Current Affairs - 2019-20

Notes:
The term “Third World” arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either NATO or the Warsaw Pact. The Third world countries are mostly the underdeveloped and developing countries.

Notes:
In the equilateral triangle centroid, incentre, orthocentre, coincide at the same point.
∴ Height 3 = in radius
∴ Height = Median = 33 = 9 cm
Hence option [B] is the right answer.

Notes:
Acclaimed Bengali writer Ramapada Chowdhury (95), whose story ‘Abhimanyu’ was made into a Hindi movie ‘Ek doctor ki maut’, has passed away in Kolkata, West Bengal on July 29, 2018. ‘Abhimanyu’ was based on the life and work of Dr Subhas Mukhopadhyay who created India’s first and the world’s second test-tube baby in 1978. Director Tapan Sinha turned the story into a award winning Hindi film ‘Ek doctor ki maut’ in 1990. Mrinal Sen’s Hindi film ‘Ek din achanak’ (1989) was also based on Chowdhury’s story ‘Beej’. Chowdhury had penned famous literary works such as ‘Pratham Prahar’ (1954), ‘Banpalashir padabali’ (1960), ‘Ekhoni’ (1969), ‘Kharij’, ‘Bari badle jay’ (1988), ‘Abhimanyu’ (1982). His last book ‘Harano Khata’ was published in 2015. He was conferred the Sahitya Academy award for ‘Bari badle jay’ in 1988 and was also the recipient of Rabindra Puraskar, Ananda Puraskar and Rabindranath Tagore Memorial International Prize.

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A week long diversified cultural carnival ‘Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav’ was held in February, 2018 in Madhya Pradesh beginning at Maan Mandir Fort, Gwalior. 

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Hokersar is an important refuge for migratory waterfowls, shorebirds and trans-Himalayan species during winters. It also acts as one of the major flood absorption basins. Hokersar has been declared as Conservation Reserve under the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978. It was also declared as Ramsar site on November 8, 2005 under the Ramsar Convention. The study shows that the open waters of the wetland have been colonized by the weeds and other aquatic vegetation. Some areas of the wetland that existed in 1969 have been converted into paddy fields. About 10 hectares of the wetland has been converted into built-up area.This wetland is on the brink of extiction as per various environmentalists.

Notes:
NASA has selected two missions to further explore past targets. First is the Mission “Dragonfly” to explore the Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. Second is the Mission Comet Astrobiology Exploration Sample Return (CAESAR) to explore the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

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The scheme called “Transforming India by 2022”, aspires to rapidly transform backward districts that are lacking on key development indices in health, nutrition, education, agriculture, skill development, financial inclusion and basic infrastructure.

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India has declared 2010-20 as the “Decade of Innovation”. The Government has stressed the need to enunciate innovation in the diverse field and has taken several steps in order to fulfil the same.

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Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project is an ambitious project of Telangana state government to provide water to farmers by December 2017.

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ARIES telescope has been launched in a joint collaboration between Indian, Russian, and Belgian scientists and is located at Devasthal, Nainital at a height of 2,500 metres. The ARIES optical telescope's mirror is 3.6 meters in diameter and will be used in the study and exploration of planets, starts, magnetic field and astronomical debris.