1.Environment
Uttarakhand develops India’s first lichen park
A lichen is a composite organism emerging from a symbiotic relationship between algae or cyanobacteria and fungi.
The project aims to study the ecological and biological aspects of lichens.
The park will be located in Kumaon’s Munsiyari, Pithoragarh district
Quick Fact: They are the best bioindicators of the pollution levels and are also used in food, perfumes, dyes and traditional medicines
2.India and the World
India and Bhutan sign their first joint venture hydropower project
The venture is for the construction of 600 MW run-of-the-river Kholongchhu project in Bhutan’s Trashiyangtse
The project is slated to be completed by 2025
The project has been jointly taken up by Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) and Bhutanese Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC)
3.Sports
‘NADA INDIA’ App launched for awareness about Prohibited Substances in Sports
The app has been launched by the Union Ministry for Youth Affairs and Sports
It will create awareness about prohibited substances for athletes, to prevent inadvertent use of prohibited substances and free Indian sports of doping and drug abuse
NADA is responsible for monitoring and promoting sports-related doping control programs and implementation of anti-doping policies in India
Quick Fact: National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is headquartered in New Delhi
4.Science and Technology
Agriculture Ministry flags off helicopter services for locust control in Rajasthan
A Bell 206-B3 helicopter has been flagged off with spray equipment to desert areas of Rajasthan for locust control
It will access areas of the desert which are inaccessible by drones
The special measures are being taken since monsoons will provide ideal breeding environment for locusts in the semi-arid/arid regions of Rajasthan, as per FAO
Quick Fact: Narendra Singh Tomar is the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
5.Science and Technology
MyGov Corona Helpdesk wins two awards at AI related CogX 2020
CogX awards are awarded to the best emerging AI technologies in the world
MyGov Corona Helpdesk has won the awards for Best Innovation for COVID-19-Society and People’s Choice Covid-19 Overall Winner
The award was won by technical partners of the platform: JioHaptik Technologies Limited
6.Economy
Eight core industries’ growth rate declines by 23.4% in May 2020
The decline has been measured by Index of the Eight Core Industries released by the Office of Economic Affairs (under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade)
Steel industry has shown the highest decline while fertilizers industry is the only core industry to have shown positive growth
The eight core industries comprises of 40.27% weight of the total Index of Industrial Production
Quick Fact: The eight core industries are coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement and electricity
