DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Nov. 10, 2021

Pakistan urges India to reopen Kartarpur Corridor for pilgrims:

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Why in the news?

Recently, Pakistan urged India to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor from its side and allow Sikh pilgrims to visit the holy site for the upcoming Guru Nanak Dev's birthday celebrations.

• India "is yet to open the corridor from its side and allow pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib,”
• India and around the world devotees are excited” for the upcoming Guru Nanak Dev’s Birthday celebrations from 17-26 November.

Kartarpur Corridor

• The Kartarpur corridor connects the Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district in India’s Punjab province.
• The Kartarpur Corridor was inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the eve of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on November 9, 2019.
• The 4 km-long Kartarpur Corridor provides visa free access to Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev lived and died at this gurdwara at the start of the 16th century.

Guru Nanak:

• Born in 1469 in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan
• He firmly repudiated practices of religions around him like sacrifices, ritual baths, idol worship, austerities, and scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims.
• Guru Nanak opined that moral principles have great value not just in thinking but also in practical orientation in society. Therefore, social philosophy of Guru Nanak was primarily based on moral philosophy with support of religious outlook.
• He set up rules for congregational worship (sangat) involving collective recitation.
• He appointed Angad to succeed him as the Guru.
• Kartarpur gurudwara is the revered shrine about 4km across the border where Guru Nanak Dev spent the last 18 years of his life.
• Fifth Guru Arjandev Ji compiled Guru Nanak, His successor, and other religious poets teaching in Adi Granth Sahib.

2020 Padma Awards:

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Why in the news?

The President of India presented the Padma awards to 119 recipients for the year 2020 at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Key highlights:

• The list comprises seven Padma Vibhushans, 10 Padma Bhushans and 102 Padma Shri awards.
• Of the total awardees, 29 were women and one was transgender, while 16 were posthumous awardees.
• Actor Kangana Ranaut and Singer Adnan Sami also received Padma Shri.
• Among the personalities awarded the Padma Vibhushan were BJP stalwarts Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, former Union minister George Fernandes (all posthumously), and Hindustani classical singer Pandit Chhannulal Mishra.
• President Ram Nath Kovind presented Padma Bhushan award to Olympian badminton player PV Sindhu and Captain of the women's hockey team Rani Rampal was conferred the Padma Shri award 2020.
• Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, former head scientist of ICMR has received the Padma Shri Award 2020.
•   Padma Shri award was also given to Air Marshal Dr Padma Bandopadhyay in the field of medicine.

About:

• The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honors of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.

Note: Except 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.

• Its objective is to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
• The Awards are given in three categories:

1. Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), 
2. Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) 
3. Padma Shri (distinguished service).

• The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. 
• The nomination process is open to the public. Even self-nomination can be made.

HISTORY:

• The Government of India instituted two civilian awards-Bharat Ratna & Padma Vibhushan in 1954. The latter had three classes namely Pahela Varg, Dusra Varg and Tisra Varg. These were later renamed as Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri vide Presidential Notification issued on January 8, 1955.

Nomination process:

• All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
• The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members.

India & U.S hold 11th Defense Technology & Trade Initiative Group meeting virtually

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Why in the news?

The 11th Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) Group meeting between India and the United States (US) was held virtually.  

The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Raj Kumar from Ministry of Defense, Government of India and PTDO (Performing the Duties of) Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment from US Department of DefenseMr Gregory Kausner.

 What is DTTI Group? 

• The aim of the DTTI Group is to bring sustained leadership focus to the bilateral defense trade relationship and create opportunities for co-production and co-development of defense equipment. Four Joint Working Groups focused on land, naval, air and aircraft carrier technologies have been established under DTTI to promote mutually agreed projects within their domains.
• The DTTI Group meetings are normally held twice a year, alternating between India and the US.

Key highlights of 11th DTTI:

• Co-chairs agree on revised Statement of Intent to strengthen dialogue on defense technology cooperation
• First Project Agreement for Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle under Joint Working Group Air Systems signed since last meeting
• Defense Industry Collaboration ForumVirtual Expo conducted to further encourage development of niche technologies
• DTTI Group aims to create opportunities for co-production &co-development of defense equipment
• The co-chairs were also pleased to note that since the last DTTI Group meeting in September 2020, the first Project Agreement for Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle under the Joint Working Group Air Systems was signed which a major accomplishment is for DTTI.  

10th DTTI group meeting:

India and the United States had signed a statement of intent to strengthen the dialogue on defense technology cooperation during the 10th Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) virtual group meeting.

• During the statement the co-chaired had talked about creating opportunities for co-production and co-development of military equipment.
• It was signed by Ellen Lord, US under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, and Raj Kumar, Secretary, Defense Production, Ministry of Defense.

Inauguration of Global Drug Policy Index

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Why in the news?

The inaugural Global Drug Policy Index was released by the Harm Reduction Consortium.

WHAT'S THIS INDEX?

• It is a data-driven global analysis of drug policies and their implementation.
• It is composed of 75 indicators running across five broad dimensions of drug policy: 

1. Criminal justice
2. Extreme responses,
3. Health and harm reduction
4.  Access to internationally controlled medicines
5.  Development.

• It is a project of the Harm Reduction Consortium.

 The partners are included in this Index:

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  • The European Network of People Who Use Drugs (EuroNPUD).
  • The Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA).
  • The Eurasian Network of People who Use Drugs (ENPUD)
  • The Global Drug Policy Observatory (GDPO).
  • The International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC),
  • The West African Drug Policy Network (WADPN).The Women and Harm Reduction International Network (WHRIN).

Key points:

• Norway, New Zealand, Portugal, the UK and Australia as the five leading countries on humane and health-driven drug policies.
• The five lowest-ranking countries are Brazil, Uganda, Indonesia, Kenya, and Mexico.
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India rankings:

• 
  India’s rank is 18 out of 30 countries.
• India has an overall score of 46/100.
•  On the criteria of use of extreme sentencing and responses, it has a score of 63/100,
• On health and harm reduction, 49/100.
• On proportionality of criminal justice response, 38/100.On availability and access of internationally controlled substances for the relief of pain and suffering, 33 /100.

World Science Day for Peace and Development 2021:

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Why in the news?

World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated every year on November 10 every year.

Significances:

• The day aims to underscore the role scientists play in broadening our understanding of our planet
• The day is celebrated to highlight the significant role of science in society and the urgent need to engage the public in debates on scientific issues.

Key points:

• This year marks the 20th edition of World Science Day for Peace and Development.
• This year World Science Day for Peace and Development will focus on climate change more than anything else.
• World Science Day was demonstrated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2001.
•  It was celebrated for the first time in 2002.
• Theme of the year:  “Building Climate-Ready Communities”

World Science Day for Peace and Development 2021: Significance

• To strengthen awareness about the role of science for peaceful and sustainable societies.
• To promote national and international solidarity for shared science between countries.
• To draw attention to the challenges faced by science in raising support for the scientific endeavor.
• To make new national and international commitments to the use of science that will benefit societies.
• The day also provides an opportunity to show the general public the importance of science in their lives and to engage them in various discussions.

Additional Information:

What is UNESCO?

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was created on 16 November 1945
• UNESCO has 195 Members and 8 Associate Members and is governed by the General Conference and the Executive Board.

Objectives:

UNESCO's mission is to contribute to the building of a culture of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.