What is INTERPOL?

• International Criminal Police Organization is an inter-governmental organization.
• It was established in 1923.
• Headquarter Lyon, France.
• It has seven regional bureaus worldwide and a National Central Bureau (NCB) in all 194 member states, making it the world’s largest police organization.
• India has been a member since 1956.
• Functions:
• Manages 18 police databases with information on crimes and criminals
• Investigative support around the world.
• Expertise supports national efforts in combating crimes including terrorism, cybercrime and organized crime.
• The Interpol doesn’t have law enforcement powers such as arrest.

Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020

• NITI Aayog in partnership with the Institute of Competitiveness released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020.
• The first report to examine export preparedness and performance of Indian states.
• It can identify challenges and opportunities; enhance the effectiveness of government policies.
• The structure of Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020 comprises of 4 pillars:
• Policy
• Business Ecosystem
• Export Ecosystem
• Export Performance
• Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu occupied the top three ranks in the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020.
• In the landlocked states, Rajasthan has performed the best.
• Himalayan states, Uttarakhand is the highest.
• Across the Union Territories, Delhi has performed the best.

National Clean Air Programme

• The National Green Tribunal has slammed the Ministry of Environment and Forests over its report on the National Clean Air Programme.
• The report proposes 20-30% reduction of air pollution by 2024.
• The Ministry had further said that pollution could not be controlled except to the extent of certain per cent.
• The target was to achieve norms in 10 years and reduce load to the extent of 35% in the first three years with further reduction of pollution later.
• Failure to address air pollution is a denial of Right to Life under Article 21.
•  It is also not clear what type of pollutants or all pollutants would be reduced.
• NCAP:
• Launched by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in 2019.
• First-ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target.
• Function: To provide the States and the Centre with a framework to combat air pollution.
• Target: 20%–30% reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024.

BRICS innovation base

• China has proposed the creation of a BRICS innovation base in China.
• It will take forward 5G and Artificial Intelligence (AI) cooperation among BRICS countries.
• India is unlikely to allow Chinese participation in the roll-out of its national 5G network.
• While other countries are willing to work.
• BRICS
• Association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• Founded: June 2006
• The first BRICS Summit was held in 2009.

Average income of MGNREGA workers doubled during lockdown: CRISIL

• CRISIL said according to its report, the average income of MGNREGA workers has doubled in the time period of the COVID-19 outbreak lockdown.
• Nearly doubled to around 1,000 rupees per month during the first four months of the current fiscal
• The primary reason for the government’s thrust on MGNREGA is the covid-19 pandemic, which has pushed urban labourers back into their villages.
• The push to the scheme has been higher in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha and Gujarat.
• MGNREGA:
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is a labor law in India.
• Aim:  Ensure the ‘right to work’
• 100 days of wage employment is provided in a financial year to every household.
• Enhances livelihood security in rural areas.

AstroSat discovers one of the earliest galaxies

• A team of Scientists from the Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) has discovered one of the earliest galaxies called AUDFs01 using AstroSat.
• The galaxy is 9.3 billion light years away from Earth.
• The team comprises scientists from India, Switzerland, France, USA, Japan and Netherlands.
• AstroSat:
• Lunched on 28 September 2015 by ISRO into a near-Earth equatorial orbit.
• It is India’s first multi-wavelength space telescope
• It has five telescopes seeing through different wavelengths simultaneously — visible, near UV, far UV, soft X-ray and hard X-ray.

Current COVID19 Situation in India

QUIZ TIME

Which of the following state topped in the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020?

1. Maharashtra
2. Gujarat
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Mumbai

Answer – B

Export Preparedness Index is prepared by:

1. Ministry of Finance
2. Ministry of External Affairs
3. NITI Ayog
4. None of the above

Answer – C

National Clean Air Programme launched in the year:

1. 2000
2. 2010
3. 2009
4. 2019

Answer – D

AstroSat was launched by:

1. NASA
2. ISRO
3. JAXA
4. CNES

Answer – B

Question of the Day

What are the objectives of the MGNREGA?

Answer in next session…