1. NITI Aayog releases North Eastern Region District SDG Index and Dashboard 2021-22
Tags: National News
- It is released by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDONER) in collaboration with NITI Aayog
- The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) has provided technical support for this index.
- The index measures the performance of the District of the eight NE States ( Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim)
- The Index will be prepared and published annually.
- The top 5 districts of the SDG NER Index are
Rank 1 - East Sikkim, Sikkim with a score of 75.87,
Rank 2 - Gomati, Tripura & North Tripura, Tripura with a score of 75.73,
Rank 4 - West Tripura, Tripura with a score of 75.67
Rank 5 - Serchhip, Mizoram with a score of 74.87
The Index offers insights into the social, economic, and environmental status of the region and the districts in their march towards achieving the Social Development Goals(SDG) 2030.
2. India welcomes Egypt as 4th new member of BRICS New Development Bank
Tags: International News
- India on 29th December 2021 welcomed Egypt’s entry as the fourth new member of the New Development Bank (NDB) that was established by the BRICS countries six years ago.
- The NDB admitted Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Uruguay as its new members in September 2021.
BRICS New Development Bank
The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
- Formed in: July 2014
- Headquarters: Shanghai, China
- President: Marcos Prado Troyjo
- Members: Egypt, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay
3. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh releases science magazine Dream 2047 in Hindi, Urdu and English
Tags: National News
- In order to promote the use of vernacular language in science , Vigyan Prasar and autonomous institution under the Department of Science and Technology,Government of India has launched an Urdu edition of its popular science magazine Dream 2047 as Tajassus (Curiosity).
- The Udru edition was launched by Vigyan Prasar in association with the Central University of Kashmir.
- The monthly Magazine was earlier published only in English and Hindi.
- The Urdu edition was launched by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh.
- He also said that Vigyan Prasar will launch the Kashmiri, Dogri and other Indian language versions of the magazine soon .
- Vigyan Prasar has started IndiaScience TV, India's only OTT (Over the Top) science channel in Hindi and English.
4. PM Modi inaugurates and lays the foundation stone of 23 projects worth over 17,500 crore rupees in Uttarakhand.
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Haldwani in Uttarakhand to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 23 projects worth over 17 thousand 500 crore rupees.
- Among the 23 projects, foundation stone will be laid for 17 projects worth over 14 thousand 100 crore rupees.
Main Highlight of the Visit:
- He inaugurated 5 MegaWatt capacity Suringad-II run of the river hydroelectric project built by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam (UJVN) Limited.
- It is built on river Munsiyari in Pithoragarh district at a cost of about Rs 50 crore.
- Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the Lakhwar Multipurpose Project
- It will be built on Yamuna River at the cost of about Rs 5750 crore.
- This project of national importance, will enable irrigation of about 34,000 hectare additional land, produce 300 MW hydro power and supply drinking water to the six states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.
- He laid the foundation in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to create new avenues for tapping the inherent potential of a region, the foundation stone of a 41 acre Aroma Park at Kashipur and a 40 acre Plastic Industrial Park at Sitarganj.
- The two projects will be developed by State Infrastructure & Industrial Development Corporation Uttarakhand Limited (SIIDCUL) at a cumulative cost of about 100 crore.
- The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of AIIMS Rishikesh satellite centre in Udham Singh Nagar district and Jagjivan Ram Government Medical College at Pithoragarh.
- These two hospitals are being built at a cost of about Rs 500 crores and Rs 450 crore respectively
He also inaugurated host of projects in the road sectors:
- 99 kms of road widening work on Nagina to Kashipur NH-74
Road widening Chyurani to Ancholi NH-125, All weather roads project - 32km.
5. PM Modi launches blockchain-based digital degrees at IIT Kanpur
Tags: National News
- The technology has been developed by IIT Kanpur under the National Blockchain Project.
- These digital degrees can be verified globally and are unforgeable.
- The blockchain system works on the principle of decentralization. This means that the control is not in the hands of a central agency, but in a distributed network of nodes. This will help in keeping the data safe even if any specific node is compromised.
- Also, the information in a blockchain is recorded and stored sequentially along with an exact timestamp. The previous information can’t be altered, only amended by adding a new block. This makes tampering with a transcript very hard.
- Blockchain technology can simplify the tedious task of maintaining the records of students by making them digitized. Also, the students will be able to access their records remotely.
- Blockchain technology will simplify the verification process. Any institute can do so with a few clicks instead of going through lots of paper documentation, in cases of transfer students, or sharing records with employers, or issuing degrees.
6. Centre notifies the Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021
Tags: National News
- On December 28, the central government issued new regulations for the direct selling business, paving the way for the formalization of the direct selling industry while also intending to keep a check on this so-far unregulated segment.
- This is notified by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
- It is notified under the Consumer Protection Act 2019.
- The direct selling industry’s major participants in India include companies like Tupperware, Amway, Herbalife, and Oriflame.
Highlights-
- Existing Direct Selling entities need to comply with these rules within ninety days.
- The rules apply to all India-based direct selling companies as well as to any direct selling entity that is not established in India but offers goods or services to consumers in India.
- Direct selling entities and direct sellers using e-commerce platforms for sale, should also comply with the Consumer Protection (e-Commerce) Rules, 2020.
- Direct selling entities and direct sellers are prohibited from:
- Promoting a Pyramid Scheme or enroll any person to such scheme or participate in such arrangement in any manner whatsoever in the garb of direct selling business;
- Participate in money circulation scheme in the garb of doing direct selling business.
- State Government to set up a mechanism to monitor or supervise the activities of direct sellers and direct selling entity.
- Direct sellers must have at least one physical location as their registered office within the country.
- Direct selling entities to be liable for the grievances arising out of the sale of goods or services by its direct sellers.
As per data published by the World Federation of Direct Selling Association (WFDSA), the retail size of the Indian direct selling industry was valued at $3 billion, or about Rs 22,500 crore, in 2020 with year-on-year growth of 28.3%, making it the fastest-growing market in the world. The sector employs over 7.4 million active direct sellers.
7. Prime Minister inaugurates Kanpur Metro and Bina-Panki Multi Product Pipeline Project.
Tags: National News
Kanpur Metro
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 28 December 2021 inaugurated the first phase of Kanpur Metro.
- It is a nine Km long section from IIT Kanpur to Moti Jheel area.
- The total length of the project is 32 KM being built at the cost of Rs 11000 crore .
- European Investment bank is providing Rs 5552 core( euro 650 million ) loan for the Kanpur metro project.
Bina-Panki Multi Product Pipeline Project
- He also inaugurated the Bina-Panki Multiproduct Pipeline Project.
- The pipeline extends from the Bina refinery in Madhya Pradesh to Panki in Kanpur and will help the region access petroleum products from the Bina refinery.
- Bina oil refinery is in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh and it has been set up by Bharat Oman refinery.
- It is a joint venture of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited(BPCL) and OQ SAOC (formerly known as Oman Oil Company SAOC)).
8. United Arab Emirates issued its first civil marriage licence to a non-muslim couple
Tags: International News
- A Canadian couple were the first to marry under the new law on the personal status of non-Muslims in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi.
- UAE in November 2021 had announced that non-muslims would be allowed to marry, divorce and get joint child custody under civil law in Abu Dhabi according to a new decree issued by its ruler.
- The United Arab Emirates, where foreigners make up 90% of the approximately 10 million population has been amending its laws to present itself as a modernising force in a largely conservative region.
- In the United Arab Emirates personal status laws on marriage and divorce had formerly been based on Islamic sharia principles, as in other Gulf states.
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham
President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Prime minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
About Abu Dhabi
- Abu Dhabi city in the emirate is the federal capital of the UAE.
- Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates, occupying 84 per cent of the national landmass territory. It has 200 islands and a long coastline stretching 700km.
- It is an oil-rich emirate and the second-most populous city of UAE, after Dubai.
Starting on January 1, 2022, the Emirates will become the only Gulf country not to observe weekends from Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, to Saturday.
9. UN Special Envoy calls for New Year’s ceasefire in Myanmar
Tags: International News
- United Nation’s special Envoy Noeleen Heyzer said she is deeply concerned by increased violence in Kayah state of Myanmar and other areas, which has displaced thousands of civilians, many of whom have fled the country for protection and assistance.
- “The people of Myanmar have already suffered tremendously and the socio-economic and humanitarian situation has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ms. Heyzer.
- Ms. Heyzer urged all parties to act in the greater interest of the nation and to fully respect their obligations under international law to protect civilians, ensure free movement towards safety, and allow humanitarian access to those in need.
- “To this end, she appeals for a New Year’s ceasefire throughout Myanmar,” the statement said.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Ms. Heyzer as his Special Envoy on Myanmar back in October 2021. She succeeded Christine Shraner Burgener, who had served since April 2018.
Issue in Myanmar
Myanmar has been in sheer chaos since February 1, 2021, when the military junta overthrew the government and imprisoned the leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been sentenced to four years detention and faces multiple other criminal charges.
- At least 1,375 people have been killed and more than 8,000 jailed due to the protests and oppositions since the coup.
10. Kerala Tops NITI Health Index
Tags: National News
- National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has released the fourth edition of the State Health Index for 2019–20.
Theme of the report
- The report, titled “Healthy States, Progressive India”, ranks states and Union Territories on their year-on-year incremental performance in health outcomes as well as their overall status.
Who brings out the report
- The report has been developed by NITI Aayog, with technical assistance from the World Bank, and in close consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
The Health Index is a weighted composite index based on 24 indicators in three domains:
- Health Outcomes
- Governance and Information
- Key inputs and process
Highlights of the Report
NITI Aayog has divided the states into Larger States’, Smaller States’ and Union
Territories’.
Ranking of states
- Largest State
- Amongst the Largest States Kerala is the best performer states followed by Tamilnadu, Telangana ,Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- The Bottom ranked state was Uttar Pradesh followed by Uttarakhand ,Rajasthan,Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.
- Smaller States
- Amongst Smaller states,Mizoram topped the rank while Nagaland came at the bottom
- Union Territories .
- Amongst Union Territories , Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu topped the rank while Puduchhery was ranked at the bottom.
The first Health Report 2017 was released by the NITI Aayog in 2018
