DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Nov. 2, 2022

Union Cabinet approves MoU between India and Denmark on water resource development and management

Tags: International News

The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Denmark on cooperation in the field of Water Resources Development and Management on 2 November 2022.

According to the Cabinet the MoU will strengthen cooperation in the field of water resources development and management; rural water supply; and sewage/wastewater treatment through direct collaboration between officials, academics, water sectors and industry in the areas under scope of cooperation.

India Denmark Cooperation on Water resource management 

In September 2020, the Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched a Joint Statement on establishment of Green Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

The joint statement, envisions co-operation in the field of environment/water, circular economy and sustainable urban development including smart cities.

As a follow up of the joint statement on Green Strategic Partnership, the Prime Minister made the declaration for the establishment of centre of excellence for smart water resources management and establishment of a lab for clean rivers in Varanasi on the lines of smart city lab in Panaji.

A letter of intent was signed between the Ministry of Jal Shakti, and Ministry of Environment, Govt. of Denmark on 3 May 2022 during visit of Prime Minister Modi to Denmark.

Basic purpose of the proposed cooperation is to ensure safe and secure water to meet present & future demands through holistic and sustainable approach.

Kingdom of Denmark 

It is a country of Europe. Denmark, Norway and Sweden constitute the Scandinavian countries in Europe.

The world’s largest island Greenland is part of Denmark.

Capital: Copenhagen 

Currency: Danish Krone

Prime Minister: Ms. Mette Frederiksen.

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates 12th Edition of India Chem-2022 in New Delhi

Tags: place in news Summits

Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 12th Biennial International Exhibition and Conference India Chem 2022 at New Delhi on 2 November 2022.

The 12th Edition of “India Chem 2022  has been organised by the Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India, with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)  from 02 -03 November 2022 at New Delhi. 

The Theme of the 12th India Chem 2022: “Vision 2030: Chemicals and Petrochemicals Build India.

CRPF for the first time appoints Women officer to the post of Inspector General

Tags: Person in news

For the first time, India’s largest paramilitary force Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has promoted two women officers to the rank of Inspector General .An IG is the head of a sector in CRPF.

Annie Abraham has been appointed as the IG of Rapid Action Force (RAF), while Seema Dhundia has been posted as IG of the Bihar Sector. Both the officers were inducted in CRPF in 1987.

Both the officers have also commanded an all-women Indian police contingent at the United Nations. They have also been decorated with the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the 'Ati Utkrisht Sewa Padak' during their service.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a specialised anti-riot force of the CRPF.  It is deployed to assist state police forces for heavy crowd management and also during VIP visits.

The Bihar Sector of CRPF commands about four battalions that are deployed for anti-Naxal operations and other law and order duties, apart from some RAF units and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) units that specialises in jungle warfare.

CRPF is the largest Central Armed Police Force under the Union Home Ministry. It was set up in 1939 as Crown Representative Police. 

The CRPF was the first Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to induct women in combat in 1986. It has six such battalions at present with women constables filling more than 6,000 posts.

Director General of CRPF: Sujoy Lal Thaosen 

Union Cabinet approves naming Hollongi Airport as Donyi Polo Airport

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 2 November approved naming of greenfield airport at Hollongi, Itanagar, as ‘Donyi Polo Airport.

Important facts

• A resolution was passed by the state government of Arunachal Pradesh to name this airport 'Donny Polo Airport, Itanagar'.

• The 'Doni Polo' reflects the people's respect for the Sun (Doni) and the Moon (Polo), symbols of the state's traditions and rich cultural heritage.

• The Government of India had given 'in-principle' approval for the development of Hollongi Greenfield Airport in January 2019.

• The project is being developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in collaboration with the Central Government and the State Government of Arunachal Pradesh at a cost of Rs 646 crore.

• Hollongi Airport is the third airport in the state and the only airport in the capital city after Pasighat and Tezu airports.

• Doni Polo Airport in Itanagar is the 16th airport in Northeast India.

Operational airports in the north-eastern region

• Guwahati, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tezpur, Lilabari, and Rupsi (Assam); Pasighat and Tezu (Arunachal Pradesh); Agartala (Tripura); Imphal (Manipur); Shillong (Meghalaya); Dimapur (Nagaland); Lengpui (Mizoram) and Pakyong (Sikkim).

Sanjeev Chopra assumes charge as Secretary, Dept of Food and Public Distribution

Tags: Person in news

Sanjeev Chopra has assumed charge as the Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution with effect from 31 October 2022. He is a 1990 batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre.

Important facts

• Sanjeev Chopra completed his B Com Honours and MBA from FMS, Delhi University. Later, he completed his LLB from Utkal University Bhubaneswar and MSc from the London School of Economics & Political Science. 

• He started his career as Sub Collector in Baripada (Odisha).

• He served as District Collector and District Magistrate in Koraput, Odisha from 1995 to 1997.

• He served as Director/Deputy Secretary in the Department of Technical Education and Training during 1999-2000.

• He served as the Managing Director of State Co-operative Banks during 2000-2004.

• He has also served as Secretary in departments like Industry, General Administration, Agriculture and Home.

• He has been awarded the National e-Governance Award by the Government of India for Excellence in Government Process Re-engineering for Digital Transformation in the year 2020 and 2021.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das inaugurates the FIBAC 2022

Tags: place in news Economy/Finance Summits

Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das inaugurated one of the largest annual banking conferences of Asia, FIBAC 2022 in Mumbai on 2 November 2022. 

The FIBAC 2022 has been organized by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) on 2nd and 3^rd of November 2022 at Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Theme of the Conference: 'Helping India step change its growth: How tech enabled banking can contribute to realization of $5 trillion economy goal’.

Speaking on occasion the governor said that the e-rupee launch on 1 November 2022 was a landmark moment in the history of currency in the country as it will transform the way business is done and transactions are conducted.

He added that the central bank hopes to launch digitized Kisan Credit Card loans in a full-fledged manner by the calendar year 2023. 

Indian Bank Association is an association of Banks and Financial institutions in India which was set up in 1946.

Independent India’s first voter Shyam Saran Negi exercise his franchise in Himachal Poll

Tags: Person in news State News

106 years old Shyam Saran Negi of Himachal Pradesh exercised his right to franchise and voted for the 34th time in his life on 2 November 2022.  

Shyam Saran Negi who is the first voter of the Independent India voted in the 14th Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha elections through postal ballot at his home in Kalpa, Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

Born in July 1917, Shyam Saran Negi voted for the first time in 1951 in general elections of India and has voted for sixteen times in Lok Sabha Elections.

He is also a state election icon since 2014.

A teacher by profession, the centenarian has voted in every election since 1951 and has never missed an opportunity to vote.

The election to constitute the 14th Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha will be held on 12 November 2022. 

The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly has 68 seats.

Postal Ballot 

As the name suggests special ballot papers are issued to designated persons by the Election commission of India and the voters have to send the ballot paper back to the returning officer before the counting of the vote’s starts in the constituency.

.According to the Election Commission of India following Persons are entitled to vote by post:

• Special voter’s .It includes Persons with Disability, senior citizens above the age of 80 years and covid-19 positive patient,
• Service voters (Armed Forces personnel, paramilitary personnel)
• Voters on election duty and;
• Voters who are in jail and held under the preventive detention provision of law.

The colour of the postal ballot is Pink.

First successful flight test of phase -II ballistic missile defence interceptor

Tags: Defence Science and Technology National News

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the first successful flight test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Interceptor AD-1 missile with Large Kill Altitude Bracket from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on November 2, 2022.

Interceptor AD-1 Missile

• It is a long-range interceptor missile designed for both low exo-atmospheric and endo-atmospheric interception of long-range ballistic missiles as well as aircraft.

• It is driven by a two-phase solid motor.

• It is equipped with indigenously developed advanced control system, navigation and guidance algorithms to accurately guide the missile to the target.

• It has the ability to hit many different types of targets.

• During this flight-test, all sub-systems performed as expected.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) 

• It is a premier defence research and development agency under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

• It aims to make India self-reliant in critical defence technology and systems.

• It was set up in 1958.

• Headquarters - New Delhi 

• Chairman - Samir V Kamat

Zojila Day commemorated at Zojila War Memorial, Drass

Tags: National Defence National News

Zojila Day was observed on 1 November 2022 at the Zojila War Memorial near Dras to celebrate the gallant action taken by the Indian soldiers in 'Operation Bison'. 'Operation Bison' was launched on the icy heights of Zojila Pass, the gateway to Ladakh in 1948.

Important facts

• The Commander of Drass Warriors of Leh's Fire and Fury Corps paid floral tributes to the soldiers who were martyred in liberating the Zojila Pass from Pakistani infiltrators.

• Zojila Day is an indomitable symbol of the bravery of the Indian Army.

• This battle is considered historic as tanks were used for the first time at such a height.

• Zojila Day is a symbol of the indomitable spirit of bravery and 'Never Say Die' of the Indian Army.

About Zojila Pass

• It is a high mountain pass in Jammu and Kashmir, located on National Highway 1. 

• It connects Srinagar in Kashmir Valley to Leh in Ladakh region.

• It has an elevation of about 3,528 metres (11,575 ft), and is the second highest pass on the Srinagar–Leh National Highway after Photu La.

• This is known as the 'Icy Storm Pass'.

• The Zojila Tunnel project was started in the year 2018. It is the longest and strategic bi-directional tunnel in Asia.

About The battle of Zojila

• During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Zojila was seized by Pakistani-backed invaders in 1948 in their campaign to capture Ladakh.

• On November 1, 1948, the Zojila Pass was recaptured by the Indian Army in an attack called Operation Bison.

• The Battle of Zojila was one of the first battles of the Indian Army in the high altitude region.

In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation’ Project

Tags: National Government Schemes National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 3,024 newly constructed EWS flats at Kalkaji in Delhi under the ‘In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation’ Project on November 2.

Important facts

• He will also hand over the keys of the flats to the eligible beneficiaries at the Bhoomiheen camp at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi.

• In line with the Prime Minister's vision of providing housing for all, Delhi Development Authority is undertaking in-situ slum rehabilitation work in 376 slum clusters.

• The DDA has taken up three such projects in Kalkaji Extension, Jailorwala Bagh and Kathputli Colony.

About In-Situ Slum Rehabilitation’ Project 

• The objective of the project is to provide a better and livable healthy environment with proper facilities to the people residing in slum clusters.

• Under Phase I, 3024 EWS flats have been constructed at the vacant commercial centre site nearby.

• The first phase of the project has been completed and 3024 flats are ready.

• Under the Kalkaji Extension Project, in-situ slum rehabilitation of three slums—Bhumiheen Camp, Navjeevan Camp and Jawahar Camp at Kalkaji—is being carried out in a phased manner.

• The slum site in the Bhumiheen camp will be vacated by rehabilitating the eligible families of this camp in newly constructed flats.

• These flats have been constructed at a cost of about Rs 345 crore and are equipped with all civic amenities.

SpaceX launches first Falcon Heavy mission after three years

Tags: Science and Technology

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, the world's most powerful active rocket, was launched for the first time after nearly three years on November 1, 2022, from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Important facts

• Under this mission, satellites of the US Space Force have been sent into space from the Falcon Heavy rocket.

• This mission was delayed for years by the Space Force.

• Earlier in 2018, Elon Musk sent a red sports car of his second company Tesla into space as a test payload on a Falcon Heavy rocket.

• The weight of this rocket is equal to the weight of two space shutters, which weigh 63.8 tonnes.

• The 230-foot-long rocket has 27 Merlin engines, which makes it the world's most powerful rocket.

• Saturn-5 was the most powerful rocket ever. Which was used by NASA for the search on the moon.

About SpaceX

• It is a private spaceflight company that sends satellites and people to space, including NASA crews to the International Space Station (ISS).

• The company sent its first two astronauts to the ISS on May 30, 2020, aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon, and several more on behalf of NASA and other organizations.

• As of mid-2022, it is the only commercial spaceflight company capable of sending astronauts into space.

• SpaceX was founded by Alan Musk, a South African-born businessman and entrepreneur.

Arunachal Pradesh to get Northeast’s first fish museum

Tags: Government Schemes National News

A fish museum, the first of its kind in the Northeast, would soon be built in Arunachal Pradesh, Fisheries Minister Tage Taki said.

Important facts

• The museum will be a part of the Integrated Aqua Park (IAP) sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Fisheries.

• It will have all the fish species of the state and will act as a training center for the fishermen.

• Three years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced one IAP for each state and union territory under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMSY) to bring about a blue revolution.

• The proposed cost of the project is Rs 100 crore.

• Rs 43.59 crore was sanctioned for the project in the current financial year as first instalment.

• The existing Tarin Fish Farm (TFF) located in the high altitude Bulla village will be upgraded as an IAP where this museum will be built.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMSSY)

• It is a sustainable development scheme focused on the fisheries sector, to be implemented in all States/UTs from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 (during a period of 5 years) under Atmanirbhar Bharat.

• Under this scheme, an investment of Rs 20,050 crore will be made in the fisheries sector.

• Insurance cover, financial assistance and Kisan Credit Card facility are also provided to the fishermen under the scheme.

• Its objective is to rapidly promote rural development and rural economy by utilising rural resources.

• An impressive growth of 14.3 percent has been registered in the fisheries sector till the year 2021-22 as compared to the year 2019-20.

Invest Karnataka - 2022 Summit

Tags: Economy/Finance Summits National News

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, addressed the inaugural function of the Global Investors Meet Invest Karnataka 2022 through video conferencing on November 2, 2022.

Important facts

• More than 80 speakers will present their views in the three-day event to be held in Bengaluru from November 2-4.

• The key themes to be addressed during the event will be related to innovation, sustainability, equity and resilience.

• Speakers include some top industry leaders including Kumar Mangalam Birla, Sajjan Jindal, Vikram Kirloskar among others.

• The aim of the Summit is to attract potential investors and establish a growth agenda for the next decade.

• The sessions of the conference will be hosted separately by Germany, Netherlands, South Korea, Japan and Australia who are in India along with high level ministerial and industrial delegations from their respective countries.

• The global scale of the event will give Karnataka an opportunity to showcase its culture to the world as well.

International book fair at Expo Centre UAE

Tags: International News

The 41st international book fair, being organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), will be held from November 2-13, 2022 at Expo Centre Sharjah.

Important facts

• The book fair will host several award winning authors, intellectuals and other literary figures from across the world.

• This year's theme of the fair is 'Spread the Word'.

• The Publications Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India is participating in the Sharjah International Book Fair.

• The Publications Division will offer readers and book lovers a wide variety of books on the history of the Indian freedom struggle and freedom fighters.

• Readers will get a chance to read more than 100 books and magazines in various Indian languages on various subjects.

About Publications Division

• Established in the year 1941, the Publications Division is a premier publishing house of the Government of India.

• The Directorate of Publications Division is a repository of various types of books and magazines.

• These books highlight topics of national importance and the rich cultural heritage of India.

• It offers books and magazines in various languages on diverse subjects like Indian history, culture, literature, biography, science, technology, environment and employment.

• Its textual content is renowned for its authenticity as well as for the reasonable price of the publications.

• Its major publications include popular monthly magazines such as Yojna, Kurukshetra, Bal Bharati and Aajkal as well as the weekly employment newspaper Employment News.

• Apart from this, it also publishes the prestigious reference annuity 'India Year Book' of the government.

CDFD launches study to develop treatments for rare genetic diseases in children

Tags: Science and Technology National News

Hyderabad-based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) on November 1, 2022 launched a nationwide study to decode the genetic mutation that causes Paediatric Rare Genetic Disorder (PRaGeD) in children.

Important facts

• The PRaGeD mission is a pan-India initiative funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

• The initiative will discover genes that cause rare diseases, develop suitable treatments, provide counselling and create awareness among people.

• About 15 research and health institutions from across the country are participating in the study.

• Under this initiative, 5,600 families will be screened over a period of five years to identify the genetic causes of undiagnosed paediatric rare genetic diseases.

• Once the genetic mutation is detected in these children, the researchers will conduct studies in animals and cell models to understand how the genetic mutations are causing the rare disease.

What is a rare genetic disease?

• A rare disease is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population.

• Most rare diseases are genetic, therefore these are called rare genetic diseases. 

• These diseases are present throughout a person’s entire life, even if symptoms do not immediately appear.

• Common rare diseases found in India are haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia and primary immune deficiency in children, auto-immune diseases, lysosomal storage disorders like Pompe disease, Hirschsprung disease etc.

• The burden of rare genetic diseases in India is close to 70 million and about 30 percent of children suffering from such diseases are below the age of five years.