Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 14 April 2022

Daily Current Affairs 14 April 2022

Important News: World

Global Wind Report 2022

Why in News

The Global Wind Report for 2022 has been published by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

Key Points

Highlights of the Report:

Wind energy installations every year across the world must quadruple from the 94 GW installed in 2021 within this decade to meet the global climate targets.
Without the necessary amplification, restricting global warming over pre-industrial levels to 1.5 degrees Celsius — a target set by the Paris Agreement — and achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 may become difficult.
New offshore installations in 2022 are likely to decline to the 2019 / 2020 levels, primarily due to the reduction of installations in China.
However, market growth is expected to regain momentum from 2023, eventually passing the 30GW-mark in 2026.
Carbon dioxide emissions can reduce by 0.3-1.61 gigatonnes every year by 2050 if offshore wind energy generation is scaled up.

Scope in India:

In India, more than 1.4 GW of wind was installed in 2021, exceeding the 1.1 GW of installations during the previous year.
The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set a target of installing 5 GW of offshore capacity by 2022 and 30 GW by 2030. India is yet to develop its offshore wind energy facility.
India can generate 127 GW of offshore wind energy with its 7,600 km of coastline.

Related Initiatives:

National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy
National Offshore Wind Energy Policy

Source: DTE

Important News: India

India holds maiden MEA-led Inter-Ministerial Coordination Group on Neighbourhood outreach

Why in News

Recently, the first meeting of Inter-Ministerial Coordination Group (IMCG) on India’s neighbourhood outreach was convened by Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

Key Points

The focus of the meeting was construction of border infrastructure that would facilitate greater trade with neighbours like Nepal; special needs of countries such as Bhutan and Maldives in terms of supply of essential commodities; opening rail connectivity with Bangladesh; Humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and Myanmar; and Fisheries issue with Sri Lanka.

About Inter-Ministerial Coordination Group (IMCG):

IMCG is supported by inter-ministerial joint task forces (JTFs) convened by joint secretaries in the External Affairs Ministry.
A whole-of-government approach has been adopted to ensure greater connectivity, stronger inter-linkages and greater people-to-people connect under the “Neighbourhood First” policy.
This includes coordination with various ministries, departments, and agencies of the Central and state governments.

Source: ET

‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’ program

Why in News

Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched ‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’ program in additional 126 cities across 14 States/ UTs.

Key Points

About ‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’ program:

‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’, an additional program of PMSVANidhi was launched on 4^thJanuary 2021 in 125 cities in Phase 1, covering approximately 35 Lakh Street vendors and their families.
Considering the success of Phase I, MoHUA launched the program expansion to additional 126 cities with an aim to cover 28 Lakh Street vendors and their families, with a total target of 20 Lakh scheme sanctions for FY 2022-23.

About PMSVANidhi Scheme:

MoHUA has been implementing Prime Minister Street Vendors AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), a Central Sector Scheme since 1^stJune 2020.
The scheme aims to provide an affordable working capital loan to Street Vendors and has successfully crossed the 30 Lakh mark.
Under the program, socio-economic profiling of PMSVANidhi beneficiaries and their families is conducted to assess their eligibility for 8 Government of India’s welfare schemes and facilitate sanctions of eligible schemes.
These schemes include Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, PM Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Registration under Building and other Constructions Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act (BOCW), Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana, National Food Security Act (NFSA) portability benefit – One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC), Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).
Quality Council of India (QCI) is the implementing partner for the programme.

Source: PIB

For the first time in 11 years, the number of domestic patent filing surpasses the number of international patent filing in India

Why in News

India achieved yet another milestone in context of IP innovation ecosystem, wherein for the first time in the last 11 years, the number of domestic patent filing has surpassed the number of international patent filing at Indian patent office in the Quarter Jan-Mar 2022 i.e. of the total 19796 patent applications filed, 10706 were filed by Indian applicants against 9090 by non-Indian applicants.

Key Points

Some of the key initiatives taken by the Government over the years that has bolstered India's IP regime includes fee concessions like 10% rebate on online filing, 80% fee concession for Start-ups, Small Entities and educational institutions, and provisions on expedited examination for Startups and MSMEs along with other categories.
It will take India a step closer to India’s ambitious target of being in the top 25 nations of Global Innovation Index.

The cornerstone laid down by National IPR policy and the efforts made by the Government has transpired into the following achievements for India:

Filing of patents have increased from 42763 in 2014-15 to 66440 in 2021-22, more that 50% increase in a span of 7 years
Nearly five times increase in grant of patents in 2021-22 (30,074) as compared to 2014-15 (5978)
Reduction in Time of patent examination from 72 months in Dec 2016 to 5-23 months at present, for different technological areas
India’s ranking in Global Innovation Index has increased to 46th in 2021(+35 ranks) as compared to from 81st in 2015-16

Source: Business Standard

Important News: State

Mumbai recognized as ‘2021 Tree City of the World’ by United Nations

Why in News

Mumbai has been recognised as ‘2021 Tree City of the World’ by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) jointly with Arbor Day Foundation.

Key Points

Mumbai received recognition for its “commitment to growing and maintaining urban trees and greenery in building healthy, resilient and happy cities”.
Mumbai is the second city in India to receive this distinction.
Previously, Hyderabad was the only city in India to receive this honour.
The United Nations’ ‘Tree City of the World’ programme provides direction, assistance, and worldwide recognition for communities’ dedication to its urban forest, and provides a framework for a healthy, sustainable urban forestry.

Source: Indian Express

Important News: Appointment

Iqbal Singh Lalpura reappointed as Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities

Why in News

The central government re-appointed retired Punjab-cadre IPS Officer Iqbal Singh Lalpura as the chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM).

Key Points

Lalpura, who was first appointed as chairman in September last year, had to resign from the post in December to contest as the BJP candidate from Ropar assembly constituency, which he lost.

About National Commission for Minorities (NCM):

The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.
Six religious communities, viz; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians and Jains have been notified in Gazette of India as minority communities by the Union Government all over India.
Founded: 17 May 1993
Headquarters: New Delhi

Source: HT

Important News: Award and Honours

NMDC wins two awards at 80th SKOCH Summit 2022

Why in News

The largest iron ore producer of India, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC), under Ministry of Steel awarded one gold and one silver award in the 80^thSKOCH Summit 2022.

Key Points

The theme for the SKOCH Summit was ‘State of BFSI & PSUs’.
NMDC won the Gold Award in the category social responsibility for the project ‘Promotion of Technical Education & Skill Development in Dantewada District through NMDC ITI Bhansi’ and the Silver Award in the category digital inclusion for the ‘Project Kalpataru’ for ERP implementation.

Source: The Hindu

Important News: Sports

Netherlands lift fourth FIH Junior Women's Hockey World Cup 2022 title

The Netherlands lifted their fourth FIH Junior Women's Hockey World Cup 2022 title after beating Germany in the final at Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Earlier, England defeated India in the shoot-out after a 2-2 draw to claim the bronze medal in the third-place match.
The 2022 Women's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup is the ninth edition of the Women's FIH Hockey Junior World Cup, the biennial women's under-21 field hockey world championship organized by the International Hockey Federation.

Source: newsonair

Important News: Important Days

April 14, World Chagas Disease Day

Why in News

World Chagas Disease Day is celebrated on April 14 to raise awareness around chagas disease.

Key Points

The theme for 2022 is ‘finding and reporting every case to defeat chagas disease’.

History:

It was first celebrated on April 14, 2020, following the approval and endorsement received by the World Health Assembly at WHO in May 2019.
It was named after Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, the Brazilian doctor who diagnosed the first case on April 14, 1909.

Note: World Chagas Disease Day is one of 11 official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Tuberculosis Day, World Health Day, World Malaria Day, World Immunization Week, World No Tobacco Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Hepatitis Day, World Patient Safety Day, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week and World AIDS Day.

Source: who.int