DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: May 5, 2022

Governor has forwarded NEET exemption Bill to Union Home Ministry

Tags: Latest State News

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has sent a bill to the Union Home Ministry to abolish the NEET exam in the state. The Bill will be sent to Rashtrapati Bhavan by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the assent of the President.

• However, even before this, a bill was passed in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to free the state from the NEET examination.But it was returned by the Governor.

• The state of Tamil Nadu is witnessing a tussle between the elected government and the state governor over the question of approving the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) Bill passed by the state assembly.

• Position of Governor in Constitutional system of India

• The Governor is appointed by the President, which means the central government.

• Although Article 154(1) of the Constitution vests the executive power of the State in the Governor, he is required to exercise that power according to the Constitution.

• The Governor can act only on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

• The Governor is only the constitutional head of the state and the executive power of the state is exercised by the Council of Ministers.

• The options before the Governor in the matter of giving assent to a Bill

• The assent of the Governor or the President is necessary for a bill to become a law.

• Article 200 of the Constitution provides for four alternatives for a Governor when a Bill passed by the legislature-

1. The Governor can give his assent straightaway.

2. The Governor can withhold his assent.

3. He may also reserve it for the consideration of the President.

4. He may return the Bill to the legislature with the request that it may reconsider the Bill or any particular provision of the Bill.

• However, if the legislature re-passes the bill without accepting any of the amendments suggested by the governor, he is constitutionally bound to assent to the bill.

North Korea fires ballistic missile

Tags: Science and Technology International News

North Korea has test fired an intercontinental ballistic missile. Regarding the test of this missile, Kim Jong Un, describing it as a display of his nuclear power, said that it has been prepared to prevent any kind of military action from the US.

• Pyongyang, which is the nuclear arsenal of North Korea, has conducted 14 weapons tests since January, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile at full-range for the first time since 2017.

• Last week, Kim oversaw a huge military parade, vowed to rapidly expand and improve his nuclear arsenal, and warned of possible attacks.

• North Korea fired the ballistic missile from the Sunan Airfield near Pyongyang, the site of recent ICBM tests.

• The missile flew 470KM (300 miles) and reached an altitude of 780KM, it was a "blatant violation of UN Security Council resolutions."

• The name of this intercontinental missile of North Korea is known as Hwasong-17.

• This ballistic missile is the largest liquid-fueled missile ever launched by any country from a road mobile launcher.

• About Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)

• It is a land-based, nuclear-armed ballistic missile with a range of more than 5,600 km.

• The first ICBMs were deployed by the Soviet Union in 1958, the US followed the next year.

• India, Russia, the United States, China, Israel, the United Kingdom,  France and North Korea are the only countries that have ICBMs.

In 2020, Ladakh recorded highest sex ratio in the country, Manipur lowest

Tags: Popular National News

According to the annual report on Vital Statistics based on 2020 Civil Registration System report the Union Territory of Ladakh recorded the highest sex ratio at birth in the country in 2020, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tripura and Kerala.

• Highest Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) state are -

1. Ladakh (1104)

2. Arunachal Pradesh (1011)

3. A&N Islands (984)

4. Tripura (974)

5. Kerala (969)

• Lowest Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) state are -

1. Manipur (880)

2. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (898)

3. Gujarat (909)

4. Haryana (916)

5. Madhya Pradesh (921)

• In 2019, the highest sex ratio at birth was reported by Arunachal Pradesh (1024), followed by Nagaland (1001), Mizoram (975) and A&N Islands (965).

• The lowest sex ratio was reported in 2019 - Gujarat (901), Assam (903), Madhya Pradesh (905) and Jammu & Kashmir (909).

• No data from 4 States

• As per the report the requisite information from Maharashtra, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi on sex ratio at birth was “not available.”

• None of the States or Union Territories have recorded sex ratio at birth below 880.

• Infant deaths

• The report noted that 1,43,379 infant deaths were registered in 2020 and the share of rural area was only 23.4%, while that of urban area was 76.6% in total registered infant deaths. 

• Non-registration of infant deaths in rural areas is a cause of concern.

• It is compulsory to report births and deaths to the Registrar of Births and Deaths under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.

• What is Sex ratio at birth?

• Sex ratio at birth is number of females per thousand males.

• “The Sex Ratio (Number of females per thousand males) at birth of registered events is an important indicator to map the sex differential of the population at the beginning of their life.

• The sex ratio at birth has been calculated after deducting the delayed registration of more than one year for the year 2020.

Deadly Shigella bacteria cause Kerala food poisoning cases

Tags: State News

Recently, 58 people became ill after eating food from a dhaba and one girl died. Shigella sonnei bacteria are believed to be the reason behind the incident of suspected food poisoning in Kasaragod district of Kerala.

• Since the test results found the presence of Shigella sonnei bacteria, the water source used for the restaurant will be inspected.

• Steps are being taken to conduct diarrhoea surveys, chlorination of drinking water sources and cleanliness checks at food preparation and distribution centres as part of preventive measures.

• However, the presence of E.coli and coliform bacteria were found in the food samples.

• Testing to check the presence of shigella and salmonella bacteria is under way.

• About Shigella sonnei bacteria

• Shigella sonnei is a species of Shigella.

• Along with Shigella flexneri, it is responsible for 90% of cases of shigellosis.

• Shigella sonnei is named after Danish bacteriologist Karl Olaf Sonne.

• It is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, nonmotile, non-spore forming bacterium.

• Shigella is one of the leading bacterial causes of diarrhoea and intestinal infection worldwide.

• Some common symptoms of Shigella infection include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, fatigue, and blood in the stool.

• It is spread through contaminated food and water and can also be spread by direct contact with faeces from an infected person.

President has no role to play in Perarivalan’s plea : Supreme Court

Tags: Latest National News

The Supreme Court has said that the Tamil Nadu Governor is bound to abide by the state cabinet's decision to release AG Perarivalan, who had spent more than 30 years in jail under life imprisonment for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

• The Supreme Court disagreed with the Central government’s suggestion that the court should wait till the President took a call on mercy plea.

• The apex court, while rejecting the Governor's move to send the mercy petition to the President, said that if something is happening against the Constitution, then the eyes cannot be closed.

• The pertinent question was whether the Governor had the authority to send mercy petitions to the President.

• Under Article 161 of the Constitution, the Governor was bound by the aid and advice given by the Tamil Nadu Council of Ministers in September 2018.

• The Governor had no prima facie power to transfer the mercy petition to the President.

• Article 161 of the Constitution

• Article 161 of the Constitution empowers the Governor to pardon or reduce the sentence of any prisoner.

• The decision of the Governor will be subject to judicial review by the Constitutional Courts.

• What is Pardon?

• A pardon is a government/executive decision that allows a person to be absolved of an offence for an alleged offence or other legal offence as if the offender had never committed the crime.

• Difference Between the Pardoning Powers of the President and the Governor

• The powers of the Governor are limited to offences against the law relating to the matter to which the executive power of the State extends.

• The governor cannot pardon the death sentence but the president can pardon the death sentence.

• The Governor cannot grant pardon, reprieve, suspension, remission or commutation in respect to punishment or sentence by a court-martial. But the President can do so.

Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates BSF's floating border outposts at Hingalganj in West Bengal

Tags: Latest National News

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated BSF's floating border outposts at Hingalganj in West Bengal, where he arrived on a two-day visit.

• He also flagged off a boat ambulance to provide medical aid in these inaccessible areas.

• He will also participate in several programs including Foundation Stone Laying Program of Maitri Museum and Prahari Sammelan at BOP Haridaspur.

• He will visit the India-Bangladesh border area of Teen Bigha, where he is scheduled to interact with BSF personnel on 6th May. 

• Floating BOP is a post that can be moved across rivers, streams and seas, which can be moved from one place to another.

PM Modi to chair key meeting on heatwave, monsoon preparedness

Tags: National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an important review meeting today on the preparedness to deal with heat waves affecting many parts of the country.

• The meeting will also review  the preparedness related to the upcoming monsoon season.

• According to the report of India Meteorological Department (IMD), there is a heat wave-like situation across the country.

• As per IMD report, 16 of the 36 of the meteorological subdivisions in India are facing heat wave-like conditions.

• About Heat wave

• A heat wave is a period of abnormally high temperature, higher than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the northwestern parts of India.

• Heat waves usually occur between March and June, and in some rare cases extend up to July.

• The extreme temperatures and atmospheric conditions adversely affect the people living in these areas as they cause physical stress, sometimes resulting in death.

• Criterion for declaring Heat waves

• If the maximum temperature of a meteorological station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius or more for Plains and at least 30 degrees Celsius or more for Hilly regions.

• Heat waves have put enormous pressure on health and emergency services.

• It increases strain on water, energy and transportation resulting in power shortages.

• This adversely affects agriculture mainly in terms of production of Rabi crops causing stress among farmers.

Indian Coast Guard commissions its second ALH Mk III Squadron in Kochi

Tags: National Latest Defence

Indian Coast Guard chief VS Pathania on May 04, commissioned the second made in India ALH Mk III Squadron at Coast Guard Air Enclave (CGAE) in Kochi.

• This is equipped with the indigenously developed Advanced Mark III (ALH Mark III) helicopters.

• The second squadron of ALH Mk III choppers aims to boost the security of the western seaboard further and enhance India’s rescue capability.

• The commissioning is a tremendous leap towards self-reliance in the field of search and rescue operations and long range maritime surveillance.

• The indigenously developed ALH Mk-III helicopters are fitted with an array of state-of-the-art sensors that enhance the maritime prowess of the Coast Guard.

• Four helicopters have been deployed in Kochi to cover the entire coast of Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep.

• The Squadron, led by Commandant Kunal Naik has nine officers and 35 men.

• TLMC conference

• The Coast Guard Headquarters-4 (Kerala and Mahe) at Fort Kochi organised the annual Technical and Logistics Management Committee Conference.

• Coast Guard Commander (Western Seaboard) and senior officials are attending the conference. 

• Director General VS. Pathania inaugurated the conference and acknowledged the force's collective efforts to maintain a fleet of 256 ships and aircraft.

Jeevala scheme for prisoners

Tags: Government Schemes Latest State News

The Prisons Department of the Government of Maharashtra has launched a first of its kind credit scheme called 'Jeevala' for prisoners lodged in jails across the state.

• The loan scheme called 'Jivhala' has been introduced by the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank for prisoners who are serving jail terms for more than three years.

• The pilot project of this scheme was presented at Yerwada Central Jail in Pune.

• This scheme will be extended to around 60 jails by the Maharashtra government.

• The loan from this scheme can be used by the prisoners for the education of their children, medical treatment of family members, legal fees or other expenses.

• About Maharashtra State

• Formation - 1 May 1960

• Capital- Mumbai (Summer), Nagpur (Winter)

• District- 36

• Governor- Bhagat Singh Koshyari

• Chief Minister- Uddhav Thackeray

• Deputy Chief Minister- Ajit Pawar

• Legislative Council seats- 78

• Assembly seats - 288

• Lok Sabha seats- 48

• Other Schemes - Mission Kabach Kundal, Mission Oxygen Self Response Scheme, Swadhar Yojana

Mukhyamantri Mitan Yojana 2022

Tags: Government Schemes State News

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has launched 'Mukhyamantri Mitan Yojana', which will be implemented on a pilot basis in 14 municipal corporations including cities like Raipur, Durg, Bilaspur and Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh.

• Through this scheme, all government services such as citizen's caste certificate, residence certificate, ration card, etc. documents will be delivered directly to the homes of citizens by the government.

• Under the Mukhyamantri Mitan Yojana, assistant friends will be deployed by the government. Who will go to the house of the people and complete all the formalities.

• An initial provision of Rs 10 crore has been made by the government for the operation of this scheme.

• To get the benefit of this scheme, citizens have to contact a helpline number 14545.

• About Chhattisgarh State

• Formation - 1 November 2000

• Capital- Raipur

• Governor- Anusuiya Uikey

• Chief Minister- Bhupesh Baghel

• Assembly seats- 90

• Lok Sabha seats- 11

India's Dhanush Srikanth has won the gold medal in 24th Deaf Olympic Games

Tags: Sports Popular

India's Dhanush Srikanth has won the gold medal in the men's 10m air rifle event at the 24th Deaf Olympic Games being held in Caxias do Sul, Brazil.

• Dhanush scored 247.5 points while Korea's Kim Woo Rim got the silver medal with 246.6 points.

• India's Shaurya Saini finished third with 224.3 points.

• India has sent a 65-member team to this competition, which includes 10 shooters; these players will participate in 11 sports events.

• In the last 2017 edition, India had won one gold, one silver and three bronze medals.

• Currently, India is at the eighth position in the points table with two gold and one bronze medals.

• Ukraine is at the first position with 19 gold, six silver and 13 bronze medals.

Govt prepares new draft National Youth Policy

Tags: Latest National News

The government has prepared a new draft of the National Youth Policy (NYP).

• The Government has reviewed the existing draft National Youth Policy, 2014.

• The draft NYP envisages a ten-year vision for youth development that India wants to achieve by 2030. 

• It is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and works to 'unlock the potential of youth to take India forward'.

• NYP drafted five priority areas such as education; employment and entrepreneurship; youth leadership and development; health, fitness and sports; and social justice.

• Each priority sector is based on the principle of social inclusion keeping in mind the interests of the marginalised sections.

• The Department of Youth Affairs seeks comments/views/suggestions on the draft NYP from all stakeholders.

Over 51,000 frontline Railway Staff trained under Mission Rail Karmayogi

Tags: Latest National News

The central government said that more than 51,000 frontline railway employees have been trained under Mission Rail Karmayogi.

• These staff have been trained by master trainers, who themselves have been trained at the Indian Institute of Transport Management, a centralised training institute under the Ministry of Railways.

• About Mission Karmayogi

• Mission Karmayogi was launched by the government in September, 2020 as the most important capacity building initiative anywhere in the world.

• The project seeks to train around one lakh frontline railway employees over a period of six months.

• The mission aims to change the attitude of these frontline workers by providing citizen centric training.

• Mission Karmayogi will be instrumental in achieving the goal of a 5 trillion dollar economy set by the Prime Minister.

Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor assumes the Appointment of Director General (Inspection and Safety)

Tags: National Defence Person in news

Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor assumed the appointment of Director General (Inspection and Safety) of Indian Air Force at Air HQ New Delhi on 01 May.

• The Air Marshal is a graduate of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in December 1985 as a transport pilot.

• He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Wellington, College of Defence Management and National Defence College.

• He is a qualified Flight Instructor with over 7700 hours of flying experience on various aircraft in the IAF list.

• He has commanded an operational transport squadron and a major transport base.

• He is a recipient of Vayu Sena Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.