1. Tesla to accept dogecoin as payment for merchandise
Tags: International News
Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Friday said the electric carmaker will accept meme-based digital currency dogecoin for merchandise.
- Products such as the "Cyberwhistle" and "Cyberquad for Kids" could be bought using the cryptocurrency, according to the Tesla website.
- Dogecoin is a cryptocurrency invented by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, who decided to create a payment system.
2. Minimum 6 airbags to be made mandatory in vehicles carrying up to 8 passengers from October 2022
Tags: National News
The Union Road Transport and Highways ministry has said it will make it mandatory for carmakers to provide a minimum of six airbags in motor vehicles that can carry up to 8 passengers for enhanced safety of occupants from October this year.
- The ministry has decided to enhance the safety features by amending the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR),1989.
- The government has already mandated the implementation of fitment of the driver airbag with effect from July 1, 2019 and front co-passenger airbag with effect from January 1, 2022.
- An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system which interferes between the driver and the vehicle's body during a collision, thereby preventing serious injuries.
- Airbag contains the chemical Sodium Azide. When this substance is ignited by a spark during a sudden collision, it releases nitrogen gas which can instantly inflate an airbag.
3. 2021 was 5th warmest year in India since 1901: IMD
Tags: National News
The year 2021 was the fifth warmest year in India since nation-wide records commenced in the country in 1901. This is published in the 'Climate of India during 2021' report by India Meteorological Department (IMD).
- The report also shows that the country had reported a loss of 1,750 lives due to extreme weather events last year with Maharashtra being the most adversely affected state reporting 350 deaths.
- Among extreme weather events, lightning & thunderstorms took the highest 787 lives followed by heavy rains, floods, and landslides.
- On warming phenomena, the report shows that 11 out of 15 warmest years in the country were during the recent fifteen years (2007-2021) with the highest warming being observed during 2016 when it was 0.71 degrees above the long period average (LPA) based on 1981-2010 period.
- The relatively less cold winter last year primarily contributed to the overall high mean temperature in the year.
- The country averaged annual mean temperature during 1901-2021 showed an increasing trend of 0.63 degrees per 100 years with a significant increasing trend in maximum temperature and a relatively lower increasing trend in minimum temperature
- India's mean surface temperature appears to be in sync with the rise in the global mean surface temperature as per the observations of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) which states that the global mean surface temperature was about 1.08 ±0.13 degrees above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average.
- As far as rainfall is concerned, the 2021 annual rainfall over the country as a whole was 105% of its LPA based on the 1961-2010 period. The southwest monsoon season rainfall over the country as a whole was 'normal' whereas the northeast/ post-monsoon season (October-December) rainfall was 'above normal'.
- The Centre on the 147th foundation day of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday launched operations of four new Doppler weather radars, one each in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Leh(highest altitude radar in India), to further improve the weather forecast system in these cities/region.
4. Election Commission double the broadcast time for Parties
Tags: National News
Election Commission of India has decided to double the broadcast time allotted to each National Party and recognized State Parties in poll bound states.
- The election commission order states that a base time of 90 minutes will be given to each national party and recognized state party of Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The facilities will be available from the regional kendras of All India Radio and Doordarshan.
- The earlier allotted time was 45 minutes.
- The time allotted to the recognized political parties in these states has been increased as due to the corona pandemic the emphasis is on avoiding rallies and maintaining non physical contacts for campaigning
5. Election Commission has reduced the Notice period for Political parties registration
Tags: National News
The Election Commission of India has reduced the notice period for registering new political parties in the five election bound states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab from 30 days to 7 days due to the prevailing coronavirus pandemic.
- According to the Election commission a party seeking registration with the election commission has to publish its proposed names in two national newspapers and two local newspapers before applying to the election commission for registration.
- The election commission has clarified that the notice period was also reduced last year when elections were held in Bihar, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal during the corona pandemic.
Registration of Political parties is governed by the provisions of Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951
- Chief Election Commissioner : Mr. Sushil Chandra
6. Bikaner -Guwahati express derailed in Bengal
Tags: National News
Twelve compartments of the Guwahati bound 15633 Bikaner Guwahati Express got derailed yesterday evening near Moynaguri in West Bengal about 42kms from New Jalpaiguri Station. The train was running at a speed of 40kmph at the time of the accident.
- The train was coming from Bikaner station of Rajasthan and was going to Guwahati in Assam .
- The accident site comes under the Northeast Frontier Railway Zone of the Indian Railway .
- BSF, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and local police are deployed in the area for rescue operations.
- As per reports till now 9 passengers are dead and about 50 severely injured. Currently they are being taken to the local hospital for medical care.
- Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that a compensation of Rs 5 lakh has been extended to the families of the deceased while Rs 1 lakh each has been announced for those seriously injured. Also, Rs 25,000 each is being given to the mildly injured passengers. He himself is also on his way to the accident site.
7. Philippines to buy Brahmos missile from India
Tags: National News
The Philippines on 14 January 2022 accepted BrahMos Aerospace's export-order proposal to provide supersonic cruise missiles for its navy. The major deal worth $374.9 million was communicated to India through a Notice of Award by the Philippines Department of National Defence, signed by Secretary Delfinn Lorenzana.
- The order directed BrahMos Aerospace to provide the supply of the Shore-based Anti-ship Missile System within ten calendar days of receiving the order.
- The BrahMos supersonic missile is produced by an Indo-Russian joint venture and can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land.
- The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile can cover a range of 290 km reaching the Mach 2.8 to 3 Mach speed.
8. PM greets people across the nation on Makar Sankranti, Uttarayan, Bhogi, Magh Bihu and Pongal
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the people in the country on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, Uttararyan, Bhgogi, Pongal and Magh Bihu on 14 January 2022.
Makar Sankranti
- It is dedicated to Lord Surya (Sun God) and marks the sun's transit into Makara (Capricorn) rashi (zodiac sign). This festival is considered the most auspicious occasion and is one of the few Hindu festivals aligned with the solar cycle.
- It marks the end of the winter season and the beginning of the harvest season when people worship new crops.
- This is the beginning of the month of Magh in the traditional Hindu calendar.
Uttarayan
Makar Sankranti is also associated with Uttarayan. According to Hindu belief, before Makar Sankranti, the Sun shines in the Southern Hemisphere and from Makar Sankranti day it moves into the Northern Hemisphere. That is why it is called Uttrayan.
However, scientifically it is not true.
Bhogi
- The festival is mainly celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
- For people in South India, the year’s first festival is celebrated as Bhogi, which marks the first day of Pongal.
- On the day of Bhogi festival, devotees worship Lord Indra, the god of clouds and rains, and seek his blessings for the abundant harvest.
Pongal
Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community. It is a celebration to thank the Sun, Mother Nature and the various farm animals that help to contribute to a bountiful harvest.
- Celebrated over four days, Pongal also marks the beginning of the Tamil month called Thai.
- The first day of Pongal is called Bhogi.
- The second day is the main day of Pongal and is celebrated as Surya Pongal.
- The third day of Pongal is called Mattu Pongal.
- The fourth day of Pongal is called Kaanum Pongal.
Bihu
Bihu is a popular festival of Assam which is celebrated thrice a year.
- Magha or Bhogali Bihu is celebrated in the Mid-January. The festival marks the end of the harvesting season in the region. The Magh Bihu celebrations start on the last day of the month of ‘pooh’ in the Assamese calendar.
- Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu, is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Assam. It celebrates the commencement of harvesting season and is also regarded as the first day of the Assamese New Year.
It is normally observed in Mid April
- Kongali Bihu or Kati Bihu is celebrated Mid-October or in the month of Kartik which is traditionally known as Kati. This Bihu is celebrated during the time of relocation of the rice sapling during the month of October. The granaries of the farmers usually remain empty during this time, hence it is known as Kongali (poor) Bihu.
9. Forest Survey report 2021 released by the Government
Tags: National News
Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, today released the ‘India State of Forest Report 2021’ prepared by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
- Forest Survey of India releases “ Indian State of Report “ after every 2 years and the last report was released in 2019.
- FSI uses satellite data of the Indian Remote sensing satellite of ISRO, Resourcesat-2 to asses the forest cover in India .
Highlights of the report
- The total forest and tree cover of the country is 80.9 million hectare which is 24.62 percent of the geographical area of the country. As compared to the assessment of 2019, there is an increase of 2,261 sq km in the total forest and tree cover of the country. Out of this, the increase in the forest cover has been observed as 1,540 sq km and that in tree cover is 721 sq km.
- Increase in forest cover has been observed in open forest followed by very dense forest. Top three states showing increase in forest cover are Andhra Pradesh (647 sq km) followed by Telangana (632 sq km) and Odisha (537 sq km).
- Area-wise Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra.
- In terms of forest cover as percentage of total geographical area, the top five States are Mizoram (84.53%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.33%), Meghalaya (76.00%), Manipur (74.34%) and Nagaland (73.90%).
- 17 states/UT’s have above 33 percent of the geographical area under forest cover. Out of these states and UT’s, five states/UTs namely Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have more than 75 percent forest cover while 12 states/UTs namely Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Goa, Kerala, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Assam, Odisha, have forest cover between 33 percent to 75 percent.
- Total mangrove cover in the country is 4,992 sq km. An increase of 17 sq Km in mangrove cover has been observed as compared to the previous assessment of 2019. Top three states showing mangrove cover increase are Odisha (8 sq km) followed by Maharashtra (4 sq km) and Karnataka (3 sq km).
- Total carbon stock in the country's forest is estimated to be 7,204 million tonnes and there is an increase of 79.4 million tonnes in the carbon stock of the country as compared to the last assessment of 2019. The annual increase in the carbon stock is 39.7 million tonnes.
10. Resumption of Television Audience Measurement Ratings for ‘News Genre’ by BARC
Tags: National News
The ministry of information and broadcasting has asked the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) to resume the release of Television Rating Points (TRPs) for news channels and sought the release of the data of the last three months for a “fair and equitable representation of true trends”.
- The resumption comes after over a year of TRPs being suspended following allegations of manipulation of ratings that emerged in October 2020. The Mumbai Police arrested at least five people over an alleged TRP scam
- As the controversy grew at the time, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), which provides TRP data, announced a three-month long suspension of weekly ratings of news channels across languages.
- The ministry, has also set up a working group under the chairmanship of the CEO, Prasar Bharati, Shashi Shekhar Vempati for the consideration of leveraging the Return Path Data (RPD) capabilities for the use of TRP services, as also recommended by TRAI and the TRP Committee Report.
BARC
BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) India is a joint industry body, which includes broadcasters, advertisers, and advertising and media agencies.
- It was set up to design, commission, supervise and own an accurate, reliable and timely television audience measurement system for India. It is the world's largest television measurement science industry body based in Mumbai..
- It analyses the viewership habits of over 210 million TV households which makes it the world's largest television audience measurement service. Its measurement system is based on a sample of 40,000 "panel homes”
- It functions as per the recommendations of the TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India).
- Chairman - Punit Goenka
- CEO - Nakul Chopra
