24th September, 2022 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
India’s under-5 mortality rate declines by 3 points; largest drops in UP and Karnataka

According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020, India’s under-5 mortality rate has dramatically decreased from 35 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 32 per 1,000 live births in 2020, with the largest fall observed in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Karnataka.
Towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets by 2030, the country has been experiencing a progressive decline in infant mortality rate (IMR), under 5 mortality rate (U5MR), and neo-mortality rate (NMR), according to a report released by the Registrar General of India.

SC appoints former judge Justice L NageswaraRao for amending constitution of IOA

The Supreme Court today appointed former apex court judge Justice L NageswaraRao for amending constitution of Indian Olympic Association and preparing electoral college.
A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud said the ex-top court judge would ensure a fair and development-oriented approach for the future of the Olympics in the country. The apex court asked Justice Rao to prepare a road map for amending the constitution and holding elections by15th December 2022.
The Apex Court also gave its permission to Rajeev Mehta, who is currently the secretary general of IOA, and AdilleSumariwalla, vice president of IOA, to participate in the forthcoming meeting with the International Olympic Committee scheduled to be held on27th September.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 8th September issued a final warning to IOA to resolve its governance issues and hold elections by December, failing which the world sports body will ban India.

Defence Ministry signs contract worth 1700 crore rupees to acquire additional Brahmos missiles for frontline warships

Providing further impetus to Aatmanirbharta in defence production, the Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) for the acquisition of additional dual-role capable Surface to Surface BrahMos missiles at an overall approximate cost of 1700 Crore rupees under Buy-Indian Category.
Induction of these dual-role capable Missiles is going to significantly enhance the operational capability of Indian Navy fleet assets.
It is notable that BAPL is a Joint Venture between India and Russia making a crucial contribution to augmenting the new generation of Surface-to-Surface Missiles with enhanced range and dual role capability for land as well as anti-ship attacks.
This contract is going to give a further boost to indigenous production of the critical weapon system and ammunition with the active participation of indigenous industry.

INTERNATIONAL
32 countries including India call for urgent & comprehensive reforms in UN Security Council

32 countries including India have called for urgent and comprehensive reforms in the UN Security Council in order to adapt the United Nations to contemporary world realities.
In a Joint Statement, the countries said they stand united as a group of pro-reform like-minded States which are determined to work towards a more inclusive, responsive, and participatory international governance architecture.
The signatories of the Joint Statement recognized that a resilient world needs reformed and effective multilateralism to deliver solutions for developmental challenges, poverty, climate change, pandemics, global food security, international conflicts and crises, and international terrorism.
They noted that the lack of progress in Security Council reform has serious implications for global peace and security and delivering on the purposes, principles, and promises of the United Nations Charter. They emphasized that a legitimate Security Council must be reflective of the aspirations and perspectives of the developing world, which form the majority of the UN’s global membership.
The Joint Statement reiterated that an expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories, as well as reform in its working methods, is indispensable to making UNSC more representative, legitimate, and effective.
The signatories committed to "instill new life” in efforts during the 77th session of the General Assembly and urgently called on all Members States of the United Nations to join hands to achieve comprehensive reform of the Security Council.
The signatories include Brazil, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mongolia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, and Vanuatu.

Turkey-Cyprus issue: S. JaishankarRefered

Turkey is embroiled in the confrontation on the divided island of Cyprus between its ethnic compatriots who hold the breakaway northern part of it and the Greek Cypriots. In a tweet after the meeting with Turk Foreign Minister, Jaishankar said they held a “wide-ranging conversation that covered the Ukraine conflict, food security, G20 processes, global order, NAM (Non-aligned Movement) and Cyprus”
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Turkish Foreign Minister for a wide-ranging discussion on global affairs, hours after Ankara’s President RecepTayyipErdogan made a neutral-sounding reference to Kashmir in his General Assembly address.
In his speech, Erdogan struck a neutral-sounding stance and said: “We hope and pray that fair and permanent peace and prosperity will be established in Kashmir.” He avoided internationalising Kashmir by even invoking UN resolutions as he had last year or criticising India in strong terms in the years before that. Besides Pakistani politicians, Erdogan is the only other leader to mention Kashmir in recent years in speeches at the 193-member Assembly.

ECONOMY
India is third largest market for Lladro

The Indian market has surpassed Spain to emerge as the third largest market for iconic Spanish porcelain brand Lladro after Japan and the US as a comeback in gross sales in 2022. In 2021, the Indian market grew by 33 percent and in 2022 India has set a target to grow between 35 to 37 percent.
Year to date compared to last year India is growing at the rate of 15 percent. The Global Sales Director of Lladro SA, Fernando Gallego Cruz praised the growing and promising Indian market and wishes to invest in the Indian market in the future.

India’s first plant-based meat shipped to US

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has announced that Greenest, which is a leading plant protein food brand, has shipped India’s first plant-based meat export consignment to the USA from Gujarat in India.
The plant-based consignment is 5000 kg and consists of mini samosas, hot and spicy strips, momos, spring rolls, nuggets, grilled patty, and other vegan products.
Greenest is India’s pioneer in plant-based protein products and is backed by investors like Better Bite Ventures, a New Zealand-based dedicated Alt Protein VC fund, Magnetic, and SachidMadan, the former Chief executive of ITCs frozen snacks business.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Chinese Scientists create world’s first cloned wild Arctic wolf ‘Maya’

A wild Arctic wolf was successfully cloned for the first time in the world by a Beijing-based gene firm. The cloning of the Arctic wolf, also known as the white wolf or polar wolf, which is native to the High Arctic tundra of Canada’s Queen Elizabeth Islands, is considered a milestone achievement in conserving rare and endangered species through cloning technology.
According to the company, the wolf named “Maya” is in good health. The donor cell of the wolf came from the skin sample of a wild female Arctic wolf and its oocyte was taken from a female dog. According to the Global Times report, Maya’s surrogate mother was a beagle, a dog breed. The dog was selected as the surrogate as it shares genetic ancestry with ancient wolves and hence, ensures success in cloning.

SPORTS
Former India hockey captain DilipTirkey unanimously elected as president

DilipTirkey, a former India hockey captain and member of the gold medal-winning team at the 1998 Asian Games, was unanimously elected as Hockey India (HI) president today. First time in history, a former sportsperson and an Olympian has gone on to head the national body.
Tirkey, 44, has a record 412 international matches as a defender in his career spanning more than 15 years. He represented India at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, and Athens in 2004. The Hockey India elections were supposed to be completed by October 9, according to the deadline set in August by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Committee of Administrators (CoA).
Prior to Tirkey's election as president, Hockey India was subject to the COA's jurisdiction on the orders of the Delhi High Court due to an alleged violation of the National Sports Act.

Published date : 24 Sep 2022 06:14PM