Daily Current Affairs, 21st July 2020

1) Union HRD Minister launches “Manodarpan” for students

•“Manodarpan” initiative has been launched by the Union HRD Minister, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’. “Manodarpan” is an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development launched to ensure mental well-being of the students. It will cover a wide range of activities to offer Psychosocial Support to students for their Mental Health & Well-being amid the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond.

•The ‘Manodarpan’ initiative is a part of the ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ABHIYAN launched by the Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in May 2020. Manodarpan platform will also offer Psychosocial Support to the teachers and families of students for mental health and emotional well being.

2) Harsimrat Kaur Badal inaugurates Zoram Mega Food Park in Mizoram

•Union Food Processing Minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal has virtually inaugurated the “Zoram Mega Food Park” in Mizoram. Ministry of Food Processing Industries is focusing on boosting the food processing industry. This Mega Food Park will benefit farmers, growers, processors, consumers and prove to be a big boost to the growth of the food processing sector in the North East Region.

3) India’s first public EV Charging Plaza inaugurated in Delhi

•India’s first public EV (Electric Vehicle) charging plaza has been inaugurated by the Minister for Power, New & Renewable Energy, R.K Singh at Chelmsford Club in New Delhi. The public EV Charging Plaza has been established by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) in collaboration with New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to make e-mobility ubiquitous and convenient in India.

•India’s first public EV Charging Plaza will host 5 Electric Vehicle Chargers of different specifications and hence will make EV charging hassle free and convenient for the consumers. During the inauguration ceremony, Union Power Minister also launched “Retrofit of Air-conditioning to improve Indoor Air Quality for Safety and Efficiency (RAISE)”. RAISE has been developed for healthy and energy efficient buildings and will help in alleviating the issue of bad air quality in workspaces across the nation.

4) Delhi Cabinet approves “Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana”

•Delhi Cabinet has approved ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana’, which will be launched in six to seven months and will be linked to Centre’s ‘one nation, one ration card’ scheme. The scheme will help the beneficiaries get ration delivered at home. They will not have to come to the ration shops.

•The scheme is expected to benefit lakhs of people in the national capital through 2016 PDS shops. At present subsidised ration is provided under the National Security, 2013 Act and this new programme would add to the benefits of the Act.

5) CBDT signs MoU with MoMSME for sharing of data

•The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India (MoMSME). As per the signed MoU, CBDT will share certain Income-tax Return (ITR) related information with MoMSME. The exchanged data will enable MoMSME to keep a check as well as to classify enterprises in Micro, Small and Medium categories as per the criteria.

•For the successful process of data exchange, both the organisations will appoint Nodal Officer and Alternate Nodal Officers. The MoU between the CBDT & MoMSME marks the beginning of a new era of cooperation and synergy between them.

6) MYAS partners with UNICEF to promote volunteerism among youth

•The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has partnered with UNICEF to strengthen the Government of India’s resolution to mobilise 1 crore youth volunteers to attain the goals of Atmanirbhar Bharat. To promote volunteerism among the youth of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has signed a Statement of Intent with YuWaah (a multi-stakeholder platform formed by the UNICEF).

•The partnership between the two will also help the transition of youth of India from education and learning to productive work, skilling and being active citizens. The partnership will support the young people in co-creating and implementing the solutions at scale while tackling education, skilling and unemployment challenges for young people in India. YuWaah in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will help youth of India in building and leading their own agendas and thrive.

7) MoD signs contract with BEML for procurement of Mine Plough

•Acquisition Wing of Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for procurement of Mine Plough (MP) for Tank T-90 S/SK. The contract to procure 1,512 Mine Plough (MP) for Tank T-90 S/SK has been signed with the approval of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh. The procurement will cost approximately Rs 557 crore. These mine ploughs when fitted on T-90 Tanks will provide individual mobility to Tanks while negotiating mine field.

•The contract comprises of Buy and Make (Indian) categorisation in which there would be a minimum of 50% indigenous content in make portion of the contract and is planned to be completed by 2027. With this, the combat capability of the Army will be improved further as the enhanced mobility of Tank Fleet will extend the reach of Armoured Formation deep into enemy territory without becoming mine causality.

8) A book titled “Suraj Kade Marda Nahi” authored by Baldev Singh Sadaknama

•Sahitya Akademi Award winner, Baldev Singh Sadaknama has authored a book ‘Suraj Kade Marda Nahi’ (sun never dies). The book portrays many aspects of freedom fighter Udham Singh. The book is published by Unistarbooks. The book has been released and will be formally launched on July 31, 2020. Udham Singh 80th death anniversary will fall on July 31, 2020.

9) ICC Men’s T20 World Cup postponed to 2022

•International Cricket Council’s (ICC’s) announced, the T20 Men’s World Cup, scheduled to be played in Australia in October-November 2020, has formally been postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19.

•Besides rescheduling the T20 World Cup to October-November, 2022 the ICC Board also decided to push the 2023 ODI World Cup in India to October-November 2023 from its designated window in February-March, 2023.