Daily Current Affairs 14.03.2022
Important News: World
Biological and Chemical Weapons Convention
Why in News
- United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members have accused Russia of spreading false information that Ukraine is developing biological weapons.
Key Points
Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC):
- It is a multilateral treaty banning chemical weapons and requiring their destruction within the stipulated time.
- Negotiations for the CWC began in 1980 at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament.
- The convention was drafted in September 1992 and opened for signature in January 1993. It became effective from April 1997.
Biological Weapons Convention:
- It is a key element in the international community’s efforts to address Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) proliferation and it has established a strong norm against biological weapons.
- Formally known as “The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction”, the Convention was negotiated by the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland.
- It opened for signature on 10th April 1972 and entered into force on 26th March 1975.
- It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
Source: newsonair
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
Why in News
- India and Canada held the fifth Ministerial Dialogue on Trade & Investment (MDTI).
- Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food, and Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal and Ms. Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Government of Canada co-chaired the MDTI.
- The Ministers agreed to formally re-launch the negotiations for India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and also consider an Interim Agreement or Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) that could bring early commercial gains to both the countries.
Key Points
- The Interim Agreement would include high level commitments in goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and dispute settlement, and may also cover any other areas mutually agreed upon.
- Canada also agreed to examine expeditiously the request for Conformity Verification Body (CVB) status to APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) for facilitating Indian organic export products.
India’s Current Trade Relation with Canada:
- India is Canada’s 11th largest export market, and 12th largest trading partner overall.
Source: newsonair
Important News: India
‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Challenge’ under AMRUT 2.0
Why in News
- Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) & Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri launched the ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Challenge’ under the Ministry’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0.
Key Points
- In line with the vision of the Prime Minister of India, Technology Sub-mission to engage startups as ‘Technology Partner’ has been approved by the Cabinet under AMRUT 2.0.
- The Mission aims to empower startups in the water/ used-water sector to grow through innovation and design that will drive sustainable economic growth and generate employment opportunities.
- Under this initiative, the Ministry will select 100 start-ups which will be provided Rs.20 lakhs as funding support as well as mentorship.
About AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation):
- AMRUT was launched in 500 cities on 25 June 2015, with an aim to provide universal coverage of water supply in 500 selected AMRUT cities and substantial improvement in sewerage coverage.
- Recently, the Government has launched Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 on 1 October 2021 aimed to create water secure cities, providing universal coverage of water in all statutory towns and 100% coverage of sewerage/ septage management in 500 AMRUT cities.
Source: Business Standard
National Youth Parliament Festival 2022
Why in News
- Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla addressed the valedictory function of the 3rd edition of National Youth Parliament Festival -2022 in the Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi.
Key Points
- National Youth Parliament is an innovative programme to equip youth with the understanding of parliamentary procedures and democratic processes.
About National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF):
- It is organised to hear the voice of the youth, who will join various careers in coming years, including public services.
- NYPF is based on the idea given by the Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat Address on 31st December, 2017.
- Taking inspiration from the idea, the 1st edition of NYPF was organised in 2019.
Source: PIB
“Strengthening of Pharmaceutical Industry (SPI)" scheme
Why in News
- Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has released the guidelines for the scheme “Strengthening of Pharmaceutical Industry (SPI)", with a total financial outlay of Rs.500 Cr for the period from FY 21-22 to FY 25-26.
Key Points
- The scheme will address the rising demand in terms of support required to existing Pharma clusters and MSMEs across the country to improve their productivity, quality and sustainability
- Under the Scheme, financial assistance to pharma clusters will be provided for creation of Common Facilities.
- Further, in order to upgrade the production facilities of SMEs and MSMEs so as to meet national and international regulatory standards (WHO-GMP or Schedule-M), interest subvention or capital subsidy on their capital loans will be provided, which will further facilitate the growth in volumes as well as in quality.
Source: PIB
Rashtriya Raksha University
Why in News
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a building of Rashtriya Raksha University to the nation and delivered its first Convocation address at Ahmedabad.
Key Points
- Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) was set up to meet the need for high quality trained manpower in various wings of policing, criminal justice and correctional administration.
- Government set up a national police university named Rashtriya Raksha University by upgrading the Raksha Shakti University which was established by the Government of Gujarat in 2010.
- The University, which is an Institution of National Importance, commenced its operations from 1st October, 2020.
Note: Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 11th Khel Mahakumbh at Ahmedabad.
Source: India Today
Important News: State
Skoch State of Governance ranking in 2021
Why in News
- The Andhra Pradesh government has once again bagged the top rank in the Skoch State of Governance rankings 2021.
- The second rank was bagged by West Bengal and Odisha was ranked 3, Gujarat was ranked 4 and Maharashtra was ranked 5.
Key Points
- Andhra Pradesh also bagged top position in police and safety, agriculture, district administration and rural development.
- According to a release, Andhra Pradesh retained the first rank for the second consecutive year.
- In 2020 too, Andhra Pradesh bagged top rank in governance.
About SKOCH Group:
- SKOCH Group is India’s leading think tank dealing with socio-economic issues with a focus on inclusive growth since 1997.
- The group companies include a consulting wing, a media wing and a charitable foundation.
- The SKOCH Group has released the SKOCH Governance Report Card for 2021 in New Delhi, ranking the states according to their performance in various projects at state, district, and Email Article Print Article municipal levels.
Source: The Hindu
Important News: Appointment
Debasish Panda was appointed as IRDAI Chairperson
Why in News
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of former DFS Secretary Debasish Panda, a retired IAS officer, as the Chairperson of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
Key Points
- Debasish Panda has been initially appointed for a period of three years.
- Panda had demitted office as the Secretary of Department of Financial Services (DFS) in the Finance Ministry on January 31 this year after a two-year stint.
About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI):
- It is a regulatory body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India and is tasked with regulating and licensing the insurance and re-insurance industries in India.
- Founded: 1999
- Headquarters: Hyderabad
- The IRDAI is a 10-member body with a Chairman, five Whole-time members and four part-time members.
Source: The Hindu
Supreme Court appoints ex-judge AK Sikri as Char Dham project panel head
Why in News
- The Supreme Court urged its former Justice AK Sikri to take over as the Chairman of the high-powered committee constituted by it to “consider the cumulative and independent impact of the Char Dham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojana (Char Dham Highway Development Project) on the entire Himalayan valley”.
Key Points
- A Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant requested Justice Sikri to accept the assignment as Ravi Chopra, current Chairman of the committee, had opted to quit.
- The project envisages the construction of 900-km roads to provide all-weather connectivity to four holy towns — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — in Uttarakhand.
- Ravi Chopra had earlier opposed the Centre’s demand for a 10-metre carriageway and insisted that it be limited to 5.5 metres keeping in mind environmental concerns.
Source: Indian Express
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