Daily Current Affairs 28 June 2022 | WBCS, WBPSC, WBP

Daily Current Affairs 28.06.2022

 Important News: International

Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) Scheme

Why in News:

• The Partnership Plan for Global Infrastructure and Investment was formally launched by President Biden and the leaders of the G7.

key points:

• It is a $600 billion fund-raising plan for the developing world in a move seen as a counterpoint to China's Belt and Road plan.
• The initiative will be geared towards tackling climate change, improving global health, achieving gender equality, and building digital infrastructure.
• The infrastructure plan was first unveiled at the 2021 G7 summit in the UK.
• Initially known as Build Back Better World, the project was renamed PGII at the 2022 summit.

Source: The Hindu

5-day UN Ocean Conference

Why in News:

• The 5-day United Nations Oceans Conference was organized by the governments of Kenya and Portugal.

key points:

• During the conference, leaders of 130 countries of the world will deliberate for five days to explore the possibility of an international agreement on the protection of the world's oceans, seas, and marine resources.
• The Oceans Summit is being held at a crucial time as the world seeks to address the many challenges that require structural changes and innovative and green solutions to achieve SDG Goal 14, which includes oceans, seas, and marine resources. There has been a call for conservation and sustainable use of
• On the first day of the 5-day conference, the Indian delegation was led by the Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh along with other members of the Indian delegation.

Source: News on Air

Important News: National

Performance Standards for BIS EV Batteries

Why in News:

• Test specifications for Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) Traction Battery Packs and Systems (Performance Testing) for Electric Vehicles have been published by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

key points:

• The standard for battery packs and systems IS 17855:2022 ISO 12405-4:2018 Manufactured accordingly.
• The newly created standard covers testing procedures for basic characteristics of performance, reliability, and electrical performance for high power or high energy applications for battery packs and systems.
• BIS is the national standards body of India for the harmonious development of activities of standardization, marking, and quality certification of batteries.
• BIS has been made a National Standards Body of India under the BIS Act 2016.
• Certification, hallmarking, eco mark, compulsory registration, and laboratory services are included as functions of BIS.

Source: Indian Express

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect

Why in News:

• A special screening of the film 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' was organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi.

key points:

• Rocketry: The Nambi Effect is a drama film based on the life of former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientist and aerospace engineer Nambi Narayanan, who was accused of espionage in 1994.
• The film Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' had its world premiere during the 75th Cannes Film Festival.
• The film has been shot in many countries of the world, including India, Georgia, Russia, Serbia, and France. The film has been simultaneously made in Tamil, Hindi, and English, as well as dubbed and released in Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada languages.

Source: Indian Express

First Report on District Performance Grading Index (PGI-D) for the years 2018-19 and 2019-20 by the Ministry of Education

Why in News:

• The first report on the District Performance Grading Index (PGI-D) for the years 2018-19 and 2019-20 was released by the Ministry of Education.

key points:

• The Performance Grading Index (PGI) for the states has been prepared by the Department of School Education and Literacy and the report for the reference years 2017-18 to 2019-20 has been released.
• Based on the success of the State PGIs, the 83-indicator PGI for the district (PGI-D) is designed to grade the performance of all districts in school education.
• The PGI-D structure consists of a total weightage of 600 points across 83 indicators, which are grouped under 6 categories. These categories are further divided into 12 domains.
• The districts in PGI-D are divided into ten grades, i.e., the highest grade 'Daksh' is awarded to districts scoring more than 90% marks in that category or overall. The lowest grade in PGI-D is called Akanksha-3, which stands for a score of up to 10 percent of the total marks.

Source: PIB

Important News: State

Honey testing lab launched in Nagaland

Why in News:

• Honey Testing Lab was launched in Nagaland by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.

key points:

• During the event, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar also inaugurated a honey testing laboratory at Dimapur in Nagaland.
• The main objective of the Honey Testing Laboratory is to provide assistance to beekeepers and processors in testing the honey produced.
• India is one of the 5 largest producers of honey in the world, honey production in India has increased by 242 percent compared to the year 2005-06, while its export has increased by 265 percent.
• Adulteration is a major problem in the production of honey. It uses high fructose corn syrup or rice, tapioca, sugarcane, and beet syrups, the honey testing laboratory aims to reduce this adulteration.

Source: PIB

Important News: Economy

India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy Report

Why in News:

• A report titled 'India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy' has been released by NITI Aayog.

key points:

• The report is the first of its kind to present a comprehensive view and recommendations about the gig-platform economy in India.
• India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy report provide a scientific methodological approach to estimate the current size of the sector and the job creation potential.
• This report aims to leverage the potential of the gig-platform sector to accelerate access to finance through specially designed products for platform workers, self-employed in the business of selling regional and rural cuisine, street food, etc. Recommends engagement of employed persons with platforms to enable them to sell their products in towns and cities, in larger markets.
• Other recommendations from India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy report include conducting a separate calculation to estimate the size of the gig and platform workforce and gathering information during official counts to identify gig workers.

Source: The Hindu

Important Awards

"National Highway Excellence Award" 2021

Why in News:

• “National Highway Excellence Award” 2021 by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in the presence of Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari to companies/stakeholders for best performing road properties and toll plazas across the country were provided.

key points:

• With a view to strengthening and augment the road infrastructure in the country, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has launched 'National Highway Excellence' in the year 2018 with an objective to encourage stakeholders in the highway construction and maintenance process and inculcate a spirit of healthy competition among them. Awards' (NHEA) was launched.
• The objective of the National Highway Excellence Awards is to recognize and award companies with the best-performing road assets and toll plazas in the country.
• The awards have been allocated for the following categories for the year 2021 award cycle -

1. Excellence in Project Management
2. Excellence in Highway Safety
3. Excellence in Operations and Maintenance
4. Excellence in Toll Management
5. Innovation
6. Green highway
7. Excellent work in challenging conditions
8. Bridge construction
9. Tunnel construction

Source: PIB