Daily Current Affairs and GK | 11 August 2022

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

1. Cabinet approved Audio Visual Co-Production treaty between India and Australia.

• The agreement will boost the exchange of art and culture and strengthen ties between India and Australia.
• So far, India has signed 15 Audio Visual Co-Production treaties with foreign countries.
• According to this treaty, the respective contributions of the producers of both countries may vary from 20 percent to 80 percent of the final total cost of co-production work.
• The agreement will help in generating employment in the field of audio visual co-production and post production work.
• These agreements will allow commercial, quasi-public, or governmental organisations to collaborate in the production of movies.
• India is emerging as a major content hub for film-makers looking for new projects.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

2. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) released a report titled ‘Threatened animals of Kerala’ on August 8.

• The report ‘Threatened animals of Kerala’ has been released as part to promote sustainable management and conservation of various animal species.
• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has released a book titled “Fauna of Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary”.
• Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary is the first bird sanctuary of Kerala. It is spread over an area of 25 km².
• On this occasion, the Zoological Survey of India has also signed an MoU with the University of Calicut and the Dr. Gafoor Memorial MES Mampad College.
• The MoU has been signed to promote zoological research through advanced pedagogical techniques and to exchange academic knowledge.
• Important threatened Mammals of Kerala are as follows:

Topic: National News

3. Additional protocol to Universal Postal Union constitution has been ratified by the Union Cabinet.

• The Cabinet has approved the ratification of amendments to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) as contained in the Eleventh Additional Protocol to the Constitution.
• The amendments to the Constitution of UPU were signed during the 27^th Congress of the Universal Postal Union held at Abidjan.
• This decision of the cabinet will fulfill the obligations mentioned in Articles 25 and 30 of the UPU Constitution.
• The amendments will ensure further legal clarity and stability to the Acts of the Union.
• Universal Postal Union (UPU)
  • It was established in 1874.
  • It is the second oldest international organization in the world.
  • It is the postal sector's primary forum for international cooperation.

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sectors

4. Indigenous vaccine Lumpi ProVac has been launched by Agriculture Minister.

• The indigenous vaccine Lumpi ProVac has been launched by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to protect livestock from Lumpy Skin disease.
• The National Equine Research Center, Hisar, Haryana, has developed the vaccine in collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar, Bareilly.
• Research institutes have been engaged in developing the vaccine since the disease entered India in 2019.
• Shri Tomar said that scientists accepted this as a challenge and, after limited trials in a short time, developed a 100% effective vaccination that meets all standards.
• Lumpy Skin Disease:
  • It is caused by the virus "capripoxvirus".
  • It is genetically related to the family of viruses that cause gotpox and sheeppox.
  • It mainly infects cattle and buffaloes through blood feeding insects.
  • Weight loss, fever, mouth sores, and decreased milk production are all symptoms that appear quickly after infection in animals.
  • The disease is endemic in most African countries since 2012 and is spreading rapidly to the Middle East, Southeast Europe, and West and Central Asia.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

5. Sunil Chhetri and Manisha Kalyan selected as AIFF Footballers of the Year.

• National captain Sunil Chhetri was adjudged the AIFF Men's Footballer of the Year for the seventh time for the 2021-22 season.
• Manisha Kalyan was selected as Footballer of the Year for the first time in the women's category for the 2021-22 season.
• Their respective national team coaches, Igor Stimac and Thomas Dennerby nominated the winners, Chhetri and Kalyan.
• Chhetri, the active international player with the third-most goals scored, was nominated for the award for the first time in 2007.
• He subsequently won it in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018–19.
• During the 2020-21 season, Manisha won the Women's Emerging Footballer of the Year award.
• AIFF Awards for 2021-22 season:

Topic: State News / Telangana

6. Nethanna Bima scheme launched by Telangana CM for weavers.

• On the occasion of National Handloom Day (7 August), Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekhar Rao launched the Nethanna Bima scheme for the weavers.
• This is one of its kind schemes for weavers in the country and about 80,000 weavers' families will be benefitted from this insurance scheme.
• The scheme will provide an insurance cover of ₹ 5 lakhs to the families of weavers in case of the unfortunate death of the eligible beneficiary.
• It will provide financial assurance to the families of handloom and power loom weavers.
• Under the scheme, the state government has partnered with the LIC of India for 'Nethanna Beema' scheme and designated the state department of handlooms and textiles as the nodal agency for its implementation.
• The government will pay the annual premium on the behalf of beneficiaries to the LIC.

Topic: Books and Author

7. The book 'Fish and Seafood' released by Purushottam Rupala.

• A unique coffee-table book, "Fish and Seafood" a collection of 75 gourmet recipes launched by Minister of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Purushottam Rupala in New Delhi.
• This initiative has been started by the Department of Fisheries to boost domestic consumption of fish and seafood, as well as to promote local fish species.
• The recipe book highlights the diversity of fish in domestic water bodies and the fish culinary legacy of the country, which signifies varied cooking and eating methods across the country.
• Recognizing the importance of the fisheries sector, the Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in May 2020 as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat Package with the highest ever investment of Rs. 20,050 crores.
• The schemes will be implemented from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all states/UTs.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: National Appointment

8. Justice Uday Umesh Lalit has been named the country's 49th Chief Justice.

• Justice Uday Umesh Lalit has been appointed by President Droupadi Murmu as the 49th Chief Justice of India.
• He will take over on August 27 after the present CJI, Justice NV Ramana, retires on August 26.
• In August 2014, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit was appointed as Judge to the Supreme Court of India.
• He has become India's second Chief Justice to be directly elevated to the Supreme Court from the Bar, after Justice SM Sikri.
• Justice Lalit has served two terms as a member of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.
• Justice Lalit, who was born in Solapur, Maharashtra, on November 9, 1957, was enrolled as an advocate by the Maharashtra and Goa Bar Council in June 1983.
• Chief Justice of India:
  • As per Article 124 (2), the President of India appoints the Chief Justice of India and other judges of the Supreme Court.
  • In the Second Judges case 1993, Supreme Court ruled that the senior most judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed as CJI.
  • Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India and consisting of four senior most judges of Supreme Court recommends the name of CJI.
  • The Chief Justice of India remains in office till he attains the age of 65 years.
  • Harilal J Kania was the first Chief Justice of India.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. Union Cabinet approved the continuation of PMAY-Urban till 31st Dec 2024.

• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) - Housing for All Mission is one of the flagship schemes for providing all-weather pucca houses to all eligible beneficiaries in the urban areas.
• The continuation of the scheme will help in the completion of already sanctioned houses under Beneficiary Led Construction, Affordable Housing in Partnership, and In-situ Slum Redevelopment verticals.
• Under the scheme, financial assistance will be provided for the completion of already sanctioned 122.69 lakh houses till March 31, 2022.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban):
  • It was launched on 25th June 2015.
  • It is implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
  • The scheme is implemented through four verticals: Beneficiary Led Construction/Enhancement (BLC), Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), In-situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) and Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS).

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Uttar Pradesh

10. Keshav Prasad Maurya becomes Leader of the House in the Legislative Council of Uttar Pradesh.

• Keshav Prasad Maurya has been appointed as Leader of the House of Legislative council after the resignation of Swatantra Dev Singh from the post.
• Recently, Keshav Prasad Maurya has been elected to the Legislative Council after losing the Assembly elections.
• Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Parishad came into existence by the Government of India Act of 1935. Currently, it has 100 members.
• At present, only Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have a legislative council.
• Legislative Council:
  • Article 169 of the Constitution deals with the Abolition or creation of Legislative Councils in States.
  • The members of the Legislative Council are either nominated by the Governor of the state or are indirectly elected.
  • The Chairman of the Legislative Council is elected among its members. He acts as a presiding officer of the Council.
  • The members of the Legislative Council are elected for six years.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

11. Election Commission will host a virtual Asian Regional Forum meeting on 11 August.

• This Regional Forum meeting will be held on the theme of ‘Making our Elections Inclusive, Accessible, and Participative’.
• It is the precursor of the Global Summit for Democracy, which will be hosted by the National Electoral Institute of Mexico.
• Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey will chair the Asian Regional Forum meet.
• Representatives from the election management bodies of Mexico, Mauritius, Philippines, Nepal, Uzbekistan, and the Maldives will participate in the meeting.
• The first session of the meeting will be on ‘Inclusive Elections: Enhancing Participation of Youth, Gender and Citizens in Remote Areas’.
• The Global Summit and Regional Forum meetings encourage intellectual and institutional mobilisation to strengthen global electoral democracy.

Topic: Sports

12. Uzbekistan and Ukraine emerged as the champions in the open and women’s sections respectively at the 44^th Chess Olympiad.

• In the Open section, Uzbekistan won the gold medal while Armenia and India-B team won the silver and bronze medals respectively.
• Uzbekistan defeated the Netherlands while Armenia defeated Spain.
• In the women’s section, Ukraine won the gold, Georgia the silver and India won the bronze medal.
• In the open section, India thrashed Germany by 3-1. D. Gukesh and Nihal Sarin won individual gold medals.
• The India-A team secured the fourth position, and USA in the fifth position.
• It is the first time that the Chess Olympiad was organized in India at Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu.
• The first women’s Olympiad was held in 1957.

Topic: State News/ Maharashtra

13. Maharashtra Governor inaugurates the 22nd ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav’ in Mumbai.

• The five-day drama festival ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav’ is being organized at Rabindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai from 9 to 13 August.
• It is being jointly organized by the Union Ministry of Culture and P.L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Akademi.
• Plays based on the life and sacrifices of our freedom fighters will be showcased at the 22^nd ‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav’.
• The festival will conclude with the Bhopal-based KARWAAN theatre group’s Hindi play 'Rang De Basanti Chola'.
• 30 plays will be showcased in Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Varanasi, Amritsar, Bengaluru, and Mumbai from 16^th July to 14^th August 2022, as part of the 22^nd Bharat Rang Mahotsav, 2022.
• Bharat Rang Mahotsav:
  • Bharat Rang Mahotsav or the National Theatre Festival was started in 1999.
  • It is an annual theatre festival organized by the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi.
  • Bharat Rang Mahotsav was started to stimulate the growth and development of theatre in India.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

14. World Biofuel Day: 10 August

• Every year World Biofuel Day is observed on 10 August.
• It is observed to spread awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.
• World Biofuel Day has been celebrated this year under the theme "Biofuels Towards a Carbon Neutral World".
• It is also observed in the honour of Sir Rudolf Diesel, who ran an engine with peanut oil in the year 1893.
• The Government of India approved the National Policy on Biofuels in June 2018.
• Biofuels will reduce the dependency on crude oil and help to keep the environment clean. It will provide additional income to farmers.
• Biofuel:
  • It is fuel derived from biomass or organic matter.
  • Primary biofuels are organic materials that are used as an energy source without any prior treatment or processing.
  • Secondary biofuels are used to generate energy after processing.