Daily Current Affairs 15.03.2022
Important News: World
Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR)
Why in News
- S. President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. and others in the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies would end Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Russia as Moscow pursues its invasion of Ukraine.
- Additional steps announced by Mr. Biden included an effort by the G7 to stop Russia from borrowing from international institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Key Points
About Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR):
- PNTR is a legal designation in the United States for free trade with a foreign nation.
- The designation was changed from Most Favored Nation (MFN) to normal trade relations by Section 5003 of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.
About Most Favored Nation (MFN):
- In international economic relations and international politics, Most Favoured Nation (MFN) is a status or level of treatment accorded by one state to another in international trade.
- The term means the country which is the recipient of this treatment must nominally receive equal trade advantages as the "Most Favoured Nation" by the country granting such treatment (trade advantages include low tariffs or high import quotas).
- Article 1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), 1994, requires every WTO member country to accord MFN status to all other member countries.
Note: India suspended Pakistan’s MFN status in 2019 after a suicide attack by a Pakistan-based Islamist group killed 40 police. Pakistan never applied MFN status to India.
- The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Source: The Hindu
Important News: India
The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India declines by 10 points
Why in News
- The maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India has declined by 10 points as per the Special Bulletin on MMR released by the Registrar General of India.
Key Points
- MMR has declined from 113 in 2016-18 to 103 in 2017-19 (8.8 % decline).
- The country has been witnessing a progressive reduction in MMR from 130 in 2014-2016, 122 in 2015-17, 113 in 2016-18, and to 103 in 2017-19.
- With this persistent decline, India is on the verge of achieving the National Health Policy (NHP) target of 100/lakh live births by 2020 and certainly on track to achieve the SDG target of 70/ lakh live births by 2030.
- The number of states which have achieved the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target has now risen from 5 to 7 viz. Kerala (30), Maharashtra (38), Telangana (56), Tamil Nadu (58), Andhra Pradesh (58), Jharkhand (61), and Gujarat (70).
- There are now nine (9) States that have achieved the target of MMR set by the NHP which include the above 7 and the States of Karnataka (83) and Haryana (96).
Source: The Hindu
25 Years of TRAI Act
Why in News
- Recently, Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) organised a seminar on “25 Years of TRAI Act: Way Forward for Stakeholders (Telecom, Broadcasting, IT, AERA and Aadhaar)”.
- The seminar was inaugurated by Ashwini Vaishnav, the Union Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railways, to commemorate the 25 years long journey of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act.
- At the event, Shri Vaishnav also released the updated TDSAT Procedures 2005 and TDSAT Rules, 2003.
Key Points
- The objective of the seminar was to enhance awareness regarding the regulatory mechanisms, including dispute resolution, amongst stakeholders in Telecom, Broadcasting, IT, Airport Infrastructure and Aadhaar Sectors.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act:
- In the year 1997, TRAI Act was enacted to regulate the telecommunications sector in India.
- It also provided for a mechanism of dispute resolution among the stakeholders of the telecom sector.
- It was amended in 2000, establishing a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI.
Source: PIB
Important News: State
India’s first medical city ‘IndrayaniMedicity’ to come up in Maharashtra
Why in News
- Maharashtra Government has announced to set up the country’s first medical city named ‘IndrayaniMedicity’ in Pune district’s rural area.
Key Points
- IndrayaniMedicity will not only provide medical education and research facilities, but also all kinds of specialty treatment under one roof.
- The Medicity will be set up by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).
- It will be developed through a public-private partnership (PPP) with an investment of over Rs10,000 crore.
Source: HT
Important News: Appointment
Gabriel Boric becomes Chile's youngest president
Why in News
- Ex-student protest leader, Gabriel Boric Font has been appointed as the new and 36th President of Chile.
Key Points
- The 36-year-old leftist, Gabriel Boric is the youngest leader to hold the office in Chile’s history.
- Boric will hold the office for the period between 2022-2026.
Source: Indian Express
Important News: Sports
2022 German Open (Badminton): Lakshya Sen wins silver medal in men’s singles title
Why in News
- India's Lakshya Sen had to settle for silver after losing the men’s singles final to Thailand's KunlavutVitidsarn at the German Open Super 300 (German Open 2022).
Key Points
- Lakshya Sen has become the 1st Indian to clinch Silver medal in German Open 2022.
- The 2022 German Open was the fourth tournament of the 2022 BWF World Tour and was part of the German Open championships, which had been held since 1955.
Source: India Today
Important News: Important Days
March 15, World Consumer Rights Day
Why in News
- The consumer movement marks 15th March with World Consumer Rights Day every year, as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights and needs.
Key Points
- The theme of World Consumer Rights Day 2022 is ‘Fare Digital Finance’.
History:
- World Consumer Rights Day was inspired by President John F Kennedy, who sent a special message to the US Congress on 15th March 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights.
- The consumer movement first marked that date in 1983 and now uses the day every year to mobilise action on important issues and campaigns.
Note: In India, December 24 is celebrated annually as National Consumer Rights Day.
Source: HT
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