DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Oct. 21, 2022

India successfully test nuclear capable Agni prime missile

Tags: Defence

India has successfully tested its new generation nuclear capable Agni Prime’ or Agni P ballistic missile from the coast of Odisha on 21 October 2022. It was the third test of the missile which is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The first test was in June last year and the second test was in December 2021. 

Agni Prime is a two-stage canisterised missile with a maximum range of 2,000 km. It is a two stage missile that can be launched from rail or road, be stored for longer periods 

DRDO Chairman: Dr Samir Kamat 

Jaxay Shah appointed as the new Chairman of ‘Quality Council of India’ for 3 years

Tags: Person in news

Jaxay Shah, former Chairman of CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India) and founder Chairman of Savvy Group has been appointed as the Chairman of Quality Council of India (QCI) for a period of three years effective from 21st October 2022. 

Quality Council of India (QCI) was set up as an autonomous body in 1997 by the government of India with Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). 

The Quality Council of India (QCI) has been set up to create a mechanism for independent third party evaluation of products, services and processes. 

QCI is mandated to promote quality in the country through national accreditation of testing, inspection and certification bodies which is internationally recognised, driving third-party assessments across sectors.

Headquarters: New Delhi 

PM Modi visits last Indian village along Indo -Tibetan border Mana to participate in the ‘Saras Mela’

Tags: place in news Person in news State News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is visiting Uttarakhand attended the 'Saras Mela' in Mana village of Chamoli district, on 21 October, 2022. 

Mana Village on the banks of river Saraswati is also known as the last Indian village along the India-Tibetan border in Uttarakhand is just 3 kms from Badrinath town.

The Saras Mela is normally organized by the Union Ministry of Rural Development all over India with a focus on a particular state. In the mela products made by the women Self Help Groups (SHG) are displayed and cultural activities are also held.

However this Saras Mela was organised at the local level with the participation of the local women SHGs. PM Modi also interacted with the local artisans and visited the stalls in the Mela. 

He laid the foundation stone for road widening projects worth around Rs 1,000 crore.

The two road widening projects - from Mana to Mana Pass (NH07) and from Joshimath to Malari (NH107B), will not only provide last-mile all-weather road connectivity to the border areas but are also of strategic significance for the defence forces. 

The Prime Minister also visited Badrinath Temple accompanied by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami and the Governor of Uttarakhand, Retd. Gen Gurmit Singh.

Kedarnath 

Before visiting the Badrinath temple PM Modi visited Kedarnath temple in Rudraprayag which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.  

Ropeway Projects 

The Prime Minister laid the foundation of two ropeway projects in the state to be built at the cost of Rs. 2430 crore.

In Kedarnath he laid the foundation stone of the Kedarnath Ropeway Project. The ropeway in Kedarnath will be around 9.7 Km long and will connect Gaurikund to Kedarnath. 

The Hemkund ropeway project in Chamoli district will connect Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib. It will be around 12.4 Km long and will reduce the travel time from more than a day to only about 45 minutes. This ropeway will also connect Ghangaria, which is the gateway to Valley of Flowers National Park in Chamoli.

Uttarakhand 

Uttarakhand was formed on 9th November 2000 as the 27th State of India. It was formed by carving out the hilly areas of Uttar Pradesh.

It shares international boundaries with China (Tibet) in the north and Nepal in the east. On its north-west lies Himachal Pradesh, while on the south is Uttar Pradesh.

 The state is also famous as God’s Land or Dev Bhoomi.

It has a total of 13 districts.

Official state symbols 

• State animal – Musk Deer
• State flower – Brahma Kamal
• State tree – Buransh (Rhododendron)
• State Bird – Monal
• State Instrument – Dhol

SEBI approves government's proposal to convert Vodafone Idea telecom debt into equity

Tags: Economy/Finance

The capital market regulator Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the central government’s proposal to convert around $1.92 billion telecom dues of Vodafone Idea to equity shares.

In September 2021 the government of India announced a relief package for the telecom sector so that they can pay back the due they owe to the government of India after a Supreme Court judgement of 2019. 

Under the package the telecom companies, Reliance Industries' Jio, Bharti Airtel  and Vodafone Idea were given an option to convert their dues into equity shares and issue it to the Government of India. Jio and Airtel opted to pay back the dues to the government but Vodafone opted to convert its dues into equity shares.

The package was primarily for Vodafone Idea which was on the verge of bankruptcy and the government did not want the telecom sector to be dominated by two companies.

Under the deal the government stake in Vodafone Idea will be around 35.8% of the total outstanding shares of the Vodafone-Idea Company, while the promoters Vodafone and Aditya Birla Group would hold around 28.5% and around 17.8% stake in the company, respectively.

The government intends to sell the share of the company when Vodafone Idea becomes profitable.

Vodafone Idea 

It is a joint venture of Vodafone (United Kingdom) and Aditya Birla Group.

It has the third largest mobile telecommunication network in India. 

Headquarters: Gandhinagar, Gujarat 

Corporate Headquarters: Mumbai 

Chairman: Ravinder Takkar

Chief Executive Officer: Akshay Moondra  

World Bank to launch ‘Business climate sturdy’ which will replace the discontinued Ease of Doing Business report

Tags: Economy/Finance International News

The World Bank has said that it will launch a new system for assessing the business and investment climate in economies worldwide following the discontinuation of the Ease of Doing Business report.  The report titled Business Enabling Environment” (BEE) is expected to be launched in April 2024.

The Ease of Doing Business report which was first published by the World Bank in 2003 titled “Doing Business” report. The report ranked the country on their business friendly environment by about 12 indicators.

The report which was annually published by the World Bank was discontinued in September 2021 after a data rigging scandal came to light.

An internal audit of the World Bank revealed data irregularities in reports on China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan in the 2018 and 2020 editions. 

Subsequently, the Bank decided to come out with a new system that would be far more robust and credible than the earlier one. Hence it will come out with “Business Enabling Environment’.

India has performed very well on the Ease of Doing Business Index. It improved by 79 ranks to record 63rd positions in 2019 , according to the last Bank’s Doing Business report 2020. 

 Other Important World Bank reports 

• World Development Report 
• Global Economic Prospect 

President of World Bank: David Malpass

Global Leaders Commit US$ 2.6 Billion At World Health Summit To End Polio

Tags: Summits National News

Global leaders announced USD 2.6 billion funding for the 'Global Polio Eradication Initiative' (GPEI) 2022-2026 strategy to eradicate polio at the World Health Summit in Berlin.

World Health Summit (WHS)

• It is an international health conference.

• It aims to strengthen exchanges, promote innovative solutions to health challenges, establish global health as a major political issue, and promote dialogue on global health in the spirit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

What is Polio?

• Polio is a potentially fatal viral infectious disease that affects the nervous system.

• There are three types of polio virus-

1. Wild Polio Virus 1 (WPV1)

2. Wild Polio Virus 2 (WPV2)

3. Wild Polio Virus 3 (WPV3)

• All three types are similar depending on the symptoms and can cause paralysis and death.

• The virus spreads from person to person mainly through the 'faecal-oral route' or through contaminated water or food.

CCI fines Google Rs 1337.76 crore for abusing its dominance in the Smartphone Android platform

Tags: Economy/Finance

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a Rs 1,337.76 crore fine on Google, owned by Alphabet company for abusing its dominant position in the Android mobile device market. 

The antitrust regulator also barred Google from conducting unfair business practices, including offering incentives to smartphone makers for exclusively carrying its search services.

Background to the case 

In May 2019 there was a complaint against Google that it used its dominant position as the supplier of the Android operating system to stifle competition and give it undue advantage.

Around 96% of the smartphones in India are run on Android OS as of September, while 4.09% run on Apple’s iOS.

Google sign an agreement with the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of smartphones and tablets called Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA). Under this agreement the OEM has to pre-install entire Google Mobile Suite like its search engine, YouTube etc. and place it prominently on their device. 

This gave Google an unfair advantage to Google as compared to its competitor. 

The CCI found Google guilty of abusing its dominant position to illegally hurt competitors in India.

The Indian case is similar to one faced by Google in Europe, where regulators imposed a $5 billion fine on the company for forcing manufacturers to pre-install its apps on Android devices.

Google 

It was formed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998.  In 2015, Google was reorganized as a wholly owned subsidiary of Alphabet Company.

It is an American multinational technology company that focuses on search engine technology, online advertising, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics.

Chief Executive Officer:  Sundar Pichai

 Global Headquarters: California, United States of America 

Google India Headquarters: Hyderabad 

China’s total trade surplus with India ‘surpasses $1 trillion’

Tags: Economy/Finance International Relations

Since the boom in bilateral trade in the early 2000s, China has taken advantage of a favourable trade balance with India that now exceeds $1 trillion.

India-China bilateral trade

• Bilateral annual trade between India and China crossed $100 billion for the first time in 2021 to reach $125.6 billion, of which India's imports were $97.5 billion.

Important facts

• Trade ties between both countries began to boom in the early 2000s.

• This was largely driven by the import of Chinese machinery and other equipment by India.

• It increased from $3 billion in 2000 to $42 billion in 2008 and China became India's largest trading partner in 2008.

• One-third of the machinery and about two-fifths of organic chemicals that India buys from the world come from China.

• Automotive parts and fertilizers are other items where China accounts for more than 25 per cent of India's imports.

• India procures nearly 90 percent of the parts for some mobile phones from China.

India’s export to China

• China is also a major partner of India in terms of export market.

• China is the third largest destination for Indian shipments.

• According to the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), India's share in China's total exports is only a little over two per cent.

World Iodine Deficiency Day

Tags: Important Days

Global Iodine Deficiency Disorder Prevention Day (IDD) or World Iodine Deficiency Day is observed every year on 21 October.

Important facts

• The theme of World Iodine Deficiency Day, 2022 is ‘Thyroid and Communication’.

• The idea of the theme is to spread awareness of iodine and its importance. 

• On this occasion, many activities are organised to create awareness among the general public regarding the prevention of iodine deficiency disorders.

• On this occasion, World Iodine Deficiency Control Week will be celebrated from 21-27 October by the Health Department across the country.

Iodine and its importance

• Iodine is a mineral used by the body to regulate metabolism.

• It is an element that is needed for the production of thyroid hormone.

• The body does not make iodine, so it is an essential part of our diet.

• It also helps control bone growth and brain development in children.

• It is found in seafood, iodized salt, dairy products and some fruits and vegetables.

• Globally, 2 billion people are at risk of iodine deficiency diseases.

• In 1992, iodized salt was made mandatory for human consumption in India.

Police Commemoration Day

Tags: Important Days

Every year in India, October 21 is observed as Police Commemoration Day. 

Important facts

• This day is celebrated to remember and honour the policemen who laid down their lives while fulfilling their responsibilities.

• On this day events are organised to pay tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in Ladakh on the Indo-China border.

• In 1959, there was a lot of tension between the borders of India and China.

• On 21 October 1959, China opened fire on 20 soldiers in Ladakh, out of which 10 Indian soldiers were killed.

• The last rites of these policemen took place in eastern Ladakh. Since then October 21 is celebrated as Police Commemoration Day.

• On the occasion of Police Commemoration Day in the year 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first National Police Memorial in New Delhi.

Tamil Nadu forms panel for vulture conservation

Tags: State News

The Tamil Nadu government has set up a state-level committee for conservation vultures on 19 October, 2022.

Important facts

• The 10-member committee will be headed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden.

• The members include representatives of NGOs.

• The committee's tenure is two years, and it will take steps to create safe zones for conservation, monitoring and mapping of vulture populations across the state, and existing vulture sites.

• This committee will work to eliminate the use of toxic veterinary drugs, the main cause of death of vultures.

Four species of vultures in Tamil Nadu 

• Four species of vultures are found in Tamil Nadu -

1. White-tailed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis),

2. Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus),

3. Asian king vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) and

4. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron perknopterus)

About Vultures

• Vultures are carcass eaters and play an important role in natural mechanisms of infection control.

• It keeps the ecosystem clean and healthy.

• There are 9 species of vultures found in India.

• Most of these 9 species are in danger of extinction.

• Bearded, long-billed, slender-billed, white-backed vultures are protected in Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

• The rest are protected under 'Schedule IV'.

• According to the IUCN Red List, out of 9 species of vultures in India, 4 species are critically endangered, 1 species is endangered, 3 are threatened and 1 is least threatened.

Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby declares state of emergency

Tags: International News

The President of the Central African country, Chad, Mahamat Idriss Deby, declared a state of emergency on October 19, 2022 as the country struggles to deal with extraordinary floods that have affected millions of people.

Important facts

• Heavy floods in the Central African country are affecting 636 localities in 18 of its 23 regions. 

• Thousands of people are migrating due to floods and thousands of hectares of cultivable land are getting destroyed.

• The government has put in place a response plan to provide shelter, food and sanitation.

• Chad's two main rivers, the Chari and the Logon, which flow through its southern provinces, are at their peak.

About Chad

• President - Mahamat Idriss Déby  

• Prime Minister - Albert Pahimi Padacké

• Capital - N’Djamena

• According to the United Nations Human Development Index, Chad is the third poorest country on the planet.

• The United Nations has said that some 5.5 million people in the country are in need of emergency humanitarian aid.

• According to the World Bank, 42 percent of Chad's 16 million population live in poverty.

• 
  

NSIC Signs MoU with Phillips Machine Tools India Pvt Ltd

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

A MoU signed between the National Small Industries Corporation Ltd (NSIC) and Phillips Machine Tools India Pvt Ltd for Skill Development Training in Additive Technologies on October 18, 2022 in New Delhi.

Important facts

• B B Swain, Secretary (MSME), Gaurang Dixit, CMD, NSIC and Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary (SME) were also present on the occasion. 

• The MoU was signed by Navin Chopra, CGM-SG (Tech), NSIC.

• This MoU will be a significant step for preparing skilled manpower in additive technologies which is the future of manufacturing.

National Small Industries Corporation 

• It is an ISO certified Government of India Enterprise under Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). 

• NSIC is working to promote, assist and promote the development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the country.

• NSIC works through a countrywide network of offices and technical centres in the country.

Chandrayaan-3 launch in June next year : ISRO chairman

Tags: Science and Technology

The Indian Space Research Organisation is planning to launch Chandrayaan-3, its third mission to the Moon, in June next year.

Important facts

• It has a more robust lunar rover on board which is vital for future inter-planetary explorations.

• The space agency has also planned the first test flight of the 'abort mission' for the country's first manned spacecraft Gaganyaan early next year.

• Chandrayaan-3 (C-3) launch will be in June next year onboard the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3).

• ISRO plans to send Indian astronauts into orbit by the end of 2024 after carrying out abort missions and unmanned test flights.

• India's first attempt to land a rover on the Moon had failed after the Vikram lander on the Chandrayaan-2 mission crashed on the lunar surface in September 2019.

ISRO’s Moon Exploration Mission 

• Chandrayaan 1 

• Chandrayaan-2 

• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently announced India's third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, which will consist of a lander and a rover.

About ISRO 

• It is India's leading space exploration agency, headquartered in Bangalore.

• ISRO was formed in the year 1969 with a view to develop and exploit space technology while pursuing planetary exploration and space science research.

• The first Indian satellite Aryabhata was built by ISRO which was launched on 19 April 1975 with the help of the Soviet Union.

• Chairman - S Somnath

HDFC gets best housing finance company award under the PMAY-CLSS scheme

Tags: Economy/Finance Awards

India's leading housing finance company HDFC Ltd has been awarded as the best performing housing finance company under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) of the government's flagship scheme - Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) at the Indian Urban Housing Conclave 2022in Rajkot, Gujarat. 

Union Minister for  Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh  Puri,  conferred the award on Sanjay Joshi, Senior General Manager and Head CLSS and Affordable Housing, HDFC Ltd. 

Since the launch of the  subsidy scheme under the PMAY in June 2016, HDFC  has provided loans  worth Rs 67,000 crore  to over 3.13  lakh customers under the scheme . 

This is the third time that HDFC has been given this award .

In July 2018, HDFC was awarded as the best performing primary lending institution in the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Low-Income Group (LIG) segment .

In March 2019, HDFC was awarded the 'Best Private Sector Financial Institution' for PMAY-CLSS at the PMAY- Affordable Housing Awards 2019.

HDFC Limited was set up as NBFC (Non-Banking Finance Company) in 1977. It is the promoter of India's largest private sector bank HDFC Bank .

HDFC Ltd is based in Mumbai . 

Chairman of the HDFC is Deepak Parekh.