DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Oct. 7, 2022

PM Modi to declare Gujarat’s ‘Modhera’ as India’s First Solar-Powered Village on 9 October

Tags: place in news Science and Technology State News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will declare Gujarat’s village Modhera as India’s first solar-powered village on October 9, 2022. The village is supplied electricity during the daytime through  the rooftop solar panels installed in the village and during night the  Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)  provides power supply to the houses.

In  2019 the Central government and the state government started the  joint project to power the Modhera village in Mehsana district with solar power.

The Gujarat government had allotted 12 hectares of land for development of this project and an amount of Rs 80.66 crore was spent on a 50:50 basis by Centre and state government in two phases,

More than 1,300 1 kW rooftop solar systems have been installed on houses which generate electricity. And electricity is supplied free of cost to the villagers .

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate a  solar-powered 3-D projection facility for the  Modhera’s Sun Temple.The solar-powered 3-D projection will educate visitors about the history of Modhera. 

Gujarat Chief Minister : Bhupendra Patel 

Amit Shah inaugurates the Eastern and North-Eastern Cooperative Dairy Conclave 2022 in Gangtok, Sikkim

Tags: place in news Economy/Finance Summits State News

The Union Minister for Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah inaugurated the Eastern and North-Eastern Cooperative Dairy Conclave 2022 in Sikkim capital, Gangtok, on 7 October 2022. 

 Speaking on the occasion the minister said that “milk production is the only way for women empowerment, poverty alleviation and doubling of farmer's income.

 Lauding the achievement of the Sikkim dairy farmers he said that  “ Sikkim state, which is called the Switzerland of the Northeast, should not be known only for its beauty, but also by enriching every village, a  prosperous and developed state’.

Operation Flood 

To increase the production of milk and dairy products in the country, Operation Flood was launched in the country in 1970 with the help of the European Union and World Food Programme.

Operation flood was based on the cooperative model where farmers formed dairy cooperatives.

In this cooperative model of development, a pioneering role was played by Verghese Kurien who was instrumental in setting up Anand Milk Union Limited (AMUL) in Anand, Gujarat in 1950. This successful model was replicated all over India and now India is the largest producer of milk in the world.

Verghese Kurien is also called as the milk man of India, Father of white revolution (Dairy revolution)

Uttar Pradesh is the largest milk producing state in India.

Tamilnadu bans online gambling as the governor issues the ordinance

Tags: State News

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has given his consent to promulgate an ordinance to prohibit online gambling and to regulate online games in the State. This comes after the State government headed by Chief Minister MK Stalin on September 26 approved the ordinance.

The Tamilnadu government set up a committee headed by former Judge of the Madras High Court, Justice K Chandru, to look into the adverse effects of online rummy. This was decided after incidents of online gaming addicts losing money and falling into a debt trap.

The Committee submitted its report to Stalin in two weeks, and it was placed for the consideration of the Cabinet on the same day.

Ordinance issuing power of the Governor 

Under article 213 of the Indian constitution the state governor has the power to issue the ordinance when the state legislative assembly is not in session and is satisfied that circumstance warrants the promulgation of ordinance.

Ordinance is an emergency law making power of the governor, valid for six months. 

Union Environment Ministry has set up Cheetah Task force headed by Alok Kumar

Tags: committee Person in news

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has constituted a 9 member task force on 7 October 2022 to monitor cheetah introduction in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh. It will be headed by Alok Kumar, Retd. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden, Madhya Pradesh,

 According to the ministry the task force has been constituted for a period of 2 years and will “review, progress and monitor the health status of Cheetah, upkeep of the quarantine & soft release enclosures, protection status of entire area, adherence to the defined protocols by forest & veterinary officials and advice on Cheetah introduction in India to the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and NTCA on status of Cheetah with respect to overall health, behaviour and their upkeep.”

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) would facilitate the working of the Cheetah Task Force and render all necessary help.

On 17 September 2022 the Prime Minister Narendra Modi released 8 wild cheetahs of Namibia in the Kuno National Park in an ambitious effort to repopulate the Indian wildlife with cheetahs. Cheetah was officially declared extinct in India in 1952.

Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change: Bhupendra Yadav 

AIIA signs Mou with NIAIST, Japan to promote collaboration in Research of Ayurveda and Traditional medicine

Tags: National Science and Technology

The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), under the Ministry of AYUSH, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Japan have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  on 7 October 2022 in New Delhi to promote Institute’s research activities both at a national and international stage.

The MoU will enable both countries to promote research collaboration and building capacities in the field of the Indian Ayurvedic system of traditional medicines. All these activities will be executed in support of the Ministry of Ayush.

AIIA already has MoUs with the European Academy of Ayurveda, Bernstein, Germany; Western Sydney University, Australia; Graz Medical University, Austria; College of Medical, UK; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)

All India Institute of Ayurveda is an apex institute for Ayurveda which is being set up in New Delhi. It has been set up to make Ayurveda an evidence based treatment and standardize the Ayurveda drugs.

Current Director of AIIA: Professor Tanuja Manoj Nessari.

AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy)

• The Ministry of AYUSH was set up on the 9^th of November 2014 to revive the knowledge of traditional Indian systems of medicine. 
• It focuses on education and research in the fields of Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. 
• Minister of AYUSH: Sarbananda Sonowal

Divyangana Sharma and Ritika Saxena have been honoured with the prestigious Victorian Premier Award.

Tags: Awards Person in news International News

Two Indian students, Divyangana Sharma and Ritika Saxena have won the prestigious Victorian Premier's award. Divyangana Sharma has won the coveted Victorian Premier's Award - International Student of the Year 2021-22, while Ritika Saxena won the International Student of the Year award in the Research category.

Divyangana has also won Victorian International Education Awards 2021-22 in the Higher Education category. Divyangana Sharma came to Melbourne to study nursing at Holmesglen Institute in February 2020.

Ritika moved to Melbourne as an 18-year-old and is now a PhD student involved in stem cell research,

Victoria 

Victoria is one of the six states of Australia. It is the second largest state of Australia after New South Wales.

Like all states of Australia, it has a constitution of its own.

The head of the Victorian government is called Premier. 

The current Premier is   : Daniel Andrews

Capital of Victoria: Melbourne 

Harmanpreet singh wins consecutive FIH male player of the year award

Tags: Sports Awards Person in news

India’s men Hockey team player, Harmanpreet Singh was voted the men’s FIH Player of the Year 2021-22. This was announced by the International hockey regulator, FIH on 7 October 2022 at Lausanne. 

Harmanpreet Singh became the fourth player after Belgium’s Teun De Nooijer and Arthur van Doren and Australia’s Jamie Dwyer to win the award in the men’s category in two consecutive years.

Harmanpreet Singh was the top goal scorer in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021-22 with 18 goals .

Others Indian to win the 2021-22 award

Earlier , Mumtaz Khan was named the FIH  women rising  star player of the year 2021-22 . 

PR Sreejesh and Savita Punia were named as the FIH Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year 2021-22 for the second year in a row. 

Female FIH player of the year 2021-22

Dutch player Felice Albers, was voted the female’s FIH player of the year 2021-22.

FIH 

FIH (Fédération Internationale de Hockey) is the governing body of men’s and women’s International hockey.

Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland 

 Acting President:  Seif El Dine Ahmed 

A Belarussian political dissident and civil rights organisation of Ukraine and Russia wins Nobel Peace Prize 2022

Tags: Awards Person in news

Jailed Belarusian political dissident  Ales Byalyatski, banned Russian civil rights  organisation Memorial and Ukrainian group Center for Civil Liberties were named the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize 2022 announced on 7 October 2022. 

The Norwegian Nobel Committee in a statement said that it “wishes to honour three outstanding champions of human rights, democracy and peaceful co-existence in the neighbour countries Belarus, Russia and Ukraine."

The Nobel Prize in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature and Economics are announced by the Swedish Nobel Committee while the Peace prize is announced by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

The award is seen as a return to the cold war era when the critic and dissident of the Soviet Union were given Nobel Prize by Norwegian committee so as to embarrass the Soviet Union.  Russia which is the successor state of the Soviet Union is currently in a conflict with Ukraine and the Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Award Winners 2022

Ales Byalyatski, is a human right activist ,an opponent of Lukashenko and he was detained last year. by the government.

Memorial is a Russian organisation which works for human rights and civil liberties. It was a fierce critic of Vladimir Putin and it has been banned in Russia.

Center for Civil Liberties is an independent Ukrainian human rights organisation, which is also focused on fighting corruption.

2021 Nobel Peace prize winners  

In 2021 the Nobel Peace prize was given to Maria Ressa of Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia.

India’s who have won the Nobel Peace Prize

• Mother Teresa (original name; Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu) won the peace prize in 1979.
• Kailash Satyarthi won the prize with Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan in 2014.

The Nobel Peace Prize which is worth 10 million Swedish crowns, or about $900,000, will be presented in Oslo, Norway on 10 December. 10 December is the death anniversary of the Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who founded the awards in his 1895 will.

RBI directs the Credit Information Companies to appoint Internal Ombudsman by 1 April 2023

Tags: Economy/Finance

Reserve Bank of India in a circular issued on 6 October 2022 has asked the Credit Information companies (CIC) to strengthen their customer grievance redressal mechanism by appointing Internal Ombudsman by 1 April 2023.

Function of the internal ombudsman 

The Internal ombudsman will hear the appeal against the decision of the CIC which has partially or wholly rejected the complaints of a customer.

It will not hear direct complaints of the customer against the CIC.

Who can be appointed for the post of Internal Ombudsman? 

According to the central bank, the internal ombudsman shall be either a retired or a serving officer, not below the rank of deputy general manager or equivalent in a financial sector regulatory body, credit information companies, a non-banking financial company (NBFC) or bank. The person shall have a minimum experience of 7 years.

The appointment will be for a fixed term of not less than three years, but not exceeding five years.

The internal ombudsman cannot be removed before the completion of the contracted term without the RBI's explicit approval.

Difference between Banking Ombudsman and Internal Ombudsman 

Banking Ombudsman was introduced by RBI in 1995 under the Banking Regulation act 1949. 

Banking Ombudsman are the senior officers of RBI, appointed by RBI. 

They hear complaints of the customer against the deficient services provided by the banks.

The customer can approach the banking ombudsman if they are satisfied with the reply of the bank on their complaint.

The whole process is free and is an alternative mechanism to the court system.

Internal Ombudsman 

To lessen the burden on the banking ombudsman, RBI introduced the Internal Ombudsman system in 2015 for the banks initially. 

It was introduced to settle the complaint of the customer at the bank level itself.

Internal ombudsman are an independent person appointed by the banks themselves and they review complaints of the customer that were partially or wholly rejected by the respective banks.

Credit Information Companies 

Credit Information companies are financial companies which maintain the credit history of a person or companies. It means it maintains the record of their borrowing from financial institutions, their track record in the repayment of loans and on the basis of that it prepares a credit information report. This report is used by the banks etc. to decide whether to provide loans to the person /company or not. 

CIC in India are: 

• Credit Information Bureau of India Limited (CIBIL), 
• Equifax Credit Information Company, 
• Experian Credit Information Company,  and
• CRIF High Mark Credit Information Company.

They are regulated by the RBI.

SEBI orders closure of Bengaluru based Brickwork credit rating agency

Tags: Economy/Finance

The capital market regulator Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has cancelled the license of the Brickwork Ratings India Pvt Ltd and asked it wind up its operation within six months. In an order issued on 6 October 2022 SEBI has prohibited it from taking on any new business,

SEBI in its order said that the company has “failed to exercise proper skill, care and diligence while discharging duties as a credit rating agency”.

 In a joint investigation of Brickwork by RBI and SEBI several irregularities were found in the working of the company. 

Some of the violations alleged in the findings of the two probes were delay or failure in recognition of default of non-convertible debentures of entities like Bhushan Steel, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, Essel Corporate Resources and Diamond Power Infrastructure while failing to review the rating of firms like Great Eastern Energy Corporation and Gayatri Projects.  

Brickwork is one of the seven Sebi-registered credit rating agencies. The others are CRISIL, CARE, ICRA, Fitch, Infomerics Ratings and Acuité Ratings & Research.

Brickwork Ratings

It was set up in 2007 and Canara Bank was one of the promoters of Brickworks Ratings 

It’s Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka

Managing Director: Vivek Kulkarni.

RBI approves the re appointment of Prashant Kumar as MD & CEO of Yes Bank

Tags: Economy/Finance Person in news

Reserve Bank of India on 6 October 2022, has approved the re-appointment of Prashant Kumar as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Yes Bank for a period of 3 years.  The appointment will, however, be subject to the approval of shareholders.

Prashant Kumar was appointed as the MD and CEO of Yes Bank in 2020 as an effort by the government to rescue the scandal hit Yes Bank.

Before joining YES Bank, Kumar was the Deputy Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer of the State Bank of India. 

U.N. peacekeeping chief to visit India

Tags: International News

UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix is on a visit to India, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Japan from 6 October to 15 October.

Important facts

• He participated in a two-day meeting organized by the Challenges Forum, which brings together leading policy makers, practitioners and academics on key issues related to peacekeeping.

• India is one of the largest military contributors to its missions in UN peacekeeping.

• The purpose of Lacroix's visit is to review the countries' contributions to and support for UN peacekeeping and progress in enhancing the effectiveness of peacekeeping.

• The Challenge Forum (CAF) 22 was co-hosted by the organization's Indian partner United Service Institution of India (USI).

About UN Peacekeeping

• UN peacekeeping began in 1948 when the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of UN military observers in the Middle East.

• It helps to bring countries from conflict to a difficult path of peace.

• It deploys soldiers and police from all over the world for peacekeeping.

• India is one of the largest military and police contributors to UN peacekeeping operations.

• There are currently more than 5,700 Indian peacekeepers deployed in nine of the 12 UN peacekeeping missions.

World Space Week

Tags: Important Days

World Space Week is observed annually from the 4th to 10th of October every year. 

Important facts

• In India, World Space Week 2022 is being celebrated in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Institute (ISRO) and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).

• During this, a National Space Quiz Competition is being organized to increase the interest of the school children towards astronomical knowledge and science.

• It is dedicated to celebrate the contribution of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.

• In the year 1999, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared the World Space Week to be celebrated.

• It commemorates Sputnik-1, the first man-made Earth satellite, launched on 4 October 1957.

• The theme of Space Week 2022 is "Space and Sustainability" with a focus on achieving sustainability in space.

• It is coordinated by the United Nations in collaboration with the World Space Week Association (WSWA), a non-profit organization.

National Wildlife Week

Tags: Important Days

The national Wildlife Week is being celebrated across the country from October 2 to October 8.

Important facts

• This year, India is celebrating the 68th edition of Wildlife Week. 

• Its objective is to spread the message of protecting and preserving India's flora and fauna.

• During Wildlife Week in India, environmentalists and conservationists organize workshops to help people understand the importance of protecting wildlife.

• Several awareness raising activities are also organized during this week.

• In 1952, the Wildlife Board of India conceived the concept of Wildlife Week to create awareness about the long-term goals of protecting India's wildlife.

• On 20 December 2013, the United Nations General Assembly declared 3 March as World Wildlife Day.

RBI launches web based ‘Daksh’ for better monitoring of Banks and NBFC

Tags: Economy/Finance

The Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das launched a new super tech initiative called “DAKSH” on 6 October 2022. It is RBI’s Advanced Supervisory Monitoring System, which will help in better supervision of Banks and Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) by the RBI. .

According to the RBI it is a part of the effort of the RBI to strengthen its supervision by utilizing the latest data and analytical tools, technology for implementing   more efficient and automated work processes.

RBI says that "DAKSH is a web-based end-to-end workflow application through which RBI shall monitor compliance requirements in a more focused manner with the objective of further improving the compliance culture of Banks, NBFC.

Reserve Bank of India

It was set up on 1 April 1935 under the RBI act 1934.

The central office of RBI was in Kolkata but was shifted to Mumbai in 1937.

It was nationalized in 1949 and it is owned by the Government of India.

It is the supreme monetary and regulatory body in India.

It regulates the banks under the Banking Regulation Acts 1949.

It regulates NBFC under the Reserve Bank of India act 1934.

Governor of RBI: Shaktikanta Das 

World Cotton Day

Tags: Important Days

Every year 7 October is celebrated as 'World Cotton Day' across the world.

Important facts

• World Cotton Day is celebrated by the United Nations to raise awareness about the important role of the cotton sector in international trade, economic development and poverty alleviation.

• Cotton is considered a major source of livelihood and income for many rural laborers and stockholders, including women.

• It provides employment and income to some of the poorest rural areas around the world.

• The day promotes sustainable trade policies and enables developing countries to benefit from every stage of the cotton value chain.

• India is the second largest producer and largest consumer of cotton in the world.

Background of the day

• The initiative of World Cotton Day was started in 2019.

• The day originated when four cotton producers in sub-Saharan Africa—Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali—known as the 'Cotton Four'—proposed to observe the day on 7 October every year in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

• The World Trade Organization hosted the launch of World Cotton Day on 7 October 2019 as an initiative of Cotton-4 countries.

UN Human Rights Council rejects debate on China's mistreatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang

Tags: International News

The United Nations Human Rights Council on 6 October voted against a Western-led resolution to discuss China's alleged human rights abuses against Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang.

Important facts

• The vote was a diplomatic victory for China, proving that criticism of China's actions in Xinjiang was baseless, so the allegation was dismissed.

• The US, Britain, Germany and other allies proposed holding the debate, but 19 members of the council voted against the resolution and 17 countries voted in favor of the resolution, while 11 did not participate in the vote.

• India also did not participate in the voting.

• The 47-member council is the apex human rights body of the United Nations.

Why was the motion brought up for debate?

• In August, the United Nations published a report concluding that the rampant arbitrary detentions of Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang and "serious human rights violations" were occurring.

• The report also said Beijing's action could be a crime against humanity.

• The report detailed "credible" allegations of "brutal, inhuman or degrading" treatment, sexual and gender-based violence against detainees.

Who are Uighurs?

• There are about 12 million Uighurs living in northwestern China, mostly Muslims, in the region of Xinjiang.

• Uighurs speak their own language similar to Turkish.

• They see themselves culturally and ethnically closer to the Central Asian countries.

• Their population in Xinjiang is slightly less than half of the total population.

About Xinjiang

• It lies in the north-west of China and is the country’s biggest region.

• It is a mostly desert region, which produces about a fifth of the world's cotton.

• It is also rich in oil and natural gas and Beijing sees it as an important trade link due to its proximity to Central Asia and Europe.

Annual festival Sirimanotsavam organized in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh

Tags: State News

The annual Sirimanotsavam will be held on October 11 at Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh.

Important facts

• This major tribal-folk festival to be held in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh could not take place in the last two years due to COVID-19.

• This annual festival is also known as Sirimanu Panduga.

• Four to five lakh people are expected to come from different parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

About Sirimanotsavam festival

• It is a major festival of the presiding deity of Vizianagaram town Sri Pydithalli Ammavari Jatara. 

• Traditionally, Sirimotsavam Jatara is celebrated every year on the first Tuesday after the Dussehra festival.

• Devotees will witness the spectacle of a priest sitting on top of a 55-foot pillar (Sirimanu) in royal robes around the fort.

• The priest hanging from the upper end of Sirimanu blesses the devotees and the chariot is driven through the main road to Vizianagaram.

30th Rapid Action Force Anniversary Parade in Hyderabad

Tags: Defence National News

Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra attended the 30th Rapid Action Force Anniversary Parade in Hyderabad on October 7.

Rapid Action Force

• It is a special force which was created in October 1992 by converting 10 independent battalions of CRPF.

• These units were formed for riots, riot-like situations, to build trust among all sections of the society and for internal security duty.

• It is the most reliable force that reaches the site without wasting time, in the shortest possible time when a crisis situation arises.

• This force is in possession of a separate flag which is a symbol of peace.

• This flag was presented by the then Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani on 7 October 2003 to commemorate the 11 years of the RAF's service to the nation.

• It is continuously training men and women jointly every year for UN peacekeeping missions in different countries (Haiti, Kosovo, Libera etc.).

• There are 10 battalions in this special force, which are battalion numbers 99 to 108 in CRPF, they are headed by an Inspector General.

• Inspector-General of RAF - Arun Kumar

NHRC notice to Haryana govt over sewer deaths in Faridabad

Tags: National National News

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to Haryana Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) in connection with the death of four persons who died of toxic fumes while cleaning sewer tanks at a private hospital in Haryana's Faridabad district on October 6.

Important facts

• NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of the news published in the media.

• The commission has issued a notice to the Haryana Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, seeking a detailed report in four weeks.

• The commission has also sought a detailed report of the steps taken or the steps to be taken by the government to prevent gross violation of human rights of the poor and deprived people.

• The officers have also been directed to inform about the status of the FIR registered in the case and compensation, if any, to be given to the next of kin of the deceased persons.

National Human Rights Commission

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India was established on 12 October 1993 through  an ordinance issued by the President.

• It was provided statutory status by the The  Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.

• Headquarters - New Delhi

• Chairperson -  A retired Supreme Court Chief Justice or a Supreme Court Judge can be appointed  by the President as the Chairman of the NHRC.

• The First Chairman of NHRC - Justice Ranganath Mishra

• The Current and the 8th  Chairman of NHRC is Justice Arun Kumar Mishra 

• Role - NHRC’s role is to protect human rights and recommend measures for their effective implementation. 

• MOTO of NHRC - “सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः / May all be happy.”

• It has been taken from  Brihadāraṇyaka Upanishad