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Monday, February 14, 2022

Democracy Index 2021: EIU Latest Report

 The Economic Intelligence Unit recently released the Democracy Index Report, 2021. The report described the state of democracy in 165 countries.

About the Report

The report was prepared based on five parameters. They were functioning of the government, electoral process and pluralism, political participation, civil liberties and political culture.

Key findings of the report

Norway topped the index. The country scored 9.75. Following Norway, New Zealand was at the second position. Finland, Sweden and Iceland were at the third, fourth and fifth position respectively. Afghanistan scored the least with 0.32. Earlier North Korea was at the bottom most position.

Countries that showed improvement

Singapore, UAE, Uruguay, Guyana, Montenegro, Republic of Congo, India, Moldova, Qatar, Indonesia, Zambia.

Report about Democracy

One – third of the world population is living under authoritarian rule. 6.4% is having full democracy. The current global democracy score is 5.28 out of 10.

Report about India

India ranked 46 in the index. The overall score of India was 6.91. The individual scores of the country are as follows:

  • Political Culture: 5
  • Electoral process and Pluralism: 8.67
  • Civil liberties: 6.18
  • Political participation: 7.22
  • Functioning of government: 7.5

Ranking of India’s neighbour

China was ranked at 148th position. Myanmar: 166, Nepal: 1010, Pakistan: 104, Bhutan: 81, Bangladesh: 75, Sri Lanka: 67

Region – wise ranking

North America was ranked at first position. North America was followed by Western Europe and Latin America in second and third position respectively. Asia was ranked at fourth position.

Report about Latin America

Of all the regions in the world, the least performing was the Latin American region. There are 17 countries in Latin American region. The region has the largest diasporas of Japanese, Lebanese, Portuguese, Spaniards, Italians, black Africans. The Latin American countries are Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Venezuela, Guatemala, Chile, Bolivia, Haiti.

Current Affairs- February 13, 2022

 

INDIA

– Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar launches “SMILE” (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) scheme to rehabilitate beggars
– Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) & Indian Navy seize 760 kilograms of narcotics in Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast
– Andhra Pradesh: 2 lakh kg of cannabis destroyed under operation ‘Parivarthan’

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– FM Sitharaman launches first colour souvenir coin on ‘Panchtantra’ on the foundation day of SPMCIL (Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited)
– Rahul Bajaj, chairman emeritus of Bajaj Auto, dies at 83; awarded Padma Bhushan in 2001, served as Rajya Sabha MP
– Debashis Mitra elected ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) President for 2022-23 term
– CBI books Gujarat-based ABG Shipyard Limited, others for ‘causing ₹22,842-cr. loss’ to banks; is the biggest–ever case of bank fraud registered by the agency
– Govt scraps requirement of drone pilot licence

WORLD

– India signs MoU to hand over wheat to United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) in Kandahar, Afghanistan
– EAM S. Jaishankar holds talks with Australian counterpart Marise Payne in Melbourne
– Australia announces ‘Maitri’ Scholars Program to support Indian students in its universities
– NASA unveils first images from James Webb Space Telescope; was launched on December 25, 2021
– US: President Joe Biden frees $7 billion in Afghan assets for relief, 9/11 victims

SMILE Scheme Launched

 Department of Social Justice & Empowerment launched the “SMILE: Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise” scheme on February 12, 2022, in New Delhi.


About SMILE Scheme

SMILE is a Central Sector scheme. It is dubbed as Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise. It was launched by Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment. The scheme has been designed for providing welfare measures to Transgender community and people engaged in begging.

Sub-schemes under SMILE

The scheme comprises of two sub-schemes namely,

  1. Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons.
  2. Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging.

Objectives of the scheme

SMILE scheme seeks to strengthens and expands the reach of Rights that give necessary legal protection and secured life to targeted group. It keeps in mind the social security required through multiple dimensions of identity, education, medical care, shelter, and occupational opportunities.

Funds for the scheme

Ministry has allocated Rs. 365 Crore for the scheme for the financial year 2021-22 to 2025-26.

Components of ‘Central Sector Scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’

It includes:

  1. Scholarships for Transgender Students studying in IX and till post-graduation to complete their education.
  2. Skill Development and Livelihood under PM-DAKSH scheme
  3. Composite Medical Health package in convergence with PM-JAY to support Gender-Reaffirmation surgeries through selected hospitals
  4. Shelter Homes ‘Garima Greh’, where all the basis facilities (food, clothing, medical support) recreational facilities and skill development opportunities, will be provided.
  5. Transgender Protection Cell will be set up in each state for monitoring cases of offences and ensuring timely registration, investigation and prosecution.

Components of ‘Comprehensive Rehabilitation of persons engaged in the act of Begging’

  1. Survey and Identification of beneficiaries by Implementing Agencies.
  2. Outreach work will be done for mobilising the persons engaged in begging to avail services available in Shelter Homes.
  3. Shelter homes will facilitate education for children engaged in the act of Begging.

TISSNET 2022 admit card to release today: Check these 5 things after downloading the hall ticket

 

The admit card for TISSNET 2022 will be released at tiss.edu. Check the crucial points to remember after downloading the hall ticket here. 


The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, will release the TISSNET 2022 admit card today i.e February 14. The candidates can download it from tiss.edu. The exam is scheduled to be held on February 26, 2022. Only those candidates who have completed the application form and paid the fee have received the admit card for the exam.

The last date to download the admit card is February 21, 2022. To download it, the candidates must visit the official website of TISSNET 2022 and log in using their username and password.

After this, candidates need to click on the link to download the admit card and the admit card will appear on the screen. It is advised to download multiple copies of the admit card. If candidates are unable to access the admit card, they must contact the institute’s authorities.

In the admit card of TISSNET 2022, details like personal details of the candidates, date of the exam, timings of the exam, address of the exam centre, instructions for the exam are mentioned.

Once the candidates have downloaded their copy of the admit card, here are the 5 things that candidates must do to avoid last-minute problems at the time of the exam.

Check the admit card and verify the details. In case of a discrepancy in the admit card, the candidates must write to admissioninfo@tiss.edu or call TISS Care at 022-2550 5252 to correct the error.

Contact the official authority if you have not received the admit card: In case, the candidates do not receive their TISSNET admit card 2022 till February 21, 2022, call at TISS Care 022 – 2552 5252. The candidates can register a complaint by sending an email to admissioninfo@tiss.edu.

Go through the exam details– Important details like exam date, time, exam centre and other details are mentioned on the admit card. Candidates must go through this information thoroughly and contact the authorities immediately if there is any error.

Be ready with all the required documents– The candidates are required to carry the admit card and valid ID proof with them. Candidates will not be allowed to enter the hall without either of these. So, make sure these documents are available and ready on the day of the exam.

Make study plans for the last few days– The admit card is released two weeks before the exam. By this time the candidates are expected to have completed the syllabus. The last few days must be utilised for revision of important topics, solving mock papers and working on time management.

TISSNET is a national level entrance exam conducted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) for admission to full-time postgraduate degree programmes like MA, MSc, MHA, MPH, Law offered by the institute. It is a 100-marks computer-based test (CBT). The test comprises multiple-choice questions from English Proficiency, Mathematics and Logical Reasoning, General Awareness.

Written by AglaSem

Source: Indian Express, 14/02/22

Friday, February 11, 2022

The University Of Bristol Has Announced It Will Create 400 New Postgraduate Scholarships.

 The new £4.2m annual investment – totalling £16.8m over the next four years – opens up Bristol’s world-leading research to a global audience and helps shape the next generation of postgraduate researchers.

The University of Bristol Postgraduate Research Scholarships will be available across the University’s six Faculties and 25 Schools, creating a breadth of new and diverse research.

Scholars will receive a stipend and have their tuition fees covered as they break new ground on topics as varied as climate change, medical engineering and atmospheric chemistry.

This latest fund builds on the success of the Black Bristol Scholarship Programmethe Sanctuary Scholarship scheme and the many other scholarships and bursaries available at the University.

Bristol postgraduates have recently discovered how city gardens create an important supply of energy-rich nectar and how the biggest dinosaurs evolved from their smaller ancestors.

Meanwhile, Science Creates, founded by former Bristol postgraduate researcher Dr Harry Destecroix, has opened its second specialised incubator in Bristol.

Professor Hugh Brady, Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Bristol, said: “Postgraduate researchers not only push the boundaries of their fields, but also build the world of tomorrow.

“They are responsible for world-changing ideas and technologies that we may all one day rely on. Many also go on to teach the next generation of students and researchers.

“Today’s announcement is a huge moment for the future of academic research.”

The announcement comes 100 years after the institution awarded its first PhD.

Dr Lily Batten’s research on ‘The British species of the Genus Polysiphonia’ was approved by the University’s board of examiners on 5 May 1921. Since then, 11,000 PhDs have been awarded.

Professor Robert Bickers, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Postgraduate Research, said: “The story of research at the University across its history to date has very much been shaped by its postgraduate researchers.

“They shape the University itself, and their impact across the international research landscape, and across societies and across the world has been profound.

“We face many challenges globally as we look forward to the post-pandemic world, and these new researchers trained here will be at the forefront in tackling these. I am delighted to see this increased investment for postgraduate research that will build on, and expand, Bristol’s tradition.”

From barefoot student to Bristol scholar

When Bongai Munguni came to the University of Bristol on a scholarship in 2019 it was the first time she had left Africa.

But that was just one of many long journeys she had taken for her education. Bongai walked barefoot for eight hours every day to go to primary school and did her homework by the light of fires in her Mozambique village.

She studied for secondary education in the evenings and small hours, rising early each morning to work on a tea plantation.

“I am so happy that Bristol has announced these scholarships,” Bongai said.

“Learning at an institute where the textbooks you are using are written by your professors is truly amazing. At Bristol you don’t just study at one of the world’s top universities but you also have links with other top universities all around the world.

“I can’t wait to share this news with everyone and say ‘let’s go study in Bristol!’”

When Bongai graduates in two years she hopes to become a professor – perhaps via post-doc work at Harvard or Oxford – as well as a social entrepreneur.

Source:indiaeducationdiary.in, 3/02/22

Quote of the Day February 11, 2022

 

“It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”
Emiliano Zapata
“डर के जीने की तुलना में तो मर जाना ही बेहतर है।”
एमिलियानों जापाटा

Current Affairs- February 11, 2022

 

INDIA

– No religious symbols allowed for students in school and college premises: Karnataka High Court
– India has about 21 judges per million people: Law Minister Kiren Rijiju
– 257 police stations in the country don’t have vehicles; 638 without phones: Parliamentary Committee Report
– 4th India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue held in virtual mode

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

– RBI keeps rates unchanged; FY23 GDP growth seen at 7.8%
– Govt. bans import of drones except for R&D, defence and security purposes
– Petroleum: 23 refineries working in country with total refining capacity of 249.22 million metric tons per annum
– Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his Australian counterpart Dan Tehan held discussions on the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) in New Delhi
– RailTel bags ICAI award for excellence in financial reporting for the year 2020-21 in Public Sector Entities Category

WORLD

– World Pulses Day observed on Feb 10; theme: “Pulses to empower youth in achieving sustainable agrifood systems”

SPORTS

– Cricket: India (237/9 in 50) beat West Indies (193/10 in 46) by 44 runs in second ODI in Ahmedabad; take 2-0 lead in three match series