Daily Current Affairs and GK | 24 January 2020

1. World Archery Federation lifts suspension on India

• The World Archery Federation lifted the suspension on India after elections were held in which Arjun Munda has been selected as the president of the Archery Association of India.
• The elections were held as per the orders of Delhi High Court with Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol as the observer.
• Now, Indian archers can represent the country at the Asian championships and other international tournaments.
• The Indian federation needs to comply with the good governance and the rules of the World Archery Federation and must report within 3 months.
• World Archery Federation:
  • It is the governing body of archery based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • It was formed in 1931 and the current President is Uğur Erdener.

2. ICJ orders Myanmar to take emergency measures to prevent Rohingya’s genocide

• The International Court of Justice has ordered the Myanmar to take measures against Rohingya’s genocide.
• The ICJ called on Rohingyas as Extremely Vulnerable.
• The report is to be submitted within 4 months and thereafter every 6 months till the final decision is taken.
• The ruling came after Gambia filed a suit against Myanmar under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
• International Court of Justice:
  • It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations established in 1945.
  • It is based in Hague, Netherland.

3. 10^th Annual meeting of Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) in New Delhi

• The Election Commission of India to hold 10^th Annual Meeting of Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia in New Delhi.
• An international conference with the theme “Strengthening Institutional Capacity” will also be organized.
• The conference is aimed at sharing the experience of different election management bodies, international institutions, and experts.
• ECI will also renew the MoUs on election management with the Independent Election commission of Afghanistan.
• The delegates will participate in the National Voters Day Celebrations in New Delhi on January 25, 2020.
• FEMBoSA:
  • The forum was established in 2012 at the 3^rd Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies of SAARC Countries in New Delhi.
  • The member countries are SAARC countries i.e Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
  • The 2018 meeting was conducted in Dhaka in Bangladesh.

4. Munich Security Conference 2020 to be held in Munich, Germany

• Munich Security Conference 2020 will be held in Munich, Germany.
• The conference started in 1963, discusses various security challenges with high ranking officials and the head of states participating in the conference.
• North Korea will participate in the meeting for the first time.
• North Korea's move came after it abandoned self- declared-ban on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile test imposed as a part of U.S. – North Korea diplomacy.

5. 1^st E-waste clinic of India opens in Bhopal

• Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh opens up India’s 1^st E-waste clinic.
• It is tasked with the segregation, processing, and disposal of domestic and commercial e-waste.
• The clinic has been set up by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC).
• The clinic has been made from junk-low floor buses and has e-waste material to decorate it. It also has a TV that will show a documentary creating awareness on the harmful effects of e-waste.
• While BMC will do door to door collection of waste, the CPCB is tasked with the technical aspect of the clinic.

6. India achieved a complete phase-out of HCFC- 141b

• India has achieved the complete phase-out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC- 141b).
• It is the most potent ozone-depleting substance after Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• It is used in the foam industry as a blowing agent in the production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams.
• India was not producing HCFC-141b and was meeting its domestic requirements through imports.
• The import of HCFC-141b is prohibited under Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules, 2019 issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

7. International Labour Organization released Labour Report 2020

• The World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2020 report also known as the Labour report has been released by International Labour Organisation (ILO).
• According to the report, the global unemployment is projected to increase by around 2.5 million in 2020.
• The growth of countries like India and China has reduced global inequality but the income distribution in these countries is still unequal. 
• Also, the gender gap in wages is more in South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh which stands around 40%. This gender gap stands at 15% in developed countries.
• ILO:
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nation consisting of 187 countries.
  • It was formed in 1919 with its headquarter at Geneva, Switzerland.
  • It develops international labour standards and advances social justice.

8. ISRO unveiled Vyom Mitra: the lady robot for Gaganyaan

• ISRO launched half humanoid Vyom mitra, the lady robot who will travel in the 1^st test flight of Gaganyaan.
• The Vyom mitra has been developed by ISRO Inertial Systems Unit, Thiruvananthapuram.
• She will be sent in a capsule to study the response of the astronauts outside the Earth in a controlled zero-gravity environment.
• The robot can switch operations, perform Environment Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) functions, can recognize and converse with the astronauts to solve their queries and can detect and give out warnings of the environmental changes in the cabin.
• Gaganyaan: It is India’s first manned mission to the space, developed by HAL and ISRO, will carry the astronauts in the lower orbit.

9. India ranks 72^nd in Global Talent Competitiveness Index

• India climbed to 72^nd position in 2020 from 80 in 2019 in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index.
• The index is released by INSEAD in partnership with the Adecco Group and Google.
• Switzerland has topped the index followed by U.S.A and Singapore which undertook 2^nd and 3^rd rank respectively.
• The index measures a country’s ability to attract, grow and retain the talent.
• The index is being released since 2013.

10. Greenpeace India Report released

• Greenpeace India report, which ranks Indian cities based on pollution, has been released.
• Jharia has been ranked as the topmost polluted city followed by Dhanbad. Both the cities are in Jharkhand and are known for coal mining.
• Lunglei in Mizoram is the least polluted city. The second least polluted city is Dowki of Meghalaya.
• 6 of the top 10 polluted cities are in Uttar Pradesh- Noida, Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Allahabad, Moradabad, and Firozabad.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. The headquarters of the World Archery Federation is located in which of the following countries?

A. Switzerland

B. Norway

C. Sweden

D. Finland

2. Rohingya ethnic community belongs to which of the following countries?

A. Nepal

B. Myanmar

C. Vietnam

D. Laos

3. FEMBoSA or Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia was established in which year?

A. 2006

B. 2008

C. 2010

D. 2012

4. Which of the following countries is participating in the Munich Conference to be held in Germany for the first time?

A. North Korea

B. South Korea

C. Denmark

D. Finland

5. India’s 1^st E-clinic has been opened in which of the following cities?

A. Indore

B. Delhi

C. Bhopal

D. Mumbai

6. The import of HCFC- 141b is banned under which of the following acts?

A. Environmental Protection Act of 1986

B. Wildlife Protection Act of 1972

C. Indian Forest Act of 1927

D. All of the above

7. World Employment and Social Outlook Report is released by

A. IMF

B. ILO

C. World Bank

D. None of the above

8. What is the name of the half- humanoid who will travel in a test flight of Gaganyaan?

A. AakashMitra

B. AntrikshMitra

C. Vyom Mitra

D. GaganMitra

9. Which of the following Indian cities is the most polluted according to the Greenpeace India report?

A. Dhanbad

B. Jharia

C. Delhi

D. Noida

10. What is the rank of India in the Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2020?

A. 72

B. 73

C. 74

D. 75

Solution:

1. A

2. B

3. D

4. A

5. C

6. A

7. B

8. C

9. B

10.A