- Miscellaneous
NITI Aayog launches ‘Surakshit Dada-Dadi & Nana-Nani Abhiyan’
The campaign has been launched virtually in association with Piramal Foundation
It aims to ensure the well-being of senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic through behavioral change, access to service and early detection and tracking
The campaign will reach over 2.9 million senior citizens in 25 Aspirational Districts across Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh(MP), Maharashtra, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh(UP)
Quick Fact: India had identified 117 districts in 2002 called Aspirational Districts, which were affected by poor socio-economic indicators
- Economy
Cooperative banks providing banking services now ‘banking companies’ as per SARFAESI Act
Supreme Court has ruled that the cooperative banks involved in activities related to banking are covered within the meaning of ‘banking company’
Parliament now has legislative competence to provide for procedure for recovery of loan under the SARFAESI Act.
The SARFAESI Act allows banks and financial institutions to auction properties (residential and commercial) when borrowers fail to repay their loans.
Quick Fact: SARFAESI Act stands for Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002
- National Affairs
Styrene gas leaked from LG Polymers Plant in Vishakhapatnam
A gas leak of Styrene gas has affected around 5000 residents in 5 villages in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Styrene is a flammable liquid that is used in the manufacturing of polystyrene plastics,
berglass, rubber, and latex.
It can affect the respiratory system, central nervous system along with other diseases.
The Styrene plant is owned by South Korean electronics giant LG and is located at RRV Puram near Gopalapatnam.
- Defence and Security
Border Link Road to Kailash Mansarovar inaugurated
The link road connects Dharchula to Lipulekh (China Border) at 17060 feet height.
It is also known as Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Route.
The road has been constructed by Border Roads Organization (BRO).
The road will provide connectivity to border villages and security forces
Quick Fact: The headquarters of BRO, founded in 1960, is located in New Delhi.
- Science and Technology
NSAFE: First antimicrobial and washable Face Mask
NSAFE has been developed by an IIT Delhi Startup
It is the first fabric-based face mask that is antimicrobial and can be washed 50 times
NSAFE face mask provides 99.2% of bacterial filtration via mechanical filtration, repulsion of aerosol droplets and antimicrobial decontamination.
It complies with ASTM standards.
Quick Fact: ASTM or American Society for Testing and Materials is an international standards organization that develops and publishes technical standards for materials, services and products.
- Environment
Royal Bengal Tigers in Sundarbans leaps to 96
Number of Royal Bengal Tigers in the Sundarbans has increased to 96 according to the census conducted for the year 2019-20
The mangrove forest has 3,700 square kilometres of ‘tiger territory’.
Tiger Territory is where individual tigers live, hunt, congregate and establish territory.
Royal Bengal Tigers are listed as Endangered Species under IUCN.
Quick Fact: Sundarbans, formed on the delta of Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, are a World Heritage Site
- Person in News
Tarun Bajaj becomes new director on RBI Central Board
Economic Affairs Secretary, Tarun Bajaj has been appointed as new director of Central Board of RBI.
He is a 1988 batch IAS officer.
He will be replacing Atanu Chakraborty, who was the previous director.
Quick Fact: Shaktikanta Das is the governor of RBI
- Miscellaneous
Vijyant at Kargil: The Life of a Kargil War Hero: Book on Capt. Vijyant Thapar released
This book is a biography of posthumous Vir Chakra awardee Captain Vijyant Thapar
It is authored by Capt. Vijyant’s father Colonel VN Thapar and writer Neha Dwivedi.
