Daily Current Affairs and GK | 12 February 2022

Topic: Defence

1. Indian army conducted first-of-its-kind Hackathon under the name of “Sainya Ranakshetram”.

• Indian army has conducted first-of-its-kind Hackathon under the name of “Sainya Ranakshetram”.
• Hackathon was conducted at the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE), Mhow.
• Hackathon was conducted under the overall guidance of the Shimla based Army Training Command, which is one of the seven commands of the Indian Army.
• Hackathon was conducted from 01 October 2021 to 31 December 2021 in collaboration with the Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Chief of the Army Staff General MM Naravane felicitated the winners of the Hackathon during an online ceremony held on 10 February 2022.
• Indian Army along with the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has established Quantum Lab at Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow in MP.
• Indian Army has also established an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre at Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, Mhow in MP.
• Jamnagar-based INS Valsura has been designated as the Center of Excellence (CoE) in the field of Big Data.

Topic: International News

2. India-EU hold seventh round of India-EU consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation matters.

• India-EU held seventh round of India-EU consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation matters in a virtual format on 10 February 2022.
• Developments in disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains were discussed as part of the consultation.
• The consultations are part of dialogue mechanisms under the Roadmap to 2025 for strengthening of India-EU Strategic Partnership.
• Sixth round of India-EU consultations on disarmament and non-proliferation issues was held in November 2020.

Topic: Indian Economy

3. FPI limit to invest in local debt market increased from Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 2.5 lakh crore.

• The limit for FPIs to invest in local debt market has been increased from Rs 1 lakh crore to Rs 2.5 lakh crore under VRR with effect from April 1.
• Voluntary Retention Route (VRR) was introduced by RBI to assist Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) in investing in debt markets of India.
• The investments under VRR are free from macro-prudential and other regulatory controls applicable to FPI investments in debt markets.
• Under VRR, FPIs are required to maintain minimum percentage of their investments in India for the period of their choice.
• The increase in limit will attract additional funds and help prevent sudden shocks in the form of outflow of investment.

Topic: Indian Economy

4. Monetary policy committee keeps repo rate unchanged at 4%.

• Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has unanimously voted to keep repo rate unchanged at 4%.
• MPC has voted by 5-1 majority to continue with the accommodative monetary policy stance.
• RBI has kept reverse repo rate unchanged at 3.35%.  RBI has projected retail inflation for 2022-23 at 4.5%.
• RBI retained its inflation projection at 5.3% for current financial year.
• Due to rise in food prices, retail inflation increased to a five-month high of 5.59% in December from 4.91% in November.
• RBI has kept real GDP growth projection at 7.8% for FY23. Economic Survey has projected real GDP growth at 8-8.5%.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. Department of Social Justice & Empowerment launches SMILE scheme.

• Department of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme.
• SMILE is a central sector scheme for the welfare of transgender community and the beggars.
• Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry has allocated Rs 365 Crore for the scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• It includes two sub-schemes - ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’ and ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’.
• The components of Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons are given below.
  • Scholarships for Transgender Students studying in IX and till post-graduation.
  • Skill Development and Livelihood under PM-DAKSH scheme of the Department.
  • A comprehensive package in convergence with PM-JAY supporting Gender-Reaffirmation surgeries.
  • Housing in the form of ‘GarimaGreh’ (Shelter Homes).
  • Setting up of Transgender Protection Cell in each state.
  • E-Services and other Welfare Measures
• The focus of Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging is on survey and identification, mobilization, Rescue/Shelter Home and comprehensive resettlement.

Topic: International News

6. At the 72nd Berlinale European Film Market 2022, India Pavilion was inaugurated.

• On the 10th of February, the India Pavilion was inaugurated during the 72nd Berlinale European Film Market 2022.
• European Film Market has been organized on the side-lines of the Berlin International Film Festival.
• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the National Film Development Corporation, and the Confederation of Indian Industry hosted the inaugural session.
• The pavilion will be live daily for conference sessions and film screenings till February 17.
• Satyajit Ray's 100th birthday is also being celebrated with a special showing of chosen films of the maestro as well as documentaries about his life.
• There are also eight other Indian films being screened in various regional languages.

Topic: Science and Technology

7. 59 megajoules of sustained energy generated by a team at the Joint European Torus facility near Oxford.

• Scientists in the United Kingdom have reached a new milestone in the production of nuclear fusion energy or replicating the Sun's energy production process.
• During an experiment in December, a team at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility near Oxford, central England, created 59 megajoules of sustained energy, more than double the previous record set in 1997.
• The energy was produced in a tokamak, a doughnut-shaped machine, and the JET site is the world's largest operational site of its kind.
• Nuclear fusion energy is low-carbon energy and safer than current nuclear energy production methods.
• A kilogram of fusion fuel has approximately ten million times the energy contained in a kilogram of coal, oil, or gas.

Topic: Important Day

8. National Productivity Day 2022: 12 February

• Every year on February 12th, the nation commemorates National Productivity Day.
• The National Productivity Day is part of National Productivity Week, which is commemorated from February 12 to February 18.
• National Productivity Day is organized by the National Productivity Council (NPC).
• The theme of the National Productivity Week 2022 is 'Self Reliance Through Productivity'.
• National Productivity Day aims to highlight what more may be done to boost India's productivity and establish a more inclusive and long-term socio-economic development model.
• National Productivity Council (NPC): 
  • It is a national organization dedicated to promoting India's productivity culture.
  • The NPC is a self-governing body that was founded in 1958 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • Its President is Piyush Goyal.

Topic: National News

9. India and UNDP have launched a Community Innovators Fellowship.

• To commemorate the 'International Day of Women and Girls in Science,' India has launched a Community Innovator Fellowship in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• The Community Innovator Fellowship program has been created as a pre-incubation model.
• It will make it easier for young people to start their own social enterprise that focuses on SDG-based solutions to community issues.
• The one-year intensive fellowship program is designed for aspiring community innovators, regardless of socio-economic background.
• Since 1951, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been working in India on human development.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. 29 States covered under the Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0.

• 29 states are covered under Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0 within a short span since it was announced on October 27, 2021.
• All the airports in North East Region (NER) States including Assam are covered under the Scheme.
• The scheme primarily focuses on transportation of perishable food items from hilly areas, north-eastern states (including Assam) and tribal areas.
• Krishi Udan Scheme 2.0 aims to increase the share of air carriage in the modal mix for transportation of Agri-produce.
• The scheme was formulated with support from AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company (AAICLAS) and Invest India.
• Strengthening of cargo related infrastructure at airports is included in the scheme.
• The scheme also includes technological convergence such as development of E-KUSHAL (Krishi UDAN for Sustainable Holistic Agri-Logistics).
• Krishi Udan Scheme is a convergence scheme where eight Ministries/Departments would leverage their current schemes to strengthen the logistics for transportation of Agri-produce.
• There is no specific budget for Krishi Udan under the Scheme.

Topic: Reports and Indices

11. India is ranked at 46th place in EIU’s Democracy Index for 2021.

• India is ranked at 46th place in Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index for 2021.
• India’s score is 6.91. Its score is lowest (5) on the parameter of political culture and highest (8.67) on the parameter of electoral process and pluralism.
• India’s score on parameters of civil liberties, political participation and functioning of government is 6.18, 7.22 and 7.50, respectively.
• Bangladesh’s rank in Democracy Index for 2021 has improved by one position.
• It is ranked at 75th rank among 167 countries of world. It scored 5.99 on a scale of 10 in 2021. Its score is same as in 2020.
• Bangladesh has been classified as having a hybrid regime. Its score for civil liberties improved but the score on political participation declined from last year (2020).
• Its score on parameters of electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government and democratic plural culture has not changed from last year (2020).
• As per the report, over one-third of the world’s population live under authoritarian rule.
• Norway occupies first place in the democracy index followed by New Zealand, Finland and Iceland.
• Afghanistan is ranked at the last place in the index followed by Myanmar (2nd position from bottom) and North Korea (3rd position from bottom).
• Indonesia (ranked at 52nd) has shown second biggest improvement globally (after Zambia) in its total index score.
• 21 of 167 countries included in the index are placed under the category of full democracy and 53 are placed under the flawed democracy category.
• 34 are placed under hybrid democracy category and 69 are placed under authoritarian governments.
• Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) is part of the Economist Group. It brings out Democracy Index and Government Broadband Index.
• EIU Democracy Index:
  • It is based on 60 indicators grouped into five parameters.
  • These parameters are electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation and political culture.

Topic: Important Day

12. International Day of Women and Girls in Science: 11 February

• Every year on February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is commemorated.
• It is celebrated to raise awareness about the role of women in achieving development goals.
• "Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us" is the theme for the 7^th International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
• In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
• Science and gender equality are both critical to achieving development goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Topic: State News / Maharashtra

13. New Darbar hall inaugurated by President Ramnath Kovind in Mumbai.

• On February 11, 2022, President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the new Darbar Hall at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.
• The renovated Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan in Mumbai is on the same site where the old Durbar Hall stood.
• Construction on the new hall began in 2019 and was completed in December 2020.
• In 1911, the Old Darbar Hall was constructed to welcome King George V and Queen Mary of England to India.
• The oath-taking ceremonies of Governors, Chief Ministers, Ministers, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Lokayukta, and other constitutional functionaries were organized at the Darbar Hall after Independence.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

14. PM Modi took part in the high-level segment of One Ocean Summit.

• On 11 February, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed through a video message to the high-level segment of the One Ocean Summit.
• Several heads of state and government addressed the summit's high-level segment, including Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, and Canada, among others.
• From 9^th to the 11^th February, France hosted the One Ocean Summit in Brest, France, in collaboration with the United Nations and the World Bank.
• The Summit's goal was to mobilize the international community into taking concrete steps to preserve and support healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems.
• To promote awareness and restore declining marine life, the United Nations has declared the decade between 2021 and 2030 as the 'Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.'