Current Affairs- June 11, 2023

 

INDIA

• G-20 development ministers’ meet begins in Varanasi.
• Odisha Police destroy 2.2 lakh kg of marijuana in the state, after a special drive.
• Centre sets up panel in Manipur to further peace-making process.
• Indian Navy showcases twin-carrier operations in a major upgrade to maritime security.
• CAG to host SAI20 Summit under India’s G20 Presidency in Goa.

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

• Power ministry has asked Central Electricity Regulatory Authority (CERC) to initiate the process of coupling multiple power exchanges.
• Centre announces four important initiatives to strengthen over 1,500 Urban Co-operative Banks

WORLD

• The four Indigenous children lost for 40 days in Colombian Amazon were found.
• Pakistan proposes Budget, with funds to fight climate change.
• China plans to restrict use of mobile file-sharing services AirDrops and Bluetooth.

SPORTS

• Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik said that the wrestlers will participate in the upcoming Asian Games only if their ongoing issues are resolved.
• Hockey: India records 1-0 win over host Japan and entered the final of the Women’s Junior Asia Cup.
• Ravindra Jadeja surpassed Bishan Singh Bedi to become the country’s most successful left-arm spinner in Tests.
• Rohit Sharma has become the third Indian opener to cross 13,000 runs across formats.

Ignoring Red Lines: Violence Against Health Care in Conflict 2022

 A report titled “Ignoring Red Lines: Violence Against Health Care in Conflict 2022” was released recently by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC). It revealed that the incidence of violence against healthcare workers in Mali increased by more than two-fold in 2022 in comparison to the previous year, 2021. A staggering total of 46 such incidents were identified, highlighting the heightened risks faced by those on the front lines of medical services.

lobal Insights: A Wider Perspective on Violence in Conflict Zones

The SHCC’s report extended beyond Mali, documenting 1,989 attacks and threats against healthcare facilities and personnel across 32 countries and territories plagued by armed conflict and political instability in 2022. Among these nations, Ukraine and Myanmar reported the highest number of attacks on healthcare infrastructure and personnel, underscoring the dire situation faced by healthcare workers worldwide.

Trends and Challenges: Understanding the Impact

According to the report, there was an overall increase in reported incidents of violence against healthcare in conflict zones in 2022 compared to 2021. While violence decreased in some regions like the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, and Syria, it rose in countries across West and Central Africa, including Mali. This highlights the complex challenges faced by healthcare workers in regions grappling with ongoing conflicts and instability.

Mali’s Troubled Regions: Kidnappings and Looting

The Mopti region in Mali witnessed a distressing number of health worker kidnappings, with at least 26 healthcare professionals abducted in 11 incidents while traveling to or from work, non-profit bases, or remote areas to provide vital healthcare services. Additionally, regions such as Gao, Mopti, Sikasso, and Tombouctou experienced frequent looting of essential medicine supplies and equipment. Armed groups targeted health centers and communities, exacerbating the limited availability of healthcare services in these areas.

Consequences on Research and Activities

The impact of violence against health workers extends beyond immediate risks and physical harm. The SHCC report highlighted how international non-profit organizations suspended planned activities, including crucial research and health surveys aimed at identifying disease prevalence. The difficulties in conducting research and surveys due to violence not only hinder public health policies but also impede the provision of targeted healthcare services to vulnerable populations.

District Good Governance Index (DGGI) of Arunachal Pradesh

 The District Good Governance Index (DGGI) has emerged as a significant tool in assessing and benchmarking governance at the district level in India. Arunachal Pradesh, a state in the northeast region, has implemented this innovative approach to evaluate the effectiveness of governance in its 25 districts

DGGI: A Path to Next-Generation Administrative Reforms

The District Good Governance Index, is a comprehensive assessment developed jointly by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. This index signifies a leap towards next-generation administrative reforms by providing a standardized framework for evaluating governance practices.

Arunachal Pradesh’s Leading Role

Arunachal Pradesh has taken the lead in embracing the DGGI as the first state in the northeast region to implement this initiative. The index benchmarks governance across the state’s 25 districts, covering various sectors and indicators, with a total of 65 indicators used to assess the districts’ performance.

Ranking and Divisions

The districts of Arunachal Pradesh have been categorized into three divisions: East, West, and Central. This division-wise ranking enables a better understanding of the governance landscape within the state and facilitates targeted interventions to address specific challenges and gaps.

Promoting Effective Governance

The District Good Governance Index serves as a valuable tool for providing guidance to the state government and district administration in addressing existing gaps and formulating strategies for improvement. By promoting healthy competition among districts, the index fosters a citizen-centric approach to administration and encourages good governance practices.

Enhancing Decision-Making

The DGGI’s comprehensive assessment enables decision-makers to make informed choices by analyzing the performance of districts across multiple sectors. It facilitates evidence-based decision-making, aiding policymakers in developing effective strategies and interventions to bridge gaps and improve governance outcomes.

Current Affairs-June 12, 2023

 

INDIA

• Indian Railways conducts first trail run of Patna-Ranchi Vande Bharat Express train.
• A celt, belonging to the neolithic period, was discovered in Poothinatham village in Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu.
• Indian Air Force (IAF) and Army carry out joint exercise in the central sector.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first National Training Conclave in New Delhi
• Nitin Agarwal, a 1989-batch IPS officer of Kerala cadre, was appointed the new Director-General of the Border Security Force (BSF).
• Two-day national conference of tribal writers held in Jammu and Kashmir.

ECONOMY & CORPORATE

• India leads global digital payments with 89.5 million transactions in 2022
• Foreign investors pump in nearly Rs 10,000 crores into Indian equities markets in 1st two weeks of June.
• Government asks imported coal-based power plants to operate at full capacity till September.

WORLD

• The Union Government releases ₹1.2 trillion as third tranche of tax devolution to states.
• Philippines’ Mayon volcano spews lava down in a mild eruption.
• Iraq approves record USD 153bn budget aimed at creating jobs.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido in Japan.

SPORTS

• Novak Djokovic created history on Sunday when he won a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title.
• Australia secures its ninth ICC title in men’s cricket; Australia is the only team to win an ICC title in all three formats.
• India clinched its maiden Women’s Junior Hockey Asia Cup title.

How technology can help India’s urban centres become disabled friendly

 

Creating a fully inclusive and accessible India will require behavioural changes, capacity building, investments in accessible infrastructure and inclusive and accessible innovations. This will help inform policies and systems for the country's progress towards an equitable urban future.

Persons with disabilities face many challenges in participating fully in urban life. An enabling environment, with inclusive infrastructure, is needed to allow them the same opportunities to enjoy cultural, economic, and social life as non-disabled persons. This includes things many of us take for granted, like the freedom to move independently and access places of work, education and sports.

Take, for instance, Manasi Joshi, a para-badminton player, who underwent a double leg amputation following a road accident at age 22. Her strong will and determination were complemented by an accessible built environment and the availability of assistive technology. These not only helped her overcome obstacles she faced in everyday tasks, but also encouraged her to realise her dream of playing professional badminton, which she now competes in at the highest international level. While everyone cannot be a world champion, removing barriers can give us all the chance to reach our full potential.

Two mega-trends make the need for inclusive cities increasingly urgent. First, India is urbanising rapidly and is projected to add four new megacities by 2030. The country’s urban population is estimated to cross 675 million. According to the 2011 Census, one in three persons with disabilities in India or roughly eight million people already live in cities. Second, the number of persons with recognised disabilities as a share of the population could rise due to disaster and climate risks, demographic changes and broader definitions of disability in line with global norms.

One powerful solution to these challenges lies in innovative technology and ICT. These are key to ensuring an inclusive urban transformation and essential for improving and increasing the quality of life of all citizens. Nowhere is this more evident than in India, where a world-class digital governance system and dynamic tech sector are converging to deliver inclusive prosperity and resilience. This spirit of solidarity and inclusivity is reflected in India’s G20 presidency theme of One Earth, One Family and One Future.

Innovations that promote inclusivity are often perceived as unprofitable by investors. Here, the role of the state becomes critical for promoting an ecosystem for transformative technologies, especially where the return on investment may be difficult to measure.

To enhance the ecosystem for assistive technology and inclusive solutions, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in partnership with the UN in India hosted the first edition of the Smart Solutions Challenge and Inclusive Cities Awards in 2022. It helped in crowd-sourcing tech-based solutions and innovations for addressing city-level accessibility and inclusion challenges.

Smart cities like Bhubaneswar have deployed innovative transport and mobility solutions, showcasing how technology is being leveraged by cities to improve the lives of vulnerable communities. Several solutions and assistive technologies such as Fifth Sense, IncluMaps, AxcessAble and myUDAAN are supporting independent living for persons with disabilities. Initiatives like these and many others have the potential to help cities localise innovations for inclusive urbanisation. Many of these solutions have utilised frontier technologies like AI and machine learning extensively to contextualise solutions.

This is reflected in the Government of India’s development agenda and the globally agreed SDG targets on harnessing and maximising the potential of technological innovations and entrepreneurship. As part of its G20 Presidency, India has initiated the Start-up 20 Engagement Group to provide a global platform to enable the start-up ecosystem across the member nations. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has also launched the G20 Digital Innovation Alliance’ (G20-DIA) to showcase innovative solutions and create an alliance of players in the innovation ecosystem. And ‘Catalysing Digital Urban Futures’, one of the priority themes for Urban-20 Engagement Group under G20, seeks to discuss how data and technology can be best utilised for making city management more effective and inclusive.

Creating an inclusive and accessible India will require behavioural changes, capacity building, investments in accessible infrastructure and inclusive and accessible innovations. This will help inform policies for the country’s progress towards an equitable urban future as envisioned for the Amrit Kaal — an inclusive, accessible, safe, resilient, and sustainable India@2047. Many more people like Manasi Joshi will be empowered to make the country proud, and all of India will benefit from a society that employs its full range of talent.

Written by Shombi Sharp, Hitesh Vaidya

Source: Indian Express, 12/06/23

Cyclone Biparjoy: What is a cyclone and what are its types

 

The National Disaster Management Authority classifies cyclones broadly into two categories: extratropical cyclones and tropical cyclones. Here is what you need to know about them.

Developed in the Arabian Sea, cyclone Biparjoy, earlier expected to move towards the Pakistan coastline, has now changed its path and is heading towards the northern Gujarat coast with landfall expected on June 15.

According to India’s Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC), the cyclone might cause storm surges of 2-3 metres in height, destruction of thatched houses, damage to pucca houses and roads, floodings, widespread damage to standing crops, plantations and orchards, and disruption of railways, powerlines and signalling systems in the northern and western coastal districts of Gujarat.

Cyclone Biparjoy, which is expected to generate wind speeds of 125-135 kmph with gusts reaching up to 150 kmph by the time it reaches land, is a tropical cyclone. The National Disaster Management Authority classifies cyclones broadly into two categories: extratropical cyclones and tropical cyclones. Here is what you need to know about them.

First, what is a cyclone?

A cyclone is a large-scale system of air that rotates around the centre of a low-pressure area. It is usually accompanied by violent storms and bad weather. As per NDMA, a cyclone is characterised by inward spiralling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

What are extratropical cyclones?

Also known as mid-latitude cyclones, extratropical cyclones are those which occur outside of the tropic. They have “cold air at their core, and derive their energy from the release of potential energy when cold and warm air masses interact”, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It added that such cyclones always have one or more fronts — a weather system that is the boundary between two different types of air masses. One is represented by warm air and the other by cold air — connected to them, and can occur over land or ocean.

What are tropical cyclones?

Tropical cyclones are those which develop in the regions between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. They are the most devastating storms on Earth. Such cyclones develop when “thunderstorm activity starts building close to the centre of circulation, and the strongest winds and rain are no longer in a band far from the centre,” NOAA noted. The core of the storm turns warm, and the cyclone gets most of its energy from the “latent heat” released when water vapour that has evaporated from warm ocean waters condenses into liquid water, the agency added. Moreover, warm fronts or cold fronts aren’t associated with tropical cyclones.

Tropical cyclones have different names depending on their location and strength. For instance, they are known as hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the North Atlantic Ocean and the eastern and central North Pacific Ocean. In the western North Pacific, they are called typhoons.

Source: Indian Express, 13/06/23

Quote of the Day June 9, 2023

 

“A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.”
Charles Darwin

“ऐसा व्यक्ति जो एक घंटे का समय बरबाद करता है, उसने जीवन के मूल्य को समझा ही नहीं है।”
चार्ल्स डारविन