1. 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.
2. 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\
3. 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.
4. 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
5. 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.
6. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK) renamed as Promotion of Prime Minister's Heritage (PM Vikas) Scheme
Tags: Government Schemes National News
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The Minister of Minority Affairs, Smriti Zubin Irani in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on 15 December informed that the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Ko Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK) has now been named as Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme.
Important facts
This integrated scheme amalgamates the five earlier schemes of the Ministry – Seekho aur Kamao, Ustad, Hamari Dharohar, Nai Roshni and Nai Manzil.
The scheme has been approved by the cabinet for the period of 15th Finance Commission.
PM VIKAS aims to improve the livelihood of minorities, especially artisan communities, by using components of skill development, education, women leadership and entrepreneurship.
These components complement each other in the ultimate objective of the scheme to enhance the income of the beneficiaries and provide assistance by facilitating credit and market linkages.
7. India successfully carries out trials of nuclear-capable ''Agni-5 missile''
Tags: Defence Science and Technology National News
India on 15 December successfully carried out the night trials of the Agni-5 nuclear-capable ballistic missile. The test comes days after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district.
Important facts
Agni 5 missile capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy.
The test was conducted to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile, which is now lighter than before.
Defense sources said the test proved the capability of extending the range of the Agni 5 missile if required.
The trial was aimed at enhancing the range of the Agni-5 missile if required.
About Agni 5 Missile
Agni-5 is an ingeniously built advanced surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
It is a fire-and-forget missile, which cannot be stopped without an interceptor missile.
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) is the brain-child of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who aimed at making the country self-sufficient in the field of missile technology.
The program had five missiles P-A-T-N-A, Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag, and Akash.
It was aimed at boosting India's nuclear deterrence against China, which has missiles such as the Dongfeng-41, which have a range between 12,000-15,000 km.
The Agni 1 to 4 missiles have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km and they have already been deployed.
Agni Class of Missiles
Agni 1 : Range of 700-800 km.
Agni 2: Range more than 2000 km.
Agni 3: Range of more than 2,500 Km
Agni 4: Range is more than 3,500 km.
Agni-5: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
Agni-P (Prime): It is a canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km. It will replace the Agni I missile.
8. US President Joe Biden signed gay marriage legislation
Tags: International News
United States (US) President Joe Biden signed gay marriage law. On the occasion, the President said that "the law that protects love strikes a chord against hate in all its forms".
Important facts
This law establishes statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages.
The House of Representatives passed the law on December 8 by a vote of 258-169-1.
The new law officially repeals the Marriage Act of 1996, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman.
In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court in its decision legalized same-sex unions nationwide.
States would not be required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples if the court overturns its 2015 ruling. But they will be required to recognize marriages conducted elsewhere in the country.
Status of Same-Sex marriage around the world
Same-sex marriage is the marriage of two people of the same gender.
As of 2022, marriage between same-sex couples is legally recognized in 33 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, etc.
This does not usually include adoption rights, although most countries with same-sex marriage allow those couples to adopt jointly, as can other married couples.
The first law providing for marriage equality between same-sex and opposite-sex couples was passed by the Netherlands in 2000.
The right to marry is a fundamental right under article 21. However, same-sex marriage is not legalized in India.
9. Lok Sabha passes Constitution (ST) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022
Tags: National National News
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The Lok Sabha on 15th December passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Important facts
The Bill will amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, with respect to its application to Tamil Nadu.
The Order lists the tribal communities deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in states and union territories.
The bill includes Narikoravan and Kurivikkaran communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Tamil Nadu.
The Bill includes the Hattee community of Trans Giri area of Sirmour district in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Himachal Pradesh.
It also aims to amend the Scheduled Tribe order to recognize the Gond community in Chandauli, Kushinagar, Sant Kabir Nagar and Sant Ravidas Nagar districts of Uttar Pradesh from Scheduled Caste to Scheduled Tribe.
10. Lok Sabha passes Constitution (ST) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022
Tags: National National News
The Lok Sabha on 15th December passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Second Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Important facts
The Bill will amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, with respect to its application to Tamil Nadu.
The Order lists the tribal communities deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in states and union territories.
The bill includes Narikoravan and Kurivikkaran communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Tamil Nadu.
The Bill includes the Hattee community of Trans Giri area of Sirmour district in the list of Scheduled Tribes in Himachal Pradesh.
It also aims to amend the Scheduled Tribe order to recognize the Gond community in Chandauli, Kushinagar, Sant Kabir Nagar and Sant Ravidas Nagar districts of Uttar Pradesh from Scheduled Caste to Scheduled Tribe.
