Daily Current Affairs and GK | 23 and 24 January 2022

Topic: Indian Polity

1. Supreme Court has expanded the scope of rights of daughters in father's property.

• Supreme Court has ruled an important verdict regarding the right of daughters on the property of the father.
• The court has said that if a person living in a joint family dies without writing a will, his daughter will also have the right on his property along with his sons.
• Supreme Court verdict came on an appeal against a Madras High Court verdict related to the property rights of Hindu women and widows under the Hindu Succession Act.
• This verdict has been pronounced by a bench of two justices- S Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari.
• The court has also said that such a system will also apply to the distribution of property before the enactment of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.
• The daughters will get preference in the property over her father's brother's sons.
• Section 15 of the Hindu Succession Act propounds a definite and uniform scheme of succession to the property of a female Hindu who dies intestate.

Topic: Sports

2. PV Sindhu wins Syed Modi International badminton tournament.

• Indian shuttler PV Sindhu has won the women's singles title at the Syed Modi International badminton tournament in Lucknow.
• She defeated Malvika Bansod by 23-13,21-16 in the finals.
• It is the second Syed Modi title for two-time Olympic medalist PV Sindhu. She had won her first Syed Modi title in 2017.
• Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto clinched the mixed doubles title by defeating T Hema Nagendra Babu and Srivedya Gurazada.
• Syed Modi International Badminton Championships:
  • It is an international badminton tournament being annually held in Lucknow.
  • It was started by Uttar Pradesh Badminton Association (UPBA) in 1991.
  • It was upgraded as the BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament in 2011.

Topic: Important Days

3. Parakram Diwas 2022: 23 January

• "Parakram Diwas" (Courage Day) is commemorated as the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
• On January 23, 2022, India commemorated Netaji's 125th birthday.
• The Trinamool Congress commemorated Bose's birthday as 'Desh Nayak Diwas.'
• The day is observed to commemorate his outstanding contribution to India's freedom movement. He is known for his selfless service to the country.
• This day encourages young people to face adversities in their lives.
• The Modi government had announced in 2021 that January 23^rd would be celebrated as "Parakram Diwas".

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sectors

4. India emerged as the world's largest exporter of cucumbers and gherkins.

• During the months of April to October 2021, India has exported 1,23,846 metric tonnes of cucumber and gherkins worth USD 114 million, making it the largest exporter.
• India has crossed the USD 200 million mark in the last financial year for exports of agro-processed product- pickling cucumbers. These are globally known as gherkins or cornichons.
• Currently, gherkins are exported to over 20 countries, including the USA, France, Germany, Australia, Spain, South Korea, Canada, Japan, Belgium, Russia, and China.
• The APEDA is also focussing on gherkin value addition in order to improve the product's export worth.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic:  Books and Authors

5. The book ‘Legend of Birsa Munda’ has been released.

• Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has released the book "Legend of Birsa Munda".
• BJP leader and author Tuhin A. Sinha has written the book about the life of Birsa Munda, a tribal hero. Ankita Verma is the co-author of the book.
• The book 'Legend of Birsa Munda' lauds the tribal revolution and Birsa Munda's role in India's independence struggle.
• Birsa Munda:
  • He led a tribal religious millenarian movement during the British Raj in the late nineteenth century.
  • He is a significant figure in India's freedom movement.
  • Birsa Munda was born on 15 November 1875 and died on 9 June 1900.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

6. A new species of rain frog named after Greta Thunberg.

• An international team of researchers has discovered a new species of rain frog and named it after Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
• Pristimantis gretathunbergae is the scientific name of the species, popularly known as the Greta Thunberg Rainfrog. 
• The frog was first found in 2012, and a recent DNA study found that it is a new species.
• The team that discovered the new species was led by Abel Batista of Panama and Konrad Meibert of Switzerland.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

7. Carbon capture & utilisation solutions to combat climate change discussed by experts.

• Carbon capture & utilisation solutions to combat climate change were discussed by experts at the Indo-US Scoping Workshop on Carbon Capture on 21 January.
• The Indo-US Scoping Workshops on Carbon Capture are being jointly organized by Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the United States Department of Energy.
• They are scheduled to be held from January 21 to February 25 for exploring strengths and gaps in the area of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) between two countries.
• DST Secretary S Chandrasekhar said that India became part of the transnational multilateral platforms such as Mission Innovation and Accelerating CCUS Technologies (ACT).
• Mission Innovation Programme is a global initiative of 24 countries and European Union (EU) to accelerate global clean energy innovation.
• Accelerating CCUS Technologies (ACT) is an international initiative to establish CO2 capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) as a tool to combat global warming.
• Carbon capture is defined as capturing of carbon dioxide (CO₂) before it enters the atmosphere, transporting it, and storing it for a long period of time (centuries or millennia).

Topic: State News/Himachal Pradesh

8. Himachal Pradesh and Haryana governments sign an MoU for construction of Adi Badri Dam.

• Adi Badri Dam would be constructed near Adi Badri area of Haryana’s Yamuna Nagar district.
• The aim of the proposed dam is the rejuvenation of Saraswati River with an estimated cost of Rs 215.35 crore. The dam would also help in water conservation in the region.
• The Dam would get 224 hectare metre water from Himachal Pradesh’s Somb River that falls in Yamuna near Adi Badri in Yamuna Nagar district.
• The executing agency for the construction of Adi Badri Dam would be Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited.
• Adi Badri, also Sri Sarasvati Udgam Tirath, is located in the foothills of the Sivalik Hills in Bhabar area. It is situated in northern part of Haryana’s Yamunanagar district.
• Sarasvati River is a deified river that appears in the Rig Veda, as well as in other Vedic and post-Vedic writings.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

9. Professor Vinod Sharma conferred with Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2022.

• Professor Vinod Sharma has been honoured with Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for 2022 for his work in the field of Disaster Management.
• In the Institutional category, the Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management has been selected for this award.
• Professor Vinod Sharma is the founder coordinator of the National Centre of Disaster Management, which is now known as the National Institute of Disaster Management.
• In 2021, Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society had received this award in the Institutional category and Dr. Rajendra Kumar Bhandari in the individual category.
• Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar:
  • It is announced on 23rd January on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
  • It carries a cash prize of ₹51 lakhs and a certificate in case of an institution and ₹5 lakhs and a certificate in case of an individual.
  • It is given to recognize the work done by an institution or an individual in the field of disaster management.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Environment and Ecology

10. Peru declares 'environmental emergency' due to oil spill in coastal areas.

• The government of Peru has declared a 90-day “environmental emergency” due to an oil spill in the coastal areas.
• About 6,000 barrels of crude oil have come out spilled from a tanker of the Spanish energy firm ‘Repsol’ near the coast of Peru.
• The oil spill has affected marine wildlife and created a big loss for local tourism and fishermen.
• Repsol has said that the spill has occurred because of freak waves caused by the eruption in the Pacific.
• Oil is one of the most abundant pollutants in the oceans. Around 3 million tons of oil contaminate oceans every year.
• Measures used to remove Oil spills are:
  • Bioremediation: Microorganisms are used to remove oil from the Ocean.
  • Skimmers: These devices are used to separate the spilled oil from the water’s surface.
  • Dispersing agents: These chemical substances are used to break the oil into smaller droplets.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

11. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav participated in 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation.

• Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav addressed the 4^th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation.
• The government of Malaysia and Global Tiger Forum (GTF) has organized the 4^th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation.
• The draft declaration on tiger conservation for Global Tiger Summit was finalized at a “Pre-Tiger Summit” in New Delhi in 2010.
• Bhupender Yadav said India has achieved the remarkable feat of doubling the tiger population in 2018, 4 years ahead of the targeted year 2022.
• The government has increased budgetary allocation for tiger conservation from Rs 185 crore in 2014 to Rs 300 crore in 2022.
• Asia Ministerial Conference is an important event for reviewing the progress of the Global Tiger Recovery Programme and commitments to tiger conservation.
• India is one of the founding members of the intergovernmental platform of Tiger Range Countries – Global Tiger Forum.
• India is home to over 70% of the tiger population globally. It has 51 tiger reserves in 18 states.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Jammu and Kashmir

12. Jerri hamlet declared as first ‘Milk Village’ of Jammu and Kashmir.

• The Jammu and Kashmir administration has declared Jerri hamlet as the first ‘Milk Village’ of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The government has sanctioned 57 more dairy farms under the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) for the hamlet.
• Under the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS), dairy units with five animals will get a subsidy of 50%.
• The scheme also has a provision for providing milking machines, bulk milk cooling units at 50% subsidy.
• The animal husbandry department will also provide a refrigerated van to farmers on a 50% subsidy.
• A cooperative of 11 women has been also formed in hamlet for collection and transportation of milk.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

13. National Girl Child Day: 24 January

• National Girl Child Day is celebrated every year on 24 January in India.
• It was started by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2008.
• It is observed to spread awareness about child sex ratios, girls’ education, empowerment of girls, etc.
• Its main objective is to raise awareness about the rights of a girl child and their education, health, and nutrition.
• It also celebrated to mark the anniversary of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme.
• International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated every year on 11 October.

Topic: Personality in News

14. Former Indian footballer Subhas Bhowmick dies at 72.

• Subhas Bhowmick, popularly known as 'Bhombol da', passed away at the age of 72. He was a former Indian footballer and coach.
• He was a part of the Indian team that has won a bronze medal in the 1970 Asian Games.
• He has won a total of 26 trophies in his club career. He scored 82 goals for Mohun Bagan.
• He also scored 83 goals for East Bengal in five years. He helped East Bengal in winning ASEAN Club Cup.

(Source: News on AIR)