Daily Current Affairs and GK | 6 April 2022

Topic: Miscellaneous

1. World’s largest electric cruise ship launched in China.

• The largest electric cruise ship, Yangtze River Three Gorges 1, has started its first voyage.
• It is 100 metres long, 16.3 metres wide and has room for 1,300 passengers.
• It can travel around 100 kilometres on a single charge, which will help in saving around 530 metric tons of fuel.
• The ship has been built at a cost of 150 million yuan. It is powered by a massive 7,500-kilowatt-hour marine battery.
• It will be mainly used for sightseeing trips and start its commercial operation from next month.
• This project has been sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Transport.

Topic: Books and Authors

2. A book titled “Birsa Munda – Janjatiya Nayak” has been released on 5 April 2022.

• Prof. Alok Chakrawal is the author of “Birsa Munda – Janjatiya Nayak”.
• It has been released by Union Education and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
• Birsa Munda:
  • He led a tribal religious millenarian movement during the British Raj in the late nineteenth century.
  • His birth anniversary (15 November) has been declared as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.
  • Jharkhand Foundation Day coincides with his birth anniversary.

Topic: Reports and Indices

3. Union Environment Minister welcomed Working Group III (WG3) contribution to AR6 of IPCC released on 4th April 2022.

• WG3 contribution to Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of IPCC focuses on climate change mitigation. Its main findings are given below.
  • Four-fifths of the total carbon budget for 1.5 degree Centigrade temperature increase has been already consumed.
  • Two-thirds of the total carbon budget for 2 degree Centigrade warming has been already consumed.
  • Both cumulative and per capita annual emissions increased during the pre-2020 period.
  • Pre-2020 emissions reduction in developed countries has not been sufficient as compared to developing world’s needs for sustainable development.
  • Public finance falls short of Copenhagen (UNFCCC-COP15, 2009) target of USD 100 billion per year by 2020.
  • Focus should be on reducing dependency on fossil fuel. Complete phasing out of coal should be done by 2050.
• Working Group I contribution to AR6 was released in August 2021 and Working Group II contribution to AR 6 was released in February 2022. Final report of AR6 will be released by late 2022. 

(Source: PIB)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

4. NTPC has signed an agreement with Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL).

• Under the agreement, NTPC will blend green hydrogen in Piped Natural Gas (PNG) network of GGL at Kawas.
• Electricity from the 1 MW floating solar project of NTPC Kawas will be used for the production of green hydrogen.
• Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL) is largest City Gas Distribution (CGD) Company in India. NTPC Kawas is located at Hazira, Surat district, Gujarat.

Topic: Important Days

5. International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2022: 6 April.

• Every year on April 6, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is commemorated.
• Its aims is to create awareness regarding the power of sport to drive social change and promote peace and understanding.
• The theme for the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2022 is ‘Securing a Sustainable and Peaceful Future for All: The Contribution of Sport.’
• UNGA passed a resolution on 23rd August 2013 to observe 6th April as the ‘International Day of Sport for Development and Peace’.
• It also commemorates the inauguration of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens, Greece.
• National Sports day is celebrated every year on 29 August in India on the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand.

Topic: Committees/ Commissions/ Taskforce

6. SEBI set up a panel to strengthen governance of market infra institutions.

• Sebi, the capital markets regulator, formed a committee to examine and provide recommendations for improving governance norms at stock exchanges and other market infrastructure institutions (MIIs).
• G Mahalingam, a former full-time member of Sebi, will chair the six-member committee.
• The Committee has to make recommendations on measures for strengthening the role played by the governing board and committees of MIIs.
• In addition, the panel will review the requirements for the appointment, role, and responsibility of board directors and Key Managerial Persons (KMPs).
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
  • SEBI was set up in 1988 and given statutory status in 1992. Its headquarters is located in Mumbai.
  • It is a regulator of the securities market in India and aims to protect the interests of investors in securities.
  • Ms. Madhabi Puri Buch is the current chairperson of SEBI.

Topic: Indian Economy

7. RBI has reduced WMA limit for states and UTs from Rs 51,560 crore to Rs 47,010 crore.

• Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit was earlier increased by RBI to Rs 51,560 crore due to COVID-19 related uncertainties.
• The increased WMA limit was in effect until March 31, 2022. The reduced WMA limit has come into effect from April 1, 2022.
• RBI's decision to return to earlier WMA limits and timelines for Over Draft (OD) for state governments/Union Territories (UTs) is as per recommendations by Advisory Committee on WMA to State Governments.
• Advisory Committee on Ways and Means Advances to State Governments (Chairman: Sudhir Shrivastava) was set up by RBI in August 2019.
• Government of India’s WMA limit for first half of financial year 2022-23 has been kept at Rs 1,50,000 crore.

Topic: Personality in News

8. American Poet Richard Howard has died at the age of 92.

• He had won Pulitzer Prize for his work, United Subjects.
• He was a prolific translator. His translation introduced readers to wide range of French Literature.
• In 2021, Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz won Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

9. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched an awareness mascot ‘Prakriti’ and Green Initiatives for plastic management.

• India generates 3.5 million Tonnes of plastic waste annually and the per capita plastic waste generation has doubled in the last five years
• The awareness mascot ‘Prakriti’ will spread awareness among the masses about small changes adopted in our lifestyle for a better environment.
• The government has announced to phase out Single Use Plastics (SUPs) by 2022.
• On this occasion, various green initiatives for plastic waste management have been also launched. These are given below:
  • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Portal for Plastic Packaging has been launched to improve accountability, traceability, and transparency and facilitate ease of reporting compliance to EPR Obligations by Producers, Importers and Brand-owners.
  • National Dashboard on Elimination of Single-Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management has been launched for tracking the progress made on the effective management of plastic waste. It will bring all stakeholders at one place.
  • Mobile App for Single-Use Plastics Grievance Redressal will help citizens to check the usage of Single-Use Plastic in their area.
  • The industrial production of Graphene from waste Plastic initiative will promote industries to make graphene from plastic waste.
  • Monitoring module for Single-Use Plastics will help local bodies to collect details of Single-Use Plastics production, sale and usage in commercial establishments at the district level.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Indian Economy

10. India’s trade deficit rises 88% to $192 Billion in FY22.

• According to government data, India’s exports reached to record high of USD 417.81 billion while imports stood at USD 610.22 billion.
• The trade deficit has increased from $102.63 billion to $192 Billion in FY22. The trade deficit in March 2022 was $18.69 billion.
• The sharp increase in petroleum price is the main reason for the increased trade deficit.
• In FY 2022, the trade deficit for non-oil and non-gold jewellery items was $55 billion.
• Exports of Non-petroleum items grew by 74 per cent from last financial year and imports has increased by 5.26%.
• The Russia-Ukraine conflict could further increase the trade deficit and the current account deficit.
• Trade deficit is the difference between the value of goods imported and the value of goods exported.

Topic: Indian Economy

11. Government extends foreign trade policy till Sept 30.

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has extended the existing foreign trade policy (FTP) (2015-20) till 30 September 2022.
• This step has been taken after disruptions emerged in global trade due to Russia and Ukraine war.
• Foreign trade policy is a set of guidelines for enhancing exports and promoting economic growth.
• The “New Foreign Trade Policy 2021-26” has focused on District Export Hubs initiative. It will play a vital role in achieving the goal of becoming a $ 5 trillion economy.
• In 2021-22, merchandise exports has increased by 37 percent and reached to USD 400.8 billion. Imports during the period stood at USD 589 billion.

Topic: Appointments

12. Vinay Mohan Kwatra appointed as new Foreign Secretary.

• India’s ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra will become new foreign secretary.
• He will take place of Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who is retiring in April 2022.
• Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Kwatra as Foreign Secretary.
• Vinay Mohan Kwatra has vast experience of handling international affairs. He had headed the policy planning & research division of the Ministry of External Affairs between July 2013 and October 2015.
• After retirement, Shringla is likely to be appointed as special coordinator for G-20.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

13. Nearly 99% of world's population breathes poor-quality air: World Health Organisation.

• According to World Health Organisation, nearly everyone in the world is breathing air that doesn't meet standards of air quality.
• According to WHO, Air quality is poorest in Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asian regions, followed by Africa.
• The Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a New Delhi-based think tank, found that 60% of India's PM_2.5 particulate matter comes from households and industries.
• According to WHO data, India has high levels of PM₁₀, while China has high levels of PM_2.5.
• PM_2.5 generated from the burning of fossil-fuel can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
• WHO said that India and the world need to take revolutionary steps to curb air pollution including the shift away from fossil fuels, electric vehicles promotion, separation of waste, etc.
• According to WHO, there is evidence that particulate matter can impact other organs and causes other diseases as well.

Topic: Art and Culture

14. A Community Museum has been inaugurated in Gya - Sasoma villages of Leh district.

• Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh Chairman Tashi Gyaltson has inaugurated the Community Museum.
• It will help in preserving rich cultural heritage for the future generation. It is the first of its kind of museum in India.
• The museum has been established by the Department of Museology National Museum Institute in association with LAHDC, Leh.
• Traditional utility items, textiles, dresses and the antiquities of the day-to-day life of Gya-Sasoma are the main attractions of this museum.
• LAHDC and National Museum Institute signed MoU for technical assistance and further development of the museum.
• The Community Museum will help visitors in understanding the region of Ladakh in a better way.
• Gya is the first village and oldest inhabitation in Upper Ladakh. It is situated on the Leh-Manali National Highway.