Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 09 December 2021

Daily Current Affairs 09/12/2021

21st India – Russia Annual Summit

Why in News

21st India-Russia Annual Summit was held between the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi on 06 December 2021.

Key Points

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the sustained progress in the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ between both countries despite the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic.
They welcomed the holding of the first meeting of the 2+2 Dialogue of Foreign and Defence Ministers and the meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military-Technical Cooperation in New Delhi on 6 December 2021.
The role of connectivity through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the proposed Chennai - Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor figured in the discussions.
28 MoUs were signed between India and Russia on various sectors.
The Joint Statement titled India-Russia: Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity aptly covers the state and prospects of bilateral ties.
Coinciding with the visit, several Government-to-Government Agreements and MoUs, as well as those between commercial and other organizations of both countries, were signed in different sectors such as trade, energy, science & technology, intellectual property, outer space, geological exploration, cultural exchange, education, etc.

Note: 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit will be held in Russia in 2022.

Source: PIB

Dam Safety Bill (2019)

Why in News

The Rajya Sabha passed the landmark Dam Safety Bill (2019), paving the way for the enactment of the Dam Safety Act in the country.
The Dam Safety Bill (2019) was passed by the Lok Sabha in August 2019.

Key Points

About Dam Safety Bill:

The Dam Safety Bill provides for adequate surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of all the large dams in the country so as to prevent dam failure related disasters.
The Bill provides for an institutional mechanism at both Central and State levels to address structural and non-structural measures required for ensuring the safe functioning of dams.
As per the provision of the Bill, a National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) will be constituted to help evolve uniform dam safety policies, protocols, and procedures.
The Bill also provides for the establishment of a National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) as a regulatory body for ensuring the nationwide implementation of dam safety policies and standards.
At the State level, the Bill prescribes for the constitution of State Committees on Dam Safety (SCDS) and the establishment of the State Dam Safety Organizations (SDSO).

Note:

After China and USA, India is the 3rd largest dam-owning nation in the world.
There are around 5,700 large dams in the country, of which about 80% are already over 25 years old. Nearly 227 dams that are over 100 years old are still functional.

Source: PIB

11th Edition of Indo-Maldives Joint Military Training Exercise 'Ex Ekuverin'

Why in News

11th Edition of Joint Military Training Exercise 'Ex Ekuverin' between India & Maldives is being conducted at Kadhdhoo Island, Maldives from 06 to 19 December 2021.

Key Points

The exercise will enhance synergy & inter-operability between Armed Forces of both the Nations in terms of understanding transnational terrorism both on land & at sea, conducting Counter Terrorism & Counter Insurgency Operations and sharing best military practices and experiences.
The exercise will go a long way in strengthening India’s relations with Maldives amidst emerging security dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region.

Note:

Maldives and India have been conducting ‘Ex Ekuverin’ since 2009.
Recently, the 15th edition of the biennial trilateral Coast Guard Exercise ‘Dosti’ involving India, Sri Lanka and Maldives was held in the Maldives.

Source: PIB

NCC launches ‘Azadi ki Vijay Shrankhla’ and ‘Sanskritiyon ka MahaSangam’ to honour Bravehearts of the 1971 War

Why in News

National Cadet Corps (NCC) is conducting ‘Azadi ki Vijay Shrankhla’ and ‘Sanskritiyon ka Mahasangam’ event as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Key Points

Part I of the event e.,'Azadi ki Vijay Shrankhla' is being conducted from November 28 to December 10, 2021 wherein bravehearts of 1971 War are being honoured at 75 locations throughout the country.
Part II of the event e.,‘Sanskritiyon ka MahaSangam’, a special national integration camp will be conducted in Delhi wherein candidates from all over the country will participate in cultural exchange.
The event will also showcase cultural diversity of India, especially from border and coastal areas where NCC has been introduced recently to strengthen ‘Unity in Diversity’.

Note: The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that occurred during the Bangladesh Liberation War in East Pakistan from 3 December 1971 to the fall of Dacca on 16 December 1971.

Source: PIB

India and Bangladesh celebrates ‘Maitri Diwas’ on 6 December

Why in News

‘Maitri Diwas’ also known as India-Bangladesh Friendship day, was commemorated in 18 countries across the world on 6 December, 2021.
The day was commemorated in Belgium, Canada, Egypt, Indonesia, Russia, Qatar, Singapore, UK, Australia, France, Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, and USA.

Key Points

The Maitri Diwas is a reflection of the deep and abiding friendship between the people of India and Bangladesh.
Ten days before the liberation of Bangladesh, India had recognised Bangladesh on 06 December 1971.
India was one of the first countries to establish bilateral diplomatic ties with Bangladesh on December 6, 1971.

Note: During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh in March 2021 to attend the national day of Bangladesh, it was decided to commemorate December 6 as the Maitri Diwas or Friendship Day.
Source: newsonair

Dinyar Patel’s biography of Dadabhai Naoroji wins Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2021

Why in News

Writer Dinyar Patel won the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2021 for his book ‘Naoroji: Pioneer of Indian Nationalism’ (Harvard University Press).

Key Points

Instituted in 2018, the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize celebrates high-quality non-fiction literature on modern and contemporary India from writers of all nationalities, published in the previous calendar year.
The prize carries a cash award of Rs 15 lakh and a citation.
The book is a biography of Naoroji, the nineteenth-century activist who founded the Indian National Congress. He was the first British MP of Indian origin.

Source: Indian Express

Argentina wins Men's Junior Hockey World Cup 2021 Title in Bhubaneswar

Why in News

Argentina junior hockey team defeated six time winner Germany in the FIH Men's Junior Hockey World Cup 2021 final at the Kalinga Stadium in Odisha.

Key Points

With this win, Argentina became only the third team after Germany (six titles) and India (two titles) to win multiple Junior Hockey World Cup titles.
Meanwhile, earlier, last editions' champion India lost 1-3 to France to finish fourth in the competition.

Source: newsonair

CDS Gen Bipin Rawat passes away in chopper crash in Tamil Nadu

India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat has passed away after a helicopter crash near Coonoor in Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu.
General Bipin Rawat was commissioned on 16th December in 1978 into the Fifth Battalion of the Eleventh Gorkha Rifles of the Infantry.
He was the Chief of the Army Staff from 31st December 2016 to 31st December 2019.
As the first Chief of Defence Staff, Bipin Rawat assumed the charge on 1st January 2020.

Source: newsonair

Veteran journalist Vinod Dua passes away

Veteran journalist Vinod Dua passed away at 67.
Dua was a pioneer in broadcast Hindi journalism with stints in Doordarshan and NDTV.
Dua was honoured with several awards for his contribution to journalism. In 1996, he became the first electronic media journalist to win the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award.
He was also awarded the Padma Shri for Journalism in 2008 by the Government of India.

Source: Indian Express

December 9, International Anti-Corruption Day

Why in News

International Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated on December 9 every year since 2005 to raise awareness against the global issue.

Key Points

The theme of International Anti-Corruption Day 2021 is “Your right, your role: say no to corruption”.
In October 2003, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the UN Convention against Corruption. After this, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was designated as the secretariat for the Convention’s Conference of States Parties.
The assembly then designated December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day.
The Convention entered into force in December 2005.

Source: un.org