Current Affairs - 27 Apr 2022

Daily Current Affairs of 27 Apr 2022. Follow Current Affairs on daily Basis in on post. Current Affairs PDF for Competitive Exams

Haj Committee of India elects AP Abdullahkutty as chairperson

AP Abdullahkutty has been elected as the chairperson of the Haj Committee of India, while for the first time, two women have been chosen as its vice-chairpersons– Munnawari Begum and Mafuja Khatun. Ministry of Minority Affairs is the nodal ministry to conduct the Haj pilgrimage in India. Haj pilgrimage for the Indian pilgrims is conducted either through Haj Committee of India (HCoI), or the Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) approved by the Ministry.

The Government of India has appointed C Muhammed Faizi as a member of the Haj Committee of India (HCoI), a statutory body under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, under sub-section (11), of Section 4 of Haj Committee Act 2022, for a period of 3 years up to 31st March 2025 with effect from 21st April 2022.

Sir David Attenborough earns UN ‘Champion of the Earth Lifetime Achievement award’

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has named Sir David Attenborough, English natural history broadcaster and naturalist, as the recipient of the Champions of the Earth Award 2021 under the Lifetime Achievement category. This award is given to him for his dedication to research, documentation, and advocacy for the protection of nature and its restoration.

Sir David Attenborough is well known for his innovative educational television programs, especially the nine-part Life series forming the Life collection. His well-known documentaries include The Green Planet and A Plastic Ocean. He was knighted twice by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 and again in 2020. He has won 3 Emmy Awards and 8 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards.

Other Winners of 2021 Champions of the Earth Awards:

Category	Winners	Country
Policy Leadership	Mia Mottley (Prime Minister, Barbados)	Barbados
Inspiration And Action	Sea Women of Melanesia	Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
Science And Innovation	Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka Founder and CEO of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH)	Uganda
Enterpreneurial Vision	Maria Kolesnikova	Kyrgyz Republic

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

United Nations Environment Programme Founded: 1972;
United Nations Environment Programme Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya;
United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director: Inger Andersen (Denmark).

Max Verstappen named Laureus Sportsman of the Year 2022

F1 champion Max Verstappen has been named the 2022 Laureus Sportsman of the Year while Jamaican Olympic sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah has been named Sportswoman of the Year. The awards recognise the greatest sporting achievements of 2021, one of the highlights of which was the European Championship victory by the Italian Men’s Football Team who won their second Laureus Team of the Year Award as a result.

Other awardees:

Category	Winner
Breakthrough of the Year prize	Emma Raducanu
Laureus Sporting Icon Award	Valtentino Rossi
Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award	Tom Brady
Exceptional Achievement Award	Robert Lewandowski
World Team of the Year Award	Italy Men’s Football Team
World Comeback of the Year Award	Sky Brown (Skateboard)
Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award	Marcel Hug
Laureus Sport For Good Society Award	Real Madrid
Action Sportsperson of the Year	Bethany Shriever

WHO’s World Immunization Week: 24-30 April

World Immunization Week is celebrated worldwide in the last week of April, to highlight the collective action required and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all age groups against disease. This year, WHO is going to celebrate World Immunization Week from April 24 to April 30. To commemorate the day, WHO has decided the theme of this year’s Immunization Week as “Long Life for All”.

Immunization is being recognized as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions but still there are around 20 million children in the world today who are not getting the vaccines as per their needs.

History of the day:

In May 2012, the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, endorsed World Immunization Week. The world’s first “World Immunization Week” was observed in 2012, which witnessed the simultaneous participation of more than 180 countries and territories worldwide.

Significance Amid Covid-19

Many people have lost their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic and are still dying due to the new variants being detected every now and then. During this time, researchers did their best to develop vaccines to combat the harsh effects of the dangerous coronavirus. While usually vaccines were given to children, they developed vaccines for adults.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

World Health Organization Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland;
World Health Organization Founded: 7 April 1948;
World Health Organization Director-General: Tedros Adhanom.

Village Palli: India’s 1st carbon-neutral panchayat in J&K

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a 500 KV solar plant to the nation in the unassuming hamlet of Palli in Jammu and Kashmir’s border region of Samba making it the country’s first ‘carbon neutral panchayat.’

KEY POINTS:

Palli, according to the Prime Minister, has showed the country the way by becoming carbon neutral.
Palli residents have assisted with the project. They’ve also fed those who are working on the project.
Officials added that under the national government’s ‘Gram Urja Swaraj’ programme, 1,500 solar panels with a total area of 6,408 square metres will provide clean electricity to 340 homes in the model panchayat.
As India’s first carbon-neutral solar village, the village has made history.
Officials said the project was finished in record time for a cost of 2.75 crore. The electricity generated will be distributed to the village through the local power grid station, which has a daily need of 2,000 units.

Tamil Nadu govt to observes Minorities Rights Day every year on 18 December

Tamil Nadu government has announced that December 18, every year will be observed as Minorities Rights Day at the state level. The state government promotes the upliftment and economic advancement of the minorities through effective implementation of schemes and welfare measures.

The government, being the saviour of minorities, is striving tirelessly to promote the upliftment and economic advancement of the minorities through effective implementation of various development schemes and welfare measures. This day is being observed at the district level of Tamil Nadu under the concerned collectors concerned. Henceforth, it will also be observed at the state level.

Overview:

Education aid to minority girl students

The minority girl students in rural areas to pursue their studies would provide education aid of Rs 500 to the students of Classes 3 to 5 and Rs 1,000 to the wards of Class 6.

Establishment of e-libraries

In the state, e-libraries will also be established in 275 department-run college hostels at a cost of Rs 2.20 crore. This will be benefiting a large number of students who resides in these hostels.

Medical assistance to hostellers

An amount of Rs 1000 towards medical assistance for the hostellers is being provided for three medical check-ups in a year and it will be increased to Rs 3,000.

Setting-up of ready-made garment units

In an initiative that has been aimed to improve the economic conditions of the Most Backward Classes, Backward Classes, and Denotified Tribes, the government of the state will be forming 25 groups comprising 10 members (women and men) each and they will be encouraged set up ready-made garment units. For this purpose, they will be provided with an assistance of Rs 75 lakh.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Tamil Nadu Capital: Chennai;
Tamil Nadu Chief minister: K. Stalin;
Tamil Nadu Governor: N. Ravi.

India will host the 21st World Congress of Accountants

According to the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) president, Debashis Mitra, India is set to host the 21st World Congress of Accountants (WCOA), the Kumbh of accountants, for the first time in 118 years of its existence. About 6000 top accountants from 130 countries will participate in the programme physically. The event will be held from November 18 to 21 after outbidding France.

The event will be held at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The theme for 2022 would be `Building Trust Enabling Sustainability’. The WCOA, a forum for thought leadership and global exchange of views, is held every four years since it started in 1904.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Formation: 1 July 1949;
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Headquarters: New Delhi, India;
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India President: Debashis Mitra;
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Vice President: Aniket Sunil Talati;
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Secretary: Jai Kumar Batra;

Robert Golob elected as Prime Minister of Slovenia

Robert Golob has defeated three-time prime minister Janez Janša in the Slovenia Prime Minister election. State election authorities have confirmed that the Freedom Movement won nearly 34% of the votes as compared to around 24% for the governing conservative Slovenian Democratic Party. The New Slovenia party with 7%, followed by the Social Democrats with more than 6%, and the Left party with just 4%.

The 55-year-old former power company manager has promised to restore “normality”, having billed the elections as a “referendum on democracy”.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

Slovenia Capital: Ljubljana;
Slovenia Currency: Euro;
Slovenia President: Borut Pahor.

Kerala signed MoU with the Netherlands for “Cosmos Malabaricus” Project

Kerala and the Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the ‘Cosmos Malabaricus’ project. This study will contribute to a better understanding of Kerala’s history in the 18th century.

Key Points:

In Malappuram and Kollam, the state will also collaborate with the Netherlands to establish paint academies.
The agreements were inked in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Dutch Ambassador to India Marten van den Berg.
The Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), which is part of the Department of Higher Education, the University of Leiden, and the National Archives of the Netherlands, is carrying out this project.
The amount of time it will take to accomplish this project
This project will take six years to complete.

About the Project:

This research will focus on the 18th-century Dutch documents on Malabar, which are often regarded as the most comprehensive source of information on the period in Kerala from 1643 to 1852.
The documents are available in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Netherlands, and are written in the ancient Dutch language.
Students from Kerala will be able to study Master of Arts programmes at Leiden University as part of this project, while students from the Netherlands will be able to complete an internship at the KCHR.
In addition, each year, Leiden University and KCHR will host a two-week summer school on a topic linked to Kerala’s history.

Aim of the Project:

The project’s goal is to make digitised Dutch archival information accessible to a wide range of audiences, including Indian and foreign experts as well as Kerala residents.
The materials will be translated, and English summaries will be made available.
The materials will aid in the comprehension of Kerala’s social, political, cultural, and economic history.

AkzoNobel India Limited, a renowned chemical and paint manufacturer in India with a Dutch subsidiary, and ASAP (Additional Skill Acquisition Program), Indian Institute of Infrastructure & Construction, Kollam; CREDAI, Kerala, have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the paint school. The paint academy, which will be built on the IIICC campus in Chavara, Kollam, would provide training in painting structures. The institution, which will be located at ASAP Skill Sky Park in Thavanur, Malappuram, would provide instruction in vehicle painting. 380 persons will be trained in the first year.

Meghalaya E-proposal System grabbed prestigious UN Award

The important effort of Meghalaya’s Planning Department, the e-Proposal System, which is part of Meghalaya Enterprise Architecture (MeghEA), has been awarded the prestigious UN Award – World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) Prizes 2022.

Key Points:

The state government noted that in today’s digital era, IT is critical in not only innovating digital services but also in catering to the requirements of the public and fostering inclusive communities.
MeghEA was launched by CM Conrad K Sangma in 2019 and is being executed by the Planning Department of the Government of Meghalaya.
In the beginning of the year, the government announced that Meghalaya had been chosen as one of the top 360 projects in the world.
The UN chooses the best five in each of the 18 categories as Champion Projects. Along with programmes from Australia, China, Argentina, and Tanzania, Meghalaya has been named a UN Champion Project in the area of “The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development.”
One of the top five projects will be named Winning Project.
Meghalaya e-Proposal System is also expected to receive the winning award, which will be presented on May 31st in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the government, the e-Proposal system now automates all of Meghalaya’s departments and directorates’ sanctions and administrative approvals, and delivers government services with desired outcomes to all citizens and other stakeholders across the state in an integrated and seamless manner. In government departments, it eliminates 75% of physical files.

About MeghEA:

MeghEA is a flagship programme of the Government of Meghalaya, backed by the National e-Gov Division (NeGD), the country’s first of its type.
MeghEA’s consulting partner is KPMG, while implementation agencies include Humanitics, NIC, and others.

India’s first Amrit Sarovar established in UP’s Rampur

India’s first ‘Amrit Sarovar’ has been completed at Rampur’s Gram Panchayat Patwai, thanks to the efforts of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government in Uttar Pradesh. As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, 75 water bodies will be developed and regenerated as part of the Amrit Sarovar initiative.

Key Points:

In just a few weeks, a pond in Rampur was cleaned and revived.
This pond has now become a major tourist attraction in the rural area.
In Rampur, 75 ponds were chosen to be developed as Amrit Sarovar.
The construction on the pond in village panchayat Patwai of development block Shahbad was finished out of the selected ponds.
Work on the pond in Gram Panchayat Singan Kheda with the largest area (1.67 hectare) has also begun.
In the next three months, this garbage-strewn pond will be transformed into ‘Amrit Sarovar,‘ a rural tourism destination.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised water conservation in the country in his 88th monthly radio address, ‘Mann ki Baat’, saying it is critical to the country’s prosperity. PM Modi praised a Panchayat in Uttar Pradesh for revitalising a pond that had previously been clogged with garbage.

UK’s Commonwealth Points of Light Award won by Kishore Kumar Das

The founder of the educational charity ‘Bidyanando’ Kishore Kumar Das from Bangladesh has been chosen for the United Kingdom’s Commonwealth Points of Light Award for his exceptional work in improving access to education for children from marginalised backgrounds. UK’s Commonwealth Point of Light Awards recognises outstanding individual volunteers who are making a change in their community.

About Kishore Kumar Das

Kishore Das set up Bidyanando in 2013 with just 22 students. It now runs five primary schools which provide free education as well as academic coaching sessions and scholarship programmes to help children continue into higher education.
Kishore has also started a meal programme, ‘Ek takay aahar’ (Meal for one Taka), which has provided more than 10,000 nutritious meals for vulnerable people, particularly children and those who are homeless.
During the Corona pandemic, Bidyanondo ramped up its effort to distribute relief across the country.

India made Guinness Record for synchronic Waving of More than 78,000 National Flags

According to the Ministry of Culture, India entered the Guinness Book of World Records by simultaneously waving 78,220 flags at the ‘Veer Kunwar Singh Vijayotsav’ programme in Bhojpur, Bihar. India made history and entered the Guinness Book of World Records by simultaneously waving the largest number of national flags. Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, was present at the historic event.

Key Points:

Representatives from the Guinness Book of World Records were on hand to observe the effort, and spectators were required to wear wristbands for physical identification.
The Guinness World Records certificate says, “The most people waving flags was accomplished by Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Culture, Government of India (India), to commemorate Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ at Jagdishpur, Bhojpur, Bihar, India on April 23, 2022.”
In the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, 78,220 people raised the national flag simultaneously at Dalaur ground in Bihar’s Bhojpur district, setting a new record and making history.

Background:

Pakistan had previously established a world record when 56,000 Pakistanis hoisted their national flag at an occasion in Lahore roughly 18 years ago.
On April 23, 1858, Veer Kunwar Singh fought his final fight near Jagdishpur, defeating the East India Company. After removing the Union Jack flag from Jagdishpur Fort, Kunwar Singh died in the service of the motherland.

BHIM UPI became operational at NEOPAY terminals in the UAE

NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the International arm of the National Payment Corporation of India has announced that BHIM UPI is now live at NEOPAY terminals, across the UAE. This initiative will empower millions of Indians who travel to the UAE, to safely and conveniently make payments using BHIM UPI. NIPL and NEOPAY, the payment subsidiary of Mashreq bank, partnered last year to create the acceptance infrastructure in the UAE.

With the acceptance of BHIM UPI in the UAE, Indian tourists can now make seamless payments through BHIM UPI across NEOPAY enabled shops and merchant stores. This partnership will play a key role in transforming the P2M payment experience for Indian travellers in the UAE. The implementation of the BHIM UPI in the UAE is a stepping stone toward providing a major boost to digital payments in the country.

About the Unified Payments Interface:

Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is an instant real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India for facilitating inter-bank transactions. The simple, safe, cost-effective mobile-based payments system has become one of the most prominent forms of digital payments. In the Financial year 2022 (FY22), UPI enabled 45.6 Billion transactions, worth USD 1 Trillion, making it the best performing real-time payment eco-system in the world.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

NPCI International Payments Ltd Establishment: 2020;
NPCI International Payments Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra;
NPCI International Payments Ltd CEO: Ritesh Shukla.

Padma Shri Structural biologist M. Vijayan passes away

Eminent structural biologist M. Vijayan, DAE Homi Bhabha Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), passed away in Bengaluru. Vijayan, who was instrumental in the development of macromolecular crystallography in India, was 80.

Born in Cherpu, Thrissur, in 1941, Prof. Vijayan graduated from the Kerala Varma College, and continued his studies at Allahabad University, before pursuing his PhD in X-ray Crystallography from IISc, Bangalore. A recipient of the Padma Shri and Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, Prof. Vijayan was the president of the Indian National Science Academy from 2007 to 2010.

N Chandrasekaran takes charge as Tata Digital Chairman

Tata Sons executive chairman N Chandrasekaran has formally taken charge as chairman of Tata Digital. At present, Tata’s digital strategy is being spearheaded by its CEO Pratik Pal along with Mukesh Bansal, founder of Cultfit. Chandrasekaran’s formal appointment is of significance considering its future plans of raising funds from external investors.

For Chandrasekaran, who was reappointed as the chairman of Tata Sons for another five years in February, Tata Digital has been his brainchild since he took charge as Tata Sons chairman. He has been closely involved in its growth plans from the beginning as the Mumbai-based conglomerate eyes to make a dent in the Indian eCommerce universe.