Daily Current Affairs : 2-Jan-2020
Major Topics Covered :
‘DHANU JATRA’
MANI- MOBILE AIDED NOTE IDENTIFIER
INDIA, PAKISTAN EXCHANGE LISTS OF CIVILIAN PRISONERS, FISHERMEN
THOOTHUKODI LAUNCH PORT
TRAI AMENDS NEW REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR CABLE & BROADCASTING SERVICES
INDORE CONTINUES TO TOP SWACHH SURVEKSHAN
TOBACCO USE PREVALENCE
TASK FORCE ON NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PIPELINE FOR 2019-2025
KRISHI KARMAN AWARDS
PM TO DEDICATE FIVE DRDO YOUNG SCIENTISTS LABS TO NATION ON JAN 2
‘DHANU JATRA’
Part of GS- 1 Culture
Why in news?
The famous 11-day long ‘Dhanu Jatra’, considered as the largest open-air theatre of the world begins at Bargarh in western Odisha.
Highlights:
The Jatra is based on the mythological story of Lord Krishna and his demon uncle King Kansa. It is about the episode of Krishna and Balaram's visit to Mathura to witness the Dhanu ceremony organized by their (maternal) uncle King Kansa.
Dhanu Jatra is the annual drama-based open-air theatrical performance celebrated in and around Bargarh city is considered to be the world’s largest open-air theatrical festival that finds a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records.
During Dhanu Jatra, King Kansa moves around the city and slaps fine on offenders on the streets. He also enters government offices and pulls up officials for lapses.
People become his obedient subjects. Ministers, bureaucrats, and police officials appear before the demon King during the 11-day yatra and act as per the direction of the King.
The rule of Kansa symbolizes an oppressive rule and the coronation of Ugrasen marks the beginning of democracy.
The annual festival came into being in 1947-48 to celebrate Indian’s Independence and to symbolize the victory of good over evil.
Over 70 artists performed in the Dhanu Yatra at Mathura, another 45 artists played different roles at Gopapura during the festival.
This apart, around 3,000 artists of 120 cultural troupes from across the state and from neighboring states will perform at the Raj Durbar, Nanda Durbar, and Rangamahal during the festival.
The department of Culture of the Government of India has accorded National Festival status to Dhanu Jatra in November 2014.
Source: AIR
MANI- MOBILE AIDED NOTE IDENTIFIER
Part of GS- 3 Economy
Why in news?
Reserve Bank of India, RBI has launched a mobile app, MANI, Mobile Aided Note Identifier, to help visually challenged people to identify denomination of currency notes.
Highlights:
The app, which is available both on Android and iOS operating systems, was launched by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das in Mumbai.
RBI said that the visually challenged can identify the denomination of a note by using the application, which can also work offline once it is installed.
Through the downloaded app, users can scan the notes using the camera.
The audio output will give the result in Hindi and English.
Source: AIR
INDIA, PAKISTAN EXCHANGE LISTS OF CIVILIAN PRISONERS, FISHERMEN
Part of GS- 2 IR
Why in news?
India and Pakistan exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen of each country lodged in jails through diplomatic channels.
Highlights:
India handed over lists of 267 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 99 fishermen to Pakistan who are in India’s custody.
Similarly, Pakistan has shared lists of 55 civilian prisoners and 227 fishermen in its custody, who are Indians or believed-to-be Indians.
External Affairs Ministry said that this is in keeping with the provisions of the 2008 Agreement under which such lists are exchanged on 1st January and 1st July every year.
India has emphasised on the need for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, missing Indian defence personnel and fishermen along with their boats from Pakistan’s custody.
Pakistan was asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 4 Indian civilian prisoners and 126 Indian fishermen to India whose nationality has been confirmed and conveyed to Pakistan.
Pakistan has also been asked to provide immediate consular access to 14 believed-to-be Indian civilian prisoners and 100 Indian fishermen who are in its custody.
MEA said, India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen.
Source: AIR
THOOTH UKODI LAUNCH PORT
Part of GS-3 S&T
Why in news?
ISRO to set up second launch port in Thoothukodi district of Tamilnadu for small satellite launch vehicles
Highlights:
Indian Space Research Organisation will establish a second launch port in Thoothukodi district in Tamilnadu exclusively to launch small satellite launch vehicles.
Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru today, ISRO Chairman K Sivan informed that this will come up in 2300 acres.
On the lines of GPS navigation system developed by America, the Indian navigation system called Navic with the indigenous atomic clock will be operational with mobile phone manufacturers coming forward to install the regional navigation device.
On future programmes, the ISRO Chairman said that Chandrayaan 3 mission to the moon, comprising of a lander and a rover is approved by the Government.
On the progress made in India’s first manned mission to outer space Gaganyaan, he said, the process of Astronaut selection is over and four men selected from Indian Air Force will leave for Russia in the third week of January to get training.
The Gaganyaan mission is targeted to be launched by 2022.
Before that unmanned missions will be launched to test the crew module with robots resembling humans.
This unmanned space mission will test spacecraft re-entry technology, space capsule recovery experiment and effect of microgravity on the crew module necessary for the human space travel.
Source: AIR
TRAI AMENDS NEW REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR CABLE & BROADCASTING SERVICES
Part of GS- 3 Economy
Why in news?
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI has made amendments to the new regulatory framework for cable and broadcasting services with a view to protect the consumer interests.
Highlights:
Under it, cable TV users will be able to access more channels at lower subion price.
The Authority has also capped at 160 rupees the amount consumers will have to pay monthly for all free to air channels.
TRAI, in a statement, said that Consumers have also highlighted huge charges taken by Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) in the form of Network Capacity Fee -NCF for a multi-TV home.
TRAI said, the homes where more than one TV connection is working in the name of one person, it will charge maximum 40 per cent of declared NCF for second and additional TV connections.
Authority has also permitted DPOs to offer discounts on long term subions which is for 6 months or more. TRAI has also reduced the maximum NCF charge to 130 rupees excluding taxes for 200 channels.
In addition, it has also been decided that channels declared mandatory by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will not be counted in the number of channels in the NCF. The Authority said that only those channels which have an MRP of 12 rupees or less will be permitted to be part of the bouquet offered by broadcasters.
Source: AIR
INDORE CONTINUES TO TOP SWACHH SURVEKSHAN
Part of GS- 1 Social Issues
Why in news?
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri announced the results of Swachh Survekshan League 2020, for first and second Quarters in New Delhi .
Highlights:
In the 10 lakh plus population category, Indore secured first place in both the quarters.
Madhya Pradesh Capital Bhopal got the second and Surat in Gujarat third spot in first Quarter.
In the second quarter, Rajkot in Gujarat was at the nd spot while Navi Mumbai at third.
In one lakh to 10 lakh population category, Jamshedpur in Jharkhand got the 1st spot in both quarters.
New Delhi Municipal Council and Khargone in Madhya Pradesh got the second and third spot in the first quarter in this category.
Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Khargone got the second and third spot in Quarter 2 in one to ten lakh population category.
The Minister also rolled out Swachh Survekshan 2020, the fifth annual urban cleanliness survey. It will be conducted from 4th to 31st of next month.
Reacting to these results, Indore Mayor Malini Gaur said in a tweet that the real test is coming and they will try their best to get the t position like last three years. Significantly, Indore has remained the first place in the cleanliness survey for the last three years.
Source: AIR
TOBACCO USE PREVALENCE
Part of GS- Health
Why in news?
A recent report released by the World Health Organization projected what it calls “a powerful shift in the global tobacco epidemic”.
Highlights:
While male tobacco use rose by around 40 million, from 1.050 billion in 2000 to 1.093 billion in 2018, the report projected a decline in the number of males using tobacco.
The number has stopped growing and is projected to decline by more than 1 million male users come 2020 (or 1.091 billion) compared to 2018 levels, and 5 million less by 2025 (1.087 billion).
Overall global tobacco use fell from 1.397 billion in 2000 to 1.337 billion in 2018 (around 60 million people). The fall was largely driven by reductions in the number of females using tobacco products — with their numbers shrinking from 346 million in 2000 to 244 million in 2018, or more than 100 million users.
“By 2020, WHO projects there will be 10 million fewer tobacco users, male and female, compared to 2018, and another 27 million less by 2025, amounting to 1.299 billion. Some 60 per cent of countries have been experiencing a decline in tobacco use since 2010,” the WHO said.
In India, which had a 44% prevalence of tobacco use (male and female combined) in 2000, this is expected to reduce almost by half to 22.3% by 2025. Globally, the prevalence was at 33.3% in 2000, and is projected to reach 20.9% in 2025.
Current tobacco use rates in India in 2018 for people aged 15 years and older were higher than global rates among both males and females. However, the rates of tobacco smoking were lower than global rates.
Source: Indian Express
TASK FORCE ON NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PIPELINE FOR 2019-2025
Part of GS- 3 Economy
Why in news?
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released Report of the Task Force on National Infrastructure Pipeline for 2019-2025.
Highlights:
Prime Minister in his Independence Day-2019 speech highlighted that Rs.100 lakh crore would be invested on infrastructure over the next five years including social and economic infrastructure projects.
NIP includes economic and social infrastructure projects.
Total project capital expenditure in infrastructure sectors in India during the fiscals 2020 to 2025 is projected at over Rs 102 lakh crore.
During the fiscals 2020 to 2025, sectors such as Energy (24%), Roads (19%), Urban (16%), and Railways (13%) amount to around 70% of the projected capital expenditure in infrastructure in India.
Out of the total expected capital expenditure of Rs. 102 lakh crore, projects worth Rs 42.7 lakh crore (42%) are under implementation, projects worth Rs 32.7 lakh crore (32%) are in conceptualization stage and rest are under development.
A monitoring mechanism has also been suggested to ensure timely implementation.
To achieve this objective, a Task Force was constituted to draw up the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) for each of the years from FY 2019-20 to FY 2024-25.
The Task Force is chaired by Secretary, Department of Expenditure (DEA).
Source : LiveMint
KRISHI KARMAN AWARDS
Part of GS- 3 Economy
Why in news?
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute Krishi Karman Awards to states on January 2, 2020. He will also give away Agriculture Minister’s Krishi Karman Awards for Progressive Farmers.
Highlights:
Krishi Karman Awards for the Best Performing States on Food Grains Production was announced by Union Agriculture Ministry during 2010-11.
There are a total number of 7 rewards including 3 for the States with highest food grain production in three identified categories –large, medium and small producers; and 4 rewards one each for the highest production under rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals crops.
The states are divided into following 3 groups based on the highest production levels of food grains achieved by the States in the previous five years.
However, for rice and wheat no grouping of states is carried out.
Source : Times of India
PM TO DEDICATE FIVE DRDO YOUNG SCIENTISTS LABS TO NATION ON JAN 2
Part of GS- 3 Defence & Security
Why in news?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories to the nation, which would boost indigenous research capabilities in the defence sector.
Highlights:
In 2014, the Prime Minister had suggested that at least five DRDO labs should be identified exclusively for innovation from young scientists upto the age of 35 years.
This will give a boost to indigenous research capabilities in the defence sector.
Source : Business Standard