Daily Current Affairs: 14:02:2022
Important News: World
1. India ranked 46th in EIU’s Democracy Index 2021
Why in News
- According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), India has ranked 46th position in the 2021 Democracy Index’s global ranking.
- With the highest score of 9.75, Norway topped the Democracy Index.
Key Points
- India scored 6.91 to rank 46th on the Index.
Top 3 countries in the list: Norway, New Zealand, Finland
- Afghanistan occupies the bottom place in the index.
- Out of 167 countries included in the survey by EIU, only 21 countries have been put under the category of full democracy while 53 are included under the flawed democracy category.
- 34 countries are counted among hybrid democracies and 59 are authoritarian governments.
About the Index:
- The Democracy Index is an index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research division of the Economist Group, a UK-based private company which publishes the weekly newspaper The Economist.
- The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released its report on the state of democracy in 2021 across 165 independent countries and 2 territories.
- The Democracy Index is based on 60 indicators, grouped into five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, functioning of government, political participation and political culture.
- The report has been further bifurcated into a full democracy, flawed democracy, hybrid regime, and authoritarian.
Source: newsonair
2. US announces Indo-Pacific strategy to support India's continued rise and regional leadership
Why in News
- US President Joe Biden's administration released its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy.
- The document focuses on building collective capacity to deal with challenges in the region - China’s assertiveness, the pandemic and climate change, among others.
- The Indo-Pacific strategic report was released as part of the Quad Ministerial with foreign ministers of Australia, India, Japan and the US.
Key Points
- The strategy document said, the US will continue to support India’s rise and regional leadership, working with India bilaterally and through groups on a range of issues.
- It refers to India as a “like-minded partner” and “driving force” in the Quad.
- These include a focus on challenges from China, advancing the U.S. relationship, a ‘Major Defense Partnership’ with India and supporting its role as a net security provider in the region.
Source: ET
Important News: India
3. “SMILE” scheme
Why in News
- Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar launched the Central Sector scheme “SMILE: Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise”.
Key Points
- The two sub-schemes of SMILE - ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’and ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of engaged in the act of Begging’ – provide comprehensive welfare and rehabilitation measures to the Transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging.
- The Ministry has allocated Rs. 365 Crore for the scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
About ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’:
- The Sub-scheme - ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’- includes various components.
- It provides Scholarships for Transgender Studentsstudying in IX and till post-graduation to enable them to complete their education.
- It has provisions for Skill Development and Livelihoodunder the PM-DAKSH scheme.
- Through Composite Medical Health itprovides a comprehensive package in convergence with PM-JAY supporting Gender-Reaffirmation surgeries through selected hospitals.
- The Housing facility in the form of ‘Garima Greh’ ensures food, clothing, recreational facilities, skill development opportunities, recreational activities and medical support etc. to the Transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging.
- The Provision of Transgender Protection Cellin each state will monitor cases of offences and to ensure timely registration, investigation and prosecution of offences.
About ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of engaged in the act of Begging’:
- The sub-scheme - ‘Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’ – will focus on Survey and identification, Mobilisation, Rescue/ Shelter Home andComprehensive resettlement.
- Besides, pilot projects have been initiated on Comprehensive Rehabilitation in ten cities namely Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna and Ahmedabad.
Source: PIB
4. AIM, NITI Aayog & UNDP India launch Community Innovator Fellowship
Why in News
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog in collaboration with UNDP, India launched the Community Innovator Fellowship (CIF).
Key Points
About Community Innovator Fellowship (CIF):
- The fellowship is developed as a pre-incubation model which will provide youth with an opportunity to establish their social enterprise focusing on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) based solutions for solving community issues.
- This is going to be a one-year-long intensive fellowship program which has been designed for an aspiring community innovator irrespective of their socio-economic background.
- During the course of this fellowship, each fellow will be hosted at one of the AIM’s Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) and shall acquire SDG awareness, entrepreneurial skills and life skills while they are working on their idea.
About Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs):
- ACICs have been established with a focus to develop the start-up and innovation ecosystem in the underserved regions of the country.
- Currently, there are 12 ACICs across 9 states in the country and the target is to establish 50 such centres in the country.
Source: PIB
5. Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF)
Why in News
- The Central Government has approved 26,275 crore rupees central financial outlay from 2021-22 to 2025-26 for Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF).
Key Points
- The umbrella scheme of Modernisation of Police Forces (MPF) comprises all relevant sub-schemes that contribute to modernization and improvement.
- Provision has been made under the Scheme for internal security, law and order, adoption of modern technology by Police, assisting States for narcotics control and strengthening the criminal justice system by developing a robust forensic set-up in the country.
Salient Features of the scheme:
- The Scheme for modernization of State police forces has a Central outlay of Rs.4,846 crore.
- A central Scheme for Modernisation of Forensic Capacities with outlay of Rs.2,080.50 crore has been approved.
- Central outlay of Rs.18,839 crore has been earmarked for security related expenditure for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, insurgency affected North Eastern States and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas.
- Central sector scheme of ‘Assistance to States & Union Territories for Narcotics Control with outlay of Rs.50 crore has been continued.
Source: TOI
Important News: Appointment
6. Munishwar Nath Bhandari new Chief Justice of Madras High Court
Why in News
- Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari has been appointed Chief Justice of the Madras High Court.
Key Points
- Justice M N Bhandari was transferred to the Madras High Court in November, 2021 and he assumed office as the Acting Chief Justice (ACJ).
Note:
- The Madras High Court, officially renamed High Court of Tamil Nadu, is the second oldest High Court of India after the Calcutta High Court in Kolkata.
- Chief Justice of India (48th): N V Ramana
Important News: Personality
7. Rahul Bajaj, former chairman of Bajaj Group, passes away
- Industrialist and former chairman of Bajaj Group, Rahul Bajaj passed away at 83.
- Rahul Bajaj acted as the chairman of the Bajaj Group for 50 years.
- He was awarded with the third-highest civilian award Padma Bhushan in 2001.
- Bajaj also served as a Rajya Sabha MP from 2006-10.
Source: Indian Express
Important News: Books
8. A book titled “Atal Bihari Vajpayee” authored by Sagarika Ghose
Why in News
- Recently, a book titled “Atal Bihari Vajpayee” authored by Sagarika Ghose has been launched.
Key Points
- The book is a biography of the former Prime Minister of India “Atal Bihari Vajpayee”.
- Sagarika Ghose is a senior journalist. She is the author of the bestselling biography Indira: India’s Most Powerful Prime Minister.
Important News: Important Days
9. February 13, World Radio Day
Why in News
- World Radio Day is celebrated on 13 February every year.
Key Points
- The theme of World Radio Day 2022 is "Radio and Trust".
History
- World Radio Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2011.
- It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day.
- February 13 was chosen as it is the day on which the United Nations established the United Nations Radio in 1946.
Source: un.org
10. February 13, National Women's Day
Why in News
- National Women's Day is celebrated on the birth anniversary (February 13) of the Nightingale of India, Sarojini Naidu.
Key Points
- Sarojini Naidu played a major role in India's struggle for freedom against British colonial rule.
- She participated in the non-cooperation movement and Quit India movement.
- After independence, Sarojini Naidu was appointed as the Governor of the United Provinces which is present-day Uttar Pradesh, making her India's first woman governor.
Note: International Women's Day is celebrated annually on 8 March.
Source: India Today
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