Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 29 November 2021

Daily Current Affairs 29/11/2021

National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): Baseline Report

Why in News

National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI): Baseline Reportbased on National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 (2015-16) has been developed by NITI Aayog in consultation with 12 Line Ministries and in partnership with State governments and the index publishing agencies –Oxford University’s Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to Global MPI 2021, India’s rank is 66 out of 109 countries.

Key Points

Findings of the Report:

The MPI seeks to measure poverty across its multiple dimensions and in effect complements existing poverty statistics based on per capita consumption expenditure.
It has three equally weighted dimensions – health, education, and standard of living – which in turn are represented by 12 indicators such as nutrition, school attendance, years of schooling, drinking water, sanitation, housing, bank accounts among others.
Bihar has the highest proportion of people, at 51.91 percent of the state’s population, who are multidimensionally poor, followed by Jharkhand at 42.16 percent and Uttar Pradesh at 37.79 percent.
Kerala registered the lowest population poverty levels (0.71%), followed by Goa (3.76%) and Sikkim (3.82%).
Among the Union Territories (UTs), Dadra and Nagar Haveli (27.36 percent), Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh (12.58), Daman & Diu (6.82 percent) and Chandigarh (5.97 percent), have emerged as the poorest UTs in India.
The proportion of poor in Puducherry at 1.72 percent is the lowest among the Union Territories, followed by Lakshadweep at 1.82 percent, Andaman & Nicobar Islands at 4.30 percent and Delhi at 4.79 percent.

Source: PIB

"Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)" scheme

Why in News

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the continuation of the umbrella scheme "Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)" along with its eight sub-schemes to the next finance cycle (15^th) of five years i.e. 2021-2026 at an estimated cost of Rs.2,135 crore.

Key Points

The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through its units namely India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF); Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS).
The ACROSS scheme pertains to the atmospheric science programs of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and addresses different aspects of weather and climate services.
Each of these aspects is incorporated as eight sub-schemes under the umbrella scheme "ACROSS". These are:

(i) Commissioning of Polarimetric Doppler Weather Radars

(ii) Upgradation of Forecast System

(iii) Weather & Climate Services

(iv) Atmospheric Observations Network

(v) Numerical Modelling of Weather and Climate

(vi) Monsoon Mission III

(vii) Monsoon Convection, Clouds and Climate Change (MC4)

(viii) High Performance Computing System (HPCS)

Note: Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the extension for the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY-Phase V) for a period of another 4 months i.e. December 2021 till March 2022.

Source: PIB

India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF)

Why in News

India and the United States (US) held the 12th ministerial-level meeting of the India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF) in New Delhi.
It was co-chaired by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
The last Trade Policy Forum (TPF) was held in 2017.

Key Points

The Ministers acknowledged the tangible benefits accruing to Indian and US farmers and businesses, by mutually resolving certain outstanding market access issues through increased bilateral engagement.
Both sides also agreed to continue working to expand bilateral trade in agricultural and food products through the TPF Working Group on Agricultural Goods and committed to holding technical dialogues on animal health, plant health, and food safety and other technical issues in 2022.
The relaunch of the forum comes at a time when the US has emerged as India's largest trading partner, surpassing China.
The US is also India's biggest export market, and outbound shipments worth $52 billion were sent to that country in 2020-21.

Note: Recently, India and the United States have agreed for a transitional approach on equalisation levy or digital tax on e-commerce supplies beginning from 1st April, 2022.

Source: Business Standard

Fourth submarine of Project-75 ‘INS Vela’ commissioned at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai

Why in News

INS Vela, the fourth submarine in the series of six submarines of Project-75, was commissioned on 25 Nov 21 in the presence of Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff.
The formal commissioning ceremony took place at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai.

Key Points

The Scorpene Class submarines are being built in India by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, under collaboration with M/s Naval Group (earlier DCNS), France.
INS Vela would form part of the Western Naval Command’s Submarine fleet and would be another potent part of its arsenal.
These submarines have a state of the art SONAR and sensor suite permitting outstanding operational capabilities. They also have an advanced Permanent Magnetic Synchronous motor (PERMASYN) as its propulsion motor.
The commissioning of the submarine is coinciding with ‘Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ and ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ celebrations.

Source: PIB

International Emmy Awards 2021

Why in News

The 49th International Emmy Awards 2021 was held in New York City.

Key Points

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vir Das and Sushmita Sen-starrer Aarya were among the eminent nominees from India, however, they were not able to register any big win.
Till date, the only Indian show to bag an Emmy is filmmaker Richie Mehta's Delhi Crime which won Best Drama in 2020.

List of some main Winners of 2021 International Emmy Awards:

Best Actress: Hayley Squires for Adult Material (UK)
Best Actor: David Tennant for Des (UK)
Best Drama Series: Tehran (Israel)
Best Comedy Series: Call My Agent Season 4 (France)
Best Documentary: Hope Frozen: A Quest To Live Twice (Thailand)
Best TV Movie / Mini-Series: Atlantic Crossing (Norway)

Source: India Today

India elected to UNESCO World Heritage Committee for 4-year term

Why in News

India has been elected as a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the term of four years (2021-25).

Key Points

The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties.

Note: Recently, India won re-election to the executive board of the UNESCO for the 2021-25 term.

Source: TOI

Geoff Allardice appointed as permanent ICC CEO

Why in News

Australia's Geoff Allardice has been appointed as permanent CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after serving the role on an interim basis for more than eight months.

Key Points

Geoff Allardice thus replaced Manu Sawhney, who had resigned from his position in July.
Allardice, a former Australian first-class cricketer and administrator, was the ICC General Manager, Cricket for eight years.

Source: TOI

Smriti Irani authored her first Novel ‘Lal Salaam: A Novel’

Why in News

Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani has turned author with her debut novel ‘Lal Salaam: A Novel’.

Key Points

The novel, inspired by the tragic killings of 76 CRPF personnel in Dantewada in April 2010, is a tribute to the exceptional men and women who have given a lifetime of service to the country.
The book is published by Westland Publications.

Source: India Today

November 26, National Milk Day

Why in News

The country observes November 26 as National Milk Day since 2014 to commemorate the birthday of Verghese Kurien, the father of India's white revolution.

Key Points

This year is also the birth centenary year of Dr. Kurien, also known as the 'Milk Man of India', who was the man behind Operation Flood-known as the world’s largest agricultural program.
In addition to establishing numerous institutions that are run by various farmers and workers, Dr. Kurien played a key role in the establishment and success of the popular dairy brand Amul.
This year, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Union government is commemorating National Milk Day by distributing National Gopal Ratna Awards in a ceremony at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) campus in Anand.

Note: India is the world's largest milk producer, with 22 percent of global production, followed by the United States of America, China, Pakistan, and Brazil

Source: newsonair

November 27, National Organ Donation Day

Why in News

National Organ Donation Day is celebrated on 27th November every year.

Key Points

It is being celebrated on 27th of November every year in India since 2010.

Note:

The total number of organ transplants done per year in the country has increased from 4990 in the year 2013 to 12746 in the year 2019 and India now ranks third in the world only behind the US and China as per the data available on the Global Observatory on Donation and Transplantation (GODT) website.
Similarly, the organ donation rate has increased to about four times as compared to 2012-13.

Source: PIB