26 SEP 2020

 

Bangladesh to make film on revolutionary freedom fighter Pritilata Waddedar

The government of Bangladesh is financing a film on the life of revolutionary freedom fighter Pritilata Waddedar.

• The film ‘Bhalobasha Pritilata’ will be based on the first woman Bengali revolutionary nationalist of the Indian subcontinent against the British regime.
• The film is based on the novel by Selina Hossain.
• Pritilata was born in Dhalghat village of Chittagong in Bangladesh on 5 May 1911.
• She had her education in Chattogram, Dhaka and then at Bethune College, Kolkata for graduation.
• She joined the freedom movement and worked with revolutionaries like Surya Sen and Nirmal Sen.
• She was involved in several revolutionary acts like the famous Chittagong armoury raid and attack on the Pahartali European club at Chittagong in 1932 where she received bullet injury. However, she consumed cyanide before the British police could capture her.

Country's apex regulator of medical education 'National Medical Commission' comes into existence

The National Medical Commission (NMC), in place of the Medical Council of India (MCI), as the country's apex regulator of medical education and profession has come into existence.

• With the NMC coming into being, the Board of Governors (BoG) which superseded the MCI on September 26th, 2018, to perform its functions, has been dissolved and the nearly 64-year-old Indian Medical Council Act abolished. 
• Dr Suresh Chandra Sharma, former head of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences ENT department, Delhi, has been appointed as chairman for a period of three years.
• The NMC Act, which seeks to usher in mega reforms in the medical education sector, received the assent of the president on August 8th last year.
• The NMC comprises a chairman, 10 ex-officio members and 22 part-time members.

'Saubhagya' scheme completes three years since its inception

Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana -“Saubhagya” has completed three years since its inception.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched this scheme on the 25th of September, 2017 to ensure electrification of all willing households in the country in rural as well as urban areas.
• The scheme was launched with  an  aim to achieve universal household electrification by providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all households in rural areas  and all poor households in urban areas across the country.
• The scheme was started with an outlay of 16,320 crore rupees.
• As many as over 2 crore 62 lakh households have been provided electricity connection so far under the Saubhagya scheme.

670 Electric buses sanctioned in Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Chandigarh under Phase-2 of FAME India scheme

The government has sanctioned 670 electric buses and 241 charging stations to boost the electric mobility in the country.

• The buses have been sanctioned in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Chandigarh whereas charging stations in Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Port Blair under Phase-II of FAME India Scheme.
• Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India scheme was launched in 2015 to promote adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles in India.
• The second phase of this scheme has been implemented from last year with a total budgetary support of 10 thousand crore rupees.

Water level in Stanley Reservoir at Mettur, Tamil Nadu reaches 100 ft

The water level in the Stanley Reservoir at Mettur in Tamil Nadu has reached hundred feet.

• This is considered the 66th time the level rises above 100-feet since its inception against its full reservoir level of 120-feet.
• The water inflow into the biggest dam in the state remains 35-thousand cusecs as it is raining in the catchment areas of the river Cauvery.
• Stanley Reservoir (also known as Mettur dam) is one of largest fishing reservoirs in South India.
• Its main source of water is the River Kaveri (Cauvery).
• Three minor tributaries – Palar, Chennar and Thoppar – enter the Kaveri on her course above Stanley Reservoir.

Dates for Bihar Assembly Elections announced

The Assembly elections in Bihar will be held in three phases starting from 28th of next month. 

• The counting will take place on 10th November.
• The Model Code of Conduct, MCC has come into effect with the declaration of elections.
• The number of phases for 243-member Bihar assembly polls has been reduced keeping in mind security arrangements and festive season. 
• He informed that the voting time has been extended by one hour till 6 PM and COVID-19 patients will vote in the last hour of the day.

Elephants enjoy week-long rejuvenation camp at Bandhavgarh

In Madhya Pradesh, fifteen elephants deployed for various tasks in the state's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve are on a unique week-long picnic these days.

• This picnic is organized every year as an annual Elephant Festival.
• The rejuvenation camp for elephants began, giving them a break from their routine work.
• The elephants are being given their favourite food and massages by Neem and other oils during the rejuvenation week.
• Public participation has been limited this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• A new scheme to adopt elephants is also being launched.
• Under this scheme, any person can adopt an elephant for a day or a month.
• Interested individuals will have to incur fixed expenses of medicines and food of a pachyderm for that duration.

51st IFFI to be held from 16th to 24th January next year in Goa

The 51st Edition of the International Film Festival of India, IFFI  will be held from 16th to 24th January, next year in Goa.

• Earlier it was scheduled to be held from 20th November to 28th November, this year.
• The postponement follows discussion between Information and Broadcasting  Minister Prakash Javadekar and Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant.
• The festival will be conducted in a Virtual and Physical format.

UP govt launches unified portal ‘U-Rise’ to guide students in learning, career counselling, employment

The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a unified portal called ‘U-Rise’ to guide students in learning, career counselling, and getting employment in the state.

• The programme would connect students with practical and technical knowledge.
• Uttar Pradesh was the first state to launch a unified portal along with the implementation of NEP.
• About 20 lakh students, getting vocational and technical education, and technical experts will benefit from this portal.
• The e-content, e-library, and online courses available on this portal will be accessible by students even in the most interior areas of the state.
• This portal would benefit students and empower them by providing every possible information -- from online exams, digital content, digital assessment, digital examination papers, webinars, internship, e-library, recorded video content to employment.

RBI suggests five-pillared approach to deal with cybersecurity issues in UCBs

The Reserve Bank came out with a five-pillared strategic approach 'GUARD' to deal with cyber security threats being faced by Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs).

• The RBI said in its document 'Technology Vision for Cyber Security for Urban Cooperative Banks 2020-2023' that the number, frequency and impact of cyber incidents and attacks have increased manifold in the recent past, more so in the case of the financial sector, including UCBs.
• Therefore, it has become essential to enhance the security posture of UCBs to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from cyber-attacks.
• The technology vision document, which was formalised after obtaining inputs from various stakeholders, is aimed at enhancing the cybersecurity posture of UCBs against evolving IT and cyber threat environments.

Acer India signs Sonu Sood as brand ambassador

A leading Personal Computer (PC) brand, Acer India has appointed actor Sonu Sood as its brand ambassador.

• The actor will be seen endorsing the brand's innovative range of products across media platforms for the campaign to talk about Acer's commitment to improving people's lives through technology.
• In May 2020, during the nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sood helped thousands of stranded Indian migrant workers to reach their homes by arranging buses, special trains and chartered flights for them.
• In July 2020 he arranged a chartered flight to bring home over 1,500 Indian students stranded in Kyrgyzstan, flying them from Bishkek to Varanasi.
• His charity during the pandemic was lauded, and he was hailed as a real-life hero in India.

EESL appoints Rajat Sud as its new Managing Director

A Joint Venture(JV) of Public Sector Undertakings, under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has appointed Rajat Sud as its new Managing Director from immediate effect.

• He takes charge from S Gopal, director (commercial), who was given the additional charge as interim MD.
• Prior to joining EESL, he worked as an executive vice president at Sterlite Power Transmission Ltd.