Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 19 April 2022

Daily Current Affairs 19 April 2022

Important News: World

Ukraine requests US to designate Russia as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism”

Why in News

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked President Joe Biden to designate Russia as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism”, which would activate perhaps the harshest suite of sanctions available with the United States against the government of President Vladimir Putin.

Key Points

The US Secretary of State (the minister primarily in charge of foreign relations) has the power to designate countries that “have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism” as “State Sponsors of Terrorism”.
The US can place four categories of sanctions on countries that are on this list: restrictions on US foreign assistance; a ban on defence exports and sales; certain controls over exports of dual use items; and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions.
Sanctions can also be placed on countries and persons that engage in certain trade with designated countries.

Countries on the list:

As of now, there are four countries on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The first to be designated among them was Syria (December 29, 1979), followed by Iran (January 19, 1984), and North Korea (November 20, 2017). Cuba was re-designated as a state sponsor of terrorism on January 12, 2021.

Statutes authorising designation:

There are currently three statutes that authorise the Secretary of State to designate a foreign government for repeatedly providing support for acts of international terrorism:

(i) Section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

(ii) Section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA)

(iii) Section 1754(c) of the Export Controls Act of 2018

Source: Indian Express

Important News: India

India’s National Cyber Security Strategy

Why in News

In 2020, the National Cyber Security Strategy was conceptualised by the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) headed by Lt General Rajesh Pant.

Key Points

Amid a surge in cyberattacks on India’s networks, the Centre is yet to implement the National Cyber Security Strategy which has been in the works since 2020.

Need for a National Cyber Security Strategy:

Increasing Number of Cyber Attacks: As per American cyber security firm Palo Alto Networks’ 2021 report, Maharashtra was the most targeted state in India — facing 42% of all ransomware attacks.
Cyber Warfare Offensives
Increased Digital usage Post-Covid
There were 6.97 lakh cyber security incidents reported in the first eight months of 2020, nearly equivalent to the previous four years combined, according to information reported to and tracked by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).

Present Government Initiatives for Cyber Security:

Cyber Swachhta Kendra
Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative
Online cybercrime reporting portal
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)
Information Technology Act, 2000

Source: The Hindu

Extreme poverty in India decline 12.3% in 2011-2019: World Bank

Why in News

According to a policy research working paper of World Bank, Poverty in India is 12.3% lower in 2019 compared with 2011. The poverty headcount rate has declined from 22.5% in 2011 to 10.2% in 2019.

Key Points

Poverty reduction was higher in rural areas as against urban India.
Rural poverty dropped by 14.7% while urban poverty declined by 7.9% during 2011 to 2019.
According to the study, farmers with small landholding sizes have experienced higher income growth. Real incomes for farmers with the smallest landholdings have grown by 10% in annualized terms between the two survey rounds in 2013 and 2019 compared to a 2% growth for farmers with the largest landholding.

Source: Business Standard

Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth arrives on 8-day visit in India

Why in News

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth is in India on an eight-day visit (April 17 to 24, 2022) to strengthen ties between the two countries in both economic as well as strategic sectors, especially in maritime security.

Key Points

India and Mauritius enjoy uniquely close ties, bound by shared history, culture and heritage.
Jugnauth will participate in the ground-breaking ceremony of the WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar on April 19 and the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit in Gandhinagar on April 20, along with PM Narendra Modi.
India has been one of the largest trading partners and exporter of goods and services to Mauritius since 2007.
India’s exports to Mauritius are largely of petroleum products. Besides petroleum products, main items of India’s exports to Mauritius are pharmaceuticals, cereals, cotton etc. Main items of Mauritius exports to India are vanilla, instruments and apparatus for medical/surgical sciences, needles, aluminum alloys among others.

Note:

In March 2022, Mauritius became a member of the Colombo Security Conclave, a grouping of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The grouping of NSAs from these countries works for regional security by focusing on areas such as maritime security, countering terrorism, combating trans-national crime and cyber security.
Earlier in January 2022, PM Modi and Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth had jointly inaugurated the India-assisted social housing units project in Mauritius virtually. They also launched the Civil Service College and 8 MW Solar PV Farm project in Mauritius that is being undertaken under India's development support.

Source: Indian Express

Agriculture Minister launches two online portals CROP and PQMS of Plant Protection Division

Why in News

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar launched two portals, one for the Computerized Registration of pesticide (CROP) and the other for Plant Quarantine Information System (PQIS).

Key Points

The new portals will benefit farmers, exporters as well as industrialists.
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DAFW), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, through the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (DPPQS), Faridabad has been catering to Indian exporters and importers of agriculture commodities and Indian Pesticide Industry, through its two portals namely, Computerized Registration of pesticide (CROP) and Plant Quarantine Information System (PQIS).
The PQMS portal will provide a transparent system with no physical touch points for the applicants and ensure convenience to the users, through an online system including e-payments and uploading of documents, online accreditation and renewal of treatment agencies/facilities and downloading of certificates.
Similarly, the re-developed CROP portal will immensely help in ease of doing business and provide greater and timely Crop protection solutions to farmers of the country.

Source: newsonair

40th 'Hunar Haat’

Why in News

Recently, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports, Anurag Thakur inaugurated the 40th edition of the 'Hunar Haat’ in the presence of Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, in Mumbai.

Key Points

The 40th edition of Hunar Haat, a credible platform to promote 'Swadeshi' products, is being held in Mumbai from 16th to 27th April, 2022.
In this 40th edition of Hunar Haat, more than a thousand craftsmen and artisans coming from 31 states have put up 400 stalls.
The Minister also spoke about 'One District One Product', where each district is recognised for one product.
Shri Thakur also informed about Tejas’a skilling programmewhich has been launched by Govt. of India. Under this initiative India will send skilled manpower to the UAE.
Hunar Haats are organized by the Ministry of Minority Affairs under USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) scheme.

Source: PIB

Important News: Appointment

Government appoints Lt Gen Manoj C Pande as next Chief of Army Staff

Why in News

Government has appointed Lt Gen Manoj C Pande, presently Vice Chief of the Army Staff, as the next Chief of the Army Staff (29^th) with effect from April 30, 2022.

Key Points

Manoj C Pande is the first officer from the Corps of Engineers to become the Chief of Army Staff.
He will succeed General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who is scheduled to complete his 28 month-tenure on April 30.
For his illustrious service, Lt Gen Manoj C Pande has been conferred with Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.

Source: HT

Important News: Personality

Legendary Odia musician and singer Prafulla Kar passes away

Legendary Odia music composer, singer, writer and lyricist Prafulla Kar passed away at 83.
He was popular for his numerous songs including 'Kamala Desha Rajakumara'.
He had received the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2015 and was honoured with the Jayadeva award in 2004. He had received the state film award eight times, six times in a row.

Source: TOI

18-Year-Old Tamil Nadu Table Tennis Player Vishwa Deenadayalan passes away

18-Year-Old Tamil Nadu Table Tennis Player Vishwa Deenadayalan, who was on his way to Shillong to participate in the 83rd Senior National and Inter-State Championships, passed away in a road accident.
He had won several junior, sub-junior and cadet titles in the country and abroad.

Source: Indian Express