Current Affairs – January 20, 2021

 

India

Parakram Diwas

On January 19, 2021, the Union Culture Ministry announced that the birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose is to be celebrated as Parakram Diwas every year .

PM Modi named Somnath Temple Trust chairman

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chosen as the new chairman of the trust that manages the world famous Somnath Temple in Gujarat. Prime Minister Modi is the second person to hold the post after the former Prime Minister Morarji Desai.

Uttarakhand increases number of working days from hundred to 150 under MGNREGA

The Uttarakhand government recently announced that it is increasing the working days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act from hundred to 150.

Science City at Tepesia, Assam

On January 19, 2021, The Assam Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the Science City at Tepesia, Assam.

Kiren Rijiju assigned additional charge of Ministry of Ayush

The Ayush Minister Shripad Naik is hospitalized following a road accident. Therefore, the Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has been assigned the additional charge of Ministry of Ayush.

Oncologist Shanta dies at 93

The renowned oncologist Dr Shanta recently died in Chennai at the age of 93. She was the chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute. She has received Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

Azim Premji wins Press Club of Bangalore award

The Founder chairman of Narayana health Dr Devi Prasad Shetty and the chairman of Wipro Limited Azim Premji have been selected for the annual awards given by the Press Club of Bangalore.

Task force on marriage age submit report to the Prime Minister Office

The task force set up to relook the marriage age of women has submitted its report to the Prime Minister office and the Ministry of Women and Child development. The committee was formed under Jaya Jaitley in June 2020.

Economy and Corporate

ICICI, SBI and HDFC remain Domestic Systematically Important banks

On January 19, 2021, the Reserve Bank of India said that SBI, ICICI and HDFC banks continue to be Domestic Systematically Important Banks.

National startup advisory council

The Government of India has decided to nominate non official members on the National Startup Advisory Council for a term of 2 years.

Madhya Pradesh gets additional financial resources

The Department of Expenditure has granted permission to mobilize additional financial resources of 1,423 crores of rupees to the Madhya Pradesh government. This is because, the state of Madhya Pradesh has successfully completed one out of three stipulated reforms in the power sector.

Compensation charges levied on air pollution non-compliant entities

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently announced that the inspection teams constituted to abate air pollution has levied environmental compensation charges of 76 lakhs of rupees on non-compliant entities.

National Conference of States on logistics

On January 19, 2021, the Union Minister of Railways, Commerce and Industry Consumer Affairs Shri Piyush Goyal addressed the first National Conference of States on logistics.

India Digital summit

On January 19, 2021, the India Digital Summit was organised by the Internet and Mobile Association of India.

Airport Authority of India sign agreement with the Adani group to manage Thiruvananthapuram airport

On January 19, 2021, the Airport Authority of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Adani group to manage and develop the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in spite of the opposition from the state and cases in the supreme court.

World

India to supply covid-19 vaccines to 6 countries

On January 19, 2021, India announced that it will supply covid-19 vaccines to Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Seychelles and Myanmar.

S400 training for Indian Military Specialist in Moscow

By the year end the Indian military specialists are to receive S400 training in Moscow. In October 2018, India signed a 5.43 billion USD of deal with Russia for 5 S400 missiles in spite of objections from the United States and threat of CAATSA.

Iran and six other countries lose Right to vote in United nations

On January 18, 2021, the United Nations announced that Iran and six other countries have lost their rights to vote in United Nations General Assembly. This is because these countries have not paid their dues. The countries are Libya, Niger, Congo Brazzaville, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe and South Sudan.

Turkey slaps advertising ban on Twitter in interest

On January 19, 2021, Turkey slapped advertising ban on Twitter and pin interest over their non-compliance with a new controversial law that requires social media platforms to appoint legal representatives in the country.

World Economic Forum announces Davos Agenda Summit

The World Economic Forum recently announced that the Davos Agenda Summit is to be held between January 25 and January 29, 2021.

Sports

India wins four test series in Australia

On January 19, 2021, India defeated Australia by three wickets in the fourth and final test in Australia and retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Cambridge University unveils free course for disadvantaged students

 The University of Cambridge on Wednesday launched a free one-year foundation year course targeted at talented students from backgrounds of educational and social disadvantage in the UK as a new route to address the world-renowned institution’s diversity agenda.

The one-year course is aimed at a new stream of applicants who have the ability to succeed at Cambridge University, but have been prevented from reaching their full potential by their circumstances.

The university says it will prepare them for further learning and offer them the chance to progress straight to an undergraduate degree at the university.

The launch of the Cambridge foundation year will open up Cambridge to a new field of candidates and transform lives, said Professor Stephen Toope, Cambridge Vice-Chancellor.

Students will be drawn from a range of backgrounds, the common link being that their circumstances have prevented them from realising their academic potential. They will benefit from our personal approach to teaching and grow in confidence and understanding, and we will benefit from them joining and further diversifying our community, he said.

The Foundation Year course offers full one-year scholarships to all students accepted as part of this new course as a result of a 5-million pounds gift from philanthropists Christina and Peter Dawson.

Up to 50 foundation year students will arrive at Cambridge in the programme’s first intake in October 2022, after applying directly through Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) by the January 2022 deadline, and undergoing interviews and assessments to identify their aptitude.

Those who have been in care, those estranged from their families, and those who have missed significant periods of learning because of health issues are among the groups the Foundation Year aims to reach students whose education has been disrupted and are therefore unlikely otherwise to be able to make a competitive application to undergraduate study at Cambridge through the University’s standard admissions process.

Other possible candidates include students who have been unable to access suitable qualifications, those from low-income backgrounds, and those from schools which send few students to university.

Professor Graham Virgo, Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education, said: The University’s work to explore new ways of widening access and closing the attainment gap caused by inequality is absolutely vital at a time when those the Foundation Year is aimed at who already face exceptional disadvantage are likely to have felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic disproportionately.

Cambridge is committed to further diversifying its student body and welcoming all those who have the ability to achieve here, regardless of background.

The students will study at one of the 13 Cambridge colleges participating in the pilot scheme, and will benefit from the community, support and academic stimulation this offers, which is intrinsic to the Cambridge experience. They will study an engaging and challenging multi-disciplinary curriculum in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences that will prepare them for further study in these subjects. It is anticipated that as the Foundation Year programme develops, more subjects could be added, for example STEM [Science, Tech, Engineering and Mathematics] subjects.

On successful completion of the programme, students will receive a recognised CertHE qualification from the University of Cambridge, and with suitable attainment can progress to degrees in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Cambridge without the need to apply to the University again.

Students will also be supported during the programme in finding alternative university places if they do not wish to continue to undergraduate study at Cambridge, or do not meet the required level of attainment.

Indeed, the need for this Foundation Year has become ever clearer as the pandemic has exacerbated inequities and disadvantages. Peter and I are firmly committed to doing whatever we can to support Cambridge in addressing educational disadvantage in wider society, and are thrilled to have enabled the launch of such a ground-breaking and impactful programme, said Christina Dawson.

It is expected that the Foundation Year will further increase the proportion of Cambridge students from state-funded schools, low progression postcodes of the UK and from areas of socio-economic deprivation

Source: Indian Express, 13/01/21

Delhi University’s Vidya Vistar Scheme aims academic cooperation with other varsities

 An academic cooperative system between colleges and departments of the Delhi University and those of other Indian universities is on the cards, acting vice-chancellor P C Joshi said while releasing the DU’s six-month report card on Tuesday.

Through the initiative, “Vidya Vistar Scheme” (V2 Scheme), the DU has proposed to make available its faculties, library, and other academic facilities to the partnering institutions for academic cooperation and collaboration.

“The V2 Scheme has already started. Letters have been sent to all colleges and departments. Now we are giving them the freedom to chose. We are not imposing anything.

“For now, we are talking about all our online resources. DU has state-of-the-art resources, our lectures, textbooks, projects, everything. In the coming time, we will see if we can invite researchers here and share our laboratories and other facilities with them,” Joshi said.

The scheme will involve organising online and offline lectures, workshops, faculty training, conducting joint researches, and publishing in collaboration.

The DU administration is yet to hear from the participating colleges, he added.

Charting the course for future, the acting VC said the university will focus on improving its QS Ranking, which is an annual global university ranking, and bring to fore the its rich 100-year history.

“My mission right now is Mission 500, which is to be ranked between QS Ranking 400-500. Currently, we are at 510. It means we will have to improve ourselves at several fronts to get to that number. This involves recruitments, promotions, teaching methods, our researches, and connections with our alumni,” Joshi said.

The university will mark its 100th anniversary in 2022, for which the administration is planning to create a “DU Encyclopedia”.

“I am forming a new committee that will be involved with the 100-year history of DU and creating a DU encyclopedia. There are so many people who have been a part of DU, but we don’t know much about them since we weren’t working in that direction,” he said.

Talking to media, the acting vice-chancellor detailed the university’s activities in the last six months.

The university has constituted a 42-member committee, chaired by Professor Vivek Suneja, for the implementation of National Education Policy 2020

Joshi informed reporters that the university conducted online open-book Examination (OBE) for the first time involving 2.5 lakh students in August and 1.7 lakh students in December last year.

This was also the first time that admission process was conducted entirely online. The DU issued digital degrees to 19,821 students and provisional certificates to 3,885 students.

“There will be a mixed (online and offline) convocation ceremony on February 27,” Joshi said.

In the last six months, the DU signed an MoU with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations as well as with 18 universities across the world for the purpose of academic cooperation and collaborations with Indian and foreign scholars and students.

Joshi took charge as acting VC when Yogesh Tyagi went on medical leave. Later Tyagi was suspended over allegations of administrative lapses and a probe committee was set up in late October last year.

Source: Indian Express, 20/01/21

Solving the child malnutrition puzzle

 The recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5 data raise serious concerns about India’s growth story. Behind the glitter of the stock market touching new heights, lies the gloomy reality of India’s ballooning childhood malnutrition. In India, 37.8 per cent of children under 5 years of age are stunted. This is 16 per cent higher than the average for Asia (22 per cent). The situation of wasting is no better, with 20.8 per cent of children under 5 years of age affected, which is higher than average for Asia (9 per cent). The Global Nutrition Report, 2020, highlights that 68 per cent of under-5 mortality in India is due to malnutrition. As per the latest NFHS 5 report, over 35 per cent of children under 5 are stunted and over 20 per cent are wasted in 18 out of the 22 states for which data is released. That amounts to 47 million children, the largest in any part of the world. Out of the two, stunting, also known as growth retardation, has serious long-term health and economic consequences.

As countries move up the income ladder, the rates of stunting and wasting declines, a phenomenon observed globally. However, India is an outlier and breaks this causality. States with relatively high per capita incomes have stunting rates comparable to the poorest African countries. In many Indian states, the situation is worse than that of poor sub-Saharan African countries. For instance, Bihar, Manipur and West Bengal have similar per capita income ($) as sub-Saharan African countries — Liberia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe — but, the average stunting rates in Bihar (43 per cent), Assam (35 per cent) and West Bengal (34 per cent) are 10-12 per cent higher than that of Liberia (33 per cent), Tanzania (32 per cent) and Zimbabwe (3 per cent) respectively. The situation is worse when it comes to middle-income states like Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka with similar per capita income ($) as Peru, Egypt and Morocco. The average stunting rates in Goa (26 per cent) Maharashtra (35 per cent), Gujarat (39 per cent), Telangana (33 per cent) and Karnataka (35 per cent) are almost 10-15 per cent higher than that of Peru (12 per cent), Egypt (22 per cent) and Morocco (15 per cent). Understanding this paradox among Indian states, which has an unusually high level of stunting relative to their economic development, merits investigation.

Despite this high prevalence, India has rarely undertaken a comprehensive study to understand the pathogenesis of stunting. Therefore, what we have is a lopsided understanding of the problem. As per WHO, stunting can be attributable to medical and socio-economic factors. The medical factors include genetics (parents’ height), access to nutrition and mother’s health (anaemia, BMI). Besides, there are economic factors — income, poverty, access to healthcare, mother’s education and labour force participation — and social factors — caste, race, women status and place of residence etc. Of these, which ones are proximate and which one the distant factors, we simply don’t know.

Based on this conceptualisation, economic factors like average per capita income and prevalence of multi-dimensional poverty are loosely correlated with the prevalence of high stunting in states of AP, Telangana, Gujarat, Maharashtra & Karnataka. Similarly, maternity care characteristics (ante-natal care during pregnancy, post-natal care and consumption of folic acid during pregnancy), although extremely important, but, are weakly associated with high stunting rates in these states. Despite relatively modest economic growth and favourable maternity characteristics, high prevalence of stunting in these states defies logic. After all, these states have been the flagbearers of India’s growth story since 1991.

In popular parlance, poverty is synonymous with stunting. Poor households and poor states are expected to have stunted children. But what could explain significantly higher stunting rates in middle-income states?

First, women’s educational status, especially secondary and above, along with female labour force participation partly resonates with high stunting rates. Maternal literacy is an important determinant of a child’s nutritional status. Literate mothers are expected to be aware of their health, nutrition and breastfeeding practices. This finding, however, reflects the tragic reality of women bearing the undue burden of childcare. Second, the mother’s health, the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age. India is one of the most anaemia-prone countries in the world. Children under age 5 and women of productive age are particularly vulnerable. Several studies have explored the strong association between stunting and the presence of anaemia in women of childbearing age. For instance, women of low BMI had greater odds of developing anaemia and the children of anaemic mothers are at greater risk of being stunted. The implication, a vicious circle of anaemia and stunting — stunted children of anaemic mothers are at greater risk of developing anaemia. The NFHS 5 data corroborate this finding — all women in reproductive age who are anaemic stands at 59 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, 40 per cent in Goa, 63 per cent in Gujarat, 48 per cent in Karnataka, 55 per cent in Maharashtra and 58 per cent in Third, urban slums and lack of sanitation is a potential contributor to stunting. Despite claims, India still lags behind sub-Saharan African countries in terms of safely managed sanitation services. States like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka have a significant population living in urban slums who do not have access to improved sanitation facilities. The difference in sanitation practices between Indian states and their African counterparts explains the difference in stunting rates.

The other, atypical factor that has an impact on the prevalence of stunting is genetics (mother’s height). As per WHO, the golden rule of measuring stunting in children is the height for age Z score (HAZ). A child is considered stunted if the HAZ score is two standard deviations below the median of WHO child growth standard. The height of children is closely associated with the height of mothers. For instance, the average female height in South Asia, including India, is approx. 150-156 cm, whereas, the average female height in Europe and Africa is 164-168 cm and 160-165 cm respectively. Genetic differences can explain the differences in the stock of stunted children in two regions, but it can’t be the dominant factor in explaining the flow of stunted children. The analysis, then, boils down to the real culprits — anaemia and low BMI among women, social and gender inequalities, which together manifest in the problem of malnutrition among children.

(The writer is an economist with Swaniti Initiative, previously worked with Prime Minister Economic Advisory Council, Government of India & FAO of United Nations. Views are personal).

Source: Indian Express, 20/01/21

Quote of the Day

 

“The greatest mistake of a soul is non-recognition of its real self and can only be corrected by recognizing itself.”
Lord Mahavir

“आत्मा की सबसे बड़ी गलती अपने असली रूप को न पहचान पाना है और इसे केवल आत्मज्ञान प्राप्त कर के ही ठीक किया जा सकता है।”
भगवान महावीर

Gucchi

 The Jammu and Kashmir Government recently sought GI tag for Gucchi mushroom. The Gucchi mushrooms are highly expensive and are full of health benefits. 500 grams of Gucchi mushrooms cost Rs 18,000.

Recently, GI Tag was provided to Saffron of Jammu and Kashmir

About Gucchi mushrooms

Gucchi mushroom is a species of fungus belonging to the family Morchellaceae. They are pale yellow in colour with large ridges and pits on their cap. They are raised on a large white stem. The Gucchi mushrooms are locally called “Thuntoo”.

The Gucchi mushrooms prefer soil with limestone base. They also grow in acid soils. The Gucchi mushrooms are usually found in early spring.The time of fruiting of the mushrooms varies locally from February to July. In Canada, they appear only after June.

Expensive

The Gucchi mushrooms cannot be cultivated commercially. They grow in the conifer forests of Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. It takes months for the villagers to collect these mushrooms, dry them and bring them to the market. The Gucchi mushrooms grow in clusters on logs of decaying wood, humus soil and leaves. They may not grow in the same spot the next season. This makes the process of collection more tedious. Due to these reasons, the Gucchi mushrooms are highly expensive.

The Guchhi mushrooms cannot be cultivated commercially for their nature of germination. They germinate and grow in low temperature soil. They usually appear after fires. The fruiting of Gucchi mushrooms require alkaline conditions produced by wood ash mixed with water. These criteria make commercial cultivation of Gucchi highly challenging.

Health Benefits

The Gucchi mushrooms are rich in vitamins, potassium and copper. They are also rich in Vitamin-D. further they are rich in antioxidants that prevent health issues such as heart diseases and diabetes.

Current Affairs – January 19, 2021

 

India

DRDO Rakshita

On January 18, 2021, the Institute of Nuclear medicine and allied Sciences (INMAS) operating under DRDO handed over 21 bike ambulances called Rakshita to the Central Reserve Police Force. The ambulances have been created on Royal Enfield Classic motorcycles.

Burns and plastic surgery block created at AIIMS, Delhi

on January 18, 2021, the Union Health Minister Dr Harshvardhan inaugurated burns and plastic surgery block in in AIIMS Delhi. The unit will provide state-of-the-art care in the field of burns management and Research. The Minister dedicated the block to Sushruta, father of plastic surgery.

Ex-Desert Knight 21

India and France are to conduct a 5 day air exercise Ex-Desert Knight 21 near Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The exercise will provide operational exposure and will share best practices towards enhancing combat capability .

National Road Safety Month

On January 18, 2021, the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the National Road Safety Month.

Quaide Milleth Awards

Bilkis dadi, the face of the Shaheen Bagh anti-CAA protests, and social activist and writer Harsh Mander of Karwan-e-Mohabbat were presented the Quaide Milleth Award for Probity in Political and Public Life at the India Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi.

Economy and Corporate

Bhoomi Pooja for Ahmedabad Rail projects

On January 18, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed Bhoomi Pooja of Ahmedabad metro rail project Phase II and Surat metro rail project.

Memorandum of Understanding signed between India and japan

On January 18, 2021, India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote the movement of skilled workers from India to Japan. The agreement covered for 14 categories of specified skills.

World

Nepali climbers are the first to climb the world’s second highest mountain K2 in winter

On January 17, 2021, Pakistan felicitated a team of 10 Nepali climbers for making history by becoming the first to scale the world’s second highest mountain K2 in winter. The Mountain is located in Gilgit-Baltistan side of Karakoram range.

UK set new laws to protect historic statues

On January 18, 2021, the UK Government unveiled a new laws to protect the cultural and historical heritage of the country in the form of statues and monuments. This was done to ensure that they are not removed at a whim.

Phil Spector dies

The music producer Phil Spector died at the age of 81 in the US on January 16, 2021. He was a revolutionary music producer who transformed rock music with his wall of sound method.

Sports

Khelo India State Centre of Excellence inaugurated in Pune

On January 18, 2021, the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju launched the Khelo India state centre of Excellence.