Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 3 January 2022

Daily Current Affairs 03/01/2022

Important News: India

PM Modi releases 10th instalment of PM-KISAN

Why in News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 10th instalment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.

Key Points

This enabled the transfer of an amount of more than Rs. 20,000 crore to more than 10 crore beneficiary farmer families.
During the programme, the Prime Minister also released an equity grant of more than Rs. 14 crore to about 351 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), which will benefit more than 1.24 lakh farmers.

About Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme:

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, a financial benefit of six thousand rupees per year is provided to the eligible family of farmers.
The amount is being transferred in three installments of two thousand rupees.
It was launched in February 2019.
It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding.
It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Note:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also laid the foundation stone of Major Dhyan Chand Sports University at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
The University will be established at Salawa and Kaili villages of Sardhana town in Meerut at an estimated cost of about 700 Crore rupees.

Source: PIB

MoHUA launches ‘Urban Geospatial Data Stories Challenge-2022’

Why in News

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) announced the opening of Urban Geospatial Data Stories Challenge- 2022 to foster adoption of geospatial technologies & to promote innovation in India’s urban ecosystem.

Key Points

The challenge has been organized with select Smart Cities that will be publishing high quality GIS datasets.
More than 1000 geospatial datasets have been made available to the registered participants from national geospatial agencies, private sector enterprises, scientific and academic institutions, businesses, consumer services & start-ups to analyse this data and create insightful data stories.
Leading up to the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav- Smart Cities: Smart Urbanization’ conference scheduled to be held in Surat, during February 2022, the Urban Geospatial Data Stories Challenge is part of a series of pre-event initiatives being undertaken by MoHUA to foster adoption of geospatial technologies & to promote innovation in India’s urban ecosystem.
The challenge will commence for the registered participants on 1^stJanuary, 2022 and conclude by the end of January 2022.

Note:

As part of ‘Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations, Smart Cities Mission of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is launching two unique national level challenges between 1st to 26th January 2022, “Freedom 2 Walk & Cycle Challenge for City Leaders”, and “Inter-City Freedom 2 Walk & Cycle Challenge for Citizens”.

Source: PIB

Union Education Minister launched ‘Padhe Bharat’ Campaign

Why in News

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a 100 days Reading Campaign 'Padhe Bharat'.

Key Points

The launch of the 100 Days Reading Campaign is in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

About Padhe Bharat Campaign:

Padhe Bharat campaign will focus on children studying in Balvatika to Grade 8.
The reading campaign will be organised for 100 days (14 weeks) starting from 1^stJanuary 2022 to 10^th April 2022.
This campaign has also been aligned with the vision and goals of foundational Literacy and Numeracy mission.
The 100 days reading campaign will also focus on Indian languages including mother tongue/local/regional languages.
It is in this regard, 21st February which is celebrated as International Mother Tongue Day, has also been integrated with this campaign.

Other Related Initiatives:

Indian Sign Language Dictionary
Talking Books
School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Framework (SQAA)
NISHTHA Teachers' Training programme for NIPUN Bharat
Vidya Pravesh
Vidyanjali 2.0 Portal
Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2.0
SAFAL (Structured Assessment For Analyzing Learning Levels)
National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR) and National Education Technology Forum (NETF)

Source: PIB

Important News: Economy

Government approves 19th tranche of electoral bonds

Why in News

Ahead of assembly elections in five states, the government approved issuance of the 19th tranche of electoral bonds which will be open for sale from January 1 to 10, 2022.
Assembly elections for 5 states-- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Goa-- are expected to be announced soon.

Key Points

State Bank of India (SBI) has been authorised to issue and encash Electoral Bonds through its 29 Authorized Branches with effect from January 1 to January 10, 2022.

About Electoral Bond:

Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties.
The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 crore without any maximum limit.
SBI is authorised to issue and encash these bonds, which are valid for fifteen days from the date of issuance.
These bonds are redeemable in the designated account of a registered political party.
The bonds are available for purchase by any person (who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India) for a period of ten days each in the months of January, April, July and October as may be specified by the Central Government.
Donor’s name is not mentioned on the bond.

Note:

The sale of the first batch of electoral bonds took place from March 1-10, 2018.
The 18th tranche of bond sale took place from September 1 to September 10, 2021.

Source: ET

Important News: State

UP's Jhansi Railway Station renamed as 'Veerangana Laxmibai Railway Station'

Why in News

The Uttar Pradesh government has renamed Jhansi Railway Station as ‘Veerangana Laxmibai Railway Station’.

Key Points

The state government changed the name of the railway station after approval from the Central Government.
Earlier, the Mughalsarai Railway Station was renamed Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Railway Station and the Faizabad Railway station as Ayodhya Cantt.
Since coming to power, Mr Adityanath government has changed names of several establishments including those of Faizabad and Allahabad districts, which were renamed as Ayodhya and Prayagraj, respectively.

Note: A second road linking Tsomgo Lake and Nathula border pass with Gangtok -- christened as 'Narendra Modi Marg' -- was officially inaugurated by Sikkim Governor Ganga Prasad. The older route is called Jawaharlal Nehru Road.

Source: India Today

Important News: Defence

Delivery of 50Ton Bollard Pull Tug “Balraj”

Why in News

Contract for construction of 50Ton Bollard Pull Tugs was concluded with M/s Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam on 14 Feb 2019 at a cost of Rs. 260.70 Crores.
Third tug in the series, “Balraj” has been delivered to Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam on 31 Dec 2021.
Tugs “Veeran” and “Balram” were inducted on 22 Oct 2021 and 30 Oct 2021 at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam and Naval Dockyard, Mumbai respectively.

Key Points

These tugs have been designed and built under the classification rules of Indian Register for Shipping (IRS) with a service life of 20 years and are capable of assisting large naval ships, including Aircraft Carrier and Submarines in berthing, un-berthing, turning and manoeuvering.

Source: PIB

Russia test-fires new hypersonic Tsirkon missiles from frigate, submarine

Why in News

Russia test-fired around 10 new Tsirkon (Zircon) hypersonic cruise missiles from a frigate and two more from a submarine.

Key Points

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an array of new hypersonic weapons in 2018 in one of his most bellicose speeches in years, saying they could hit almost any point in the world and evade a U.S.-built missile shield.

Development of Hypersonic Technology in India:

As far as space assets are concerned, India has already proved its capabilities through the test of ASAT under Mission Shakti.
Hypersonic technology has been developed and tested by both DRDO (Defence research and Development Organisation) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation).
Recently, DRDO has successfully flight-tested the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV), with a capability to travel at 6 times the speed of sound.

Source: ET

Important News: Appointment

Anupam Ray to be India's new permanent representative at UN Conference on Disarmament

Why in News

Senior diplomat Anupam Ray has been appointed as India's next permanent representative to the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

Key Points

Ray, a 1994-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently serving as a joint secretary in the MEA's headquarters in Delhi.
Dr Pankaj Sharma, who is presently the Permanent Representative of India to the UN Conference on the Disarmament, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Mexico.

About UN Conference on Disarmament:

It is a multilateral disarmament forum established by the international community to negotiate arms control and disarmament agreements.
Membership: 65 Countries
Headquarters: Geneva

Source: The Hindu

Durga Shankar Mishra to be new Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary

Why in News

Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra has been proposed to be appointed as the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points

Durga Shankar Mishra is 1984- batch IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved repatriation of Durga Shankar Mishra to his cadre for his proposed appointment as Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh, by the state government.
Rajendra Kumar Tiwari, a 1985-batch IAS officer, is currently serving as the state’s Chief Secretary.

Note: Amir Subhani, the 1987 batch IAS topper, was appointed the new Chief Secretary of Bihar.

Source: HT

Important News: Award and Honors

Sahitya Akademi Awards 2021

Why in News

Sahitya Akademi, announced its annual Sahitya Akademi Awards 2021 in 20 languages.
The Sahitya Akademi announced a list of 22 winners each of the Yuva Puraskar and the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for 2021.
Megha Majumdar won the Yuva Puraskar for her debut novel A Burningand Himanshu Vajpai won it for his collection of short stories titled Kissa Kissa Lucknowa — Lucknow Ke Awami Kisse.

Key Points

07 books of poetry, 02 of novel, 05 of short stories, 02 Plays, one each of Biography, Autobiography, Criticism and Epic Poetry have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2021. Awards in Gujarati, Maithili, Manipuri and Urdu languages will be announced at a later date.
Sahitya Akademi presents the award to literary works in 24 languages including English. It was established in 1954 and the award comprises a copper-plaque, a shawl and a cash prize of ₹ 1,00,000.

Sahitya Akademi Awards 2021: