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Optimized Current Affairs Date- 13 August 2019

KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES COMMISSION (KVIC)
Khadi and Village Industry Commission (KVIC) distributed as many as 50 leather
kits and 350 Bee-Boxes with live bee colonies in tribal-dominated village in Sirohi
district of Rajasthan, one of the aspirational districts in India identified by the NITI
Aayog, on World Tribal Day.
World Tribal Day:Observed on August 9 every year, World Tribal Day or the
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is aimed at protecting the rights of
the world’s tribal population.+recognises the achievements and contributions that
indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection+first
declared by the United Nations in December 1994 marking the day of the first meeting
of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Subcommission on the
Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, in 1982.+ Khadi & Village Industries
Commission (KVIC): KVIC a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament (Khadi
and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956)+April 1957, it took over the work of
former All India Khadi and Village Industries Board.Functions: apex organization under
the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, with regard to khadi and village
industries within India+seeks to – “plan, promote, facilitate, organise and assist in the
establishment and development of khadi and village industries in the rural areas in
coordination with other agencies+The Commission has three main objectives which
guide its functioning. These are: Social Objective-Providing employment in rural
areas+Economic Objective-Providing salable articles+Wider Objective-Creating self-
reliance amongst people and building up a strong rural community spirit.+Few tribal
movements that have sprouted across India over the years:The Santhal rebellion
(June 30, 1855 to January 3, 1856): known as the Santhal Hool, it was a native
rebellion in eastern India against both the British colonial authority and zamindari
system by the Santhal people.The Munda Rebellion: led the movement in the region
south of Ranchi in 1899-1900, seeking the establishment of Munda Raj and
independence after the system of khuntkattidar was corroded by the jagirdars and
thikadars who came as moneylenders and as traders.+The Bodo Movement: official
movement of the Bodos for an independent state of Bodoland started under the
leadership of Upendranath Brahma of All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) on March 2,
1987+While the movement was suppressed +ABSU created a political organization
called the Bodo People’s Action Committee (BPAC).+After the Bodo Accord, the
Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) was constituted, which was later replaced by the
BTQ which was established in accordance with the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS)
on February 10 2003+Other tribal revolutions that have risen in India between the
18th century and the 20th century include: Uprising of the Mahadev Koli tribes in
Maharashtra+1812 Kurichya Rebellion organized against the Wayanad invasion of
British in 1812.1857-1858 The Bhil revolted against under the leadership of Bhagoji
Naik and Kajar Singh.+1862 The Koya tribe in Andhra against tribal landlords called
‘Muttader’ in tribal dial+1891 The tribals of North-East India revolted against the British
under leadership of Tikendraji Singh.+Bastar Revolution in central India1917-1919 Kuki

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Uprising in Manipur against British under the leadership of their chieftains called
haosa1941 The Gond and the Kolam revolted in collaboration against British
Government in the Adilabad district of the state of Telangana.1942 Tribal revolt
under+Lakshmana Naik at Koraput in Orissa.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON E-GOVERNANCE ADOPTS ‘SHILLONG
DECLARATION’
22nd National Conference on e-Governance adopts ‘Shillong Declaration’ with
focus on Northeast.
Has outlined the future trajectory that would be taken in terms of e-governance with a
focus on improving connectivity in Northeast.+Background: was organised by the
Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel,
Public Grievances & Pensions and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology in
collaboration with the Meghalaya Government.+was an attempt to streamline e-
governance services for effective policy implementation while helping to bridge the
technological divide.+The 10-point declaration includes: central government and
state governments+collaborate t+citizens’ experience+timely implementation of India
Enterprise Architecture (IndEA).+also implement a single sign-on for interoperability and
integration among e-Government applications throughout the country+resolved to
consolidate the plethora of successful state-level e-Governance projects and domain-
based projects+to replicate them as common application software+also stressed the
need to ensure improvement in ease of living and ease of doing business+shift in the
role of government from Service Provider to Service Enabler+also stressed on the need
to take steps to further improve connectivity in the Northeast+Issues and challenges of
telecommunication connectivity at the grassroots and formulate and implement a
comprehensive telecom development plan+resolved to improve the quality of delivery of
e-Services in the Northeast to fulfil the vision of improved citizen experience.+resolved
to develop India as a global cloud hub and facilitate the development of Government
applications and databases on Cloud by default.+adopt emerging technologies for
finding e-Governance solutions and to promote the Digital India Projects with focus
on Smart Cities and Smart Villages through Startups and Smart Entrepreneurship were
also resolved in the declaration
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY
International Youth Day (IYD), observed on August 12, is an awareness day
designated by the UN. The purpose of the day is to draw attention to a given set
of cultural and legal issues surrounding youngsters.
Theme: “Transforming education”.+Significance of the theme: to make education
more relevant, equitable and inclusive for all youth, including efforts by youth
themselves+Rooted in Goal 4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – to
“ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all, IYD will examine how Governments, young people and youth-led
and youth-focused organizations, as well as other stakeholders, are transforming
education and how these efforts are contributing to the achievement the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development.+Background: first celebrated on August 12, 2000, after
the UN General Assembly+resolution accepting the recommendation made by the

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World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in Lisbon in 1998.+Challenges

ahead: significant transformations are still required to make education systems more
inclusive and accessible: Only 10% of people have completed upper secondary
education in low income countries+40 % of the global population is not taught in a
language they speak or fully understand.+Over 75 % of secondary school age refugees
are out of school+In addition, indigenous youth, young people with disabilities, young
women, young people belonging to vulnerable groups or in vulnerable situations,
etc.+facing additional challenges to+access education that respects their diverse needs
and abilities as well as reflects and embraces their unique realities and
identities.+Significance of Education: more relevant, equitable and inclusive is crucial
to achieving sustainable development.+a ‘development multiplier’ in that it plays a
pivotal role in accelerating progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals+be it
poverty eradication, good health, gender equality, decent work and growth, reduced
inequalities, action on climate or building peaceful societies.+Education should lead to
effective learning outcomes: with the content of school curricula and pedagogy being
fit for purpose+not only for the 4th industrial revolution+future of work and life+but also
for the opportunities and challenges that rapidly changing social contexts bring.+Why
educate the youth? crucial to bringing about more relevant, equitable and inclusive
education.+transforming education by partnering with Governments, educational
institutions and other stakeholders, lobbying and advocating education policies and
developing complementary training programs+organizations are addressing barriers for
youth on the basis of economic status, ethnic group, gender, and other characteristics;
updating education plans and school curricula to include lessons about peace, justice
and the environment and climate change, among many other+essential to the
transformation of education into a means for inclusive youth development and
sustainable development more broadly.+Why do we mark International Days?
occasions to educate the public on issues of concern+mobilize political will and
resources to address global problems+celebrate and reinforce achievements of
humanity.+predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced
them as a powerful advocacy tool.
MUKHYA MANTRI KRISHI ASHIRWAD YOJANA
VP Venkaiah Naidu recently Inaugurated Mukhya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojana
in Jharkhand.
a target set by the government to provide welfare and financial support to farmers in
Jharkhand.+was incorporated in the state budget from the financial year 2019-2020, is
the first scheme by the state government that provides 100 percent settlement through
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) medium.+How does it work? first phase of the MMKAY
scheme, Rs 5000 will be disbursed to 13.60 lakh farmers for each acre of their land with
a maximum amount of Rs 25,000.+will be directly transferred through Real Time Gross
Settlement (RTGS) to the registered bank accounts on August 10.+remaining 22 lakh
farmers will also be registered soon and the funds are expected to be transferred by
October this year.
GOVT. TO LAUNCH ‘UBER FOR TRACTORS’ APP TO AID FARMERS

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India’s agriculture ministry has developed a farm equipment rental app-‘Über for
tractors’- for Indian farmers.
Key facts: app lets farmers hire tractors, rotavator and other farm related machinery on
rent for with flexible tenures.+would enable farmers to have affordable access to cutting-
edge technology at their doorsteps.+seeks to efficiently connect farmers with custom
hiring centres CHCs, just like Uber connects passangers to cabs.+includes a rating
system wherein the feedback from both the CHC and the farmers, allowing customers
to make informed decisions.+will also create an invaluable database for policy-makers,
who can track the use and cost of equipment+Significance: help to track the usage of
new technology that the government wants to promote, such as the Happy Seeder that
aims to prevent stubble burning+solar dryers that can help farmers process and
preserve their produce

IRON ION BATTERY

IIT Madras has fabricated a rechargeable iron ion battery and registered initial
success.
Key facts: been designed using mild steel as the anode.+cost-effective and the amount
of energy that can be stored in the battery is also high.+lithium ions are the charge
carriers in lithium ion battery, the Fe2+ ions perform that function in the case of iron ion
battery.+the amount of energy that can be drawn from the iron ion battery is 220 Wh per
kg, which is 55-60% of lithium ion battery’s performance.+vanadium pentoxide is used
as the cathode+Vanadium pentoxide was chosen as it has a layered structure with very
large spacing between the layers+large inter-layer spacing in vanadium pentoxide
allows iron ions to easily move in and bind to the interlayers of the cathode and also
easily get detached and move back to the anode.+Benefits of iron over Lithium:Iron
has favourable physico-chemical properties like lithium+redox potential of iron ion is
higher than lithium ion and the radius of the Fe2+ ion is nearly the same as that of the
lithium ion.Iron is more stable during the charging process and therefore prevents short-
circuiting of the batteries.+when compared with the popular lithium metal-based
batteries helps cut down the cost and make it safer to handle.
CERTIFICATION OF SEEDS TO BE MADE MANDATORY
The Centre is planning to mandate uniform certification of seed by amending the
Seeds Act, 1966.
Need for mandatory certification:More than half of all seeds sold in India are not
certified by any proper testing agency, and are often of poor quality.+existing legislation
that was enacted over half a century ago.+Key changes proposed: 1966 Act starts
with these words: “An Act to provide for regulating the quality of certain seeds for
sale…” The new Bill removes the word “certain”, and aims to regulate the quality of all
seeds sold in the country, as well as exported and imported seeds.+will also raise the
stakes by increasing penalties for non-compliance+fine ranges from ₹500 to
₹5,000+Significance of the move: increase overall agricultural productivity by up to
25%.+main aim of the new legislation is to bring uniformity to the process of quality
regulation
NATIONAL ANTI-DOPING AGENCY (NADA)

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The BCCI has agreed to come under the ambit of the National Anti-Doping
Agency (NADA).
NADA: was set up as registered society under the Societies Registration Act of 1890 on
November 24, 2005 with a mandate for Dope free sports in India.The primary objectives
are to implement anti-doping rules as per WADA code, regulate dope control
programme, to promote education and research and creating awareness about doping
and its ill effects.
FALAQ
Iran unveils ‘improved’ radar air defence system, called Falaq.
a mobile radar and a vehicle housing a control room, which is an improved version of
the Gamma, a system of Russian origin.+a range of 400 km (250 miles) that could help
defend against cruise and ballistic missiles and drones.
PET BOTTLES
A comprehensive evaluation by the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research
Institute (CFRTI), Mysore has determined that PET bottles are safe.
For years there’s been a debate internationally on whether PET (Polyethylene
Terephthalate) bottles, which are the mainstay of plastic bottles and disposable food
containers, leach harmful chemicals when exposed to high temperatures+antimony,
arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury, selenium and zinc “were
below” their detection limits (BDL) of 0.001 mg/kg.BPA (bis-phenol A) was below its
detection limit of 0.02 mg/kg+BPA is a synthetic organic compound and used in the
manufacture of PET bottles+now phased out after research found a link between the
presence of BPA and the disruption of hormone regulation, as well as breast
cancer.+also below the EU (European Union) regulation norms of the “specific migration
limit”, which is the maximum amount of a substance that can migrate from a food
packaging material or food container into food.+study was commissioned by the
industry body named Pet Packaging Association for Clean Environment (PACE).
CANCER
Government of India is planning to include all types of cancers and their
treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
It is because cancer care costs cause massive financial crisis among people and
many had to go without treatment. Cancer in India: World Health Organisation
(WHO), the rate of mortality due to cancer in India is high, with cancer the second-most
common disease in India, responsible for maximum mortality, with about 0.3 million
deaths per year.+Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in India, followed by
breast cancer and oral cancers.+stands at around 2.25 million, with over 11 lakh new
cancer patients registered each year.+risk of developing cancer before the age of 75
years for males stands at 9.81% and females at 9.42+risk of dying from cancer before
the age of 75 years stood at 7.34% in males and 6.28% in females+Ayushman Bharat
Yojana- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) is the Central Government’s
health insurance scheme that aims to give medical cover to over 10 crore poor and
vulnerable families of approximately 50 crore beneficiaries+coverage of up to ₹5 lakh
per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.So far, 16,000
hospitals have been empanelled, nearly 34 lakh beneficiaries have been admitted, and
9 crore e-cards have been issued.

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