“If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.”
Dalai Lama
“यदि आप दूसरों की मदद कर सकते हैं, तो अवश्य करें; यदि वह नहीं कर सकते तो कम से कम उन्हें नुकसान नहीं पहुंचाएं।”
दलाई लामा
Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Quote of the Day December 29, 2020
Current Affairs – December 29, 2020
India
Pneumosil: First Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine of India
On December 28, 2020, the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched the first Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine of India called Pneumosil. The vaccine was developed by Serum Institute of India.
100th Kisan Rail of India
On December 28, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the hundredth Kisan Rail of India. The train carried vegetables and fruits from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal.
First Driverless Metro Train in Delhi
On December 28, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the first driverless train in New Delhi.
Arya Rajendran of Kerala becomes the youngest Mayor of India
The 21-year old Arya Rajendran was sworn in as the Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram city corporation. She is from Communist Party of India-Marxist. She is now the youngest mayor in India.
38th District of Tamil Nadu inaugurates
On December 28, 2020, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami inaugurated the 38th district of the state, Mayiladuthurai. The district has been carved out from the Nagapattinam district.
Sonu Sood released his Autobiography
Actor Sonu Sood released his autobiography, “I am no Messaih”. It is co-written by Meena Iyer.
Economy and Corporate
“My FASTag” Application new feature
The National Highway Authority of India has added a new feature to the “My FASTag” application. The application is used to check balance status by entering vehicle number.
Ban on Onion Exports lifted
On December 28, 2020, the Government of India lifted the ban on onion exports.
RBI: “Maintaining Inflation Target at 4% is appropriate”
The Reserve Bank of India recently released a paper “Measuring Trend Inflation in India”. The paper says that inflation target at 4% is appropriate. In 2016, RBI introduced Inflation Target of 4% with an upper tolerance limit of 6% and lower limit of 2%.
World
S Jaishankar calls on Qatar’s Amir in Doha
On December 28, 2020, the External Affairs Minister S Jai Shankar called on Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamin and discussed strengthening the economic and security cooperation between the countries.
International Day of Epidemic Preparedness: December 27
The United Nations observed the first International Day of Epidemic Preparedness on December 27, 2020. The day was observed to highlight the importance of prevention of preparedness for partnerships against epidemics such as COVID-19.
US-European Space Orbiter crosses Venus
The joint US-European orbiter recently completed the first of its gravity assist flyby of Venus.
Chinese journalist sentenced for exposing COVID-19 outbreak
On December 28, 2020, a Chinese court sentenced a citizen journalist who documented early days of COVID-19 outbreak. Zhang Zhan travelled from her home in Shanghai to Wuhan to see the toll from the virus in the city.
Sports
Ronaldo wins “Player of the Century” award
Cristiano Ronaldo recently won the “Player of the century” award at the Globe Soccer Awards. Bayern Munich won the Club of the Year award.
ICC Awards: Virat Kohli named the Male Cricketer of the Year
The former Indian Captain MS Dhoni was named as the Captain of ODI and also the Captain of T20I. The ICC T20I Team of the Decade also includes Rohit Sharma, Aaron Finch, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Rashid Khan, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Jasprit Bumrah, AB de Villiers. The ICC ODI Team of the Decade includes Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shakib Al Hasan, AB de Villiers, Ben Stokes, Trent Boult, Lasith Malinga, Imran Tahir, David Warner. Virat Kohli was announced the Skipper of ICC Test team of the Decade. In Women T20I Australia Meg Lanning was announced the Captain of the decade.
Arun Jaitley Statue unveiled
On December 28, 2020, the Delhi and District Cricket Association unveiled the statue of its former President Arun Jaitley
Govt proposes to set up University of Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Sciences
The proposed university will have eight departments viz. disability studies; rehabilitation sciences; audiology and speech language pathology; special education; psychology; nursing; orthotics and prosthetics and assistive technology; and inclusive and universal design.
The government has proposed to set up a “first of its kind” university covering the entire gamut of disability studies and rehabilitation sciences in an accessible environment.
In a public notice issued on December 24, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has invited comments from stakeholders on a draft bill to set up the university.
In this regard, the DEPwD said, a draft bill namely the University of Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Sciences Bill, 2021 for establishing the proposed university has been prepared.
The DEPwD said it intends to set up a University of Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Sciences, Kamrup district, Assam through a separate act of Parliament.
“The proposed university, the first of its kind, will be a unique multidisciplinary academic institution conducting research, programmes and courses from bachelor’s level onwards to cater to various disciplines covering the entire gamut of disability studies and rehabilitation sciences in an accessible environment,” the DEPwD said.
The proposed university will have eight departments viz. disability studies; rehabilitation sciences; audiology and speech language pathology; special education; psychology; nursing; orthotics and prosthetics and assistive technology; and inclusive and universal design.
“The proposed university’s programmes will adopt a credit and grading system. The proposed university will offer affiliation to other institutions in disabilities and rehabilitation sciences in the country,” it said.The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities hereby invites comments from the public on the draft University of Disability Studies and Rehabilitation Sciences Bill, 2021 by January 3, 2021.
Prominent disabled rights body National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled, however, called it another “ill-conceived idea”, which denied adequate time or space for stakeholders to respond.
“In this case, a mere nine days have been given to elicit a response to a 131-page document,” NPRD said in a statement.“All the more unacceptable is the fact that this university would be ‘self-sustaining’, in tune with the thrust of the New Education Policy 2020. With finances being generated from tuition fees, affiliation fees etc. students from the marginalised sections will stand deprived,” it said.
“Rather than wasting huge amounts of money on self-sustaining segregated centres of learning, it would do auger well if the government adheres to the guiding principles of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of equality and non-discrimination and adopts and promotes an inclusive, multidisciplinary approach,” the NPRD said.
Source: Indian Express, 27/12/20
We must realise global health requires a coordinated effort
To reap the benefits of globalisation, to ensure an equal world, global health must be central to international collaboration. It determines social and economic development for all. And peace is the logical result.
The ongoing pandemic, with over 79 million people infected and 1.7 million lives lost, has become the most destructive infectious disease outbreak in recent human history with unprecedented human, social and economic costs. Countries are struggling to respond to new infections and virus mutations through a mix of containment measures- periodic lockdowns, domestic and international border-sealing and available, limited medical solutions.
International trade and domestic economies were the first to take a hit. By the end of the second quarter, international trade was almost one-fifth less compared to second quarter of 2019. As 2020 closes out and vaccines are getting emergency use approvals, the Covid-19 shock is expected to cause a seven to nine per cent fall in global trade.
Countries that were growing economically pre-pandemic, are now witnessing worrying trends. For instance, pre-Covid, unemployment in the United States (US) was at a half-century low but by the second quarter of 2020, its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plunged by nearly 31.4% - a record held previously only by the Great Depression. In the United Kingdom (UK), unemployment hit a three-year high and over 800,000 people lost their jobs. Emerging and fledgling economies like India and South Africa are also experiencing historic contractions.
But the impact of Covid-19 isn’t limited to economics and trade. It has magnified fault-lines, exacerbated inequities and inequalities and resulted in shadow pandemics such as mental health crises, violence against women, and disruptions in critical health services, possibly reversing recent improvements. It has forced hundreds of thousands of skilled and unskilled workers out of jobs and is expected to push an estimated 88-115 million into extreme poverty. Countries, rich and poor, have been affected by an economic emergency. Several low- and middle-income countries, battling existing political instability and conflict, coupled with weak health systems infrastructure have borne the worst of this impact. The pandemic has underscored that the world needs to rethink policies and programmes to bring back some semblance of equality and stability in societies. It needs to view global health as a security issue.
For too long, the concept of security has assumed an anthropomorphised ‘other’ - an ‘us’ seeking existential security from another state or organisation. Here, state security is threatened in physical or cyber battle by potentially rational or irrational actors, who driven by distrust or ambition or power dynamics, launch threats to a state’s security. While these can be checked with negotiation, mediation and arbitration, or destruction, i.e. war; in case of disease, such an understanding is limited. Disease, and resulting hunger and poverty can cause destabilisation, political unrest, civil disorder, and international conflict– all of which threaten international peace and security. Covid-19 has also shattered the illusion of international collaboration. In the last two decades, these have emphasised good health and well-being, especially through the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. But in the wake of Covid-19, countries that could launch a coordinated effort to check the impact of the pandemic have resorted to inward-looking policies. Ending the pandemic must be a global goal and a critical determinant of foreign policy, trade, and economic co-operation.
Protectionism, isolationism, as seen through vaccine nationalism has reversed the efforts of international bodies and platforms to place health at the centre of the global development agenda. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and the World Health Organization are working with governments and vaccine manufacturers to expedite vaccine research and ensure that the vaccine, when available, is accessible to all. But to ensure success wealthier countries must join hands and lend their support so that all countries can roll-out the vaccine, almost in parallel.
As we see the light at the end of the tunnel, as vaccines get rolled out across the world, we need to collectively recognise that global health determines economic trajectories and requires a coordinated, concerted effort. To reap the benefits of globalisation, to ensure an equal world, global health must be central to international collaboration. It determines social and economic development for all. And peace is the logical result.
Anjali Nayyar is executive vice-president, Global Health Strategies
Source: Hindustan Times, 29/12/20
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Quote of the Day December 24, 2020
“You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.”
Rabindranath Tagore
“सिर्फ खड़े होकर पानी को ताक कर आप समुद्र नहीं पार कर सकते।”
रबिन्द्रनाथ टैगोर
Current Affairs – December 24, 2020
India
MRSAM Test successful
The Medium Range Surface to Air Missile for the Indian Army was successfully tested on December 23, 2020. It is jointly developed by DRDO and the Israel Aircraft Industries.
International Science Literature Festival
The CSIR, Ministry of Earth Science and Vijnana Bharati jointly organised the inaugural session of Vigyanika International Science Literature festival. The festival was launched to mark the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan on December 22, 2020.
ISRO to set up Regional Academic Centre for Space in IIT Varanasi
The ISRO will establish a regional academic centre for space at IIT Varanasi to facilitate short- and long-term projects in the institute.
National Farmers Day celebrated on December 23
The National Farmers Day was celebrated on December 23 all over the country. The day is celebrated to honour the fifth Prime Minister of India Choudhary Charan Singh.
All Film Media Units are to be merged
The Government of India recently approved to merge all the Film Media unites operating under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Contest to strengthen Digital Network Platform for Vaccine
On December 23, 2020, the Government of India launched a technology contest to invite solutions from IT companies and startups to strengthen digital platform CoWIN. The GoI is also enhancing eVIN, Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network.
Sugathakumari, Malayalam poet-activist died
The Malayalam poet, women activist, Sugathakumari died of COVID-19 on December 24, 2020.
Changes to Post Matric Scholarship announced
The Government of India has announced transformatory changes to post matric scholarship for students from Scheduled Castes. The share pattern between the centre and state is to be 60:40. Under the scheme, the GoI provides financial assistance to students from Scheduled Caste and also to students from households whole annual income is less than Rs 2.5 lakhs.
Economy and Corporate
100% FDI in DTH service approved
On December 23, 2020, the Union Cabinet approved 100% FDI in direct-to-home service. The license fee was reduced and extended from ten years to twenty years.
RBI cautions against unauthorised Digital lending applications
On December 23, 2020, the Reserve Bank of India has issued note of caution to the public against the use of unauthorised lending applications. The apex bank has cited recent media reports on unethical collection practices and arbitrary interest rates that are charged by some of these applications.
President Trump confers Legion of Merit to PM Modi
On December 21, 2020, President Trump conferred the Legion of Merit to PM Modi for his role in bringing India as a global power.
S Jaishankar holds virtual meeting with his Spanish counterpart
On December 23, 2020, the external affairs minister S Jaishankar held virtual meeting with his Spanish counter part. The leaders exchanged notes about the pandemic situation.
“Republic Bharat” fined by UK regulator
The Hindi News Channel “Republic Bharat”, an arm of the Republic TV was fined by the UK Communications regulator Office of Communications for broadcasting content that involved hate speech. The fine was levied with reference to the daily current affairs discussion programme Poochta Hai Bharat presented by Arnab Goswami.
Israel to hold snap polls
Knesset, the Israel Parliament, was dissolved after two main parties failed to meet a deadline in passing the budget.
Sports
8 Khelo India Centres of Excellence inaugurated across India
On December 22, 2020, the Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated eight Khelo India Centres of Excellence across India. The centres are located in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Telangana, Kerala, Nagaland, Odisha and Karnataka.
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