Daily Current Affairs and GK | 24 September 2022

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

1. Scientists in China created the world's first cloned arctic wolf named Maya.

• To save the endangered animal, Beijing-based firm Sinogene Biotechnology Co in association with Harbin Polarland started the arctic wolf cloning project in 2020.
• Last year, a 16-year-old Maya named arctic wolf had died. Sinogene Biotechnology put her cells into an egg from a female Beagle to create a clone wolf.
• In cloning, 137 new embryos have been created and 85 of them were transferred to the uteri of seven beagles. Out of 85, one has been born as a healthy wolf.
• In 2019, Chinese scientists cloned a cat by using similar technology.
• Dolly, female Finn Dorset sheep, is the first mammal that has been cloned from an adult cell in 1996. It died on 14th February 2003 due to lung disease.
• Cloning:
  • It is the production of an exact copy of a cell, any other living part, or a complete organism.
  • Scientists generally use "somatic cell nuclear transfer" (SCNT) to create genetically identical animals.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

2. Daniel Spielman has been awarded Breakthrough Prize 2023.

• Daniel Spielman has been announced as the winner of the Breakthrough Prize in mathematics.
• He got the award for his contributions to theoretical computer science and mathematics.
• Breakthrough Prize Foundation has announced the winners in the three categories — fundamental physics, mathematics, and life sciences.
• The winners of the prizes are known as “laureates”. The Breakthrough Prizes was instituted by a group of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs in 2010.
• The winner receives a prize of $3 million. It is also known as "Oscars of Science".
• The list of winners is given below:

Topic: National Appointments

3. Dilip Tirkey was unanimously elected as Hockey India (HI) president.

• Tirkey was a former India hockey captain. He was a member of the gold medal-winning team at the 1998 Asian Games.
• A former sportsperson and an Olympian has for the first time in history become the head of Hockey India.
• Tirkey has played 412 international matches as a defender in his career.
• He represented India at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, and Athens in 2004.
• Hockey India:
  • It was set up in May 2009. It is headquartered in New Delhi.
  • It is recognized as the sole body responsible for promoting Hockey in India.
  • It plans, conducts and directs all the activities for both men’s and women’s hockey in India.

Topic: National News

4. Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020 has been released on 22nd September 2022 by the Registrar General of India (RGI).

• Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya said that India is poised to meet 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets of child mortality.
• The Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) for the country has declined by 3 points from 35 per 1000 live births in 2019 to 32 per 1000 live births in 2020.
• It varies from 36 in rural areas to 21 in urban areas. U5MR for females is higher (33) than for males (31).
• Highest decline of U5MR is seen in Uttar Pradesh (5 points) and Karnataka (5 points).
• There has been a decline of 4 points in male U5MR and 3 points in female U5MR during the corresponding period.
• As per SRS 2020 Report, eleven States/UT have already attained SDGs target of U5MR (<=25 by 2030).
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has declined by 2 points from 30 per 1000 live births in 2019 to 28 per 1000 live births in 2020.
• The Rural-Urban difference has narrowed to 12 points (Urban 19, Rural-31). IMR male and female is equal (28) in 2020.
• The Neonatal Mortality Rate ranges from 12 in urban areas to 23 in rural areas.
• As per SRS 2020 Report, six States/ UT have already attained the SDG target of NMR (<=12 by 2030).
• They are Kerala (4), Delhi (9), Tamil Nadu (9), Maharashtra (11), Jammu & Kashmir (12) and Punjab (12).

Topic: National Appointments

5. Former Justice L Nageswara Rao appointed for amending constitution of IOA.

• On September 22, the Supreme Court appointed former Supreme Court Justice L Nageswara Rao to amend the constitution of the Indian Olympic Association and prepare an electoral college.
• The apex court has asked Justice Rao to prepare a roadmap to amend the constitution of the Olympic Association and hold the organization's elections by December 15 this year.
• The SC has allowed Rajeev Mehta, Secretary General of the IOA, and Adile Sumariwala, Vice President of the IOA, to participate in the upcoming meeting with the International Olympic Committee.
• The meeting is scheduled to be held on September 27.
• On September 8th, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a final warning to the IOA to resolve its governance issues and hold elections by December otherwise it will ban it.

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sectors

6. Five South Asian countries, including India, have formed the Palm Oil Alliance.

• The edible oil trade associations of the five-palm oil-importing countries of South Asia have announced the establishment of the Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA).
• The alliance is between industry bodies from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
• The objective of the alliance is to gain bargaining power and make imports sustainable.
• The alliance is committed to changing the negative image of palm oil by recognising palm oil as a high-quality, economical and healthy vegetable oil.
• The Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA) of India would initially manage the secretariat of the newly formed alliance.
• In the first general assembly of the alliance, SEA President Atul Chaturvedi was elected as the first President.
• Early next year, the APOA is expected to hold its next meeting in Indonesia.

Topic: National Appointment

7. All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has appointed Dr M. Srinivas as its director.

• Dr. Srinivas, dean of the ESIC Medical College and Hospital in Hyderabad, will replace Randeep Guleria, who has held the position since March 2017.
• The appointment of Dr. Srinivas to the position of AIIMS director has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
• His appointment is for a period of five years from the date of assuming office or until he attains the age of 65 years.
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS):
  • It is a group of autonomous government public medical universities of higher education under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  • These institutions have been declared as institutions of national importance by an Act of Parliament.
  • AIIMS New Delhi was the first institute that was established in 1956.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. On September 25, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will inaugurate Arogya Manthan 2022.

• Arogya Manthan 2022 will be inaugurated to celebrate the completion of four years of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana and one year of implementation of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• AB-PMJAY completed four years of its implementation on September 23, 2022.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) will celebrate its first anniversary on 27 September 2022.
• The AB-PMJAY scheme aims to benefit more than 10 crores poor families across the country by providing them with an annual health insurance coverage of five lakh rupees.
• It was launched in September 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Global and national healthcare professionals, as well as members from academia, think tanks, industry, and media, will attend the two-day event.
• NHA will also present the Ayushman Utkrishtata Puraskaar 2022 (Ayushman Excellence Awards) to felicitate the top performing states, PMAMs (Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitra), and public hospitals under the AB PM-JAY.
• Best performing states/ UTs, districts, private & government health facilities, and digital health solutions will be felicitated under ABDM.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

9. India launched the “Innovation Roadmap of the Mission Integrated Biorefineries” at Global Clean Energy Action Forum-2022.

• “Innovation Roadmap of the Mission Integrated Biorefineries” has been developed from the leads and results received from Brazil, Canada, EC and the UK.
• The main goals of the initiative are to increase global cooperation and boost funding for R&D in the energy sector.
• “Innovation Roadmap of the Mission Integrated Biorefineries” aims to fill the identified gaps and resolve the current challenges in biorefining value chains.
• It will also provide a strategic framework for policymakers to move toward research and development over the next five years.
• Dr Jitendra Singh said that a pilot plant of 10 Tons/day capacity plant with integrated enzyme production will be commissioned at Panipat, Haryana by 2022. It will be the first indigenous technology for on-site enzyme production.
• During the conference, India agreed to reach 500-Gigawatt non-fossil energy capacity and reduce the carbon intensity of the economy by 45% over 2005 levels.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Indian Polity

10. Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued the draft Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022.

• The Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022 aims to bring changes in the governance of the telecom sector. It will give more power to the Centre in several fields.
• With this bill, the government is aiming to amend the existing governing provisions related to the development, expansion, and operation of telecommunication services.
• The draft of the bill consolidates three separate acts that govern the telecommunications sector — Indian Telegraph Act 1885, Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933, and The Telegraph Wires, (Unlawful Protection) Act 1950.
• The government has broadened the definition of telecommunication services by including internet-based communication and broadcasting services in the draft telecom bill.
• The bill has included over-the-top communication services like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram in the definition of telecommunication services.
• According to the draft of the bill, providers of telecommunication services will be covered under the licensing regime.
• The government will also amend the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act (TRAI Act).
• At present, the TRAI Act mandates the telecom department to seek the regulator’s views before issuing a new license to a service provider. The draft of the bill has removed this provision.
• Government affirmed that protecting users will be a fundamental element of the bill.

Topic: Sports

11. India's first MotoGP will be held in Noida's Buddh circuit in 2023.

• For the first time in India, Moto GP, the premier motorcycle racing event, will be organized at Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida.
• Dorna Sports has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fairstreet Sports to hold the championship in India for seven years.
• Earlier, Formula One, the car racing championship, was organized at the Buddh International Circuit.
• The government has now classified motorcycle racing as a sporting event.
• This event will boost the hospitality and tourism sectors in the state. It will also put UP on the global platform.
• The “Grand Prix of Bharat” dates have not been decided yet. MotoGP is also planning to introduce MotoE – the electric motorcycle racing event, in India.

Topic: Corporates/Companies

12. REC Limited becomes the 12^th Maharatna Company in India.

• The Department of Public Enterprises issued an order to grant ‘Maharatna’ status to REC Limited.
• The grant of ‘Maharatna’ status to REC (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation limited) will enhance the power of the company’s Board to take financial decisions.
• The Board of a ‘Maharatna’ CPSE can now make equity investments to start a joint venture company and can undertake mergers and acquisitions in India and abroad.
• REC can now invest up to ₹5,000 crores, or 15% of its net worth, in a single project after gaining Maharatna status.
• REC Limited has played a significant role in the success of different schemes like DDUGJY and SAUBHAGYA. It has also made a valuable contribution to household electrification across the country.
• REC Limited:
  • It was established in 1969 to provide financial assistance to state electricity boards, state governments, and central and state power utilities.
  • It is the nodal agency for the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

Topic: Agriculture and allied sectors

13. Union Minister Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated an international conference on Consciousness.

• It has been organized under the theme, “Exploring Consciousness- From Non- Locality to Non- Duality: The Man- Machine Debate” at NIMHANS, Bengaluru.
• It has been organized by India Foundation and NIMHANS and supported by the Ministry of Ayush.
• The conference’s aim is to bring eminent researchers and inventors in the areas of physics, biology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, etc. on one platform.
• Sarbananda Sonowal also inaugurated the Centre of Excellence project as part of the “Ayurswasthya Yojana” at NIMHANS.
• The Centre of Excellence (CoE) will strengthen competencies of Ayush professionals in Education technology, and Research & innovation.

Topic: Agriculture and allied sectors

14. India’s first consignment of plant-based meat products has been exported to the US.

• India exported its first consignment of plant-based meat products from Nadiad in the Kheda district of Gujarat to California, United States.
• The first consignment of plant-based meat products has many vegan food products like momos, mini samosas, patties, nuggets, etc.
• The logistics support has been provided by the Kheda District Administration.
• APEDA is planning to promote plant-based meat products without disturbing the conventional animal-based meat export market.
• To promote the export of agricultural products, APEDA has recognized 220 labs across India to provide testing services.
• Plant-based meat products have become very popular in developed countries.
• Plant-based meat products are rich in fiber and have lesser cholesterol content.
• Plant-based meat is produced directly from plants. Legumes, soybeans, quinoa, vegetable proteins like peas, and coconut oil are the main ingredients of plant-based meat.