Andhra govt launches “NIGHA” app to ensure ‘clean and healthy’ elections

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_4.1

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched ‘NIGHA’ app to ensure ‘clean and healthy’ elections by curbing the use of money and alcohol in the upcoming local body elections.

The Panchayat Raj Department, in a bid to crackdown on electoral malpractices, has set up the NIGHA app to empower common citizens to lodge complaints seamlessly. Photos and videos of the distribution of money and alcohol and any other activity that violates the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) can be registered by this app. All the complaints registered by this app will automatically be routed to the Central Control room and the information will be shared with the concerned officials.

What is the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)?

Model Code of Conduct is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission for the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections mainly with respect to speeches, polling day, polling booths, portfolios, election manifestos, processions and general conduct.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh: Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
  • Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Biswa Bhushan Harichandan.
  • Capital of Andhra Pradesh: Amaravati.
  • Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park is a solar park in Panyam Mandal of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh.

Find More State In News Here

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_5.1

Byju Raveendran & Gaurav Gupta on WEF’s Young Global Leaders list

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_7.1

Byju Classes’ founder Byju Raveendran and Zomato’s co-founder Gaurav Gupta are among the five Indians named by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in its new list of 115 Young Global Leaders. Raveendran, who launched Byju’s as a learning app in 2015, calls himself a teacher by choice and an entrepreneur by chance. Gupta’s Zomato has been a pioneering food technology start-up, which he launched as a table reservation business and then scaled it up across India, the UAE and Australia.

The other three Indians on the list:

  • Tara Singh Vachani (CEO of Antara Senior Living), Vachani-led Antara Senior Living is focused on improving the lives of seniors and is billed as the first Indian venture creating vibrant residential communities that offer lifestyle with lifecare.
  • Vinati Mutreja (Managing Director and CEO, Vinati Organics Limited), Mutreja-led Vinati Organics a specialty chemical company where she has applied innovative methods for selecting chemical processes and products that are environmentally attractive.
  • Swapan Mehra (CEO, Iora Ecological Solutions), Mehra-led Iora Ecological Solutions is into climate action and ecosystem conservation in India.

These five Indians are joined on the 2020 list of Young Global Leaders list by US women’s football team co-captain Megan Rapinoe, world-renowned street artist JR, New Zealand’s first refugee parliamentarian Golriz Gharhaman, Finland’s youngest prime minister Sanna Marin, BBC News’s Africa Business Editor Larry Madowo and Xiaomi’s international business president Chew Shou Zi. The list also incudes Muhammad Hammad Azhar (Federal Minister for Economic Affairs in Pakistan), Ugyen Dorji (Minister of Labour and Human Resources, Bhutan) and Atika Rehman (UK Correspodent for Dawn.com, Pakistan)

What is WEF’s Young Global Leaders list?

Geneva-based WEF announcing the list of ‘change-makers’ from as many as 52 countries are working in areas ranging from revamping of health systems to investigating corruption while using their power of the under 40s to change the world. According to WEF, Under the age of 40, these individuals are among the most promising artists, activists, academics, executives and political leaders and they are “pushing boundaries, achieving firsts, innovating and breaking traditional rules to improve the world,”. These 115 individuals join the Forum of Young Global Leaders, whose members have gone on to become Nobel Prize recipients, UN Goodwill Ambassadors and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Headquarters of World Economic Forum: Cologny-Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Founder of World Economic Forum: Klaus Schwab.
  • President of World Economic Forum: Borge Brende.
  • World Economic Forum founded: January 1971.

Find More Ranks and Reports Here

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_5.1

Taylor Swift named “Google’s most-searched women in music”

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_10.1

Google has shared the data on the most looked-up women on the Internet on the occasion of International Women’s Day i.e. on 8th of March 2020. As per the list released by the search engine, Singer Taylor Swift topped the Google’s most-searched for woman in music of 2020. It has also released the rankings in other disciplines as well namely: Sports, Comedy, Novelists.

Here is the complete list released by Google:

  • Google’s most-searched for woman in Music of 2020: Taylor Swift.
  • Google’s most-searched for woman in Sports of 2020: Serena Williams.
  • Google’s most-searched for woman in Comedy of 2020: Awkwafina.
  • Google’s most-searched for woman in Novelists of 2020: Toni Morrison.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Google CEO: Sundar Pichai; Headquarters: California, United States.

Find More Ranks and Reports Here

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_5.1

“COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator” fund launched

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_13.1

A new fund named as “COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator” has been launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome and Mastercard. The $125 Million fund has been launched to accelerate technologies to fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

About “COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator”:

“COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator” fund has been designed to identify, assess, develop and scale treatments to the COVID-19 disease outbreak. The fund aims to assess new and repurposed drugs and biologics to cure patients suffering from COVID-19 in the immediate term, and also capable of curing other viral pathogens in the future.

The COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator will also work along the World Health Organization, government and private sector funders and various other organizations as well as regulators and policy-setting institutions.

Find More International News 

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_14.1

PV Sindhu wins BBC Indian Sportswoman of Year Award

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_16.1

PV Sindhu has won the inaugural edition of BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award for 2019. She was conferred the award during the BBC award ceremony held in New Delhi. She was nominated for the award along with four other contenders namely para-badminton player Manasi Joshi, boxer Mary Kom, sprinter Dutee Chand and wrestler Vinesh Phogat. PV Sindhu was the first Indian singles badminton player to win an Olympic silver medal and she also became the first Indian to win gold in the Badminton World Championships 2019 held in Basel, Switzerland.

BBC has also conferred former Indian sprinter PT Usha with the Lifetime Achievement award. She has been awarded for her contribution to Indian sports. Former sprinter PT Usha missed out a medal by one hundredth of a second when she finished at fourth position in the 400 m race of 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Find More Sports News Here

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_14.1

Swedish actor Max von Sydow passes away

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_19.1

Max von Sydow, the Swedish actor who was nominated for two Oscars during his career passed away. The actor featured in various films and TV series. Max Von Sydow was nominated for Oscars as best actor in 1988 for Pelle the Conqueror. He was also nominated for Academy awards in the category of best supporting actor for his role in movie “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”. His other memorable films and TV series includes: The Exorcist, Flash Gordon and Game of Thrones.

Find More Obituaries News

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_14.1

New Delhi to host an exhibition titled “Jallianwala Bagh”

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_22.1

An exhibition titled “Jallianwala Bagh” is scheduled to be held in New Delhi. “Jallianwala Bagh” exhibition will be inaugurated by Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel on the occasion of 130th Foundation Day of National Archives of India (NAI).

About the exhibition titled “Jallianwala Bagh”:

“Jallianwala Bagh” exhibition which is scheduled to be held on the occasion of 130th Foundation Day of NAI, aims to commemorate the centenary of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre covering a period from 1915 to 1950. This exhibition will be based on the original documents. This exhibition is also an endeavour to depict the persistent struggle of the people of India against the British tyranny via the record holdings. The exhibition will feature the display of original and digital copies of archival documents related to the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre available in National Archives of India.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Chief Minister of Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal; Lieutenant Governor: Anil Baijal.

Find More Miscellaneous News Here

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_14.1

GoI constitutes committee to decide modalities of Kisan Rail

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_25.1

The Union Government of India has constituted a committee to decide modalities of Kisan Rail. This committee has been formed under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare along with representatives of the Indian Railways. “Kisan Rail” is planned to be set up through the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode and will facilitate a cold supply chain to transport the perishable goods.

Initiative of “Kisan Rail” was proposed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her budget speech of 2020-21 to set up a seamless National Cold Supply Chain for perishables like fish, milk and meat.

The Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) has commissioned temperature-controlled perishable cargo centres as a pilot project under the Kisan Vision Project. CONCOR has done this through a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The temperature-controlled perishable cargo centres have been commissioned at the following places namely Ghazipur Ghat (Uttar Pradesh), New Azadpur (Adarsh Nagar, Delhi) and Raja ka Talab (Uttar Pradesh).

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Union Minister of Railways: Piyush Goyal.
  • Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: Narendra Singh Tomar.
  • Union Mininster of Finance: Nirmala Sitharaman.

Find More News Related to Schemes & Committees

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_14.1

Naveen Patnaik released book “ The Adventures of the Daredevil Democrat”

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_28.1

The chief minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik released a comic book titled “The Adventures of the Daredevil Democrat’. This book is released on the occasion of the 104th birth anniversary of former Odisha CM Late Biju Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The book deals about the life and works of legendary leader and Naveen Patnaik’s father Biju Patnaik. The book aims to inspire and encourage young minds to serve the motherland. The comic book, prepared by Kalinga Foundation Trust and published by New Delhi- based the Creative workshop.

Find More Books and Authors Here

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_14.1

Nupur Kulshrestha becomes 1st woman DIG of Indian Coast Guard

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_31.1

Nupur Kulshrestha becomes the first woman to be promoted as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Indian Coast Guard. She joined Indian Coast Guard in 1999. The Indian Coast Guard is a multi-mission organization, conducting round-the-year real-life operations at sea.

The Indian Coast Guard was formally established on 18 August 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India as an independent Armed force of India. It operates under the Ministry of Defence. The Coast Guard works in close cooperation with the Indian Navy, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Revenue (Customs) and the Central and State police forces.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

  • Director-General of Indian Coast Guard: Krishnaswamy Natarajan.
  • Headquarters of Indian Coast Guard: New Delhi.

Find More Appointments Here

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_14.1

AP govt launches "NIGHA" app to ensure 'clean and healthy' elections - Part 3108_34.1

Monthly Current Affairs