Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 13 December 2021

Daily Current Affairs 13/12/2021

Global Health Security Index 2021

Why in News

Countries across all income levels remain dangerously unprepared to meet future epidemic and pandemic threats, according to the Global Health Security (GHS) Index 2021.

Key Points

The world’s overall performance on the GHS Index score slipped to 38.9 (out of 100) in 2021, from a score of 40.2 in the GHS Index, 2019.
Some 101 high, middle and low-income countries, including India, have slipped in performance since 2019.
In South Asia, India, with a score of 42.8 (out of 100) too, has slipped by 0.8 points since 2019.
But three neighbouring countries — Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives — have improved their score by 1-1.2 points.
In 2021, no country scored in the top tier of rankings and no country scored above 75.9.

About Global Health Security Index:

It was jointly released by non-profits Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
The findings of the GHS Index 2021 are based on a revised framework and updated data collection conducted between August 2020 and June 2021.
It has assessed countries across 6 categories, 37 indicators and 171 questions, using instantly available information.

Source: DTE

NITI Aayog release ‘Waste-Wise Cities’ – a compendium of Best Practices in Municipal Solid Waste Management

Why in News

“Waste-Wise Cities: Best Practices in Municipal Solid Waste Management”– a comprehensive knowledge repository of how Indian cities are managing their solid waste – was released by NITI Aayog.

Key Points

India's solid waste management sector has witnessed unparalleled growth in the last few years.
The Swachh Bharat Mission Phase 2 is launched to further strengthen the efforts for a clean India.
The report documents best practices from 28 cities in 15 states of India.
The report is the result of a country-wide study and survey jointly conducted by NITI Aayog and Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
The repository is the result of five months of extensive on-ground collective research that was initiated in July 2021.
The entire gamut of municipal solid waste management has been seen from a cross-section of 10 different aspects that explains a sustainable value chain.
These thematic aspects range from source segregation, material recovery and technological innovations to the management of different kinds of wastes and systems such as biodegradables, plastics, e-waste, C&D waste and landfills.

Note: The Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) 2.0, launched on September 1, 2021, is now based on a clear strategy for solid waste management in cities – a strategy that focuses source segregation, material reprocessing, and zero-landfills.

Source: PIB

Curtain Raiser PANEX-21

Why in News

Recently, a Curtain Raiser Event for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise, PANEX-21, for the member nations of BIMSTEC countries, was held at Kothari Auditorium DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi.
The exercise is planned to be conducted from 20-22 Dec 21 at Pune and will witness participation from subject matter experts and delegates from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Key Points

Last two BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercises are: DMEx-2017 at Delhi, DMEx-2020 at Puri)

About BIMSTEC:

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an international organisation of seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, housing 1.73 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of $3.8 trillion.
Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Founded: 6 June 1997

Source: PIB

Kazhuveli Wetland in Tamil Nadu declared as 16th Bird Sanctuary

Why in News

The Kazhuveli Wetland located near Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu has been declared as the 16th Bird Sanctuary by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.

Key Points

The Kazhuveli Wetland is referred to as the 2nd largest Brackish Water Lake in South India, only after Pulicat Lake.
The declaration was made under subsection (1) of section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

About Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary:

It covers 3,027.25 hectares of land in Marakkanam taluks and 5,151.60 hectares in Vanur taluk.
The sanctuary lies adjacent to the Bay of Bengal along the East coast.
Kazhuveli is a wetland of international importance that is spread over 670 square km in the east coast of Tamil Nadu.

Source: Indian Express

PM Modi inaugurates the Saryu Nahar National Project in Balrampur, UP

Why in News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Saryu Nahar National Project in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier, Prime Minister inaugurated AIIMS, Fertilizer Plant and ICMR Centre in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

Saryu Nahar National Project which will provide assured water for irrigation of over 14 lakh hectares of land and benefit about 29 lakh farmers of the region.
It will benefit nine districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, namely Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Siddharthnagar, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Gorakhpur and Maharajganj,
The project has been built at a total cost of over Rs 9,800 crore.
The project involves interlinking of five rivers -- Ghaghara, Saryu, Rapti, Banganga and Rohini -- to ensure optimum usage of water resources of the region.

Source: HT

2021 Asia Youth Para Games: Indian badminton contingent finish with 16 medals

Why in News

The Indian badminton contingent finished the campaign at the 2021 Asia Youth Para Games with 16 medals in Bahrain.
The para-badminton contingent won 4 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze medals in total.

Key Points

For India, Tokyo Paralympian Palak Kohli, Sanjana Kumari, and Hardik Makkar clinched three medals each.
Around 750 athletes under 23 years of age from around 30 countries participated across nine sports - Para athletics, Para badminton, boccia, goalball, Para powerlifting, Para swimming, Para table tennis, Para taekwondo, and wheelchair basketball.

Source: newsonair

Olaf Scholz sworn in as Germany's new Chancellor

Why in News

Olaf Scholz has been sworn in as Germany's new chancellor, bringing to an end Angela Merkel's historic 16 years as leader.

Key Points

Scholz's center-left Social Democrats (SPD) emerged as the largest party in September's general election and has since negotiated a coalition deal with the environmentalist Greens and the business-focused Free Democratic Party (FDP).
He was formally appointed as the ninth federal chancellor by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Source: newsonair

Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo conferred with 57th Gyanpeeth Award

Why in News

Renowned Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo has been conferred with 57th Gyanpeeth Award for the year 2022.
Noted Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan has bagged 56th Gyanpeeth award for the year 2021.

Key Points

Mauzo is the second Konkani writer to receive the highest literary award, earlier being given to Writer Ravindra Kelekar in 2006.
Mauzo is a short story writer, novelist and screenplay writer. His novel Karmelin had bagged Sahitya Akademi award in 1983.

About Jnanpith Award:

It is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature".
Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian writers writing in Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India and English,with no posthumous conferral.

Source: newsonair

Vice President launched book ‘The Midway Battle: Modi’s Roller-coaster Second Term’

Why in News

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu launched a book titled ‘The Midway Battle: Modi’s Roller-coaster Second Term’.

Key Points

The book is authored by Gautam Chintamani and published by Bloomsbury India.
The book mentioned the political scenario of India. It marks the second tenure of the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Midway Battle shed light on the various legislations like the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, triple talaq, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as well as farming laws.

Source: outlookindia

Sarada Menon, India’s first woman psychiatrist passes away

Sarada Menon, considered India’s first woman psychiatrist, passed away at the age of 98.
She has been a recipient of several awards, including the Padma Bhusan in 1992 for her work in the field of mental health.
She became the first woman psychiatrist in the country when she began working in 1959 at what is now the Institute of Mental Health (previously government Kilpauk mental hospital) in Chennai.
Menon founded the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) in 1984. SCARF has been affiliated with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Source: HT

December 11, International Mountain Day 2021

Why in News

International Mountain Day 2021 is celebrated every year on 11 December.

Key Points

The theme of International Mountain Day 2021 is ‘Sustainable mountain tourism’.
Mountains are home to 15% of the world’s population and host about half of the world's biodiversity hotspots.
They provide freshwater for everyday life to half of humanity.
Their conservation is a key factor for sustainable development and is part of Goal 15 of the SDGs.

History:

The formation of International Mountain Day history dates back to 1992 when Agenda 21 "Managing Fragile Ecosystems: Sustainable Mountain Development" of Chapter 13 was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
The increasing attention to the importance of mountains led the UN to declare 2002 the UN International Year of Mountains.
The first international day was celebrated in 2003.

Source: un.org