1. UK, Canada joins diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Games
Tags: International News
Canada will join the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights concerns, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on December 8.
Highlights:
- The United States was the first to announce the boycott, saying its government officials would not attend February’s Beijing Olympics because of China’s human rights “atrocities”.
2. Only 56% Funds of Poshan Abhiyaan Used
Tags: National News
Highlights
- State Governments and Union Territories utilized only 56% of the total funds released under the Poshan Abhiyan or Nutrition Mission in the past three years.
- Out of a total amount of Rs, 5,312 crores disbursed by the Centre between financial years 2019 to 2021, a sum of Rs 2,985 crores was utilized
- The number of “severe acute malnourished” children in the country has become less than 15 lakh.
National Nutrition Mission / Poshan Abhiyaan Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Women and Child Development It is under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)which ensures convergence with various programs i.e., Anganwadi Services, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) of MWCD Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), National Health Mission (NHM), Swachh-Bharat Mission, Public Distribution System (PDS), Department Food & Public Distribution, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation. This flagship program is to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Launched on 8th March, on the occasion of International Women’s Day 2018, the POSHAN Abhiyaan directs the attention of the country towards the problem of malnutrition and addresses it in a mission mode. It targeted the goal of attaining “Kuposhan Mukt Bharat" or malnutrition-free India, by 2022. Post the launch of the Abhiyaan, NITI Aayog was entrusted with closely monitoring the scheme and undertaking periodic evaluations. Aims:
Finance:
Prevalence in India: Kindly refer to the November 25 news report on the NHFS-5 Survey on Malnutrition in India. |
3. Bills on Assisted Reproductive Technology, surrogacy passed
Tags: National News
- The Rajya Sabha passed two Bills to regulate and supervise assisted reproductive technology clinics and surrogacy on December 8.
- The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021 was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 1. It was passed by a voice vote in the Upper House
Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2021
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4. Human Rights Violation Data by Ministry of Home Affairs
Tags: National News
According to data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Rajya Sabha on 8th December 2021, around 40% of human rights violation cases lodged annually by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the past three financial years till this October 31 were from Uttar Pradesh.
Highlights:
- The total number of rights’ violation cases lodged by the NHRC reduced from 89,584 in 2018-19 to 76,628 in 2019-20 and to 74,968 in 2020-21. In 2021-22, the data showed.
- Of the total number of cases, Uttar Pradesh accounted for 41,947 cases in 2018-19, 32,693 cases in 2019-20, 30,164 in 2020-21 and 24,242 in 2021-22 till October 31.
- Current Chairman of the NHRC : Justice Arun Kumar Mishra
5. Cabinet Nod for Ken-Betwa River Linking Project
Tags: National News
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the funding and implementation of the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project. It is the first out of the 30 projects of the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers.
Highlights-
- Benefit Water Starved Districts of the Bundelkhand region of MP and UP like Panna, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpuri and Raisen of Madhya Pradesh, and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh,
- The total cost of the project Rs 44,605 crore at the 2020-21 price level. The Centre would fund Rs 39,317 crore for the project, with Rs 36,290 crore as a grant and Rs 3,027 crore as a loan.
- The project involves transferring surplus water from the Ken river to the Betwa river through the construction of the Daudhan dam and a canal linking the two rivers, the Lower Orr Project, Kotha Barrage, and the Bina Complex Multipurpose Project
- The project is slated to irrigate 10.62 lakh hectares annually, provide drinking water supply to 62 lakh people and generate 103 MW of hydropower and 27 MW of solar power.
- The project is proposed to be completed in eight years.
- The project is expected to boost socio-economic prosperity in the backward Bundelkhand region on account of increased agricultural activities and employment generation.
- It would also help in arresting distress migration from this region
- The project will partly submerge the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and affect the habitat of vultures and jackals, which is the major environmental and wildlife concern hindering the progress of the project for all these years.
- The two states signed a tripartite agreement with the Centre on World Water Day (22nd March) to finally implement this ambitious project.
- After years of protests, it was finally cleared by the apex wildlife regulator, the National Board for Wildlife, in 2016
Ken and Betwa Rivers
Benefits of river interlinking:
National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers:
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6. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and 12 others killed in Chopper Crash
Tags: National News
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and 12 others killed in Chopper Crash
India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Laxman Singh Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat, an army Brigadier, Lieutenant, Wing Commander, Squadron Leader and 7 others were killed in a chopper crash in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu.
The helicopter Mi-17-V5 had taken off from Sulur Air Force base in Coimbatore ,Tamil Nadu to the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Tamil Nadu to address the faculty and student officers of the ‘Staff Course’.
| Sulur Airforce Station Base It is the second largest Air base in India after Hindon Airbase in Uttar Pradesh . It is located near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It was set up a Naval base in 1940 as HMS Vairi. In 1955 the base was transferred to the Indian Air Force . The airbase is home to: 109 Helicopter Unit nicknamed “Knights” that operates the Russia-made chopper, 33 squadron “Himalayan Geese” that flies Antonov-32 fixed wing transport aircraft, two squadrons of the indigenous light combat aircraft “Tejas” and the 151 Helicopter Unit of the popular air display team “Sarang” that flies the advanced light helicopters, Dhruv, built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. |
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) The Chief Of Defence Staff (CDS) was set up by the Government of India in 2020 on the recommendation of the Kargil Committee headed by K.Subramanyam in 2000. The first CDS was Gen. Bipin Rawat who joined the office on 1 January 2020. The Chief of Defence Staff is described as the ‘first among equals among the service chiefs. The CDS is a four-star General/Officer who will act as the Principal Military Advisor to the Defence Minister on all tri-services (Army, Navy, and Indian Air Force) matters. Roles and Functions-
Service Conditions-
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Coonoor Located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. It has an average elevation of 1,850 meters (6,070 feet) above sea level. Nilgiri Mountains are part of the Western Ghats. (Highest Peak - Doddabetta, at 2,637 metres (8,652 ft)). The Nilgiri Hills are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (itself part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves) and form a part of the protected bio reserves in India. Nigiri mountains are also known as Blue mountains due to the bluish flowers of kurinji shrubs endemic to that area. The Nilgiri Hills are separated from the Mysore Plateau to the north by the Moyar River Nilgiri is surrounded by 3 national parks -
Tribal people of the Nilgiri hills include Badagas, Todas, Kotas, Irullas and Kurumbas. They mainly depend on forests for their day-to-day life. In July 2005 UNESCO recognized Nilgiri Mountain Railway as a World Heritage Site |
MI-17-V5 Helicopter The Mi-17 (NATO reporting name: Hip) is a Soviet-designed Russian military helicopter family produced by Kazan Helicopters. It is known as the Mi-8M series in Russian service. The helicopter is mostly used as a transport helicopter for various humanitarian and disaster relief missions, troop and arms transport, fire support, convoy escort, patrol, and search-and-rescue (SAR) missions as well as an armed gunship version. Indian Air Force is using this since 2012 |
The Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) It is a defense service training institution of the Ministry of Defence located in Wellington, Tamil Nadu It trains officers of all three services of the Indian Armed Forces – (Indian Military Service, Indian Naval Service, Indian Airforce Service), selected officers from the Paramilitary forces and the Civil Services, and Officers from friendly foreign countries for command and staff appointments. |
7. US to diplomatic boycott Beijing winter olympics
Tags: International News
The US has announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in China, a move that has been heavily criticised by Beijing.
The White House said no official delegation would be sent to the Games because of concerns about China's human rights record especially its treatment of Uighur muslim in Xinjinag provinces.
However American sports persons will participate in the winter olympic games.
Following the US announcement, New Zealand and Australia also announced a diplomatic boycott of the games though their athletes be participating in the games.
Winter Olympics Games The winter olympics games are organised every fours by the International Olympic Committee . The games include sports which are played on snow and ice. The Summer and Winter olympics were organised by the International Olympics Committee in the same year but in 1986 it was decided to hold the two games separately on separate four-year cycles in alternating even-numbered years. So after the 1992 winter games next was the Winter games held in 1994 while the Summer Olympics was held in 1996 after 1992. The first Winter Olympic Games was held in 1924 at Chamonix, France. 24th Games will be held in Beijing, China 2022. 25th games will be held in Milan–Cortina d'Ampezzo , Italy. |
8. India adds Ghana and Tanzania in the list of “at-risk” countries
Tags: National News
India has added Ghana and Tanzania to the list of “at risk” countries, passengers from where have to follow additional COVID-19 testing and quarantine measures. Countries in Europe, including the U.K., and South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tanzania and Israel have been placed in the “at risk” category.
Last week, the Government announced stricter protocols for passengers arriving from “at-risk” countries which require mandatory testing on arrival in India. Passengers have to wait for their test results, which can take up to six hours, before they exit the airport or take a connecting flight.
9. Government has constituted Tribal Advisory Council in all states having Scheduled Areas
Tags: National News
Tribes Advisory Council (TAC) have been constituted in 10(Ten) states having Scheduled Areas there in namely Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Rajasthan.
According to the provisions of Paragraph 4, under Article 244(1) of Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, the Tribes Advisory Councils (TAC) shall be established in each State having Scheduled Areas therein and, if the President so directs, also in any State having Scheduled Tribes but not Scheduled Areas therein.
Tribes Advisory Council shall consist of not more than 20 members of whom, as nearly as may be, three-fourths shall be representatives of Scheduled Tribes in State Legislative Assembly provided that if number of representatives of STs in State Assembly is less than number of seats in TAC to be filled by such representatives, remaining seats shall be filled by other members of those tribes.
The main function of the Tribes Advisory Council is to advise on such matters pertaining to the welfare and advancement of the Scheduled Tribes in the State as may be referred to them by the Governor.
10. Suu Kyi sentenced to four years in prison
Tags: International News
The military junta ruling Myanmar has sentenced the deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi for four years for incitement against the military and breaching COVID-19 rules,
Ms. Suu Kyi, 76, has been detained since the Generals staged a coup and ousted her Government on February 1, ending the Southeast Asian country’s brief period of democracy.
U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Monday denounced a four-year jail term handed down to Myanmar’s ousted leader Suu Kyi after a “sham trial” and called for her immediate release.
Western countries have demanded Ms. Suu Kyi’s release and condemned the violence since the coup in which some 1,300 people have been killed,
Myanmar was earlier called Burma.
Capital : Naypyidaw
Currency : Myanmar Kyat
President : Military leader Min Aung Hlaing
Aung San Suu Kyi She is the youngest daughter of the Burmese Father of the Nation Aung Sang. She studied in Delhi University and she rose to prominence for leading a democracy movement against the army rule in Myanmar. Her Party National League for Democracy(NLD) won the 1990 election but she was jailed and put in house arrest for almost 15 years She became the face of the Pro democracy movement in the world She got the Nobel Peace Prize 1991. Her Party won the 2015 General election and she became the State Counsellor(Prime Minister ). On 1 February 2021, Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested and deposed by the Myanmar military, along with other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party, after the Myanmar military declared the November 2020 general election results fraudulent. |
