19th Nov Daily current affairs for UPSC Civil Service Exam

Pan-India Campaign on ozone depletion

• It was launched on World Ozone Day, by the Environment Ministry with a mission to "Caring for all life under the Sun”.
• It has been carried out with the active partnership of States through schools and academic/research institutions spread across the country. 
• The year 2017 marks the 30th Anniversary of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

• The Montreal Protocol is one of the most successful global environmental treaties, it is the only environmental treaty which enjoys universal ratification of 197 UN member countries.
• The implementation has led to the phase-out of around 98% of ozone depleting chemicals, and averted more than 135 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

Regional Vocational Training Institute

• Recently foundation stone has been laid for Regional Vocational Training Institute in Hyderabad.
• The institute aims to boost skill development opportunities among women.
• Once established, around 1,000 youths will be trained at the institute every year.
• The institute will run courses on Fashion Design & Technology, Architectural Assistantship, Cosmetology, Front Office Assistant, Secretarial Practice (English) and Food and Beverages Service Assistant
• MSDE (Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship) is presently running 17 such Institutes across India.

MSDE

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is a Ministry of Government of India set up to coordinate all skill development efforts across the country.
• Industrial training, apprenticeship and other skill development responsibilities were transferred from the Ministry of Labour and Employment to this newly-made Ministry.
• It aims to remove the disconnect between demand and supply of skilled manpower, to build the new skills and innovative thinking not only for existing jobs but also for jobs that are to be created.
• Schemes under this ministry are

1. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
2. UDAAN, a Special Industry Initiative for Jammu & Kashmir

Pacific triton sea snail

• These snails also known as giant triton, can grow to half a metre.
• They have a well-developed sense of smell and can hunt their prey by scent alone.
• It can hunt down Crown of thorns starfish, which are being threat to coral reefs.
• They are potential management tool to help reduce coral lost to outbreaks.
• These snails are almost hunted to extinction for their shells, there are not many left.
• They are so rare, almost nothing is known about their life cycle.

Rewas Port

• Rewas is one of 48 “minor” ports of Maharashtra located at Rewas Creek, near Karanja creek at mouth of the Patalganga River.
• Mumbai Port Trust, JNPT and Maharashtra Maritime Board will jointly take over the development of Rewas port project.
• The planned port to have a 27.75-km-long and 300 metres wide exclusive approach channel.
• This would ensure minimal waiting time for ships in the channel.

National Conference on addressing Under-Nutrition

• It is to be held in New Delhi, which is first ever of its kind.
• This conference is being organized by the Ministry of Women & Child Development in collaboration with Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, keeping in mind the goal of “Malnutrition Free India-2022”.

• Three States to be awarded for reducing prevalence of stunting in population.

Source: PIB, The Hindu, Business Standard