Daily Current Affairs and GK | 19 August 2022

Topic: Books and Authors

1. Former Israeli PM Netanyahu’s autobiography will be released in November 2022.

• Benjamin Netanyahu’s memoir, titled “Bibi: My Story”, will be released in November after the parliamentary elections.
• Netanyahu's failures and successes are mentioned in this book.
• The book describes Netanyahu's journey from a young age to "his singular perspective on the geopolitics of the Middle East" and "his conversations with Presidents Clinton, Obama and Trump".
• Netanyahu is the son of a prominent Zionist and educator, Benzion Netanyahu. Netanyahu served as the ninth Prime Minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021.
• Netanyahu has previously written “A Durable Peace” and “Fighting Terrorism" books.
• He is currently facing the allegations of taking gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from Hollywood film producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer.

Topic: Important Days

2. World Photography Day: 19 August

• World Photography Day is celebrated every year on 19 August.
• In 1837, Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce developed 'Daguerreotype'.
• It was a photography process. The invention was acknowledged by French government on 19 August 1839. French government called it a gift to the world.
• In 1861, Thomas Sutton had taken the first durable colour photograph. The first digital photograph was taken in 1957. Kodak’s invented the first digital camera.
• Pandemic Lockdown through the lens is the theme for World Photography Day 2022.

Topic: Defence

3. India is planning to take six Tu-160 long-range bombers from Russia.

• Tu-160 is known as the White Swan in the Russian Air Force.
• It is codenamed Blackjack by NATO. It is a four-engine bomber.
• It has operational range of 12,000 kilometers. It can achieve speeds greater than Mach 2 or 2,220 km/h.
• It is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear operational load up to 40 tonnes.
• Tu-160 long-range bombers are also known as strategic bombers.
• As of now, strategic bombers do not exist in India’s arsenal. Chinese Air Force has Xian HS-6K.
• Besides China, US and Russia are only two other countries with strategic bombers.  
• B-1, B2 and B-52 are strategic bombers operated by US Air Force. Russia has the Tu-160, Tu-22M3M and Tu-95MS.
• As of 2022, Tupolev Tu-160 is the largest and heaviest combat aircraft. It is also the fastest bomber in use and the largest and heaviest variable-sweep wing airplane ever flown.

Topic: National News

4. Over 79 lakh children in the 0-5 age group have been enrolled by UIDAI in the first four months of current financial year.

• This is a part of effort under the Bal Aadhaar initiative. 2.64 crore children in the 0-5 age group had Bal Aadhaar by the end of March 31, 2022.
• The number of children in the 0-5 age group having Bal Aadhaar increased to 3.43 crore by the end of July 2022.
• In states like Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, enrollment of children in the 0-5 age group has already reached more than 70% of the targeted age group.
• Overall, Aadhaar saturation at present is around 94%. Aadhaar saturation among adults is almost 100%.
• Bal Aadhaar is issued to children in the age group of 0-5 years.
• Biometrics (fingerprints and iris) are not collected for Aadhaar enrolment of children in the age group of 0-5 years.
• Children between the ages of 0 and 5 are enrolled in Aadhaar based on a facial image of the child and biometric authentication of the parent or legal guardian (having a valid Aadhaar).
• At the time of enrolment for Bal Aadhaar, a proof of relationship document (preferably birth certificate) is collected.
• Bal Aadhaar is issued in blue colour to differentiate it from normal Aadhaar. 
• Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI):
  • It was established as a statutory authority under the Aadhaar Act 2016.
  • It works under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Dr. Saurabh Garg is its Chief Executive Officer.

Topic: State News/ Goa

5. PM Modi virtually addressed Har Ghar Jal Utsav in Goa.

• On August 19, PM Narendra Modi virtually addressed the Har Ghar Jal Utsav, which was held in Goa under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Goa has become the first state in India to achieve 100% Har Ghar Jal certification.
• QR code payment system for water bills was also launched on the occasion.
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu is the first Union Territory to receive the Har Ghar Jal certification in India.
• All the villages of Goa and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have declared themselves as Har Ghar Jal Gram by a resolution passed by the Gram Sabha.
• Safe drinking water is available through tap connections in all two lakh 63 thousand rural households of Goa and more than 85 thousand households in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
• State Public Works Department is the implementing agency for the scheme in Goa.
• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM):
  • It is a flagship program of the Union Government. It was announced in August 2019.
  • It aims to provide a tap water connection to every rural household in the country by 2024.

Topic: Indian Polity

6. Government draughts Indian Ports Bill, 2022 to consolidate and reform port laws.

• The proposed bill will repeal and replace the existing Indian Ports Act,1908.
• Draft Indian Ports Bill, 2022, has been released by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways for stakeholder consultation.
• The Indian Ports Act, 1908, is over 110 years old.
• In addition to harmonizing and streamlining the development of the maritime industry, the proposed bill will promote ease of doing business by removing unnecessary delays, disagreements, and defining responsibilities.
• State Maritime Boards will be incorporated into the national framework.
• The primary objectives of the proposed Bill are:
  • Promote integrated planning between States inter-se and Centre-States through a purely consultative and recommendatory framework.
  • Ensure prevention of pollution measures for all ports in India while incorporating India’s obligations under international treaties.
  • Address lacunae in the dispute resolution framework required for the burgeoning ports sector.
  • Usher-in transparency and cooperation in the development and other aspects through the use of data.
• India has a coastline about 7,500 km long, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways, and strategic bases on major international maritime trade routes.
• About 95 percent of India's trade by volume and 65 per cent by value is carried out through sea transport facilitated by ports.

Topic: State News/ Maharashtra

7. India’s first E-Double Decker air-conditioned bus unveiled by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in Mumbai.

• The electric double-decker bus is named SwitchEiV 22.
• It is manufactured by switch mobility limited, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland.
• Mr. Gadkari said 35% pollution in the country takes place because of petrol and diesel.
• He said that the automobile industry gives the highest GST to state and central governments.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Sikkim

8. Schemes for women’s welfare launched by Sikkim Chief Minister P S Tamang on the occasion of the 75^th anniversary of Independence.

• He hoisted the national flag at Bhaichung Stadium in Namchi on the 75^th anniversary of India’s Independence.
• The programme was organized outside Gangtok for the first time since Sikkim joined Indian Union in 1975.
• CM Tamang announced the launch of ‘Aama Yojana’ and ‘Vatsalya Yojana’.
• Under Aama Yojana, Rs 20,000 will be provided annually to all unemployed mothers in the state.
• Under Vatsalya Yojana, childless women will receive the aid of Rs three lakh for in vitro fertilization treatment.
• CM also announced year-long maternity leave for women employees of the state in place of the six-month leave provided earlier.
• Mobile village clinic programme was also launched to provide accessible medical facilities to people in remote areas in all six districts.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-offenders (NIDAAN) portal has become operational.

• The ‘NIDAAN’ portal has been developed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).
• It is the first-of-its-kind database for arrested narcotics offenders. It will be used by various central and state prosecution agencies.
• It is part of the narcotics coordination mechanism (NCORD) portal, which was launched on July 30 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
• It is a one-stop solution for data related to narcotics offenders and will act as an effective tool while probing narcotics cases.
• It has a feature called 'criminal network', which provides information about other crimes of an accused and police FIRs to agencies.
• Any agency can search for the criminal history, personal details, fingerprints, court cases, etc. related to the offender on this platform.
• The ‘NIDAAN’ portal collects data from the Interoperable criminal justice system and the e-Prisons repository.
• Narcotics Control Bureau is responsible for tracking illegal drug trafficking and the implementation of international drug laws.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. National CSR Awards 2020 winners were announced by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

• CSR experts and the Grand Jury selected 20 award winners and 17 Honourable Mentions across three categories.
• The National Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards are given to recognize companies that have positively impacted society through their innovative & sustainable CSR initiatives.
• These awards are the apex level recognition by the Government of India.
• First National CSR Awards were given on 29 October 2019.
• The main categories of the CSR Awards are given below:
  • Corporate Awards for Excellence in CSR:  Given to a company based on total eligible CSR spending.
  • CSR Awards for CSR in Aspirational Districts / Difficult Terrains: Given to a company based on their CSR efforts in Aspirational Districts, difficult terrains/ disturbed areas, challenging circumstances, etc.
  • CSR Awards for contribution in National Priority Areas: Winners are selected based on the contribution of CSR projects in National Priority Areas.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

11. Government has approved more than Rs 30,000 crore for cleaning Ganga and its tributaries.

• During the 'Yamuna Par Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ event, Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that projects worth Rs 30,000 crore have been sanctioned for cleaning Ganga and its tributaries.
• Shekhawat said that in more than 100 districts along the Ganga steps were taken to resolve the issues related to the river.
• On the occasion, new initiatives were launched under Arth Ganga:
  • An MoU with Sahakar Bharati for natural farming
  • Tourism-related portal ImAvatar to promote livelihood opportunities.
  • Jalaj initiative in association with WII to align the skill enhancement activities with Ganga conservation.
  • A new river Champ course on the Continuous Learning and Activity Portal.
• Features of Namami gange:
  • Namami gange project was launched in June 2014 to make Ganga clean and continuous.
  • Its main objective is the effective abatement of pollution and the rejuvenation of the Ganga.
  • It is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga and its state equivalent organizations.
  • Under this programme, 1,632-gram panchayats on the banks of the Ganga to be made open defecation-free by 2022.
  • Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions are also involved in this project.
  • In 118 urban habitations on the banks of Ganga, sewerage infrastructure will be strengthened.
  • The main focus will be on involving people living on the banks of rivers.
  • Ganga Knowledge Centre will be also set up and rational agricultural practices & efficient irrigation methods will be promoted.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

12. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh approved a StartUp loan for manufacturing & commercialising “compostable” plastic.

• The government has approved a loan of Rs 1.15 crores to M/s TGP Bioplastics for commercialising “compostable” plastic.
• It is a step toward providing an indigenous alternate solution for ‘Single Use Plastic’.
• For the manufacturing & commercialization of compostable plastic, the Technology Development Board under the Department of Science & Technology and M/s TGP Bioplastics Private Limited, Satara signed an MoU.
• TGP Bioplastics has created a prototype of a compostable plastic material that decompose as compost without harming the environment.
• TGP Bioplastics has created this composite material at a lower cost than available compostable plastic with the same strength.
• NIDHI Prayas (DST), Niti Aayog and UNIDO have funded this unique project.
• What is Composite Plastic?
  • It is a blend of Thermoplastic-Starch (TPS)-glycerin with some chemical modifications.
  • The granules of the composite plastic can be moulded into any shape.
  • It provides higher strength at a very low manufacturing cost.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

13. Indian companies are importing petcoke from Venezuela.

• Indian cement companies imported 160,000 tonnes of petroleum coke between April to June.
• For the first time, Indian companies are importing discounted Venezuelan petcoke as an alternative to coal.
• Venezuela is offering petcoke at 5–10% less than the price of the United States.
• In the coming days, another 50,000-tonne cargo is expected to reach the port of Mangalore.
• The oil sector of Venezuela has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019.
• What is Petcoke?
  • Petroleum coke (petcoke) is a byproduct of the oil refining process.
  • It is generally used by the Cement Industry.
  • It is used to make anodes for the aluminium, steel and titanium smelting industry.
  • A tonne of petcoke is more expensive than coal, but it produces more energy than Coal.

Topic: Agriculture and allied sectors

14. A report claims that four highly hazardous pesticides are being used unauthorized.

• A report titled the ‘State of Chlorpyrifos, Fipronil, Atrazine and Paraquat Dichloride in India’ has been prepared by Pesticide Action Network (PAN).
• PAN India has recognized these four agrochemicals as highly hazardous pesticides for human health and the environment.
• Chlorpyrifos has been approved for 18 crops, fipronil for nine crops, atrazine for one crop, and paraquat dichloride for 11 crops.
• Chlorpyrifos is used to control foliage and soil-borne insect pests. Fipronil is used to control ants, beetles, cockroaches, fleas, ticks, and other insects. Atrazine is used to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. Paraquat dichloride is used to control weeds in agricultural and non-agricultural settings.
• The study found that they are being used for several food and non-food crops without approval.
• As per the report, some state agriculture departments/universities recommend the use of these pesticides for more crops than their approved usage.
• The high use of pesticides can adversely affect the export of agricultural produce.
• Poor pesticide management can affect the farmer’s and farm workers’ health.
• As per the report, around 20 percent of farmers and 44 percent of workers who participated in the study reported poor health.