1. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a trafficking free nation
Tags: Latest National News
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Railway Protection Force (RPF) signs MoU with Association for Voluntary Action (AVA) for a trafficking free nation.
The deliberations were taken forward with signing of MoU wherein both RPF and AVA (also known as Bachpan Bachao Andolan) pledged to work together to share information, build capacity of RPF personnel and railway employees to work against Human Trafficking.
A joint action by both the stakeholders under the framework of the MoU will certainly increase the reach and effectiveness of "Operation Aahat" (Action Against Human Trafficking) launched by RPF across the country.
Role of Railway Protection Force
Railway Protection Force has been entrusted with the responsibility of security of railway property, passenger area and passengers.
It has succeeded in rescuing more than 50,000 children from human trafficking since the year 2018 under "Operation Nanhe Farishte".
It has recently launched "Operation Aahat" to take strong action against human trafficking and rescue victims of human trafficking from the clutches of traffickers.
The RPF has also established Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) at over 740 locations across India, which have been directed to take action against human trafficking.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan
Bachpan Bachao Andolan, associated with Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation was founded in 1979 under the leadership of Nobel laureate Mr. Kailash Satyarthi.
The mission of Bachpan Bachao Andolan is to end all forms of violence against children and to create a world where all children are free, safe and healthy and receive quality education.
2. Meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for Ministry of Steel held at Shimla
Tags: National News
A meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Steel was held on 6 May 2022 at Shimla to discuss the topic "Transition to Green Steel" under the chairmanship of Union Steel Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh.
The Chairman urged the stakeholders to come together in developing a time bound action plan and make concerted efforts to reduce emissions from the steel industry.
In the meeting, the members of the Committee discussed the current scenario and the way forward to promote the transition towards Green Steel with senior officials of the Ministry of Steel and experts from the steel industry.
Various strategies & technologies that can be adopted by the steel industry to produce green steel and their Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) were also discussed.
The focus of the discussion was on the possibilities of using green hydrogen for use in iron production and the use of CCUS technologies to reduce emissions in line with the commitments made in COP26.
Challenges of Iron and Steel sector
The iron and steel sector is particularly challenging with respect to the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as the use of fossil fuel-based energy and reductants is deeply embedded in the production process.
The emissions from the Indian iron and steel industry is higher primarily due to higher usage of coal based energy source and as reductant.
It is thus imperative for the Indian steel industry to substantially reduce its emissions and take appropriate action in keeping with the commitments made in COP26.
3. WHO estimates 4.7 million COVID-19-linked deaths in India
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According to a report by the World Health Organisation There were likely 4.7 million deaths, directly or indirectly attributable to COVID-19 in India in 2020 and 2021.
India officially estimated only 4.8 lakh cumulative deaths linked to COVID-19 by December 2021, which means the WHO's estimate is almost 10 times the government count.
The World Health Organisation said that in the past two years, about 15 million people have lost their lives either to the corona virus or to its effects on health systems.
In India, there were 5.3 lakh deaths among men aged 60 and above in 2020 and 19 lakh deaths in the same age group in 2021.
On the other hand, there were 3.5 lakh deaths among women 60 and older in 2020 and 15 lakh deaths in 2021.
Minutes after the WHO released its estimate, India "objected" to the methodology used by the organisation.
COVID-19-linked deaths Globally
Most of the additional deaths (84%) are concentrated in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Nearly two-thirds of additional deaths are concentrated in just 10 countries globally.
Globally, the pandemic killed more men than women (57% male, 43% female) with a higher proportion of older people.
4. Over 51,000 frontline Railway Staff trained under Mission Rail Karmayogi
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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.
5. Govt prepares new draft National Youth Policy
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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.
6. 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.
7. Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates BSF's floating border outposts at Hingalganj in West Bengal
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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.
8. President has no role to play in Perarivalan’s plea : Supreme Court
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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.
9. In 2020, Ladakh recorded highest sex ratio in the country, Manipur lowest
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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 -
Ladakh (1104)
Arunachal Pradesh (1011)
A&N Islands (984)
Tripura (974)
Kerala (969)
Lowest Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) state are -
Manipur (880)
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (898)
Gujarat (909)
Haryana (916)
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.
10. 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.
