Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 15 July 2020

::NATIONAL::

HRD ministry announces guidelines for online classes

The Human Resource and Development Ministry has announced guidelines for online classes operationalised by schools amid the COVID pandemic. Union Minister Ramesh PokhriyalNishank virtually released the PRAGYATA guidelines on digital education in New Delhi, today. The guidelines recommend a cap on the screen time for students.
The HRD Ministry has suggested that the online classes for pre-primary students should not be for more than 30 minutes a day. For Classes 1st to 8th , it has suggested that not more than two online sessions of upto 45 minutes each should be conducted in a day.
The guidelines have been issued keeping in mind the overall development of the students with an aim to cut down undue screen time. For the senior students, from class 9th to 12th, the Ministry has suggested to limit the online classes to a maximum of four sessions of upto 45 minutes each.
Speaking on the release of the PRAGYATA guidelines, Mr Pokhriyal said that COVID-19 pandemic has led to closure of schools and has impacted over 240 million children of the country who are enrolled in schools.
He said, PRAGYATA guidelines have been developed from the perspective of learners, with a focus on online, digital education for students who are presently at home due to lockdown. He added that these guidelines on Digital Education provide a roadmap for carrying forward online education to enhance the quality of education.
The Minister highlighted that the guidelines will be relevant and useful for a diverse set of stakeholders including school heads, teachers, parents, teacher educators and students. The guidelines stress upon the use of alternative academic calendar of NCERT, for both, learners having access to digital devices and learners having limited or no access.

PM emphasizes role of skilling and re-skilling during COVID pandemic

Prime Minister NarendraModi has exhorted the youth to skill, reskill and upskill in order to remain relevant in the rapidly changing business environment and market conditions. He was addressing a virtual conclave on World Youth Skills Day organised by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship today.
Mr Modi said, skill is timeless, it keeps getting better with time and it makes people different from others. He said, skills are not only a means to livelihood but also a reason to feel lively and energetic in our daily routine.
The Prime Minister said, in a rapidly changing world, millions of skilled people are needed and there is a huge potential, especially in health services.
Mr Modi said, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has started mapping the opportunities being created around the world, so that the youth of the country can get accurate information about the needs of other countries also.

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::ECONOMY::

PSB’s to purchase NBFC bonds under PCGS scheme

Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman has said that the Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme, PCGS was revamped under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package to support the liability side of Non Banking Financial Companies, NBFCs.
It provides a 20 per cent portfolio guarantee to Public Sector Banks for the purchase of Bonds or Commercial Papers rated AA and below which are issued by NBFCs.
In a tweet, Ms Sitharaman said, as of 10th July, under the extended PCGS, Public Sector Banks have approved the purchase Bonds or Commercial Papers issued by 67 NBFCs amounting to 14 thousand 6 hundred 67 crore rupees.
Of these 6 thousand 8 hundred 45 crore rupees is for Bonds or Commercial Papers rated below AA, providing liquidity support to NBFCs with lower rated Bonds or Commercial Papers.
She said, further, the purchase of Bonds or Commercial Papers of 6 thousand 1 hundred 25 crore rupees, including 5 thousand 5 hundred 50 crore rupees of Bonds or Commercial Papers rated below AA, is currently under various stages of approval or at negotiation stage.

Government to work upon mapping of land banks for industries

The government is working on creating a genuine single window clearance mechanism and mapping the entire land bank available for the industry and industrial development.
Addressing industry representatives of electronics and software exports, Commerce and Industry Minister PiyushGoyal today said, the government is looking at ways to promote manufacturing of electronic products like LED televisions and CCTVs.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

Iran and China set to finalise 25-year strategic deal

Iran and China are close to finalising a 25-year Strategic Partnership which will include Chinese involvement in Chabahar’s duty-free zone, an oil refinery nearby, and possibly a larger role in Chabahar port as well.
According to leaked versions of the 18-page “Comprehensive Plan for Cooperation between Iran and China”, being finalised by officials in Tehran and Beijing, the cooperation will extend from investments in infrastructure, manufacturing and upgrading energy and transport facilities, to refurbishing ports, refineries and other installations, and will commit Iranian oil and gas supplies to China during that period.
The proposed tie-up comes even as Iran decided last week to go ahead on its own with the construction of a railway line from Chabahar port to Zahedan, in Afghanistan for which anMoU had been signed with the PSU Indian Railways Construction Ltd (IRCON) four years ago.
The U.S. had provided a sanctions waiver for the Chabahar port and the rail line to Zahedan, but it has been difficult to find equipment suppliers and partners due to worries they could be targeted by the U.S., said officials.

Maldives to reopen international border for travel

Maldives is reopening its borders for international travel today with health and safety protocols in place, to protect tourists and residents from COVID.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih visited the international airport in Male to check on the operations last evening. He was briefed on the measures in place to screen passengers as well as on their testing capacity, and protocols in place to ensure social distancing and good hygiene.
Government has prepared safety measures to be enforced at ports and guest facilities including mandatory testing for airport arrivals.
Maldives is heavily dependent on tourism for its economic activities which was suspended in wake of COVID.

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::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Scientists develop low cost capacitor from industrial waste cotton

The scientists from the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and new materials (ARCI) have developed low cost, environment friendly super capacitor from industrial waste cotton. The capacitor can be used as energy harvester storage device.
The scientists have used natural seawater as the aqueous electrolyte. This has reduced the cost of super capacitors greatly.
Also, the sea-water based super capacitor shows good durability with 99% of capacitance retention and 99% of Coloumbic Efficiency.
The four main components of super capacitors are electrolyte, electrode, separator and current collector. The fabrication cost of the super capacitor mainly determined by electrolyte and electrodes.

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::SPORTS::

BCCI appoints Hemang Amin as interim CEO

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may have appointed Hemang Amin as the interim chief executive officer (CEO) after relieving Rahul Johri of his duties last week, but the Indian Premier League (IPL) chief operating officer may soon emerge as a serious candidate for the CEO’s position.
Late on Monday evening, BCCI secretary Jay Shah circulated a note to State associations, informing them about Amin’s new role and Johri’s exit. According to BCCI insiders, the “timing” of the announcement hints at Amin being in contention for the CEO’s role.

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