Category: News

Comprehensive, up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by EduindexNews.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh banned import of 101 defence items in big push for Atma Nirbhar Bharat

Vaishali Singh

The defence ministry will stop the import of 101 items “beyond given timeline” to boost indigenous production according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mission of Atma Nirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), Union minister Rajnath Singh said today.  This would mean that the domestic industry will receive contracts worth almost Rs 4 lakh crore within the next six to seven years. The embargo will be implemented in phases between 2020 and 2024, the minister said.

The list includes high technology weapon systems like “artillery guns, assault rifles, corvettes, sonar systems, transport aircrafts, light combat helicopters, radars and many other items”, the Centre said in a statement

The list also includes wheeled Armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), with  an embargo date of December 2021, “of which the Army is expected to contract almost 200 at an approximate cost of over Rs 5,000 crore,” the ministry said.

The Navy is likely to place demands for submarines with indicative import embargo date of December 2021, of which it expects to contract about six at an approximate cost of almost Rs 42,000 crore.

For the Air Force, it is decided to enlist the LCA MK 1A with an indicative embargo date of December 2020. Of these, 123 are anticipated at an approximate cost of over Rs 85,000 crore, the government said. The ministry will identify more such equipment for import embargo.

The list has been prepared by the defence ministry after consultations with all stakeholders, including the Armed Forces, public and private industry, Mr SIngh said.

“This decision will offer a great opportunity to the Indian defence industry to manufacture the items in the negative list by using their own design and development capabilities or adopting the technologies designed and developed by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces,” the minister said.

All steps will be taken to ensure that timelines for production are met. This would involve a coordinated mechanism for “hand-holding of the industry by the Defence Services”, the minister said. The ministry will identify more such equipment for import embargo.

Lake Karachay: Most polluted place on earth

Look at the environment and there may be several sources of contamination — streams full of harmful substances from agricultural operations, waterways overflowing with field waste, garbage floating out from landfills, city sky filled in smog. Also, ecosystems that appear to be untouched can suffer the effects of emissions from sources located hundreds or thousands of miles away.

Pollution can create muddy fields, poison wetlands, and rivers, or destroy plants and animals. People are also routinely affected by pollution. Long-term exposure to air pollution, for example, can lead to chronic respiratory disorders, lung cancer, and other diseases. Toxic chemicals that accumulate in the top predators can make certain animals unsafe to eat. More than one billion people do not have access to safe water, and 2.4 billion do not have proper sanitation, placing them at risk of contracting deadly diseases.

Lake Karachay is located in the southern Ural mountains in Central Russia. In approx 1951, the Soviet Union used this site to dump radioactive waste and today it is filled and acts as near-surface permanent and dry nuclear waste storage facility. According to a report by Washington D.C. based on the Worldwatch Institute of Nuclear Waste, it is the most polluted open-air place from a radiological view.

The lake accumulated nearly 4.44 exabecquerels (EBq) of radioactivity is less than one square mile of surface, including 3.6 EBq of cesium-137 and 0.74 EBq of strontium-90. In contrast, the Chernobyl catastrophe emitted 0.085 EBq of Caesium-137, a significantly smaller volume, and over a thousand square miles. (The cumulative release of Chernobyl is estimated to be between 5 and 12 EBq of radioactivity, but ultimately only caesium-134/137 contributes to soil exposure because the remainder is too short-lived). As a result, the lake is biologically 42 times more radioactive than Chernobyl.

As of December 2016, the state of the lake is fully packed with unique concrete blocks, rock and gravel. It was fully refilled in November 2015 and then tracked until the final layer of rock and soil was laid. Monitoring results revealed a “strong decrease in the surface accumulation of radionuclides” after 10 months. A decades-long surveillance system for surface water was planned to be implemented soon afterward.

So here I am concluding this article. Hope you guys enjoyed it!

The reopening of schools and colleges in India

Vaishali Singh

Since the beginning of the phase-wise upliftment of the coronavirus-induced lockdown, a question that has been frequently asked by people, especially students, across the country is when will schools and colleges reopen in India. All education institutions were closed across the country after the Centre imposed a nationwide lockdown to control the spread of the dreadful coronavirus, which is caused by SARS‑CoV‑2. However, a media report has now revealed that the Centre might soon unveil a phase-wise plan to reopen schools and educational institutes across the country between September 1 and November 14 later this month as part of final Unlock guidelines.

The schools and educational institutes across the country are closed since March 23, when the first lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus pandemic was put in-place. Ever since, the teaching and learning activities are relying on online modes, whose success has been limited because of the uneven availability of smart-devices, specifically in the country’s hinterland.

According to a report in Economic Times, the specifics of the plan have been formulated by the group of secretaries associated with the Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 management, which is being headed by Health Minister and Member of Parliament from Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, Dr Harsh Vardhan.

The report quoting its sources said that central government will simply issue Broad Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) as for the opening of schools and educational institutions, with the final decision left to the respective state governments so as to decide when and how to restart the classroom teaching.

What does the Centre’s formulation of opening schools and educational institutes say?

It suggests that for the first fifteen days of the opening of schools, Class 10 and Class 12 students will be asked and guided to attend the school. Afterwards, the students of Class 6 to 9 will be brought back to the classrooms with restricted hours.

However, all sections of one class will not attend the school on the same day. Different sections of a class will have specific days assigned as for attending the schools.

The emphasis on the sanitisation of the classrooms remains the biggest highlight of the Centre’s formulation. Schools will be told to work in shifts – 8 to 11 AM and 12 to 3 PM – with an hour left for the sanitisation. So far there is no plan to bring the primary and pre-primary students back to the classrooms, and they will continue to be taught via online modes, The Economic Times reported.

The government officials have studied the countries such as Switzerland have brought back the students to classrooms, and the formulation has been designed on similar lines as for the classroom teaching of Indian students.

Mukesh Ambani becomes the 4th richest man in the world

Vaishali Singh

India’s richest leading businessman Mukesh Dheerubhai Ambani has already surpassed some of the biggest tycoons of the world in recent weeks, and has now become the 4th richest man in the world.

Reliance  Industries Ltd.’s chairman is now worth $80.6 billion, after amassing $22 billion this year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. That gives him a bigger wealth pile than France’s Bernard Arnault, whose LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE has suffered from customers curbing high-end fashion purchases faster than the company can cut costs.

While the conglomerate with a huge energy empire was slammed by a slump in demand for oil amid Covid-19, its shares have more than doubled from a low in March as its digital unit got billions in investments from companies including Facebook Inc. and Google.

Ambani has slowly been shifting his focus to e-commerce, with tech giants seeking to take a piece of India’s fast-growing digital business. Google said last month it will spend $10 billion in the coming years to help accelerate the adoption of digital technologies in the world’s second-most populous nation.

Meanwhile, with LVMH shares down this year, Arnault has become the biggest loser among the world’s 500 richest people. His net worth has plunged $25.1 billion to $80.2 billion.

Russia is about to register world’s first coronavirus vaccine on August 12

Vaishali Singh

Russia is set to register world’s first coronavirus vaccine on August 12. The inoculation has been developed jointly by the Gamaleya Research Institute and the Russian Defence Ministry.

However, the clinical trial data and other documents of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine are currently under expert review. The decision on registration will be made based on its results, according to the Russian health ministry.

“The documents that are needed to register the vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of the Health Ministry, including clinical trial data, are under expert review. The decision on registration will be made based on the results of the review,” the ministry said.

Russia’s Deputy Health Minister Oleg Gridnev told state news agency, Sputnik news that the Phase-3 clinical trial of the COVID-19 vaccine was underway. He also said that senior citizens and medical professionals will be the first to get vaccinated.

The clinical trial of the Russian coronavirus vaccine is undergoing at two institutions: the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital and the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. The clinical trials of the vaccine began on June 18 and included 38 volunteers. All of the participants developed immunity. The first group was discharged on July 15, and the secondon July 20.

How Russia’s coronavirus vaccine will work?

Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya National Research Centre, said the vaccine used inanimate particles created on the basis of adenovirus. He added that the vaccine would cause no harm to a person’s health.

YOU ARE RICH, IF YOU CALL THEM ‘MERI BETI’

WE ARE SAILING THROUGH THE 21ST CENTURY , CHANGING IN EVERY APSECT BE IT QUALITATIVE OR QUANTITATIVE AND WILL KEEP ON CHANGING IN THE ARRIVING CENTURIES ALSO . WE ARE PRACTICING THEESE CHANGES FROM WEARING MODERN CLOTHES TO ENHANCING OUR THOUGHTS ON SOCIETAL TOPICS . BUT , DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY UPGRADING THEIR THINKING OR JUST SHOWING OFF BY BEING MODEST ? , WELL , I WOULD SAY ‘YES’ AS ITS ANSWERE. PEOPLE ARE USING THEIR OUTLOOK TO HIDE THEIR PESSIMISTIC VIEWS FOR THE SOCIETY ESPECIALLY ON GIRLS , YOUTH ETC . OUR INDIAN SOCIETY IS VERY FAMOUS FOR ITS CULTURE , AT SAME TIME , IT IS ALSO FAMOUS FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF GIRLS AND WOMEN , HIGHLIGHTING FROM CHILD MARRIGE TO THE DOWNGRADE THINKING OF ‘ EK BETA HONA ZARURI H , AAPKI TOH DONO HI BETI H , YOU DON’T HAVE SAFE FUTURE ‘ , BECAUSE , PEOPLE LIKE THESE THINK THAT SON OR SONS ARE THEIR LIFE INSURANCE AND DAUGHTER OR DAUGHTERS , A ‘ LIABILITY’ . THEY ARE FEW PEPOLE , HAVING A THINKING OF ‘BETI JINKO MILTI HAI VO BHUT NASEEB VALE HOTE H ‘ , WHO SAYS , SHE MAY LEAVE US AND GO AWAY BUT STAND WITH US IN OUR GOODS AND BADS , WHICH , A SON MAY NOT DOES , I AM NOT CRTISICING ANYONE BUT THIS IS THE REALITY OF THE TODAY THATS THE REASON WHY OLD AGE HOMES ARE LEFT WITH NO SPACE . I AM NOT TAGGING SON AS BAD BUT THEY ARE ONLY FEW GOOD LEFT IN THIS CRUEL WORLD .

I HAVE WITNESSED MANY INCIDENCES REGARDING THIS TOPIC , PEOPLE ARE CRYING OVER THE BIRTH OF A GIRL , THEY ARE LITERALLY CRYING RATHER THAN CELEBRATING IT . IN CASE ,IF THEY ARE BLESSED WITH TWO DAUGHTERS , THEY WILL ASK FOR THE THIRD CHILD TO BE A SON . THEY ARE ALSO PRACTISING THE PRACTICE OF KILLING FEMALE FOETICIDES BUT GOVERNMENT HAS BANNED IT , WHICH IS WORTH DOING . I GET SHOCKED WHEN I SEE THE RICHEST PEOPLE WHO ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED BUT SAYS ‘ BETI NHI CHAHIYE ‘ , ON THE OTHER HAND , HAVE SEEN THE EXTREME POOR PEOPLE WHO SAYS ‘ BETI HI CHAHIYE ‘ . WELL , FOR ME , THAT POOREST PERSON IS THE RICHEST ON EARTH AND THAT RICHEST DOES NOT EVEN DESERVE TO BE THE POOREST , THE REASON BEHIND IS ONE AND ONLY ” THEIR THINKING ” .

I MEAN C’MON , EVEN WOMEN ARE REACHING HIEGHTS , OVERCOMING EVERY BARRIER , BECOMING THE STRONGEST AND THE BOLDEST , NOT LIMITING THEMSRLVES TO JUST HOUSEHOLD CHORES , INSTEAD , ALONG WITH IT , THEY ALSO DO THEIR JOB SINCERELY . THEY ARE FLYING LIKE A FREE BIRD , LEAVING BEHIND THE MEN IN EVERY ASPECTS. IS N’T IT ENOUGH FOR LOVING THEM ?. THEY DO REACH HIEGHTS , BUT , NEVER FORGET THEIR MORALS AND RESPECT EVERYONE .

MOREOVER , I HAVE ALSO SEEN PEOPLE INDIRECTLY APPLYING THIS PESSIMISM BY TELLING THEIR DAUGHTERS ‘BE MERA BETA’ , THEN , THE DAUGHTERS THINK THEY DON’T LOVE ME THIS WAY , I WILL BE THEIR BETA , AS SHE IS HUNGRY FOR LOVE . BUT SHE IS DFEATED , SHE CAN’T BE THEIR BETA AS SHE STILL CARES ABOUT THEM , EVEN THOUGH SHE IS AWAY FROM THEM , SHE FULLFILLS ALL THEIR NECESSITIES EVEN BY STAYING AWAY , WHICH THEIR SON MAY DO OR MAY NOT DO . AT THAT TIME , THEY REALISES , HOW BLESSED THEY ARE TO HAVE A DAUGHTER ! . I JUST WANT TO PUT A QUESTION IN FRONT OF THESE KIND OF PEOPLE MY , IF YOU DON’T DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN A BOY AND A GIRL , THEN , WHY ARE YOU INDIRECTLY DOING IT ? WHY ARE YOU ASKING HER TO BE “MERA BETA ” INSTEAD OF LOVING HER AS “MERI BETI ” ? . PURE LOVE IS LOVING THEM AS THEY ARE , BE THEM A SON OR A DAUGHTER . JUST THINK ABOUT IT ! , BECAUSE ‘ THE FIRST STEP TO BRING THE CHANGE IS TO THINK ABOUT THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO BRING’ .

LOVE THEM AS “MERI BETI ”

2020:A FORTUNE COOKIE OR A MISFORTUNE?

THE EXPLOSION OF THE VIRUS “COVID-19″ HAS SHADOWED ALL OVER THE WORLD AS ” TARTNESS ” OF THE “BAD DEEDS” WHICH WE HAVE SINNED. IT HAS BEEN CHALLENGING FOR US SINCE 7 MONTHS OR MORE AND WE ARE ON THE 8TH MONTH STRUGGLING FOR THE VACCINE OF THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE. WE ALL ARE AWARE THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO DEPART EASILY AS WE ARE HEADING TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.THERE IS NEWS BUZZ AROUND ABOUT THE ARRIVAL OF THE VACCINE BUT UNAWARE ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS WHETHER IT WILL BE CURABLE OR NOT. WELL , IN MY OPINION , IT WILL TAKE LITTLE MORE TIME TO COME, AS WE ALL KNOW , THIS DISEASE WILL ALSO TAKE THE ROAD OF THE NEXT YEAR . THERE ARE MANY VACCINES WHICH WILL COME , SO WE HAVE TO TAKE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS AND IMMUNE OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS.

IF YOU HAVE LOTS OF DIFFICULTIES STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU , YOU WILL BE LITTLE WORRIED , BUT, YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS ALSO , EITHER TO CRY OR TO CHANGE IT TO AN OPPORTUNITY , THROUGH YOUR WISENESS. THIS EXACTLY WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING BY QUOTING “NEW INDIA”. WE ALL WANT TO CHANGE THIS “MISFORTUNE ” IN TO A “FORTUNE COOKIE” , DON’T WE ?. NEW SCHEMES FRAMED AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS WISENNES , USING THE THREATS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND GLOW.OUR INDIA WILL ALSO GROW IF THE POLICIES MADE ARE EXECUTED AND IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY. YES! WE ARE A DEVOLOPING COUNTRY AND GOING THROUGH AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN BUT WE ARE RETRIEVING THE DEMAND FACTOR SLOWLY AND WILL COME ON THE TRACK BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAS AN END.THE DOCTORS IN AMERICA ARE ALSO SAYING THAT THEY NEED INDIA FOR THE VACCINE THEY ARE MAKING , IS N’T IT A GROWING FOR OUR COUNTRY ? .

TALKING ABOUT THE FEW NEW SCHEMES ,

ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ABHIYAAN AIMING AT THE SELF-RELIANCE OF INDIA , HAS STRUCTURED IN FOUR TRANCHES WITH RELEIF PACKAGE WORTH RS 2O LAKH CRORES , OUT OF WHICH RS 1.70 LAKH CRORES RELEIF PACKAGE FOR PMGKY FOR THE POOR TO GET BETTER OF THE DIFFICULTIES CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC .THE SCHEME IS STANDING ON THE FIVE PILLARS OF ECONOMY, INFRASTRUCTURE,TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN , DEMAND AND A EFFICIENT DEMOCRACY.THE RS 20 LAKH CRORES ALLOCATED FOR THIS SCHEME ARE 10% OF THE GDP . THE PROMINENCE IS ON LAND , LABOUR , LIQUIDITY AND LAWS .I WON’T GO IN DETAIL HERE WILL WRITE FOR IT SEPARATELY , THE SECTORS INCLUDED IN IT ARE MSME’s AND OTHER SMALL SECTORS , FEW REFORMS UNDER ARE RATIONAL TAXATION SYSTEM ,SUPPLY CHAIN REFORMS IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR , CAPABLE HUMAN RESOURCES AND A STRONG FINANCIAL SYSTEM.

PM -KISAN YOJANA IMPLEMENTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER IN GORAKHPUR AND UTTAR PRADESH FOR THE MARGINAL FARMERS TO BOOST THEM FROM THEIR INCOMES . PIYUSH GOYAL ANNOUNCED THIS SCHEME TO BE IMPLEMNTED NATION WIDE SO AS TO BOOST UP THE INCOME OF ALL THE MARGINAL FARMERS . UNDER THIS SCHEME RS 6000 PER YEAR WILL BE TRANSACTED IN THE FARMER’S ACCOUNT IN THREE INSTALLMENTS . THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE INCURRED FOR THIS SCHEME IS RS 75000 CRORES , WILL BE FINANCED BY THE UNION GOVERNMENT IN 2019-20. IT WAS FIRST LAUNCHED IN TELANGANA AND BY PRIME MINISTER ON 24 FEBURARY 2019 IN THE ABOVE STATES . ITS COVERAGE MAY INCREASE TO AROUND 14.5 CRORE BENIFICIARIES AIMING TO COVER 2 CRORE FARMERS WITH AN EXPENDITURE OF 87217.50 CRORES , FINANCED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE YEAR 2019-20.

PM GARIB KALYAN YOJANA (PMKGY) HAS BEEN THE MOST BENIFICIAL SCHEMES IN THE DIFFICULT TIMES OF THIS PANDEMIC AS IT HAS SERVED THE NEEDY FARMERS AND POOR FAMILIES WITH GRAINS . THE EXTENSION IS ANNOUNCED BY OUR PRIME MINISTER TILL THE NOVEMBER 2020 ALONG WITH THE DATA OF DEPOSITING OF RS31000CRORES N THE BANK ACCOUNTS OF 20 CRORES POOR FAMILIES.ABOUT 80 CRORE FAMILIES WILL BE PROVIDED WITH THE GRAINS TILL NOVEMBER AS IN 5KG OF WHEAT AND RICE , I KG PER FAMILY.

DUE TO ITS EXTENSION , THE COST OF THIS SCHEME HAS INCREASED TO 90000 CRORES . OUR FINANCE MINISTER HAS ALSO ANNOUNCED 1.7 CRORES UNDER GARIB KALYAN FOR ALLEVIATING THE LOSSES , SUFFERED BY THE POOR FAMILIES DURING THE CORONA PANDEMIC.

THEY ARE FEW MORE CHANGES THAT HAVE MADE BY OUR UNION FINANCE MINISTER IN THIS SCHEME , TO PROVIDE AN INSURANCE COVER OF RS 50 LAKHS PER HEALTH WORKER WHO ALL ARE AFFECTED BY COVID-19.IT IS ALSO ANNOUNCED TO PROVIDE FREE FOOD GRAINS TO THE POOR FAMILIES , QUANTITY I HAVE MENTIONED TILL NOVEMBER . UNDER JAN DHAN YOJANA , TO MAKE JAN DHAN ACCOUNTS OF 20 CRORE WOMEN FOR THE TRANSACTION OF RS 500 PER MONTH FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. ALSO INFLATION OF MNREGA WAGE TO RS 202 PER DAY WHICH IS BENIFICIAL FOR 13.62 CRORE FAMILIES. IN ADDITION TO THIS , THE ORDERS ARE GIVEN BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO STATE GOVERNMENTS FOR THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION WELFARE FUNDS TO BE USED AS RELEIF FOR THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.

JUST BECAUSE OF ALL OF THEESE HELPFUL ELEMENTS , I MARK THIS SCHEME AS A SAVIOUR FOR THE NEEDIES IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

SO , THEY ARE FEW MAIN SCHEMES WHICH I FEEL ARE THE CORES TO SURVIVE IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME AND ACTING AS A FOUNDATION FOR OUR ECONOMY.

TURN YOUR THREATS IN TO AN OPPORTUNITY IF YOU WANT TO RISE AND BE WISE ,THIS IS THE ART OF POSITIVITY .

How to manage personal loans and financial during these tough times

The world is suffering from two aspects COVID-19 and financial crisis, the COVID-19 impacting communities,  businesses, the current economic situation of the country is  GDP rank is at 5 th (nominal; 2019) 3 rd (PPP;2020)

Family finances during tough times this places a significant burden on family finances, even for parents who have been working.

If money is affecting your family, use these tips to manage your finances during these tough times

Create a budget to add the cash to your family monthly income, then use the value to create a new budget for the family

Invest the money because the best way to grow your money is by learning how to invest

It’s as simple as reading and you can achieve 

Interest from savings

Cash flow from business or real estate

Appreciation of value from a stock portfolio, real estate, or other assets

Thanks to advance technology, you can invest from your home with a small amount, with no fees on accounts, learn the basics, and make good investment decisions

Investing allows you to grow your money over time thanks to the power of returns

You can buy stocks and bonds, at least mutual funds or exchange-traded funds

We can’t control the overall condition of public health during a pandemic but we can control the growth of money to help the medical expenditure 

Different Kinds of Face Masks to Protect Yourself from Covid-19

Since the beginning of this year, “masks” have been one of the top searches across Google. One common query which everybody has is that whether masks are effective and  which is the most effective kind of mask.

Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

Face masks are generally of 3 types: Cloth masks, Surgical masks & N95 Respirators

Cloth masks When people are in public places, along with distancing and hygiene, it is advised that they wear a mask since it is not possible to maintain a 6 feet distance always. Cloth masks prevent the spread of the virus to a considerable extent. These masks are recommended for the public rather than N95 respirators which are needed for frontline health workers. Cloth masks can be easily made at home at a low cost. Take two rectangular pieces of cloth and place them together. Insert elastic or rubber bands in both the sides and stitch the cloth on the sides. Remember to change a cloth mask once it gets wet. While wearing and removing them, make sure to not touch the area which covers the mouth and nose. Wash your hands before and after wearing them. Although they provide less protection than surgical or n95 masks, it is known that they reduce the risk of transmission by some degree. Cloth masks can also be used in combination with a face shield for better protection. The Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has suggested any covering and advised everyone to wear cloth masks for protection from asymptomatic patients. So these are probably the most advisable for the public till now.

Surgical masks

Surgical masks are disposable ones which protect us from sprays, large particle droplets and prevent the transmission of potentially infectious respiratory secretions. Surgical masks vary in design but usually they are rectangular in shape and blue in colour. The masks have a metal strip to adjust over the nose and are tied to the face with elastics at both sides. Although they are useful in protecting from the virus, there is an environmental hazard attached to it because these are disposable single use masks. So they contribute to landfill medical waste.

N95 Respirators

N95 respirators are found to be the most effective in protecting against the virus since it can prevent the transmission of small particles by 95 percent. This includes virus and bacteria. The masks are usually circular or oval in shape and fit to the face very tightly. They must have the right fit because if they do not fit properly they can’t give full protection. These do not fit properly on people with facial hair and children. In a recent study it has been found that the masks can be re used after heating them in a covered pot or rice cooker for 30 minutes at 65 degree Celsius. The use of N95 is usually not very advisable to the public because of some reasons. First of all its not very comfortable to wear for a longer period of time. Secondly it is required for medical and frontline workers. So its very important that they remain in stock. A recent factor which emerged is that the valves on these respirators can be a risk factor and may not prevent the transmission of droplets entirely.

Apart from masks one needs to follow basic hygiene rules. Washing hands with a soap for at least 20 seconds in a correct manner is extremely important as suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The use of hand rubs and sanitizers with alcohol content is also advisable. Physical distancing of 6 foot is to be maintained. The most effective way to prevent oneself is to avoid any kind of gathering or crowds.

Coronavirus and Social Responsibilities

Coronavirus pandemic is not ending anytime soon. Cases are rising everywhere, with the USA being on top. With many people suffering and being cautious, many other people are ignorant, misinformed, and hostile. Community spread of the virus is increasing in the USA and India. Medical staff, scientists, and police are giving their best to control the spread of coronavirus. It is also the duty of all the citizens to help in controlling the spread of coronavirus. All the capable citizens should come forward in this devastating pandemic situation and lend a helping hand in contributing to treatment, vaccine preparation, manufacture, and distribution. Governments should plan and execute smart measures for the same, but only a handful of countries, including New Zealand, are seen coping effectively with the community spread of coronavirus. Let’s look at the latest coronavirus scenarios around the world, keeping in view the social responsibility, awareness, and control measures.

Schools to reopen in the USA

The USA has the highest number of coronavirus cases and the rate of spread is increasing day by day with 55,196 fresh cases on August 8. A high school in Indiana had to shift to online learning just two days after reopening. Students in Mississippi had to quarantine after classmates tested positive for coronavirus within the first week of reopening. Teachers and parents protesting, scientists forecasting and young kids being at high risk of infections, reopening schools in the USA is under discussion. What did the US president say on August 4?

Anti -mask protests in Japan and USA

  • Approximately 150 demonstrators gathered held an anti-mask rally in Salt Lake City on August 5, carrying posters that read “Don’t smother the children” and “Let kids be kids. No masks!”
  • A grilled-cheese shop owner in Windermere, Florida, announced that she wouldn’t require face masks inside her restaurant and promised “100 free meals for patrons who come with no masks.” Many anti-mask protesters gathered outside her shop in her support.
  • Today, in Shibuya, Japan, a cluster festival, which deliberately spreads coronavirus without wearing masks, held a cluster demo and roamed around the Yamanote Line. The organizer of the demo calls himself “cluster jack” and seems to have a bad throat.
coronavirus, anti-mask, Wisconsin, USA
Anti-mask rally in Wisconsin.
Source: Channel3000.

Look at the Cluster demo.

Bill Gates and Serum Institute of India

Bill gates tie-up with the Serum Institute of India in the speedy manufacture and distribution of the coronavirus vaccine. Serum Institute is one of the vaccine developers in the world. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will provide at-risk funding of USD 150 million to Gavi, the vaccine alliance, via its Strategic Investment Fund, which is to get used by the Serum Institute to manufacture the coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine is likely to be available to at least 92 countries.

New Zealand: 100 days without community spread

New Zealand gets praised internationally for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The government has lifted almost all of its lockdown restrictions, first imposed in March. The last case of community transmission in New Zealand got reported on May 1, days after the government started lifting its lockdown. August 9 is the fourth day in a row that no fresh coronavirus cases got reported and the total number of active cases in the country is 23, all in managed isolation. The country of 5 million people sought control measures like immediate lockdown, tough border restrictions, effective communication and high testing and link tracking program.

Russia to launch the first coronavirus vaccine next week

Russia is all set to register the first coronavirus vaccine on August 12. Currently, the vaccine is at the third stage of testing and will get tested on 1600 people after registration to ensure its effectiveness and safety. The vaccine trials began on June 17 among 76 volunteers. The fast-track testing of the vaccine by Russia is worrying the scientists, activists and lawmakers and is being questioned. We hope that the vaccine is being tested rightfully and does not have any side-effects.

There is immense power in knowledge

 There is nothing  more sacred than knowledge , declare all the scriptures . Knowledge secures salvation , declare that  the upanishads . Such is the belief of great philosopher – thinkers  like Buddha and Mahavira , who seem to insist on Man’s acquiring right knowledge “samyag – jnana”. This knowledge  liberates a man from all the sorrows of life. It secures for him the much coveted freedom from the miseries of life. He wins the cherished peace of mind  , though life may continue around him as before. The importance of this saving knowledge lies in this very significant fact that it secures the release of man here and now , in this very life , and not offer him what may be called post – dated cheque of freedom from birth and death , whatever may be the importance of such an idea.  From early times knowledge has been taken as a sure means of freedom and immortality.

Immortality which appears to be the aim and the craze of man is in a way , a very interesting concept. Man fully well knows that everything in this world around him , including he himself , is perishable. Origin , growth , decay and death , appear to be the normal stages through which everything under the sun has to pass through. The body is too fragile to be in any way eternal . It is very frail and prone to fall at the very first severe attack or shock. It cannot withstand the onslaught of powers of nature , nor can it withstand internal anguishes. It lies prostrate before both. 

Naturally , in its constitution , the spirit has to be different stuff altogether than the body. Only in that eventuality , could it be free from death and other accidents of the body which it lives in.

The universe would require an omniscient  , omnipresent , perfect creator , who would need nothing else for his creation . He would need no helper in the process nor any matter , for he would be in a position to bring out everything out of himself. He would create universe out of himself  , as does the spider weave his web out of himself . Matter is inanimate and insentient, and so the spirit which is its opposite in these respects, must belong to the side of creator.

Knowledge is essentially connected with the Dharma , for this knowledge is the result of the exploration of the very sustaining principles of the universe and the human life . This knowledge tells man  all that he needs to know about his existence , experience  , his lot , his relation with the Reality behind the universe.” Know thyself ”  has been simplest advices given to man,  but it would appear that this injunction.. wrapped up in his passions and delights , fully engrossed in his own surroundings and gloating over the small powers that has been bestowed on him , man has scarcely given thought to these questions. When things seem to go all his way , man usurps the place of the Maker , and when things go wrong , he finds the maker  as a suitable entity to curse, a scapegoat for his failures , miseries and such an attitude of arrogance  does lead  man nowhere and he has  to think  of the problem  of his  existence , of the world  that surrounds him , in all humanity  , and must  make an effort  to find a solution , that appears to be on the whole , satisfactory  .  Death , the inevitable end of everything , must make  man look inwards  and seek answers in pure and intense  mediatation  over the problems involved.   Knowledge , right knowledge of these  problems  , cannot be had  in the ordinary manner , for the senses , the normal agency at the service of man  , fails him here. He must develop and sharpen sixth sense.

Bihar Becomes First State in India to have 10 Lakh SHGs run by women.

As in India the system of Self Help Groups(SHGs) have been running from years in small towns,villages and many more places all over India.SHGs are those where a group of women come together and to help other womens in the form of monetary issues.

The groups in Bihar have been operating under the Jeevika,a World Bank supported poverty programme in the state from since 2007.The secretary of Rural Development Department said that this model has given women the opportunity to become self-reliant,self-sufficient.This project is one of the major project for the Cheif Minister of Bihar and Jeevika to take the state of Bihar into new heights in coming time.

In the tough period of Covid-19 pandemic,the womens of Jeevika programme have worked tirelessly and contributed worth Rs 543 crore of transactions through POS machines.This was majorly done for taking the banking system to the needy people and to every corner of the remotest area.They reached out with the help of creating awareness,food security,work on sanitation and many more activities they did for the betterment of the society.By this approach they reached around to 1.09 crore households.

Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society(BRLPS),is an autonomous society comes under the Rural Development Department of the State Government.It is one of the designated livelihood mission to scale up the Jeevika model in all 534 blocks of 38 districts under the National Rural Livelihood Mission(NRLM).The director of NRLM has said that nearly 1.20 crore women have got involved with over 10 lakh SHGs in the state.He also added ‘They have scripted a new saga of women empowerment,which is visible in the rural areas.The have also availed Rs 12200 crore worth loan for starting of their income generating activities and repayment is on timely basis.They have repaid loan of around Rs 5000 crore to avail fresh loan.They also have Rs 1350 crore worth savings for inter loaning amongst its members.’

The SHGs under Jeevika are helping more than 45 lakh household through its various activities by way of producing masks,running ‘Didi in Rasoi’ outlets to serve food for the quarantined people and the patients,disbursal of Rs 350 crore worth loan to village organisations for food security and health risk mitigation,running the retail shops for supply of essentials.Besides financial inclusion the government of state is working tirelessly and bringing various initiatives for the education,health and welfare departments.

“This is a model that can take Bihar miles to achieve self-reliance in the true sense,something that India dreams to achieve.Bihar has shown how it could be done.This has been very positive initiative.All that is needed to integrate the activities of SHGs and give them further opportunities for scale up to also become employment generators in rural areas which would further give a boost to the State economy.”said former director of AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies.

Reasons for gender pay gap to exist and ways to overcome it :

Reasons for gender pay gap to exist :
According to a research, there are four reasons for gender pay gap to exist. First is, companies hire more men in senior management roles compared to women. Secondly, part-time roles and caring responsibilities are shared unequally in the society. Thirdly, women prefer working in low-paid sectors and roles and lastly, women are paid less when compared to men in the same roles.
Claudia Goldin and Henry Lee, Harvard University states that “When you look at the gap, it widens at the upper end. In fact, we see the largest differences at the very upper end, not at the lower end”. It might not seem like a big difference when a person who is supposed to earn 14 dollars per hour earns 10 dollars but it will make quite a big difference when a person who is supposed to make 300,000 dollars makes only 150,000 dollars. Companies are more comfortable and satisfied with hiring more men in senior management roles compared to women. A research found that it was likely for employers to hire men more than women in senior roles not because of prejudice but because they stereotype and rely on their perception that men are better performers at certain tasks. It was also stated that this can be divided as two faces of discrimination which is statistical discrimination which is because of beliefs about gender differences in skills, experience and abilities and taste discrimination which is a result of stereotypes or bias against certain group. Women find it very difficult to make it to the senior roles of their company and advance in their field. When compared to men women earn about 78 cents on the dollar. It is estimated that only 4.2% of women make it up-to being CEOs and only 19.2% of board members. A study suggests that women not being able to reach the top is because of the “broken rung”. It was found that for every 100 men promoted as manager only 72 women which accounts to men holding 62% of manager level roles whereas women hold only 38%. Therefore, this broken rung is an obstacle for the women even at the entry level. Also, this entry level inequality allows men to outnumber women in such roles and the number of women at the senior level roles decreases.
Part time roles and caring responsibilities are shared unequally in the society. Women are more in the “nurturing” roles than the men, which makes them look more concerned and commited to their home and family and not their jobs.Gender inequalities in part time and in caring works also lead to a gap in pay. A cross-country analysis also found that in countries where women who spend more time on unpaid care, it was likely to have a larger gap in pay. And in part time jobs women earn only 65% of what men earn when they spend twice as much time in caring activities and only 40% when it was full time jobs. Women devote almost 60% of their time to household and caring activities, irrespective of whether they are employed, educated or earning.
Another reason for this gap to exist is also because women prefer working on low wage sector and roles and employment of women in such roles are increasing day by day. An estimate of 7.6 million jobs were taken up by women in this low wage and female dominated sectors between the years 1994 and 2014 which almost a third of all new jobs in that period. The US Bureau of Labor statistics stated that the businesses which cater to provide care for the old and disabled, because the business increased almost four times between the years 1994 and 2014 . This shows that women prefer to work in low paid sectors and roles. The “women’s work” which involves cooking, cleaning,caring is always looked down and considered as something that does not require acknowledgement and this assumption has followed also to the marketplace. Though these jobs require energy, stamina , physical and mental strength, these jobs are never valued and women who play the most part in these jobs are often undercompensated . Therefore , it is not that the women who prefer low paid jobs but it is that these low paid jobs are undervalued. Also women are paid less compared to the men doing the same roles. Pay is decided based on gender and not on competence.

Ways to overcome the gender pay gap :
Continuous pressure on gender pay gap situation has resulted in formulating certain strategies to overcome it. Some of these include designing senior work roles for all employees, irrespective of gender bias; developing quality flexible jobs that allow men and women to balance caring responsibility with their ambition; opening up all industries to flexible working arrangement and part-time jobs and lastly paying same remuneration to women and men for the same roles. With these strategies and others gender pay gap in the world can be reduced. There should be a balance and equality in maternity and paternity leave like in the case of Sweden where there is an availability for paternal leave on the basis of ‘use it or lose it’ which will develop a sense of sharing the caring responsibilities. A family friendly working condition must be created so that it will help the man and woman of the house to balance work and family. This will also help them choose working hours accordingly and accommodate their caring responsibilities. Unpaid work must be recognized as the national policy level so that a change in the organizational structure can be established .Minimum wage should be raised since this minimum wage is decreasing from the 1960s which is leading these wage ages to live in poverty. “The unwillingness to raise the minimum wage is really hurting women, because they are disproportionately represented at that level” says Isabel V Sawhill, a senior fellow of Economic studies. Raising this minimum wage will serve as a step to improve low wage jobs which are majorly female dominated jobs. This will not only reduce the level of poverty but also bridge the pay gap. “States with Equal Minimum Wages for Tipped Workers Have Smaller Wage Gaps for Women Overall and Lower Poverty Rates for Tipped Workers”. Equal pay laws need to be strengthened so that potential pay discrimination can be tackled and there can be transparency of pay between Co workers. There are a lot of steps organisations can do to ensure gender wage parity which includes checking wage parity right from the time a person is employed. Market analysis must also be conducted to have a check on wage parity. The company should also look for unconscious biases when there is assessment.The most important obstacle to wage equality, however, lies in our attitudes. When women value themselves enough to fight for their due, and when society values all human beings equally, the gender wage gap will cease to be an issue.Claudia Goldin and Henry Lee from the Harvard University say that it is important to divide labour at home. Change must begin at home and the couple should decide and balance their home and career as to who is on call at home and who is the office. Paying same remuneration to women and men for the same roles can also serve as an effective strategy as this will also help the women not to feel less about themselves and to feel a contentment in what they are doing.

Modelling has no age bar

Recently Chang Won and his wife Hasu Shoso were visible all over the internet for their quirky style. Chang, 83 and Hasu,84 are a Taiwanese couple who own a laundry shop in Taichung, a small city in Taiwan. Over the years many of the customers forgot or due to some other reasons were unable to collect back their clothes. The couple did not felt like throwing away those left over clothes. So so that 31 year old grandson Reef Chang suggested that they should model in those clothes to avoid getting bored. They did so and soon became influencers on social media sites. They have almost 600,000 followers on Instagram. This gave them lot of attention and people loved their style for the fact that the used old clothes to wear them in a fun and cool manner. They made the term cool which is generally related to the youth accessible to old people as well. They have made a point that even old people can model as well as the youth and complete them. Cheers to the couple.

SECTORS AFFECTED IN CORONA PANDEMIC

                            BY:RIFAT QAYYUM

This year has been the worst year ever and still being the worst. We all  ended year 2019 on a very good note thinking 2020  will be better , but unaware about  its “ scary arms”  , which  has squeezed us to no end in every aspect. Stranded labours , unemployment , economic slowdown, poverty etc are few of the terms which we have heared often  during this time.

Economic slowdown  has been in talks from 2019 as GDP growth declines from 7% to 6.9% and keeps on declining. It even came came to 4.2% according to IMF , lowereing the India growth. It was aleardy announced by IMF that whole world is going to face the economic slowdown and India will be the most effected country  , which came true , India ‘s GDP growth is  at lowest from 2019  and corona pandemic has added more to it. Automobile sector was worst hit in 2019 due to lack of demand and the employees were either downsized or retrenched. Inflation shoot ups were also contributing to the downfall especially food inflation which was 7.35% in December 2019 , retail inflation was five – year high of 7.3%. The solutions were given by the  great scholars to increase demand , production , employment , investment , to put more income in the hands of farmers , to spend more on infrastructure , to invest more in  mgnrega scheme which will be benificial for the stranded labours. But  the government is spending less which is a conflict , “To increase the Public Investment is the solution” .

Next year which is 2020, came with the corona pandemic muddling the structure of economy and drived our economic growth  in negative . It has affected all the sectors in the worst way , so, divided in the groups A, B, C ,D .

GROUP A

This group suffered limmited  disruption  and possible to give 90%  contribution in the 2019-20  growth performance. Sectors included in it are :

1.Agriculture

2.Allied sectors

3.Public Administration

4.Defence and other services

In Agriculture sector  , rabi cropped currently harvested and good monsoon was predicted , we can see the results.

In Allied sectors , there are labour shortage issues but the performance is normal.

In Defence and Public Administration sectors , both are fully active at forefront of covid-19 fight.

GROUP B

 This group suffered average disruption and contributed 50% in 2019-20 growth performance. The sectors included in it are :

1.Mining and Quarrying

2. Electricity , Gas , Water supply

3.Other utility sources

4.Constructional and Financial , Real estate and Professional services.

GROUP C

This group suffered significant growth  erosion in 2019-20 contributing only 40% in the performance growth on the year 2019-20.it can only be stimulated by supporting demand.manufacturing sector contributing only 17.4%.

GROUP D

This group suffered the maximum disruption and contributed only 30% in 2019-20 growth performance. The sectors included in it are:

1.Trade , Hotels , Restraunts

2. Travel and Tourism

3. Communications

It has been 6 months we are fighting against covid-19 . Recent changes came in  theese sectors . Lets see whether the outlook is still negative or has become positive.India was at fifth highest covid-19 fatalities in the world , but , now India’s fatality rate is among the world’s lowest. Currently it is standing at 2.18% which is lowest globally. Recovery rate of India is 64.54% which is a positive sign. More than half of the total cases are from metropolitan cities, Delhi , Mumbai , Chennai , Kolkata , Bangalore , Hyderabad which are on top. Delhi ‘s recovery rate being 89.08% , Haryana 79.82% , karnataka 39.96% which is lowest among all . Telangana , karnataka , Andhra Pradesh are the states with highest number of cases increasing everyday .

Turning back to sectors ,

Core sector ‘s output shrinks 15% in june , this contraction is showing some recovery from the 22% fall in may. In april june 2020 , the sector’s output dipped by 24.6% with a positive growth of 3.4% in the same period.

Fertilizer  industry saw an actual growth in june, the output is rising at 4.2% in comparison to june 2019 but lower than the 7.5% growth of may 2020.

Agriculture sector  has shown a positive outlook   as normal monsoon is leading to the expectations of a bumper kharif crop.

Steel  industry  has shown contraction with 33% drop in production in comparison to previous year , still remains the worst  performer .

Cement industry  production fell almost 7% , showing improvement from the contraction of 22% seen in may.

Energy sector  has shown negative growth , coal production  falling 15.5% , crude oil and natural gas production dropping 6% and 12% respectively.

Petroleum refinery  production carries the greatest weight in the core sector  and contracted almost 9%.

Electricity  sector  generation has  dropped to 11% .

CHANGES IN THE POLOCIES OF  BANKING SECTOR

  

MONETARY POLICY

RBI reduced the Repo rate to 4.4% , Reverse repo rate to 3.75% and Cash reserve ratio to 3%.

Repo rate is the rate at which RBI lends money to commercial  banks for a shortfalls .  

Reverse repo rate is the rate at which commercial banks  lends money to rbi .

Cash reserve ratio is the minimum  fraction of total of deposits of consumers which commercial banks have to keep with central bank either in the form of cash or as deposits.

Theese are the  monetary instruments which helps  to revive the economy to reduce inflation by freezing the money and controlling money supply.

IMPACT ON FISCAL DEFICIT

1.Releif expenditurec for protecting poor and marginalised

2.Demand supporting expenditure for increasing personal disposable incomes

3.Health care sector expansion , more investment on its infrastructure.

This much has impacted covid -19 to our sectors which were aleardy in the downfall during economic slowdown of 2019.