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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 16 July 2020

::NATIONAL::

Parliament standing committee calls for database on migrants

Lessons should be learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic which saw unprecedented reverse migration, members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, headed by Congress leader Anand Sharma, said at a meeting on Wednesday.
The Committee has advised the government to set up a national database of migrant workers so that they don’t fall out of the social security cover.
The members, it is learnt, asked Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and other officials from the Union Home Ministry to explain if better coordination between States and districts could have prevented the massive exodus of migrant workers, many of whom trudged back many kilometres to their home States.
The committee has urged the government to come up with the database at the earliest since the pandemic and consequent economic uncertainty is likely to continue for while.
Sources said the members, including BJP general secretary Anil Jain, flagged the black-marketing of essential drugs. The members slammed the Health Ministry for pushing more expensive drug and treatment protocols when cheaper options were available. Health Ministry officials, according to sources, said oxygen cylinders were in short supply.

Government gives nod for urgent defence procurements

The Defence Ministry on Wednesday once again gave emergency powers to the armed forces to procure weapons systems at costs up to ₹300 crore on an urgent basis, without any further clearances, to cut short the procurement cycle, the Defence Ministry said. Similar powers were given to the services after the Balakot air strike in February 2019.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, which the Ministry convened considering the security environment due to the situation along the northern borders and the need to strengthen the armed forces.

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::ECONOMY::

India emphasizes role of sustainable agriculture for enabling food security

Sustainable agriculture is fundamental to food security, India has said at a high-level UN session, and emphasised the need to bring seed diversity back as shift by farmers from local varieties to genetically uniform, high-yielding breeds has reduced the ability of crops to survive when faced with challenges.
India joined Chile and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) to co-host the High-Level Political Forum side-event 'On the road to the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables 2021: Highlighting health and nutritional benefits through sustainable production and consumption of fruits and vegetables'.
The regular consumption of diverse fruits and vegetables is essential for a well-balanced diet and to prevent micro-nutrient deficiency and non-communicable diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. However, despite this recognition, worldwide per capita consumption of fruit and vegetables is estimated to be 20-50% short of the minimum level recommended.
India, with just 2.4 per cent of the world's land area, is the second-largest producer of fruits with an annual production of 98 million tonnes, accounting for about 10.9 per cent of the world production.

Indian population expected to peak by 2047,finds study

When this century ends, India may no longer be a country of a billion, says a projection that appears in the online edition of the Lancet on Wednesday.
At the current rate of growth, India's population is likely to peak by 2047 at about 1.61 billion and then decline to 1.03 billion by 2100. However, were it to meet UN Sustainable Goal Development targets, the peak would be earlier and see a population decline to 929 million.
Conventional wisdom is that though a decline in population is expected, it is expected to begin only around 2046 and that fall, according to the latest 2019 assessment by the United Nations Development Programme calculation, is expected to see India’s population settle at a little over 1.4 billion, though this too ranges from 2.1-0.9 billion.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

15TH India-European Union summit held via virtual format

The 15th Summit between India and the European Union was held in virtual format today. India was represented by Prime Minister NarendraModi. The EU was represented by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
A Joint Statement of the India-EU Summit said, the leaders decided to strengthen the India-EU Strategic Partnership, based on shared principles and values of democracy, freedom, rule of law, and respect for human rights, aiming at delivering concrete benefits for the people in India and the EU.
As the world's two largest democracies, India and the EU affirmed their determination to promote effective multilateralism and a rules-based multilateral order with the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation at its core.
The leaders noted mutual synergies in the field of healthcare through shared capacities, experiences and strengths in the production of pharmaceuticals and vaccines, healthcare research and development, diagnostics and treatment.
They discussed prospects for global collaboration and sustained funding for developing and deploying and accessibility of effective diagnostics, treatments and vaccines to make them available to all at an affordable price. They called for the future COVID-19 vaccine to become a global common good.
The leaders adopted the "India-EU Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” to guide cooperation between India and the EU over the next five years. They welcomed the signing of the India-EURATOM Agreement on research and development cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

UK bans its companies from procuring 5G equipments from China

The UK has banned its companies from sourcing 5G equipment from Chinese telecom company Huawei. The move comes despite Beijing’s threat to retaliate to any such action by Britain.
UK’s Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden made the announcement after a meeting, chaired by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, of his cabinet and the National Security Council.
Mr Dowden told British parliament that from the end of this year, telecoms providers must not buy any 5G equipment from Huawei.

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::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

DCGI gives approval for indigenous pneumonia vaccine

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved the first fully indigenously developed conjugate vaccine for pneumonia developed by the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, Pune.
The Serum Institute first obtained the DGCI approval to conduct Phase I, Phase II and Phase III clinical trials of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine in India.
It has also conducted clinical trials in Gambia, the Health Ministry said in a statement.This vaccine is used for active immunisation against invasive disease and pneumonia caused by “streptococcus pneumonia” in infants.
The vaccine is administered intramuscularly. According to information on the clinical trials registry, the first phase of the trial was conducted in 2013 in 34 young Indian adults, while the second phase in 114 toddlers of 12-15 months.

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::SPORTS::

Sports ministry urges states to mobilise volunteers for fight against COVID

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports KirenRijiju has called upon Ministers and senior officers in charge of Youth Affairs and Sports Departments from all states to mobilise a large number of volunteers to intensify India’s fight against COVID- 19, as well as to create awareness about Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Mr Rijiju was holding a two-day video conference with all states and UTs to create a collaborative roadmap for sports and youth affairs-related issues.
Speaking about the need to enhance the pool of volunteers across the country, Mr Rijiju said, more than 60 lakh volunteers of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and National Service Scheme were engaged as frontline COVID warriors as they created awareness and assisted citizens during the pandemic.
During the conference, the Union Minister also spoke of the relevance of the Fit India Movement during Covid times since staying fit and building immunity are two key factors in defeating the virus. He urged all states to continue with Fit India activities online during Covid and include common people in fitness-related activities.

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