Current Affairs Question - 28 August 2019

Explanation :

• The first Conclave of Himalayan States was held in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand on 28^th July, 2019, to discuss priorities of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) in 15th Finance Commission (XV FC).
• It was initiated by Uttarakhand Government Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) as its knowledge partner.
• It had brought together Himalayan States, Central Government on single platform to deliberate on development challenges and potential of IHR and concluded with adoption of Mussoorie Resolution 2019.
• Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur, took part in the conclave.
• Himalayan states sought Green Bonus from Centre considering their contributions to environmental conservation and to compensate Himalayan states for their disadvantages.

Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)

• It consists of following states - Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura
• It accounts for 16% of land area of India and most of the area is covered by snow-clad peaks, glaciers of higher Himalaya, dense forest cover of mid-Himalaya.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• On 29^th July, 2019, the three-month long fieldwork of 7th Economic Census began from Tripura.
• The fieldwork in other States and Union Territories would be undertaken in August and September, 2019.
• The seventh Economic Census is being conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The ministry has partnered with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Electronics and Information.
• Data would be collected through door-to-door survey of each household and commercial establishment under the provisions of Collection of Statistics Act 2008.
• The census would cover all establishments, including household enterprises, engaged in production or distribution of goods and services.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• The SDDS is a global benchmark for disseminating macroeconomic statistics to the public, launched by the IMF in 1996 to guide members to enhance data transparency and help financial market participants with adequate information to assess the economic situations of individual countries.
• It comprises 20 data categories in order to capture a nation’s economic health including national accounts (GDP, GNI), production indices, employment, and central government operations.
• India subscribed to the SDDS on December 27, 1996 and not 1997.

Significance

• Data dissemination standards enhance the availability of timely and comprehensive statistics, which contributes to sound macroeconomic policies and the efficient functioning of financial markets.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online

Explanation :

• Fly ash is a byproduct from burning pulverized coal in electric power generating plants. During combustion, mineral impurities in the coal (clay, feldspar, quartz, and shale) fuse in suspension and float out of the combustion chamber with the exhaust gases. As the fused material rises, it cools and solidifies into spherical glassy particles called fly ash.
• It is considered pozzolanic, which means it’s a siliceous and aluminous material reacts with calcium hydroxide to form a cement.
• There are two common types of fly ash: Class C and Class F.
• Class C ashes are generally derived from sub-bituminous coals and consist primarily of calcium alumino- sulfate glass, as well as quartz, tricalcium aluminate, and free lime(CaO).It is also referred to as high calcium fly ash because it typically contains more than 20 percent CaO.
• Class F ashes are typically derived from bituminous and anthracite coals and consist primarily of an alumino-silicate glass, with quartz, mullite, and magnetite. It is also low calcium fly ash has less than 10 percent CaO.

Source: Civil Services Chronicle Online