DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Aug. 23, 2022

Centre signs $96.3 mn loan with ADB to improve water supply in Himachal

Tags: State News

The Asian Development Bank and the Indian Government on 22 August signed a 96.3 million dollar (about Rs 769 crore) loan agreement to provide safe drinking water and improve water supply and sanitation services in Himachal Pradesh.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• This project is in line with the objectives of Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide piped water to all rural households by 2024.

• This loan has been given by ADB under the Himachal Pradesh Rural Drinking Water Improvement and Livelihood Project.

• More than 90 percent of the rural population of the Himachal Pradesh has access to drinking water, but the water supply infrastructure is old and in a dilapidated condition, resulting in poor quality of service.

• Under this ADB project, 75,800 households in Himachal Pradesh will be connected to this service and 370,000 residents in ten districts will get uninterrupted supply of clean drinking water.

• Under the project, water supply infrastructure will be improved and institutional capacity will be strengthened in Himachal Pradesh.

• In this way safe, sustainable and inclusive rural water supply and sanitation services will be ensured.

Aims of the project :

• The project aims to build 48 groundwater wells, 80 surface water facilities, 109 water treatment plants, 117 pumping stations and 3,000 km of water distribution pipelines.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) :

• It is a regional development bank established on 19th December 1966.

• The ADB currently consists of 68 members, 49 of whom are from Asia and the Pacific and 19 from outside.

• It envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient and sustainable Asia and Pacific region.

• It seeks to eradicate extreme poverty in the region.

• It assists its members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants and equity investments to promote social and economic development.

• Its headquartered in Manila, Philippines.

India handed over 21,000 tonnes of urea to crisis-hit Sri Lanka

Tags: International Relations International News

India on 22 August handed over 21,000 tonnes of chemical fertiliser to the crisis-ridden neighbour Sri Lanka.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• This has been done under a special assistance program that will help farmers in Sri Lanka and help strengthen bilateral cooperation for food security,

• This is India's second such aid to the beleaguered island nation in recent months.

• In May 2022, India had assured to supply 65,000 metric tonnes of urea to Sri Lanka immediately to avoid any disruption in the current Yala farming season in Sri Lanka.

• Yala is the paddy cultivation season in Sri Lanka which lasts between May and August.

Ban of Fertiliser in Sri Lanka : 

• To move towards a green economy, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last year decided to ban imports of chemical fertilizers, causing a food shortage that has reduced crop yields by 50%.

• This decision of the government badly affected the food production.

• As a result, the President of Sri Lanka declared an economic emergency to curb rising food prices.

India's support to Srilanka :

• India has pledged about $4 billion in loans, lines of credit and credit swaps to the debt-ridden Sri Lanka from January this year.

• Sri Lanka's annual fertilizer imports cost is USD 400 million.

• India has provided financial assistance of about USD 3.5 billion to help safeguard Sri Lanka's food, health and energy security by supplying food, medicines, fuel, kerosene and other essential commodities.

• In addition, India has recently supplied around 40,000 tonnes of rice under the extended USD 1 billion line of credit.

India nominates GARBA to be inscribed on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list

Tags: National National News

India has nominated the dance form Garba to be inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• After including 'Durga Puja' in UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage last year, India has now nominated 'Garba' dance for 2022.

• India was selected by UNESCO in July 2022 to serve on the Specialized Intergovernmental Committee on the 2003 Convention for the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

• India received 110 votes from 155 state parties making the selection final.

Garba Dance :

• It is a type of Indian dance usually performed on festivals and other special occasions in the state of Gujarat, India.

• Traditionally this nine day Hindu festival is performed during Navratri.

• It is a dance performed by women around it by filling an earthen pot, called a garbo, with water.

• A betel nut and silver coin are kept inside the pot, which is called Kumbh. A coconut is placed on top of it.

• The dancing women move round the pot and a singer and a dholak or tabla player give the music.

• 'Garba' is born according to a lamp, which is called Garbhadeep, which means the lamp placed inside the pot.

India's 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' recognized by UNESCO :

• (1) Tradition of Vedic chanting (3) Ramlila, traditional performance of Ramayana (3) Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre (4) Ramman, religious festivals and rituals of the Garhwal Himalayas, India (5) Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala (6) Kalbelia Folk Songs and Dances of Rajasthan (7) Chhau Dance (8) Buddhist Chanting of Ladakh: Recitation of Sacred Buddhist Scriptures in the Ladakh Region of the Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir, India (9) Sankirtana, Traditional Singing, Nagade of Manipur and dance (10) Brass and copper utensils made by Thathers of Punjab (11) Yoga (12) Navroz, (13) Kumbh Mela (14) Durga Puja, Kolkata.

• UNESCO was established in the year 1945 to develop the "intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind" in the form of lasting peacekeeping.

• UNESCO officially recognizes sites of cultural and natural importance as World Heritage.

• India has a total of 40 Tangible Heritage Heritage Sites (31 Cultural, 8 Natural and 1 Mixed) and 14 Intangible Cultural Heritages recognized by UNESCO.

India, Iran sign MoU for smooth movement of seafarers

Tags:

India and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 22 August to facilitate the movement of seafarers between the two countries.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• The purpose of signing the MoU is to facilitate the movement of seafarers from both the countries.

• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, Waterways and AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal is on a four-day visit to Iran to review the progress of development of Shaheed Behesti Terminal at Chabahar Port.

• The MoU has been signed as per the provisions of International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch Keeping for Seafarers (1978).

• Sonowal also commissioned six mobile harbour cranes for the Indian Ports Global Chabahar Free Trade Zone (IPGCFTZ).

The role of Chabahar port in trade :

• Sonowal reiterated the importance of bilateral relations and stressed the potential of Chabahar Port to act as a fast-paced and economical trade route between Central Asia and South Asia.

• The development of Chabahar port will increase trade for each other country.

• Chabahar Port is located in the Gulf of Oman in southeastern Iran.

• It is considered a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with Central Asian countries.

FTX Crypto Cup - R Pragyananand beat Magnus Carlsen in the final round but loses to the top prize

Tags: Sports Sports News

Indian chess player R Pragyanand defeated world number one Magnus Carlsen for the third time in the final round of the FTX Crypto Cup held in Miami, USA on 22 August.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• 17-year-old chess player Pragyanand had earlier defeated Magnus Carlsen two times and now he has created history by defeating Magnus for the third time.

• Pragyananand beat World No. 1, Magnus Carlsen 4-2 in the final round of the FTX Crypto Cup and won three consecutive games, including two in the blitz tie-break.

• However, Pragyanand finished second in the final standings of the tournament.

• Despite losing to Pragyanandan, Norway's Carlsen finished first in the tournament's final standings with 16 match points, while India's Chess Grandmaster Pragyanananda finished second with 15 match points and Alireja Firoza third with 15 match point.

• He also played a key role in the India 'B' team that won the bronze medal at the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai recently.

Final placings :

• 1. Magnus Carlsen 16 match points 
• 2. R Praggnanandhaa 15 match points 
• 3. Alireza Firouzja 15 match points
• 4. Liem Le 12 match points 
• 5. Jan-Krzystof Duda 11 match points 

World Water Week - 2022

Tags: Important Days International News

World Water Week - 2022 is being held in Stockholm, Sweden from 23 August to 1 September.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• Theme of World Water Week 2022 - “Seeing the unseen: The value of water”.

• The event has been organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).

• The theme of World Water Week 2022 is covered under three main approaches -

1. The value of water for people and sustainable development

2. the value of water for nature and climate change

3. the financial and economic value of water

• The event will provide many opportunities for people around the world to unite, promote ideas, innovate and discuss the future.

• Around 300 sessions will be organised under World Water Week on water related topics including food security, health, agriculture, technology, biodiversity, climate change etc.

• World Water Week will attract top scientists, UN experts, local community groups, entrepreneurs, top politicians, students, CEOs and many more.

• This will help in achieving reforms towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Tomato flu spreading in India - Lancet warns

Tags: Science and Technology

Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing monkeypox, the Lancet has warned India about a new infectious disease, Tomato Flu or Tomato Fever.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• It was first identified in the Kollam district of Kerala on May 6, 2022.

• On July 26 in local government hospitals, more than 82 children under the age of 5 have been confirmed to be infected with the disease.

• This endemic viral disease has put the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on alert.

• In addition, 26 children (1-9 years of age) have been confirmed for the disease by the Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar in Odisha.

What is Tomato Flu ?

• It is a rare viral disease that causes red blisters, skin irritation and dehydration. 

• The blisters that occur in this disease look like a tomato, hence it is called tomato flu.

• It is a form of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

• It is caused by Coxsackie virus A 16. It belongs to Enterovirus family.

• The disease is rare in adults because they usually have an immune system strong enough to defend against the virus.

Symptoms of the disease :

• Blisters

• Diarrhoea

• Dehydration

• In some cases, the discoloration of the hands and knees also fades.

Treatment of the disease :

• It is a self-limiting disease and there are no specific drugs for it.

• It is similar to chikungunya and dengue, utensils, clothes and other items used by the infected persons must be sanitised to prevent the flu from spreading. 

• Fluid intake should be increased to counter dehydration.

Punjab, Haryana agree to name Chandigarh airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh

Tags: State News

Recently Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala have collectively decided to name Chandigarh International Airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• Earlier, the Punjab Assembly had passed a resolution to name the airport as 'Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali' but Haryana opposed it as it was named after Mohali.

• Now after the agreement between the two states on the name of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, this proposal will soon be sent to the central government.

• The Central Government has announced to name 13 airports of the country, in which some states have also proposed names for the airports of their area and sent them to the Central Government.

Other recently changed airport names :

• Hisar Airport- Maharaja Agrasen Airport

• Ayodhya Airport - Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram Airport

• Kurnool Airport- Freedom Fighter Narasimha Reddy Airport

• Agartala Airport- Maharaja Veer Vikram Airport

• Gorakhpur Airport- Mahayogi Gorakhnath Airport

• Jharsuguda Airport - Veer Surendra Sai Airport

About Bhagat Singh :

• Bhagat Singh was born in 1907 in the Punjab province of British India.

• His father's name was Sardar Kishan Singh and mother's name was Vidyavati Kaur.

• Leaving the National College of Lahore, Bhagat Singh founded the Naujawan Bharat Sabha for the independence of India.

• Bhagat Singh and his associate Shivram Rajguru shot John Saunders, a British police officer, in December 1928.

• Subsequently, Bhagat Singh (aged 23) was convicted and hanged on March 23, 1931.

MoU between Indian Navy and Space Applications Center (ISRO)

Tags: National National News

Recently a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Space Applications Centre (ISRO) and the Indian Navy on data sharing and cooperation on satellite based naval applications in oceanography and meteorology.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• This will enhance cooperation and usher in a common platform of mutual cooperation.

• Scientific advances by the Space Applications Centre will be synergized with the efforts of the Indian Navy to ensure the nation's defence with the rapid development in the field of satellite data retrieval and applications.

The collaboration will cover various dimensions :

• Sharing of non-confidential observational data.

• Includes provision of subject experts (SMEs) for processing satellite data for use in military operations and development of new equipment, calibration and validation of ocean models for use of meteorological information generated from the Space Applications Centre (SAC).

• Providing calibration and validation of ocean models.

Space Applications Centre :

• The Space Applications Centre is a premier R&D centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

• It is a one-of-a-kind centre that deals with various disciplines ranging from payload development to social use.

• It is located in Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat, India.

IREDA signs MoU with MAHAPREIT to provide loans for Green Energy projects

Tags: National News

Indian Renewable Energy Development Association Limited (IREDA) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Limited (Mahapreet).

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• The MoU was signed by Shri Pradeep Kumar Das, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of IREDA and Shri Bipin Shrimali, CMD, Mahapreet.

• As per this MoU, IREDA will provide financial facilities to Mahapreet for the renewable energy projects to be implemented for developing the infrastructure of state utilities, local bodies and renewable energy parks.

• Under this partnership, IREDA will also bear the appropriate techno-financial responsibility of renewable energy and energy efficiency and conservation projects for Mahapreet.

• Through this partnership, we will be able to assist the Government of India in achieving its target of 50% share of energy from non-fossil fuels by 2030.

• This is IREDA's ninth MoU in the last two years to provide consultancy services for the sustainable development of the country.

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) :

• It was incorporated as a Public Limited Company in the year 1987 as a 'Non-Banking Financial Institution'.

• It is a Miniratna (Category 1) type company functioning under the administrative control of 'Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.

• Its function is to encourage projects related to new and renewable energy sources and to provide them financial assistance for their development.

• It has been notified as a 'Public Financial Institution' under section 4'A' of the 'Companies Act, 1956'.