016 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh.

Notes:
The Swedish Academy has postponed the 2018 Nobel Prize for Literature. The academy will award the two Nobel Prizes in Literature, the 2018 prize and the 2019 prize, in 2019. The reason for the delay or postpone is the internal feud within the academy.