DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Dec. 10, 2021

10th December: Human Rights Day

Tags: Important Days

2021 Theme : "EQUALITY - Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights."

Human Rights Day (also called HRD) is observed every year on 10 December – the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Human Rights

Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

IAF has ordered tri-service investigation into chopper crash

Tags: National News

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has ordered a tri-service investigation led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command, in the Mi 17 V5 chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on 8th December in which Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 officials of the Armed Forces were killed.

Black box of the ill-fated chopper has been recovered by the investigation team.

What is a tri-service inquiry?

It is a kind of an inquiry, in which the representatives of three armed forces - Army, Navy and Air Force--will be included..

  • The inquiry will also include a thorough investigation of the black box and the remaining debris of the helicopter.
  • Such kind of an inquiry includes four important points: Human error, mechanical error, weather conditions and terror attack."

Normally a chopper crash inquiry is done by the Air Force officials only, but since the list of deceased includes the CDS, a tri-service inquiry has been ordered.


Black Box

A black box is a device (Similar to a hard disk) that is installed in aircraft to help investigators in case of unfortunate accidents. 

  • It is a highly protective machine that records all flight data and conversations in the cockpit. Apart from recording cockpit conversations, the recorder also holds information on automatic computer announcements, radio traffic, discussions with the crew and announcements to the passengers.
  • There are two types of flight recording devices: 
    • Flight Data Recorder (FDR) that stores all the recent history of the flight through the recording of dozens of parameters collected multiple times per second
    • Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) that records cockpit sound including pilot conversations.

Why is it called Black Box?

The term “black box” was first used by the British during World War Two and referred to the secret development of radar and electronic navigational aids in British aircraft. These secretive devices were housed in non-reflective black boxes.

  • The black is usually of bright orange colour, which makes it easier to spot amid the wrangled mess of the crash.

While crashes can happen anywhere both on land and over seas, the flight recorder is designed in a way that it can be recovered from underwater locations as well. The device sends out a signal on contact with saltwater that can be picked up within a radius of about two kilometres. The device can withstand water pressure found in depths of up to 6,000 meters.

Double wrapped in a corrosion-resistant stainless-steel container with high-temperature insulation, the black box is designed to withstand the harshest crashes -- on the land and seas.

International flights to be resumed after 31st Jan. 2022

Tags: National News

Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced on 09th December that full resumption of international flights stands postponed at least till January 31,2022.

Highlights:

  • Authority has decided to extend suspension of scheduled commercial international passenger services to/ from India till 2359 hours IST of 31st January, 2022”.
  • However, the flights under the air-bubble agreement with 32 countries would continue as before.
  • Travelers from Singapore will no longer be subjected to on-arrival RT-PCR test and 7 days mandatory quarantine after the government removed Singapore from its list of “at-risk” countries.
  • The Union Health Ministry updated the list of at-risk countries that now includes those in Europe including UK, South  Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Hong Kong and Israel.

Unlike several countries like Germany, France, the UK, US, Canada and UAE that have had an air bubble with India during the pandemic allowing eligible categories of people to travel, Singapore and India created a vaccinated travel lane from November 29, 2021. The arrangement has started with six daily flights from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai and Singapore Changi.

Government of India extends PMGAY-G till March 2024

Tags: National News

The Government of India has extended the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin(PMAY-G) beyond March 2021  till March 2024 so as to provide financial assistance for the construction of the remaining 155.75 lakh houses under the scheme. .

The scheme was launched on 20 November 2016 to 2 crore 95 lakh houses by 2022.

Out of this 155.75 lakh houses are to be constructed and it will require Rs 2,17,257 crore, with a central share of Rs 1,25,106 crore and a state share of Rs 73,475 crores .

The continuation of the scheme till March 2024 will ensure that the remaining 155.75 lakh households within the overall target of 2.95 crore houses would be provided assistance for construction of pucca houses with basic amenities to achieve the objective of ‘housing for all’ in rural areas.

As of November 29 this year, 1.65 crore PMAY-G houses have been constructed out of the total target of 2.95 crore houses.

Under the PMAY-G yojana the cost of the scheme is shared in a 60 :40  ratio between the Central Government and the  State Government .

In the Hilly states, Union Territory and in the North- Eastern States the ratio is 90:10 between Centre and States.

Rajya Sabha passes Pharma Education Bill

Tags: National News

  1. Rajya Sabha passed the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which amends the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998.  
  2. It has already been passed by the Lok Sabha .
  3. The 1998 Act established the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali, Punjab, and declared it as an Institution of National Importance.   
  4. The Bill declares six additional National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research as Institutions of National Importance.  These institutes are located in: 

(i) Ahmedabad, 

(ii) Hajipur, 

(iii) Hyderabad, 

(iv) Kolkata, 

(v) Guwahati, 

(vi) Raebareli.

  • The Bill provides for a Council to coordinate the activities among the institutes under the Bill to ensure the development of pharmaceutical education and research and maintenance of standards.   
  • An Institution of National Importance refers to an autonomous institute established under an Act, with the power to hold examinations, grant degrees, diplomas and other academic distinctions or titles.  
  • These institutes of national importance receive funding from the central government. 

Kerala Moves Supreme Court against Water Release by Tamil Nadu

Tags: State News

The Kerala Government has moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to Tamil Nadu not to release a huge quantity of water in the early hours from the 126­ year­ old Mullaperiyar dam, saying it causes heavy damage to the people living downstream of the dam.

The two judges’ bench of Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and C.T. Ravikumar will hear the plea.

For more details on Mullaperiyar dam kindly refer to 1 December 2021 post. 

Bird Flu confirmed in Ducks

Tags: State News

The Alappuzha district was put on alert, after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed at Kunnumma South (ward 10) in Thakazhy grama panchayat.

Highlights:

  • The Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) sent samples of dead birds to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Disease (NIHSAD), Bhopal for analyses, which tested positive for avian influenza.
  • The presence of H5N1 subtype of the Influenza A virus was reported in ducks.
  • Between 8,000 and 10,000 ducks were culled within a 1-km radius of the hotspot.
  • Earlier this year, avian flu caused by the H5N8 strain of the Influenza A virus was detected from six places in Kuttanad at Nedumudi, Thakazhy, Pallippad, Karuvatta, and Kainakary in Alappuzha district and Neendoor in Kottayam district.

Bird Flu

Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus that can infect poultry such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl

Avian influenza (AI) viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, 

In rare cases, it can affect humans. There are lots of different strains of bird flu virus. Most of them don't infect humans.


National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD)-ICAR

The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) of Indian Council of Agricultural Research is a premier institute of India for research on exotic and emerging pathogens of animals. 

  • NIHSAD came into existence on 8th Aug., 2014 as an independent institute under ICAR from its original status as High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), a regional station of Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar.
  • Director: Dr. V.P. Singh
  • Headquarters: Bhopal

Paytm Payments Bank gets ‘scheduled bank’ status from RBI

Tags: Economics/Business

  • Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has included “Paytm Payments Bank Limited”, a subsidiary of One97 Communications, in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
  • As per RBI Act 1934, banks satisfying the RBI that its affairs are not being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of its depositors, are included in the second schedule.
  • Every Scheduled bank enjoys two types of principal facilities: it becomes eligible for debts/loans at the bank rate from the RBI; and, it automatically acquires the membership of clearing house (A clearing house is a financial institution formed to facilitate the exchange (i.e., clearance) of payments, securities, or derivatives transactions.)
  • This will help Paytm to widen its financial services operations. It will also help Paytm to innovate further and bring more financial services and products to the underserved and unserved population in India.
  • Prior to Paytm Payments Bank, India Post Payments Bank had received the scheduled payments bank status from the RBI in 2019 and Fino Payments Bank received the tag earlier this year. 

Payments Bank

  • Payment Banks in India were set up on the recommendation of the Nachiket Mor Committee on Comprehensive Financial Services for Small Businesses and Low Income Households.
  • They are differentiated or niche banks not Universal banks
  • These banks can accept a  deposit,upto ₹200,000 per customer
  • These banks cannot issue loans and credit cards.
  • Both current accounts and savings accounts can be operated by such banks.
  • Payments banks can issue ATM cards or debit cards and provide online or mobile banking.
  • The minimum capital requirement is ₹100 crore.
  • The foreign shareholding will be allowed in these banks as per the rules for FDI in private banks in India.
  • They cannot offer Time and Recurring Deposits  
  • The bank cannot accept NRI deposits .
  • It cannot form subsidiaries to undertake non-banking activities.
  • 25% of its branches must be in the unbanked rural area
  • The banks will be licensed as payments banks under Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, and will be registered as a public limited company under the Companies Act, 2013.
  • Bharti Airtel set up India's first payments bank, Airtel Payments Bank in 2017.
  • Other Payment banks in India are  Airtel Payment Bank, India Post Payment Bank, Fino payment banks , Paytm Payment Bank, NSDL Payment Bank and Jio Payment Bank

Imports made up 86% of India's gold supply between 2016-2020: WGC

Tags: Economics/Business

According to the  World Gold Council(WGC)’s ‘Bullion Trade in India’ report:

  • Imports made up 86% of India’s gold supply between 2016-2020, and inbound shipments continue to grow despite high import duty.
  • Since 2012, India has imported some 6,581 tonnes of gold, averaging 730 tonnes per annum.
  • In 2020, India imported 377 tonnes of gold bars and dore from over 30 countries, of which 55% came from just two countries — Switzerland (44%) and the UAE (11%).
  • In the last five years, gold dore imports have increased.
  • A doré bar is a semi-pure alloy of gold. It is usually created at the site of a mine and then transported to a refinery for further purification..
  • There are   32 gold refineries in India.

Major Gold Mines of India-

  • Kolar and Raichur in Karnataka
  • Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh
  • East Singhbhum in Jharkhand

 The headquarter of the  World Gold Council is London, United Kingdom

HMD Global to export phones from India

Tags: Economics/Business

To support demand in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, HMD Global, the official licensee of Nokia, has commenced export of its made-in-India Nokia 105.

  • Currently exporting to the UAE, the company plans to further extend exports to other markets.
  • HMD Global considers India as a strategically important market, not only from a growth potential but also as a key manufacturing hub.
  • The Nokia 105 is manufactured by HDM Global's ODM partner based in Sriperumbudur, Chennai.

HMD Global

HMD Global(Have My Data Global) Oy, branded as HMD and Nokia Mobile, is a Finnish mobile phone manufacturer.

Founder: Jean-Francois Baril

Founded: 1 December 2016

Headquarters: Espoo, Finland

Opening day of Summit for Democracy

Tags: International News

Theme of the Summit: “combating authoritarianism, fighting corruption and promoting human rights”

It has been organised by the State Department of the United States.

While inaugurating the summit the US President Joe Biden said that 

“Democracy doesn't happen by accident. We have to renew it with each generation,” in a message, which will bring together leaders of 100 countries, civil society and private sector representatives.

Sitting beside his Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and addressing over 50 Countries, Biden said, “We have to stand for justice and the rule of law for free speech, free assembly, a free press, freedom of religion, for all the inherent human rights of every individual,”.

  • Biden announced plans for the U.S. to spend up to $424 millions around the world to support Independent media, anti-corruption work and more.

Indian Prime Minister Mr Narender Modi also participated in the summit virtually .

The PM said that the  “four pillars of Indian democratic governments” are “sensitivity, accountability, participation and reform orientation”.

Major countries like Russia, China, Saudi Arabia have not been invited to the summit.

Pakistan was invited to the summit but it chose to back off from the summit over the fear that it will offend its close ally China. 

Summit for Democracy

This is a virtual summit hosted by the United States of America to “renew democracy at home and confront autocracy abroad”.

  • 111 nations were invited to join this Summit Virtually.
  • Dates : 9-10 December 2021

New French Open Director

Tags: Person in news

Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo, 42, will succeed Guy Forget, as a new Director of French Open.

  • Mauresmo is French Open’s first female director.
  • Mauresmo won Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
  • She has also coached several top players, including former number ones Andy Murray and Victoria Azarenka.

French Open

The French Open, officially known as Roland-Garros, is a major tennis tournament held over two weeks at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France, beginning in late May each year. The tournament and venue are named after the French aviator Roland Garros. The French Open is the premier clay court championship in the world.

Balkrishna Doshi receives U.K Royal Gold Medal 2022.

Tags: Person in news

  • Acclaimed Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi has been selected for the Royal Gold Medal 2022, one of the world’s highest honours for architecture.
  • Given in recognition of a lifetime’s work, the Royal Gold Medal is approved personally by Her Majesty The Queen of the United Kingdom.
  • It is given to a person or group of people who have had a significant influence on the advancement of architecture.


COVID-­19 ends Indian Women’s Hockey Team’s Asian Champions Trophy campaign

Tags: Sports News

  • The Indian women’s hockey team was forced out of the ongoing Asian Hockey Champions Trophy after one of its players tested positive for COVID­-19.
  • Malaysia was also compelled to withdraw after being hit by the dreaded virus here.
  • The tournament is being held at the Donghae City Sunrise Stadium in Donghae, South Korea.
  • Six teams participated in the tournament.

Men's Asian Champions Trophy, 2021 is scheduled to be held at Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 14th to 22nd December 2021.

India A wins 2021–22 BCCI Senior Women's Challenger Trophy Title

Tags: Sports News

  • India scored a three­wicket win over India­D in the final of the BCCI senior women’s Challenger Trophy one ­day cricket championship.
  • It was held at the Mulapadu Cricket Complex in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.
  • It took place from 4 to 9 December 2021.
  • The tournament featured four teams, India A, India B, India C and India D, made up of the best players from across India.
  • Matches were played using a 50 over format.

Manipur Claims 26th Senior Women’s National Football Championship title

Tags: Sports News

Manipur defeated Railways 2-1 on penalties in the final of 26th Senior Women's National Football Championship held at EMS Corporation Stadium, Kozhikode, Kerala. The league consisted of 32 teams for the 2021-22 season.

The women from the North ­East claimed the title 21 out of 26 times at the National senior football championship

Roshini was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper and captain Irom Prameshwori Devi the most valuable player

Jnanpith Award for 2020 and 2021 announced

Tags: Awards

  • It is the highest literary award in India and is given annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an Indian author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature".
  • It is given to Indian writers writing in any of the   22 Indian languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
  • The 56th Jnanpith award 2020 was conferred to Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan. He has written Surya Henu Nami Ahe Ei Nodiyedi, Gulapi Jamur Lagna, and Kobita. 
  • The 57th Jnanpith award 2021 was conferred on Konkani novelist Damodar Mauzo. His famous works are Karmelin, and Tsunami Simon, and short stories, such as Teresa’s Man and Other Stories from Goa,Ganthon.
  •  The Jnanpith Award was instituted in 1961 and the first person to get the award was G. Shankar Kurup for his Malayalam poetry collection Odakkuzhal in 1965.

Books and Authors

Tags: Books and Authors

1. At Home in the Universe

Author: Bala Krishna Madhur

The book is the autobiography of B K Madhur, a former Chief Executive Officer at DHFL Property Services Ltd, and one of the key personalities in establishing Dewan Housing. The book offers an inside view into the policy environment in the 1980s and 1990s in the Housing Finance Sector.


2. The Midway Battle: Modi’s Roller-Coaster Second Term

Author: Gautam Chintamani

Other popular works of Gautam Chintamani are:

  • Rajneeti: A Biography of Rajnath Singh
  • Dark Star: Loneliness of being Rajesh Khanna
  • Nouf: A Yogi in Saudi Arabia

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