Week 4 Current Affairs Update

22nd- 31st August 2017

EVENTS

NATIONAL

HEALTHCARE
Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat Programme
DATE: - 22nd August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: To prepare a physical Health and Fitness Prole Card for more
than 12 lakhs of Kendriya Vidyalaya students
TARGET/APPLICATION: Swasth Bachche, Swasth Bharat Programme, an
initiative of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan has recently been launched in Kochi.
The programme provides comprehensive and inclusive report card for children
covering all age groups and children of dierent abilities. It makes students, teachers
and parents aware about the importance of good health, tness and encouraging 60
minutes of play each day is an objective of the programme.
Other objectives are:
Imbibe values of Olympics and Paralympics amongst students.
Bring back the childhood amongst children and make physical activity and
recreational games an integral part of learning process.
Motivates potential and outstanding performers in various sports.

SECURITY

Digital Police Portal

DATE: - 22nd August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - To create a national database of crimes and criminals
TARGET/APPLICATION: - A digital police portal under the CCTNS (The
Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems) project, enables a person to
register FIRs online and oer seven public delivery services in 34 States & UTs like
person and address verication e.g. of employees, tenants, nurses etc, permission
for hosting public events, lost & found articles and vehicle theft etc. Besides, the
portal will further enable restricted access to law enforcement agencies on topics
such as antecedent verication and make assessment of FIRs. Central investigating
and research agencies have also been provided logins to the digital police database
to access crime statistics. CCTNS is a Mission Mode Project (MMP) under the
National e-Governance Plan of Govt. of India. The CCTNS facilitates pan India
search on complete national crime and criminal database that is accessible to the
investigating ocers throughout the country. It will interconnect 15,398 police
stations and additional 5,000 oces of supervisory police ocers across the country
and digitise data related to FIR registration, investigation and charge sheets in all
police stations. The project has been extended by the government for one year till
March 2018. In 2015, an additional objective of establishing a basic platform for an
Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) was added to the Project. This would
lead to development of a national database of crimes and criminals.

ENVIRONMENT

Varshadhare project
DATE: - 22nd August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - To increase precipitation in clouds
TARGET/APPLICATION: - Government of Karnataka has launched the much
touted cloud seeding project named Varshadhare. Cloud seeding aims at catalysing
the process of precipitation, so that rainfall could be increased by 15-20% in drought
aected areas of the state. Experts have analysed that precipitation in clouds has been
aected recently due to increase in particulate matter in the atmosphere and among
other factors. Among the problems for successful precipitation in rain bearing clouds
are that water droplets formed in the clouds are much smaller than the particulate
matter. Droplets formed in the clouds are blown away in the wind even before they
have the time to reach earth. Moreover, small droplets do not have the energy to
collide and form large droplets that can pour down as rain.

BIODIVERSITY
New species of the frog Nasikabatrachus discovered
DATE: - 23rd August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - To add evidence in favour of the theory of continental drift
TARGET/APPLICATION: - A new species of the endemic frog genus
Nasikabatrachus has been discovered from the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats,
namely Nasikabatrachus bhupati. The frog is an inhabitant of Seychelles, and the
discovery of this frog species in India suggests that the Indian subcontinent was part
of the ancient landmass of Gondwana before splitting from Seychelles 65 million
years ago. It inhabits the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, near the Srivilliputhur
Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. It has a snout shaped
nose, just like a pigs and is a soil dwelling species of purple frog.

SOCIAL

Bridge constructed at Indo-Nepal border

DATE: - 23rd August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - To improve regional connectivity and strengthen cross border
trade between both the countries
TARGET/APPLICATION: - The Union Cabinet has approved a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Nepal for laying down implementation
on cost sharing, schedules and safeguard issues for starting construction of a new
Bridge over Mechi River at Indo-Nepal border. The Mechi River is a trans-boundary
river owing through Nepal and India. It is a tributary of the Mahananda River.
The Mechi originates in the Mahabharat Range in Nepal. The new bridge is part
of upgradation of the Kakarvitta (Nepal) to Panitanki Bypass (India) on NH 327B
covering a length of 1500 meters. Mechi Bridge is the ending point of Asian Highway
02 in India leading to Nepal and provides critical connectivity to Nepal. National
Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) under Ministry
of Road Transport & Highways has been designated as the implementing agency for
this project. The construction of the bridge will strengthen ties between industrial,
social and cultural exchanges.

AGRICULTURE

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana

DATE: - 24th August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - To supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease
Agri-Waste
TARGET/APPLICATION: - The Cabinet Committee on Economic Aairs has
approved the renaming of the new central sector scheme SAMPADA (Scheme for
Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters) as Pradhan
Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) for the period of 2016-20 coterminous
with the 14th Finance commission cycle. PMKSY with an allocation of Rs. 6,000
crore is expected to leverage investment of Rs. 31,400 crore, handling of 334 lakh
agro-produce and will benet 20 lakh farmers and generate 5,30,500 direct/ indirect
employment in the country by the year 2019-20.
PMKSY is an umbrella scheme incorporating ongoing schemes of the Ministry
like Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure,
Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, etc. and also new schemes like
Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward
Linkages, Creation / Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities.
It will boost the growth of food processing sector in the country. The implementation
of PMKSY results in the creation of modern infrastructure with ecient supply
chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. It will help doubling the income
of farmers. It will create huge employment opportunities especially in the rural areas
and also help in reducing wastage of agricultural produce, increasing the processing
level, availability of safe and convenient processed foods at aordable prices to
consumers and enhancing the export of the processed foods.

BANKING

RBI introduces Rs 200 note

DATE: - 24th August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - To ease cash transaction
TARGET/APPLICATION: - The Reserve Bank of India introduced Rs 200
banknote, a move that would minimize the number of denominations while increasing
the probability of proering exact change ease-cash transaction. This is the second new
denomination banknote introduced since the demonetisation exercised in November.
Rs. 2000 denomination banknote was pumped into the system in November, 2016.
Provision of the new denomination therefore, would facilitate exchange, particularly
for the common man who deals with denominations at the lower end.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Ocean forecasting system
DATE: - 28th August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - To provide early regional warning services
TARGET/APPLICATION: - The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information
Services (INCOIS) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences introduced the Ocean Forecasting
System for Comoros, Madagascar and Mozambique at the third Ministerial Meeting
of Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Asia and Africa
(RIMES) which was held recently at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The early
warning service is essential for safe navigation at sea and the blue economic growth
of many Indian Ocean rim countries and island nations.
The system would oer oil spill advisory services, high wave alerts, and port
warnings, forecast along the ship routes in addition to tsunami and storm surge
warnings and help in search and rescue operations. The Regional Integrated Multi-
Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) is an international and
intergovernmental institution, owned and managed by its Member States for the
generation and application of early warning information. RIMES build capacity of its
Member States in the end to end early warning of tsunami and hydro-meteorological
hazards.
The ocean forecast and early warning information on high wave, currents, winds, tides,
and sub-surface ocean conditions cater to users like shermen, coastal population,
tourism sector, coastal defence ocials, marine police, port authorities, research
institutions and oshore industries of these countries. These ocean services are
aimed at safety in the sea. The INCOIS has already been providing these operational
services to Maldives, Sri Lanka and Seychelles.

FOOD TECHNOLOGY
Gobindobhog rice gets a GI tag
DATE: - 29th August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - To help farmers to get better productivity and price in the
market
TARGET/APPLICATION: - Gobindobhog, rice from Burdwan district of West
Bengal, has got the geographical indication (GI) status. It is white coloured, short
grain and aromatic sticky rice having a sweet buttery avour. It is cultivated late
and therefore its not much aected by rains. It is less prone to pests as well. The
productivity per area is high and farmers get better prices for Gobindobhog rice. The
name is derived from its usage as the principal ingredient in the preparation of the
oerings to Govindajiu (famiy diety).
As a result of GI certication of the rice is express as Gobindobhog, it cannot be
branded as the same name. Hence, the market ability of the rice would be strengthened
for the local, national and international markets. GI is covered under the Intellectual
Property Rights and the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. A GI
tag certies the origin of a product or produce from a particular region as the quality
or other features of the product are attributable only to the place of its origin.

INTERNATIO NAL

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Fuel cells turn sweat into power
DATE: - 23rd August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - To generate power density naturally
TARGET/APPLICATION: - Scientists from University of California, San Diego
have developed stretchable fuel cells that can extract energy from sweat and could
power a range of wearable devices such as LEDs and Bluetooth radios. The new cells
were developed using lithography and screen-printing to make 3D carbon nano-tube
based cathode and anode arrays. The epidermal biofuel cells are a major breakthrough
in the eld, which has been struggling in making the devices stretchable and powerful
enough. The biofuel cells can generate 10 times more power per surface area than
any existing wearable biofuel cells.
The biofuel cells are equipped with an enzyme that oxidises the lactic acid present
in human sweat to generate current. To be compatible with wearable devices, the
biofuel cell needs to be exible and stretchable. So engineers decided to name it as
bridge and island. Essentially, the cell is made up of rows of dots which connected
to each other by spring shaped structures. Half of the dots make up the cells anode or
electrode through which conventional current ows; the other halves are the cathode.
The spring like structures can stretch and bend making the cell exible without
deforming the anode and cathode.
Researchers used screen printing to deposit layers of biofuel materials on top of
the anode and cathode dots. The structure allows engineers to load each anodic dot
with more enzymes that reacts to lactic acid and silver oxide at the cathode dots.
In addition, the tubes allow easier electron transfer, which improves biofuel cell
performance.

ENVIRONMENT

Low Priced Pollution Monitor

DATE: - 25th August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - To monitor urban pollution
TARGET/APPLICATION: -Researchers from Japan stated that delicate mosses
found on rocks and trees in cities around the world can be used to measure the
impact of atmospheric change. The bio-indicator responds to pollution or drought
stress by changing shape, density or disappearing and allowing scientists to calculate
atmospheric alterations. Mosses are a common plant in all cities hence, it can be used
as a potential bio-indicator.
The eect of nitrogen pollution, air quality and drought- tress on moss was found
over a 3km square (1.9 mile) area in Hachioji City in north-western Tokyo, Japan
and the data was published in the Landscape and Urban Planning journal. The study
showed severe drought stress due to the increase levels of nitrogen pollution which
had an impact on health and biodiversity.
Bio-indicators such as mosses generally absorb water and nutrients from their
immediate environment and are often cheap to be used in the methods of environmental
evaluation and also reect changes to ecosystems.
 PEOPLE

NATIONAL

OBITUARY
Rishang Keishing
Born: - 25th October, 1950
Died: - 22nd August, 2017
Background: - Rishang Keishing was a senior politician of the Indian National
Congress party and a Member of the Parliament of India representing Manipur
in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament. Keishing served as
Chief Minier of Manipur from 1980 to 1988 and from 1994 to 1997. He died at
the age of 96 at Regional Initute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Imphal, Manipur.
Career: - Rishang was born to Rungdi Keishing and Mungshingla Keishing, both
belonging to the Tangkhul Naga community in Bungpa Khunou, Ukhrul district of
Manipur. After a year at Kolkatas Scottish Church College, he transferred to the
St. Pauls Cathedral Mission College from where he graduated.
He rst entered Manipur States Vidhan Sabha in 1972 winning Phungyar seat and
represented the seat for 30 years, winning the election 7 times. In 2002, he lost
in the assembly polls. His son, Victor Keishing, reclaimed the seat a few years
later. After his defeat in the state polls in 2002, Rishang Keishing moved to Delhi,
representing the state in Rajya Sabha for two terms, 2002-08 and 2008-14. In 2007
he became the countrys oldest parliamentarian. He retired from Rajya Sabha in
2014 at the age of 93.

SOCIAL
Ashwani Lohani
Background: - Ashwani Lohani, CMD of Air India, has been named as the
Chairman of the Railway Board following the resignation of A.K. Mital. Mr.
Lohani, an Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME) cadre
had served as DRM, Delhi Division, Director, National Rail Museum; and Chief
Adminirative Ocer, Rail Alternate Fuel.
His resignation came two days after the Railway Miniry decided to send Railway
Board Member Engineering and Secretary level ocer Aditya Kumar Mittal on
leave holding him responsible for the Utkal Express train accident at Khatauli
railway ation near Muzaarnagar that had killed at lea 21 passengers and injured
over 80 people.
Mr. Lohani, who holds four engineering degrees, has authored two books (one
on eam engines and the other on management) and is credited with the Madhya
Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation and the India Tourism Development
Corporation and he holds the Guinness Record for successfully running the Fairy
Queen Express, the worlds olde working eam locomotive engine.
 IDEAS

NATIONAL

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DigiPoS Machine
DATE: 22 August, 2017
ISSUE/AGENDA: To promote digital payment option to merchants
TARGET/APPLICATION: HDFC Bank launched DigiPoS Machine that oers
a complete suite of digital payment solutions. With DigiPoS, a merchant can use
as many as 12 various digital payment options like UPI, Bharat QR, SMS Pay,
PayZapp, Tap & Pay, EMIs in addition to pay through debit/ credit card swiping.
A merchant needs to update his/her machine with a software at no cost. The new
software will work only on HDFC Bank-issued PoS machines, but will accept any
card or app from any bank/service provider. DigiPoS integrates all popular digital
payment methods in merchant payment machines oering greater convenience to
both customers and merchants. HDFC will convert entire network of over 4.5 lakh
PoS machines to DigiPOS without any investment by the merchants. After the
note-ban that saw a push to digital payments the bank has installed around 2.35
lakh machines/ merchants but since then the speed has consciously been brought
down as the objective is not just installing machines but ensuring that they are
used.

SOCIAL

National Sports Talent Search Portal

DATE: 23 August, 2017
ISSUE/AGENDA: To identify sporting talent among students
TARGET/APPLICATION: A new Scheme National Sports Talent Search
Scheme (NSTSS) has been formulated for talent identication in the age group of
8-12 years and nurturing of identied talented sportspersons.
The features of the scheme are given below:
(i) Identication of sporting talent among students in the age group of 812
years (for admission in Class IV to Class VI) who possess inborn qualities
such as anthropometric, physical and physiological capabilities without any
anatomical inrmities.
(ii) Nurturing of the Sporting Potential / talent in District level Sports schools /
Central Sports Schools / National Sports Academies etc., to make them excel
at the national and international sports competitions. This will help broaden
the pool of Sportspersons in the Country.
The Scheme will facilitate development of Indian sports, particularly rural sports.
Any success in National/International sports events will bring honour to the country
as well as to the respective States which the sportspersons represents.
YUVA Scheme
DATE: 28 August, 2017
ISSUE/AGENDA: To develop job skills in youths
TARGET/APPLICATION: Delhi Police has launched YUVA a skill
development programme under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
It was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The YUVA initiative
aims to connect with youth by upgrading their skill as per their competencies.
It will help youths to get gainful employment under PMKVY. It will also play
important role in building up condence and faith of youths in police organization.
For implementing YUVA initiative, Delhi Police has tied up with National Skill
Development Corporation (NSDC) and Confederation of Indian Industry to provide
mass job linked skill training for selected youth. NSDC role will be of providing
skill training to youth under PMKVY and CII will provide job linked training
through its Sector Skill Councils which are connected to industry to provide job
guarantee.
Twitter launches digital education programme
DATE: 31 August, 2017
ISSUE/AGENDA: To provide advertising exposure to media executives
TARGET/APPLICATION: Twitter has launched its new media agency
programme #TweetToTheTop in India. Eleven agencies from global media and
advertising networks including Dentsu, GroupM, IPG and Omnicom will be
participating in this initiative.
#TweetToTheTop is Twitters rst year-long agency engagement programme
dedicated to media executives in ve countries in Asia Pacic: India, Singapore,
Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia. Twitter stated that in a recent e marketer
worldwide report, more than 60% of agency leads still have challenges measuring
ROI on social media marketing, and more than 35% are challenged on tying social
to business goals.
#TweetToThetop aims to attract hundreds of young media planners and executives
from the ve markets to showcase their best work using Twitter solutions. Media
agency professionals will get exclusive access to Twitters arsenal of solutions and
global advertising.
 ISSUES

NATIONAL

SRIJAN SCAM

Date: 15 September, 2017

ISSUE/AGENDA: Transfer of government funds fraudulently from the NGO
account

A Rs 880 crore corruption scandal has put Bihar and its government in crisis. Chief
minister Nitish Kumar and his new ally, the BJP, is ghting charges from the op-
position Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The fresh political turmoil roiling the state
comes just days after the chief minister switched allies, and dumped the RJD and
Grand Alliance in favour of the saron party.

The Srijan Mahila Sahyog Samiti is an NGO, in whose accounts large amount of
government funds were allegedly fraudulently transferred between 2004 and 2014.
, The oces of the organization is located in Sabour block of Bihars Bhagalpur
district. The NGO used to provide vocational training to women in Bhagalpur.
The NGO is accused of pilfering government funds from the Bhagalpur district
administrations accounts for various welfare schemes in connivance with district
ocials, bankers and its sta.

In connivance with bankers and district ocials, the NGO would allegedly get
fake bank statement and passbooks, mentioning in them the correct amount for the
purpose of maintaining ocial books of account in dierent government depart-
ments.

SOCIAL

Increasing railway accidents

DATE: - 24 August, 2017
ISSUE/AGENDA: - Loss of lives and assets in rail accidents
Since 2012, six of every 10 rail accidents in India have happened because of mistakes
by or the negligence of railway sta, according to a study by NITI Aayog. In the
year to 31 March 2017, 66 of 104 consequential rail accidents were attributed to
failure of railway sta according to Indian Railways data. And in the three months
to 30 June, eight of 11 accidents were attributed to failure of railway sta.
Three top Indian Railways ocials were ordered to go on leave and three more
suspended after a report on the Kalinga-Utkal Express accident that has so far
resulted in around two dozen deaths blamed the negligence of railway sta. Since
1960, Indian Railways has seen growth in infrastructure, expenditure, ridership
and freight, but it has been steadfast in terms of accidents: roughly one every three
days. Safety on the Indian Railways network is the end product of the cohesive
fusion of its myriad parts. Over 700,000 people work on safety-related operations
at the countrys largest employer, according to Indian Railways response to a
Parliament question. Government need to take strong actions to ensure safe rail
journey.
Ram Rahim jailed for 20 years
DATE: - 28 August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - Imprisonment of spiritual leader and rape convict Ram
Rahim who tried to escape due to strong political background
A special CBI court set up inside the Rohtak jail sentenced Dera Sacha Sauda chief
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping two
sadhvis in the Dera complex in Sirsa in 2002. The judge handed down 10 years
of RI each in the two rape cases. Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh also slapped a
ne of Rs 30 lakh on Gurmeet. Of this, Rs 28 lakh will be divided between the two
rape survivors who stuck to their statements for the past 15 years despite intense
pressure from various quarters.
The special CBI judge was own to the Rohtak jail by a helicopter from Chandigarh.
During the hearing, he snubbed the prosecution agency for providing VIP treatment
to the Dera head after his conviction on Friday. The judge specically asked about
permitting the accused to carry special luggage along with him after the conviction
in Panchkula and a woman accompanying him up to the jail. Reports of sadhvis
being raped rst surfaced in 2002 when an anonymous letter sent to then Prime
Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee alleging sexual exploitation inside the Dera by
Gurmeet. Taking suo motu cognisance of the letter, the Punjab and Haryana HC
had handed over the case to the CBI. A rape case was registered against the Dera
head on December 12, 2002. He was held guilty on August 25 after which there
was widespread violence and arson in Panchkula in which about 38 people were
killed.
India and Pakistan hit by state-sponsored spyware
DATE: - 30 August, 2017
ISSUE/AGENDA: - Stealing national security data through spyware

Symantec Corp, a digital security rm identied a sustained cyber spying

campaign, likely state-sponsored, against Indian and Pakistani entities involved
in regional security issues. In a threat intelligence report that was sent to clients in
July, Symantec said the online espionage eort dated back to October 2016. The
campaign appeared to be the work of several groups, but tactics and techniques
used suggest that the groups were operating with similar goals or under the
same sponsor, probably a nation state, according to the threat report, which was
reviewed by Reuters.

Symantec did not identify the likely sponsor of the attack. Governments and
militaries with operations in South Asia and interests in regional security issues
would likely be at risk from the malware. The malware utilises the so-called
Ehdoor backdoor to access les on computers. There was a similar campaign
that targeted Qatar using programs called Spynote and Revokery. To install the
malware, the attackers used decoy documents related to security issues in South
Asia. The documents included reports from Reuters, Zee News, and Hindu, and
were related to military issues, Kashmir, and an Indian secessionist movement.
The malware allows spies to upload and download les, carry out processes, log
keystrokes, identify the targets location, steal personal data, and take screenshots,
Symantec said, adding that the malware was also being used to target Android
devices.

Inux of Rohingyas into Bangladesh

DATE: - 29 August, 2017
AGENDA/ISSUE: - Migration of Rohingyas to Bangladesh after facing brutal
actions by Myanmar soldiers
About 1,000 ethnic Rohingya villagers from Myanmar forced their way into
Bangladesh after coming under re from Myanmar soldiers, in fallout from violence
unleashed when Rohingya insurgents attacked police posts in Myanmars western
Rakhine state. The Muslim villagers, who were seeking refuge from the ongoing
violence in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, had been in a no mans land on the border
for two days. Bangladeshi border guards, who had provided them with food and
water, on Monday sought to push them back to their own country.
When Myanmar troops opened re, the crowd ran back and broke through a
Bangladesh barricade and cordon of 300-400 guards. He said they then scattered,
with at least some making it to unocial camps for unregistered refugees. Rohingya
leaders and intelligence ocials said 8,0009,000 Rohingya have entered Bangladesh
since the violence broke out when Rohingya insurgents attacked Myanmar police
posts. Human rights groups and advocates for the Rohingya say the army retaliated
by burning down villages and shooting civilians, forcing thousands to ee. The
ocial death toll as of Sunday was 96 -most described by the government as
terrorists, though the actual gure is likely to be higher. The government blames
Rohingya insurgents for the violence.
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