Daily Current Affairs 10.05.2022
Important News: World
Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns amid economic crisis
Why in News
- Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned amid mass protests at the government's handling of the economic crisis.
Key Points
- The move came as the island was placed under curfew after violent clashes between Rajapaksa supporters and anti-government protesters in Colombo.
- Earlier, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had declared a State of Emergency in the country. It was the second time that emergency was declared in Sri Lanka in just over a month.
- Sri Lanka's foreign currency reserves have virtually run dry, and it can no longer afford essential items including food, medicines and fuel.
Note: The island nation is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948.
Source: BBC
Monkey pox
Why in News
- Health authorities in the United Kingdom (UK) have confirmed a case of monkeypox, a rare viral infection similar to smallpox, in an individual who recently travelled to that country from Nigeria.
Key Points
About Monkeypox virus:
- The monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus, which is a genus of viruses that also includes the variola virus, which causes smallpox, and vaccinia virus, which was used in the smallpox vaccine.
- Monkeypox causes symptoms similar to smallpox, although they are less severe.
- While vaccination eradicated smallpox worldwide in 1980, monkeypox continues to occur in a swathe of countries in Central and West Africa.
- Monkeypox is a zoonosis, that is, a disease that is transmitted from infected animals to humans.
- Monkeypox virus infection has been detected in squirrels, Gambian poached rats, dormice, and some species of monkeys.
Symptoms:
- According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monkeypox begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, back ache, and exhaustion.
Occurrence of disease:
- The CDC’s monkeypox overview says the infection was first discovered in 1958 following two outbreaks of a pox-like disease in colonies of monkeys kept for research — which led to the name ‘monkeypox’.
- The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox.
Source: Indian Express
Important News: India
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) complete 7 years of providing social security net
Why in News
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) complete 7 years of providing social security net.
- PMJJBY, PMSBY and APY were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9thMay, 2015 from Kolkata, West Bengal.
Key Points
- These three social security schemes are dedicated to the welfare of the citizens, recognising the need for securing human life from unforeseen risks/losses and financial uncertainties.
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY):
- Scheme: PMJJBY is a one-year life insurance scheme renewable from year to year offering coverage for death due to any reason.
- Benefits: Life cover of Rs. 2 Lakh in case of death due to any reason against a premium of Rs. 330/- per annum.
- Achievements: As on 27.04.2022, the cumulative enrolments under the scheme have been more than 12.76 crore and an amount of Rs. 11,522 crore has been paid for 5,76,121 claims.
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY):
- Scheme: PMSBY is a one-year accidental insurance scheme renewable from year to year offering coverage for death or disability due to accident.
- Benefits: Accidental death cum disability covers of Rs.2 lakh (Rs.1 lakh in case of partial disability) for death or disability due to an accident.
- Achievements: As on 27.04.2022, the cumulative enrolments under the scheme have been more than 28.37 crore and an amount of Rs. 1,930 crore has been paid for 97,227 claims.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY):
- Background:APY was launched to create a universal social security system for all Indians, especially the poor, the under-privileged and the workers in the unorganised sector. APY is administered by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) under the overall administrative and institutional architecture of the National Pension System (NPS).
- Benefits: Subscribers would receive the guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs. 1000 or Rs. 2000 or Rs. 3000 or Rs. 4000 or Rs. 5000 at the age of 60 years, based on the contributions made by the subscriber after joining the scheme.
- Achievements: As on 27.04.2022 more than 4 crore individuals have subscribed to the scheme.
Source: PIB
NMCG organises webinar on Waste Water Management
Why in News
- Recently, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in association with APAC News Network organised the 6thEdition of the monthly ‘Webinar with Universities’ series on ‘Igniting Young Minds, Rejuvenating Rivers’.
- The theme for the webinar was ‘Waste Water Management.’
Key Points
- The session was presided over by Asok Kumar, Director General, NMCG.
- The DG, NMCG said in 2014, Prime Minister launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan which became a huge success.
- In 2019, various departments dealing with water issues were merged to form the Jal Shakti Ministry to holistically deal with the challenges.
- This was followed by the launch and execution of Jal Shakti Abhiyan-1 and Jal Shakti Abhiyan-2: Catch the Rain, Where it Falls, When it Falls, focusing on asset creation & awareness generation and rainwater harvesting respectively.
- Monetization of sludge and treated water is one of the focus areas of Namami Gange Programme under the banner of ‘Arth Ganga’.
- Uunder Namami Gange Programme, around 164 Sewage Treatment Plants are being constructed worth Rs. 25000 crores that will help to treat around 5000 MLD of wastewater.
About National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG):
- NMCG was registered as a society on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act 1860.
- It acted as implementation arm of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA), 1986.
- NGRBA has since been dissolved with effect from the 7th October 2016, consequent to constitution of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (referred as National Ganga Council).
Source: PIB
Important News: State
Ladli Laxmi scheme-2.0: Madhya Pradesh govt
Why in News
- In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while launching the Ladli Laxmi scheme-2.0, has announced that the state government will pay the entire fee of Ladli Laxmis if they take admission to medical, IIT, IIM, or any institute.
- Ladli Laxmi Utsav will also be celebrated in MP from May 2 to May 12 every year.
- The Chief Minister also launched Ladli e-Sawad App.
Key Points
About Ladli Laxmi Yojana:
- In order to fulfill the responsibility of the girl child from birth to her marriage, the government in MP has implemented Ladli Laxmi Yojana from 1st April 2007.
- In Madhya Pradesh, more than 42 lakh girls have been registered till April 2022 this year under Ladli Laxmi scheme.
- 25 thousand rupees will be given separately by the state government in two installments to the Ladli Laxmis who take admission in the college.
Source: TOI
Important News: Appointment
Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia, Jamshed Burjor Pardiwala take oath as Supreme Court judges
Why in News
- Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Jamshed Burjor Pardiwala took oath as Supreme Court judges.
Key Points
- Chief Justice of India (CJI) N V Ramana administered the oath of office to them.
- Justice Dhulia was sworn in first followed by Justice Pardiwala. They would be judges 33 and 34, completing the sanctioned judicial strength of the court.
- The Supreme Court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges.
- The Supreme Court Collegium headed by CJI Ramana and also comprising Justices U U Lalit, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud, and L Nageswara Rao had recommended the names of Justice Dhulia, who was Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, and Justice Pardiwala, who was a judge in the Gujarat High Court, for appointment.
- With Justices Dhulia and Pardiwala, the Ramana Collegium has successfully seen to the appointment of a total 11 judges to the Supreme Court since August 2021.
- Of the 11 judges, Justice B.V. Nagarathna, is in line to be the first woman Chief Justice of India, albeit for 36 days, in 2027.
Source: The Hindu
Important News: Award and Honours
Nepal's Kami Rita Sherpa climbs Mount Everest for 26th time to set new world record
Why in News
- Nepal’s legendary climber Kami Rita Sherpa has climbed the Mount Everest, the tallest peak in the world for the 26th time to set a new world record.
Key Points
- Leading an 11-member rope fixing team, Kami Rita and his team reached the summit, breaking his own previous world record.
- He first climbed the Everest in May 1994.
About Mount Everest:
- Mount Everest is Earth's highest mountain above sea level, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas.
- The China–Nepal border runs across its summit point. Its elevation (snow height) of 8,848.86 m was most recently established in 2020 by the Chinese and Nepali authorities.
Source: HT
Important News: Personality
Eminent Odia litterateur Rajat Kumar Kar passes away
- Eminent Odia litterateur and a Padma Shri awardee, Rajat Kumar Kar passed away.
- Rajat Kumar Kar was conferred with Padma Shri Award in 2021 for his significant contribution in literature and education.
- He was also instrumental in the revival of Odisha’s dying Pala art.
Source: The Hindu
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