Daily Current Affairs and GK | 3 June 2021

Topic: Appointment

1. Former Supreme Court judge Justice Arun Mishra appointed as Chairperson of NHRC.

• Former Supreme Court judge Justice Arun Mishra has been appointed as Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
• He took office as Chairperson of NHRC on 02 June. He had retired from SC on September 3 last year.
• His tenure as chairperson of NHRC will be for three years or till he attains the age of 70, whichever is earlier.
• The post of NHRC chairperson has been vacant for almost 6 months since former Chief Justice of India H L Dattu retired in December last year.
• Former SC Judge Prafulla Pant was appointed the acting chairperson of NHRC.
• National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):
  • It is a statutory body that was established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
  • It consists of a chairperson and five members. The chairperson should be retired chief justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court.
  • President appoints the chairperson and members of NHRC on the recommendations of a six-member committee.
  • The chairperson and members hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years.

Topic: Biotechnology and Disease

2. B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2 variants of Covid-19 named as ‘Kappa' and 'Delta' respectively.

• B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2 variants of Covid-19 named ‘Kappa' and 'Delta' respectively.
• Both variants were first identified in India. India has earlier objected to a media report calling B.1.617 mutant of the novel coronavirus an "Indian Variant".
• Health Ministry said that WHO has not used the word “Indian” for this strain in the document.
• On May 12, the Ministry termed media reports using the term “Indian variant” for B.1.617 mutant strain as unfounded.
• As per WHO, B.1.617 mutant strain is a variant of global concern.
• Till now, WHO has identified four Variants of Concern (VOC). They are B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P2 and B.1.617.2.
• First four letters of the Greek alphabet (Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta) will be used as public labels for these VOC.
• So, the variant first identified in India (B.1.617.2) can be described as 'Delta' and 'UK variant' can be described as 'Alpha'.
• B.1.617.1 is sub lineage of B.1.617 family. It was also identified in India and now bears popular label ‘Kappa’.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. Cabinet approves draft of Model Tenancy Act.

• The draft of the Model Tenancy Act (MTA) has been approved by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2 June.
• The draft of the Model Tenancy Act (MTA) creates a balance between the interest of owners and tenants. It will help in revamping the legal framework related to rental housing across the country.
• It will develop a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive rental housing market in the country. Through this draft, private participation in developing the tenancy market as a business will increase.
• It will cover urban and rural areas and also create a time-bound grievance redressal mechanism.

Topic: International News

4. Isaac Herzog elected as new President of Israel.

• Veteran politician Isaac Herzog has been elected as 11^th President of Israel. He is the son of a former President.
• He secured 87 votes in the 120-member house. He defeated his rival Miriam Peretz.
• He will replace current President Reuven Rivlin next month. He will begin his seven-year term from 9 July.
• Currently, he is the head of the Jewish Agency – a nonprofit organization. He also served as a minister with various portfolios.
• He started his political journey as the Cabinet Secretary of Prime Minister Ehud Barak between 1999 and 2000.
• Israel:
  • It is a Middle Eastern country located on the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Its capital is Jerusalem and the currency is the Israeli shekel.
  • Benjamin Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of the country.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

5. MoU between India and Maldives on cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development approved by Union Cabinet.

• The MoU was signed between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Government of Maldives in February 2021.
• Now, a Joint Working Group (JWG) will be formed to implement programmes on cooperation under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• The JWG will meet once a year, alternately in Maldives and India.
• The MoU became effective on the date of its signing i.e. 20^th February 2021. It will remain in force for an indefinite period.
• The aim of MoU is to promote and strengthen India-Maldives technical cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development.

Topic: Important Days

6. World Bicycle Day: 3 June

• World Bicycle Day is observed every year on 3 June.
• In April 2018, UN General Assembly declared 3 June as World Bicycle Day.
• Bicycle is an environmentally sustainable means of transport.
• In October 2021, UN Sustainable Transport Conference will take place in Beijing, China. It will be focused on the role sustainable transport plays in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Topic: Reports and Indices

7. NITI Aayog launched 3rd edition of SDG India Index.

• Government think tank Niti Aayog launched the third edition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index.
• In 2018, this index was launched to measure the progress made by States and Union Territories towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Now, it is used as a primary tool for monitoring progress on the SDGs in the country.
• NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Rajiv Kumar also launched the report titled, SDG India Index and Dashboard 2020–21: Partnerships in the Decade of Action.
• SDG India Index 2020–21:
  • The SDG India Index 2020–21 has been developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the United Nations. It is based on 16 Goals and 115 indicators.
  • Under SDG India Index States and Union Territories are classified as given below:
    • Aspirant: 0–49
    • Performer: 50–64
    • Front-Runner: 65–99
    • Achiever: 100

(Source: PIB)

• Finding of SDG India Index 2020–21:
  • In 2020-21, the overall SDG score is 66. It has improved by 6 points from 2019.
  • The score has improved in Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and Goal 7(Affordable and Clean Energy).
  • Kerala, Himachal Pradesh/Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana are top five performer states.
  • Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Meghalaya are in the last five positions.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

8. Union Cabinet approves memorandum of cooperation between India-Japan on urban development

• The Union Cabinet has approved a memorandum of cooperation between India-Japan in the field of sustainable urban development.
• A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Sustainable Urban Development has been signed between the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Government of India and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Government of Japan.
• A Joint Working Group (JWG) will be also formed to implement the programmes on cooperation under the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC). The JWG will meet once a year.
• The MoC will strengthen the technical cooperation in the field of Urban Planning, Smart Cities Development, Affordable Housing (including rental housing), Urban Flood Management, Sewerage and Waste Water Management, etc.
• The best practices and key learnings will be exchanged between India and Japan in the field of Sustainable Urban Development.

Topic: New Developments

9. CSIR-NCL lab developed a new technique for disinfecting water by using natural oils.

• The CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune has developed a hybrid technology called "SWASTIK” for disinfecting water.
• CSIR-NCL has used natural oils having antimicrobial properties for disinfecting water.
• This is a cost-effective method for removing harmful bacteria from water. It is developed by using the traditional method of Ayurveda.
• It has used the hydrodynamic cavitation technique for removing impurities from water.
• It will help the government in providing clean drinking tap water supply to all rural households by 2024.
• National Chemical Laboratory:
  • It is an Indian government laboratory located in Pune.
  • It was established in 1950.
  • It is responsible for research in polymer science, organic chemistry, material chemistry, etc.

Topic: India and its Neighbourhood

10. China developed a combined air defense system along LAC.

• China created a combined air defense system along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• The combined air defense system has been developed with the elements of the air force and army of western theatre command.
• For the first time, an integrated army air defence system has been developed by china along the western borders.
• The combined air defense system has been developed for putting all assets of the army and air force under central control.
• Since 2017, China has increased the number of airbases and heliports near the LAC.
• Line of Actual Control:
  • It is a line that separates India controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
  • The major disagreement between India and China is on the western side of LAC.
  • India-China LAC is divided into three parts:
    • Arunachal and Sikkim Border
    • Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh Border
    • Ladakh Border

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

11. Climate Breakthroughs Summit concluded on 27 May.

• The Climate Breakthroughs Summit has concluded on 27 May.
• The Climate Breakthroughs Summit was organized by a collaboration of the World Economic Forum, Mission Possible Partnership, the United Nations Climate Champions, and the United Kingdom.
• The leaders discussed the progress in different sectors of the global economy, including steel, shipping, green hydrogen.
• The main objective of this summit is to move the world towards a zero-carbon economy.
• ‘Race to Zero’ is one of its key campaigns for a sustainable future. It encourages companies for cutting emission by 2030.
• Around 40 health care institutions have committed to reduce their emission by half by 2030 and these institutions will reach at net-zero level by 2050.