Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 04 May 2022

Daily Current Affairs 04 May 2022

Important News: World

State of the World’s Forests 2022 Report: 10% of total forest area on Earth lost in 30 years

Why in News

According to the 2022 edition of The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) Report, the world has lost 420 million hectares (mha), approximately 10.34 percent of its total forest area in the last 30 years.

Key Points

The 420 mha of forests have been lost between 1990 and 2020, due to deforestation, though forests cover 4.06 billion ha (31 percent) of the earth’s geographical area.
It added that although the rate of deforestation was declining, 10 mha of forests were lost every year between 2015 and 2020.
Some 47 mha of primary forests were lost between 2000 and 2020. More than 700 mha of forest (18 percent of total forest area) is in legally established protected areas. Nevertheless, forest biodiversity remains under threat from deforestation and forest degradation.
The annual global consumption of all natural resources combined is expected to more than double from 92 billion tonnes in 2017 to 190 billion tonnes in 2060 due to increases in population size and affluence.

Note: More than 140 countries have pledged, through the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, to eliminate forest loss by 2030 and to support restoration and sustainable forestry. To this end, an additional $19 billion has been allocated to help developing countries achieve these objectives.

Source: DTE

Important News: India

Dharmendra Pradhan releases the Mandate Document for the development of National Curriculum Framework

Why in News

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhanreleased the ‘Mandate Document: Guidelines for the Development of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF)’.

Key Points

Central to the implementation of the transformative National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF) which will empower and enable outstanding teaching and learning in the country, by converting the vision of the NEP 2020 into reality in schools and classrooms.
The development of the NCF is being guided by the NSC (National Steering Committee), chaired by Dr K Kasturirangan, supported by the Mandate Group, along with the NCERT (National Council for Education Research and Training).
NCF includes:

National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE)

National Curriculum Framework for Early Childhood Care & Education (NCFECCE)

National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education (NCFTE)

National Curriculum Framework for Adult Education (NCFAE)

The ‘Mandate Document’ guides the development of the NCF. The Mandate Document is the bridge between the NEP 2020 and the NCF.
NCF will also fully account for other initiatives like NIPUN Bharat, the national mission for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy by the Ministry of Education, which are being implemented with the required urgency even as the NCF is being developed.

Source: India Today

Kisan Drones Why in News

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar said that the government is promoting the use of 'Kisan Drone' for the convenience of the farmers, reducing the cost and increasing the income.
Tomar said this while addressing the conference on “Promoting Kisan Drones: Issues, Challenges and the Way Ahead” organized as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

Key Points

The government is providing 50% or maximum Rs. 5 lakh subsidy to SC-ST, small and marginal, women and farmers of northeastern states to buy drones. For other farmers, financial assistance will be given upto 40% or maximum Rs.4 lakh.
The government is promoting the use of 'Kisan Drone' for crop assessment, digitization of land records, spraying of pesticides and nutrients for which provision has also been made in the budget.
To promote use of drones in agriculture and make drone technology affordable to the farmers and other stakeholders of this sector, financial assistance @ 100 % cost of drone together with the contingent expenditure is extended under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization to the Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes, Institutions of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) and State Agricultural Universities for its demonstration on the farmer’s fields.
Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) are provided grants @ 75% for purchase of drones for its demonstration on the farmers’ fields.

Source: newsonair

National Open Access Registry (NOAR)

Why in News

Recently, the National Open Access Registry (NOAR) has successfully gone live.

Key Points

About National Open Access Registry (NOAR):

NOAR has been designed as an integrated single window electronic platform accessible to all stakeholders including open access participants, traders, power exchanges, national/regional/state load despatch centres for electronic processing of short-term open access application thereby automating the administration of the short-term open access in inter-state transmission system.
National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) operated by Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO) has been designated as the nodal agency for implementation and operation of NOAR.
NOAR would be the key to facilitate faster electricity markets and enable integration of Renewable Energy (RE) resources into the grid.
NOAR is part of the Ministry of Power, Government of India’s initiative and the required regulatory framework has been notified by the CERC through operationalization of the 5th Amendment Regulation of Open Access in inter- State Transmission.

Source: PIB

Important News: Defence

NATO’s Defender Europe 2022 and Swift Response 2022 exercises

Why in News

NATO’s Defender Europe 2022 and Swift Response 2022 exercises began on 1 May, 2022 in 9 European countries.

Key Points

More than 7,000 troops from NATO and Partner countries and 3,000 units of equipment took part in the planned joint exercises in Poland.
According to the Polish Ministry of National Defense, Defender Europe 2022 and Swift Response 2022 is being run from 1 to 27 May.
Defender Europe and Swift Response are regular international exercise organized by the US Armed Forces to increase preparedness and interoperability between US and NATO allies and partners.

About North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):

It is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states, of which 28 are in Europe and the other 2 in North America.
Founded: 4 April 1949
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

Source: ET

Important News: Science

India to develop and build first indigenous Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel

Why in News

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways decided to develop and build India’s first indigenous Hydrogen Fuelled Electric Vessels at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL).

Key Points

Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the plan for building Hydrogen Fuelled Electric Vessels is keeping pace with the Global Maritime Green Transitions.
The move is part of India’s transformative efforts on the innovative and new technology front on green energy, sustainable cost-effective alternate fuel front.
The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vessel based on Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Technology (LT-PEM) called Fuel Cell Electric Vessel (FCEV) is expected to cost around Rs. 17.50 crores of which 75 percent would be funded by the centre.
Hydrogen Fuel cells can be used in a wide range of applications, including transportation, stationary, portable, material handling, and emergency backup power applications.
Fuel cells operating on hydrogen fuel are an efficient, environmentally-friendly, zero emission, direct current (DC) power source already applied to heavy duty bus, truck, and train applications, and are now under development for marine applications.

Source: ET

Important News: Sports

Kerala beat West Bengal to win their 7^th Santosh Trophy 2022 title

Why in News

Kerala beat West Bengal in the penalty shootout to win the Santosh Trophy 2022 at the Manjeri Payyanad Stadium in Malappuram, Kerala.

Key Points

This was Kerala's 7^th Santosh Trophy title.
The 2022 Santosh Trophy is the 75th edition of the Santosh Trophy, the premier competition in India for teams representing their regional and state football associations.

Source: The Hindu

Harshada Sharad Garud becomes first Indian to win gold at Junior World Weightlifting Championship

Why in News

Harshada Sharad Garud became first Indian to win a gold medal at the IWF Junior World Weightlifting Championships 2022 in Heraklion, Greece.

Key Points

Harshada Sharad Garud lifted 153-kilogram in the 45-kg weight category.
Before Harshada, there are only two Indians to win a medal in IWF Junior World Championships.
Mirabai Chanu had won a bronze in 2013 and Achinta Sheuli won a silver medal in 2021.

Source: TOI