Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 28 APRIL 2019
::NATIONAL::
VP urges youth to respect pluralistic culture and uphold tolerance
- The Vice President of India, Shri. M. Venkaiah Naidu said today
that the youth of our nation must shoulder the greater social responsibility
of exercising judgement in looking at social issues. He urged them to adhere
to the traditions of tolerance and respect and protect our pluralistic
culture.
- Shri. Naidu affirmed that India of the future would be powered by
the dreams and ambitions, the character and competence of young people. He
stated that we will be able to fully realize the vast demographic dividend
in the years to come only if we can empower our youth with the right skills
and attitudes.
- The Vice President proposed that we must rethink and re-orient our
educational system in the context of the twenty first century when the
concerns of ecology, of human welfare and the welfare of the planet are
equally imperative. ‘It is possible only if we turn our system around,
including aspects of curriculum and evaluation, towards critical thinking’,
he said.
- Shri Naidu also urged the youth of the nation to use the means of
communication that technology has provided, responsibly. He emphasized that
these modern means of communication must be used to facilitate social
harmony and to cultivate a culture of healthy and civilized discussion on
many of the pressing problems such as class and gender inequalities and the
needs of the less privileged in society.
Gujarat to back farmers on Pepsico issue
- With protests coming from all ends of the political spectrum, the
Gujarat government has decided to back four potato farmers in their fight
against PepsiCo’s Rs. 4.2 crorelawsuit against them for allegedly infringing
its rights by growing the potato used in Lays chips.
- A senior official told The Hindu that the State government will
join the ongoing legal case on the side of the farmers, just hours after
senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel slammed PepsiCo and said the State
“shouldn’t keep its eyes shut”.
- Gujarat produces 33 lakh tonnes from its 1.21 lakh hectares
planted with the potato crop, with Banaskantha recently pipping Uttar
Pradesh’s Agra to become the country’s largest potato producing district.
- While the company has invoked the Protection of Plant Varieties
and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001 to claim infringement of its rights,
farmers groups point out that the Act specifically allows the Indian farmer
“to save, use, sow, resow, exchange, share or sell his farm produce
including seed of a variety protected under this Act” so long as he does not
sell “branded seed”.
::ECONOMY::
IRDAI sets up panel to review micro insurance sector
- The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
has set up a committee to review the regulatory framework on microinsurance
and recommend measures to increase the demand for such products.
- Comprising officials of the IRDAI, insurers and NGOs, the
committee has been formed in the backdrop of a less- than-desired offtake of
microinsurance products despite their inherent benefits.
- The committee has representatives from life, general and health
insurance companies in the public and private sectors. A circular from IRDAI
said India was seen to be a very exciting market and a pioneer in the
microinsurance sector in the world.
- Specifically intended for the protection of low-income people,
with affordable insurance products, microinsurance promises to support
sustainable livelihoods of the poor. However, its market penetration remains
low.
- While reviewing the regulatory framework on microinsurance in the
country and abroad, the committee will suggest changes in the distribution
structure, if any, including mobile-based and technology driven solutions.
Setting a three month timeframe for submission of the recommendations, the
circular said the committee would also suggest creating effective awareness
programmes.
Indian Pharma sector witnesses high exports
- India’s pharmaceutical exports grew a robust 10.72% in 2018-19,
and raced past the $19-billion mark for the first time, a performance marked
by a rebound in the U.S. market, improved show in almost all the top 25
destinations and across categories.
- Exports touched $19.13 billion as against $17.28 billion of
2017-18, the previous highest, details available with Pharmaceuticals Export
Promotion Council of India show. While it fell short of the $20-billion mark
that was widely expected to be crossed, the performance was still special.
- Making matters challenging for exporters over the last few years
has been the increased regulatory scrutiny, pressure on margins in the face
of mounting competition and the need to geographically diversify the market.
In the five years to 2018-19, exports had declined in one year (2016-17).
Other factors such as price control in Germany, Brexit and the lockdown in
the U.S. also influenced trends.
- Herbal products was the only segment with negative growth, while
exports of vaccines, surgicals and Ayush increased.
- Region-wise it was North America, primarily the U.S. market, that
figured at the top, accounting for $6.14 billion or nearly one-third of the
total exports. Compared to 2017-18, the change was 14.92%. The U.S.,
specifically with $5.82 billion, contributed to 30.42% of the exports.
::INTERNATIONAL::
Pakistan suspends its pulse polio drive following attacks over workers
- The Pakistan government has suspended the anti-polio drive and
post-campaign evaluation following the increasing number of attacks on polio
workers in different parts of the country.
- The countrywide campaign to administer anti-polio drops to 39
million children under five years of age was launched on Monday and Friday
was the last day following which the evaluation of the drive was to take
place.
- However, the campaign, involving 260,000 polio workers, ran into
trouble after reports that several children were taken to hospital as they
fell sick after being administered the anti-polio vaccine in some areas of
Peshawar.
- Following the reports, unidentified gunmen shot dead security
personnel escorting a team of polio workers in northwest Pakistan.
- Baber bin Atta, focal person to Prime Minister Imran Khan on polio
eradication, clarified that the vaccine was safe and anti-polio elements
were spreading rumours on social media to scare parents.
- The National Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for polio issued a
letter asking all the provinces to stop the campaign and prevent further
damage.
::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::
Scientists develop high sensitive quantum thermometer
- Researchers at JamiaMilliaIslamia, New Delhi, have developed an
ultrasensitive quantum thermometer using graphene quantum dots. The
thermometer can precisely measure a wide range of temperature: 27 degree C
to –196 degree C.
- The thermometer has high sensitivity when measuring different
temperatures and can measure very minute (micro Kelvin) changes in
temperature.
- The device can find widespread applications in cryogenic
temperature sensing. Since the sensor has high sensitivity and ability to
measure minute changes in temperature, it will be useful in the
pharmaceutical industry, healthcare to measure the incubation temperature of
biological cells and molecules and the automobile industry to measure the
ignition temperature within the engine.
- “The synthesis process is extremely cost effective, has high yield
and batch fabrication is possible. One of the main advantages is that this
device can be made to any shape and dimension,” Prof. Islam says.
- “We are working on making a prototype of this thermometer to be
used in electronic devices, as on-chip thermometers that do not even require
calibrations. We will now replicate these achievements in single electron
transistors (SETs) to miniaturise it for integration in integrated
circuits,” he adds.
::SPORTS::
Abhishek Verma wins gold at ISSF world cup
- India's AbhishekVerma bagged a Gold medal in the 10-metre Air
Pistol event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup
at Beijing in China on Saturday.
- He clinched the top honours with a total score of 242.7 points in
the eight-man final. Russia's ArtemChernousov took home the Silver, with
South Korea's Seungwoo Han finishing with a Bronze.
- With the Gold, Abhishek has secured India's fifth 2020 Tokyo
Olympic quota.
