Daily Gist of 'The Hindu', 'PIB', 'Indian Express' and Other Newspapers: 7 December, 2020

Daily Important News will speed up the preparation for the Civil Services Examination and it also plays a crucial role to grasp the current affairs topic comprehensively. Here we have covered most of the topics related to various categories including National, International, Sports, Science and Technology, and so on

National Events

1. AYUSH Export Promotion Council

– The Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of AYUSH have decided to work together to set up an Export Promotion Council to boost AYUSH exports. This decision was taken recently in a joint review of AYUSH trade and Industry by Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Shri Shripad Naik, Minister of AYUSH.

– It was also decided in the review that the entire AYUSH sector will work together to achieve price and quality competitiveness to boost AYUSH exports. More than 2000 stake-holders of the AYUSH Sector also attended the e-event through live streaming on virtual platforms.

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2. CPCB raises concern on Pollution and Frothing in River Yamuna

– CPCB monitors the water quality of River Yamuna and drains discharging into the River.

– In the past, CPCB observed froth formation and increase in ammonia levels in river Yamuna because of discharge of untreated sewage, non-operation of existing Sewage Treatment Plants, improper functioning of Effluent Treatment Plants(ETPs) installed by the industries and Common Effluent Treatment Plants(CETPs) located on the banks of river Yamuna.

– Monitoring of 22 drains carried out recently, indicated that 14 drains (Sonia Vihar, Najafgarh, Shastri Park, Shahdara, etc.) are found untapped, discharging sewage. While 05 drains are 100% tapped and no flow at downward of interception observed, 02 drains were found tapped but overflow into river Yamuna was observed. One drain (drain no. 14) has no flow at all. Due to partially/untreated discharge of sewage and industrial effluent containing phosphorus, many times, foaming also is observed.

– Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been directed to take action against non-complying Common Effluent Treatment Plans(CETPs) and industrial units. Similar directions have also been issued to State Pollution Control Boards of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

3. Agra Metro project

– Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the construction of the Agra Metro Project on 7th December 2020 at 12.00 noon via video conferencing.

– Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath, and other dignitaries will also attend the event that will be held at 15 Battalion PAC parade ground in Agra.

About Agra Metro Project

– The Agra Metro project comprises 2 corridors with a total length of 29.4 km and connects major tourist attractions like Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra with railway stations and bus stands.

– The project will benefit the 26 lakh population of the city of Agra and will also cater to more than 60 lakh tourists who visit Agra every year. It will provide an environment-friendly Mass Rapid Transit System to the historic city of Agra.

– The estimated cost of the project will be Rs 8,379.62 cr which will be completed in 5 years.

– Earlier, on 8th March 2019, Prime Minister inaugurated the Agra Metro project along with the commencement of commercial operations of Lucknow Metro on the entire 23 km long North-South corridor from ‘CCS Airport to Munshipulia’.

Daily Gist of ‘The Hindu’, ‘PIB’, ‘Indian Express’ and Other Newspapers: 27 November, 2020

4. Innovate for India

– Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan has appealed to the scientific community to Innovate for India and create a competitive advantage to make India Aatmanirbhar.

– Speaking at the curtain-raiser for the 6th India International Science Festival 2020, being organized by the Ministries of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, he called upon the scientists to create products and services which can compete with the best in the world. The theme of the event was “Self-reliant India and Global Welfare.”

– Underlying the role of science and innovation in the development of any society, Pradhan said that the COVID19 pandemic has once again demonstrated that we have to develop and strengthen our institutional and industrial capacity in scientific knowledge and innovation in all areas.

– Outlining the Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, he said an Aatmanirbhar Bharat is a Bharat which does not only fulfils its own requirements but also is a beacon of hope for the global community, true to the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbukam.’

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5. Surgery as part of Ayurveda

– The government has notified compulsory surgical procedures for PG students of Ayurveda.

– There are two branches of surgery in Ayurveda: Shalya Tantra, which refers to general surgery, and Shalakya Tantra which pertains to surgeries related to the eyes, ears, nose, throat and teeth.

– All postgraduate students of Ayurveda have to study these courses, and some go on to specialise in these, and become Ayurveda surgeons.

Daily Gist of ‘The Hindu’, ‘PIB’, ‘Indian Express’ and Other Newspapers: 25 November, 2020

6. Most dangerous drug

– UN removes cannabis from ‘most dangerous drug’ category.

– The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) voted to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, decades after they were first placed on the list.

– With this, Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) has chosen to affirm a World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation from 2019 to remove cannabis from its ‘most dangerous’ category.

– India was part of the voting majority, along with the US and most European nations.

– China, Pakistan and Russia were among those who voted against, and Ukraine abstained.

About Cannabis plant

– According to the WHO, cannabis is a generic term used to denote the several psychoactive preparations of the plant Cannabis sativa.

– The major psychoactive constituent in cannabis is Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Daily Gist of ‘The Hindu’, ‘PIB’, ‘Indian Express’ and Other Newspapers: 26 November, 2020

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