Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS

Daily Current Affair - UPSC/KAS Exams - 28th May 2021

What is the news : Karnataka government launched a sewage surveillance project in Bengaluru to track the emergence and resolution of COVID-19 clusters

Details :

• The first such pan-city project in Asia, it will be be spearheaded by COVIDactionCollab (CAC), a nationwide network of over 300 organisations working on COVID-19 relief and recovery, and supported by Skoll Foundation and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
• While there have been many experiments and studies on finding traces of the COVID-19 virus in sewage, Bengaluru will be joining the Netherlands, Finland, and Israel in a path-breaking surveillance system with experts from all over the world supporting the initiative.
• Over the last year, scientists around the world have discovered that waste-water testing can serve as a cost-effective early warning system, often predicting an increase in COVID-19 infections before the number of cases has risen. As part of the initiative, a ‘Precision Health Platform’ will test sewage from both sewered and non-sewered waste-water in Bengaluru to identify clusters of new infections. The platform will aid early detection of clusters, even before tests start showing cases, helping policy-makers to make early interventions
• “The system will cover over 75% of Bengaluru’s nine million population by generating over 90 data points per week, signalling the emerging COVID-19 clusters or signalling a COVID-19 cluster’s exit from an area. We are happy to be the first in India to launch this platform,”
• CAC will provide training to sanitation workers and lab technicians on collecting and transporting sewage samples to labs for testing, analysing and safe disposal.

News : The Supreme Court’s e-committee, headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud, is tasked with integrating digital technologies in courts to enhance judicial productivity and efficiency.

Details :

• The Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS),
• launched in 2019,
• is set to be fully operational, and
• will replace the existing need-based physical exchange of information.
• It will integrate existing centralised data systems such as the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network &

Systems (CCTNS), e-prisons and

e-courts, promising “seamless

exchange of live data”

       among these branches.

Concerns expressed:

• The e-committee’s vision to integrate all existing data systems to make ICJS one expansive centralised data system would essentially feed and sustain the myth of criminality of a “habitual offender”.
• Even if we could take away the caste-informed biases of data, a challenge insurmountable without annihilating the caste system itself, we must still consider the risks of centralised, interoperable and permanent digital databases on privacy and liberties of individuals. Efficiency and digitisation cannot recede the rights and dignities of marginalised individuals who are often the subjects of our criminal justice system.
• Critics have raised privacy concerns, given the absence of data protection laws, and questioned the implications of the data being housed in the home ministry for judicial independence.

What is the news :

Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, appointed “Guardian Ministers” in state.

Who is a Guardian Minister?

He/she is an ex-officio chairperson of the District Planning Committee (DPC), which is constituted in every district as per law. However, rule does not mention who should head the DPC. It can be headed by administration as well as by elected representatives.

Functions of Guardian Ministers

Guardian Ministers

• Will look after balanced, speedy and sustainable developments in all 34 districts of state.
• Will be responsible to implement and resolve issues (if any) related to schemes by state and Central government in districts.
• Will also supervise government’s policy decisions, administrative reforms and welfare schemes for public.
• Will see how quickly people can get benefit of government’s schemes and projects.
• Will frequently visit assigned districts in normal as well as in during emergency situations.
• Can also suggest policy decisions for the welfare and development of district to the government. Later, this matter will be considered by state cabinet.
• Will recommend awards for best practices in districts and prepare a ‘Vision Document’ consultation with district administration.
• Can also plan for infrastructural development and study resources available in district.
• Look after plan to provide employment to unemployed youths.
• Will recommend district specific matters where Budget provision is required

What is the news : Recently, Uttarakhand high court has criticized state government for neglecting and forcing families of Van Gujjars nomadic tribe to survive in conditions below animal’s existence.

HC’s Order: Court has ordered Uttarakhand government to provide them accommodation, food, water and medicines. It also ordered to get their Covid-19 testing done before they enter Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarkashi.

State’s View: State government were of the view that; if tribes will enter national park, they will endanger the wildlife because, coronavirus may spread from humans to animals.

About Van Gujjars nomadic tribes: Van Gujjars are nomadic tribes inhabiting in foothills of Himalayas and in states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. They are buffalo-herders. They are among the tribes who are living or have lived in deep dependence on wild habitats.

Origin of Van Gujjars: It is believed, Gujjars belonged to Gurjara kingdom and they migrated tostates of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in Indian Subcontinent. On the other hand, Muslim Gujjars including Van Gujjars migrated to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indian Himalayan states of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. It is also believed that, ancestors of van Gujjars migrated from Kashmir to Uttarakhand some 1500 years ago.

What is the news : Reserve Bank of India (RBI) published its annual report and highlights “asset quality of banks and their preparedness requires close monitoring for higher provisioning for upcoming quarters.

Key findings of report

Report

• Cautioned “banks being lenders will have to provide true picture of bad loans after Supreme Court lifted interim stay on classifying non-performing assets (NPA) in March 2021.
• Waiver of compound interest on all loan accounts opted for moratorium during March-August 2020 would put stress on financial health of banks.
• Gross NPA ratio of banks decreased from 8.2% in March 2020 to 6.8% in December 2020.
• Provision Coverage Ratio (PCR) of banks improved from 66.6% in March 2020 to 75.5 % by December 2020, because of prudent provisioning by banks above regulatory prescriptions on accounts availing moratorium and undergoing restructuring.
• Capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR) of banks increased to 15.9% by December 2020, in March it was 14.8%.
• Gross NPA ratio for non-banking financial institutions (NBFCs) increased from 6.8% in march to 5.7% in December 2020.
• Capital adequacy ratio of NBFCs increased from 24.8% in December 2020 from 23.7% in March.

What is the news : Ayush Ministry marked yet another milestone on Thursday by launching its’ Ayush Clinical Case Repository (ACCR) portal and the third version of AyushSanjivani App in a virtual event. Minister of state (IC) for Youth Affairs and Sports and Ayush, Shri Kiren Rijijulaunched the portal as well as the new version of Sanjivani app.

Details:

• It is developed by the Ministry of AYUSH and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY).
• It targets to reach out to 50 lakh people in the country.
• The app intends to generate data on usage of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-rigpa and Homoeopathy) advocacies and measures among the population and its impact in prevention of Covid-19.
• The data collected through this app will be analyzed to find out usage of AYUSH interventions and its efficacy in maintaining health by enhancing immunity.

What is the news : Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati have developed a smart window material which can automatically control climate of buildings.

How will it control climate?

Researchers working on the window highlighted, smart window material can effectively control the amount of heat and light passing through it when voltage is applied to it. Thus, it will help to develop efficient automatic climate control.

Why this window was developed?

Demand and attention have increased to get a sustainable architectural design for better light and heat management in buildings over the year. Thus, these smart window materials can be installed to get sustainable design.

Characteristics of Smart Windows

• Design of smart windows are suitable for all-weather conditions.
• Smart window glasses have been designed using noble metals which can dynamically control the solar radiations.
• They are inexpensive as they make use of materials like copper and indium tin oxide.
• It can maintain the ambient indoor temperature and lighting in buildings or vehicles.

How is it different than conventional windows?

Conventional window designs are static. They are designed for specific climatic conditions. On the other hand, newly developed window can dynamically adjust amount of light and heat radiation entering through it. Thus, it will help in conserving the energy of building.

What is the news : Recently; Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, asked neighbouring Dominica to handover India’s fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi to India directly.

What is Citizenship by Investment Programme?

It is a program allowing individuals to get residence or citizenship of a country in return of making qualifying investments. These programs offer-

Citizenship by investment in which the person gets “golden passport” or “cash-for-passports”

Residence by investment in which person gets a “golden visa” or

Hybrid with immediate residence followed by accelerated citizenship.

Applicants of Program must fulfil multiple qualification criteria. Investment by them can be done in various forms including contribution to government funds, purchase of qualifying real estate, investment in qualifying business or creation of specific number of jobs.

Which countries run this programme?

As of now, five countries in Caribbean – Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia); Egypt; Cambodia, Malta; Jordan, Montenegro, Vanuatu and North Macedonia are running the citizenship by investment programme.

Other details : As per Prime Minister, Choksi was living in Antigua and Barbuda since 2018 after taking citizenship in 2017 under the ‘Citizenship by Investment Programme’. He will not be having same rights in Dominica as he was having in Antigua and Barbuda.

• The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has woken up to a security lapse in the collection of COVID-19 test data that includes health records of citizens collected for its PHAST (Public Health Activities, Surveillance and Tracking) portal. This breach, which allows a hacker to access information by running a script, was highlighted by the Free Software Movement of India.
• The State government of Karnataka decided to challenge before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Zone, its decision to appoint a joint committee to look into the allegations of unauthorised construction activity taking place in Mekedatu, where Karnataka has proposed to construct a dam across the Cauvery.The NGT, acting suo motu based on a media report, had ordered the appointment of the joint committee and the submission of a report on or before July 5. 
• India on Thursday abstained on a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council proposing to set up a Commission of Inquiry into violations surrounding the latest violence in Gaza, but also of "systematic" abuses in Palestinian territories and inside Israel.
• Defence minister launched ‘Services e-Health Assistance & Tele-consultation (SeHAT) OPD portal on May 27, 2021. The portal provides tele-medicine services to the serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families.
• Central government on Thursday brought in B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, as the next Commerce Secretary, Government of India.
• Beloved Children’s author and illustrator, Eric Carle, died at age 91. He was famous among children for his classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other such works
• Indian economist and Nobel Laureate, Amartya Kumar Sen, was conferred with “Princess of Asturias Award” in social sciences category which is Spain’s top prize
• Governor of Haryana, S N Arya, approved the Haryana Recovery of Damages to Property Bill. According to the bill (now act), any damage created to people’s shops, houses, vendor carts, government offices, buses, vehicles and other such public property will be recovered from protestors.
• Recently, professor Jayashankar from Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) inked a memorandum with Mumbai based Wadhwani Institute of Artificial Learning to provide an AI-Based Pest Management system to the farmers.
• Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, announced a secretary level committee will formulate guidelines and recommendations on implementation of “Smart Kitchen Scheme” in state to fulfil commitments of LDF.Under the scheme, women of state will be given loan to refurbish their kitchen.