Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 18 April 2022

Daily Current Affairs 18 April 2022

Important News: India

2021 Human Rights Report on India: United States

Why in News

The US State Department released a strong and critical Report on Human Rights in India in 2021.

Key Points

The report is submitted each year to the US Congress.

Key Highlights of the Report:

Indian law “prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention but both occurred during the year”, with police using “special security laws to postpone judicial reviews of arrests”.
India has "significant human rights issues" such as "restrictions on free expression and media, including violence" and "threats of violence, or unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists".
The India chapter of the report also cited "terrorists and extremists perpetrating killings, violence, and intimidation" against journalists critical of the government.
The report noted India was downgraded from free to partly free in the Freedom in the World 2021 report, and said the government had blocked Twitter accounts of several journalists who covered the farmers' protest last year.
The report highlighted the cases of Amnesty International India, whose assets were frozen by the Enforcement Directorate, and the suspension of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) license of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) for alleged violations.

Human Rights Related Provisions in India:

Enunciated in the Constitution:

Fundamental Rights: Articles 12 to 35 of the Constitution
Directive Principles of State Policy: Article 36 to 51 of the Constitution

Statutory Provisions:

Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993 (as amended in 2019)
India took an active part in drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

Source: The Hindu

Important News: State

‘e-DAR’ (e-Detailed Accident Report)

Why in News

Recently, the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has developed a portal named ‘e-DAR’ (e-Detailed Accident Report).

Key Points

A web portal designed by the government in consultation with insurance companies will provide instant information on road accidents with a few clicks and help accelerate accident compensation claims, bringing relief to victims’ families.
Digitalised Detailed Accident Reports (DAR) will be uploaded on the portal for easy access.
The web portal will be linked to the Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD).
From iRAD, applications to more than 90% of the datasets would be pushed directly to the e-DAR.
Stakeholders like the police, road authorities, hospitals, etc., are required to enter very minimal information for the e-DAR forms.
e-DAR would be an extension and e-version of iRAD.

Other Initiatives Related to Road Safety:

India:

Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019
The Carriage by Road Act, 2007
The Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2000
The National Highways Authority of India Act, 1998

Global Level:

Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety (2015)
UN Global Road Safety Week
The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP)

Source: The Hindu

In a first, Maharashtra app maps workers’ migration for portability of ICDS scheme

Why in News

In a first of its kind project in the country, the Maharashtra government has developed a website-based Migration Tracking System (MTS) application to map the movement of vulnerable seasonal migrant workers through individual unique identity numbers.

Key Points

The state government’s women and child development (WCD) department launched it as a pilot project in November last year in six districts with high tribal population including Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Amravati, Jalna, Palghar and Nandurbar.
The MTS project is envisaged to maintain the continuity of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) like nutrition supply, immunisation and health check-up etc. to migrant beneficiaries including children aged up to 18 years, lactating mothers and pregnant women registered with the anganwadi centres.
Their migration will be tracked for ensuring the portability of the ICDS for their families in their destination districts within or outside the state until their return to their native places.

About Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS):

It is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
It was launched in 1975.

Schemes under the ICDS:

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
Anganwadi Services Scheme
National Creche Scheme
Scheme for Adolescent Girls
POSHAN Abhiyaan
Child Protection Scheme

Source: Indian Express

Important News: Appointment

India gets elected to four UN ECOSOC bodies

Why in News

India has been elected to four key bodies of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), including the Commission on Science and Technology for Development.

Key Points

India gets elected to four UN ECOSOC Bodies: Commission for Social Development, Committee on NGOs, Commission on Science & Technology for Development and Ambassador Preeti Saran gets re-elected to Committee for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR).

Note: Earlier in April 2021 also, India got elected to three UN ECOSOC bodies which include, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Executive Board of UN Women, and the Executive Board of the World Food Programme.

About Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):

ECOSOC is one of the six principal organs of the UN System established by the UN Charter in 1945.
It consists of 54 members of the United Nations elected by the General Assembly.

Source: India Today

Important News: Award and Honours

Civil Aviation Ministry’s “UDAN” scheme selected for Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration

Why in News

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) flagship Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN (UdeDeshkaAamNagrik) has been selected for Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2020 under the category “Innovation (General) – Central”.

Key Points

About the Award:

Government of India has initiated this award to acknowledge, recognize and reward extraordinary and innovative work done by Districts and Organizations of State/Government.
This scheme emphasises on Good Governance, Qualitative achievements, and last mile connectivity rather than only on achievement of quantitative targets. The award consists of a trophy, scroll and an incentive of Rs 10 lakhs.

Note: The Ministry of Civil Aviation will receive the award on 21^stApril, i.e. Civil Service Day.

About UDAN scheme:

Launched in 2016, UDAN scheme aims to fulfill the aspirations of the common man by following the vision of UdeDeshkaAamNagrik,with an enhanced aviation infrastructure and air connectivity in tier II and III cities.
In a short span of 5 years, today 415 UDAN routes connect 66 underserved/unserved airports, including heliports and water aerodromes, and over 92 lakh people have benefited from it.
More than 1 lakh 79 thousand flights have flown under this scheme.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation plans and commits to construct 100 new airports by 2024 in India with 1,000 new routes under UDAN RCS scheme by the year 2026.

Source: PIB

Important News: Sports

India to host Street Child Cricket World Cup in 2023

Why in News

India will host the Street Child Cricket World Cup in 2023.

Key Points

Organised by Street Child United and Save the Children India, the Street Child Cricket World Cup 2023 will welcome 22 teams from 16 countries to India next year.
This event will take place in September ahead of the ICC World Cup.

Source: newsonair

Important News: Personality

Pakistani humanitarian activist Bilquis Bano Edhi passes away

Pakistani humanitarian activist Bilquis Bano Edhi passed away.
Bilquis Bano Edhi was a Pakistani professional nurse and one of the most active philanthropists in the country.
Bilquis worked shoulder to shoulder with her husband in establishing the Abdul Sattar Edhi Foundation, a welfare organisation that gained worldwide fame for its humanitarian work in many areas.
For her contributions, she was awarded the 1986 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service and the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice in 2015.

Source: Business Today

Important News: Important Days

April 18, World Heritage Day

Why in News

The International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS), also known as World Heritage Day, is observed on April 18.

Key Points

The theme for World Heritage Day 2022 is "Heritage and Climate".
The International Day for Monuments and Sites was proposed by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) on 18 April 1982 and approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983.

India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

The first sites to be inscripted were Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Agra Fort, and Taj Mahal, of which all were inscribed in the 1983 session of the World Heritage Committee.
The latest site to be inscribed is Dholavira, Gujarat in 2021.
As of July 2021, 19 of the 36 States and union territories of India are home to the World Heritage Sites, with Maharashtra having the highest number of sites (5).
At present, there are 40 World Heritage Sites located in India. Out of these, 32 are cultural, 7 are natural, and 1 is mixed (meeting both cultural and natural criteria), as determined by the organization's selection criteria.
India has the sixth largest number of sites in the world.

World's UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

As of July 2021, a total of 1,154 World Heritage Sites (897 cultural, 218 natural, and 39 mixed properties) exist across 167 countries.
With 58 selected areas, Italy is the country with the most sites on the list.

Source: Indian Express

April 17, World Hemophilia Day

Why in News

Every year, April 17 is observed as World Hemophilia Day.

Key Points

The theme for World Hemophilia Day 2022 is ‘Access for All: Partnership. Policy. Progress’.
It is an international awareness day for hemophilia and other bleeding disorders and also marks the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel, the founder of the World Federation of Hemophilia.

About Hemophilia: