1) Consumer Protection Act, 2019 comes into force in India
•The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 has been implemented in India since 20th July 2020. It has replaced Consumer Protection Act, 1986. The new act has been introduced to offer protection to buyers from traditional sellers as well as from the new e-commerce retailers/platforms. It will protect the consumer rights through its various notified Rules and provisions and will empower consumers and hence help them in protecting their rights.
•Some of the features of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 includes Consumer Protection Councils, Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, Mediation, Product Liability and punishment for manufacture or sale of products containing adulterant / spurious goods. It also involves the setting up of the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) which will aim to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers. It will also conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute complaints / prosecution. It will also conduct investigations into violations of consumer rights and institute complaints / prosecution. It will also order recall of unsafe goods and services as well as discontinuance of unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements.
2) SpaceX launches South Korea’s 1st military satellite “ANASIS-II”
•SpaceX has successfully launched South Korea’s first military satellite “ANASIS-II”. The satellite was deployed into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) by a Falcon 9 rocket. It was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the US of Florida.
•With this launch, South Korea has become the 10th country to own a military-only communications satellite, which will provide permanent and secured military communications. The satellite is expected to reach its orbit of 36,000 kilometres in 2 weeks. South Korea’s military will take over the system in October after testing.
3) Rare yellow turtle discovered in India
•In Odisha’s Balasore district, a farmer Basudev Mahapatra has spotted a turtle which is yellow in colour and according to the experts, it is the product of albinism. The turtle is known as the “Indian flap shell turtle”. The turtle is commonly found in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It is omnivorous and its diet consists of frogs, snails and even some aquatic vegetation.
What is Albinism?
•Albinism is a type of genetic disorder where it is little or no production of pigment in the skin, eyes, and hair or in other species in the fur, feathers, or scales.
4) India & US conducts Passage Exercise in Indian Ocean
•Indian Navy has conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX), a high-end joint naval exercise with the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. The Passage Exercise has been designed to maximize training and interoperability, including air defense.
•PASSEX featured the participation of four Indian naval ships, including a stealth corvette which teamed up with USS Nimitz along with Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) in the Eastern Indian Ocean. Indian navy cited the PASSEX as an opportunity to improve interoperability on the high seas.
5) Indian Army gets ‘Bharat’ drones for accurate surveillance
•Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has provided drones named ‘Bharat’ to the Indian Army. The indigenously developed drones are sent in order to provide accurate surveillance along the Line of Actual Control in high altitude and mountainous terrains of Eastern Ladakh.
6) Ramesh Boddu appointed as MD & CEO of Karur Vysya Bank
•Board of Directors of the Karur Vysya Bank has appointed Ramesh Babu Boddu as a Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the bank. He has also been co-opted as an Additional Director.
•The appointment of Ramesh Babu Boddu has been made for a period of three years from the date of taking charge. He will succeed PR Seshadri who resigned on 31st March 2020. Ramesh Babu Boddu has earlier served as Deputy Managing Director in State Bank of India and retired in April 2020.
7) Oxford Covid-19 vaccine’s human trial shows positive result
•The human trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the University of Oxford and backed by AstraZeneca Plc has shown a positive result. The researchers found their experimental COVID-19 vaccine produced a dual immune response in people aged 18 to 55. Oxford’s vaccine is designed to reduce disease and transmission. Director at the Jenner Institute of Oxford University, Dr Adrian Hill, explains the mechanism of this vaccine “this vaccine triggers both arms of the immune system”.
8) CSIR-CMERI unveils COVID Protection System (COPS) for Workplace
•The COVID Protection System (COPS) for Workplace has been unveiled by the CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur. The COPS for Workplace comprises of three units namely contactless Solar Based Intelligent Mask Automated Dispensing Unit cum Thermal Scanner (IntelliMAST), Touchless Faucet (TouF) and 360° Car Flusher.
9) CBIC has signed MoU with CBDT for data exchange
•The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has signed an MoU with the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) to facilitate smoother bilateral exchange of data. According to the MoU, both the organisations will share data and information with each other on an automatic and regular basis. They will also share any information available in their respective databases which may be useful for the other organisation.
•Signing of the MoU also marks the beginning of a new era of cooperation between the CBDT and CBIC. This MoU will also supersede the MoU signed between CBDT and the erstwhile Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) in the year 2015.
10) India-Maldives sign agreement to establish “Emergency Medical Services”
•India and Maldives have signed an agreement for the establishment of ‘Emergency Medical Services’ in Male, Maldives. The Emergency Medical Service is financed by India under grant assistance of 20 million USD for neighbouring countries. This will help to increase the collaboration between the countries, especially in the areas of health care facilities, disaster responses during critical times, etc.
11) Arnab Chaudhuri to receive Toonz Media Award
•The ‘Legend of Animation’ award instituted by the Toonz Media Group (TMG) as part of the Animation Masters Summit (AMS) 2020 – Digital Edition will be posthumously conferred to the legendary animation director Arnab Chaudhuri. The award is being presented for his invaluable contribution to the animation and entertainment industry of India.
•Arnab, who passed away on December 25, 2019, was one of the pioneers of the Indian Animation industry, and his animation movie ‘Arjun: The Warrior Prince’ is the only animation from India to date to be longlisted for Oscar awards.
12) Indian Air Force Commanders’ Conference begins in Delhi
'
•Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the Air Force Commanders’ Conference (AFCC) at Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan) New Delhi. The conference will be held with the theme “IAF in the Next Decade”.
•AFCC is a three days conference which will be chaired by the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria. The plan of action for operational capability enhancement of the IAF in the next decade would be deliberated during the conference. The participants of the conference would also take stock of the current operational scenario and deployments.
