World Water Development Report 2020
News:The World Water Development Report 2020 has been released.
Facts:
- The report is produced annually by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme(WWAP) and released by UN-Water.
- Title: Water and climate Change
News:Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI),Pune, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology have developed a wheat variety named MACS 4028.
Facts:
MACS-4028:
- It is a biofortified durum wheat variety.
- Benefits: High protein content, better zinc and iron content, superior and stable yielding ability and good milling quality.
- Resistance to: stem rust, leaf rust, foliar aphids, root aphids and brown wheat mite.
Additional Facts:
- Biofortification: It is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding or modern biotechnology.
Centre for Internet of Ethical Things
News:Karnataka Government has decided to set up a Centre for Internet of Ethical Things In Bengaluru.
Facts:
- It is a collaboration with the World Economic Forum(WEF)
- Aim: To bring together aspects of Artificial Intelligence(AI), Internet of Things(IoT) and Ethics on a single platform.
Additional Facts:
- Artificial Intelligence: It refers to the ability of machines to perform cognitive tasks like thinking, perceiving, learning, problem-solving and decision making(NITI Aayog).
- Internet of Things: It is a system of interrelated devices that can connect and share data over a network without requiring the human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
#StayHomeIndiaWithBooks Initiative
News:National Book Trust(NBT) has launched #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks initiative in the wake of preventive measures taken by the Government of India to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Facts:
- Aim: To encourage people to read books by staying at Home.
Additional Facts:
National Book Trust:
- It is an Indian publishing house which functions as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
National Food Security Act,2013
News:Cabinet has approved the supply of 2 kg extra subsidised food grains through the ration shops under the National Food Security Act,2013.
Facts:
- Nodal agency:Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
- Objective:To provide food and nutritional security by ensuring access to an adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices.
- Coverage:67% of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas)
- Allocation:Eligible persons will be entitled to receive 5 Kgs of foodgrains per person per month at subsidised prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
- The existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households which constitute the poorest of the poor receives 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household per month.
- Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious take home ration of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months.
- Children upto 14 years of age are also entitled to nutritious meals as per the prescribed nutritional standards.
- Grievance Cell:The act also contains provisions for setting up of grievance redressal mechanism at the District and State levels.