Daily Current Affairs and GK | 5 February 2022

Topic: Indian Economy

1. Central government released Rs 9,871 crore as revenue deficit grant to 17 states.

• Ministry of Finance has released Rs 9,871 crore as Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) grant to 17 states.
• Grants are released as per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission to bridge the gap in the revenue accounts of the States.
• This is the 11th installment of the PDRD grant released to the States.
• The Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grants are provided to the States under Article 275 of the Constitution.
• Article 275 of the Constitution has provisions related to grants from the union to certain states.
• The Fifteenth Finance Commission has recommended a total Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant of Rs. 1,18,452 crores to 17 States in the financial year 2021-22.
• The 15^th Finance Commission was constituted on 27 November 2017. Nand Kishore Singh (N. K. Singh) is the chairman of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.

Topic: Indian Economy

2. US becomes India’s largest trading partner in 2021.

• In 2021, the United States regain its spot as India's largest trading partner and China slipped to the second spot.
• In 2021, India’s bilateral trade with the US increased to $112.3 billion.
• United States was India’s largest trading partner in 2019 at a trade value of $90.1 billion but it fell to $76 billion due to pandemic disruption in 2020.
• India mainly exports Pharmaceutical products, Pearls, precious stones, metals, textile products to the US.
• In 2020, India’s bilateral trade with China dropped to $77.7 billion but it was higher than trade with US.
• India’s imports from China increased by 49 percent in 2021 as compared to last year.
• India’s exports to China also increased in 2021 to $22.9 billion. India’s trade deficit with China has increased to $64.5 billion in 2021.
• UAE, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Iraq, Indonesia, and South Korea are among the top ten trading partners of India.
• India’s top trading partner list 2021:

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. Government has decided to continue Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram scheme.

• The Government has decided to continue the "Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram" Scheme in order to achieve the goals of developing the youth's personality and leadership qualities.
• Over the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26), the scheme has been extended for another five years at a cost of Rs 2,710.65 crore.
• This Scheme is the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports' flagship Central Sector Scheme.
• The beneficiaries of the Scheme are young people between the ages of 15 and 29, as defined by the National Youth Policy of 2014.
• The RYSK Scheme programme includes Skilling and Handholding-Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, Combating COVID-19, Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness Teams.
• Under the RYSK Scheme, the Ministry of Youth Affairs has issued a grant of Rs 41.60 crore for the construction of a National Yuva Volunteer Registry.
• The RYSK Scheme's programmes are implemented through seven sub-schemes:

1. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan(NYKS)
2. National Youth Corps (NYC)
3. National Programme for Youth & Adolescent Development (NPYAD)
4. International Cooperation
5. Youth Hostels (YH)
6. Assistance to Scouting & Guiding Organizations
7. National Young Leaders Programme (NYLP)

Topic: Companies/ Corporates

4. GAIL has initiated India's first project of blending hydrogen into natural gas system.

• GAIL (India) has started a first-of-its-kind project of mixing hydrogen into the natural gas system in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
• Avantika Gas Ltd., one of GAIL's joint ventures with HPCL, will receive the hydrogen-blended natural gas.
• It will be used to sell CNG to automobiles and piped natural gas to households in Indore.
• India has aimed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.
• Hydrogen:
  • The hydrogen is classified as blue, green, or grey depending on the source.
  • When natural gas is split into hydrogen and CO₂, blue hydrogen is produced. In this process, CO₂ is captured and then stored.
  • Green hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing water and using electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar.
  • Grey hydrogen is produced in the same way as blue hydrogen, except that CO₂ is not captured and is released into the environment.

Topic: Sports

5. IOC approved three urban sports for Summer Olympics 2028.

• International Olympic Committee has confirmed that the sports of skateboarding, surfing, and sports climbing would be included in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
• Weightlifting, modern pentathlon, and boxing are yet to be included. They can be added next year if the targets set by the IOC Board are met.
• At the request of the Paris organizers, breakdancing will be part of the 2024 Olympics.
• International Olympic Committee:
  • The International Olympic Committee is a non-governmental sports organization.
  • It hosts the modern Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
  • Its headquarters is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • It was established in the year 1894.

Topic: State News/ Chhattisgarh

6. A financial assistance scheme for landless labourers has been launched by Rahul Gandhi.

• Rahul Gandhi has launched 'Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bhumiheen Krishi Mazdoor Nyay Yojana' in Chhattisgarh.
• It is a financial assistance scheme for landless agricultural labourers.
• Chhattisgarh has become the first state in the country to offer direct financial assistance to landless agricultural labourers in rural areas.
• Rural landless laborers will be paid Rs 6,000 in three installments of Rs 2,000 during the year.
• At the ceremony, he also launched the 'Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club' scheme and gave Rs 25,000 to its beneficiaries.
• He also laid the foundation stone for the proposed "Gandhi Sevagram Ashram" in Nava Raipur.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. International Conference on “MSMEs: Legislative and Regulatory Challenges” organized by IBBI.

• International Conference on “MSMEs: Legislative and Regulatory Challenges” was organized by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) on 3rd Feb, 2022.
• The conference was organized in association with UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCAP), Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) and Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU).
• Four technical sessions and an international roundtable were included in the Conference.
• Mr. Ritesh Kavdia, Executive Director, IBBI chaired the international roundtable.
• United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL):
  • It is a subsidiary body of UN General Assembly.
  • It was founded in 1966. It is headquartered in Vienna.
  • It is responsible assisting in the facilitation of international trade and investment.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

8. Indian scientists develop self-disinfecting Copper-based Nanoparticle-coated Antiviral Face Mask.

• Indian scientists have developed self-disinfecting Copper-based Nanoparticle-coated Antiviral Face Mask, which is biodegradable, highly breathable and washable.
• It has been developed by scientists at International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB) and Resil Chemicals, a Bengaluru based company.
• The mask has been developed under DST sponsored Nano-Mission project.
• Copper-based nanoparticles of around 20 nanometres were developed by ARCI through Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP) processing facility.
• In FSP, solution precursors are converted into nanopowders by high temperature pyrolytic decomposition.
• COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped positive sense single-stranded RNA virus.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Appointment

9. GA Srinivasa Murthy appointed director of Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL).

• Senior scientist GA Srinivasa Murthy has been appointed as director of Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• GA Srinivasa Murthy joined DRDL in 1987 and worked in the field of structural dynamics, ground resonance testing, electrical integration for various projects.
• He is known for his contributions in the Advanced Naval Systems Program.
• Defence Research and Development Laboratory:
  • It is a missile systems laboratory functioning under the Defence Research and Development Organization.
  • It is responsible for the design and development of state-of-the-art Missile Systems and technologies required for the security of country.
  • Its headquarter is located in Hyderabad.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

10. Aravalli Biodiversity Park declared as India’s first OECM site.

• On the occasion of World Wetlands Day, the Aravalli Biodiversity Park situated in Gurugram has been declared as India’s first “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECM) site.
• The OECM status is given by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to areas that are not protected but support rich biodiversity.
• OECM tag is given to areas that are achieving the effective in-situ conservation of biodiversity outside of protected areas.
• National Biodiversity Authority had sent the proposal to declare Aravalli Biodiversity Park an OECM site to the IUCN in 2020.
• Aravalli Biodiversity Park:
  • It is spread across 390 acres with 300 native plants and 101,000 trees and is home of several species of birds.
  • With the help of ecologists and biologists, it has been turned from an abandoned mine site into a city forest.
  • It has the potential to supply around 7.07% of the oxygen requirement for the Delhi-NCR.
  • The Aravalli mountain range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world and is considered as the green lungs of Delhi-NCR.

Topic: Space and IT

11. Nasa’s International Space Station (ISS) will cease its operations in 2031.

• NASA has declared that the International Space Station (ISS) will cease its operations in 2031.
• It will come out of orbit and plunge into the waters of the South Pacific Ocean.
• The International Space Station (ISS) is orbiting Earth at a speed of about eight kilometres per second for the last two decades.
• The International Space Station is the brainchild of former US President Ronald Reagan.
• The first part of the International Space Station (ISS) was launched in 1998 from a Russian rocket.
• The first crew arrived at International Space Station (ISS) on 2 November, 2000.
• Since then, more than 200 astronauts from 19 different countries have reached to International Space Station.
• At the time of establishment, the ISS was built to be operated only for about 15 years but its tenure was extended for another 10 years in 2014.

Topic: Appointment

12. Jagadesh Kumar appointed as chairman of UGC.

• JNU vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar has been appointed as the next chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• The post of UGC chairman was vacant after Prof D P Singh resigned on 7 December 2021.
• He is known for his knowledge in electronic engineering and associated areas.
• He became vice-chancellor of JNU in January 2016.
• University Grants Commission (UGC):
  • It was established in 1956.
  • It is a statutory body set up under the UGC Act 1956.
  • It is responsible for maintaining higher education standards in India.

Topic: National News

13. Uttar Pradesh’s tableau selected as best state tableau.

• Uttar Pradesh’s tableau has been declared as the best state tableau of the Republic Day parade 2022.
• Uttar Pradesh’s tableau was based on the theme of ‘One District One Product and Kashi Vishwanath Dham’,
• Karnataka’s tableau based on ‘Cradle of Traditional Handicrafts’ got the second position.
• Maharashtra’s tableau has been selected as the best tableau among the States/UTs in the popular choice category.
• The Ministry of Education's and Ministry of Civil Aviation’s tableau have jointly won the best tableau award in the central ministries and departments category.
• The tableaux of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (CPWD) and the ‘Vande Bharatam’ dance group have been selected for the special prize category.
• Indian Navy marching contingent has been adjudged as the best marching contingent among the three Services.
• The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is selected as the best marching contingent among CAPF/other auxiliary forces.

Topic: Agriculture and allied sectors

14. Government has identified locations for saffron cultivation under the ‘Saffron Bowl' project.

• Under ‘Saffron Bowl' project, the North East Centre For Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR) has identified few locations in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya for saffron cultivation.
• Barapani, Cherrapunji, Mawsmai, Shillong, and Lalingtop sites have been identified in Meghalaya for saffron cultivation.
• In Meghalaya, sample plantations were grown at Cherrapunji, Mawsmai and Lalingtop sites.
• The total cost of the ‘Saffron Bowl’ project is around Rs 17.68 lakh for Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.
• North East Centre For Technology Application and Reach (NECTAR):
  • It is an autonomous society set up under the Department of Science & technology.
  • Its headquarters are in Shillong, Meghalaya.
  • It works for the social and economic development of the Northeastern region.
  • It uses technology to address issues related to biodiversity, watershed management, telemedicine, etc.