Daily current affairs – May 7/2020

GS – 2

International

Iran: New currency, Toman, to tackle inflation:

Why it is in News?

• The Iranian Parliament has announced the decision to replace its currency “Rial” with another basic unit of currency called the “Toman.” Each toman will be worth 10,000 rials under the new system.

About News:

• The move aims to ease the psychological impact of soaring consumer prices on a population that has endured high inflation for decades and grappled the number of zeros in government figures. 
• The move by the Iranian government aims to simplify financial transactions. Once the law is ratified, the Central Bank of Iran will have two years to implement the change.
•  The rial and the new currency are expected to overlap for between two to five years in the market. The new system was authorized to manage high inflation in the country.

History:

• In 1930, Iran changed its basic monetary unit from dinar to the rial.
• The change was a part of the modernization of the economy undertaken by the Pahlavi dynasty, which was overthrown by the revolution in 1979.
•  The Iranian government has been planning to replace currency notes since 2016. 

Government policy and Schemes

Vande Bharat Mission:

Why it is in News?

• The Government of India is to conduct one of the largest evacuation exercises named the Vande Bharat Mission with an aim to bring Indians stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.

About Mission:

• Under the mission, the government will operate 64 flights from 7-13 May to bring home nearly 14,800 Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the coronavirus lockdown. 
• The 64 flights include 10 flights from the UAE, 2 from Qatar, 5 from Saudi Arabia, 5 from Singapore, 7 from the United Kingdom, 7 from the United States, 5 from the Philippines, 7 from Bangladesh, 2 from Bahrain, 7 from Malaysia, 5 from Kuwait and 2 flights from Oman. 
• Preparations for the operation have commenced and also urged the stranded individuals to stay in touch with the Indian embassies in their countries.
•  The lights will bring back people to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Gujarat.
• Under the mission, the maximum number of flights will bring back citizens from the Gulf countries. 
• Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has also sent 3 ships under Operation Samudra Setu to get back stranded citizens from Maldives and UAE.

GARUD portal:

Why it is in News?

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) launched Government Authorisation for Relief Using Drones (GARUD)  portal   (https://garud.civilaviation.gov.in) to provide fast track conditional exemptions to government agencies for COVID-19 related RPAS(Remotely Piloted Aircraft System)/drone operations.

About Portal:

• It is a drone start-up from Chennai, it manufactures drones to spray disinfectants and sanitise public spaces to contain the spread of COVID-19. ‘Corona-Killer’ drones  can be used to spray disinfectants on buildings up to 450 feet.
• The conditional exemption and the resultant fast track approval process through GARUD is limited to Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs) deployed by government entities for aerial surveillance, aerial photography and public announcements related to COVID-19
• For other RPA activities, even if related to COVID-19 operations, permission will be sought separately from the Civil Aviation Ministry and the aviation regulator DGCA as per the normal procedure.
• The conditional exemption shall be limited to battery-operated rotary-wing RPA only & use of any other type of RPA, including but not limited to fixed-wing RPA and autonomous RPA etc. is strictly prohibited.
• India’s arsenal against Covid-19 got a boost with the formation of the National Drone Rapid Response Force (NDRRF) by the country’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle industry.

GS – 3

Science and Technology

Conserving Plateaus:

Why it is in News?

• Scientists at the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune have come up with plant data of the Northern Western Ghats which indicates that plateaus should be prioritized for the conservation of the Northern Western Ghats.

About Plateaus:

• The data said that the plateaus and the cliffs that harbour most of the endemic species and increase their importance in conservation plans.
• Northern Western Ghats produce 181 local endemic plant species, including four monospecific genera.
• It was also found that a majority of the endemic species are therophytes, which complete their life cycle in a short period during monsoon.
• The northern part of the Western Ghats of India, which is a biodiversity hotspot, along with the Konkan region, is considerably different from its southern and central counterparts on account of lesser precipitation and extended dry season.
• The study also said that the Northern Western Ghats is the region of rapid diversification of specific herbaceous endemic genera like Ceropegia, Glyphochloa, Dipcadi, and Eriocaulon.
• The scientists have many other estimates about the species that are endemic to the region, and the understanding of habitats, seasons, and plant distribution is limited.
• The scientists also suggested that it is necessary to complete the IUCN threat status assessment on priority, which is underrepresented for the region.