DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 24th August 2021
National Monetisation Plan
- The Union Budget for 2021-22, had made a lot of significant announcements regarding asset Monetisation and stressed on the fact that the government is looking at innovative ways to raise finances.
- Infra assets worth ₹ 6 lakh crore across rail, road, power sectors to be monetized over 4 years.
- National Monetisation Pipeline talks about brownfield assets where investment is already being made, where there are assets either languishing or not fully monetized or under-utilized.
- By bringing in private participation, we are going to monetize it (assets) better and with whatever resource that you obtained by monetization, you can put in for further investment into infrastructure building.
- Is Govt selling away the lands? No: National Monetization Pipeline is talking about brownfield assets that need to be better monetized
- Ownership of assets remains with the government. There will be a mandatory hand back. Private sector partners will have to give it back after a certain time.
Bhuvan “Yuktdhara” Launched
- New portal under Bhuvan “Yuktdhara” will facilitate planning of new MGNREGA assets using Remote Sensing and GIS based information: Union Minister Shri Jitendra Singh
- “This platform will serve as a repository of assets (Geotags) created under various national rural development Programmes, i.e., MGNREGA, Integrated Watershed Management Programme, Per Drop More Crop and Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana etc., along with field photographs”.
- ISRO’s Geoportal Bhuvan and its rich information base, satellite images and analytical capabilities etc. shall be used in this process.
Sree Narayana Guru Remembered on his Jayanti
- Sree Narayana Guru (22 August 1856 – 20 September 1928) was a philosopher, spiritual leader, and social reformer in India.
- His family belonged to the Ezhava caste and was considered ‘avarna’ (Doesn’t belong to one of the four varnas).
- He gave the famous slogan “One Caste, One Religion, One God for All” (Oru Jathi, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam, Manushyanu).
- In 1888, he built a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at Aruvippuram which was against the caste-based restrictions of the time.
- In one temple he consecrated at Kalavancode, he kept mirrors instead of idols. This symbolized his message that the divine was within everyone.
- Narayana Gurudeva provided the impetus for Vaikom agitation which was aimed at temple entry in Travancore for the lower castes. It drew nationwide attention and appreciation from Mahatma Gandhi.
PM Congratulates Athletes on Winning Medals
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated wrestlers on winning medals at the Junior World Wrestling Championships 2021.
- At the Junior World Wrestling Championships 2021, our Men’s and Women’s contingent comes back with a total of 11 medals including 4 Silvers.
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has also congratulated athletes on winning the medals at World Athletics Under 20 Nairobi-2021.
- He congratulated our athletes for bringing home 2 Silver medals and a bronze medal at @WAU20Nairobi21.
Shri Shakti Challenge 2021
- The basic aim of this challenge is to further Nari Sashaktikaran, which is to empower women to help them achieve their full potential.
- The primary focus area of this challenge is to encourage technology solutions developed by women entrepreneurs that facilitate women’s safety and empowerment.
- The Amrit Mahotsav Shri Shakti Innovation Challenge is a platform where women tech entrepreneurs and start-ups can showcase their products designed by women, for women.
- Hosted by the MyGov platform, Shri Shakti Challenge 2021 will accept entries till September 17, 2021.
- After the registration and listing process, 10 nominees will be shortlisted and supported through a mentorship programme.
- Simultaneously, each nominee will be awarded a grant of INR 1,00,000 to develop the Proof of Concept of their ideas.
- Following a rigorous screening process, five winners will be selected by a Jury in November 2021. The winners hence will be awarded INR 5,00,000 each to develop, market and implement their solutions.
Kalyan Singh Cremated with Full State Honors
- Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh was cremated with senior leaders, party workers and many local people attending the Cremation ceremony.
- The two-time CM, who had also been the Rajasthan Governor, died at a Lucknow hospital on Saturday after spending weeks in the ICU.
- A Hindutva icon, Singh was the Uttar Pradesh chief minister when ‘‘Kar sevaks” demolished the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
- India had adopted the concept of ‘Planning’ from
- USA
- UK
- Canada
- USSR
ANSWER: D
- Which of the following is not Envisioned for NITI Aayog to strive for
- Bottom – Up approach
- Maximum Governance, Minimum Government
- Cooperative Federalism
- None of Above
ANSWER: D
- Who is the current Chairperson of NITI Aayog?
- Amitabh Kant
- Dr Rajiv Kumar
- Arvind Panagariya
- Narendra Modi
ANSWER: D
- The Regional Councils of NITI Aayog to address specific regional issues shall comprise of ______
- Chief Ministers
- Lt. Governors
- Prime Minister or his nominee
- All the Above
ANSWER: D
- NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer shall be appointed by Prime minister for a fixed tenure, in rank of
- Cabinet Minister
- Minister of State
- Secretary to GOI
- Cabinet Secretary
ANSWER: C
- Which among the following is not the document which NITI Aayog planned to come out with
- 3-year action agenda
- 7-year medium-term strategy paper
- 15-year vision document
- India Vision 2050
ANSWER: D
- Initially Bhuvan was launched by ISRO in
- 2009
- 2010
- 2015
- 2016
ANSWER: A
- Sree Narayan Guru belonged to which caste
- Mahar
- Ezhava
- Madiga
- Banjara
ANSWER: B
- Narayana Guru organized an All-Region Conference in _____ at Alwaye Advaita Ashram
- 1923
- 1924
- 1925
- 1926
ANSWER: A
- ________ is observed as Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi in Kerala.
- 20th September
- 21st October
- 5th March
- 19th April
ANSWER: A
