11 July 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

11 July 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

11 July 2019 - Daily Current Affairs

1. World Population Day being observed today

  • World Population Day is observed across the world every year on 11th July to increase the awareness of the people towards the worldwide population issues.
  • This year's World Population Day calls for global attention to the unfinished business of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development.
  • The main aim behind having a World Population Day is to focus attention on the consequence of population issues and how it affects overall development plans and programs.
Note:
  • In 1989, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme recommended 11th July as World Population Day to draw attention to the urgency and importance of population issues.

International Affairs

2. Iran exceeds Uranium enrichment limit set under 2015 nuclear deal

  • Iran has breached a uranium enrichment cap set by a troubled 2015 nuclear deal and warned Europe against taking retaliatory measures.
  • Iran has officially surpassed the 3.67 per cent Uranium enrichment limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal.
  • The country had stopped complying with some elements of the 2015 nuclear deal (officially called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).
  • Signed by China, France, Germany, European Union, Iran, Russia, the UK and the US, the JCPoA treaty was aimed at limiting Iran's civilian energy programme.
Source: AIR News

3. France to impose a green tax on plane tickets from 2020

  • The French government will impose a tax of up to €18 on plane tickets for all flights from airports in France from 2020 to fund less-polluting transportation projects.
  • A similar tax was introduced in Sweden in April 2018, which imposed an added charge of up to €40 on every ticket in a bid to lessen the impact of air travel on the climate.
  • It will see a tax of €1.5 imposed on economy-class tickets on internal flights and those within Europe, with the highest tariff applied to business-class travellers flying outside the bloc.
Note:
  • The new measure is expected to bring in some €182 million a year which will be invested in greener transport infrastructures.
  • It will only be applied on outgoing flights and not those flying into the country.
 Source: The Hindu

4. Sri Lanka successfully eliminates measles: WHO

  • Sri Lanka has become the fifth country in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Southeast Asia region to eliminate measles.
  • The other countries in the region which have achieved this feat are Bhutan, Maldives, DPR Korea and Timor-Leste.
  • WHO recommends immunisation for all children with two doses of measles vaccine, either alone, or in a measles-rubella (MR) or measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) combination.
Note:
  • According to WHO, one-third of all measles-related deaths worldwide occur in India.
  • In India, measles vaccination is given under the Universal Immunisation Programme at 9-12 months of age, with the second dose at the age of 16-24 months.
Source: Indian Express
Banking and Finance

5. RBI board finalises ‘Utkarsh 2022’ to improve regulation and supervision

  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) board has finalised a three- year roadmap named “Utkarsh 2022” to improve regulation & supervision and various other functions of the central bank.
  • To identify issues that needed to be addressed over the next three years, an internal committee was formed.
  • It was headed by outgoing Deputy Governor Viral Acharya.
  • This is in line with the practice of Central Banks across the world, that make long term and short-term plans.

National Affairs

6. RPF launched “Operation Thirst” to crack down selling of unauthorised Packaged Drinking Water

  • The RPF (Railway Protection Force) has launched an All India Drive “Operation Thirst” to crack down selling of unauthorised Packaged Drinking Water.
  • The objective of the “Operation Thirst” is to curb the menace of unauthorized PDW (Packaged Drinking Water) in Railway premises.
  • Almost all major stations over Indian Railway were covered during this operation.
  • The special drive will be followed by continuous action by concerned PCSCs on this issue.
Source: Indian Express

7. Union Government launches fertiliser DBT 2.0 initiatives

  • The Union Minister for Chemical and Fertilizers Shri D. Sadananda Gowda has launched the Phase-2 of the Direct Benefit Transfer of Fertilizer Subsidy (DBT 2.0)
  • DBT system in Fertilizers (DBT 1.0) aimed at the release of 100% subsidy on various fertilizer grades to the fertilizer companies based on actual sales made by the retailer to the beneficiaries.
  • Under Phase-II (DBT 2.0), three new initiatives have been launched:
    • DBT Dashboards: with details of fertiliser supply, availability and requirement at national, state and district level
    • PoS 3.0 Software: The Multi-lingual facility would provide Aadhar virtual ID option for registration, login and sale activity in DBT software.
    • Desktop PoS Version: Retailers with laptops and computer systems can use high-speed broadband service for fertilizer sales.
Note:
  • The Union Government bears over Rs 70,000 crore annually as fertiliser subsidy to give cheaper farm nutrient to farmers
Source: The Economic Times

8. Cabinet approves PMGSY phase III amendments to POCSO Act

  • The union cabinet has approved the Amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), Act, 2012. 
  • It will make punishment more stringent for committing sexual crimes against children including the death penalty.
  • The amendments also provide for levy of fines and imprisonment to curb child pornography.
  • It intends to protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity.
  • The Union cabinet committee on Economic Affairs has approved the launch of the third phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
  • It involves consolidation of through routes and major rural links connecting habitations to Gramin Agricultural markets, higher secondary schools and hospitals.
  • Under PMGSY third it is proposed to consolidate one lakh twenty-five thousand-kilometre road length in the states.
  • The scheme would facilitate easy and faster movement to and from Gramin Agricultural markets.
  • Total Estimated cost: Rs. 80250 crores (Central share- 53800 Crores & state share -26450 Crores)
Source: AIR News

9. Narendra Singh Tomar launches Coffee Table Book to Commemorate 50 years of Partnership with UNWFP

  • Shri Narendra Singh Tomar (Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare) has launched a Coffee Table Book named ’50 years of Partnership for Change’ in New Delhi.
  • India’s journey towards food and nutrition security captured in the book include the Green Revolution, the White revolution, improvements in livestock and dairy development and digitization of food safety net
  • The book has been launched to commemorate five decades (50 years) of the partnership between the Ministry and UN World Food Programme (UNWFP) towards addressing food and nutritional security in India.
Note:
  • The Coffee Table Book – 50 years of Partnership for Change- showcases key milestones achieved by the Government of India in its efforts to make the nation free from hunger and malnutrition and WFP’s role in this endeavour.
Source: PIB

10. Cabinet approves the bill to merge all labour laws into a single code

  • Union Cabinet has approved a bill to merge 13 central labour laws into a single code which will apply to all establishments employing 10 or more workers.
  • This consolidation can potentially benefit large sections of the 40-crore workforce.
  • The proposed Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, will enhance coverage of workers manifold.
  • According to Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar, the code will be applicable to all business entities dealing in the port and mining sector even if they have only one employee.
  • The proposed changes are intended to improve ease of business and giving enhanced protection to employees by mandating certain norms.
  • The bill provides for a single licence regime for staffing firms, thus significantly improving their ease of doing business.
Source: AIR News

National Appointment

11. Arun Kumar appointed as DGCA chief

  • Senior IAS officer Mr. Arun Kumar (1989 batch of Haryana cadre) has been appointed full-time head of aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Arun Kumar, Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor.
  • Mr. Arun Kumar was holding additional charge as DG from 1st June when B S Bhullar retired.
  • The Union government has now appointed B S Bhullar (1986 batch IAS officer of UP cadre) as chairman of Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) for five years
Note:
  • Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is India’s regulatory body for civil aviation, under the aegis of Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.
  • As a regulatory body, it seeks to promote Safe and efficient Air Transportation through regulation and proactive safety oversight system in India.
  • Enforce civil air regulations, air safety and airworthiness standards in India as per International standards.

Sports

12. Rakhi Halder, Davinder Kaur win gold medals in Commonwealth C'ships

  • Rakhi Halder and Davinder Kaur won a gold medal each in the senior women's section as Indian weightlifters continued their impressive show on the second day of the Commonwealth Championships in Apia Samoa.
  • Kaur lifted a total of 184kg to win the women's 59kg gold while Halder clinched the yellow metal with a combined effort of 214kg in the 64kg category.
  • India also won five other gold medals in the junior and youth sections.
  • The Commonwealth Championships are being held simultaneously together for the youth, junior and senior categories.

13. Men's Singles semi-final line up drawn in Wimbledon 2019

  • The Men's Singles semi-final line up of the 2019 Wimbledon Tennis Championships has been decided.
  • Defending singles champion Novak Djokovic (World number one), Roger Federer (second seed), Rafael Nadal (third- seed) and Roberto Bautista Agut sealed the last-four berths after winning their respective quarterfinal matches.
  • In the semi-finals, while Roger Federer will face Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic will meet Roberto Bautista Agut.
  • The Women's Singles semi-final line up, Seven-time champion Serena Williams will clash with Czech Barbora Strycova, with Simona Halep taking on Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.
Note:
  • The 2019 Wimbledon Championships (133rd edition) is a Grand Slam tennis tournament taking place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, United Kingdom (UK).
  • The main tournament began on 1st July 2019 and will finish on 14th July 2019.

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