1.Agreement for Indo-Bhutan joint venture hydroelectric project signed
News: The Concession Agreement was signed between the Royal Government of Bhutan and Kholongchu Hydro Energy Limited for the Kholongchhu (Joint Venture) Hydroelectric Project.
Facts:
- Kholongchu Hydroelectric Project: It is a run-of-the-river project located on the lower course of the Kholongchu River in Trashiyangtse district in eastern Bhutan.
- Implementation: The project will be implemented by Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Limited, a joint venture company formed between Druk Green Power Corporation(DGPC) of Bhutan and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited(SJVN) of India.
Facts: Project Platina is the world’s largest trial to be conducted by Maharashtra Government to give robust data regarding the role of convalescent plasma therapy in the treatment of COVID 19 patients which will help Governments to issue guidelines in the management of the pandemic.
Additional Facts:
- Convalescent plasma therapy: It aims to make use of the antibodies developed in the recovered patient against the infections.
- Under this, whole blood or plasma from recovered patients are taken and then injected into critically ill patients so that the antibodies are transferred and boost their fight against the virus.
3.Ministry of Culture to celebrate “Sankalp Parva”
News: The Ministry of Culture is celebrating ‘Sankalp Parva’ from 28th June to 12th July 2020.
Facts:
- Sankalp Parva: It is an initiative that has been taken on the call of the Prime Minister to plant at least five trees either in office campus or wherever it is possible to ensure a clean and healthy environment of the country.
- Trees: The Ministry of Culture has recommended planting five trees which represent the herbal heritage of the country namely: Bargad, Awla, Pepal, Ashok and Bel.
4.South America witnessed extreme lightning strikes in 2018, 2019: WMO
News: The World Meteorological Organization(WMO) has released its findings on lightning strikes which had happened around the world.
Facts:
Key Takeaways:
- Brazil recorded the longest lightning strike that travelled a distance of 709 kilometres in 2018.
- Argentina recorded a lightning strike that lasted continuously for 16.73 seconds in 2019.
- India: Uttar Pradesh recorded the maximum number of deaths due to lightning in India.It was followed by Bihar.
Lightning:
- Lightning: It is a very rapid and massive discharge of electricity in the atmosphere,some of which is directed towards the Earth.These discharges are generated in giant moisture-bearing clouds that are 10-12 km tall.
- How is it formed?
- Air generally acts as an insulator between the positive and negative charges in the cloud and between the cloud and the ground.
- But when the opposite charges build up enough, this insulating capacity of the air breaks down and there is a rapid discharge of electricity that we know as lightning.
- Effects of Lightning:
- Direct strike: Victims may sustain a direct strike, which is often fatal.
- Contact injury: This occurs when lightning strikes an object, such as a car or metal pole that the victim is touching.
- Ground current: This occurs when lightning strikes the ground near a victim and the ground current passes from the strike point through the ground and into the victim among others.
5.Union Minority Affairs minister inaugurates Sanskritik Sadbhav Mandap
News: Union Minister of Minority Affairs has laid the foundation stone for “Sanskritik Sadbhav Mandap” in Rampur(Uttar Pradesh).
Facts:
- Sanskritik Sadbhav Mandap: It is a community center which is being established by the Ministry of Minority affairs under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karykram(PMJVK).
- Purpose: The centre will be utilized for various socio-economic-cultural activities, skill development training, coaching, relief activities during disaster such as Corona and different sports activities.
Additional Facts:
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram(PMJVK): It is implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs to provide better socio economic infrastructure facilities to the minority communities particularly in the field of education, health & skill development.
6.Explained: Baloch Liberation Army, the group behind Karachi Stock Exchange attack
News: Pakistan’s Baloch Liberation Army(BLA) has claimed responsibility for the Karachi Stock Exchange attack.
Facts:
- Baloch Liberation Army(BLA): It is an armed separatist group based mainly in the province of Balochistan and the bordering areas of Afghanistan.
- Aim: To seek independence from Pakistan and form a separate state of Greater Balochistan because Pakistan has been exploiting resources in Balochistan without sharing any of the proceeds with the local tribes.
- In 2019, the United States had designated the Balochistan Liberation Army(BLA) as a terrorist organisation.
Additional Facts:
- Balochistan: It is the largest but least developed mineral rich province situated on the western side of Pakistan.It is bordered by Iran (west), by Afghanistan (northwest) and by the Arabian Sea (south).
7.India’s first COVID-19 vaccine candidate COVAXIN gets DCGI approval
News: India’s first COVID-19 vaccine candidate COVAXIN has received the approval of Drug Controller General of India(DCGI) for phase I and II of human clinical trials.
Facts:
- COVAXIN: It is an inactivated vaccine created from a strain of the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- Developed by: It has been developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV).
Additional Facts:
- DGCI: It is responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV fluids and vaccines in India.It comes under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
8.K. K. Venugopal reappointed Attorney General for one year
News: President of India has reappointed Senior Advocate K.K. Venugopal as Attorney General for India for one year.
Facts:
- Attorney General: Article 76 of the Indian Constitution deals with the position of Attorney General of India.
- Appointment: Attorney General(AG) is appointed by the President.He must be a person who is qualified to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court.
- Removal: The Constitution hasn’t explicitly fixed the term of office of the AG as well as it does not contain the procedure and grounds for his removal.Hence,he holds office during the pleasure of the President.
- Remuneration: The remuneration of AG is not fixed by the constitution. He receives such remuneration as determined by the President.
- Duties:
- To give advice to the Government of India on the legal matters.
- To perform other legal duties which are referred or assigned to him by the President.
- To discharge the functions conferred on him by the Constitution or any other law.
- Rights:
- He has the right of audience in all courts in the Territory of India.
- He has the right to speak and to take part in the proceedings of both the Houses of Parliament or their joint sitting and any committee of the Parliament of which he may be named a member but without a right to vote.
- He enjoys all immunities and privileges available to the Member of Parliament.
- He is not considered as a government servant and he can practise privately too as he is not debarred from private legal practice.
