DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 09 December 2021
CDS Gen Bipin Rawat Passes Away
- Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat has died in the air crash on Wednesday. Indian Air force has said, CDS Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident.
- An Indian Airforce helicopter Mi 17 V-5 carrying the Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and thirteen others crashed in the forest area near Coonoor in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. Apart from the crew, CDS Bipin Rawat’s staff and family members were also on board in the chopper which crashed. The passengers include Madhulika Rawat, President of Defence Wives Welfare Association, Brig.L.S.Lidder DA to CDS, Lt.Col. Harjinder Singh SO to CDS and five PSOs. The helicopter was on its way to the Sulur Airbase.
- The mishap reportedly happened due to low visibility due to foggy conditions. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has asked the Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari to reach the crash site. A meeting of senior Defence ministry officials was held. Defence minister Rajnath Singh briefed the Prime Minister about the crash. Mr Singh also visited the residence of the Chief of Defence Staff in New Delhi. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the incident.
World Inequality Report 2022
- The report was released by the World Inequality Lab, which aims to promote research on global inequality dynamics.
- This report presents the most up-to-date synthesis of international research efforts to track global inequalities.
- The poorest half of the global population “barely owns any wealth” possessing just 2% of the total, whereas the richest 10% of the global population own 76% of all wealth.
- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are the most unequal regions in the world, whereas Europe has the lowest inequality levels.
- India stands out as a poor and very unequal country.
- The top 1% of the population hold more than one-fifth of the total national income in 2021 and the bottom half just 13%. The economic reforms and liberalization adopted by India have mostly benefited the top 1%.
“President’s Standard” Presented to 22nd Missile Vessels Squadron of the Indian Navy
- President Shri Ramnath Kovind today presented the ‘President’s Standard’ to the 22nd Missile Vessels Squadron of the Indian Navy at a ceremonial event in Mumbai. The President’s Standard is the highest honour bestowed by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to a military unit in recognition of the service rendered to the nation.
- Speaking on the occasion, President Shri Kovind said, “the presentation of the Standard is a testimony to the exceptional service rendered by officers and sailors, past and present, of this squadron to our nation.” He recalled the role played by the 22nd Missile Squadron in sinking Pakistan Naval ships during the 1971 war fifty years ago.
- The 22nd Missile Vessel Squadron was formally established at Mumbai in Oct 1991 with ten Veer Class and three Prabal Class missile boats. However, the genesis of ‘Killers’ dates to the year 1969, with the induction of OSA I Class missile boats from erstwhile USSR to bolster the strength of the Indian Navy.
- On the night of 04-05 Dec 1971, the youngest warriors of a young Indian Navy drew first blood when they launched a devastating offensive on the Pakistan Navy. Indian Navy ships Nirghat, Nipat and Veer fired their Styx missiles and sank Pakistan Navy ships Khyber and Muhafiz, delivering a deathly blow to aspirations of the Pakistan Navy. Codenamed Op Trident, this operation is one of the most successful operations in modern naval history, with
Cabinet Approves Ken-Betwa Interlinking of Rivers Project
- Project shall cost of Rs.44,605 crore and shall be completed in 8 years.
- Project to generate 103 MW Hydro Power plus 27 MW Solar Power.
- Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) to be set up implementation of Project.
- Project shall provide irrigation to 10.62 lakh hectares in the perennially drought prone area and water starved regions in Chhatarpur, Panna and Tikamgarh of Madhya Pradesh and Banda, Mahoba and Jhansi of Uttar Pradesh.
- Connecting canal to provide drinking water to 62 lakh people.
- Ken and Betwa rivers originate in MP and are the tributaries of Yamuna.
- Ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of UP and with Betwa in Hamirpur district of UP.
- Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river.
- Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.
Cabinet approves continuation of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today has approved the proposal of the Department of Rural Development for continuation of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) beyond March 2021 wherein financial assistance is to be provided for the construction of the remaining 155.75 lakh houses, as on 31st March 2021 under the scheme within total target of 2.95 crore houses.
- The continuation of scheme till March 2024 ensures that the remaining 155.75 lakh households within overall target of 2.95 crore houses under PMAY-G would be provided assistance for construction of Pucca houses with basic amenities to achieve the objective of “Housing for All” in rural areas.
- As on 29th November 2021, 1.65 crore PMAY-G houses have been constructed out of the total target of 2.95 crore. It is estimated that 2.02 crore houses, which is almost equal to SECC 2011 database based Permanent Wait List will be completed by the deadline of 15th August 2022. Therefore, to achieve the total target of 2.95 crore houses, the scheme need to be continued till March 2024.
56th & 57th Jnanpith Award
- Renowned Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo has been conferred with 57th Jnanpith Award for the year 2022. Noted Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan has bagged 56th Jnanpith award for the year 2021.
- Mauzo is second Konkani writer to receive the highest literary award, earlier being given to Writer Ravindra Kelekar in 2006. Mauzo is short story writer, novelist, and screenplay writer.
- His novel Karmelin had bagged Sahitya Akademi award in 1983. His several short stories are translated into other languages and have appeared in various magazines. Stories of Mauzo depict the struggle of poor people, their agonies, and sorrows.
(Nilmani Phookan (left) and Damodar Mauzo)
NCRB Report Trafficking During 2018 to 2020
- The National Crime Records Bureau, NCRB published information on human trafficking in its publication titled “Crime in India”.
- The NCRB said, 2,771 women and 2,574 children were trafficked during 2018 to 2020. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said, the human-trafficking is showing a declining trend over last 3 years.
- However, her ministry is formulating a comprehensive legislation titled “Trafficking of Persons (Protection, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill”. She added, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been supplementing the efforts of State Governments by undertaking various initiatives and measures.
- The minister said, for addressing transnational issues of human trafficking, bilateral Memorandum of Understanding have been signed with Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Multilateral instruments on human trafficking have also been signed by India.
SAARC Charter Day
- The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Charter Day is observed every year on 8th December. On this day in 1985, SAARC Charter was adopted in Dhaka, during the first summit of the group. This year marks the 37th Anniversary of the regional group.
- As mentioned in its charter, the prime focus of SAARC is to work collectively to promote the welfare of people in the region and to improve their standard of living through social progress and economic development.
- The aim of SAARC members is to promote stability, peace, and progress in the region. SAARC has organised 18 summits since 1985.
- These specialised bodies promote regional cooperation by SAARC members in various fields.
- The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia. Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAARC comprises 3% of the world’s area, 21% of the world’s population and 4.21% (US$3.67 trillion) of the global economy, as of 2019.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
- Which of the following statements are true for Jnanpith Award?
- Presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith
- Awarded to Indian writers writing in Indian languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution
- Both
- None of them
ANSWER: C
- Who was the first recipient of the Jnanpith Award?
- Sumitra Nandan Pant
- G. Sankara Kurup
- Uma Shankar Joshi
- Firaq Gorakhpuri
ANSWER: B
- Who was the first female writer to win the Jnanpith Award?
- Mahasweta Devi
- Amrita Pritam
- Ashapoorna Devi
- None of the above
ANSWER: C
- Which of the following writers have received the Jnanpith Award for urdu literature?
- Firaq Gorakhpuri
- Qurratulain Hyder
- Ali Sardar Jafri
- All the above
ANSWER: D
- Which of the following writers have received the Jnanpith Award for Sanskrit literature?
- Satya Vrat Shastri
- Amarkant
- Sri Lal Sukla
- All the Above
ANSWER: A
- Which of the following countries is not a member of SAARC?
- Bhutan
- India
- Thailand
- Maldives
ANSWER: C
- SAARC was established in 1985, what is the full form of this organization?
- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
- Southern Asia Association of Regional Cooperation
- Southern Asia Pacific Association of Regional Cooperation
- Southern Asiatic Associate for Region and Cooperation
ANSWER: A
- The first SAARC summit was held in _____ on 7-8 December 1985
- Dhaka
- Katmandu
- New Delhi
- Karachi
ANSWER: A
- Current Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
- Esala Weerakoon
- Abul Hasan
- Rajiv Bhagga
- Ahmed Saleem
ANSWER: A
- The headquarters of SAARC is in
- Dhaka
- Katmandu
- New Delhi
- Karachi
ANSWER: B
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