Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 02 May 2022

Daily Current Affairs 02 May 2022

Important News: World

United States Trade Representative places India on ‘Priority Watch List’

Why in News

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) placed India on the ‘Priority Watch List’ along with China, Russia and four others, for lack of adequate Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection and enforcement.
The other countries that have been put on the list are Argentina, Chile, Indonesia and Venezuela.
All seven countries on this year's list were on last year's, too.

Key Points

The USTR said that India remained one of the most challenging economies for IP enforcement and protection and the country’s overall IP enforcement was inadequate.
In its "Special 301 Report" on the adequacy and effectiveness of US trading partners' protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, these countries will be the subject of particularly intense bilateral engagement during the coming year.
The 'Special 301' Report is an annual review of the global state of IP protection and enforcement.
USTR reviewed more than one hundred trading partners for this year's Special 301 Report.

Source: ET

Important News: India

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 launches National Behaviour Change Communication Framework for Garbage Free Cities

Why in News

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has launched the ‘National Behaviour Change Communication Framework for Garbage Free Cities’.

Key Points

National Behaviour Change Communication Framework for Garbage Free Cities shall serve as a guiding document and blueprint for States and Cities to undertake large scale multimedia campaigns along with intensive and focused inter-personal communication campaigns.
The framework focuses on intensifying messaging around the key focus areas of source segregation, collection, transportation, and processing of waste, plastic waste management, and remediation of legacy dumpsitesto truly transform the urban landscape of India.

About Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 (SBM-U 2.0):

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM):

SBM is a country-wide campaign initiated by the Government of India in 2014 to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management.
Phase 1 of the SBM lasted till October 2019. Phase 2 is being implemented between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
SBM was split into two: rural and urban.

About Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0:

On 1^stOctober 2021, the Prime Minister launched the Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0 with the overall vision of creating “Garbage Free Cities”.

Source: PIB

PM inaugurates the Semicon India Conference 2022

Why in News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first Semicon India Conference 2022 in Bengaluru.
The Semicon India Conference, 2022 was held from April 29 to May 1.

Key Points

The theme of conference was "Design and Manufacture in India, for the World: Catalysing India's Semiconductor Ecosystem".

Prime Minister’s address:

PM Modi underlined 6 reasons for India being an attractive investment destination for Semiconductor technologies.
First, India is building a digital infrastructure to connect over 1.3 billion Indians.
Second, with steps like connecting six hundred thousand villages with broadband investment in developing capabilities in 5G, IoT and clean energy technologies, India is paving the way to lead the next technology revolution.
Third, India is headed for robust economic growth with the world's fastest-growing Startup Ecosystem. India's own consumption of Semiconductors is expected to cross 80 billion Dollars by 2026 and 110 Billion Dollars by 2030.
Fourth, India has undertaken wide-ranging reforms for improving the ease of doing business in India.
Fifth reason is heavy investment in skilling and training young Indians for the needs of the 21st century.
Sixth, India has undertaken several measures towards transforming the Indian manufacturing sector.
Shri Modi also told about the recently announced Semicon India Programme with a total outlay of over 10 billion dollars. This program aims to provide financial support to companies investing in semiconductors, display manufacturing and design ecosystems.

Note: Recently, Qualcomm India and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)’s Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) partnered to support Indian semiconductor startups.

Source: HT

Atal New India Challenge 2.0 (ANIC 2.0)

Why in News

Atal Innovation Mission launched the phase 1 of the 2^ndedition of the Atal New India Challenge (ANIC 2.0).

Key Points

About Atal New India Challenge:

Atal New India Challenge is a flagship program of Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog.
The program aims to seek, select, support and nurture technology-based innovations that solve sectoral challenges of national importance and societal relevance.
One of the primary goals of the ANIC program is to support innovations in areas critical to India’s development and growth – Education, Health, Water and Sanitation, Agriculture, Food Processing, Housing, Energy, Mobility, Space Application etc.
Working in collaboration with the different verticals of NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, ISRO and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the 1^stphase of Atal New India Challenge (ANIC 2.0) will see 18 challenges being thrown open from 7 sectors.
Sectors are E-mobility, Road Transportation, Space Technology and Application, Sanitation Technology, Medical Devices & Equipment, Waste Management and Agriculture.

Source: PIB

MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme

Why in News

Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Narayan Rane launched the MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme.

Key Points

About MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme:

This Scheme is an extensive drive to enable and facilitate MSMEs adopt Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) practices and motivate and incentivize them for ZED Certification while also encouraging them to become MSME Champions.
Through the journey of ZED Certification, MSMEs can reduce wastages substantially, increase productivity, enhance environmental consciousness, save energy, optimally use natural resources, expand their markets, etc.
Under the Scheme, MSMEs will get subsidy as per the following structure, on the cost of ZED certification: Micro Enterprises: 80%, Small Enterprises: 60% and Medium Enterprises: 50%.
There will be an additional subsidy of 5% for MSMEs which are also a part of the SFURTI or Micro & Small Enterprises - Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) of the Ministry.
A provision of up to Rs. 5 lakh (per MSME) will be made available for handholding and consultancy support for MSMEs under ZED Certification for assisting them to move towards Zero Defect Zero Effect solutions.
The MSMEs can also avail a number of other incentives offered for ZED Certification by States & UTs, Financial Institutions etc. and can also apply for free Certification under the MSME KAWACH (COVID-19 Support) initiative.

Source: ET

Important News: Appointment

Lieutenant General Manoj Pande takes over as new Chief of Army Staff

Why in News

General Manoj Pande took over as the new Chief of Army Staff.

Key Points

General Manoj Pande succeeded General Manoj Mukund Naravane.
General Pande is the 29th Army Chief and the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to get this opportunity.

Note: Lieutenant General Baggavalli Somashekar Raju also took over as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

Source: TOI

Important News: Award and Honours

Atal Tunnel receives 'Best Infrastructure Project' award

Why in News

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) engineering marvel, Atal Tunnel, built in Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh, received the Indian Building Congress' (IBC) 'Best Infrastructure Project'

Key Points

More than thirty state-of-the-art infrastructure projects were nominated for the award.
The IBC jury selected the strategic tunnel as the 'Best Project for Excellence in Built Environment' in 2021.
Atal Tunnel, built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 3, 2020.

Note: On February 9, 2022, the 9.02 km long, Atal Tunnel, which runs beneath the ‘Rohtang Pass’ on the Manali – Leh Highway, was officially certified by the World Book of Records as the ‘World’s Longest Highway Tunnel over 10,000 Feet.’

Source: India Today

Important News: Books

Devendra Fadnavis releases a Marathi book on Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Why in News

Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis released a Marathi book, titled 'Amit Shah Ani Bhajapachi Vatchal' on Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Key Points

The book documents the life and journey of Shah and his contribution in building the BJP.
The book, originally written by Dr Anirban Ganguly and Shivanand Dwivedi, has been translated into Marathi by Dr Jyostna Kolhatkar.

Source: Business Standard

Important News: Important Days

May 01, International Labour Day

Why in News

International Day of Workers or International Labour Day is celebrated on May 1 in most countries.
It is also known as May Day.

Key Points

Labour Day has its origins in the labour union movement in the United States in the 19th Century. In 1889, the Marxist International Socialist Congress adopted a resolution for a great international demonstration in which they demanded that the workers should not be made to work for more than 8 hours a day.
May Day was first celebrated on May 1, 1890, after it was declared by the first International Congress of Socialist Parties in Europe on July 14, 1889.

Source: HT