Daily Current Affairs 19/08/2021
‘IndiGau’ India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip 
Why in News
- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh released “IndiGau’, India’s first Cattle Genomic Chipfor the conservation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle breeds like, Gir, Kankrej, Sahiwal, Ongole etc.
- This indigenous chip was developed by the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NAIB), Hyderabad, an autonomous institution under the aegis of the Department of Biotechnology.
Key Points
About IndiGau:
- IndiGau is purely indigenous and the largest cattle chip of the world.
- It has 11,496 markers (SNPs) more than that placed on 777K Illumina chip of United States & United Kingdom breeds.
- This chip will have practical utility in the Government’s schemes to achieve the goal of conservation of own breeds with better characteristics and help towards doubling of farmers’ income by 2022.
- The manufacturing of IndiGau Chip is in synergy with Rashtriya Gokul Mission and a great example of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
About Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM):
- It was launched in December 2014 for development and conservation of indigenous breeds through selective breeding in the breeding tract and genetic upgradation of nondescript bovine population.
- The scheme comprises two components namely National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) and National Mission on Bovine Productivity (NMBP).
Source: PIB
Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme
Why in News
- The Ministry of Defence has launched Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) with an outlay of Rs 400 crore for creating state-of-the-art testing infrastructure in partnership with the private industry.
- In this regard, the Department of Defence Production/Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DDP/DGQA) has published 8 Expression of Interest (EOIs) catering to setting up of defence test facilities in selected domains.
Key Points
About Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS):
- The scheme was announced by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on May 08, 2020.
- The scheme would run for the duration of five years and envisages setting up of 6-8 Greenfield Defence Testing Infrastructure facilities that are required for defence and aerospace related production.
Finance:
- The projects under the scheme will be provided with up to 75 percent Government funding in the form of ‘Grant-in-Aid’.
- The remaining 25 percent of the project cost will have to be borne by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) constituents of which will be the Indian private entities and state governments.
- The SPVs under the Scheme will be registered under Companies Act 2013.
Background:
- Under Make in India, India has accorded high priority to development of the manufacturing base of Defence and Aerospace sectors in the country so as to reduce dependence on imports.
- Towards this, the establishment of Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu was announced.
Other initiatives: Revised Make-II procedures, Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and Defence Investors Cell
Source: PIB
Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index)
Why in News
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled the first composite Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) to capture the financial inclusion across the country.
- The announcement regarding the creation of the Financial Inclusion Index was made in the first Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement for 2021-2022 on April 7.
- The annual FI-Index for the financial year ended March 2021 crossed the halfway mark to 53.9, as compared to 43.4 for the year ended March 2017.
Key Points
About Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index):
- The FI-Index has been conceptualised as a comprehensive index incorporating details of banking, investments, insurance, postal as well as the pension sector in consultation with government and sectoral regulators.
Parameters:
- The index will reflect various aspects of financial inclusion in a single value ranging between 0 and 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100 indicates full financial inclusion.
- The FI-Index comprises three broad parameters — access (35 percent weightage), usage (45 percent) and quality (20 percent) — with each of these consisting of various dimensions, which are computed based on a number of indicators.
- The index is responsive to ease of access, availability and usage of services, and quality of services, comprising, in all, 97 indicators.
- The index has been constructed without any “base year”, and reflects cumulative efforts of all stakeholders.
- The index will be published annually in July.
Related Initiatives:
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
- Digital Identity (Aadhaar), along with the proliferation of mobile phones with new payment systems, have addressed the first two challenges of access and usage to a large extent.
- National Centre for Financial Education (NCFE): (2020-2025 document for creating a financially aware and empowered India)
- Centre for Financial Literacy (CFL) Project: (An innovative and participatory approach to financial literacy at the Block level involving select banks and non-governmental organisations)
Source: Indian Express
Exercise Konkan 2021
Why in News
- A Naval Exercise “Exercise Konkan 2021” held between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy (Britain) in Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
Key Points
- INS Tabar from India and HMS Westminster from Britain participated in the bilateral Exercise Konkan 2021.
- It aims to enhance interoperability, synergy and cooperation between both the Navies.
- Exercise Konkan is held annually since 2004 between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Britain.
- The 2019 edition was held on the English Channel, United Kingdom.
Other Exercise with UK:
Ajeya Warrior (Joint Military Exercises)
Indradhanush (Joint Air Force Exercises)
Source: PIB
New algal species discovered from Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Why in News
- A group of botanists from Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) have discovered an algal species with ‘umbrella head’ from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are home to coral reefs and are rich in marine biodiversity.
Key Points
- Measuring as small as 20 to 40 mm, the stunning bright green algae, resembling an umbrella or a mushroom, has grooves on its cap measuring 15 to 20 mm in diameter.
- Named after the imaginary sea mermaid, Acetabularia jalakanyakae is very primitive and is a single-cell organism.
- It is the first species of the genus Acetabularia discovered in India.
About Algae:
- It is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms.
- It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades.
- Included organisms range from unicellular microalgae, such as Chlorella, Prototheca and the diatoms, to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelp, a large brown alga which may grow up to 50 metres in length.
Source: Indian Express
Maki Kaji, creator of puzzle Sudoku passes away
- Japan’s Maki Kaji, the creator of puzzle Sudoku passed away.
- He was known as the “Godfather of Sudoku”.
- Kaji was chief executive at his puzzle company, Nikoli Co. Ltd.
Source: Indian Express
August 19, World Humanitarian Day
Why in News
- August 19 is observed as World Humanitarian Day (WHD) every year in honour of all humanitarians.
- On this day, people also remember those who lost their lives working for humanitarian causes.
Key Points
- WHD is a campaign by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and humanitarian partners.
- According to the United Nations official website, the theme for this year is, 'theHumanRace',
History:
- On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killed 22 humanitarian aid workers, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
- Five years later, the General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 19 August as World Humanitarian Day.
Source: un.org
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