DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: July 15, 2022

I2U2 Summit : UAE to develop integrated food parks across India

Tags: Popular International News

The United Arab Emirates on July 14 announced an investment of USD 2 billion to develop a series of integrated food parks across India.

Outcome of the Summit

• The decision was announced after the first virtual summit of I2U2 group leaders - Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

• The Summit was focussed on the food security crisis and clean energy.

• Private sectors from the US and Israel will be invited to lend their expertise and provide innovative solutions that contribute to the overall sustainability of the project.

• The Summit discussed innovative ways to ensure sustainable, more diverse food production and food delivery systems that can better manage the global food crisis.

• The I2U2 group will take forward a 300 MW hybrid renewable energy project in Gujarat with wind and solar capacity.

• This was the first summit of this group.

Significance 

• Integrated food parks will incorporate cutting-edge climate-smart technologies to conserve waste, fresh water and employ renewable energy sources in food.

• India will provide suitable land for the project and facilitate integration of farmers into food parks. 

• These investments will help in maximizing crop yields and combating food insecurity in South Asia and the Middle East.

What is the 'I2U2' group?

• The I2U2 is a group comprising India, Israel, the U.S., and the UAE, has been called the ‘West Asian Quad’. 

• The group is known as 'I2U2' with "I" standing for India and Israel and "U" for the US and the UAE.

• This view was expressed by U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan with U.S. President Joe Biden.

• The I2U2 grouping was conceptualized during the meeting of foreign ministers of four countries held on 18 October 2021.

Aims of I2U2 Group

• I2U2 aims to harness the vibrancy and entrepreneurial spirit of society to address some of the biggest challenges facing the world.

• It aims to encourage joint investment in six mutually recognized sectors such as water, energy, transport, space, health and food security.

• Appropriate use of private sector capital and expertise to help drive infrastructure modernization, low-carbon development pathways for industries, improve public health, and the development of critical emerging and green technologies.

India's first monkeypox case confirmed in Kerala

Tags: National News

A man from Kollam, Kerala, who returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been confirmed as the first case of monkeypox in India on July 14.

Important facts

• The person has been isolated for treatment at the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH). 

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this is the first time that cases of monkeypox are being reported in five WHO regions.

What Is Monkeypox?

• It is a viral zoonotic disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. 

• Monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus similar to smallpox.

• It has been identified as a smallpox-like disease in monkeys, hence it is called monkeypox.

• It was first observed in 1958, in monkeys in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and in humans in 1970.

• The disease outbreak in Nigeria in 2017 was the largest ever.

• The monkeypox virus mutates at a high rate but is treatable once symptoms appear.

Symptom of disease

• Fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, swollen lymph nodes and a skin rash or lesions.

• Infected people develop a rash resembling smallpox.

• In the early stages of the disease, monkeypox and smallpox can be differentiated because the monkeypox lymph gland enlarges.

Transmission of disease

• It spreads through close face to face, skin to skin and direct contact.

• The disease can be spread through contact with bodily fluids, sores on the skin or internal mucous surfaces, such as the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects.

Treatment and Vaccine

• There is no specific treatment or vaccine available for monkeypox infection.

• The anti-smallpox vaccine has been shown to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.

• A newer vaccine MVA-BN, developed for Smallpox was approved in 2019 for use in preventing Monkeypox but is not yet widely available.

BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting

Tags: International News

Union Labor and Employment Minister Bhupendra Yadav participated in the BRICS Labor and Employment Ministers meeting held under the Chinese presidency on 14 July.

Important facts

• With regard to the priority issues discussed in the meeting, the Minister highlighted the initiatives taken by India.

• The Minister informed that a Sector Council for Green Jobs in India has been set up to develop strategies and implement programs for skill development in the green sector.

• The minister explained the steps taken by India to provide relief to the workers during the pandemic.

• India has taken several initiatives to increase the number of days of assured employment under MGNREGA and to provide free ration.

• The government has provided loans to street vendors to help them restart their business under the PM Svanidhi Yojana during the pandemic.

• The meeting was attended by ministers from member countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Declaration of the meeting

• The need for promoting green jobs was recognized in the Declaration of the meeting.

• The Declaration recognized the need to promote green jobs for sustainable development, strengthen cooperation in skill development and protect workers' rights in new forms of employment.

• Discussions on three priority issues

1. Promoting green jobs for sustainable development, 

2. Developing skills for resilient recovery, 

3. Protecting Workers Right in New Forms of Employment.

About BRICS

• It is an acronym for the group of major emerging economies of the world – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

• In 2001, British economist Jim O'Neill coined the term BRIC.

• South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010.

Agnikul Cosmos opens India’s first private rocket engine factory in Chennai

Tags: Science and Technology

Space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos on 13 July inaugurated India's first-ever facility to manufacture 3D-printed rocket engines in Chennai.

Important facts

• Space tech startup Agnikul Cosmos on 13 July inaugurated India's first-ever facility to manufacture 3D-printed rocket engines in Chennai.

• It was inaugurated by N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and S. Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

•  On this occasion Pawan Goenka, chairman of Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) was also present.

• The facility will house world-class machinery, including a 400 mm x 400 mm x 400 mm metal 3D-printer from EOS, and several other machines that will enable end-to-end manufacturing of rocket engines under one roof.

• Agnikul had entered into an agreement with EOS in 2021 as the 3D printing partner for the engines.

Rocket Agnibaan 

• It is building India’s first private small satellite launch vehicle whose name is Agnibaan, a rocket that enables plug-and-play configuration and is capable of carrying up to 100 kg of payload to low Earth orbits. 

• This on-demand rocket can be completely customized to the needs of the customer at an affordable cost.

• Agnibaan will be launched in 2022. 

Agnikul Cosmos 

• Agnikul Cosmos is a group of enthusiasts, rocket scientists, engineers, programmers etc.

• It was founded in 2017 by Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM and S R Chakravarthy (from IIT Madras).

• Agnikul became the first Indian company to sign agreement with ISRO in December 2020.

Ministry of Defence sets up an Apex Committee for Performance and Efficiency Audit

Tags: Economy/Finance

The Ministry of Defence has set up an institutional mechanism consisting of an Apex Committee with the Defence Secretary as the Chairperson to conduct Performance and Efficiency Audit in various aspects of its activities on 15th July.

Members of the committee

• Vice Chiefs of the three Services, Secretary Defence (Finance), Chief of Integrated Staff Committee (CISC), Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), Director General (Acquisition) and other senior officials of Ministry of Defence and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Important facts

• This is a major change from the existing transaction-based compliance audit to an outcome-based performance/efficiency audit aimed at increasing overall efficiency.

• The broad areas that have been identified for conducting performance and efficiency audits include role and performance of Defense Capital Procurement, Provisioning, Logistics, Inventory Level, Asset Maintenance, Authority Holding Sealed Statement (AHSP) etc.

The website of the Ministry of Home Affairs tops the service portals of the Union Ministry

Tags: National News

The website of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been ranked first under the Portal of Central Ministries in the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment.

Important facts

• The Digital Police Portal of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) under the Central Mantralaya Services Portal has been ranked second in the assessment.

• This evaluation was done by evaluating service portals with the portal of their parent Ministry/Department.

• The government portals that were assessed were divided into two main categories - State/Union Territory/Central Ministry Portal and State/Union Territory/Central Ministry Service Portal.

Four parameters of assessment 

1. Accessibility  

2. Content availability  

3. Ease of Use and Information Security  

4. Privacy for Central Ministry Portals

National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment 

• The National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment was conducted in 2021 by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) in association with knowledge partners NASSCOM and KPMG.

• It is a periodic assessment aimed at improving the effectiveness of the States/UTs and the Central Government in the delivery of their online services to the citizens.

Govt issues standard SOP for e-commerce exports of jewellery

Tags: Economy/Finance

The Finance Ministry on 15 July has issued a simplified regulatory framework standard operating procedure (SOP) for e-commerce exports of jewellery through courier mode. 

Important facts

• The Framework takes into account the need for uniformity of customs proceedings which brings certainty to the trade.

• It also addresses a unique requirement of the e-commerce eco-system for re-import up to the prescribed limit in certain cases.

• The simplified regulatory framework in the form of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs.

• The SOP details the operational, movement and procedural aspects of exports based on electronic declarations through international courier terminals.

• The first phase has been started with exports through Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai.

World Youth Skills Day

Tags: Important Days

World Youth Skills Day is celebrated across the world on 15 July every year.

Important facts

• It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in the year 2014.

• This resolution was initiated by Sri Lanka with the help of G77 (Group of 77 countries) and China to highlight the importance of youth skill development at the global level.

• The purpose of this day is to provide the youth of the world with the necessary skills for employment, work and entrepreneurship.

• The theme for the year 2022 is "Learning and Skills for Life, Work and Sustainable Development".

Steps taken by India for Youth Skills

• Industrial Training Centres (ITIs)- Conceived in the year 1950, Industrial Training Centres (ITIs) aim to expand and modernise the existing training ecosystem in India.

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)- This scheme launched in the year 2015 aims at providing free skill training to the youth of India.

• National Career Service (NCS) Project- 'Free Online Career Skill Training' was started in the year 2015 for the registered candidates seeking employment under the National Career Service Project.

• Self-reliant Skilled Employer-Employer Mapping i.e. 'Aseem' (ASEEM)- This portal launched in the year 2020 helps skilled people find sustainable livelihood opportunities.

• Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills or ‘SHREYAS’ – This scheme was started with the objective of providing industry apprenticeship opportunities to general graduates of the year 2019 session through National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).

• Pradhan Mantri Yuva Yojana (Youth Entrepreneurship Development Campaign) – The program launched in the year 2016 aims at creating an enabling ecosystem for entrepreneurship development through entrepreneurship education and training; Advocating for entrepreneurial support networks and ensuring easy access and promoting social enterprises for inclusive growth.

Tripura government launched ‘Earn with Learn’ Scheme

Tags: State News

The Tripura government has launched a new scheme named 'Earn With Learn' to bring back the students who have dropped out of schools after the outbreak of Covid-19.

Important facts

• This scheme is a part of 'Vidyalaya Chalo Abhiyan' (Let's go to school).

• It has been decided to restart the Vidyalaya Chalo Abhiyan to bring back around 9,000 students in the age group of six to 14 years from 4,300 schools across the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The 'Earn With Learn' initiative of Tripura Education Department will involve third year students of all colleges in conducting surveys to find out dropouts in all classes.

• Rs 500 will be given to each volunteer if they enroll a dropout student in the same school.

• Anganwadi teachers will help volunteers to make the program a success

About Tripura

• Tripura joined the Republic of India in 1956 and got statehood in 1972.

• Capital - Agartala

• Governor - Satyadev Narayan Arya

• Chief Minister - Manik Saha (11th)

• State Bird - Green Imperial Pigeon (Ducula ania)

• State Tree - Agar (Aquilaria malaccensis)

• State Flower - Nageshwar (Mesua Ferrea)

• Boundaries - Bangladesh, Mizoram and Assam

• Connected to the rest of India - by NH-44 which passes through Assam, Meghalaya, North Bengal, Kolkata and other parts of India.

• Number of Districts - 08

"Cost of Living Crisis in Developing Countries" report

Tags: International News

On July 14, 2022, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) published its "Cost of Living Crisis in Developing Countries" report.

About the report

• Title - Addressing the crisis of cost of living in developing countries: Poverty and vulnerability estimates and policy responses.

Objectives of the report

• It estimates the potential impacts of food and energy inflation on global poverty and vulnerability.

• According to this report, the global livelihood crisis is pushing another 71 million people into extreme poverty in the world's poorest countries.

• An analysis of more than 159 developing countries showed that rising prices of key commodities in 2022 are already troubling parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Balkans.

• The report warns that the cost of living crisis is pushing millions of people into poverty and hunger at an alarming pace.

UNDP recommendation

• According to the UNDP, targeted cash transfers by governments will prove to be more "equitable and cost-effective" than broad subsidies on energy and food prices.

• UNDP has called for corresponding action. It has asked to provide direct cash transfer to vulnerable people. It also asked wealthy nations to further expand the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), which they set out to help poor countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About United Nations Development Program (UNDP) 

• UNDP is a United Nations body, which helps countries to eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human development.

• It is headquartered in New York City, and has offices in 170 countries.

• UNDP is the largest development aid agency of the United Nations.

IIT Madras tops ministry of education's India Rankings 2022

Tags: National News

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras has secured the first position in the 2022 India Ranking of the best higher education institutions in the country released by the Ministry of Education.

Important facts

• Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and IIT, Bombay have secured the second and third positions respectively.

• This ranking is prepared by the Ministry of Education by dividing the educational institutions across the country into different categories.

• Under this overall university, college, engineering, management, pharmacy, law, medicine, architecture, dentistry and research category come.

• Best University - Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

• It is followed by JNU and Jamia Millia Islamia at the second and third positions respectively.

• Best Management Institute - IIM Ahmedabad

• IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta have secured the second and third positions respectively.

• Best Engineering College - IIT Madras

• IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay have secured the second and third positions respectively.

• Best College - Miranda House, Delhi

• The Hindu College of Delhi is second and the Presidency College of Chennai is at the third position.

• Best Medical College - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

• Best Dental College - Savita Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai

• Best Pharmacy Institute - Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi

• Best Architectural Institute - Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

• Best Law Institute - National Law School of India University, Bangalore

Overall Top 5 Institutes

• Indian Institute of Technology Madras

• Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

• Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

• Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

• Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur