24th January, 2022 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL

PM Modi unveils hologram statue of Netaji , says move ahead taking inspiration from Netaji Subhash's 'Can Do, Will Do' spirit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a hologram statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at India Gate in New Delhi. This hologram will be in place till the work of the granite statue of Netaji is completed.
The statue will be unveiled in the same place to mark the year-long celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
This statue is homage to the hero of freedom by the grateful nation and will keep on reminding our institutions and generations the lesson of national duty. He said if Netaji Subhash was determined to do something, then no power could stop him.
Netaji's statue will not only remind us of our duties to the nation but also inspire democratic values in the generations to come.

Government to promote Drone use in Agriculture for precision farming in the country

In a major boost to promote precision farming in India, the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued guidelines to make drone technology affordable to the stakeholders of this sector.
The guidelines of “Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization” have been amended which envisages granting up to 100 percent of the cost of agriculture drones or 10 lakh rupees whichever is less to the agricultural institutes.
The grant will be provided for the purchase of drones by the Farm Machinery Training and, Testing Institutes, ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and State Agriculture Universities for taking up large-scale demonstrations of this technology on the farmers’ fields.

Department of Food and Public Distribution develops roadmap to roll out Online Storage Management

Department of Food and Public Distribution, with its principal agency, Food Corporation of India, has developed a roadmap to roll out Online Storage Management (OSM) in the country.
The OSM envisages putting in place a single source of information for the food grains stored in the country for central pool through integrating State portals with the central portal.
The OSM will develop an ecosystem of storage management applications across the Decentralized Procurement (DCP) States, each being capable of capturing the Minimum Storage Specifications (MSS).
Under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Food), Central government, and attended by Food Secretaries of all DCP States, FCI made a presentation on the progress in the initiative. During the presentation, it was emphasized that the States shall build their respective portals in a collaborative mode, to ensure that the best practices can be imbibed and disseminated among the States.
In the meeting, the sixteen states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, and West Bengal have reassured of their commitment to develop storage management applications with MSSs and integrate them with the central portal.
This exercise is expected to be completed by March this year and will improve efficiency and transparency in stocking, storage, movement, and distribution of food grains.

INTERNATIONAL

Indian film Koozhangal gets the best film award at Dhaka International Film Festival

P S Vinothraj directed film Koozhangal from India won the best film award in the Asian Film Competition section at the 20th Dhaka International Film Festival which concluded in Dhaka. Apart from this, four more Indian entries were included among the 17 awards given away for the films during the concluding session.
The best actor award was given to Jayasurya for Ranjith Sankar-directed film Sunny.
The Best Script Writer Award went to Indranil Roychowdhury and Sugata Sinha for Indranil Roychowdhury-directed India-Bangladesh film Mayar Jonjal. The special audience award was given to Aimee Baruah Directed film Semkhor. Best Actor Award went to Jayasurya for Ranjith Sankar-directed film Sunny.
Sujit Bidari directed film Aina Jhyal Ko Putali from Nepal got the best director award.
In the Women film maker’s section, the best feature film award was given to Maryam Bahrololumi-directed film Shahrbanoo (Lady from the City) from Iran.
Two Bangladeshi films, Nurul Alam Atique-directed Lal Moroger Jhuti and N Rashed Chowdhury-directed Chandrabati Kotha got the Audience Award.
Information and Broadcasting Minister of Bangladesh Hasan Mahmud gave away the awards as Chief Guest during the concluding session organized at the National Museum auditorium in Dhaka.
The 9-day long festival featured 225 films drawn from 70 countries.

Chile president-elect Gabriel Boric unveils women-majority cabinet

In Chile, left-wing president-elect, Gabriel Boric has announced his first cabinet giving a majority of the posts to women.
Fourteen of the 24 new ministers announced are women, including Defence Minister Maya Fernandez, grand- daughter of socialist President Salvador Allende, who was overthrown by a military coup in 1973.
Gabriel Boric said that the government is formed with people who are prepared, with knowledge, with experience, and committed to the agenda of changes that the country needs.
The Cabinet’s mission is to lay the foundations for the great reforms that were promised during elections. He said that it would look to drive economic growth while cutting out structural inequalities. Boric had pledged during the election campaign to enact major reforms to Chile’s market-led economic model and adopt a new constitution.

US and Japan agree to boost cooperation on pressing economic and security issues

US and Japan have agreed to boost cooperation on pressing economic and security issues, including China, North Korea’s missiles, and Russia’s threat to Ukraine.
The decisions were taken in a virtual meeting between President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
He and Biden had agreed to cooperate to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, to work closely on China and the North Korean missile issue, and also to cooperate on Ukraine.
Japan would host a meeting of the Quad grouping of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India in the first half of this year with Biden visiting.
Biden accepted the invitation and indicated his intention to visit in late spring.
Kishida added that both countries would work closely to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine keep close contact with other allies and partners and continue communicating on the point that any attack will be met with strong action.
Biden had welcomed Kishida’s decision to increase defence spending and underscored the importance of sustaining these vital investments over time.

ECONOMY

India emerges as largest exporters of cucumber, gherkins in the world

India has emerged as the largest exporter of cucumber and gherkins in the world. India has exported cucumber and gherkins to the tune of over one lakh 23 thousand Metric Tonnes with a value of 114 million US dollar during April to October 2020-21.
India has crossed 200 million US dollar mark of export of agricultural processed product- pickling cucumber, which is globally referred as gherkins or cornichons, in the last financial year.
In 2020-21, India had shipped over 2 lakh 23 thousand Metric Tonnes of cucumber and gherkins with a value of 223 million US dollar.
Gherkins are exported under two categories -- cucumbers and gherkins. Gherkins is currently exported to more than 20 countries including USA, France, Germany, Australia, Spain, South Korea, Canada, Japan, Belgium, Russia and China.

Ministry of Labor & Employment releases provisional payroll data of EPFO

Ministry of Labor and Employment released the provisional payroll data of EPFO. The ministry said that EPFO added 13 lakh 95 thousand net subscribers during the month of November last year, showing an increase of around 2 lakh 85 thousand net additions over the previous month of October last year with a growth rate of nearly 26 percent.
It added, year-on-year comparison of payroll data also shows an increase of around 3 lakh 84 thousand in net payroll additions in November, 2021 as compared to 10 lakh 11 thousand net subscribers added during the previous year in November, 2020.
The total 13,95,000 net subscribers added during the month and 8 lakh 28 thousand new members have come under the social security cover of EPFO for the first time.
It added, approximately 5,67,000 net subscribers exited but rejoined EPFO by changing jobs within the establishments covered under the purview of Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.

All-India CPI Numbers for agricultural, rural labourers for Dec increased by 5 points

The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural laborers for December has increased by 5 points to stand at one thousand and 97.
CPI numbers for rural laborers have also increased by 5 points to stand at one thousand and 106 points.
The major contribution towards the rise in general index of Agricultural laborers and Rural laborers came from fuel and light group and miscellaneous group due to rise in prices of firewood, kerosene oil, medicine, barber charges, bus fare, toilet soap, and washing soap.
The rise and fall in the index varied from State to State. In case of Agricultural Laborers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 20 points in 11 States and a decrease of 1 to 12 points in 8 States while it remained stationary for Odisha.
Tamil Nadu with 1290 points topped the index table whereas Himachal Pradesh with 861 points stood at the bottom.
In case of Rural Labourers, it recorded an increase of 1 to 20 points in 11 States and a decrease of 1 to 14 points in 8 States while it remained stationary for Odisha.
Tamil Nadu with 1276 points topped the index table and Himachal Pradesh with 915 points stood at the bottom.

World Bank says Indian economy to grow at 8.3 percent during current financial year and 8.7 percent in next fiscal

World Bank has said that Indian economy is expected to grow at 8.3 percent in the current financial year. It has upgraded India's GDP growth for the next fiscal to 8.7 percent, reflecting higher investment from the private sector and in infrastructure, and dividends from ongoing reforms.
In its latest Global Economic Prospects, World Bank said, the growth outlook will also be supported by ongoing structural reforms, a better-than-expected financial sector recovery, and measures to resolve financial sector challenges despite ongoing risks.
It said, global economic growth will dip to 4.1 percent in current financial year and 3.2 percent in the next fiscal.

India, UK launch negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement

India and the UK have formally launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between two countries.
The Free Trade Agreement would be a substantial opportunity for both economies and a significant moment in the bilateral relationship.
The India-UK bilateral trading relationship is already significant, and both sides have agreed to double that bilateral trade by 2030, as part of Roadmap 2030 announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in May last year.
India and the UK will seek to agree a mutually beneficial agreement supporting jobs, businesses and communities in both countries. It said, trade negotiations will be a priority for both countries.
During negotiations, both Governments will consider the option of an Interim Agreement that generates early benefits for both countries. In parallel to trade negotiations, the India-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee will continue to work in improving the India-UK trading relationship and addressing market access barriers outside of a trade agreement.
Both parties have agreed that the first round of negotiations will begin on 17th of January, and future rounds of negotiations will take place approximately every five weeks.

SPORTS

Syed Modi International: PV Sindhu wins Women's singles title; Ishan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto bags Mixed Doubles trophy

In Badminton, two-time Olympic medalist, P.V. Sindhu has won the Women's singles title at the Syed Modi International tournament.
Sindhu defeated compatriot Malvika Bansod 21-13, 21-16 in the summit clash in Lucknow that lasted for 35 minutes.
Indian duo of Ishan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto clinched the Mixed Doubles title at the tournament. The pair defeated compatriots T. Hema Nagendra Babu and Srivedya 21-16, 21-12 in the summit clash.
However, the other Indian teams in the Men's and Women's Doubles finals had to settle for second positions after straight sets defeat to Malaysian pairs.

Published date : 24 Jan 2022 06:15PM