Daily Current Affairs and GK | 25 and 26 September 2022

Topic: National Appointments

1. Dr Rajiv Bahl appointed as Director General of the ICMR for three years.

• Dr Rajiv Bahl will be the new Director General of ICMR and Secretary of the Department of Health Research.
• Dr Rajiv Bahl is currently working with the World Health Organization as Head of Research in the Maternal, Newborn Child and Adolescent Health-cum-Newborn Unit.
• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has cleared the appointment of Dr Rajiv Bahl.
• Earlier, Dr Bahl worked as a senior researcher at the ICMR Advanced Centre for Diarrheal Diseases Research.
• Dr. Balram Bhargava’s extended tenure as Director General of the ICMR ended in July 2022.
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR):
  • It was established in 1911.
  • It is an apex body in India for the coordination, and promotion of biomedical research.
  • It is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

2. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy launched a two-day virtual conference 'SymphoNE'.

• To boost Tourism Sector in North East India, G. Kishan Reddy launched the virtual conference 'SymphoNE'.
• On the occasion of World Tourism Day, a virtual Conference 'SymphoNE' is being organized on 24^th & 27^th of September 2022.
• The conference will create a roadmap to showcase the unexplored beauty and boost the tourism Sector in the North Eastern Region.
• Policy Thinkers, State Tourism Boards, Social Media Influencers and Travel & Tour Operators are taking part in this conference.
• SymphoNE’s main objective is to develop one-stop solution for eliminating obstacles faced by tourists and tour operators.

Topic: Important Days

3. World Contraception Day: 26 September

• World Contraception Day is observed on September 26 every year.
• It is observed to raise awareness about contraception and reproductive rights.
• The first-ever World Contraception Day was observed in 2007. It is observed to raise the importance of birth control and family planning.
• In 1994, at the International Conference on Population and Development, it was stated that all couples and individuals have the free right to choose the number and spacing of their offspring.
• Condoms are the most common form of contraceptives used in India. It prevents the sperm from meeting the egg.
• According to the WHO, almost 70% of women do not have access to contraception.

Topic: Personality in News

4. Oscar winner Louise Fletcher has died at the age of 88.

• US actress Louise Fletcher, who won an Oscar in 1976 for her role as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, died at her residence.
• Fletcher was most known for her role as Nurse Ratched, her career spanned six decades, including TV and film.
• She started her acting career in the 50s.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Geography

5. Super Typhoon Noru recently hit the Philippines.

• Super Typhoon Noru has made landfall in the Philippines, affecting the heavily populated main island of Luzon with strong winds and heavy rain.
• After an unusual "explosive intensification," the storm had maximum sustained wind speeds of 125 mph (195 km/h).
• The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate disasters due to its geography.
• Typhoon:
  • These develop between 180° and 100° in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • It is a giant, rotating storm that brings wind, rain, and destruction.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

6. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is planning to launch the "Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan."

• It is being launched to reduce air pollution by 40% by 2025-26.
• For this survey, 131 cities have been divided into three groups on the basis of population.
• The first group consists of 47 cities with a population of more than one million.
• The second group consists of 44 cities with populations ranging from three to one million.
• The third group includes 40 cities with a population of less than three lakhs.
• Cities will have to do self-assessments on the online portal of the ministry and report activities and measures such as solid waste management, building material and debris management, and pollution reduction.
• This assessment is done every year.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched a unique competition 'Swachh Toycathon' for making toys from 'Waste.'

• It has been launched by Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary in a virtual program on 26 September 2022.
• The competition is being launched under the 'Swachh Amrit Mahotsav', a fortnight of activities to promote cleanliness-related initiatives from the SevaDiwas of 17 September 2022 to the SwachhataDiwas of 2 October 2022.
• The competition will be open to individuals and groups to bring innovations in the design of toys using dry waste.
• It will focus on efficient designs that can be replicated extensively on toys that comply with minimum safety standards.
• IIT Gandhinagar's Center for Creative Learning is the knowledge partner for this initiative.
• The competition will be organized on MyGov's Innovate India portal.
• With the goal of making India a hub for toys on a worldwide scale, the National Toy Action Plan (NAPT) 2020 was established to develop the Indian toy industry, including traditional handicrafts and handmade toys.
• The 2nd phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM 2.0) was launched by the Prime Minister on October 1, 2021, with the vision of 'Garbage Free' cities by 2026.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. Union Government launched an Indian Sign Language (ISL) dictionary mobile application named 'Sign Learn'.

• Pratima Bhowmik, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment launched the app.
• Sign Learn is based on the Indian Sign Language Dictionary of the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC), containing 10,000 words.
• The app is available in Android as well as iOS versions and all words in ISL Dictionary can be searched either in Hindi or in English medium.
• Recently, ISLRTC signed an MoU with NCERT on October 6, 2020 to translate NCERT textbooks from classes 1 to 12 into Indian Sign Language (digital format) for children with hearing disabilities.
• The ISL e-content for the NCERT class 6 textbooks was launched this year.
• As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Center launched ISL editions of selected books from the 'Veergatha' series of the National Book Trust.

Topic: State News/ Chhattisgarh

9. Chhattisgarh government will launch ‘Hamar Beti Hamar Maan’ campaign for women’s safety.

• For women’s safety and empowerment, the Chattisgarh government announced the ‘Hamar Beti-Hamar Maan’ campaign in this state.
• Under this campaign, the girls will be taught various subjects, including legal rights, good touch-bad touch, and sexual crimes.
• Women officers and employees of the state police will teach girls about their legal rights, good touch, bad touch, molestation, sexual abuse, cybercrime, and protection from social media crimes.
• The government will also issue a helpline number under the Hamar Beti Hamar Maan campaign.
• The government has also decided to investigate crimes related to women on a priority basis by women investigators.
• The women in educational institutes of the state will be trained regarding the usage of the application developed for women’s safety.

Topic: International News

10. 32 countries, including India, called for urgent and comprehensive reforms in the UN Security Council.

• During the 77th session of the General Assembly, the 32 countries urged to "instill new life” to the UN Security Council.
• The signatories include Brazil, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mongolia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, and Vanuatu.
• The signatories in a joint statement urged that reform in the UN Security Council is required for solving different challenges like poverty, climate change, pandemics, global food security, international conflicts, etc.
• The Joint Statement reiterated that expansion is required in the both permanent and non-permanent categories of the Security Council. It also proposed to reform in working methods.
• UN Security Council (UNSC):
  • It is one of the six major organs of the United Nations, responsible for ensuring international peace and security.
  • There are 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members in this council.
  • Its main function is to ensure international peace and security.
  • It was established on 24 October 1945.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

11. Indian Author Meena Kandasamy wins the German PEN award.

• Meena Kandasamy has been announced the winner of the Hermann Kesten Prize.
• The award will be given at a ceremony in Darmstadt on 15 November 2022.
• Meena Kandasamy is a feminist and anti-caste activist. She works on issues related to gender, caste, sexuality, patriarchy, and oppression by the Brahmanical system.
• Her novels have been selected for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the International Dylan Thomas Prize, the Jhalak Prize, and the Hindu Lit Prize.
• Tamil Tigresses (2021), Touch (2006), Gypsy Goddess (2014) and Ms Militancy (2010) are some famous works of Meena Kandasamy.
• This year, a special award will be also given to the website "Weiter Schreiben" to encourage writers from conflict zones.
• Hermann Kesten Prize is given to personalities, who stand up for the rights of persecuted authors and journalists.
• The winner receives an amount of €20,000 ($19,996) as prize money.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. President Draupadi Murmu presented the National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards 2020-21.

• President Draupadi Murmu presented a total of 42 awards. Two universities, ten NSS units, and 30 volunteers received the awards.
• The National Service Scheme Award is conferred by the Department of Youth Affairs every year.
• It is given for the outstanding contributions made by universities and Colleges, NSS units, NSS Volunteers, programme Officers, etc. for voluntary community service.
• At present, the NSS has about 40 lakh volunteers across the country.
• NSS is a Centrally Sector Scheme launched in the year 1969. Its main objective is to develop the personality and character of the youths through voluntary community service.
• National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards:
  • It is conferred every year on NSS Foundation Day (24 September).
  • It was instituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports during 1992-93.
  • The awards are given in the following categories:
    • University/ +2 Council
    • NSS Units and their Programme Officers
    • NSS Volunteers

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

13. CBI launched 'Operation Meghachakra' against online child sexual abuse across the country.

• The Central Bureau of Investigation has carried out 'Operation Meghachakra' at 56 locations in 20 states against the circulation and sharing of child sexual abuse material online.
• CBI launched the exercise code-named 'Operation Meghachakra' by using the inputs from the Interpol unit of New Zealand.
• CBI carried out a similar exercise “Operation Carbon” in 2021 at 76 locations across the country.
• CBI is the first probe agency to set up a cybercrime unit for the investigation of cybercrimes in the country.
• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI):
  • It works under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
  • It was established on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee.
  • Subodh Kumar Jaiswal is the current Director.

Topic: Sports

14. Jhulan Goswami announced her retirement from international cricket.

• She played her last match on 24 September against England in the last ODI of the series at Lord's.
• Jhulan Goswami is a 39-year-old fast bowler from West Bengal. She played 12 Tests, 68 T20 internationals, and 203 ODIs for India.
• She is the highest wicket-taker in women's ODI history. She has taken a total of 353 wickets in 283 matches.
• She made her debut in the year 2002. She won the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year award in 2007.
• She is also a recipient of the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri.

(Source: News on AIR)