Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS

Daily Current Affair - UPSC/KAS Exams - 22ndJuly 2021

What is in news : The Jammu and Kashmir administration has rolled out the process of issuing domicile certificates to the spouses of the erstwhile State subjects who have a domicile certificate.

Details :The process was done in accordance with Article 309 of the Constitution of India read with Section of the J&K Civil Service (Decentralisation and recruitment) Act, 2010

What is a domicile certificate : It is an official document provided by the  Government to recognize the residence of a citizen

Domicile in J&K: Under Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order 2020, domicile is defined as any person who has resided for a period of 15 years in the UT of J&K or has studied for a period of seven years and appeared in class 10th and 12th examination in an educational institution located in the UT of J&K. It also has provisions related to migrants and government officials.

ECONOMY

What is in news : Seeking to enhance transparency in the insolvency process, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has amended the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (Insolvency Resolution Process for Corporate Persons) Regulations.

What are the amendments:

• A insolvency professional (IP) conducting Corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP) must disclose all former names and registered office address(es) so changed in the two years preceding the commencement of insolvency along with the current name and registered office address of the CD, in all its communications and records.
• IRP/RP may appoint a professional, other than registered valuers, if he is of the opinion that the services of such professional are required and such services are not available with the CD. Such appointments shall be made on an arm’s length basis following an objective and transparent process. The invoice for fee shall be raised in the name of the professional and be paid into his bank account.
• For effective monitoring, the amendment requires the IP to file Form CIRP 8 on the electronic platform of the Board, intimating details of his opinion and determination in respect of avoidance transactions.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India

• It was established on 1st October, 2016 under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.
• It is a key pillar of the ecosystem.
• It is responsible for implementation of the Code.
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code consolidates and amends the laws relating to reorganization and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time bound manner.

What is in news :  Government of India’s Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), under its Investment Facilitation Cell, has setup Dairy Investment Accelerator.

Details :

• Why - Providing dedicated focus towards the promotion and facilitation of investments in dairy sector of the country.
• Constituted to serve as the investors interface.
• Provide support across the investment cycle. It will offer inputs regarding the evaluation of investment opportunities and will also address the various queries about application to govt. schemes, providing on-ground assistance with state departments & relevant authorities, connecting with strategic partners etc.
• Organize events with local & global industry participants and also help in conducting one-on-one discussions with the investors to better understand their viewpoint.
• Facilitate direct interactions with various government officials and will connect with other players in the industry.

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development fund (AHIDF)

• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund is a flagship scheme launched by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD).
• Under this scheme funds have been setup to offer financial support to private companies, entrepreneurs, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs), MSME and Section 8 companies.
• Benefits of this scheme can be availed to expand or set up new units in the areas of dairy processing, Animal Feed Plant and meat processing & its related infrastructure.
• The benefits of this scheme are 3% interest subvention on loans with a 2-year moratorium with repayment period of 6 year. Along with this Rs 750 Crore credit guarantee will also be given.

What is Sero Survey : A sero survey is undertaken to provide data on the proportion of infected and asymptomatic people (existing and newer groups such as children in this latest survey) especially during a global pandemic such as COVID-19.

What is in news : The latest serological survey conducted nationwide by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found that up to two-thirds of the country’s population who are above the age of six have already been infected with the Coronavirus.

Details:

• 28,975 people were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV2 virus antibodies and 67.6% returned a positive result.

• For the first time, minors belonging to the 6 to 17 years age group were also included in the serosurvey. Nearly half of those tested were found having antibodies.
• With two-thirds of the population has already been infected and with the sero-prevalence found to be similar in urban and rural areas has greatly reduced the possibility of a third wave being as severe as the second wave was.
• Also, since at least one vaccination dose has been received by 32 crore people there would be a considerable overlap between those vaccinated and those who were infected, but the two figures put together mean that over 70% of the population over the age of six are expected to have developed some sort of immunity.

Importance of the serosurvey

• Dissipates some worries regarding the third wave.
• Help the government plan its gradual opening up process.
• ICMR says on the basis of the survey that unless the virus mutates further and begins to re-infect people the chances of a repeat of a second wave are slim.
• A 40 crore vulnerable population still leaves a fair chance for surges like the first wave, or smaller.

AMLEX

What is in news : “AMLEX” an oxygen rationing device, the first of its kind in India, have been developed by researchers from Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar. This device can reduce oxygen wastage by regulating the oxygen flow from the cylinder by a patient.

Details:

• During exhalation, the oxygen in the oxygen cylinder or the pipe is also pushed out by the user along with the exhaled CO2. This leads to a large volume of oxygen wastage. Also, as there is a continuous flow of oxygen in the mask a large volume of oxygen escapes from the openings during the period between inhalation and exhalation.
• The AMLEX device will help in adjusting the flow of oxygen with the patient’s inhalation and exhalation and thus will help in conserving a large amount of oxygen in the reservoir. This device will supply only the required volume of oxygen to the patient during inhalation and trips when the patient exhales CO2 thus saving oxygen flow at that time.
• The innovators of AMLEX have said that they hope the device created by them will help in saving and reducing the wastage of oxygen and helps the patients as well as the hospitals in the long run.

What is in news : A new generation of Akash surface-to-air missile was successfully flight-tested recently by the DRDO from an integrated test range off the Odisha coast in a boost to air defence capabilities.

Additional Info :DRDO also successfully flight-tested an indigenously developed low weight man-portable anti-tank guided missile, paving the way for its production for the Army.

Akash-NG

• Once deployed it will be a force multiplier for the air defence capability of the IAF
• Slightly better range compared to the original version that can strike targets at a distance of around 25 km.

AKASH MISSILE

• First indigenously produced medium range Surface to Air missile
• Can engage multiple targets from multiple directions at a speed 2.5 times more than the speed of sound
• Can detect and destroy targets flying at low, medium and high altitudes.
• Part of India’s 30-year-old integrated guided-missile development programme
• Nuclear-capable
• Can fly at a speed of up to Mach 2.5 at a maximum height of 18 km.
• Can be launched from mobile platforms like battle tanks or wheeled trucks
• Supported by the indigenously developed radar called 'Rajendra' that can handle highly-manoeuvring multiple targets from multiple directions in group or autonomous mode.
• Designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

What is in news : On 20th July, 2021, “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” the Olympic motto was updated to “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”.

Details :

• Since 1894, the Olympic motto has been “Citius, Altius, Fortius” in Latin or “Faster, Higher, Stronger,” when it was adopted at the suggestion of Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee.
• Updating was done to show solidarity around the globe at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.

2020 Tokyo Olympics

• The 2020 summer Olympics will be held from 23rd July to 8th August, 2021 in the city of Tokyo, Japan.
• It was originally scheduled to have been held in the year 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This is the first instance of the Olympics being postponed instead of being cancelled.
• The Summer Paralympics will be held from 24th August till 5th September in Tokyo.

International Olympic Committee: International Olympic Committee was founded in the year 1894 and it’s headquarter is located in Lausanne, Switzerland. Thomas Bach is the current president of the IOC.

What is in news : The English city of Liverpool has been removed from UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites

Why this move : United Nations’ cultural agency found new buildings, including a football stadium which undermined the attractiveness of its Victorian docks.

ABOUT LIVERPOOL CITY

Liverpool was named a World Heritage Site in 2004, joining cultural landmarks such as the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.

The city of Liverpool bears witness to the development of one of the world’s major trading centres in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Liverpool played an important role in the growth of the British Empire and became the major port for the mass movement of people, e.g. slaves and emigrants from northern Europe to America.

ABOUT WORLD HERITAGE SITES

• A World Heritage site is classified as a natural or man-made area or a structure that is of international importance, and a space which requires special protection.
• These sites are officially recognised by the UN and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, also known as UNESCO.
• UNESCO believes that the sites classified as World Heritage are important for humanity, and they hold cultural and physical significance.
• The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly.
• Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is located and UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each site.
• To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be an already classified landmark, unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance.

• Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) -- operator of Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB/BLR Airport) -- has signed a ten-year partnership with IBM to create an "Airport in a Box" platform, which transforms technology, operations and customer experience.
• The new platform will enable BIAL to improve employee productivity, better use IT assets, reduce costs through streamlined inventory control and improved incident management.
• A pair of Chrysilla volupe spiders, a rare species, was recently spotted at Puttenahalli lake  They were rediscovered in 2018 after 150 years in Wayanad
• The Union government has amended a decades-old policy of suspending family pension to the spouse of a deceased government employee, when he/she  Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 is charged with murdering the employee or abetting the commission of such an offence. Under the new rule, other eligible members of the family would be entitled to receive the family pension till the disposal of the criminal proceedings against the spouse of the deceased employee. In case, the spouse is proved not guilty of the murder charge, the family pension would be payable to him/her from the date of acquittal.
• Annually, on 20th July International Chess Day is celebrated. This day also marks the date of establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris in the year 1924.
• China rolled out a 600km per hr high-speed maglev train in Qingdao located in the Shandong Province of East China. Currently, maglev train is the fastest available ground vehicle.