22nd October, 2021 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation wins Earth Guardian Award

The Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation (PaTCoF) has won the “Earth Guardian Award” which was instituted by the NatWest Group.
PaTCoF is a non-profit organisation under forest department which seeks to facilitate conservation of tiger and biodiversity in the Parambikulam tiger reserve.
Eight winners of the award were felicitated by secretary general of “UN Convention on International Trade in the Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora”, IvonneHiguero in a virtual ceremony on October 20, 2021.
These awards were instituted by NatWest Group India. They are part of an initiative which recognises the efforts of individuals and institutions that are working to subvert the climate change by conserving & preserving biodiversity in India.
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve also includes erstwhile Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, which is spread across 391 square kilometres. It is a protected area in Palakkad district of Kerala. It was established in 1973. The sanctuary lies in the Sungam range of hills in between Anaimalai Hills and Nelliampathy Hills. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a part of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in 2010. Tiger reserve implements the Participatory Forest Management Scheme (PFMS).
The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is currently under consideration for selection as World Heritage Site, by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
The sanctuary is home to four different tribes of indigenous peoples namely, Malasar, Kadar, Mala Malarsar and Muduvar. These people are settled in six colonies. People of these tribal colonies are working as guides for treks and safaris. They are provided employment through several eco-tourism initiatives.

CCEA gives nod to PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan

CCEA has approved PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan including institutional framework for rolling out, implementation, monitoring and support mechanism for providing multi-modal connectivity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity on 13th October.
Implementation framework includes Empowered Group of Secretaries, Network Planning Group and Technical Support Unit with required technical competencies.
The EGOS has been mandated to review and monitor implementation of the PM GatiShakti NMP to ensure logistics efficiency. It is empowered to prescribe framework and norms for undertaking any subsequent amendments to the NMP.
EGOS shall also set out the procedure and definitive framework for synchronization of various activities, and ensure that various initiatives of infrastructure development are part of the common integrated digital platform. EGOS will also look at the interventions required to meet the demand side, in efficiently transporting bulk goods on the requirement of various Ministries like Steel, Coal, and Fertilizer.
CCEA has also approved formation, composition and terms of reference for Network Planning Group consisting of heads of Network Planning wing of respective infrastructure ministries and it will assist the EGOS.

WHO congratulates India for achieving 100 crore vaccination mark

Director-General of the World Health Organization, TedrosAdhanom Ghebreyesus has congratulated India for achieving the 100 crore vaccination mark.
In a tweet, Mr. Ghebreyesus congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scientists, health workers and people of India for efforts to protect the vulnerable populations from COVID 19 and achieve Vaccine Equity targets.

INTERNATIONAL
India’s stand in UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference

Second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference was recently concluded, in which India strongly opposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC projects of China.
The UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference was held between October 14 and October 16.
During the conference Indian side noted that, India shares the desire of international community of enhancing physical connectivity. It believes that, physical connectivity should bring huge economic benefits for all in a balanced and equitable manner.
The BRI is a multi-billion-dollar initiative which was launched in the year 2013, by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The project was launched with the aim of enhancing China’s influence. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, Europe and the Gulf region with a network of land and sea routes.
Though, expansion and strengthening of physical connectivity is the integral part of economic & diplomatic initiatives of India. But India has been affected by China’s BRI and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects because these projects impinge on India’s sovereignty. India has been opposing this project because it is being laid through the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Sri Lanka receives first consignment of Nano Nitrogen Liquid Fertilizer from India

Sri Lanka has received the first consignment of non-harmful Nano Nitrogen liquid fertiliser from India on October 20, 2021.
Of all, India sent 3.1 million litres of high quality non-harmful Nano Nitrogen liquid fertiliser.
The fertilizer will help Sri Lanka in the cultivation of maize and paddy.
Sri Lanka imported the Nano Nitrogen liquid fertiliser, after Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa decided to stop chemical fertilizer imports.
President took this decision in May 2021 which sparked anger and widespread protests in farmland districts of the Island country.
Nano Nitrogen Liquid Fertilizer was developed by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), with the objective of addressing imbalanced and excessive use of conventional Urea.
It has been developed indigenously, for the first time in the world.
It was developed at Nano Biotechnology Research Centre (NBRC) of IFFCO at Kalol, Gujarat by means of a proprietary patented technology.

ECONOMY
RBI fines Paytm Payments Bank and Western Union

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalty on two payment system operators viz., Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PBBL) as well as Western Union Financial Services Inc.
RBI levied a penalty of Rs. 1 crore on PBBL. Penalty was imposed because of an offence related to Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSS Act).
It levied a penalty of Rs. 27.78 lakh on Western Union Financial Services, which is a cross-border in-bound service operator. Fine was imposed for non-compliance with certain directions that were issued by the central bank
In the application for issue of final Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) of PBBL, RBI observed that PPBL had submitted information which did not reflect the factual position. This was an offence of the nature in accordance with Section 26 (2) of the PSS Act.

ENVIRONMENT
Japan: Mount Aso volcano erupts at Kyushu Island

Mount Aso volcano in Japan, erupted on October 20, 2021 and emitted a giant column of ash to about thousands of metres into the sky.
No injuries were reported immediately and People were warned not to go towards volcano as it ejected hot gas and ash.
The volcano ejected gas and ash up to the height of 3,500 metres.
Pale grey torrents of ash rushed down the slopes of the 1,592-metre mountain.
Mount Asolast erupted in the year 2016. The Japan Meteorological Agency had then raised its warning for Mount Aso to the level that was reported on October 20.
Mount Aso is the largest active volcano in Japan and one among the largest across the world. The volcano stands on the island of Kyushu, in AsoKuju National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture. Its peak is 1,592 meters above sea level. It has a fairly large caldera, having a circumference of about 120 km. The caldera dominates the island Kyushu, where it is a popular tourist draw.

UNEP report: Fossil fuel plans evade Paris limits

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently released its report called “2021 Production Gap Report”. According to the report, government’s plan to produce fossil fuels will evade the Paris Deal limits.
Report measures the gap between “governments’ planned production of coal, gas & oil” and “global production levels in consistent with the limits of Paris Agreement”.
As per report, despite increasing climate ambitions and net-zero commitments, governments are planning to produce more than double amount of fossil fuels in the year 2030 than what was required for limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
It notes that, the production gap in unchanged.
Governments are collectively targeting for an increase in oil and gas production, over the next two decades. But there will only be a modest decrease in coal production. Thus, total fossil fuel production increasing out by 2040 which will create an ever-widening production gap.
This year the report presents first comprehensive update of production gap analysis since it was first launched in 2019. It tracks how governments across the world are supporting fossil fuel production by means of their policies, investments and other measures. It also features the profile of individual country for 15 major fossil fuel-producing countries.
UNEP helps in coordinating responses to the environmental issues within the system of United Nations. The body was established by Maurice Strong, in the year 1972, following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm. The body provides leadership, develop solutions and deliver science on several issues.

SPORTS
RidhimaVeerendrakumar bags gold medal in 50m backstroke for group II girls in Bengaluru; breaks 7-year record of Maana Patel

Karnataka swimmer RidhimaVeerendrakumar came up with yet another record-breaking performance at the 37th Sub Junior and 47th Junior National Championships as she bagged the gold medal in 50m backstroke for group II girls, in Bengaluru.
Ridhima got off to a quick start and built on her lead with powerful strokes to clock 29.94 seconds to erase Maana Patel's record of 30.37 seconds created in 2014. Shalini Dixitof Karnataka bagged the silver medal in this event while Sri Nitya Sago of Telangana took bronze medal.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra's ApekshaFernandes created a new national record in the 50m breast stroke for group I girls. She timed 34.44 in the final to better her own mark set earlier in the heats where she clocked 34.57 seconds to erase the previous record of 34.06 held by Annie Jain of Gujarat created in 2019.
A new national record was also created in the 200m IM for Group III Girls with Karnataka's DhinidhiDesinghuclocking 2:33.36 to erase Vania Kapoor's record of 2:37.99 set in 2013.

Published date : 22 Oct 2021 05:28PM