Daily Current Affairs and GK | 20 September 2022

Topic: National Appointments

1. Vijoy Kumar Singh assumed charge as Secretary of the ex-servicemen welfare department.

• Vijoy Kumar Singh was earlier serving as a Special Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles.
• He is a 1990-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre. He has vast experience working as an administrator.
• The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare is a department under the Ministry of Defence. It was established in 2004.
• Other appointments in News:
  • Prasanna Kumar Motupalli has been appointed as CMD- NLC India Limited.
  • BVR Subrahmanyam has been appointed as Chairman & MD of Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).
  • Sanjay Kumar Rakesh appointed as MD of CSC e-Governance SPV.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

2. World’s first database on fossil fuels has been launched.

• ‘Global Registry of Fossil Fuels’ is the world's first database for tracking global fossil fuel production, oil and gas reserves, and emissions.
• It includes data from more than 50,000 oil, gas, and coal fields in 89 countries, which covers 75% of global production.
• It will help in tracking fossil fuel production around the world and will also help in predicting emissions.
• The Global Registry will make governments and companies more accountable for their development of fossil fuels.
• Global Energy Monitor said that the data has been collected from governments, state-owned and private companies, news and media reports, etc.
• The registry has been jointly developed by Carbon Tracker and the Global Energy Monitor.

Topic: Personality in News

3. Iranian women are protesting against the death of Mahsa Amini.

• Massive anti-hijab protests continue in Iran following the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini.
• She died in detention after being arrested by the official moral police.
• She slipped into a coma due to police beating and later died on 16 September.
• Recently, Iran's hardline President, Ebrahim Raisi, ordered a crackdown on women's rights and called for greater implementation of the country's mandated dress code.
• On August 15, Raisi signed an order for stricter punishments for violating women's dress codes online or at public places.
• In addition, Women were arrested across the country after July 12 was declared National "Hijab and Chastity Day".

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

4. Jitendra Singh will lead the Indian Ministerial delegation at Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh.

• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh will be on a five-day visit to the US to participate in the Global Clean Energy Action Forum.
• He will lead a joint delegation of the Ministry of Power, New and Renewable Energy and the Ministry of Science and Technology at the event.
• During this, Dr Singh will also interact with leading experts and Indians. He will reach Washington on the first leg of this visit.
• The Clean Energy Ministerial Conference-CEM-13 and Innovation Mission-MI-7 will be held from 21 to 23 September in Pittsburgh, USA.
• Its goal will be to consider ways to accelerate clean energy innovation and its use.

Topic: State News/ Bihar

5. Bihar government introduced 'No Bag Day' and compulsory ‘Sports Period’ in Schools.

• Bihar government is preparing to introduce “no bag day” rule in schools and a compulsory ‘sports period’ at least once a week to reduce the burden on students.
• Additional Chief Secretary, Education Department Deepak Kumar Singh said that there will be work-based practical classes in the weekly “No Bag Day”. The day would be dedicated to learning practical and experiential things.
• The objective of such a policy is to involve the students in various activities, which can have a positive impact on their learning.
• He stated that this initiative is in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and will be implemented in both government and private schools.
• Players from Bihar won six medals in the recently concluded Arnis Games World Championship in the Philippines.

Topic: State News/ Tamil Nadu

6. Nanjarayan tank in Tiruppur notified as a bird sanctuary.

• The Tamil Nadu government has declared the Nanjarayan tank in Tiruppur district as the 17th bird sanctuary of the state under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
• The tank, locally known as Sarkar Periyapalayam Tank, is located at the junction of Tirupur North and Uthukuli taluks, covering 125.86 hectares.
• The tank is considered as the habitat of migratory bird species.
• The bar-headed swan, ruddy shelduck, northern shovel and several other species native to Central Asia are expected to arrive in the Nanjarayan tank by October.
• Earlier in December 2021, the Tamil Nadu government declared the Kazhuveli wetland near Villupuram as the ‘Kazhuveli Birds Sanctuary’.

Topic: National Appointments

7. Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has appointed Vinod Aggarwal as the new President.

• Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV) has been appointed as SIAM’s new President for FY2023.
• He was the Vice President of SIAM. He succeeds Kenichi Ayukawa, Executive Vice Chairman & Whole Time Director, Maruti Suzuki India.
• Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility was elected as the Vice President of SIAM for FY2023.
• Satyakam Arya was elected as the Treasurer of SIAM for FY2023.
• SIAM is a not-for-profit apex national body. It represents all major vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. Centre has sought suggestions from the states on the features of the proposed PM PRANAM scheme.

• Centre is planning to launch PM Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana or PM PRANAM.
• The scheme will incentivize the states. PM PRANAM scheme will pass on 50% of subsidy savings as a grant to the state that saves the money.
• Of this grant, the states have to use 70% on creating assets that would lead to technological adoption in alternate fertilisers.
• Remaining 30% can be used by the states to reward and encourage farmers, panchayats, farmer producer organisations and self-help groups involved in generating awareness and helping in reducing the use of fertilizer.
• There will be no separate budget for the PM PRANAM scheme.
• PM PRANAM scheme will be financed through the savings of existing fertiliser subsidy provided by the department of fertilisers under various schemes.
• Why is this scheme needed?
  • In the past five years, the requirement for four fertilisers increased 21% from 528.86 lakh metric tonnes in 2017-18 to 640.27 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) in 2021-22.
  • These four fertilizers are Urea, MOP (Muriate of potash), DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate) and NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium).
  • DAP had recorded a maximum increase of 25.44% from 98.77 LMT in 2017-18 to 123.9 LMT in 2021-22.
  • Urea is the most-used chemical fertiliser in India. It recorded an increase of 19.64% from 298 LMT in 2017-18 to 356.53 LMT in 2021-22.
  • PM PRANAM scheme is required in order to promote the balanced use of fertilisers or alternative fertilisers.
  • It will help government reduce subsidy burden on chemical fertilizers.
  • Government’s subsidy burden on chemical fertilizers will rise 39% to RS 2.25 lakh crore in 2022-23 from Rs 1.62 lakh crore last year.

Topic: Committees/ Commissions/Taskforces

9. Central Government to constitute a commission to study the status of SCs who converted to Christianity and Islam.

• The commission will study the social, economic and educational status of scheduled castes, or Dalits, who have adopted religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
• The commission is likely to have three or four members with the chairman holding the rank of a Union Cabinet Minister.
• The commission will also study the impact of adding more members to the current SC list.
• In 2007, the Ranganath Misra Commission has recommended that SC status should be completely delinked from religion and it should be given like STs.
• The National Minorities Commission in 2007 also stated that Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims need to be given SC status.
• At present, there is a 15% reservation for SC in direct recruitment of central government.
• Government has currently no definitive data on the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims.
• As per the census 2011, 16.6% (201 million) of India's population is from Scheduled Caste. Uttar Pradesh has the largest Scheduled Caste population.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

10. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in the India-CELAC Quartet meeting in New York.

• India-CELAC (Community of Latin America and the Caribbean states) forum has got activated after five years.
• Foreign Ministers of Argentina, Guatemala, Trinidad and the Vice Minister for Multilateral affairs of Colombia participated in the meeting.
• Both sides reviewed the economic recovery after the COVID pandemic. They also agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of trade and commerce, agriculture, food and energy, health, etc.
• India and CELAC commit to enhancing cooperation in IT and Space and agreed to work together on global issues like UN reforms and climate change.
• S Jaishankar will attend the 77th UNGA summit. “A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to Interlocking Challenges” is the theme of the summit.
• S Jaishankar will also participate in meetings of Quad and several other key groups.
• S Jaishankar will also host a Ministerial meeting of the G4 (India, Brazil, Japan, and Germany).
• He will also address a special event “India@75: Showcasing India UN Partnership in Action” on 24 September.
• The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was launched in 2011. It promotes cooperation and strengthens ties among South American, Central American, and Caribbean states.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

11. ICAR signed the technology transfer agreement with Biovet for commercial production of lumpy skin disease vaccine.

• The indigenous vaccine of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) named ‘Lumpi-ProVacind’ has been jointly developed by the National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) at Hisar, Haryana, and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) at Izatnagar, UP.
• ‘Lumpi-ProVacind’ is a live attenuated vaccine. India will require around 18 to 20 crores of vaccines for the total vaccination of the cattle population.
• ‘Lumpi-ProVacind’ vaccine produces LSDV-specific antibodies and cell-mediated immune response.
• Lumpy Skin Disease has also impacted milk production and quality.
• Till last week, around 10 lakh animals were infected, and 90,000 died from the Lumpy Skin Disease.
• Lumpy Skin Disease:
  • It is a contagious viral infection that causes fever and nodules on the skin of cattle.
  • Mosquitoes, flies, lice, and wasps spread the disease through direct contact with cattle.

Topic: Geography

12. Super typhoon Nanmadol hits Japan's southernmost main island Kyushu.

• This is the 14^th typhoon of the season. This has brought record rainfall to the island.
• Heavy rain affected the central Tokai region. The typhoon damaged a bus stop in southern Kyushu.
• Earlier this month, Super Typhoon Hinnamnor landed on the southern islands of Japan.
• Typhoon:
  • These develop between 180° and 100° in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • It is a giant, rotating storm that brings wind, rain, and destruction.
  • Necessary conditions for the formation of typhoons:
    • Sufficiently warm sea surface (>27 °C)
    • Atmospheric Instability
    • High Humidity
    • Sufficient Coriolis force

Topic: Sports

13. Bengaluru FC won its first-ever Durand Cup title.

• Bengaluru FC clinched the Durand Cup title after defeating Mumbai City FC by 2-1 at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
• Siva Sakthi and Brazilian Alan Costa scored goals for Bengaluru FC while Apuia scored a goal for Mumbai City FC.
• It was the 131^st edition of the Durand Cup. Sunil Chhetri was the captain of the Bengaluru FC team.
• Durand Cup:
  • It is an annual domestic football tournament.
  • It was first held in 1888 in Shimla and is the oldest existing club football tournament in Asia.
  • It has been named after its founder, Sir Henry Mortimer Durand.
  • It is hosted by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

Topic: State News/ Manipur

14. Manipur CM launched 'CM Da Haisi' web portal to resolve public grievances.

• Manipur CM N. Biren Singh launched the 'CM Da Haisi' Web portal to receive grievances from the general public.
• The public can lodge their complaint through this portal, and they can also check the status of their complaints.
• The Public Grievances Redressal and Anti-Corruption Cell at CM Secretariat will use the portal to redress grievances in a time-bound manner.
• Since March 2022, the Public Grievance Redressal and Anti-Corruption Cell have received a total of 134 complaints. Out of this, 85% of the complaints have been resolved.
• It will bring transparency and accountability to governance and the delivery of public services.
• Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh recently launched the Smart Performance Appraisal Report Recording Online Window (SPARROW) for Manipur Civil Services (MCS) and Manipur Police Services (MPS).
• SPARROW is an online system for the assessment and record- keeping of the Annual Confidential reports (ACRs) of officers.

(Source: News on AIR)