Daily News Digest:23 December 2020

LEGION OF MERIT TO PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA

The USA has awarded the ‘Legion of Merit’ to the Prime Ministers of India, Japan and Australia. Legion of Merit, the only US military decoration that has distinct ranks, and the first US medal to be awarded to citizens of other nations.

EARLY HEALTH WARNING SYSTEM

Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) is developing an ‘Early Health Warning System’. It is expected to forecast the possibility of disease outbreaks in the country. It is based on the relationship between weather changes and the incidence is expected to predict outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, particularly malaria and diarrhoea, subsequently, it is likely to monitor non-communicable diseases as well.

GREEN NATIONAL HIGHWAYS CORRIDOR PROJECT

Centre and the World Bank has signed a $500 million project for implementation of the Green National Highways Corridor Project. The highway corridors will be developed in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

KILAUEA VOLCANO ERUPTION

Kilauea volcano in Hawaii’s Big Island erupted. Kilauea, also called Mount Kilauea is located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the southeastern part of the island of Hawaii, U.S.A. It is among the world's most active volcanoes.

RIGHTS TO THE ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS THROUGH “ELECTRICITY (RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS) RULES, 2020”

Centre notified the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020. These rules serve to “empower” consumers with rights that would allow them to access a continuous supply of quality, reliable electricity. This is because the provisions make distribution companies more accountable to consumers.

PLACES IN NEWS

Hawaii Island is the largest island located in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It is the largest and the southeasternmost of the Hawaiian Islands, a chain of volcanic islands in the North Pacific Ocean.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Kisan Diwas or National Farmers Day is observed on December 23. The day was chosen to honour the birth anniversary of the fifth Prime Minister of India, Choudhary Charan Singh. He was born on December 23, 1902.

TOPIC OF THE DAY

Lithosphere comprises the rocks of the earth’s crust and the thin layers of soil that contain nutrient elements which sustain organisms. Two – major divisions of the earth’s surface: Continents and Ocean Bodies.  All the oceans of the world are connected.