1. NASA launches international mission ‘SWOT’ to survey Earth’s water
Tags: Science and Technology International News
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the French space agency Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) have jointly launched the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to track nearly all the water on Earth’s surface.
The SWOT mission was launched through a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Space Launch Complex at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States of America on 16 December 2022. The mission has a lifespan of three years.
Feature of the Mission
- According to NASA SWOT will cover the entire Earth’s surface between 78 degrees south and 78 degrees north latitude at least once every 21 days.
- It will provide data on more than 95 per cent of the world’s lakes larger than 15 acres (62,500 square meters) and rivers wider than 330 feet (100 meters) across.
- Currently, freshwater researchers have reliable measurements for only a few thousand lakes around the world.
- The satellite will measure the height of water in freshwater bodies and the ocean on more than 90 per cent of Earth’s surface.
- This information will provide insights into how the ocean influences climate change; how a warming world affects lakes, rivers, and reservoirs; and how communities can better prepare for disasters, such as floods.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
It is an American government’s premier space agency which was set up in 1958 to promote research and development in the exploration of outer space and Earth’s atmosphere.
NASA mainly launches its rockets from its two primary spaceports. One is John F. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island in Florida, United States and from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States of America.
Headquarters of NASA: Washington D.C
Administrator of NASA: Bill Nelson
2. Iran is suspended from the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women
Tags: International News
Iran has been expelled from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), in which India abstained from voting.
Important facts
The US proposal at the UN Economic and Social Council to remove Iran from the panel received 29 votes.
Out of a total of 54 members, eight votes were against and 16 were absent.
There have been widespread protests in Iran against the order forcing women to wear the hijab, with Iran voting to suspend it after vigorous lobbying by the US.
The Economic and Social Council has expressed serious concern over the actions taken by the Government of Iran since September 2022 through the draft to remove Iran from the remaining 2022-2026 term of the 'Commission on the Status of Women'.
The draft said that Iran continued to violate women's human rights, including freedom of expression.
Through the resolution, it was decided to remove Iran "with immediate effect" from the remaining term of 2022-2026 of the 'Commission on the Status of Women'.
About UN Commission on the Status of Women
It is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), one of the main organs within the United Nations.
It has been described as the UN organ promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Every year, representatives gather at UN Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide.
India is a member of this commission from 2021 to 2025.
3. Tokyo Makes Solar Panels Mandatory for New Homes Built After 2025
Tags: International News
On December 15, the Japanese capital's local assembly passed a new rule mandating that all new homes in Tokyo built by large-scale home builders after April 2025 must install solar power panels to cut household carbon emissions.
Important facts
This new rule for newly built homes mandates about 50 major builders to equip homes of up to 2,000 square metres (21,500 sq ft) with renewable energy sources, mainly solar panels.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government aims to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared with 2,000 levels.
Japan is the fifth largest carbon emitter in the world. It has committed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Meanwhile, scientists at the California Institute of Technology also launched a space solar program in 2013 following a $100 million grant, while teams from countries including Japan, Russia and India are also studying the possibilities.
4. India Energy Week 2023 to be held in Bengaluru
Tags: National News
India Energy Week 2023 (IEW 2023), being organised during India's G20 Presidency, will be held in Bengaluru between February 6 and 8, 2023.
Important facts
Hardeep S Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs, inaugurated the curtain raiser.
Basavaraj Bommai, Chief Minister of Karnataka was the Chief Guest for the occasion.
The Curtain Raiser marks the beginning of number of preparatory events being hosted in the run up to the India Energy Week 2023.
Major events include "Dancing Charged Electric Vehicles" on 23rd December 2022 at New Delhi's Kartavya Path, "Car Rally of Sustainable Fuel Vehicles" from New Delhi to Manesar on 8th January 2023.
India Energy Week 2023
It is expected to feature more than 30 energy Ministers, 50 CEOs and 10000+ delegates.
This will provide a unique opportunity to showcase India as an engine of global economic growth and a driver of global consumption.
It will provide an unprecedented opportunity for regional, international leaders and CEOs to come together for strategic policy making and technical knowledge sharing.
During the 19 strategic conference sessions, a wide spectrum of issues covering the entire energy sector will be discussed.
It covers themes such as Energy Security, pathways for decarbonization, Resilient Energy Supply Chains, Emerging Fuels such as Biofuel and Hydrogen, Investments in Upstream and Midstream Sector etc.
5. 48th meeting of GST Council
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
The 48th meeting of the GST Council was held on 17th December via video conferencing.
Important facts
The meeting was chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary, Finance Ministers of States & Union Territories and Senior officers from Union Government & States.
In June 2022, the GST Council had its 47th meeting.
Agenda of 48th GST council meeting
Certain offences relating to GST are expected to be decriminalised.
A decision will be made in areas on online gaming, casinos, gambling, and horse racing.
Establishment and powers of GST Appellate Tribunal in 2023.
Reduction in GST rate on health insurance from 18% to 12%.
To define the scope of CCI's power to act as an anti-profiteering authority.
Applicability of the special composition scheme for selling brick kilns with a 6% GST rate without the input tax credit.
Converting to capacity-based GST valuation principles for tobacco taxes.
About GST Council
To implement GST, the Constitutional (122nd Amendment) Bill was passed by both the Houses of the Parliament in 2016.
The GST Council has been notified as a constitutional body to deal with issues related to GST.
It is a joint forum of the Center and the States which was established by the President in accordance with Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution.
Members of GST Council
Union Finance Minister (Chairman), Union Minister of State (Finance) from the Centre.
Each state minister in charge of finance or taxation or any other minister may be nominated as a member.
Functions of GST Council
To make recommendations to the Center and the States on important issues relating to GST.
It also decides on various rate slabs of GST.
What is the Goods and Services Tax (GST)?
It was introduced through the 101st Constitution Amendment Act, 2016.
It is one of the biggest indirect tax reforms in the country and was introduced with the slogan of ‘One Nation One Tax’.
GST subsumes indirect taxes like excise duty, value added tax (VAT), service tax, luxury tax etc.
6. AIIMS Delhi campus declared ‘tobacco-free zone’
Tags: National News
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) located in the capital New Delhi has been declared a 'Tobacco-Free Zone'. Information in this regard has been given through an office memorandum issued by Dr. M. Srinivas, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi.
Important facts
Strict action will be taken against doctors, permanent or contractual staff and security staff found smoking or chewing tobacco in the hospital premises.
Besides, smoking and spitting tobacco on the premises of the AIIMS will be a punishable offence for the patients, attendants, and visitors and the erring persons will be fined Rs 200.
All the heads of departments have been requested to ask the staff working under them to strictly follow the guidelines.
The security personnel have also been instructed not to allow the patients, attendants, visitors, and staff members to use tobacco in any form on the hospital premises.
Tobacco is a prominent risk factor for leading causes of death and a number of non-communicable diseases (NCD), including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and lung disorders.
The Central Government has enacted the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) in 2003 to protect people from tobacco use and adverse effects.
AIIMS New Delhi was established in 1956 and is under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The other All India Institutes of Medical Sciences are AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Bhopal and the newly built AIIMS Nagpur.
7. National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd signs MoU with NIT Manipur
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) has signed MoU with NIT Manipur through Video Conference on 14th December 2022.
Important facts
The MoU was signed between Prof Gautam Sutradhar, Director NIT Manipur and Chanchal Kumar, Managing Director, NHIDCL.
National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), works under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.
It is looking for innovative technologies to find practical solutions to the challenges faced in the construction of highways that withstand extreme climatic conditions.
In the same process NHIDCL has signed MoU with prestigious institutes like IIT Roorkee, IIT Kanpur, CSIR-CRRI, NSDC, IIT Patna, NIT Srinagar, NIT Agartala, NIT Silchar, NIT Uttarakhand, NIT Nagaland NIT Sikkim, IIT Kharagpur\
8. Atal Innovation Mission and UNDP India launch 5th edition of Youth Co:Lab for Young Entrepreneurs
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
The 5th edition of Youth Co:Lab, Asia Pacific’s largest youth innovation initiative was jointly launched by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and UNDP India on 15 December, 2022.
Important facts
The applications for this edition were launched by Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director AIM, NITI Aayog and Dennis Curry, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP India.
Entrepreneurs are an important factor in leading social change and accelerating the effort to meet the SDG targets.
All young innovators and entrepreneurs are invited to participate in this incredible opportunity to unleash their creativity and build their solutions through Youth Co:Lab.
About Youth Co: Lab
It is an initiative launched in 2019 by UNDP India in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog.
Its aim is to establish a common agenda for Asia-Pacific countries to invest in and empower youth to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship.
It is supporting young social entrepreneurs who can play an important role in leading social change and furthering the implementation of SDG targets.
This initiative, till date, has been implemented in 28 countries and territories, reaching over 200,000 participants, benefitting more than 11,000 young social entrepreneurs and supporting over 1,240 social enterprises.
9. MoU signed between CCI and TEXPROCIL on Branding and Certification of “Kasturi Cotton India”
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
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A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) Limited and TEXPROCIL on Branding, Traceability and Certification of “Kasturi Cotton India” in Varanasi on 15th December.
Important facts
The Cotton Corporation of India, along with the textile industry and exporters, is striving to ensure that India's cotton farmers get their due in the world markets.
This collaboration will benefit cotton farmers who will get the actual value of their produce due to brand building and quality assurance.
Union Minister of Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal announced the creation of an advisory group on ‘Man-Made Fibre’ on the lines of Cotton Group.
The MoU will encourage the Industry to work on the principle of self-regulation by owning complete responsibility of Traceability, Certification and Branding of Indian cotton, Ministry of Textiles.
The Government of India will contribute an equal share of Rs 15 crore over a period of three cotton seasons starting from 2022-23 to 2024-25.
What is Kasturi Cotton?
India’s premium Cotton is known as ‘Kasturi Cotton’ in the world cotton Trade.
The Kasturi Cotton brand represents whiteness, brightness, softness, purity, uniqueness and Indianness.
World Cotton Day is observed on 7th October every year.
Cotton is a Kharif Crop which requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
Top Cotton Producing States in India - Gujarat > Maharashtra > Telangana > Andhra Pradesh > Rajasthan.
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)
It was established in 1970 under the administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles as a Public Sector Undertaking under the Companies Act 1956.
It undertake price support operations, whenever the market prices of cotton fall below the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) announced by Govt of India, without any quantitative limit.
Headquarters: Belapur, Navi Mumbai
10. Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)
Tags: Government Schemes National News
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Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Zubin Irani in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 15 December said that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) is being implemented by the Ministry of Minority Affairs with the objective of infrastructure development.
About Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK)
It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
It aims to develop infrastructure projects in identified areas for socio-economic development.
Under this the priority areas are education, health, skill development, women centric projects etc.
It has been implemented in 1300 identified Minority Concentration Areas (MCAs) of the country.
Projects under PMJVK are implemented and managed by the concerned State/ UT Government.
- In the North Eastern Region (NER), the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura come under PMJVK.
The scheme is now implemented in all Districts of the country including all the Aspirational Districts.
Beneficiaries under PMJVK
Communities notified as minority communities under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 will be taken as minority communities.
Currently, 6 Minorities communities have been notified as Minority Communities. These are - Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains.
