Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 30 December 2021

Daily Current Affairs 30/12/2021

Important News: India

Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021

Why in News

Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (zg) of sub-section (2) of section 101 read with section 94 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 has notified the Consumer Protection (Direct Selling) Rules, 2021.

Key Points

These Rules shall apply to all goods and services bought or sold through direct selling, all models of direct selling, all direct selling entities offering goods and services to consumers in India, all forms of unfair trade practices across all models of direct selling and also to also to a direct selling entity which is not established in India, but offers goods or services to consumers in India.
Existing direct selling entities need to comply of these rules within ninety days from the date of publication of these rules in the Official Gazette.
The direct sellers as well as the direct selling entities using e-commerce platforms for sale shall comply with the requirements of the Consumer Protection (e-Commerce) Rules, 2020.

The Rules provide for certain obligation upon Direct Selling Entities which inter alia include:-

incorporation under the Companies Act, 2013 or if a partnership firm, be registered under the Partnership Act, 1932, or if a limited liability partnership, be registered under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
have a minimum of one physical location as its registered office within India
make self-declaration to the effect that Direct Selling Entity has complied with the provisions of the Direct Selling rules and is not involved in any Pyramid Scheme or money circulation scheme

Source: PIB

Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog releases ‘Innovations For You’ & ‘The Ingenious Tinkerers’

Why in News

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog released the 2nd edition of – ‘Innovations for You’- a compendium of innovations focused on agriculture featuring 70 startups supported by Atal incubation Centers (AICs) of AIM and ‘The Ingenious Tinkerers’ – a compendium on the innovations on technology featuring 41 innovations from Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) of India.

Key Points

The ‘Innovations For You’ is a compilation of successful innovations by the entrepreneurial minds of India solving problems of present for future, while as ‘The Ingenious Tinkerers’ is a compilation of the top innovations created by young student innovators who participated in the ATL Marathon - which invites school students to address a problem that they see or face on a day-to-day basis.
The ‘Innovations For You’ in its second edition, focuses on the startups and innovations in the field of Agriculture and Allied services.
The book is a compilation of 70 Ag-Tech startups, incubated at Atal Incubation Centres spread across the country.

Note: The first edition of this book was focused on innovations in Health Care, which was launched in October, 2021.

Source: PIB

Important News: Economy

Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV) and Flex Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV)

Why in News

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari called for manufacturing of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV) and Flex Fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV) complying with BS-6 Norms in a time bound manner within a period of six months

Key Points

Flex Fuel Vehicles are capable to run on a combination of 100% Petrol or 100% bio-ethanol and their blends, along with strong Hybrid Electric technology in case of FFV-SHEVs.
This move will drastically reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions from vehicles on a Well-to-Wheel basis, helping India to comply with its commitment made at COP26 to reduce the total projected carbon emissions by One Billion Tonnes by 2030.
In order to accelerate the introduction of Flex Fuel vehicles, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has included automobile & auto components and auto components of flex fuel engines.
NITI Aayog, after acknowledging the strong foundation for the Ethanol blending programme (EBP), has formulated the road map for Ethanol blending for the period 2020-2025.

Related Government Initiatives:

GOBAR (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources) DHAN Scheme, 2018
National Policy on Biofuels–2018
E100 Project

Source: TOI

Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM)

Why in News

Telangana stood first in the implementation of the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM).
Tamil Nadu and Gujarat took the second and third positions respectively.

Key Points

Top 3 State on Performance based Indicator:

State Name	Rank
Telangana	1
Tamil Nadu	2
Gujarat	3

In Telangana, in as many as 17 clusters (12 non-tribal and 5 tribal), the programme was being implemented at an estimated cost of ₹1,885.12 crore.
The provision of urban infrastructure in rural areas is the main purpose of the Rurban Mission, with Telangana having the highest points due to the outstanding performance of Panchayat Raj and rural development.
Sangareddy and Kamareddy districts in Telangana stood in the first two positions among the 300 clusters across the country where the programme was being implemented.

About Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM):

It was launched in the year 2016 by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) in mission mode to develop 300 clusters in the country holistically by provisioning of economic, social and physical infrastructure facilities.
The main objectives of SPMRM are to stimulate local economic development, enhance basic services, and create well planned Rurban clusters.

Source: The Hindu

CESL achieves 50 lakhs LED bulb distribution milestone under flagship Gram Ujala programme

Why in News

Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), has achieved a remarkable milestone of distributing 50 lakhs LED bulbs under Project Crore of their Gram Ujala programme.
Targets to distribute 10 million LED bulbs under Project Crore in 2 million households till March 31, 2022

Key Points

Gram Ujala scheme is being implemented in rural households in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana.
CESL is providing high quality 7-Watt and 12-Watt LED bulbs with 3 years guarantee at a cost of INR 10 per bulb in exchange of working incandescent bulbs.
Every household can exchange a maximum of 5 bulbs.
The programme is active till March 31, 2022.
CESL is supported by C-Quest Capital in the entire distribution journey under the SHINE programme.

Other Schemes for Encouraging Use of LED Bulbs:

Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP)
Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA)

Source: ET

Defence Minister dedicates to the Nation 24 bridges & 3 roads built by BRO

Why in News

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh dedicated to the Nation 24 bridges and 3 roads, built by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in four States and two Union Territories.
To boost tourism and facilitate the Armed Forces personnel in border areas, the Raksha Mantri announced setting up of 'BRO Cafes' at 75 places, as part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations.

Key Points

Of the 24 bridges, nine are in Jammu & Kashmir; five each in Ladakh & Himachal Pradesh; three in Uttarakhand and one each in Sikkim & Arunachal Pradesh.
Of the three roads, two are in Ladakh and one is in West Bengal.
The main highlight was the inauguration of India’s first indigenous Class 70 140-feet Double-Lane Modular Bridge, built at the height of 11,000 feet at Flag Hill Dokala, Sikkim and Chisumle-Demchok road at Umling La Pass at over 19,000 feet in Ladakh which also holds the Guinness World Record of world’s highest motorable road.
The e-inauguration has taken the tally of infrastructure projects executed by BRO to a record 102 in a single working season.

Note: Earlier in June 2021, Rajnath Singh had dedicated to the Nation 12 roads and 63 bridges – totalling 75 projects - in the 75^th year of Independence under the aegis of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

Source: PIB

Important News: Polity

Maharashtra Legislative Council passes Public University Act, 2016 (Third Amendment) Bill

Why in News

The Maharashtra Legislative Council passed the Maharashtra Public University Act, 2016 (Third Amendment) bill which gives more powers to the Higher and Technical Education Minister with regard to the state-run universities.

Key Points

The bill allows the minister to make recommendations to the governor who is the chancellor of the universities.
It also proposes appointment of the Higher and Technical Education Minister as pro-chancellor of the universities.

Source: newsonair

Important News: Sports

Mohammad Shami becomes fifth Indian pacer to take 200 Test wickets

Why in News

Mohammad Shami has become the fifth Indian pacer to take 200 Test wickets.
Shami achieved the feat on Day 3 of the first India-South Africa Test match in Centurion.

Key Points

Shami has joined Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, and Ishant Sharma in the list.
Shami reached the milestone in 55 Test matches and is the third quickest Indian after Kapil Dev and Srinath to join the list.

Source: newsonair

Nitesh Kumar wins double gold at 4th Para-Badminton National Championship 2021

Why in News

World No. 7 Nitesh Kumar doubled his gold tally at the 4th Para-Badminton National Championship 2021, which concluded in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Key Points

Haryana’s Nitesh along with his partner Tarun defeated World No. 1 Paralympic Games gold medallist Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar in straight sets 21-19, 21-11 in the Men’s doubles finals to win the gold.
Earlier, Nitesh also won the gold medal in the Men’s singles category.
World No 1 SL3 Para-Badminton player Parul Parmar from Gujarat also secured gold while Mandeep Kaur from Uttarakhand won Silver and Mansi won bronze.

Source: TOI