{"id":54695,"date":"2019-12-21T21:00:40","date_gmt":"2019-12-21T15:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogadmin.forumias.com\/?p=54695"},"modified":"2020-02-27T12:11:50","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T06:41:50","slug":"9-pm-current-affairs-brief-december-21st-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-current-affairs-brief-december-21st-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"9 PM Current Affairs Brief \u2013 December 21st, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindubusinessline.com\/news\/science\/jigyasa-program-with-cdri\/article30339133.ece\"><strong>JIGYASA program<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>News:<\/strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) has been\ncollaborating with several scientists and research scholars in implementing the\nJIGYASA program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nJIGYASA program:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Jigyasa is a student-scientist\nconnect programme launched by Council of Scientific and Industrial\nResearch(CSIR) in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan(KVS).<\/li><li>The programme aims to connect\nschool students and scientists as well as to extend the student&#8217;s classroom\nlearning to a very well-planned research laboratory based learning.<\/li><li>The programme has been inspired by\nPrime Minister\u2019s vision of a new India and \u201cScientific Social\nResponsibility(SSR)\u201d of the scientific community and institutions.<\/li><li>The Programme is expected to\nconnect 1151 Kendriya Vidyalayas with 38 National Laboratories of CSIR\ntargeting 100,000 students and nearly 1000 teachers annually.<\/li><li>The programme is also expected to\ninculcate the culture of inquisitiveness and scientific temper on the minds of\nchildren and school teachers.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Additional\ninformation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nCSIR:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Council of Scientific and\nIndustrial Research(CSIR) is an autonomous research and development body\nestablished by the Government of India in 1942.<\/li><li>It covers a wide spectrum of\nscience and technology \u2013from radio, oceanography, geophysics, chemicals, drugs,\ngenomics, biotechnology and nanotechnology among others.<\/li><li>It provides significant\ntechnological intervention in many areas with regard to societal efforts which\ninclude environment, health, drinking water, food, housing, energy, farm and non-farm\nsectors.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindubusinessline.com\/news\/science\/hydroponics-may-provide-better-agriculture-solutions\/article30359970.ece\"><strong>Hydroponics may\nprovide better agriculture solutions<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>News:<\/strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Institute of Himalayan\nBioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) is developing low cost hydroponics system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nHydroponics:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Hydroponics is the technique of\ngrowing plants without soil by using water solvent which consists of mineral\nnutrients.<\/li><li>Hydroponic systems are engineered\nas a highly space and resource efficient form of farming and represent a\nconsiderable source of industrially grown produce.<\/li><li>The method is suitable for growing\ngreens and herbs as they don\u2019t have deep roots.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Benefits\nof Hydroponics:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Hydroponics provides higher yield\nand economic returns compared to traditional agricultural practices because of\nan increase in harvest cycles and balanced nutrient supply.<\/li><li>Hydroponics system is not affected\nby weather, wild animals and any of the other external biotic or abiotic\nfactors.<\/li><li>In addition to these benefits\nhydroponic system also makes less and efficient utilization of water.<\/li><li>No nutrition pollution is released\ninto the environment because of the controlled system.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Disadvantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>It requires high technical\nknowledge and training before starting the process.<\/li><li>Without soil as a buffer,any\nfailure to the hydroponic system leads to rapid plant death.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1597016\"><strong>Afghanistan\nfirst country to recognize Indian Pharmacopoeia<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>News:<\/strong>Afghanistan has become the first country to recognise the Indian\nPharmacopoeia standards for drugs &amp; medicines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nIndian Pharmacopoeia(IP):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Indian Pharmacopoeia(IP) is an\nofficially recognized book of standards as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,\n1940, and Rules 1945 thereunder.<\/li><li>The IP specifies the standards of\ndrugs manufactured and marketed in India in terms of their identity, purity and\nstrength.<\/li><li>In order to ensure the quality of\nmedicinal products, the legal and scientific standards are provided by Indian\nPharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia(IP).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Additional\ninformation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nIndian Pharmacopoeia Commission(IPC):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission\n(IPC) is an Autonomous Institution of the Ministry of Health and Family\nWelfare, Govt. of India.IPC is created to set standards of drugs in the\ncountry. <\/li><li>Its basic function is to update\nregularly the standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases\nprevailing in this region. <\/li><li>It publishes official documents\nfor improving Quality of Medicines by way of adding new and updating existing\nmonographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). <\/li><li>It further promotes rational use\nof generic medicines by publishing National Formulary of India. <\/li><li>It also prescribes standards for\nidentity, purity and strength of drugs essentially required from health care\nperspective of human beings and animals.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/business\/india-business\/us-gives-narrow-exemption-to-india-from-sanctions-on-chabahar-for-afghan-aid-official\/articleshow\/72884455.cms\"><strong>US gives\n&#8216;narrow exemption&#8217; to India from sanctions on Chabahar for aid: Official<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>News:<\/strong>According to US officials,the US has provided a rare exemption to India\nfrom sanctions on the Chabahar port in Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nChabahar port:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Chabahar port is a seaport in\nChabahar in South-Eastern Iran.Its location lies in the Gulf of Oman.It is the\nonly Iranian port with direct access to the ocean.<\/li><li>The Chabahar Agreement was signed\nin June 2015 and approved by Iran\u2019s Guardian Council in November 2016. <\/li><li>The port is seen as a gateway for\ntrade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with Central Asian countries.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Importance\nof Chabahar Port:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The most important significance of\nChabahar port is the fact that India can bypass Pakistan in transporting goods\nto Afghanistan.<\/li><li>The port is also beneficial to India\nin countering Chinese presence in the Arabian Sea which China is trying to\nensure by helping Pakistan develop the Gwadar port.<\/li><li>The Chabahar port is also seen as\na feeder port to the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that\nhas sea, rail and road routes between India, Russia, Iran, Europe, and Central\nAsia.<\/li><li>Chabahar port also fosters closer\nties between India and Iran and allows India to secure cheaper energy imports\nfrom Iran.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reasons\nfor exempting India from sanctions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Afghanistan is a landlocked\ncountry which depends on Pakistan for trade.All its trade goes largely through\nthe Pakistani ports.However, Pakistan denies transit to India for trade with\nAfghanistan and Central Asia.<\/li><li>Hence,the Chabahar project is a\nlifeline for war-torn Afghanistan to get humanitarian supplies from India.<\/li><li>The project also fits in line with\nthe U.S.A\u2019s overall policy to give India an important role in Afghanistan.<\/li><li>Further,the US also does not want\nto close all options with Iran.The US is looking forward to negotiating new\nterms and conditions with Iran.<\/li><li>But there is a concern that\ncommercial viability of the project can get impacted if there will be no\nmovement of energy supplies through it.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Additional\ninformation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nGwadar port:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Gwadar is part of Pakistan\u2019s\nmineral rich southwestern Baluchistan province.<\/li><li>It is being developed as part of\nthe $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)<\/li><li>It is a part of China&#8217;s ambitious\nplan Belt and Road initiative (BRI) to build energy and transport links,\nconnecting the western Chinese region of Xinjiang with the Arabian Sea via\nPakistan.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"435\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogadmin.forumias.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Picture1-30.png?resize=750%2C435&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-54704\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/cities\/Hyderabad\/centre-urged-to-treat-klip-as-a-national-project\/article30340712.ece\"><strong>Centre urged to\ntreat KLIP as a national project<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>News:<\/strong>Recently,Telangana State government has requested the Central\nGovernment to treat Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project(KLIP) as a National\nProject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nKaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Kaleshwaram Multipurpose Lift\nIrrigation Project of Telanagna was initiated in 2016 on the Godavari River.<\/li><li>It is touted as the world&#8217;s\nlargest multi-stage, multi-purpose lift irrigation project.<\/li><li>The project will support crop\ncultivation on 45 lakh acres of land.It will also meet the drinking water\nrequirement of 70% of the state and also cater to the needs of the industry.<\/li><li>The total length of Kaleshwaram\nproject is approximately 1,832 kms. It has 20 reservoirs spread across 13\ndistricts with a total capacity to store 145 TMC.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why is\nTelangana asking for KLIP as a National Project?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The Centre under the Andhra\nPradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 is mandated to support programmes for the\ndevelopment of backward areas in the successor States including expansion of\nphysical and social infrastructure.<\/li><li>The designation of National\nProject will also lead to a Central grant of 90% of the estimated cost for\ntheir completion in a time bound manner.<\/li><li>Further,the Telangana government\nis also running the Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya to meet the\naspirations of people.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Additional\ninformation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nMission Kakatiya:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>It is a flagship programme\nlaunched by the Government of Telangana which aims at rejuvenation of water\ntanks and other water storage structures to provide assistance and help to the\nsmall and marginal farmers of the state.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nMission Bhagiratha:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>It is a project for safe drinking\nwater for every village and city household in Telangana State. <\/li><li>It aims is to provide piped water\nto 2.32 crore people in 20 lakh households in urban and 60 lakhs in rural areas\nof Telangana. <\/li><li>The ambitious project will supply\nclean drinking water to all households in the state through water sourced from\nRiver Godavari and River Krishna.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/how-an-end-to-end-railway-line-can-help-kerala-6173892\/\"><strong>Explained:The\nSilver Line Project<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>News:<\/strong>The Ministry of Railways has granted in-principle approval for the\n\u2018Silver Line\u2019 project,a proposal of the Kerala government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About\nSilver line project:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The Silver line project aims to\nconnect major districts and towns with semi high-speed trains that will run on\ntheir own tracks.<\/li><li>It involves laying of semi\nhigh-speed trains between the two corners of the state of Kerala.<\/li><li>The corridor will be 532-km\nlong.It will be built away from the existing line between Thiruvananthapuram\nand Thrissur.<\/li><li>The Kerala Rail Development\nCorporation (K-Rail), a joint venture between the Ministry of Railways and the\nKerala government to execute projects on a cost-sharing basis, will be the\nnodal agency.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"329\" height=\"477\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogadmin.forumias.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Picture2-19.png?resize=329%2C477&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-54705\"\/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JIGYASA program News:Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) has been collaborating with several scientists and research scholars in implementing the JIGYASA program. Facts: About JIGYASA program: Jigyasa is a student-scientist connect programme launched by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan(KVS). The programme aims to connect school students and scientists&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/9-pm-current-affairs-brief-december-21st-2019\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">9 PM Current Affairs Brief \u2013 December 21st, 2019<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":48116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-9-pm-brief","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/9-PM-Brief.png?fit=1000%2C500&ssl=1","views":{"total":0,"cached_at":"","cached_date":1704522840},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54695"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54695\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}