The Daily Brief – 11th January 2020

Hindi Diwas or World Hindi Day is celebrated every year on 10^th January to create a suitable environment for the promotion of Hindi worldwide and to present Hindi as the prevalent language of the world. The first World Hindi Conference was held in Nagpur on January 10, 1975. Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announced to celebrate World Hindi Day on 10^th January every year in 2006. ‘National Hindi Day’ is celebrated on 14^th September every year.

The Supreme Court on 10^th January, 2020 stated that the right to access the internet is a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution of India. It was stated while hearing petitions challenging restrictions and internet blockade imposed in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

The Andhra Pradesh Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a German firm KFW to implement Zero Budget Natural Farming in the state on 9^th January, 2020. The State Government will take a loan of Rs. 1015 crores to spend towards climate resilient ZBNF. The project aims to cover 2.39 lakh farmers in 600 villages.

Indian origin writer Jasbinder Bilan has been awarded the UK Costa Children’s Book Award for her debut novel ‘Asha and the Spirit Bird’ that is based on the story of eleven-year-old Asha, who is empowered with spiritual connections to her grandmother as she journeys through the wild and dangerous Himalayas with her best friend Jeevan. She will receive 5,000 pounds as the winner of the award. The Costa Book Awards were first awarded in 1971.

The Indian Army began working on the Government Owned Contractor Operated (GOCO) model, which is being extended to base workshops and ordnance depots. These workshops ensure that the Indian Army is operationally prepared at all points and are assigned with the role of overhauling (testing and repairing) of weapons and also manufacture spares. However, a few major issues have cropped up with the usage of the GOCO model as the assets owned by the government will be operated by private industries and the military manpower will be a meagre 25% only.

A viable scientific method to cultivate Indian Pompano fish in ponds has been developed by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). These fish are considered to be a good alternative to fish. The National Fisheries Development Board provided the necessary financial assistance for this scientific invention. This Pompano fish is set to be officially cultivated in the ponds of Visakhapatnam. The Pompanos are commonly found in the Indo-Pacific region and have been cultivated in India through the Open sea Cage Farming and earthen pond fresh water farming methods.

The security has been enhanced in major railway hubs by the Indian Railways after IP based video surveillance system was installed. These systems have been installed at the entrance and exit of platforms, waiting halls, parking areas and over bridges at the railway stations. The installation of the surveillance system is to take place at 983 stations and a budget of 250 crores from Nirbhaya funds has been allocated.