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Punjab Current Affairs – January to December 2020
(For PCS Exam and Naib Tehsildar Conducted By PPSC)
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Punjab Current Affairs – January to December 2020

➢ Sukhna Lake
• The Punjab and Haryana High Court has declared Sukhna lake (Chandigarh) as a living entity
recently.
• The court invoked its parens patriae jurisdiction to declare the lake as a legal entity for its survival,
preservation and conservation having a distinct persona with corresponding rights, duties and
liabilities of a living person.
• All the citizens of Union Territory, Chandigarh, are hereby declared as loco parentis (in the place of
a parent) to save the lake from extinction. Sukhna Lake is a rain-fed lake, located within Chandigarh
and its catchment area falls both in Punjab and Haryana
• The lake was constructed in 1958 and is spread over 3 sq km. An area of 2 km to 2.75 km around
the lake has been declared as an eco-sensitive zone by the Chandigarh Administration.
• All activities in this area fall under provisions of the Environment Protection Act.
• The court has completely banned new construction in the catchment areas falling in the states of
Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory Chandigarh as well as in the Sukhna Wetland and Sukhna
Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Earlier, the Uttarakhand High Court declared the rivers Yamuna and Ganga as legal or juridical
persons, enjoying all the rights, duties and liabilities of a living person.
➢ Environment Protection Act, 1986
It empowers the government of India to lay down standards for emission or discharge of
environmental pollutants from various sources whatsoever, provided that different standards for
emission or discharge may be laid down under this clause from different sources having regard to
the quality or composition of the emission or discharge of environmental pollutants from such
sources.
➢ 10 More Wetlands From India Declared As Ramsar Sites
• On January 28, 2020 Ramsar Convention Has Declared 10 More Wetland Sites From India As Sites
Of National Importance. Ramsar Sites Are Those Which Are Declared Under The Ramsar Convention
Signed In 1971 To Preserve Wetlands Of National Importance.
• Thus India Now Has A Total Of 37 Ramsar Sites.
➢ New Ramsar Sites In Punjab
• 10 Ramsar Sites: The 10 Newly Added Ramsar Sites Are As Follows:
• Nandur Madhameshwar: This Is The 1st Ramsar Site Of Maharashtra.
• Keshopur-miani, Beas Conservation Reserve, Nangal: These 3 Ramsar Sites Are Newly Added To
Punjab. Apart From These 3 Sites, Punjab Already Has 3 Ramsar Sites. Thus The Total Ramsar Sites
In The States Counts To 6.
• Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi And Sarsainawar: These 6 Ramsar Sites Have
Been Newly Added To Uttar Pradesh (Up) Apart From 1 Ramsar Site It Already Had. Thus, UP Now
Has 7 Ramsar Sites.
➢ Punjab’s Right to Business bill 2020

Head Office: Sangrur, Contact No. 9646810103 , 7009528208 ਪੰ ਜਾਬ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਪੰ ਜਾਬ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ
• Issue
The Punjab Cabinet Gave Its Approval To A Punjab Right To Business Bill, 2020, A Law Aimed At
Ensuring Ease Of Doing Business For The Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises (MSME) Sector.
• Background
The Punjab Department Of Industries Was Preparing To Bring An Ordinance, But Since A Special Session
Of The Assembly Has Been Called, The Right To Business Bill Will Also Be Brought Before The House On
January 17.
Under The Law, An MSME Unit Can Be Set Up After ‘In-principle’ Approval From The District Bureau Of
Enterprise, Headed By The Deputy Commissioner. Approval for units in approved Industrial Parks will
be given in three working days
➢ Chandigarh Railway Station Is Fifth In The Country And First In North
India To Inaugurate Navigation Facilities For Visually Impaired
On January 5, 2020 Navigation facilities for visuallyimpaired was inaugurated in Chandigarh railway
Station in Mohali, Punjab by Shri Gurinder Mohan Singh, Divisional Railway Manager- Ambala Division.
It is fifth in the country and first in North India to have this facility for visually impaired.
Mysuru Railway Station in Karnataka was India’s first visually impaired-friendly railway station
inaugurated
in Nov 2015.
A New State-of-the-art DNA Analysis Centre Has Been Set Up In Central Forensic Science Laboratory,
Chandigarh. The Centre Has Been Set Up Under The Nirbhaya Fund Scheme With An Allocation Of Rs
99.76 Crores. It Holds The Annual Capacity To Examine 2000 Forensic Cases Relating To Sexual Assault,
Homicide And Paternity Check.
➢ India To Host Commonwealth Shooting And Archery Championships In
2022
On February 24, 2020, The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Has Approved The Proposal From
Commonwealth Games India (CGI) To Host The 2022 Commonwealth Archery And Shooting
Championships In Chandigarh.
The National Rifle Association Of India (Nrai) Will Largely Bear The Cost For Shooting Championship
And The Archery Event Would Be Funded Solely By The Government Of India.
➢ Padmashri Awardee & Eminent Punjabi Novelist Dalip Kaur Tiwana
Passed Away At 84
On January 31, 2020, Padma Shri Awardee And Renowned Punjabi Novelist, Dalip Kaur Tiwana
Passed Away At The Age Of 84 Due To Old Age Ailments. She Was Well Known For Novels ‘Teeli Da
Nishaan’ And ‘Sooraj Te Samandar’. She Was Also A Former President Of The Punjabi Sahit
Akademi.
Born In Ludhiana, Punjab On May 4, 1935, Dalip Retired As Professor Of Punjabi, And Dean, Faculty
Of Languages, From Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab.
Awards: She Won Padma Shri In 2004 For Literature And Education. She Also Won Several Other
Prominent Awards Which Includes Sahitya Akademi Award In 1971 For Novel Eho
Hamara Jivan. Saraswati Samman In 2001 For Novel Katha Kaho Urvashi Etc.
Returning Padma Shri Award: Dalip Also Returned Her Padma Shri Award In 2015 To Express
Solidarity With Writers Who Were Protesting Against The Suppression Of Freedom Of Expression
And Communalism.
➢ Famous Punjabi writer Jaswant Singh passed away at 101
On February 01,2020, The Eminent Punjabi Writer, Novelist And Sahitya Academy Awardee Jaswant
Singh Kanwal (101), Passed Away In His Native Village Dhudike, Moga District In Punjab, Due To Age
Related Illness Issues.
Awards: In 1996 Jawasnt Bestowed With Sahitya Academy Fellowship Award For His Book “Pakhi”
(Hand Fan) And In 1998 For His Novel “Taushali Di Hanso” (Laughter Of Taushali) He Received The
Sahitya Academy Award.
Key points: Later In 2007 He Was Honored With Sahitya Shiromani Award Of The Punjab
Government, On The Next Year Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Conferred With The Degree Of
Doctor Of Literature (Honoris Causa) For His Contribution To Punjabi Literature. Kanwal Penned
Around 80 Books And Novels Which Describes The Rural Life Of Punjab And He Also Contributed To
The Promotion Of Punjab Language, Art And Literature Through His Works.
➢ Sangeet-Natak Akademi Awardee Dhadi Folk Singer Idu Sharif Passed
Away At 80
On January 8,2020 Dhadi folk singer Idu Sharif 80 years old died at Manji Majra,Chandigarh as he
was
suffering from paralysis. Idu Sharif was born in the village Lalodi of Nabha in Patiala,Punjab. Idu
Sharif Received An Award From Sangeet Natak Akademi,new Delhi And Tamra Patra Award In 2006
By Former President Of India Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam
➢ Online lottery scheme sales banned by Punjab govt to check illegal sales
• On january 31,2020 the govt of punjab has banned the sale of all types of online lottery schemes
under section 5 of the lotteries (regulation) act 1998 in order to check for illegal sales.
• The act will not only check illegal lottery business but will also boost punjab’s tax and non tax
revenue.
➢ Punjab To Honor Cops Under ‘Appreciate And Commend’ Scheme
On February 16, 2020 Punjab DGP (Director General of Police), Launched The ‘Appreciate And
Commend’ Scheme In Phillaur, Punjab. In Order To Boost The Confidence Of Police Officers Who
Work Extraordinarily And The Best Cops Will Be Awarded Every Month.
➢ Eight States Finalized Agriculture Export Policy By The Government Of
India
On January 5, 2020, As Per Agricultural And Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority (APEDA), Eight States Namely
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Punjab, Karnataka
Finalized an Action Plan For Agriculture Export Policy (AEP) To Enhance Exports.
The Product Clusters Selected Are
1. Jalandhar, Punjab (Potato)
2. Sangli, Maharashtra (Grapes)
3. Salem, Tamil Nadu (Poultry Products)
4. Theni, Tamil Nadu (Banana)
5. Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh (Mango)
6. Indore, Madhya Pradesh (Onion)
7. Jodhpur, Rajasthan (Isabgol)
8. Chikkaballapur, Karnataka (Rose Onion).
9. Pesticide Free Kinnow Crop
Issue
The punjab agri export corporation recently launched the ‘punjab kinnow’ brand at the kinnow
festival in abohar. This brand of kinnow, which is considered the ‘king fruit’ of punjab, is also said to
be “pesticide-free”. Punjab being the largest producer of kinnow in the country, such branding will
attract more consumers. Punjab’s kinnow has several nutritive values including limonin, which
helps control cholesterol level and has anti-cancer properties, which the consumer should be
informed.
➢ OVERVIEW OF 1ST KHELO INDIA UNIVERSITY GAMES 2020
The 1st Edition Of The 2020 Khelo India University Games (KIUG) Was Held From February 22 –
March 1, 2020 At KIIT University (Kalinga Institute Of Industrial Technology University) In
Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The Tournament, Inaugurated By Prime Minister(pm) Narendra Modi, Held With The Official
Mascots Of ‘Jay And Vijay.
TOURNAMENT ORGANIZED BY
• The Sports Authority of India (SAI).
• Association of Indian Universities.
• Indian Olympic Association (IOA)
• National Sports Federation (NSFs)
Which Saw The Participation Of More Than 4000 Athletes From 100 Universities In The Game.
Events Having 17 Disciplines Namely Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Swimming,
Weightlifting, Wrestling, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Table Tennis, Tennis,
Volleyball, Rugby And Kabaddi. PANJAB UNIVERSITY (PB) EMERGED As The Winner Of Khelo India
University Games 2020 With 46 Medals (17 Gold,19
Silver,10 Bronze). It Was Followed By Savitribai Phule Pune University (2nd With 37 Medals) And
Punjabi University, Patiala (3rd With 32 Medals).
➢ Nari Shakti Puraskar 2019
On March 8, 2020 President Ram Nath Kovind Honoured 15 Women With ‘Nari Shakti
Puraskar’(women Shakti Award) For 2019 At Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi. The Award Is
Conferred Annually To Eminent Women And Institutions In Recognition Of Their Service Towards
The Cause Of Women Empowerment & Social Welfare. This Award Is An Initiative Of The Ministry
Of Women And Child Development (MWCD) In 1991 By MWCD & 1st Awarded In 1999.
Every Year On The Occasion Of International Women’s Day
The Award Is Conferred By The President Of India. It Is Considered As The National Award For
Women.
The 104-year-old Mann Kaur (Patiala, Punjab) Known As‘ Miracle Of Chandigarh’, Was Also
Honoured With The Nari Shakti Puraskar 2019 For Her Achievements In Athletics And Track And
Field Events.
She Had Set A New Record By Becoming The World’s Fastest Centenarian At The American Masters
Game, 2016. She Has Won Over 30 Medals In Track And Field Events Across The World.
➢ Consider the following statements with respect to Nari Shakti Puraskar
1. It Is The Highest Civilian Honour For Women In India.
2. Ministry Of Women And Child Development Confers This Award Annually.
Which Of The Statement(s) Given Above Is/Are Correct?
A. 1 ONLY
B. 2 ONLY
C. BOTH 1 AND 2
D. NEITHER 1 NOR 2
❖ Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor
The World Bank has offered financial assistance to the last remaining portion of the Eastern Dedicated
Freight Corridor (EDFC) between Sonnagar (Bihar) and Dankuni (West Bengal), which India is originally
slated to construct in the private public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
➢ Currently, the entire EDFC is being built with loan from World Bank, except for the last portion
between Bihar and West Bengal.
➢ The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) with a route length of 1856 km runs from Dankuni in
West Bengal to Ludhiana (Punjab).
➢ It covers Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,Jharkhand and West Bengal.
➢ The railway is one of the multiple freight corridors.
➢ It has two components: First component is to provide additional rail transport capacity, improved
service quality and higher freight throughput.
➢ Dedicated Freight Corridor
➢ Corporation of India Ltd. (DFCCIL)
DFCCIL under the Ministry of Railways is a special
➢ purpose vehicle tasked with planning and completion of 3,306 kms of Dedicated Freight Corridors
(DFCs), consisting of western freight corridor and eastern freight corridor (1,856 kms). The total
project cost is estimated at over ₹81,000 crore.
➢ Western Dedicated Freight Corridor: The 1,504-km western freight corridor begins at Dadri in Uttar
Pradesh and stretches till the country’s largest container port — Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, near
Mumbai — passing through Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
❖ INTRODUCTION BUDGET
• Budget:
o A budget is an estimation of revenue and expenses over a specified future period of time
and is usually compiled and re-evaluated on a periodic basis.
• 'Union Budget' Definition: According to Article 112 of the Indian Constitution, the Union Budget of
a year, also referred to as the annual financial statement, is a statement of the estimated receipts
and expenditure of the government for that particular year
• The Budget was first presented in India by James Wilson in 1869.
• The first Union budget of independent India was presented by R. K. Shanmukham Chetty and also
the first finance Minister of India.
• Former Finance Minister Morarji Desai presented the budget ten times.
• Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is the first female presented the Union Budget of India in
1970-71
• A separate Railway Budget, which is different from the General Budget, was first introduced in 1924
on the basis of recommendations of the 10-member Acworth Committee.
• John Mathai Presented The First Railway Budget For Independent India. And First Railway Minster.
• Jagjivan Ram Presented The Railway Budget Seven Times. And Lalu Prasad Yadav Presented Six
Time.
• First Female presented The Railway Budget Of India : Mamata Baneerji
❖ PUNJAB BUDGET 2020-21
• Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal presented Punjab govt’s Rs ₹1, 54,805 crore budget
for financial year 2020-21 in the state assembly.
• Fiscal deficit is targeted at Rs 18,828 crore (2.9% of GSDP).
❖ Agriculture:
• Crop loans of up to Rs 2 lakh taken by small and marginal farmers, as well as landless labourers
will be waived.,
• Rs 8,275 crore has been allocated for providing free power to the agriculture sector.
• ‘Paani bachao paisa kamao’ scheme to be extended for giving direct benefit transfer of
electricity to the agriculture sector.
• Rs 200 crore allocated for agriculture diversification.
• Government to promote Maize; sugar mills at Gurdaspur and Batala to be upgraded. Rs 100
crore allocated for providing support to sugarcane farmers.
• New horticulture estates to be set up at Amritsar, Pathankot, Kotkapura and Patiala.
• Two new agricultural colleges to be set up in Gurdaspur and Balachaur
❖ Education
• The Education sector gets Rs 12,488 crore in the budget.
• Allocation 8 per cent of total budget.
Education in government schools would be free of cost up to class 12. Earlier, education up till
class 8 was free and only girls students had free access to education till class 12. Now all
children to get free education.
• Rs 100 crore allotted for digital education in government school classroom
• 19 new ITIs to be established at a cost of Rs 75 crore; Rs 41 crore allocated for government
polytechnics at 5 places.
• Allocation for education (grant in aid) in Universities increased by 6 percent.
• A law college to be set up at Patti and an open university in Patiala
❖ HEALTH SECTOR
• Rs 4,675 crore allocated for the health sector.
• which is 15% higher for Health and Family Welfare in 2020-21 against 2019-20.
• The State shall soon commence establishment of the Satellite Centre of PGI at Ferozepur and
upgradation of the existing Medical Colleges at Patiala, Amritsar and Faridkot.
❖ INDUSTRY OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS

• Ludhiana And Amritsar Get Rs 104 Crore And Rs 76 Crore Under Smart City Project
• Rs 100 Crore For Border Area Development And Kandi Area Development Programme.
• Fourth Small Industrial Park Will Come Up At Wazirabad In Fatehgarh Sahib
• Punjab To Establish Three Mega Industrial Parks Over 1,000 Acres At Mattewara, Bathinda And
Rajpura
• New scheme “Kasturba Gandhi Mahila Yojana” with the objective to converge the benefits
under all existing women-centric government schemes being run by various departments of the
State.
• new scheme, “Mata Tripta Mahila Yojana” is proposed where in new initiatives / programmes
would be taken by the State to cover the 32 aspects which have hitherto remained uncovered
or were partially covered under any existing Centrally/State sponsored women/girl child-
oriented schemes.
• The Government has launched a new program “Friends of Punjab” to seek participation of NRIs
of Punjabi origin in development and growth of Punjab.
• The Smart Village Campaign has been started in Punjab with the aim of improving conditions in
rural areas by supplementing government schemes for building infrastructure and providing
essential amenities in health, education and environment with convergence of MGNREGA
• Punjab Pendu Awaas Yojna shall be implemented in the rural areas of the State with an aim to
provide a grant to owners of ‘Kutcha Houses/Semi Pucca Houses’ for upgrading them into
‘Pucca Houses’.
• Rs 650 crore for rejuvenation of Buddha nallah; Rs 60 crore for rejuvenation of chotti and badi
nadi in Patiala.
• Finance minister announced that the retirement age of employees will be reduced to 58,
withdrawing the practice of giving extension in service. He says this will enable the government
to recruit youth
• Punjab’s debt is expected to go up to a whopping Rs 2.48 lakh crore by March 2021.
❖ ABOUT PUNJAB:
Punjab Legislative Assembly Speaker– Rana Kanwar Pal Singh
Chief Minister– Captain Amarinder Singh
State Flower– Lilium candidum or the Madonna lily
State Animal– Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)
State Bird– Northern goshawk (Baz/Melierax poliopterus)
State Tree– Dalbergia sissoo (Shisham)
➢ Merger of Public Sector Banks 2020
➢ Punjab Government Launched “Cova Punjab” Mobile App To Spread

Awareness On Corona Virus
On March 9, 2020 The Punjab Government Launched “Cova Punjab” Mobile Application To Spread
Awareness And Precautions To Be Taken Against Corona Virus. The Application Was Launched By
Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh. The Application Was Developed By The Department Of
Government Reforms And Public Grievances In Consultation With The Health & Family Welfare
Department.
➢ Former India Hockey Player & Padma Shri Awardee Balbir Singh Kullar
Passed Away At 77
On March 1, 2020 Balbir Singh Kullar, Former Indian Hockey Player, Padma Shri Awardee And A
Punjab Police Officer Passed Away At The Age Of 77 In Sansarpur, Jalandhar District, Punjab. Balbir
Was Born On 8th August 1942 In Sansarpur, Punjab. He Also Served As An Indian National Team
Selector.
Awards: Balbir Kullar Was Awarded Padma Shri Award In 2009 And Arjuna Award In 1999. He Was
Also A Member Of The Indian Team That Won The Asian Games Gold In 1966 At Bangkok And Also
The Olympic Bronze Winning Team In 1968 At Mexico
Corona Virus-outbreak: Punjab Becomes The 1st State To Impose Curfew After Lockdown Fails On
March 24, 2020, After The Lockdown Became Ineffective, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Captain
Amarinder Singh Has Ordered An Indefinite Curfew Across The State. With This, It Becomes The 1st
State In The Country To Take Drastic Measure To Stop The Spread Of Corona Virus (Covid-19).
➢ Organizations Which Built Roads
There Are Two Organizations Which Built Roads In India On Central Level These Two Organization's
Are N.H.A.I And B.R.O.
Full Form Of NHAI Is National Highways Authority Of India.
BRO Is Full Formed As Border Roads Organization.
Border Roads Organisation
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Develops And Maintains Road Networks In India's Border
Areas And Friendly Neighbouring Countries. The Bro Was Formed On 7 May 1960. Headquarter Of
Bro Is In New Delhi.
Director General Of Bro Is Lt. Gen.Harpal Singh.
BRO Builds Rs 17.89 Cr, 484-meter Permanent Bridge Connecting Punjab’s Kasowal Enclave With
Rest Of The Country.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Has Constructed And Opened A New Class 70 Permanent
Bridge By Replacing The Pontoon Bridge (Floating Bridge) Of Limited Load Capacity On The Ravi
River That Connects The 35 Square Kilometer Kasowal Enclave In Punjab With The Rest Of The
Country. The Newly-constructed 484-meter-long Bridge Was Built By 141 Drain Maintenance Coy Of
49 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) Of PROJECT CHETAK With An Outlay Of Rs17.89 Crore.
➢ Indian Railways’ RCF unit developed low-cost ventilator‘Jeevan’ to fight
COVID-19
The Indian Railways Has Developed A Low-cost Ventilator ‘Jeevan’ At Its Premier Coach Production
Unit, Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala In Punjab. The Cost Of “Jeevan” Is Around Rs 10,000
Without The Compressor And It Will Not Rise Over Rs 30,000 Even After Adding A Few More
Indicators. The Ventilator Is Now Awaiting
The Final Clearance From The Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR). Currently India Has
57,000 Ventilators But Their Requirement Can Be Reached Between 110,000-220,000. Also, Jeevan
Will Produce Low Cost-effective Service As Other Ventilators Cost Between Rs 5-Rs15 Lakh.
➢ IIT Ropar Designs ‘WARD BOT’ To Deliver Food, Medicines To COVID-19

Patients
A Team Of Researchers At The Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT), Ropar In Punjab’s Rupnagar
District Has Come Up With A Design Of An Autonomous ‘Wardbot’ Which Can Deliver Medicines
And Food To COVID-19 Patients In Isolation Wards Without Human Intervention.
Key Points:
The Wardbot Was Developed Under The Guidance Of Ektasingla, Associate Professor And Head,
Department Of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Ropar. The Deployment Of Wardbot In Hospitals Helps
In Minimising The Risk Of The Frontline Health Staff Getting Infected With The Deadly Virus (Covid-
19).
About Wardbot: The Ward Bot Is Fitted With Sensors, Can Work On A Known Path And Can Carry
Food Items And Medicines, Necessary Equipment For Delivery To Patients At Different Beds From
One Room To The Other From The Remotely Located Control Room.
➢ Hola Mohalla’ festival celebrated at Sri Anandpur Sahib in Punjab
On March 10, 2020 ‘Hola Mohalla’ Is The Annual Sikh Festival Celebrated On The Following Day Of
The Festival Holi At Sri Anandpur Sahib, Punjab. The Festival Will Be Celebrated For 3 Days From
March 10 To 12, 2020. The Festival Aims To Physically Strengthen Sikh Community By Holding
Acrobatic Military Exercises And Mock Battles.
➢ LPG Scheme PM Ujjwala Yojana Closed ( Only 3 States & 5 UTS Become
Kerosene - Free)
In Accordance With The Report Of The Parliamentary Committee On Petroleum Headed By BJP
(Bharatiya Janata Party) Member Ramesh Bidhuri, Only Three States And Five Union Territories
Have Become Kerosene-free Even Though In September 2019 The Government Has Met The Target
Of 8 Crore LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) Connections Under The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
(PMUY).
The Kerosene-free States Are Haryana, Punjab And Andhra Pradesh And Union Territories (Uts) Are
Delhi, Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Andaman & Nicobar Island And Puducherry
➢ Punjab Prohibits Online Supply Of Food From Fbos Not Possessing Hygiene
Rating
On March 1, 2020, Punjab government’s Food and Drug Administration has prohibited Online Food
Supply Aggregators (OFSAs) related to those Food Business Operators (FBOs) who are not
possessing hygiene rating, by invoking provisions under Section 18(1)(a) of food Safety and
Standards Act, 2006 to ensure safe food to public. It also prohibits OFSAs from sourcing the food
from FBOs where rating is less than three out of five. The prohibition orders would be effective for
one year beginning April 30, 2020.
➢ Legendary Historian Arjun Dev Passes Away At 81
On March 29, 2020, Professor Arjun Dev, The Legendary Historian And Educationist Passed Away At
The Age Of 81 In Noida, (UP). He Was Born On Nov 12, 1938 In, West Punjab (Now In Pakistan).
About Arjun Dev: He Served As A Historian At The National Council Of Education Research And
Training (NCERT). Arjun Dev Served As Member Secretary Of The National Steering Committee On
Textbook Evaluation. One Of His Books, Which Was Discontinued By NCERT And Was Republished
By Orient Blackswan As “History Of The World.
➢ Padma Shri Awardee And Former ‘Hazoori Raagi’ Bhai Nirmal Singh Passed
Away At 62
On April 2, 2020, Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa, Padma Shri Awardee And Former “Hazoori Raagi” At
The Golden Temple, Passed Away At The Age Of 62 In Amritsar, Punjab. He Was Born On April 12,
1952 In Ferozepur, Punjab.
Awards: In 2009, Singh Received The Padma Shri Award From The Government Of India For His
Contribution Of Services In The Field Of Arts And He Was The First Hazoori Raagi To Receive The
Award.
➢ Dronacharya Awardee & Athletics Coach Joginder Singh Saini Passed Away
At 90
On March 1, 2020 Senior Athletics Coach & Dronacharya Awardee Joginder Singh Saini, Who
Trained Some Of India’s Finest Track And Field Stars, Passed Away At The Age Of 90, In Patiala,
Punjab, Due To Age Related Problems. He Served As The Chief National Athletics Coach For Many
Years From The Year 1970 To 1990.He Was Born On January 1, 1930 In Hoshiarpur District In
Punjab. He Was Also Known As ‘Saini Saab’ By The Indian Athletics Fraternity.
➢ CSIR-CSIO Transfers Its Electrostatic Disinfection Technology For
Commercialization
Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research (CSIR) – CSIR’S Scientific Instruments Organization
(CSIO) Transferred The Electrostatic Disinfection Technology, An Innovative And Effective
Disinfection And Sanitization Technology Developed By CSIR-CSIO To Fight Coronavirus
Pandemic To Rite Water Solutions Private Limited A Nagpur Based Company For
Commercialization And Large Scale Production.
About CSIR-CSIO:
Vice President– Dr.Harsh Vardhan Director General– Dr.Shekhar C. Mande Location– Chandigarh
One Nation One Ration Card’ Platform
The Scheme Announced In June 2019 Allows Portability Of Food Security Benefits Across The
Country From 1st June 2020.
This Means Poor Migrant Workers Or The Beneficiaries Who Are Taking Food Grains Under The
Public Distribution System (Pds) Will Be Able To Buy Subsidized Rice And Wheat From Any Ration
Shop In The Country.
Simply, It Is Inter-state Portability Of Ration Cards.
Already This Plan Has Been Initiated In 12 States
From 1st of January 2020 Viz. Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala,
Karnataka Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana And Tripura.
This Will Benefit 600 Million Beneficiaries Out Of 810 Million Covered Under The Food Security
Act, 2013.
On May 1, 2020, Minister Of Consumer Affairs, Food And Public Distribution Shri Ramvilas Paswan
Approved The Integration Of 5 More States And Union Territories Under “One Nation One Ration
Card” Plan With The Already 12 Existing States Taking A Total Number Of States/Uts To 17.
The Newly Approved States/Uts Under This Plan Are
Uttar Pradesh
Bihar
Punjab
Himachal Pradesh
Dadra & Nagar Haveli And Daman & Diu.
Three More States Namely - Odisha, Sikkim And Mizoram
joined on 2nd june .
Total 20 State/UT under One Nation One Ration Card platform.
➢ PNB Housing Finance Limited Signs MOU With IIT Delhi To Develop
Reusable PPE Kits
Punjab National Bank Housing Finance Limited (PNBHFL) Has Signed A Memorandum Of
Understanding (MOU) With Indian Institute Of TECHNOLOGY (IIT) Delhi To Support The Research
And Development Of A Unique Prototype Material.
To Be Used In The Manufacture Of Washable And Reusable Protective Equipment
Gowns And Masks. (PPE) Surgical About PNBHFL:
Headquarters– New Delhi, India.
(MD) & (CEO)– Neeraj Vyas
About IIT Delhi:
Director– V. Ramgopal Rao
➢ 1,500 Crores Sanctioned For Punjab By NABARD
The National Bank For Agriculture And Rural DEVELOPMENT(NABARD) Has Sanctioned Rs 1,500
Crores For Punjab To Ensure Continuous Credit Flow To Farmers, Through State Cooperative
Banks, Amidst The COVID-19 Pandemic.
Out Of The Total Amount Rs 1,000 Crores Is Sanctioned To Punjab State Cooperative Bank And Rs
500 Crores To Punjab Gramin Bank.
The Amount Given Is Part Of Nabard’s Rs 25,000 Crores Nationwide SPECIAL LIQUIDITY
FACILITY(SLF), Which Has Been Made Available To State Cooperative Banks, Regional Rural Banks,
And Microfinance Institutions (MFIS), To Ensure Flow Of Credit To Farmers For Agricultural
Operations During COVID-19 Pandemic
About NABARD:
Reserve Bank Of India (rbi) At The Insistence Of The Government Of India Constituted A
Committee Under The Chairmanship
Of B.Sivaraman To Review The Arrangements For Institutional Credit For Agriculture And Rural
Development On 30 March 1979. On The Committee’s Recommendation, NABARD Came Into
Existence On 12 July 1982 With The Approval Of The Parliament By Act 61 Of 1981 With An
Objective To Promote Sustainable, Equitable Agriculture And Rural Development.
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra Chairman– Harsh Kumar Bhanwala.
➢ Punjab Govt Promulgates ‘Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Amendment

Ordinance, 2020
Punjab Government (Govt) Proclamation ‘The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release)
Amendment Ordinance, 2020.
As Per New Provisions, The Temporary Release Of The Prisoners Has Been
Allowed Beyond The Maximum Period Of 16 Weeks In A Calendar Year.
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Chandigarh, Cooperation And Jails Minister, Announced That The
Measures Have Been Taken In View Of Containing The Spread Of COVID-19, With The Intention To
Decongest The Jails.
The Condition Of The Temporary Release Being Availed Of, On Quarterly Basis Also Stands Waived.
➢ Hockey Icon, Padma Shri Balbir Singh Sr Passed Away At 95
On 25th May 2020, Legendary Hockey Player, Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist And The Best
Centre-forward Balbir Singh Dosanjh Passed Away At The Age Of 95 At The Fortis Hospital,
Chandigarh Where He Was Admitted Due To Multiple Organ Failure And Remained In Ventilator
Support From 8th May 2020.
He Was Born On 19th October, 1924 In Haripur, Jalandhar.
He Was The First Hockey Player To Receive Padma Shri In 1957. HE WROTE HIS BIOGRAPHY
“The Golden Hat Trick:
My Hockey Days” in 1977. About Hockey India:
President- Mushtaque Ahmad. Formed- May 20, 2009
Headquarters- New Delhi
➢ NRAI Nominates Anjum Moudgil For Khel Ratna, Jaspal For Dronachary
Award
The National Rifle Association Of India (NRAI) Has Nominated Rifle Ace Anjum Moudgil For The
Khel Ratna The Country's Highest Sporting Honour While Recommending Jaspal Rana For The
Dronacharya Award For The Second Year In A Row.
The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Carries A Medallion, A Certificate And A Cash Prize Of Rs 7.5
Lakh.
Dronacharya Awards Are Given To Honour Eminent Coaches Who Have Successfully Trained
Sportspersons Or Teams And Enabled Them To Achieve Outstanding Results In International
Competitions.
➢ Chandigarh Launches Mobile App For COVID-19 “CHDCOVID”
To Spread Awareness About COVID-19 In The City, The Chandigarh Administration Launched A
Newly Developed Android Base Mobile App “CHDCOVID”.
This Will Be A Single Point Platform Which Will Provide All Information Related To Covd-19 In
Chandigarh.
The Residents Of Chandigarh Can Access All The Guidelines, Orders And Notifications Issued By
Administration And Government Of India On The Mobile App
"Unique" COVID-19 Information Portal
The Central University Of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) Has Launched A "Unique" COVID-19 Information
Portal At CUPB City Campus, On Which Most Of The "Authentic Information And Sources Are
Available For The References, Research, And Common Understanding Of The Phenomenon."
➢ Petroleum Minister Dedicates To Nation, 56 CNG Stations
Petroleum And Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Today Dedicated To Nation, 56 CNG
Stations Spread Over 11 States And Union Territories.
These Stations Are In Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
New Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana And Uttar Pradesh.
➢ RTI Helpline Launched In Punjab
Which State Government Has Released The RTI Helpline Number?
a. Punjab
b. Rajasthan
c. Haryana
d. None Of These
Right To Information Act, 2005
Right To Information Is An Act Of The Parliament Of India Which Sets Out The Rules And
Procedures Regarding Citizens' Right To Information. It Replaced The Former Freedom Of
Information Act, 2002.
1. Which State Government Has Announced The Promotion Of 10th Class Students Without
Examination?
a. Madhya Pradesh
b. Punjab
c. Karnataka
d. None Of These
2. Which State/UT Has Launched The ‘Chdcovid’app?
a. Chhattisgarh
b. Chandigarh
c. Maharashtra
d. None Of These
3. Which State Government Has Announced Imposition Of Additional Excise Duty On Liquor?
a. Maharashtra
b. Punjab
c. Madhya Pradesh
d. None Of These
4. Which State Government Has Launched A Month-long Awareness Campaign Against The Corona
Virus?
a. Maharashtra
b. Punjab
c. Madhya Pradesh
d. None Of These
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh On Monday Launched A Month-long Drive, As Part Of
“Mission
Fateh”, To Spread Mass Awareness About The COVID-19 Pandemic.
❖ FSSAI's Food Safety Index 2019-20:-

• Word food safety day – 7th June
• The state food safety Index ranks states/UTs annually on five parameters of food safety through
a rigorous evaluation process.
• Top ranking Largest state:
1. Gujarat
2. Tamil Nadu
3. Maharashtra
• Top Ranking smaller States:
1. Goa
2. Manipur
3. Meghalaya
• Top Ranking UTs:-
1. Chandigarh
2. Delhi
3. Andaman & Nicobar Islands
• Food Safety And Standards Authority Of India (FSSAI) Has Released The Results Of The Second State
Food Safety Index To Celebrate World Food Safety Day During A Webinar.
• It Was Announced During A Webinar Conducted On The Occasion Of “World Food Safety Day” On
June 7, 2020 On The Theme “Food Safety Is Everyone’s Business” .
❖ MP Becomes Country's Top Wheat Producer:-
• Madhya Pradesh Is Set To Pump In Around Rs 25,000 Crore Into Its Rural Economy By The Time Its
All-time High Wheat Procurement Draws To A Close.
• This Has Made The State The Country’s Largest Wheat Purchaser In 2020-21.
• The State Procured Around 12.77 Million Tonnes Of Wheat, Which Is Expected To Reach 13 Million
Tonnes By The Time The Process Ends In The Next Few Weeks.
• Punjab Has Closed Its Procurement For This Year At 12.76 Million Tonnes.
❖ Amritsar Included In Delhi-katra Expressway; Punjab Stretch To Be

Converted Into Greenfield Expressway
• Union Minister For Road Transport And Highways Nitin Gadkari.
• In This Regard, A Greenfield Connectivity Will Be Developed In Punjab Stretch Of Delhi-
amritsar-katra Expressway To Amritsar City
• From Nakodar In Jalandhar (Punjab) Via Five Historic Towns Of Sultanpur Lodhi, Goindwal Sahib,
Khadoor Sahib And Tarn Taran
• It Should Be Noted That This Expressway Is A Part Of Bharatmala Pariyojana With A Total Outlay
Of Rs 60,000 Crore
• The Delhi-amritsar-katra Expressway Was Proposed By Govt. Of J&K, But Due To Some Reasons
Amritsar Was Excluded From The Expressway Project.
• After That On The Request Of The Punjab State Government, Centre Agreed For Amending The
Alignment Of The Expressway To Connect Amritsar And Delhi Looking At The Religious
Importance Of The Former.
• Now, The Expressway Includes 2 Sections. One Is Delhi-amritsar And The Other Is Delhi-katra.
About Punjab
Capital– Chandigarh
Chief Minister– Captain Amarinder Singh
❖ IIT-Ropar’s Machine To Sterilise Products Using UV Rays:
• IIT- Ropar Has Designed A Machine In Which Products Can Be Sterilised Using UV Rays.
• The Institute Has Also Started Consulting A Chandigarh-based Manufacturing Company
Esspee Industries For Its Production.
• The Uv-c Sterlisation Unit Was Conceptualised And Designed By Senior Scientific Officer
Naresh Rakha, Dr Khushboo Rakha And Executive Engineer Ts Anand.
• The Machine Is Used To Sterilise Grocery Items Using Uv Rays.
❖ Punjab CM Amarinder Singh launches surveillance app ‘Ghar ghar nigrani’
app to detect COVID-19:
• On June 12, 2020 Punjab Chief Minister(CM) Amarinder Singh launched mobile based app
‘Ghar ghar nigrani’ app
• through video conference to conduct house-to-house surveillance in the state to eliminate the
COVID-19 pandemic.
• The app had been developed and designed in-house by the Health Department, and had been
field tested in Patiala and Mansa
Key Points
i.The survey captures a person’s full medical conditions for the previous week and his / her co-
morbidities(one or more additional conditions often co-occurring with a primary condition)
ii.This app enables the state to further develop a database for its COVID containment strategy
and create targeted interventions for the community.
iii.The survey will be conducted by Accredited Social Health Activist(ASHA) workers and
community volunteers.
❖ IAS Officer Vini Mahajan Becomes Punjab’s First Woman Chief Secretary
• On June 26, 2020 The Punjab government appointed 1987 batch Indian Administrative
Service(IAS) Officer Vini
• Mahajan as the Chief Secretary, after which she becomes the 1st woman to hold this post. She
will remain in the post
• until October 2024. She succeeded Karan Avtar Singh, who was due to retire in August 2020.
• Currently she is the only Punjab cadre officer in the state to hold a Secretary’s post at the
Centre.
Gist about Vini Mahajan
• Vini Mahajan has a total of 33 years experience in Central and Punjab governments.
❖ Vini Mahajan Prior To This Appointment Was Serving As Additional Chief Secretary,
Investment Promotion, And Governance Reforms And Public Grievances.
• She Has Headed The State’s Health Sector Response & Procurement Committee.
• She became the 1st woman officer to be posted as Deputy Commissioner(DC) in Punjab in 1995,
where she took charge as DC in Ropar & served as the 1st Director Disinvestment
• Award– She has received National Literacy Award for best performance in India
❖ V P Singh Badnore & Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates Battery Swapping

Facility Quick Interchange Service virtually
• On June 26, 2020 Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh, V P Singh Badnore with
Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated
Battery Swapping Facility Quick
• Interchange Service(QIS) at Chandigarh in a virtual function.
About Battery swapping technology
i.The battery swapping technology provides the best alternative to slow charging and enables
drivers to optimize the use of the operational hours.
ii.The model was initiated to target the commercial segment like electric autos, rickshaws,
electric 2W and the electric vehicle, which is factory fitted or retrofitted.
❖ Agreement between IOCL and Sun Mobility Pvt Ltd
• Indian Oil Corporation Limited(IOCL) has signed an agreement with Sun Mobility Private
Limited to install lithium-ion battery swapping stations for electric vehicles in fuel stations
across IndianOilRetail outlets in selected cities.
• The 1st such battery swapping station was installed at one of IOC’s fuel stations in Chandigarh.
• IOCL aims to run a Pilot and offer SMPLs (Smart Mobility Proprietary Solutions) to support and
service vehicles like
• e-rickshaws, e-karts and e-bikes, and e-auto rickshaws up to 20 to 25 quick interchange stations
in selected cities in India.
❖ 8 Indian Institutes Entered Top 100 In THE Asia University Ranking

• In The Times Higher Education(THE) Asia University Ranking Launched On 4th June 2020, Indian
Became The Third Most Represented Country With 8 Institutes In The Top 100.Indian Institute
Of Science(iisc) With 36th Position On The List Retains Its Top Position In India.
❖ Key Points:
• Tsinghua University, China Tops the List following Peking University, China in 2nd position and
NationalUniversity of Singapore, Singapore in 3rd position.
• The ranking is made based on the citations, industry income, international outlook, research and
teaching.
AUGUST
❖ Sutlej-Yamuna Link Canal Project
Recently, the Chief Minister of Punjab has warned the Centre of political unrest in the state if asked
to proceed with the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal project.
➢ Punjab has staked claims to Yamuna’s waters and also reiterated the need for a tribunal on
water sharing.
• € 1960: The dispute can be traced back to the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan,
allowing the former ‘free and unrestricted use’ of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
• € 1966: Creation of Haryana from the old (undivided) Punjab presented the problem of giving
Haryana its share of river waters.
• For Haryana to get its share of the waters of the Sutlej and its tributary Beas, a canal linking the
Sutlej with the Yamuna was planned (SYL Canal).
• Punjab refused to share waters with Haryana stating it was against the riparian principle which
dictates that the water of a river belongs only to the State and country or States and countries
through which the river in question flows.
• € 1981: Both states mutually agreed for the reallocation of water.
• € 1982: Construction of 214-km SYL was initiated in Kapoori village, Punjab.
• Kapoori Morcha, an agitation to protest against the proposed sharing of waters was launched which
gave way to militant uprisings in the state.
• 2002: SC directed Punjab to complete the work in its territory.
• 2004: Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act
terminating its water-sharing agreements and thus jeopardising the construction of SYL in Punjab.
€
• 2016: SC started hearings into a presidential reference (Article 143) to decide on the legality of the
2004 Act and declared that Punjab reneged on its promise to share the waters of rivers. Thus, the
act was termed constitutionally invalid.
➢ Article 143: Advisory Jurisdiction

• The Constitution under Article 143 authorises the President to seek the opinion of the Supreme
Court in the two categories of matters:
• On any question of law or fact of public importance which has arisen or which is likely to arise. The
SC may tender or may refuse to tender its opinion to the President.
• On any dispute arising out of any pre-constitution treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement,
sanador other similar instruments. Here, the SC must tender its opinion to the President.
• In both the cases, the opinion expressed by the Supreme Court is only advisory and not a judicial
pronouncement. Hence, it is not binding on the President.
• The references made by the President under Article 143 are decided by a Bench consisting of at
least five judges.
➢ Few important references made by the President to the SC under its advisory jurisdiction are:
• Berubari Union, 1960.
• € Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, 1992.
• € Rama Janma Bhumi case, 1993.
• Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004.
• 2G spectrum case verdict and the mandatory auctioning of natural resources across all sectors,
2012.
• 2020:SC has directed the Chief Ministers of both states to negotiate and settle the SYL canal issue
at the highest political level to be mediated by the Centre.
• Punjab has asked for a tribunal for fresh time bound assessment of the water availability. Punjab
holds that there has been no adjudication or scientific assessment of river waters in the state till
date. The availability of Ravi-Beas water has also come down from the estimated 17.17 MAF in
1981 to 13.38 MAF in 2013. A fresh tribunal would ascertain all this.
• Reasons for Punjab’s Unwillingness: Punjab is facing severe water crisis due to overexploitation of
its underground aquifers for the wheat/paddy monocycle.
• According to the Central Ground Water Authority’s report, its underground water is over-exploited
in about 79% of the state. Punjab feels that it has utilised its preciousgroundwater resources to
grow the crop for the entire country and should not be forced to share its waters as it faces the
threat of desertification. Also, the youth of the state may start feeling that the state has been
discriminated against once the construction of the canal restarts.
• Pakistan and secessionist organisations like Sikh For Justice could exploit the situation to foment
trouble in the state.
❖ Punjab govt launches ‘Pride of Punjab’ partnership of State Govt, YuWaah for youth
development
• Chief Minister Amarinder Singh launched the ‘Pride of Punjab’ programme through video
conferencing.
• The programme is a partnership programme between the Department of Youth Services and Sports
and YuWaah – a joint initiative of UNICEF, other UN agencies, civil society organisations and the
private sector.
❖ PCA to Name Mullanpur Stadium After Late Maharaja Yadavindra Singh

• Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) is set to name its new stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh,
Punjab after the late Maharaja Yadavindra Singh.
• PCA President Rajinder Gupta proposed the idea to name the stadium and it had been approved.
➢ About Maharaja Yadavindra Singh:
• Maharaja Yadavindra Singh played a test match for India against England in 1934.
• Maharaja Yadavindra Singh was the father of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. He was the
9th and the last Maharaja of Patiala.
❖ Punjab gets First Rank in Health, Welfare Centre Operationalisation
• State of Punjab has secured first rank in the list of best performing states in operationalisation of
Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) released by the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare(MoHFW), Government of India.
➢ Punjab’s State Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu had announced
regarding this ranking.
• Outpatient Department (OPD) services, preventive and curative clinical services for communicable
and non-communicable diseases were being provided at the HWCs.
• Around 6.8 Lakh individuals have been screened and provided medicines at the HWCs for
hypertension, diabetes and oral, breast or cervical cancer.
• In March, 2020 the Punjab Government started telemedicine services at HWCs and established a
telemedicine Hub in Chandigarh.
➢ About Punjab:
• Governor – Vijayender Pal Singh Badnore
• Traditional Dances – Bhangra, MalwaiGiddha, Jhumar, Jaago, Karthi, Jindua, Dandass, Sammi, Kikli,
Luddi, Dankara.
❖ Indian Cricket Coach Gurcharan Singh Co-authored his Memoir “Pitching It Straight”
• Indian Cricket Coach Gurcharan Singh (85 years old) penned his memoir titled “Pitching It Straight”
which is co-authored by sports journalist MS Unnikrishnan and published by Vitasta
• The book portrays the personal and professional life of Gurcharan Singh, who trained numerous
young talents
➢ About Gurcharan Singh:

• Gurcharan Singh played 37 first class matches for Maharaja of Patiala’s XI, Railways, and Souther
Punjab.
• He later joined the National Institute of Sports as a Coach.
• He launched the Pace Academy at Gwalior in 1992.
➢ Awards:
• He was honoured with Dronacharya Award in 1987.
❖ Punjab passed a resolution against Farm Ordinances
• Punjab State Government passed a resolution against the Centre’s farm ordinances. The resolution
was tabled by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. The resolution termed these ordinances as anti-
farmer and against the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime.
➢ Highlights:
• The ordinances were against the federal structure and the rights of the farmers.
• The resolution is against:
✓ Farmers’ Produce Ordinance, 2020
✓ Farmers Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020
✓ Essential Commodities Ordinance, 2020
✓ Electricity Amendment Bill 2020
• It is because, as per the Punjab State Government, Agriculture falls under List II of Constitution and
hence falls under the State List. The ordinance promulgated by the Punjab state government is a
direct encroachment on the functions of these states
❖ Odisha topped in implementing AMRUT scheme
• The scheme aims to establish an infrastructure that will ensure robust sewage networks and water
supply for urban transformation.
1st – Odisha
2nd – Chandigarh
3rd – Telangana
4th – Gujarat
5th - Karnataka
➢ AMRUT scheme:
• AMRUT scheme was launched by PM Narendra Modi in June 2015.
• The scheme aims to establish an infrastructure that will ensure robust sewage networks and water
supply for urban transformation.
• Under the mission, efforts have been made towards universal coverage of water supply,
construction of sewage treatment plants, and improving green spaces in the 9 AMRUT cities of
Odisha.
• The nine cities are Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Baripada, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Bhadrak,
Berhampur, and Puri. These cities are covered under the AMRUT scheme in Odisha.
• A total of 191 projects are grounded in the state. Out of the total 1919 projects, 148 projects have
been implemented and the rest are likely to be completed by March 2021.
• Under the scheme, the Universal coverage of piped water supply has been completed by laying or
replacing 400 km of pipeline to date, and all the nine AMRUT cities will have 100 percent network
coverage by December 2020.
• Also, several parks with well-conceived landscaping and rejuvenation facilities, open gyms, and
jogging trails have been developed
❖ Community Health Center to come up at Doraha in the name of former Chief Minister
late Beant Sing
• Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu today said that the Punjab
Government was making all-out efforts to provide high-quality healthcare facilities to the people
❖ 'safe Punjab Programme’ launched under Tandrust Punjab Mission

• Program aims to improve the overall road safety in the State
• In order to further improve the road safety scenario in Punjab, Safe Punjab Program under Tandrust
Punjab Mission has been launched in association with Punjab Police and SAFE (Safety Alliance for
Everyone) Society
• The core purpose of this program is to improve the overall road safety with scientific impetus to the
road safety scenario in Punjab, said KS Pannu Director Tandrust Punjab Mission
❖ Captain Amarinder Singh Launches ‘MsevaWhatsappChatbot To Ensure Better
Accessibility & Grievance Redressal
• Captain Amarinder Singh has launched the ‘mSevaWhatAppChatBot’,
• Which would be immensely helpful and beneficial for general public to get their issues resolved
especially amid COVID-19 pandemic.
• The people can access the chatbot either by giving a missed call or sending a Whatsapp message to
87509-75975.
❖ 50 Percent Seats To Be Reserved For Women In Forthcoming Municipal Council
Elections
• Captain Amarinder Singh Made a Historic Decision by Giving 50 Percent Reservation to Women
❖ Northern Railway runs the first-ever Vyapar Mala express train for small traders
• Northern Railway ran its first Vyapar Mala Express train from Kishanganj in Delhi bound for Jirania
in Tripura
➢ Other facts about the train:

• The train departed at Kishanganj, Delhi to reach Jirania and It will cover 2673 Km from Punjab to
Tripura.
• Wheat was loaded in 34 wagons at Guniana station of Firozpur Division by Food Corporation of
India and Rice and Pulses have been loaded in the remaining wagons.
• The Railway board has earned more than ₹ 94 lakh from this Vyapar Mala Express train
➢ About Northern Railway
• Headquarters – New Delhi railway station
Division – Ambala (Haryana), Delhi railway division, Firozpur (Punjab), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh),
Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh).
❖ Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar launched ParivarPehchanPatras
• Manohar Lal Khattar, the Chief Minister of Haryana launched the ‘ParivarPehchanPatras’(PPP), an
initiative of the state government developed by the team CMO (Chief Minister’s Office) for effective
and efficient delivery of central and state schemes to the people in a transparent way
• About Haryana:
Chief Minister– Manohar Lal Khattar
Governor– SatyadeoNarain Arya
Capital– Chandigarh
❖ ‘Punjab Smart Connect Scheme’
• On the occasion of International Youth Day and Janmastami, Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief
Minister of Punjab launched the “Punjab Smart Connection Scheme” worth Rs. 92 crores to
provide free smartphones to the students of class 12 and he also handed over the smartphones to 6
students.
• The major beneficiaries of the scheme belong to the Other Backward class(OBC) and Scheduled
Caste (SC)and Scheduled Tribe (ST)categories
➢ About Punjab:
• National parks- Abohar National Park, JhajjarBachauli National Park, Bir MotiBagh National Park, Bir
Bhadson National Park, Mahendra Zoological Park (Chatt Bir zoo).
Airport– Sri Guru Ram DassJee International Airport
• MaulanaAbulKalam Azad (Maka) Trophy: This Award Is Being Conferred To The Overall Top
Performing University In Inter-university Tournaments.
• Panjab University, Chandigarh
• Panjab University (PU) is a collegiate public central university located in Chandigarh,
India.Originated in 1882 as the University of the Punjab Lahore it was relocated in Chandigarh in
the year 1947 as the East Punjab University after the partition of India, where the university was
split between India and Pakistan.
September
❖ Punjab Government launches ‘I Rakhwali’ app to make citizens

‘Greenery Saviours’
• On September 3, 2020, Punjab State Minister for Department of Forest & WildLife &
Preservation Sadhu Singh Dharmsot launched ‘I Rakhwali’ application. The app was launched to
safeguard the forest areas in the state by making common citizens as stakeholders in the
process.It will help citizens to become ‘Greenery Saviours’.
• The main aim is to inspire people to plant more trees and this app will help people come
forward and contribute towards environment protection.
• The app will help common people by providing them with the geographical location of the
nurseries to get easy access to free plants and saplings.
• Using the app, a common man can report illegal felling of trees and any damage to the forests.
• When an issue is reported in the app, the matter will be brought to the notice of concerned
Forest Divisional Officers and they will act on it immediately.
• The Complainants are regularly updated about actions on their complaints.
➢ Recent Related News:
I. The Punjab government appointed 1987 batch Indian Administrative Service(IAS) Officer
Vini Mahajan as the Chief Secretary, which makes her the 1st woman to hold this post.
II. Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh, V P Singh Badnore with Union Minister
of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated Battery Swapping
Facility Quick Interchange Service(QIS) at Chandigarh in a virtual function.
❖ India Happiness Report 2020 announced
The first all India Happiness Report 2020 covering all States and Union Territories measuring
happiness across the country, what contributes to people’s happiness, the impact of COVID-19 on
happiness, and insights from thought leaders. The study is based on a nationwide survey covering
16,950 people between March and July 2020 by Professor Rajesh K Pillania.
In overall happiness ranking of states and union territories:
I. Mizoram
II. Punjab
III. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Among the big states:
I. Punjab
II. Gujarat
III. Telangana
Among smaller states:
I. Mizoram
II. Sikkim
III. Arunachal Pradesh
Among union territories:
I. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

II. Puducherry
III. Lakshadweep
The worst possible impact of COVID-19 on happiness: Maharashtra, Delhi, and Haryana have shown the
worst possible impact of COVID-19 on happiness, whereas Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir are
neutral and Manipur, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep have shown the best possible
impact of COVID-19 on happiness.
❖ Gujarat, Andaman & Nicobar Emerge as Best State/UT in providing

Strong Ecosystem for Startups: DPIIT ranking
• On September 11, 2020 Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released
the 2nd Edition of ‘States on Support to Startup Ecosystems 2019’ . The Rankings are based on
providing a Strong Ecosystem for promoting Startups.
• Gujarat emerged as the best performer among Category X.Gujarat topped the rankings in the 2018
edition of Ranking also. (In Category x – All States and New Delhi, barring North Eastern (N. E)
States & other Union Territories (U. T))
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands emerged as best performer among Category Y (Category y – All N.E
states except Assam and all UTs except Delhi).
• The Rankings were released by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal and a total
of 22 states and 3 UTs participated in the exercise.
➢ Rankings:
• For the purposes of ranking, states/UTs are classified into five categories: Best Performers (100
Percentile), Top Performers (More than 75 to Less than 100), Leaders (More than or equal to 30 to
less than or equal to 75), Aspiring Leaders (More than 10 and less than 30) and Emerging Startup
Ecosystems (Less than or equal to 10).
➢ Category – X
• All States and New Delhi, barring North Eastern (N.E) States & other Union Territories.
State Category
▪ Gujarat - Best Performer
▪ Karnataka - Top Performer
▪ Kerala - Top Performer
• All N.E states except Assam and all UTs except Delhi
State/Union Territory (U.T.) - Category
▪ Andaman & Nicobar Islands - Best Performer

▪ ------- Top Performer
▪ Chandigarh - Leader
➢ Other Performers:
Category X:
I. Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Chandigarh were placed in Leaders Category.
II. Haryana, Jharkhand, Punjab, Telangana, Uttarakhand and Nagaland were placed in Aspiring
Leaders Category.
III. Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil
Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Mizoram and Sikkim were placed in Emerging Startup Ecosystems.
Category Y:
I. Nagaland was placed in Aspiring Leader Category.

II. Mizoram & Sikkim were placed in Emerging Startup Ecosystems.
➢ Basis for Dividing into Categories:
• The States and UTs have been divided into two groups to establish uniformity and
standardisation in the ranking process.
➢ Ranking Framework:
I. The ranking framework 2019 has seven broad reform areas consisting of 30 action points
ranging from institutional support, easing compliances, relaxation in public procurement
norms, incubation centres, seed funding, venture funding, and awareness and outreach.
II. The parameters also involved getting feedback from beneficiaries gathered through 60, 000
calls to connect with beneficiaries to ascertain real situations at the implementation level.
• Other Info:-
▪ The National Report and Specific Reports for all participating States and Union
Territories had also been launched and it is available in Startup India Portal. National
Report – highlights the vision, trajectory, methodology and the future roadmap of the
States Ranking Exercise. State Specific Report – containing a comprehensive analysis of
respective ecosystem, which highlights strengths and priority areas for future A
‘Compendium of Good Practices’ adopted by various States in supporting start-ups has
also been released. It identifies 166 good practices.
➢ Initiatives for Startups:
I. Government launched Startup India Action Plan in January 2016 to promote startups in the
country.
II. The aim of Startup India Action Plan is to give incentives like tax holiday and remodel
Inspection regimes and capital gains tax exemption.
Note – The DPIIT has created an India Investment Grid (IIG), an interactive investment portal
providing details of sectors, states and projects to ease the domestic and foreign investors.
➢ Recent Related News: online portal called the

I. On May 8, 2020 Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Giriraj Singh
(chief guest) presented the award to the winners of “Startup India-Animal Husbandry Grand
Challenge”.
II. On June 25, 2020, According to the report, ‘Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2020;
the New Normal for the Global Startup Economy and the Impact of COVID-19’ released by
Startup Genome, Bangalore,Bengaluru Becomes India’s Only City in Top 30 with 26th
position.
About DPIIT:- Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) is a central
government department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Secretary – Guruprasad
Mohapatra.
❖ PK Mishra Panel to Initiate Action in Advance For Managing Air

Pollution in NCR
• On September 18, 2020, a high-level task force led by Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra, Principal Secretary
to the Prime Minister reviewed the action taken by agencies and firm up plans for the coming
harvesting and winter season during a meeting with Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana,
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, Secretaries of different departments/ministries of the central
government including M/o of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Agriculture, Road, Petroleum
and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• Its objective was to initiate proper precautionary and preventive measures in advance for the
management of air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).
• The meet notified that incidence of stubble burning has reduced by more than 50% in the last two
years and the number of Good Air Quality Index (AQI) days have gone up.
• The meeting reviewed the main sources of air pollution, measures taken and the progress made by
the State Governments and various Ministries was carried out.
• As Reserve Bank of India (RBI) included residue based power /fuel plants under priority sector
lending (PSL) therefore both State and Central Governments will jointly work out action plans for
rapid deployment of such units
• The importance of effective implementation of the existing in-situ management of crop residue
scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture by the States was highlighted.
• State Governments mandated for the deployment of new machinery for farmers in the current year
before the start of the harvesting season.
• Government of National Capital Territory (GNCT)-Delhi was requested to ensure measures to
control local sources of pollution with a support of the Ministry of Agriculture.
• To control stubble burning, it was stressed that an adequate number of teams should be deployed
at ground level to ensure that no stubble burning takes place especially in the State of Punjab,
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (UP).
➢ Recent Related News:
I. On July 2, 2020 Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai informed that a 17 day campaign ”Podhe
Lagao, Paryavaran Bachao” (Plant Trees, Save Environment) will be launched from July 10 to
July 26 from the National Highway(NH) 20 near ITO to reduce air pollution. During the campaign
31 lakh saplings will be planted.
II. Bharti AXA General Insurance has launched its crop insurance campaign,’Bohot Zaroori Hai’ for
farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka to encourage them about their yield protection and
financial security. It
▪ About Delhi: Chief Minister(CM)– Arvind Kejriwal Governor– Anil Baijal
❖ GeM and Punjab Government inks MoU to set up Project

Management Unit
• Government e-Marketplace (GeM) under Department of Commerce, Union Ministry of
Commerce & Industry and Government of Punjab, signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) to set up a GeM Organizational Transformation Team (GOTT) Project Management Unit
(PMU) in the state.
• Punjab is the 1st state which will establish GOTT PMU for effectively utilising this
transformational initiative towards inclusive, efficient and transparent procurement. Among
CPSUs, as of now only Steel Authority of India (SAIL) has already signed MoU for setting up of
PMU. Many other states and CPSUs are in process of setting up GOTT PMUs.
• It is estimated that through initiatives of GOTT PMU, Government of Punjab will be able to
transact around Rs.1700 crore in terms of annual Gross Merchandize Value (GMV) on GeM
platform in 1st year and over Rs.3000 crore per annum, over a period of time.
• Importance: To further strengthen and enable Government departments towards a market
based procurement, Department of Expenditure under Union Ministry of Finance has advised
Ministries and Departments of Central and State Governments to consider services of GOTT on
an outcome based self-sustenance model. GOTT will assist buyer agency to redesign
procurement processes and enhance competencies to derive maximum benefit from online
marketplace.
• About GeM: It is the national public procurement portal that was launched in August 2016.
Since then it has transformed public procurement landscape in country with transparency,
efficiency and inclusion. It has facilitated procurement worth more than Rs.34,000 crore of
goods & services by various Government Departments, Organisations and Public Sector
Undertakings (PSUs).
❖ RBI Appoints AK Dixit as New Administrator of PMC Bank;
Succeeds J.B. Bhoria
• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed AK Dixit, ex-General Manager of Union Bank of India(UBI) as
the new administrator of Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank Limited with effect
from September 23, 2020. He succeeds J.B. Bhoria, ex-chief general manager with the central bank
who stepped down from the post of administrator on September 22, 2020, due to health reasons.
• Administrator was appointed in the exercise of the powers conferred on RBI as per Banking
Regulation Act, 1949 under subsections 1 and 2 of section 36AAA and Section 56.
• To assist the administrator, an advisory committee consisting of senior bankers / chartered
accountants was also appointed.
• On September 23, 2019, PMC Bank Limited, a Multi-State Urban Cooperative Bank was placed
under All-Inclusive directions under sub-section (1) of Section 35 A and Section 56 of the Banking
Regulation Act, 1949.
• In other words, PMC bank limited was placed under the administration of RBI.
• The directive is presently valid till December 22, 2020.
• JB Bhoria was appointed as the administrator of PMC Bank limited on September 23, 2019. Till
2013, he was the regional director of RBI for Maharashtra and Goa.
➢ Surinderpal Singh Ram Singh Appointed as CEO of PMC Bank Limited
• Surinderpal Singh Ram Singh has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of PMC bank
limited with effect from September 11, 2020. He succeeds Shiny Mithbaokar, who was relieved
from September 10, 2020.
• Recent Related News:
• DBS Bank India Ltd has appointed Prashant Joshi as Managing Director(MD) and Head of National
Distribution. He will report to Surojit Shome, Managing Director and CEO of DBS Bank India Limited.
• About Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank Limited
• CEO– Surinderpal Singh Ram Singh HeadQuarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
❖ Nation pays homage to revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh

on his 113th birth anniversary
Nation pays homage to the revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh on his 113th birth anniversary.
• It was on this day in 1907, Bhagat Singh was born in Banga village of Lyallpur district of
• undivided Punjab province.
• He fought against British rule for the country's independence and was hanged in Lahore jail at
the age of 23, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev.
• Bhagat was a prominent member of the HRA and was probably responsible, in large part, for its
change of name to HSRA in 1928.
• He was involved in the fatal shooting of British police officer John Saunders and in the bombing
of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1929 in New Delhi along with his associates.
October
❖ Supreme Court appoints Former Justice M B Lokur as one-man

panel to prevent stubble Burning
The Supreme Court has appointed Justice (retd) Madan B Lokur, a former judge of the apex court,
as a one-man monitoring committee to prevent stubble burning in the states of Punjab, Haryana
and Uttar Pradesh.
• These states are known as the main source of pollution in Delhi-national capital region (NCR).
• The new committee will monitor the stubble burning and take preventive steps.
• The panel shall submit its report on stubble burning within 15 days to the apex court.
What is Stubble Burning?
• It is the act of setting fire to crop residue to remove them from the field to sow the next
crop. This is mainly done in late September and October each year by the farmers mainly
from above mentioned states.
• It is the cheapest and fastest way to get rid of the stubble, as farmers have a very short
interval for planting a next winter crop (Rabi crop), and if they get late, they might face
considerable losses.
Recent Related News:
I. As the nodal agency for Multidimensional Poverty Index Coordination Committee (MPICC),
NITI Aayog constituted a Multidimensional Poverty Index Coordination Committee (MPICC)
which will be chaired by Ms Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (Sustainable Development Goals).
II. On September 18, 2020, a high-level task force led by Dr Pramod Kumar Mishra, Principal
Secretary to the Prime Minister reviewed the action taken by agencies and firm up plans for
the coming harvesting and winter season during a meeting with Chief Secretaries of Delhi,
Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP.
About Supreme Court (SC) of India: Establishment– 1950 Headquarter– New Delhi
❖ Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Launches Construction of 750 Rural

Stadiums
• On October 2, 2020 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh virtually launched the construction of
750 Rural Stadiums and Playgrounds in Punjab. The stadium will facilitate youths to channelize their
energy in a constructive manner.
• It is being built at a cost of INR 105 Crores under Punjab’s ‘Rural Transformation Strategy’ and
‘Tandarust Punjab Mission’.
• A target of at least five stadiums in each block to be completed by 2020-21.
• The village stadiums will be named after eminent sports persons to inspire youth.
• The project will also include renovation of ponds, street lights, parks, gymnasiums, community
halls, drinking water supply, model Anganwadi Centers, smart schools and solid waste management
system.
• This initiative is part of the Smart Village Campaign launched in 2019.
➢ Memorandum of Understanding (MoU):
I. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Local Government Department,
Punjab and Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Odisha for the implementation of Punjab Slum
Dwellers Proprietary Act, 2020.
II. It was signed by Principal Secretary (Local Government) Ajoy Kumar Sinha and CPR President
Yamini Aiyyer.
III. It will grant ownership rights for people belonging to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) on
the land they live.
IV. The MoU will ensure amenities such as sewerage, clean drinking water, electricity, drainage and
road connectivity to 14 lakh slum dwellers of the urban areas in the state through technical
knowhow by CPR.
I. On September 3, 2020, Punjab State Minister for Department of Forest & WildLife &
Preservation Sadhu Singh Dharmsot launched ‘I Rakhwali’ application. It will help citizens to
become ‘Greenery Saviours’.
II. On 5th August 2020, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh launched the ‘Pride of Punjab’
programme through video conferencing. It is a partnership programme between the
Department of Youth Services and Sports and YuWaah – other UN agencies, civil society
organisations and the private sector.
About Punjab: Wildlife Sanctuary – Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary,Bir Bhadson Wildlife Sanctuary,
Bir Dosanjh wildlife sanctuary, Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary, Bir Mehaswala Wildlife
Sanctuary, Bir MotiBagh Wildlife Sanctuary
❖ Punjab Cabinet Approved Dr BR Ambedkar SC Post Matric

Scholarship Scheme
• On October 14, 2020, the Punjab Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh
approved the launch of state’s Post Matric Scholarship Scheme “Dr. BR Ambedkar SC Post
Matric Scholarship Scheme” to be effective from academic session 2021-22. This scheme will
replace the Centre’s “Post Matric Scholarship Scheme”, which became defunct in 2018, to
facilitate Scheduled Caste (SC) students to pursue higher education in government and private
institutions.
• The outlay of the scheme is estimated to be about Rs 600 crore. Of this, the tentative liability of
the Government institutions would be about Rs 168 crore and the remaining Rs 432 crore
would be borne by the private educational institutions and the government.
• The income criteria is also revised under the new scheme. Now, the combined income of both
parents for a student to avail assistance has been enhanced from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.
• Eligibility: The scheme will be applicable to persons belonging to SC, who are domiciled in
Punjab and have done matriculation from Punjab (including Chandigarh). All central/state
government and private institutions in Punjab (including Chandigarh) will be covered under the
scheme.
❖ Punjab CM Launched Phase 2 of Urban Environment Improvement
Programme
• On September 24, 2020 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh virtually launched the phase-II
of Rs 11,000 crore Urban Environment Improvement Programme (UEIP), from Bachat Bhawan,
Ludhiana in Punjab. The project envisages development of the state’s infrastructure and
efficient service delivery systems to the urban population.
• The state has spent Rs 3,000 crore in the first phase of UEIP scheme.
• There will be Canal-based water supply in the four big cities of Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana
and Patiala. The work for the same has been launched at Jalandhar and the foundation stone
for Patiala was also laid.
• The state government will spend Rs 650-crore for cleaning of ‘Budha Nullah’ in Ludhiana.
• Water supply and sewerage works are already in progress, at a total cost of Rs 4,000 crore, in
many towns of Punjab.
• A one-time settlement (OTS) scheme was also announced for pending VAT (value added tax)
assessments to promote economic activity in urban areas.
I. On September 3, 2020, Punjab State Minister for Department of Forest & WildLife &
Preservation Sadhu Singh Dharmsot launched ‘I Rakhwali’ application. The app was
launched to safeguard the forest areas in the state by making common citizens as
stakeholders in the process.It will help citizens to become ‘Greenery Saviours’.
II. In order to increase the groundwater table in parched land of 20 taluks, the state cabinet of
Karnataka approved Rs 600 cr project titled Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agriculture
Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD) with World Bank (WB) assistance.
❖ Punjab Govt Signed MoU With GAME to Support MSMEs
• On October 29, 2020 Punjab Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The
Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME) for a 2 year project on transforming the ease of
doing business for MSMEs(Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) in Punjab. The agreement is
supported by Omidyar Network India (ONI) under its ReSolve Initiative. Dr KP Krishnan, Chair of the
GAME Taskforce on MSME, who is a former Secretary, Government of India will lead the project
• The project will be primarily supported by ONI, and includes experts from GAME, The Centre for
Civil Society, and Avantis Reg Tech.
• The group will work with the Punjab Govt under the leadership of Vini Mahajan, IAS, Chief
Secretary and Alok Shekhar, Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce, Government of Punjab.
• Note– The project is the first to be supported by ONI’s ReSolve Initiative.
• The project aims to make Punjab a leading state in India with regard to Ease Of Doing Business
(EODB) for MSMEs by simplification, digitization and decriminalization of compliances.
• On a blueprint developed by the GAME MSME Task Force, this project is built.
• After the 2 year period of the project, the alliance expects that there will be an increase in formal
registration of businesses, and a significant reduction in the cost of compliance for MSMEs.
• The Punjab transformation is expected to create a self-reinforcing cycle of MSMEs-focused EODB
surveys, interventions, rankings, and policies across India.
• General Info
• The major reason why underdevelopment is common among the MSMEs in India is EODB.
• There are over 60 million enterprises and 110 million jobs in India, but the average MSME creates
less than 2 jobs.
Additional Info
• ONI is an investment firm that focuses on social impact.
• The ReSolve Initiative of ONI focuses on providing funding support for lighthouse projects that
create solutions to empower MSMEs and migrant workers.
• On 11th September 2020, The Government of Rajasthan signed a Memorandum of

Understanding(MoU) with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to develop its
micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) ecosystem.
November
❖ Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme

A recent investigation has found that the money meant for poor students under the Pre-Matric
Scholarship Scheme in Jharkhand has been siphoned off and is not reaching the students.
About the Scheme:
€ It is a centrally funded scholarship scheme for students in all states, which opens every year and has to
be applied between August and November.
€ Aim: To help students of minority communities viz. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists
from families with annual income below Rs. 1 lakh.
€ Eligibility: Students need to score at least 50% in their class exams. Structure of the Scholarship: It is
given in two tiers every year to:
▪ Students in class 1 to 5: Rs. 1,000 per year.

▪ Students of class 6 to 10: Rs. 10,700 if a hosteller or Rs 5,700 if a day scholar.
€ Application Process:
• Eligible students need to register at the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) and submit educational
documents, bank account details and Aadhaar numbers among other documents.
• The scheme is online and one can apply for a fresh or renewal scholarship on the NSP or through a
mobile application of NSP.
Suggestions for Improvement:
• € The government is planning to bring a single national scholarship scheme by merging all the
current scholarship schemes.
• The move came after a multi-crore scam was reported in the post-matric scholarship scheme for
Scheduled Castes (SC) in Punjab in August 2020.
National Scholarship Portal
• It is a “one-stop” solution through which various services, starting from student application,
application receipt, verification, processing, and disbursal of various scholarships to students are
facilitated.
• It is taken as Mission Mode Project (MMP) under Digital India and aims at providing a simplified,
accountable, responsive and transparent system for faster and effective disbursal of scholarship to
eligible applicants directly into their account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) without any
leakages.
❖ Cold Wave
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there are cold wave conditions over Delhi.
• Cold Wave: A rapid fall in temperature within 24 hours to a level requiring substantially increased
protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities.
Cold Wave Conditions:
• For the plains, a cold wave is declared when the minimum temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or
below and is 4.5 degrees Celsius (C) less than normal for two consecutive days.
• For coastal stations, the threshold value of minimum temperature of 10 degree Celsius is rarely
reached. However, the local people feel discomfort due to the wind chill factor which reduces the
minimum temperature by a few degrees depending upon the wind speed.
• A wind chill factor is a measure of the cooling effect of the wind on the temperature of the air.
India’s Core Cold Wave Zone: India’s ‘core cold wave zone’ covers Punjab, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana.
Geography
▪ Typhoon Goni
▪ Cold Wave
▪ Luhri Stage-I Hydro Electric Project
▪ Hurricane Eta
▪ Earthquake Concentrations in Dharchula Region
• In 2019, Delhi and adjoining areas in the north had experienced its coldest winter of the century.
➢ Cold Wave Situation in Delhi:
€ On 3rd November 2020, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 10 degree Celsius which was 5
degrees C below normal. IMD may consider declaring a cold wave if the temperature continues to stay
the same for another day.
Reasons for the Fall in Minimum Temperature:
€ Absence of cloud cover in the region: Clouds trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation and
radiate it back downward, warming the ground. Snowfall in the upper Himalayas that has blown
cold winds towards the region. Subsidence of cold air over the region: Subsidence is the downward
movement of cold and dry air closer to the surface.
€Prevailing weak La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean.
• La Nina is the abnormal cooler sea surface temperatures reported along the equatorial Pacific
Ocean and it is known to favour cold waves.
• During La Nina years, the severity of cold conditions becomes intense. The frequency and area
covered under the grip of a cold wave becomes larger.
Winters 2020: November is expected to be colder than usual after the mean minimum temperature in
October 2020 was 17.2 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1962, when it was 16.9 degrees Celsius.
➢ India Meteorological Department

▪ IMD was established in 1875.
▪ It is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India.
▪ It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting
and seismology.
❖ Kartarpur Sahib
• Recently, India has criticised Pakistan’s decision to transfer the management of the Kartarpur Sahib
Gurdwara from a Sikh body to a separate trust.
• Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, also known as the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, is located in Pakistan’s
Narowal district across river Ravi. It is one of the most significant historical and spiritual places for
Sikhs.
• According to historians, Guru Nanak Dev (the first Sikh Guru) arrived at Kartarpur between 1520
and 1522, and spent the last 18 years of his life there. It was in Kartarpur where he laid the
foundations of a Sikh religion. The Kartarpur Corridor was opened to the public in 2019.
Kartarpur Corridor
➢ The Kartarpur corridor connects the Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan with the
Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district Punjab, India.
➢ The agreement facilitates the visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims who would only need a permit
to cross over to Pakistan.
➢ The corridor was built in 2019 to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev,
founder of Sikhism.
❖ Guru Nanak Jayanti
• The President of India has greeted the citizens on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti.
• It is a sacred festival of the Sikh community and is celebrated to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, who is believed to be born on Poornima (full moon) of the Kartika
(8th month of Hindu calendar), which falls on 30th of November in 2020.
➢ Guru Nanak Dev:
€ Birth: In 1459 at Talwandi Rai Bhoe village near Lahore, which was later renamed as Nankana Sahib.
He was the first of the 10 gurus of Sikhism.
€ Contributions:
• Initiated inter-faith dialogue way back in the 16th century and had conversations with most of
the religious denominations of his times.
• Wrote compositions which were included in the Adi Granth, compiled by Guru Arjan (1563-
1606), the fifth Sikh guru.
• This came to be known as Guru Granth Sahib after the additions made by the 10th sikh guru
Gobind Singh (1666-1708).
• Advocated the ‘Nirguna’ (devotion to and worship of formless divine) form of bhakti.
• Rejected sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship, austerities.
• Set up rules for congregational worship (Sangat) involving collective recitation.
• Gave the basic mantra of ‘Ek Onkar’ to his followers and insisted on treating all human beings
equally, without discriminating on the basis of caste, creed and gender.
€ Death: In 1539 at Kartarpur, Punjab.
Relevance of Guru Nanak Dev for Modern India:
€ Building an Egalitarian Society: His idea of equality can be deduced by the following innovative social
institutions, as given by him:
• Langar: Collective cooking and sharing of food.

• Pangat: Partaking food without distinctions of high and low caste.
• Sangat: Collective decision making.
€ Social Harmony:
• According to him, the whole world is God’s creation and all are born equal. There is only one
universal creator i.e. “Ek Onkar Satnam”.
• Apart from it, forgiveness, patience, forbearance, and kindness are the core of his teachings.
€ Creating a Just Society:
• He placed the motto of “kirat karo, naam japo and vand chhako” (work, worship and share)
before his disciples.
• He stood for karma as the basis of dharma, and he transformed the idea of spiritualism into the
ideology of social responsibility and social change.
• He advocated the concept of “dasvandh” or donating one-tenth of one’s earning among needy
persons.
€ Gender Equality:
• According to him, “Women as well as men share the grace of God and are equally responsible
for their actions to him.”
• Respect for women and gender equality is perhaps the most important lesson to be learnt from
his life.
€ Bringing Peace:
• According to Indian philosophy, a Guru is the one who provides illumination, dispels doubt and
shows the right path. In this context, the ideas of Guru Nanak Dev can help promote peace,
equality and prosperity across the globe.
• In 2019, the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev was celebrated and the Kartarpur
corridor was inaugurated, which is an important step towards easing the tensions between
India and Pakistan.
December
❖ Gender Gap and Sensitisation in Judiciary

Recently, the Attorney General (AG) K K Venugopal, in his written submission to the Supreme Court
(SC), has emphasised the need for greater gender sensitisation among members of the judiciary.
He also highlighted that the figure of female judges has been consistently low across the Higher
Judiciary.
Background:
€ The SC had asked AG and others to recommend ways to improve gender sensitivity towards
victims while laying down bail conditions for sex crime offenders. which end up further harassing,
objectifying their victims.
• The Madhya Pradesh (MP) High Court (HC) asked a man (accused in a case of attempting to outrage
the modesty of a woman) to visitthe home of the alleged victim and request her to tie a rakhi.
➢ Data on Gender Gap in Judiciary:
€ The SC only has 2 women judges, as against the 34 seats reserved for women judges and there has
never been a female Chief Justice of India (CJI).
€ There are only 80 women judges out of the total sanctioned strength of 1,113 judges in the SC and
the HCs.
• Out of these 80 women judges, there are only two in the SC, and the other 78 are in various HCs,
comprising only 7.2% of the total number of judges.
• Of the 26 courts whose data was accessed, including the SC, the Punjab and Haryana HCs has the
maximum strength of women judges (11 out of 85 judges) in the country, followed by the Madras
HC (9 out of 75 judges). Both Delhi and Bombay HCs have 8 women judges.
• The HCs of Manipur, Meghalaya, Patna, Tripura,Telangana, and Uttarakhand, do not have any
women in the sitting judges. Currently, no data is centrally maintained on the number of women in
tribunals or lower courts.
€ In the senior designation of lawyers, there areonly 17 women senior counsel designates in the SC as
opposed to 403 men.
• The Delhi HC has 8 women and 229 men designates. Similarly, in the Bombay HC, there are 6
women and 157 men designates.
Importance of Women in Judiciary:
€ The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5 and
SDG 16 in particular), address the global responsibility of having gender equality and women’s
representation in public institutions such as the judiciary.
€ Achieving equality for women judges is important not only because it is a right for women, but
also because it is right for the achievement of a more just rule of law. Women judges strengthen
the judiciary and help to gain the public’s trust.
€ The entry of women judges is a positive step in the direction of judiciaries being perceived as
being more transparent, inclusive, and representative of the people whose lives they affect.
€ Women judges enhance the legitimacy of courts, sending a powerful signal that they are open
and accessible to those who seek recourse to justice.
€ Women judges bring those lived experiences to their judicial actions, experiences that tend
toward a more comprehensive and empathetic perspective.
€ Adjudication is enhanced by the presence of women who bring to the fore considerations that
would not have been taken into account in their absence and the scope of the discussion is hence
enlarged, possibly preventing ill-considered or improper decisions.
€ By elucidating how laws and rulings can be based on gender stereotypes, or how they might have
a different impact on women and men, a gender perspective enhances the fairness of adjudication,
which ultimately benefits both men and women.
Suggestions:
€ Courts should declare that such remarks (MP HC issue) are unacceptable which can potentially
cause harm to the victim and to society at large.
€ Judicial orders should conform to certain judicial standards and necessary steps have to be taken
to ensure that this does not happen in the future.
€ The SC must direct the collection of data to determine the number of women judges in the lower
judiciary and tribunals and also to determine the year-wise number of senior designates by all HCs.
€ Greater representation of women should be ensured at all levels of the judiciary, including the SC
and this initiative must come from the SC itself, considering that the power of appointment rests
almost exclusively with the SC Collegium.
• The judges of the SC are appointed by the President. The CJI is appointed by the President after
consultation with such judges of the SC and HCs as (s)he deems necessary.
• The other judges are appointed by the President after consultation with the CJI and such other
judges of the SC and the HCs as (s)he deems necessary. The consultation with the CJI is obligatory in
the case of appointment of a judge other than CJI.
• € The goal must be to achieve at least 50% representation of women in all leadership positions and
there should be a mandatory training of all lawyers on gender sensitisation.
• Judges, who might belong to the “old school” and are maybe “patriarchal” in outlook, should be
sensitised to deal with cases of sexual violence so that they do not pass orders objectifying women
in such cases
❖ Technical Education in Mother Tongue
Recently, the Union Education Minister has set up a task force for preparing a roadmap on
imparting technical education in the mother tongue of students.
➢ The Task force:
€ Chairmanship: It will be set-up under the chairmanship of the secretary, higher education, Amit Khare.
Objective: To achieve the Prime Minister’s vision that students may pursue the professional courses
such as medicine, engineering, law, etc in their mother tongue.
• This is part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 which suggests teaching in regional
language till class 8 and enabling teaching the curriculum in a language which a student is
comfortable in.
€ Function: It will take into consideration the suggestions made by various stakeholders and will
submit a report in a month.
➢ Reasons for imparting technical education in regional languages:
€ Enhances formative learning: It has been observed that the human mind is more receptive to
communication in the language in which it is accustomed to thinking from childhood.
• When explained in regional languages, especially mother tongue, grabbing the concepts or
expression of the ideas by the students becomes fairly easy.
• € Practiced by Many Countries: Across the globe, classroom teaching is pursued in a variety of
regional languages, be it France or Germany or Russia or a country like China, which has over 300
languages and dialects with 8 of them being the major ones.
€ Creates Inclusion: It will help in social inclusiveness, improving literacy rates, reduction in poverty
and international cooperation. Language can become a catalyst for inclusive development. Removal of
the existing linguistic barriers will help in realizing the goal of inclusive governance.
➢ Challenges: Providing technical education in regional languages requires teachers proficient in

undertaking classes in the vernacular medium along with English, textbooks and reference
materials in regional languages, besides technological assistance such as audio translation aids.
➢ Government Initiatives to Promote Regional Languages: The recently announced National
Education Policy 2020 promotes education in regional languages. The Commission for Scientific
and Technical Terminology (CSTT) is providing publication grants towards the publications of
University Level Books in regional languages.
• It was established in 1961 to evolve technical terminology in all Indian Languages.
• The National Translation Mission (NTM) is being implemented through the Central
Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore under which the text books of various
subjects prescribed in Universities and Colleges are being translated in all languages of
the Eighth Schedule.
• CIIL was established in 1969 under the administrative control of the Ministry of
Education.
• The Government of India is running a scheme known as “Protection and Preservation of
Endangered Languages” for conservation of threatened languages.
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) also promotes regional languages in higher
education courses in the country and supports nine Central Universities under the
scheme “Establishment of Centre for Endangered Languages in Central Universities”
Recently, an initiativeNamath Basai by Kerala State Government has proved to be very
beneficial in educating children from tribal areas by adopting vernacular languages as
medium of instruction.
➢ Global Efforts:
▪ € The Yuelu Proclamation made by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) at Changsha, China, in 2018 plays acentral role in guiding the efforts of
countries and regions around the world to protect linguistic resources and diversity.
▪ € The United Nations General Assembly had proclaimed 2019 as the International Year of
Indigenous Languages (IYIL).
▪ The IYIL 2019 aimed to preserve, support and promote indigenous languages at the national,
regional and international levels.
Constitutional and Legal Provisions Safeguarding Regional Languages
➢ Article 29 (Protection of interests of minorities) gives all citizens right to conserve their
language and prohibits discrimination on the basis of language.
➢ Article 120 (Language to be used in Parliament) provides for use of Hindi or English for
transactions of Parliament but gives the right to members of Parliament to express
themselves in their mother tongue.
➢ Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with the official languages in Articles 343 to 351.
▪ Article 350A (Facilities for instruction in mothertongue at primary stage) provides that it
shall be the endeavour of every State and of every local authority within the State to
provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue at the primary stage of
education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups.
▪ Article 350B (Special Officer for linguistic minorities): The President should appoint a special
officer for linguistic minorities to investigate all matters relating to the constitutional
safeguards for linguistic minorities and to report to him. The President should place all such
reports before the Parliament and send to the state government concerned.
▪ Article 351 (Directive for development of the Hindi language) provides that it shall be the
duty of the Union to promote the spread of thebHindi language.
➢ The Eighth Schedule recognises following
22 languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam,
Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo,
Santhali, Maithili and Dogri.
➢ Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 says that the medium of instruction shall, as far as
practicable, be in a child’s mother tongue.
❖ Indus Valley Diet
As per a study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the diet of the people of Indus Valley
civilization had a dominance of meat, including extensive eating of beef.
The study, “Lipid residues in pottery from Indus Civilisation in northwest India’’, looks at the food
habits of the people on the basis of lipid residue analysis found in pottery from sites such as: Uttar
Pradesh: Alamgirpur (Meerut)
➢ Haryana:
• Masudpur, LohariRagho, Rakhigarhi city (Hisar) Khanak (Bhiwani), Farmana town (Rohtak)
▪ Findings:
€ The study finds the dominance of animal products such as meat of pigs, cattle, buffalo, sheep and
goat, as well as dairy products, from rural and urban settlements of Indus Valley civilization.
€ Out of domestic animals, cattle/buffalo are the most abundant, averaging between 50-60% of the
animal bones found, with sheep/goat accounting for 10% animal remains.
• The high proportions of cattle bones may suggest a cultural preference for beef consumption
across Indus populations, supplemented by consumption of mutton/lamb.
€ At Harappa, 90% of the cattle were kept alive until they were three or three-and-a-half years,
suggesting that females were used for dairy production, whereas males were used for traction.
€ Previously there have been many studies on the food habit in Indus Valley civilisation, primarily
focusing on crops.
Indus Valley Civilization
➢ Time Period: The Indus Valley Civilization was established around 3300 BC. It flourished
between 2600 BC and 1900 BC. It started declining around 1900 BC and disappeared around
1400 BC.
➢ This is also called Harappan Civilization after the first city to be excavated, Harappa (Punjab,
Pakistan).
➢ Geographical Extent:
• € Geographically, this civilization covered Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Rajasthan, Gujarat and
Western Uttar Pradesh.
• It extended from Sutkagengor (in Balochistan) in the West to Alamgirpur (Western UP) in the
East; and from Mandu (Jammu) in the North to Daimabad (Ahmednagar, Maharashtra) in the
South. Some Indus Valley sites have also been found in as far away as Afghanistan.
➢ Important Sites:
€ Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Lothal, Dholavira, Rangpur, Surkotda (Gujarat), Banawali (Haryana), Ropar
(Punjab)
➢ € In Pakistan: Harappa (on river Ravi), Mohenjodar (on Indus River in Sindh), Chanhudaro (in Sindh).
➢ Some Important Features:
€ The Indus Valley cities show a level of sophistication and advancement not seen in other
contemporary civilizations.
€ Urban Features:
▪ Most cities had similar patterns. There were two parts: a citadel and the lower town
showing presence of hierarchy in society.
▪ Most cities had a Great Bath.
▪ There were also granaries, 2-storied houses made of burnt bricks, closed drainage lines,
excellent stormwater, and wastewater management system, weights for measurements,
toys, pots, etc.
▪ A large number of seals have been discovered. Agriculture:
▪ The first civilization to cultivate cotton.
▪ Animals were domesticated like sheep, goats, and pigs.
▪ Crops were wheat, barley, cotton, ragi, dates, and peas. Trade was conducted with the
Sumerians (Mesopotamia).
€ Metal Products :
▪ These were produced including those with copper, bronze, tin, and lead. Gold and silver
were also known.
▪ Iron was not known to them.
€ Religious Beliefs:
▪ No structures like temples or palaces have been found.

▪ The people worshipped male and female deities.
▪ A seal which was named ‘Pashupati Seal’ has been excavated and it shows an image of a
three-eyed figure.
€ Pottery:
▪ Excellent pieces of red pottery designed in black have been excavated.

▪ Faience was used to make beads, bangles, earrings, and vessels.
€ Art Forms:
▪ A statuette named ‘Dancing Girl’ has been found from Mohenjodaro and is believed to be
4000 years old.
▪ A figure of a bearded Priest-King has also been found from Mohenjodaro.
▪ Lothal was a dockyard.
▪ Disposal of the dead was by burial in wooden coffins.
▪ The Indus Valley script has not yet been deciphered.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
❖ Coronavirus:
A Novel (New) Coronavirus Was First Detected In Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
Coronavirus Disease Is Named By The World Health Organization.
World Health Organization (WHO) Declared A Global Emergency On 30 January.
1. World Health Organisation On 11 February, 2020 Announced An Official Name For The Disease
That Is Causing The 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak? What Is The New Name Of The Disease?
A. Covid-19
B. Covn-19
C. Conv-20
D. Convid-19
Ans. A
2. From Where Coronavirus Got Its Name?
A. Due To Their Crown-like Projections.

B. Due To Their Leaf-like Projections.
C. Due To Their Surface Structure Of Bricks.
D. None Of The Above
Ans. A
Due To Their Crown-like Projections On The Surfaces Coronaviruses Got Their Name. The Virus
Resembles A Crown When Viewed Under An Electron Microscope. "Corona” In Latin Means "Halo"
Or "Crown".
❖ History Of Corona Viruses
3. Mild Symptoms Of Novel Coronavirus Are:
A. Fever
B. Cough
C. Shortness of breath
D. All the above
Ans. D
Explanation: People Infected With Novel Coronavirus Or 2019-ncov Reported With Mild Symptoms
Namely Fever, Cough And Shortness Of Breath. Whereas Other Common Symptoms May Include
Runny Nose, Headache, Sore Throat, A General Feeling Of Unwell, Etc.
4. Which Of The Following Diseases Are Related To Coronavirus?

A. Mers
B. Sars
C. Both A And B
D. Neither A Nor B
Ans. C
Explanation: Coronavirus May Cause Illness From The Common Cold To More Other Serious
Diseases Like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers-cov) And Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (Sars-cov).
5. What Has The Who Recommended As Precautionary Measures?

(A)hold A Family Gathering
(B)hit The Club
(C)wash Hands With Soap Or Sanitizer With High Content Of Alcohol
(D)go For A Party
Ans.(c)
6. How much alcohol should the sanitizer contain?
Ans: 60%
7. The Transmission Of The Virus Is More When The Weather Is

Ans: Cold
8. People Who Show No Signs Of A Given Disease Are

(a)Asymptomatic
(b)Unsymptomatic
(c)Unsympathetic
(d) None of these
Ans. A
9. A Disease That Can Be Transmitted To Humans From Animals Is ?

(A) Stenotic
(B) Hypnotic
(C) Zoonotic
(D) None Of These
Ans. C
10. Thailand Announced That It Has Proceeded To Test Its Novel Coronavirus Vaccine On Which
Animal/Bird?
A. Monkeys
B. Lizards
C. Hens
D. Kites
Ans. A
• First Case Out Side The China - Thailand
• First Case In India Is Registered On 30 Jan 2020 In Kerelas Thrissur District .
• First 3 cases in India came from Kerela state
11. According To WHO, When And Where First Corona Virus Confirmed Case Was Found Outside
China?
`Ans. Thailand, Dated: 13 Jan 2020
12. When Janta Curfew Was Followed By All In India?
Ans. 22nd March 2020 (Sunday).
13. What Is Most Urgent Precaution To Follow During Lockdown Due To Covid-19?
Ans. Social Distancing. Every People Should Maintain A Distance Of 1 To 2 M From Another Person.
14. What Are The Medical Masks Called?
Ans: N95-respirators
15. The Word Quarantine Comes From?

(A)the Number 40
(B)he Term Quick
(C)the Fraction Quarter
(D)none Of These
Ans.(A)
16. __________________ is Health Minister : Govt. of India (Health & Family Welfare Department)
A) Ms. Preeti Sudan
B) Dr. Harsh Vardhan
C) Shri Sanjeeva Kumar
D) Shri Nititbhai Patel
Ans. B
17. Route Of Transmission Of Corona Virus Infection Is/Are
A) Blood Born
B) Droplet Infection
C) Airborne Infection
D) All Of Above
18. For Corona Infection, Following Sample Is Collected
A) Serum (Blood) test
B) Urine test
C) Nasopharyngeal swab
D) CSF test

Balaji Education Point: (For PCS Exam and Naib Tehsildar Conducted by PPSC)

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ਪੰ ਜਾਬ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਪੰ ਜਾਬ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਪੰ ਜਾਬ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਪੰ ਜਾਬ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਪੰ ਜਾਬ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਪੰ ਜਾਬ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਪੰ ਜਾਬ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਪੰ ਜਾਬ

BALAJI EDUCATION POINT

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Punjab Current Affairs – January to December 2020

➢ Punjab’s Right to Business bill 2020

❖ INDUSTRY OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS

• Fourth Small Industrial Park Will Come Up At Wazirabad In Fatehgarh Sahib

• Punjab’s debt is expected to go up to a whopping Rs 2.48 lakh crore by March 2021.

➢ Merger of Public Sector Banks 2020

➢ Punjab Government Launched “Cova Punjab” Mobile App To Spread

➢ IIT Ropar Designs ‘WARD BOT’ To Deliver Food, Medicines To COVID-19

➢ Punjab Govt Promulgates ‘Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Amendment

❖ FSSAI's Food Safety Index 2019-20:-

❖ Amritsar Included In Delhi-katra Expressway; Punjab Stretch To Be

Gist about Vini Mahajan

❖ V P Singh Badnore & Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates Battery Swapping

About Battery swapping technology

❖ Agreement between IOCL and Sun Mobility Pvt Ltd

❖ 8 Indian Institutes Entered Top 100 In THE Asia University Ranking

➢ Article 143: Advisory Jurisdiction

❖ PCA to Name Mullanpur Stadium After Late Maharaja Yadavindra Singh

➢ About Gurcharan Singh:

❖ 'safe Punjab Programme’ launched under Tandrust Punjab Mission

➢ Other facts about the train:

❖ Punjab Government launches ‘I Rakhwali’ app to make citizens

In overall happiness ranking of states and union territories:

Among the big states:

Among smaller states:

Among union territories:

I. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

❖ Gujarat, Andaman & Nicobar Emerge as Best State/UT in providing

State/Union Territory (U.T.) - Category

▪ Andaman & Nicobar Islands - Best Performer

I. Nagaland was placed in Aspiring Leader Category.

➢ Recent Related News: online portal called the

❖ PK Mishra Panel to Initiate Action in Advance For Managing Air

❖ GeM and Punjab Government inks MoU to set up Project

❖ Nation pays homage to revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh

❖ Supreme Court appoints Former Justice M B Lokur as one-man

What is Stubble Burning?

Recent Related News:

❖ Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Launches Construction of 750 Rural

Recent Related News:

❖ Punjab Cabinet Approved Dr BR Ambedkar SC Post Matric

Recent Related News:

Recent Related News:

• On 11th September 2020, The Government of Rajasthan signed a Memorandum of

❖ Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme

About the Scheme:

▪ Students in class 1 to 5: Rs. 1,000 per year.

Suggestions for Improvement:

National Scholarship Portal

Cold Wave Conditions:

Reasons for the Fall in Minimum Temperature:

€Prevailing weak La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean.

➢ India Meteorological Department

€ Death: In 1539 at Kartarpur, Punjab.

Relevance of Guru Nanak Dev for Modern India:

• Langar: Collective cooking and sharing of food.

€ Creating a Just Society:

❖ Gender Gap and Sensitisation in Judiciary

Importance of Women in Judiciary:

➢ The Task force: