What is Namami Gange Programme?

• The programme was llaunched by the union Govt. in June 2014 to integrate the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga River in a comprehensive manner.
• It is Implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterparts—State Programme Management Groups.
• Main pillars of the Namami Gange Programme are:-
  • Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure
  • River-Front Development
  • River-Surface Cleaning
  • Bio-Diversity
  • Afforestation

Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020

• Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, and, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Science and Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched Drug Discovery Hackathon.
• It is First of its kind national initiative for supporting drug discovery process.
• The objective is to identify drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2 by in-silico drug discovery through the hackathon and follow up by chemical synthesis and biological testing.
• Hackathon will primarily focus on computational aspects of drug discovery and will have three Tracks.
  • Track-1 will deal with computational modelling for drug design or identifying ‘lead’ compounds from existing databases that may have the potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2.
  • Track-2 will encourage participants to develop new tools and algorithms using data analytics and AI/ML approach for predicting drug-like compounds.
  • Track 3 is a Moon-shot approach which will only deal with novel and out-of-the-box ideas in this field.
• The hackathon will have three phases: each of the phases will be of 3 months each. The Drug Discovery Hackathon will be completed by April-May 2021.

5 years of Digital India

• Digital India is a programme launched in 2015 to transform India into digital empowered society and knowledge economy. 
• Digital journey has focused on empowerment, inclusion and digital transformation and its positive impact is being felt in all aspects of the lives of Indian citizens.
• It has positively impacted all aspects of the lives of Indian citizens identity management through Aadhaar, DBT, Common Services Centres, DigiLocker, mobile based UMANG services, participatory governance through MyGov, Jeevan Pramaan, to UPI, Ayushman Bharat, e-Hospital, PM-Kisan, e-NAM, Soil Health Cards, SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA, National Scholarship Portal, e-Pathshala, and so on.
• Vision areas:
  • Digital infrastructure as Utility to Every Citizen
  • Governance and services on demand
  • Digital empowerment of citizens
• Key achievements-
  • Direct Benefit Transfer to the tune of Rs 11.1 lakh crore has been disbursed for 426 schemes.
  • Jan Dhan Accounts have reached 38.73 crore beneficiaries
  •  DigiLocker, launched on July 1, 2015, has 378 crore issued documents.

Dream Kerala Project

• The project is to tap the potential and experience of those returning from foreign nations and other states after losing their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In 2018, NRI remittances were Rs 85,000 crore in the state. The remittances from the NRI’s have continued to play a significant part in the economy of the state.
• The project will be jointly implemented by various departments of the state government.
• Under this rehabilitation will be provided to the returning expatriate but the success of the project will depend on the use of the expertise, skills, and knowledge.

India’s unemployment rate fell to 11% in June

• Data is released by Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE).
• India’s unemployment rate fell to 10.99% in June from 23.48% in May.
• While urban unemployment was 12.02% in the month as against 25.79% in May.
• The June data is reflective of the resumption in activities as India unlocked its economy from 1 June and continued to open up several sectors.
• Self-employment avenues opened up.
• Khariff sowing picked up due to good progress of monsoon.

Current COVID19 Situation in India

QUIZ TIME

Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020 is for which disease?

1. SARS-CoV-2.
2. Chikungunya
3. Dengue
4. SARS

Answer – A

Which of the following is not the vision of Digital India?

1. Digital infrastructure as Utility to Every Citizen
2. Governance and services on demand
3. Environmentally sustainable development
4. Digital empowerment of citizens

Answer – C

What is the reason for the fall in India’s unemployment rate 11% in June 2020?

1. Foreign investments
2. Proper implementation of Govt. schemes
3. Make in India
4. Unlock

Answer – D

Dream Kerala Project is for the development of?

1. Backward class
2. Farmers
3. Expatriate
4. Migrant labour

Answer – C

Question of the Day

What is Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana?

Answer in next session…