Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 11 April 2022

Daily Current Affairs 11 April 2022

Important News: World

UNGA votes to suspend Russia from Human Rights Council

Why in News

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council (HRC) amid its ongoing war with Ukraine.

Key Points

The resolution titled ‘Suspension of the rights of membership of the Russian Federation in the Human Rights Council’ was adopted with 93 votes in favour, 24 against and 58 abstentions, including India.
With this, Russia became the second country to have its membership rights stripped at the rights council, which was established in 2006.
In 2011, Libya was suspended by the assembly.

About United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC):

The United Nations Human Rights Council is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

Founded: 15 March 2006

Source: Indian Express

Important News: India

First ever NTCA meeting outside National Capital held at Arunachal Pradesh

Why in News

The 20th Meeting of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was held in Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Bhupender Yadav.
For the first time in history the NTCA meeting happened outside the national capital.

Key Points

The NTCA has prepared a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) to deal with the reintroduction and supplementation.
In order to help the tiger reserve managers assess their fire preparedness and manage the complete life cycle of forest fires, the NTCA has prepared a Forest Fire Audit Protocol for Tiger Reserves.
Based on the suggestions made by the committee, the technical manual on Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) of Tiger Reserves in India is being released by NTCA.
India harbors about 70% of the world’s tiger population in the wild.

About National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):

NTCA was established in December 2005, following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister of India for reorganised management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger Reserves in India.
A programme for protection called, 'Tiger Protection Program' (popularly known as Project Tiger) was started in 1973, by the Government of India in co-operation with WWF.

Source: PIB

Ministry of I&B constitutes Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) Promotion Task Force

Why in News

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) has constituted an Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) Promotion Task Force.

Key Points

The AVGC Promotion Task Force shall be headed by Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
The AVGC Promotion Task Force will submit its first action plan within 90 days.
The AVGC Promotion Task Force has been constituted to promote the AVGC sector in the country under the aegis of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comic sector in India has the potential to become the torch bearer of “Create in India” & “Brand India”.
India has the potential to capture 5% (~$40 billion) of the global market share by the year 2025, with an annual growth of around 25-30% and creating over 1,60,000 new jobs annually.

Source: The Hindu

Cabinet approves extension of Atal Innovation Mission

Why in News

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved continuation of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), till March 2023.

Key Points

The intended targets that will be achieved by AIM are:

Establishing 10000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs)
Establishing 101 Atal Incubation Centers (AICs)
Establishing 50 Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACICs)
Supporting 200 startups via the Atal New India Challenges
The total budgeted expenditure of Rs. 2000+ crore shall be incurred in the process of the establishment and supporting the beneficiaries.

About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):

The Mission has been set up under the NITI Aayog, in accordance with the Finance Minister's declaration in the 2015 Budget Speech.
The objectives of the AIM are to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country via interventions at school, university, research institutions, MSME and industry levels.

Source: Business Standard

Cabinet approves distribution of fortified rice across Government Schemes

Why in News

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has accorded its approval for supply of fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman-PM POSHAN [erstwhile Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM)] and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) of Government of India in all States and Union Territories (UTs) by 2024 in a phased manner.

Key Points

The entire cost of rice fortification (around Rs. 2,700 crore per annum) would be borne by the Govt. of India as part of food subsidy till its full implementation upto June, 2024.
The FCI and State Agencies are already engaged in procurement of fortified rice and so far nearly 88.65 LMT of fortified rice has been procured for the supply and distribution.
Earlier, the Centrally Sponsored Pilot Scheme on "Fortification of Rice and its Distribution under Public Distribution System" was implemented for a period of 3 years beginning from 2019-20.
Eleven States- Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand successfully distributed the fortified rice in their identified districts (one district per State) under the pilot scheme.

Source: Indian Express

‘AVSAR’ Scheme

Why in News

Airport Authority of India (AAI) has taken an initiative to allocate space to Self Help Groups (SHGs) at its airports for selling/showcasing the self-made products of their region through ‘AVSAR’ Scheme.

Key Points

About “AVSAR” (Airport as Venue for Skilled Artisans Of The Region) Scheme:

Under “AVSAR”, an opportunity to help the indigent to mobilize their households into functionally effective self-earned groups for self-reliance and self-dependence, has been provided.
Under this scheme, an area of 100-200 square feet has been earmarked at each AAI operated airport.
The space is being allotted to the self- help groups, turn on turn basis, for a duration of 15 days.
Few outlets have already been commissioned at Chennai, Agartala, Dehradun, Kushinagar, Udaipur & Amritsar Airport wherein SHGs operated by local women, are showcasing and marketing their homemade local products like Puffed Rice, Packaged Papad, Pickles, Bamboo based Ladies Bag/Bottle/Lamp Sets, local artefacts, traditional craft, natural dyes, embroidery and indigenous weaves with contemporary design to the air travellers.

Source: PIB

Important News: Defence

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh releases the third positive indigenisation list

Why in News

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the third positive indigenisation list of 101 items, comprising major equipment/platforms.
It is based on the first list (101) and second list (108) that were promulgated on August 21, 2020 and May 31, 2021 respectively.

Key Points

The list, notified by the Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence, lays special focus on equipment/systems, which are being developed and likely to translate into firm orders in the next five years.
These weapons and platforms are planned to be indigenised progressively with effect from December 2022 to December 2027.
These 101 items will, henceforth, be procured from local sources as per provisions of Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
The third list comprises highly complex Systems, Sensors, Weapons and Ammunitions like Light Weight Tanks, Mounted Arty Gun Systems, Guided Extended Range (GER) Rocket for PINAKA MLRS, Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH), Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV) etc.

Related Initiatives:

In May 2020, the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit under the automatic route in the defence sector was hiked from 49% to 74%.
Corporatization of the Ordnance Factory Boards
Defence India Startup Challenge
SRIJAN Portal
E-Biz Portal

Source: PIB

Important News: Award and Honours

Vice–President confers Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards and Lalit Kala Akademi Awards

Vice-President, M. Venkaiah Naidu presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship and Sangeet Natak Awards for the year 2018 to 44 eminent artists (4 Fellows and 40 awardees), and 3 Fellows and 20 National Awards of Lalit Kala Akademi for the year 2021 in a joint ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
Sangeet Natak Akademi has elected four Fellows in the year 2018 for their eminent contribution in the field of the Performing Arts, namely Shri Zakir Hussain, Shri Jatin Goswami, Dr. Sonal Mansingh and Shri Thiruvidaimarudur Kuppiah Kalyanasundaram.
The Lalit Kala Akademi has awarded the prestigious Fellowship to three outstanding artists with an expansive oeuvre namely Shri Himmat Shah, Shri Jyoti Bhatt and Shri Shyam Sharma.

About Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards:

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) are national honours bestowed by the Republic of India on performing artists as well as teachers and scholars in the field of performing arts.
The recipients are selected by the Akademi’s General Council, consisting of distinguished musicians, dancers, theatre artists and scholars in these disciplines and nominees of the Government of India, State Governments and Union Territories of the Indian Union.

Source: PIB

Important News: Books

Geetanjali Shree’s ‘Tomb of Sand’ first Hindi novel on International Booker shortlist

Why in News

Author Geetanjali Shree’s novel ‘Tomb of Sand’ became the first Hindi language work of fictionto be shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.

Key Points

Shree’s book, translated into English by Daisy Rockwell and described by the judges as “loud and irresistible novel”, will compete with five other titles from around the world for the prestigious 50,000 pounds literary prize, which is split evenly between the author and translator.
Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh-born Shree is an author of three novels and several story collections, with her work translated into English, French, German, Serbian, and Korean.
Complementing the Booker Prize for Fiction, the international prize is awarded every year for a single book that is translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.
The winner for 2022 will be announced at a ceremony in London on May 26.

Source: Indian Express

Important News: Important Days

April 10, World Homeopathy Day

Why in News

World Homeopathy Day is celebrated every year on April 10.

Key Points

World Homoeopathy Day is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of the founder of Homoeopathy, Dr. Christian Fredrich Samuel Hahnemann to mark his 267th birth anniversary.

Note:

A two-day scientific convention was organised on 9th& 10th April 2022 in New Delhi under the aegis of Ministry of Ayush by three apex bodies, namely, Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, National Commission for Homoeopathy and National Institute of Homoeopathy.
The theme of this scientific convention was ‘Homoeopathy: People’s Choice for Wellness’.

Source: Business Standard