Daily Current Affairs and GK | 7 December 2021

Topic: Sports

1. Argentina wins Junior Hockey World Cup by defeating Germany.

• Argentina’s junior hockey team defeated six-time winner Germany by 4-2 in the final of the Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup.
• Argentina becomes the third team after Germany and India to win multiple Junior Hockey WC titles.
• India finished the tournament at the fourth place. India lost to France by 1-3.
• India won the 1st FIH Junior Men's World Cup in 2001 in Hobart, Australia, in which it defeated Argentina.
• The junior men’s World Cup Hockey formerly known as Hockey Junior World Cup is being held by International Hockey Federation (FIH) since 1979.

Topic: State News/ Rajasthan

2. Rajasthan government launched ‘Back to Work’ scheme for women.

• Rajasthan government has launched the ‘Back to Work’ scheme for women who have quit their jobs due to family circumstances.
• It aims to provide jobs to 15,000 women with the help of the private sector in the next three years.
• The scheme will give priority to widows, women who have been abandoned, divorced, and victims of violence.
• A single-window system will be developed to provide employment opportunities to women through the Directorate of Women’s Empowerment.
• Skill training will be also provided through Rajasthan knowledge Corporation Limited (RKCL).
• The training facility for re-skilling/up-skilling will also be provided to the targeted category of women.
• A monitoring committee will be formed for the effective implementation of the scheme.

Topic: Geography

3. Semeru volcano erupted in Indonesia.

• Semeru volcano erupted on Java Island. It has killed at least 14 people.
• Semeru is the tallest mountain on Java Island. The eruption destroyed buildings and strategic bridges.
• Semeru is one of Indonesia's nearly 130 active volcanoes. Indonesia is part of the seismically active zone.
• The eruption was accompanied by a thunderstorm and rain. Deep layers of ash have engulfed the area.
• A volcano can be active, dormant, or extinct stage. When the mantle of the Earth melts, it comes out in the form of lava through cracks on the Earth’s surface.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. Nikhil Srivastava selected for inaugural Ciprian Foias Prize.

• Eminent Indian-American mathematician Nikhil Srivastava has been jointly selected for the Ciprian Foias Prize.
• He has been selected for the "highly original work" in Operator Theory by the American Mathematical Society (AMS).
• The award has been given for its understanding the characteristic polynomial of matrices.
• The prize will be presented to Professor Srivastava at the 2022 Joint Mathematics Meeting in Seattle.
• Earlier, Nikhil Srivastava had won the George Polya Prize in 2014, and the Held prize in 2021.
• Ciprian Foias Prize was instituted in 2000 in memory of Ciprian Foias. The prize money is $5,000.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

5. PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi.

• PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold 21st India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi on 06 December 2021.
• During the summit, both countries signed record 28 agreements. An Agreement on Program of the Military-Technical Cooperation from 2021 to 2031 was signed.
• Joint Statement titled India-Russia: Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity was released following the Summit.
• Prime Minister said the first 2 plus 2 dialogue starts a new mechanism to improve behavioural cooperation.
• First 22 dialogue between defence and foreign ministers took place on 06 December 2021.
• Mr. Modi said the regional partnership that started with Eastern Economic Forum and Vladivostok summit is today turning into a real cooperation between the Russian Far-East and Indian states.
• Eastern Economic Forum is held each year in Vladivostok, Russia to encourage foreign investment in the Russian Far East.
• PM Modi and President Putin were satisfied at the sustained progress in the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’ between both countries despite the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic.
• The role of connectivity through the International North-South Transport Corridor and the proposed Chennai - Vladivostok Eastern Maritime Corridor figured in the discussions between two leaders.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Indian Polity

6. National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021 passed by Lok Sabha.

• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021 has been passed by Lok Sabha.
• The bill seeks to give special status to six more institutes of pharmaceutical education and research. It also seeks to set up a new council for these institutes.
• The bill will amend National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998.
• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998 established the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), at Mohali in Punjab.
• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998 was earlier amended in 2007.
• After the 2007 amendment, six new NIPERs were set up at Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hajipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Rae Bareli.
• National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021 will accord the status of Institutions of National Importance to these six institutes.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

7. NMPB, CSIR-CIMAP Lucknow inked MoU to promote production of medicinal plants.

• National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow signed MoU to promote the production of medicinal plants.
• The MoU will help in the development of the best quality medicinal plants and herbs. It will help in the establishment of nurseries for quality planting material development.
• It will also promote the cultivation of medicinal plants in different agro-climatic zones.
• CSIR-CIMAP Lucknow will perform research on mass multiplication, agro-technology development, and Quality Planting Material generation of selected medicinal plants and herbs.
• NMPB will work through its implementing agencies like state medicinal plant boards, state horticulture departments, regional-cum-facilitation centers across India.

Topic: Important Days

8. International Civil Aviation Day: 7 December

• International Civil Aviation Day is observed every year on 7 December. It is celebrated to raise awareness about the role and importance of international civil aviation organizations.
• The theme for International Civil Aviation Day 2021 is “Advancing Innovation for Global Aviation Development.”
• The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 7 December as the International Civil Aviation Day in 1996.
• International Civil Aviation Day was first celebrated in the year 1994. It was first celebrated to mark the 50th anniversary of the ICAO.
• International civil aviation organization is responsible for keeping the safety standards of international aviation.
• ICAO organizes various events, activities, seminars, and sessions related to civil aviation on this occasion.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

9. Pratham CEO Rukmini Banerji honoured with Yidan Prize 2021.

• Pratham CEO Rukmini Banerjee received the Yidan Prize 2021.
• She received the award for improving learning outcomes. She worked along with Pratham's team in preparing the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER).
• Banerji’s teams launched 'Teaching at the Right Level' (TaRL) programme with schools and local communities to provide reading and arithmetic skills.
• Banerji said that data shows that almost all children begin at the same level of reading and arithmetic abilities in India.

Topic: Miscellaneous

10. India's home-grown mobile accessories brand Unix appoints Jasprit Bumrah as its brand ambassador.

• India's home-grown mobile accessories brand Unix has appointed Indian cricketer Jasprit Bumrah as its brand ambassador.
• Fintech Company, Kinara Capital, has signed all-rounder cricketer Ravindra Jadeja as its brand ambassador.
• Design & Construct has announced Yuvraj Singh as its brand ambassador. It signed a three-year partnership contract with Yuvraj Singh.
• Yuvraj Singh will be an equity partner and brand ambassador for the company.

Topic: Indian Polity

11. Government received proposal from CJI N V Ramana for setting up of National Judicial Infrastructure Authority of India (NJIAI).

• Government has received proposal from Chief Justice of India N V Ramana for setting up of NJIAI for arrangement of adequate infrastructure for courts.
• Currently, state governments are responsible for the creation of infrastructure facilities for the courts. 
• NJIAI will act as a central body in laying down the roadmap for planning, creation, development, maintenance and management of functional infrastructure for the Indian court system.
• Since 1993-94, Union government is implementing a centrally sponsored scheme for development of infrastructure facilities in district and subordinate courts by providing financial assistance to state governments and UTs.
• Government has extended the scheme for a further period of five years from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. President Ram Nath Kovind to present President’s Standard Award to 22nd Missile Vessel squadron of Indian Navy.

• President Ram Nath Kovind will present President’s Standard Award to 22nd Missile Vessel squadron of Indian Navy on 8th December.
• The fleet has conducted Operation Trident during the 1971 war, wherein it bombed Karachi Port and sunk Pakistan Navy’s vessels.
• 22nd Missile Vessel squadron is also known as the ‘Killer Squadron’. The award will be presented by President at a ceremonial parade, set to be held at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on 8 December.
• The squadron has also received one Maha Vir Chakra, seven Vir Chakras and eight Nausena Medals (Gallantry).
• President’s Standard Award is the highest honour awarded in military in recognition of the service rendered to the nation. It is equivalent to that of President’s Colours awards. 
• However, President’s Standard Award is presented to smaller military formations/ units.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

13. Parliament approved Dam Safety Bill.

• After a tense debate in which many opposition members demanded that the bill be referred to a select committee, the Rajya Sabha passed the Dam Safety Bill, 2019.
• The Rajya Sabha cleared the Dam Safety Bill, 2019, with two official amendments by voice vote, which had been passed by the Lok Sabha on August 2, 2019.
• Dam Safety Bill, 2019 will provide surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of the specified dam for the prevention of dam failure-related disasters.
• According to Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the law will create a National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), which will have the power to penalize the system.
• After more than three decades of suggestions, the bill was finally passed. "Thousands of people died when the Machchhu Morbi dam collapsed in 1976”.
• The bill was introduced by the Centre under Article 246 of the Constitution.
• According to government statistics, India has 5,745 major dams and 293 of them are over a century old and require regular maintenance and monitoring. There are 1,041 dams that are 50 to 100 years old.
• A National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) will be established at the central level, according to the bill's provisions.
• It will be made up of ten members nominated by the central government and seven members nominated by the state government.
• The State Government will set up a State Dam Safety Organization (SDSO) within six months and a State Committee on Dam Safety will be also constituted.

Topic: Appointment

14. Sanjiv Mehta, chairman, and MD of Hindustan Unilever has been named as president of the FICCI.

• Sanjiv Mehta, chairman and managing director of Hindustan Unilever Limited, will be appointed as the president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on December 18.
• Mehta, who is currently the Senior Vice President of FICCI, would succeed Uday Shankar, a veteran of the media industry.
• According to FICCI, Mehta is also the President of Unilever South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal), and a member of the 'Unilever Leadership Executive'.
• During his eight years, HUL's market capitalization has grown by over USD 55 billion, making it one of the most valuable companies in the country".