17th January, 2022 Current Affairs
NATIONAL
Indian Army introduced light, climate-friendly combat uniform for its personnel on Army Day
- Indian Army introduced a light and more climate-friendly combat uniform for its personnel on Army Day.
- The new Army Combat Pattern Uniform has been developed with the help of NIFT after going through options of 15 patterns, eight designs, and four fabrics. The camouflage uniform will be based on a ‘digital disruptive’ pattern and will be available in 13 sizes.
- The new uniform has been designed to serve two purposes--Protection against harsh climatic conditions, and to provide soldiers’ outfits with field camouflage, to increase survivability.
- The Army's uniform is made of a combination of cotton and polyester in a ratio of 70:30. The fabric of the Indian Army's new uniform will be lightweight and will dry quickly, thus will be more comfortable for the troops during the operation.
- The new uniform will be much more durable as well as comfortable in both summers and winters.
INTERNATIONAL
India-South Korea bilateral trade target
- India and South Korea have set to achieve bilateral trade target of 50 billion USD by 2030. The target was set during the summit held in 2018. Recently, the foreign ministers of the respective countries met to discuss on terms to achieve the target.
- The target is to be achieved by giving fresh momentum to the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement). Also, the governments will hold back-to-back discussions with their respective industrial leaders to boost the trade.
- During the meet, the ministers agreed to instruct their respective negotiating teams to meet on regular basis to address the trade issues. This will help to conclude CEPA terms.
- The countries are to negotiate regularly to address the supply chain resilience.
- The bilateral trade between the countries from January 2021 to June 2021 was 10.97 billion USD. This is 38% higher than 2020. During this period, the South Korean exports to India increased and imports increased. The exports from the country were 7.4 billion USD and it increased by 38.5% as compared to 2020. The imports were 3.6 billion USD and it increased by 37.4% as compared to 2020.
U.K-India Free-trade deal Talks
- On January 13, 2022, UK government announced the launch of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India.
- This move is being described as a golden opportunity, of putting British businesses at the front of Indian economy.
- FTA is likely to take UK’s historic partnership with India to the next level.
- With this FTA, sectors like Scotch whisky, financial services and cutting-edge renewable technology are set to benefit.
- India-UK FTA is believed to create huge benefits for both countries. It has the potential to boost bilateral trade by GBP 28 billion a year by 2035.
- The deal will also help in increasing the wages by GBP 3 billion across the UK.
- Under the FTA, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate the import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them.
- India engages with the UK in sectors including textiles, pharma, leather, furniture, industrial machinery, and toys. India is further looking to the UK to support it with technology-based products like medical devices, automobiles and high-quality cameras.
UN’s largest Single Country appeal
- The United Nations recently launched the largest country specific appeal for Afghanistan. The appeal was launched after Pakistan called the international organization to revive the banking system in the Afghanistan.
- It is a 5 billion USD appeal.
- That is, according to the United Nations member countries, 5 billion USD is required to save Afghanistan. The United Nations members have appealed to save the collapsing services in Afghanistan.
- Afghanistan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Half of the Afghans are facing hunger. More than nine million in the country are homeless. Around 22 million are in need of assistance. 5.7 million Afghans are in need of help beyond the borders.
- Absence of banking system in the country will lead to security concerns. Also, humanitarian agencies can operate in Afghanistan only if there is cash in the country.
US: First Coin featuring Black Woman
- Maya Angelou becomes the first black woman to appear on US coin. The coin was rolled out by US Mint as a part of the American Women Quarters Programme.
- Maya was raped by her mother’s boyfriend at the age of seven.
- The latter was beaten to death by her uncles. Maya became silent after the tragedy. During her silence she started writing. She is known for her speaking voice and lyrical prose. She is an African American. She died at the age of 86 in 2014.
- She has produced seven autobiographies, several books of poetry, three books of essays. Her autobiographies brought her fame. Her first autobiography “I know the Caged Bird Sings” fetched international recognition.
REPORTS
The Global Risks Report 2022
- The World Economic Forum recently released the Global Risks Report 2022. Cyber-security, pandemic, climate change and space advancements are the emerging risks to global economy.
- The global economy is to shrink by 2.3% by 2024. However, in developing countries this is to be 5.5%. In rich countries, it will be 0.9%.
- The online platforms have increased tremendously during the pandemic. The COVID has brought in major work shift. People are now attending classes online. This has increased the security risks.
- The cyber threats are growing at humanely uncontrollable rates. The criminals are using tougher tactics and therefore, the cyber threats are becoming more aggressive day by day. Crypto-currencies are creating easy path of escape for the cyber criminals. Today 90% of the ransomware attacks are paid in crypto-currencies.
- In the pas two years, during the pandemic, the world top 20% (the richest) has recovered their losses. On the other hand, the bottom 20% has lost 5% more.
- Less than 16% of the people (participated in the survey) were optimistic about the economic outlook of the world.
World Bank’s ‘Global Economic Prospects’ Report
- World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects’ Report was released on January 11, 2022.
- The report notes that, Global economic growth will decrease sharply to 4.1% in 2022 and 3.2% in 2023, from 5.5% in 2021.
- It projects India’s annual growth to be 8.3% in the fiscal year 2021-2022, 8.7% in 2022-23, while 6.8% in 2023-24.
- It also flagged the risks posed by rising inflation and growing inequality.
- It noted that, after having recovered in 2021, global economy is headed towards “pronounced slowdown”, because of new Covid-19 variants, increasing inflation, debt & income inequality, reducing fiscal & monetary support and decreasing demand.
- In the outlook for South Asia, India stands at a relatively bright spot. World Bank’s projection of 8.3% in India in 2021-22 is unchanged from its June 2021 report. However, forecast for 2022-23 and 2023-24 has been changed to 8.7% and 6.8%, respectively. It reflects higher investment from private sector and in infrastructure.
- As per advance estimates from statistics office, India’s economy is likely to grow by 9.2% in the financial year 2021-22.
ENVIRONMENT
Expansion of Orang National Park
- The Assam Government has recently decided to increase the size of Orang National Park. The park is to be expanded thrice.
- The State is to add 200.32 square kilometers to the Orang National Park.
- The area to be added consists of Brahmaputra River. It also includes sandbars and islands of the river.
- Tigers and Rhinos are using the islands and sandbars that are being included. Orang region in the northern bank of Brahmaputra is essential to Kaziranga Orang Riverine Landscape. This is because animals move between the Orang and Kaziranga stretch through these lands. This stretch is 180 km. It is a corridor connecting two habitats.
- Orang is a major rhino habitat. It became a tiger reserve in 2016. The other seven national parks in Assam are DehingPatkai, Dibru – Saikhowa, Manas, Kaziranga, Nameri, Raimona.
- The National Parks, Wild Life sanctuaries and other wildlife related subjects were moved to Concurrent List. Earlier it was under the state list. In 1976, the 42nd constitutional amendment moved these subjects to concurrent list.
SPORTS
LakshyaSen clinches Men's Singles title of India Open; Pair of SatwiksairajRankireddy-ChiragShetty lifts Men's Doubles trophy
- It proved to be a blockbuster for the Indians in the Badminton arena after LakshyaSen in Men's Singles and pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in Doubles lifted India Open titles in New Delhi.
- World championship bronze medallist Lakshya defeated reigning World Champion Loh Kean Yew of Singapore 24-22, 21-17 in the Summit Clash this evening.
- Earlier in the day, India's top-ranked Men's Doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty beat the top seeded Indonesian pair of Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan 21-16, 26-24 in the final in 43 minutes.
SavitaPunia named captain of Indian women hockey team for Asia Cup in Muscat
- SavitaPunia will captain an 18-member Indian squad at the Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2022 in Muscat, Oman from January 21-28.
- Indian women are the defending champions at the continental event.
- The Indian women’s hockey team, named by Hockey India on Wednesday, features 16 players who were part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where the Indian eves finished fourth.
- Regular skipper Rani Rampal will miss out as she is undergoing rehabilitation for a hamstring injury in Bengaluru. Defender Deep Grace Ekka will be the vice-captain.
- Gurjit Kaur and Vandana Katariya, who were India’s top goalscorers at Tokyo 2020, are also in the squad.
- China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand are the seven other teams competing at the Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2022.
- India are drawn in Pool A with Japan, Malaysia and Singapore and will begin their campaign against Malaysia on January 21.
- The top four countries will qualify for the Women’s Hockey World Cup 2022 to be held in Spain and the Netherlands later this year.
- Indian squad will consist, Goalkeepers: SavitaPunia (captain), RajaniEtimarpu
Defenders: Deep Grace Ekka (vice-captain), GurjitKaur, Nikki Pradhan, Udita
Midfielders: Nisha, SushilaChanuPukhrambam, Monika, Neha, SalimaTete, Jyoti, NavjotKaur
Forwards: NavneetKaur, Lalremsiami, VandanaKatariya, Mariana Kujur, Sharmila Devi
Replacement players: Deepika, IshikaChaudhary.