Current Affairs – 11 May 2022

Deaflympics 2022- History and Highlights of 2022

Deaflympics History

Deaflympics is also known as world games for deaf and international games for the deaf. It was started in the year 1924 by ICSD, The international committee of sports for the deaf. Deaflympics is also known as the world games for deaf and international games for the deaf. It multi-sport sports event which is sanctioned by the International Olympics Committee. It is held every 4 years and it is one of the longest-running multisport events in history.

The first-ever Deaflympics was held in Paris in 1924 which was the first-ever international sporting event for athletes with disabilities. The game started with 148 athletes from 9 European countries competing in the international silent games in Paris. From 1924 to 1965 this game was called the international games for the deaf but from 1966 to 1999 these games were known as world games for the deaf, it was also referred to as the world silent games. Deaflympics is the current name of the World game for the deaf since 2001.

Highlights of Deaflympics 2022

This year 24th Deaflympics is held in Brazil, in which India has also participated. From India Dhanush Srikanth won gold medal, and Shourya Shaini won a bronze medal in the men’s 10’m Air Rifle event. The Indian badminton team also won the gold medal by 3-1 against Japan in the finals. Currently, Ukraine is leading with 19 golds 6 silvers, and 13 bronze medals whereas the USA is second with 6 golds to silvers and 7 bronze medals. India till now is in 8^th place with two goals and one bronze medal. Deaflympic is held in Caxias Do Sul, in Brazil. It was started in May 2022 and the closing rates are 15th May 2022. This year 72 nations have participated in the Deaflympics with 2267 athletes. 1521 men and 746 women have participated in the deaf Olympics from the 72 nations. As mentioned about day Olympics is a multisport event that includes various sports like badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cycling road, football, golf, handball, judo, Karate, mountain bike, shooting, swimming, table-tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, wrestling and many more.

India’s Participation in Deaflympics 2022

65 athletes will be participating in the Deaflympics in Brazil from India. It is the largest and youngest continent from India to participate in the Deaflympics in the year 2022. The athlete will be participating in 11 sports like athletics, badminton, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, golf, table tennis, tennis, taekwondo, and wrestling. The union minister of youth affairs and sports Anurag Thakur, minister of state youth for affairs and sports Nitish Paramanik, and other dignitaries have wished well to all the athletes and told them to represent India with great efforts in the Deaflympics 2022. Before leaving for the Deaflympics the athletes were trained in a 30-day National coaching camp which was facilitated by SAI centers.

 

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Union Territories Of India: What are the Union Territories of India?

UNION TERRITORIES Of India

Andaman and Nicobar– It is a union territory of India and is located in the Indian Ocean. The first habit inhabitants of Andaman Island were Andamanese. The Andaman and Nicobar was found in the year 1956 on first November. There are total number of three districts in Andaman and Nicobar Island. The capital of Andaman and Nicobar Island is Port Blair. Andaman and nicobar’s existence was first reported in 19th century by Arab merchant who sailed past them on their way towards straits of Sumatra. The official language of Andaman and Nicobar is Nicobar, however Hindi Bengali Tamil Telugu and English are also used here. Andaman and Nicobar is one of the most visited to resume places it is famous for his exotic sea beach is bordered by coconut and palm trees and the translucent Blue water.

Chandigarh capital of two States Punjab and Haryana. It is located near the Shivalik range of Himalayas in the Northwest of India. It shares its borders with Punjab and Haryana. Chandigarh is one of the earliest plant cities post independent and internationally it is known for its architecture and urban design. Chandigarh has one of the highest per capita incomes. Chandigarh is the only union territory that has the highest human development index. People of Chandigarh speak English Hindi and Punjabi. Chandigarh is a union territory and their four the state level elections are not entitled here.

Dadra Nagar haveli and Daman and Diu it is located in the western part of India it is composed of four different geographical divisions. Daman and Diu are situated bordering Gujarat and the Dadar and Nagar haveli shares border with Gujarat and Maharashtra. Until January 2020 Daman and Diu and Dadar and Nagar haveli what to separate union territories. January 2020 Dadar and Nagar haveli became one of the districts along with Daman and diu districts. By area this union territory is 33rd largest division of India. The economy of Dadar Nagar haveli and Daman and Diu is based on agriculture sector. About 60% of the economy depends on agriculture as a main source of income. The official languages spoken here are Marathi Hindi Gujarati and English. The capital city of this union territory is Daman. Total number of districts are three and administrative divisions are also 3.

Delhi is the capital of India and as well as a union territory of India. Delhi shares its border with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Delhi urban collection of satellite City includes Ghaziabad Gurgaon Faridabad and Noida, all these areas are all together known as national capital region or NCR. Delhi is the largest metropolitan area in India and the second largest in the world with population over 28 million. In human development index Delhi is the fifth among union territory. The ancient name of Delhi is indraprasth which means city of Indra in Sanskrit.

Jammu and Kashmir is located in the Northern part of India. Jammu and Kashmir was divided in between India and Pakistan after the Indo Pakistan war of 1947 to 1948. Jammu and Kashmir has the most Muslim majority population in India. Jammu and Kashmir was the only state in India which has special economy under article 370 by the constitution of India according to which no law is enacted by the parliament of India except for those in the field of defence, foreign policy and communication. The economy of Jammu and Kashmir depends on agriculture and tourism activities. The capital of Jammu and Kashmir is Srinagar.

Ladakh- Ladakh constitute a larger Kashmir and it has been a topic of dispute between India Pakistan and China since 1947. After the closure of cross roads for trade routes, the Government of India has encouraged tourism in Ladakh since 1974. Ladakh was established as a union territory in the year 2019 on 31st October. It is the largest and the second least populated union territory of India. Ladakh is on top of all the tourist places in India. Ladakh is known as heaven on earth because of its mesmerizing mountain ranges monasteries and snow covered lakes.

Lakshadweep- Lakshadweep is an archipelago of 36 Islands located off the Malabar coast. Lakshadweep in Malayalam means 1 lakh Islands. The official language of Lakshadweep is Malayalam. It is the smallest union territory of India with a total surface area of 32 km square. It forms only one Indian district with 10 subdivisions. Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep.

Puducherry- also known as Pondicherry is the union territory of India consisting of 4 small geographically unconnected districts. Pondicherry has the area of 483 km square. The capital of Puducherry that is Puducherry was once the headquarters of the French in India. For 138 years the region of Puducherry was under control of French. Officially Puducherry became an integrated part of India in the year 1963.

 

FAQs on Union territory of India

Q1.Which are the 9 union territories of India?
Ans. There are total nine territories of India

• Andaman and Nicobar
• Delhi
• Ladakh
• Chandigarh
• Daman and Diu and Dadar and Nagar Haveli
• Delhi
• Jammu and Kashmir
• Lakshadweep

Q2. Are there 8 or 9 union territories?
A. In India there are 8 union territories and 28 states.

Q3. Which is the largest union territory?
A. Jammu and Kashmir is the largest union territory in India by area, it is of 125,535 km square.

 

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Sri Lanka Faces Economic Crisis with Increasing International Debts

Sri Lanka Economic Crisis

The Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has declared a state of emergency. This is the second time that the president has declared an emergency in a month. The strikes and protests are increasing day by day because of the increasing economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Last Friday after the announcement of a state emergency the general strike closed all the shops and businesses across the state. The protesters attacked the lawmakers inside the parliament building in Colombo for hours and the police were left with no choice but and used water cannons and tear gases over the protesters.

The protesters are not happy with the current government and are demanding the resignation of Mr. Rajapaksa and his elder brother Mahendra Rajapaksha to resign as the prime minister. Mahindra Raja prime minister of Sri Lanka has been accused of mismanaging the economy and he is accused of being the main reason Sri Lanka is pushed towards bankruptcy and economic crisis. According to the finance minister, the usable foreign exchange results are below $50 million and the food prices are ascending every day. The hospitals in Sri Lanka have a shortage of essential medicine and there are lengthy power cuts due to a shortage of fuel.

Sri-Lanka Economic Crisis: State Emergency Declared

In April the president of Sri Lanka declared a state emergency due which he revoked after a few days. The reason to revoke the state emergency was getting criticism from all over the world. US ambassador Julie took to Twitter and expressed her concern over Sri Lanka, she said that “voices of peaceful citizens need to be heard.” According to the bar association of Sri Lanka, the state emergency will go against the fundamental rights of the people and the rights people will be violated.

The prime target of the protestors is the president the prime minister and the other members of the Rajapaksa family. The paksha family has been dominating Sri Lanka for years and they are holding several government posts in Sri Lanka. The protest is believed that the family and other Sri Lanka’s political members have failed as a country that is still under the shadow of the civil war which ended many years ago. After the Pandemic, the tourist-dependent country is struggling to repay its foreign debts. India has supplied essential imports which include food medicine and fuel which the country is running now.

India’s role in Sri Lankan Economic Crisis

Sri Lanka needs 3 billion to 4 billion dollars to pull itself out of the economic crisis. They need to pay the international debt as well as the need to develop the country from the beginning.  The country is dependent on external debts to run its economy. The state has a 3.5 million dollar debt with China and it is relied on Chinese loans for so long that it is falling into the debt trap. India has been constantly helping Sri Lanka. So far India has committed 1.9 billion dollars to Sri Lanka as loans, credit lines, and currency swaps. In the last three months, the credits have extended to 2.5 billion which include fuel and food. 40000 tones of rice have been supplied to Sri Lanka under the extension of the 1 billion credit facility.

Sri Lankan Economic Crisis: Reasons

There are many reasons for the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. The rising food prices depreciation, depreciation of the currency, and forex reserves is the main reason for depleting economy of the country.

• During the covid-19 pandemic, the countries suffered a great loss due to the setback in the tourism industry. The tourism industry contributes 10% to the country’s gross domestic product and it is one of the major sources of Foreign exchange. This led to the depletion of the forex reservoir from 7.5 billion in 2019 to 2.8 billion in July 2021.
• The depletion of forex reserves led to an increase in the amount of money that is purchased by the foreign exchange to import goods. The increase in the amount of money lead to the depreciation of Sri Lankan rupees by approximately 8% in 2021.
• Depreciation of currency leads to an increase in the price of food items because Sri Lanka relies on imported food supplies.

FAQs related to Sri Lankan Economic Crisis

1. Why did Sri Lanka’s president declare a state emergency?
Ans. The Sri Lankan president has declared a state emergency because public protesters are demanding the resignation of the president and the prime minister.

2. Why are the Sri Lankan protesters demanding the resignation of the president?
Ans. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Mr. Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, and his elder brother Mahindra Rajapaksa, the prime minister of Sri Lanka because he has been accused of mismanaging the economy and sending Sri Lanka towards bankruptcy.

3. Why there is an economic crisis in Sri Lanka?
Ans. Sri Lanka is facing an economic crisis due to the depleting forex reserve, depreciating currency, and rising food prices in the country.

4. Is Sri Lanka economically stable?
Ans. Sri Lanka claimed that the country was economically stable in 2021 but the circumstances in 2022 are not in favor of the country. The country is going through an economic crisis and the president of Sri Lanka has announced a state emergency.

5. What is Sri Lanka’s main economy?
Ans. The main economy of Sri Lanka is tourism, export of tea, apparel, textile, rice production, and other agricultural products.

6. Is Sri Lanka a developing economy?
Ans. Sri Lanka is a developing country and it will be under development for the rest of the time.

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister launched Ladli Laxmi scheme 2.0

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the second phase of the Ladli Laxmi scheme (Ladli Laxmi scheme-2.0). The scheme is an innovative initiative to encourage girl children to pursue higher education and make them self-dependent. The scheme is being implemented by the government of Madhya Pradesh since 2007 to enhance the economic and educational status of the girls.

What is Ladli Laxmi’s scheme?

Ladli Laxmi scheme is a comprehensive scheme that offers financial assistance for a girl from birth until her marriage in instalments. The family of the girl child should be a permanent resident of Madhya Pradesh. The family should come under below the poverty line (BPL), i.e., should not be an income taxpayer. A maximum of two daughters can be registered under this scheme.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

• Madhya Pradesh Capital: Bhopal;
• Madhya Pradesh Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel;
• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

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John Lee Ka-Chiu elected as Hong Kong’s next Chief Executive

John Lee Ka-Chiu has been confirmed as Hong Kong’s next chief executive. He will replace Carrie Lam. He will be the first security official to hold the Chief Executive position of Hong Kong which witnessed years of political unrest and recent debilitating pandemic controls. Lee resigned from his position as the city’s No 2 official last month to run and was the only contender to secure Beijing’s backing.

The 64-year-old was sanctioned by the United States in 2020 for his role in implementing a Beijing-imposed national security law that has crushed the city’s democracy movement. His election places a security official in Hong Kong’s top job for the first time. The former secretary for security in Hong Kong ran under the slogan “Starting a new chapter for Hong Kong together” and was the sole candidate in the polls.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

• Hong Kong Currency: Hong Kong dollar;
• Hong Kong Continent: Asia.

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SEBI formed Advisory Committee for ESG-related matters

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has constituted a committee for advising on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) related matters in the securities market. The committee will be chaired by Navneet Munot, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDFC Mutual Fund.

What is the work of this Committee?

The terms of reference of the committee include Enhancements in business responsibility and sustainability report, ESG ratings, and ESG investing. It will examine evolving disclosures/metrics relevant to the Indian context and suggest areas for assurance and a plan for implementation.

Other Members:

They include MD & CEO of Tata Chemicals, C Siva Kumar, executive director of NTPC, Amit Talgeri, chief risk officer, Axis Bank, Sharad Kalghtagi, ESG head Cipla, Amit Tandon, Institutional Investor Advisory Services, J N Gupta, founder & MD of Stakeholders Empowerment Services, Rama Patel, Director Crisil Ratings and Ramnath.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

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Miami Tennis Open Championship 2022

 Miami tennis Open 2022

The 2022 Miami open was played from March 22 to April 3, 2022. Miami open was held on the grounds of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens Florida. It is the 37th edition of the men’s and women’s event and it is classified as an ATP master 1000 event on the 2022 ATP tour and the WTA 1000 even on the 2022 WTA tour.

• Men’s single – Carlos Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud, 7-5, 6-4
• Women’s Single- IGA Swiatek defeated Naomi Osaka, 6-4, 6-0
• Men’s doubles- Hubert Hurkacz and John Isner defeated Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski, 7-6, 6-4
• Women’s Doubles- Laura Seigemund and Vera Zvonareva defeated Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens, 7-6, 7-5

Miami Open Tennis Championship: Initiation

The Miami Tennis tournament was an initial idea in the 1960s when the top tennis players Jack Kramer, Frank Sedgman, Pancho Gonzalez, Pancho Segura, and Butch Buchholz were touring the country in wagon stations, playing tennis in arenas and fairgrounds. They traveled with portable canvas courts, before the days of Open Tennis. Butch Buchholz was the original member of the “Handsome eight” which is the first pros of Lamar Hunt’s World Championship Tennis Circuit introduction in 1968, completed until forced to retire.

In 1980, Butch Buchholz was the Executive Director of the association of tennis professionals, ATP. He met the vice president of the company Lipton, Thomas J. Lipton, and shared his idea of a two-week players’ tournament. The president liked his idea and agreed first sponsorship and the agreement reached $1.5 million a year for 5 years.

Brief History of Miami Open Tournament

The first tournament was held in February 1985 at Lavers international tennis resort in Florida. Butch Buchholz brought Alan Mills, the tournament referee as the head referee and Ted Tingling as the director of protocol. The prize money for the tournament was 1.8 million dollars.  In 1986 the tournament was relocated to Boca West. The women’s tennis Association (WTA) president helped Butch Buchholz to move the tournament to the long term.

Decides the four major championships the Miami open his one of the smallest events in number on the ATP and WTA tours. The main single draw involves more than 64 players and 96 men and 96 women competent single competitions and 32 teams compete in each of the doubles competitions. Ramya me open is the first event in the United States to use Hawk-eye to allow players to challenge close-line calls in 2006. Players were allowed three challenge sets with additional challenges allowed for tiebreakers.

Prize money for Miami open presented by Itau

The prize money for the Miami Open presented by Itau is $ 8,584,055 and the total financial commitment is $9,554,920.

Singles

• Winners: $1,231,245 for 1000 points
• Finalist: $646,110 for 600 points
• Semi-finalist: $343,985 for 360 points
• Quarter-finalist: $179,940 for 180 points
• Round of 16: $94,575 for 90 points
• Round of 32: $ 54,400 for 45 points
• Round of 64: $30,130 for 25 points
• Round of 96: $18,200 for 10 points

Doubles

• Winner: $426,010 for 1000 points
• Finalists: $225,980 for 600 points
• Semi-Finalist: $120,520 for 360 points
• Quarter Finalist: $61,100 for 180 points
• Round of 16: $32,630 for 90 points
• Round of 32: $17,580 for 45 points

FAQs related to Miami Open 2022

1. When was the 2022 Miami open presented by Itau?
Ans. The 2022 Miami open presented by Itau was held from 21 March 2022 to 3 April 2022.

2. Who won the men’s doubles in Miami open 2022?
Ans. In men’s doubles, Hurbert Hurkacz and John Isner defeated Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski by 7-6 and 6-4 points.

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Yoon Suk-yeol takes oath as South Korea’s new president

Yoon Suk-yeol was sworn in as South Korean president in a huge ceremony at Seoul’s National Assembly, taking office at a time of high tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea. The ceremony was attended by over 40,000 people, including officials from the US and China. The new president is facing several challenges, including the task to balance ties with China to defuse ongoing tensions with North Korea.

Yoon Suk-yeol, who has called North Korea the South’s “main enemy,” offered to work with the international community to craft an “audacious plan” to improve North Korea’s economy in return for its commitment to “complete denuclearization.” The 20th president of the country delivered an inauguration speech vowing to build a nation that “truly belongs to the people.”

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

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On closing day of LIC IPO, the total subscription at 2.95 times

On the final day of bidding, the insurance behemoth Life Insurance Corporation of India’s (LIC) IPO, the country’s largest ever, witnessed 2.95 times greater demand than the shares on sale, generating bids totalling Rs 43,933 crore.

Domestic investors, mostly retail, were the primary drivers of the subscription. The IPO received 7.33 million retail investor applications, breaking the previous record of 4.8 million set by Reliance Power in 2008. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) were lukewarm on the issue, owing to global risk aversion caused by rising bond yields.

The policyholders’ component witnessed the highest level of participation, with bids totaling over Rs 12,000 crore. Employees’ shares were 4.4 times subscribed, while retail individual investors’ shares were two times subscribed, with bids totaling over Rs 12,450 crore.

Life Insurance Corporation of India’s (LIC)

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is an Indian statutory insurance and investment company with its headquarters in Mumbai. It is under the control of the Indian government. The Life Insurance Corporation of India was founded on September 1, 1956, when the Indian Parliament passed the Life Insurance of India Act, which nationalised the Indian insurance business. The state-owned Life Insurance Corporation of India was formed through the merger of over 245 insurance companies and provident societies.

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NSO survey: Unemployment rate of India at 8.7% in October-December 2021

The National Statistical Office (NSO) data has revealed that the unemployment rate for people above 15 years in urban areas slipped from 10.3% to 8.7% between October and December 2021. Joblessness or unemployment rate (UR) is defined as the percentage of unemployed persons in the labour force.

Key points of the National Statistical Office data:

• Among males, the unemployment rate in urban areas also dipped to 8.3% in October-December 2021 compared to 9.5% a year ago. It was 9.3% in July-September 2021.
• The data also showed that the joblessness or unemployment rate among females (aged 15 years and above) in urban areas also declined to 10.5% from 13.1% in the same period. It was 11.6% in July-September 2021.
• Labour force participation rate in CWS (current weekly status) in urban areas for persons 15 years of age and above remained unchanged at 47.3% in the October-December quarter of 2021, compared to the same period a year ago. It was 46.9% in July-September 2021.
• Labour force refers to the part of the population which supplies or offers to supply labour for pursuing economic activities for the production of goods and services.
• The work Population Ratio in urban areas for persons of age 15 years and above stood at 43.2% in October-December 2021, up from 42.4% in the same period a year ago. It was 42.3% in July-September 2021.

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Green Satellite Propulsion tested by Bellatrix Aerospace

Bengaluru-based Bellatrix Aerospace has successfully tested an environmentally friendly satellite propulsion system that offers a 20 percent increase in fuel efficiency over hydrazine-dependent fuel systems. Bellatrix’s recent testing of its green propulsion system also signals a turning point in the company’s quest to develop a space taxi for satellites.

KEY POINTS:

• Satellite thrusters use the poisonous substance hydrazine, which has a negative influence on the environment, prompting space experts to look for environmentally friendly replacements.
• According to a press statement from ISRO, the union cabinet approved two unmanned missions and one crewed mission as part of the Rs 9,023-crore Gaganyaan project.
• Should green propellants be explored for human flight missions, they would result in faster processing times and fewer handling needs, both of which are key roles in a crewed human flight mission.
• ISRO has said that it will strive to employ green fuels in all future flights, and the green fuel recently tested by Bellatrix Aerospace is particularly promising, offering both safe handling and superior performance over harmful substances such as hydrazine.
• Green propulsion research is critical since the world is rapidly moving toward green chemistry, and keeping up with the latest advances is critical for our country.

Bellatrix Aerospace

Bellatrix Aerospace, headquartered in Bangalore, India, is an Indian private aerospace manufacturing and small satellite firm. The business was founded in 2015. It wants to launch Chetak, its own rocket, in 2023. A handful of their own Aeon engines power the two-stage Chetak rocket. Bellatrix is one of a slew of new-age space tech businesses in India that have raised venture funding to go to new heights in the worldwide race for better space programmes. In June 2019, IDFC Parampara led a pre-series A round for the IISc-founded firm. Bellatrix is part of a crop that includes Agnikul Cosmos, Pixxel, Skyroot Aerospace, and others, all of which are attracting investor attention in the embryonic area.

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WEF to focus on innovative technology to assist small and marginal farmers

The World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with the government’s research institute Niti Aayog, is focusing on how to better employ emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and drones to aid farmers, especially small and marginal farmers.

KEY POINTS:

• Agriculture is an important part of the Indian economy, employing 43 percent of the country’s workers.
• Small holders, who account for 86 percent of all farmers in India and own less than 2 hectares of land (compared to 2-10 hectares for medium holders and more than 10 hectares for large holders), are still among the poorest people in the country, earning only 39 percent of what medium holders earn and only 13 percent of what large holders earn.
• Due to insufficient transparency of demand, exploitative intermediation, inadequate quality assurance, inadequate access to efficient and low-cost logistics, and little bargaining power, smallholder farmers are typically unable to obtain equivalent value for their produce.
• Improved value capture and total value production in the agricultural environment are required to increase farmer incomes. Technology has the potential to quickly develop and iterate solutions, reduce costs, improve information flow transparency, and boost connectivity across value chain actors.
• Given the importance of agriculture in the Indian economy and farmers’ chronic economic disadvantage, there is a pressing need to address difficulties in the farmgate-to-fork (F2F) ecosystem and making agriculture more profitable for farmers.

Solution according to WEF:

In India, a plethora of high-potential innovations have arisen to solve these issues, with some proving proof of concept. India is well positioned to scale up these technologies. India’s rapidly evolving agricultural technology landscape reflects innovators, investors, and adopters who can develop, test, and adopt solutions at scale, with 560 million internet users (50 percent in rural areas), high smartphone penetration, and an AI market valued at $6.4 billion (16 percent of the global AI market).

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Political Map of India: Notes for All Government Jobs Preparation

 Political Map of India

In India, there are 28 states with 8 union territories. India has a coastline of 7,517 km, out of which 5,243 km belongs to peninsular India and 2094km belongs to the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Island. There are six major zones of India, east, west, north, south, northeast, and Central India. The political map of India has been changed after the division of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as two different union territories on 31st October 2019.

The Jammu and Kashmir reorganization act of 2019

Parliament of India enacted the Jammu and Kashmir reorganization act because of the increasing dispute among the neighboring countries Pakistan and China. The bill for the reorganization act of Jammu and Kashmir was introduced by Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs. It was presented and passed by the Rajya Sabha on 5th August 2019. On 6th August 2019, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha and the final approval of the president was granted on 9th August 2019. The act was passed to make Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh two administered union territories of India. The act consisted of 103 clauses, extends 106 Central laws of UT, 153 state laws repeals, and the abolition of the Jammu and Kashmir legislative council.

Provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir reorganization act

• The Jammu and Kashmir reorganization act divides India’s administered state into two administered union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
• Jammu and Kashmir will have a legislative assembly and Ladakh will be administered only by the lieutenant governor.
• Leh and Kargil are included as districts in Ladakh, while all the other districts are under the Jammu and Kashmir.
• There were six Lok Sabha seats in the previous state, now, Ladakh has one seat and all the other five seats are given to Jammu and Kashmir.
• Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will function under the same High court.

Restrictions and movements after the Jammu and Kashmir reorganization act

After the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir reorganization act, the new union territories observed a complete lockdown and communication blackout. The restrictions in Kashmir were longer than in Jammu. The communication blackout was the longest in any democracy in history. From 5 to 6 August 2019, it was an emotional and anxious period for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. People were not happy with the decision taken by the government but no one was willing to speak on camera. People were expressing their anger which was a complete disaster. People criticized the government and called them “Iblees” which means Satan. This act also attracted the attention of foreign newspapers and news channels to which the Indian journalist said that it is not their responsibility to cover the protests in India, the change in Kashmir’s status has shifted their focus.

Geography of India in 2022

There are six major zones of India, east, west, north, south, northeast, and Central India.

• Eastern India includes four states and one union territory. Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Bihar are the states that come under Eastern India, and Andaman and Nicobar Island is the only union territory under this part of the country. The total population of these states is 226,925,195 and the total area covered by this region is 418,323 sq km.
• Western India includes three states, Maharashtra, Goa, and Gujarat with only one union territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. The total area covered by this region is 508,052 sq km.
• In the northern part of the country, there are Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh, with union territories of Delhi, Chandigarh, Ladakh, Jammu, and Kashmir.
• The southern part of the country includes states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and the Union Territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry.
• In the Northeast part of India includes states like Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. These are called the seven sisters of India. Sikkim is also an important part of the Northeast region of India.
• The central Zone of India includes Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

FAQs related to the new political map of India

1. What is the new political map of India after bifurcation?
Ans. After the implementation of the Jammu and Kashmir reorganization act in 2019, Jammu and Kashmir are divided into two union territories as Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The new political map of India has eight union territories and 28 states.

2. How many states are there in the new political map of India 2022?
Ans. There are 28 states in the new political map of India, after the bifurcation.

3. Which region of India has most of the union territories?
Ans. The north region of India has the most union territories. Delhi, Chandigarh, Ladakh, Jammu, and Kashmir are located in the northern region of the country.

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Sedition Law in India: Expalined

What is Sedition?

Sedition is blatant behaviour that goes toward revolt against the existing order, such as speech and organisation. Subversion of a constitution and instigation of discontent with, or insurgency against, existing authority are common examples of sedition. Any uproar that is not intended at direct and open violence against the laws is considered sedition. Seditious libel is the use of seditious language in writing. A seditionist is someone who participates in or advocates sedition. Sedition is often not regarded a subversive act because it is overt, and the overt activities that may be prosecuted under sedition laws differ from one legal code to the next.

What is Sedition Law in India?

Sedition is defined in Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code as an offence committed when a person, through words, whether spoken or written, signs, or visible representation, or otherwise, incites or seeks to incite hatred or contempt for the government constituted by law in India. Disaffection encompasses all feelings of hostility and disloyalty. Comments that do not incite or attempt to incite hatred, scorn, or disdain shall not be considered an offence under this clause.

Punishment for Sedition

Sedition is punishable under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code. It is not a punishable offence. The penalty under Section 124A can vary from a three-year jail sentence to a life sentence, plus a fine. During the British Raj, the Indian Penal Code was enacted in 1860. Section 124A is found in Chapter VI of the Code, which deals with state offences.

Whoever brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or by any other means, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment for three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine. A person prosecuted under this statute is forbidden from working for the government, must live without a passport, and must appear in court as and when required.

History Of Sedition Law:

The law was drafted in 1837 by British historian and politician Thomas Macaulay, but was mysteriously deleted when the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was implemented in 1860. Sedition laws were enacted in 17th century England when MPs believed that only positive government beliefs should be allowed to exist, as negative opinions were harmful to the government and monarchy. When it recognised the necessity for a separate section to deal with the offence, an amendment offered by Sir James Stephen in 1870 inserted Section 124A.

Sections 121 to 130 make up Chapter VI, with sections 121A and 124A being added in 1870. The British administration in India at the time was concerned that Muslim preachers on the Indian subcontinent might start a jihad against it. The need for such legislation became apparent after the British successfully suppressed the Wahabi/Waliullah Movement. This clause was used to oppress national independence campaigners throughout the Raj, including Lokmanya Tilak and Mahatma Gandhi, who were both found guilty and imprisoned.

Supreme Court Verdict on Sedition Law:

The Supreme Court, in determining the legality of Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, has raised the bar for the government to invoke the provision, saying that “it will be desirable not to proceed” with the charge of sedition until the government evaluates the provision. The statute of sedition is effectively suspended until the court hears the matter again in July.

The petitioners’ case is that this section of legislation comes from 1898, predates the Constitution, and is being misapplied. On a previous date of hearing, the Attorney General had also cited several examples of blatant misuse of this law, such as the recital of the Hanuman Chalisa. As a result, the Supreme Court of India mentioned that they anticipate that governments will refrain from using the aforementioned provision of legislation until the re-examination of the provision is completed. Although the court did not expressly stop the provision no current criminal statute has ever been stayed by the court it effectively halts its execution. The court ruled that cases that are currently before trial will be held in abeyance, and that it will hope and expect that governments will refrain from filing new FIRs, investigating cases, or adopting coercive action against accused.

If a new case is filed under Section 124A of the IPC, the affected parties are free to approach the appropriate courts for relief and are free to seek appropriate remedies from the respective courts.

The courts are to evaluate the reliefs sought, taking into mind the current ruling as well as the Union of India’s unambiguous position. The Supreme Court has placed the onus on the government to guarantee that no frivolous sedition charges are filed to abuse the law, despite the judiciary’s prohibition. The federal government informed the court that it would issue a direction to states and union territories on how the sedition statute would be used in the future.

The Supreme Court’s major legal challenge is whether the 1962 judgement in Kedar Nath Singh v Union of India was correctly decided. Speech that is likely to provoke disruption of public order is considered sedition, according to the Kedar Nath Singh judgement, which affirmed the constitutional validity of Section 124A. A seven-judge panel will have to assess if that verdict was correct, and whether a statute against sedition may be considered an exception to free speech.

In the end, unless Parliament rescinds the sedition legislation, the court will have to decide the fundamental issue. Even if the provision is weakened or replaced with a new legislation, it must pass the constitutionality test before the court.

FAQs

Ques: When was the sedition Act passed in India?

Ans. The law was drafted in 1837 by British historian and politician Thomas Macaulay, but was mysteriously deleted when the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was implemented in 1860. Sedition laws were enacted in 17th century England when MPs believed that only positive government beliefs should be allowed to exist, as negative opinions were harmful to the government and monarchy.

Ques: What is Sedition Law in simple words?

Ans. Sedition is defined in Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code as an offence committed when a person, through words, whether spoken or written, signs, or visible representation, or otherwise, incites or seeks to incite hatred or contempt for the government constituted by law in India.

Ques: What is Sedition Act of 1870 in India?

Ans. When it recognised the necessity for a separate section to deal with the offence, an amendment offered by Sir James Stephen in 1870 inserted Section 124A. Sections 121 to 130 make up Chapter VI, with sections 121A and 124A being added in 1870. The British administration in India at the time was concerned that Muslim preachers on the Indian subcontinent might start a jihad against it.

Ques: Is Sedition is a Crime?

Ans. Yes, Sedition is a crime. Sedition is blatant behaviour that goes toward revolt against the existing order, such as speech and organisation. Subversion of a constitution and instigation of discontent with, or insurgency against, existing authority are common examples of sedition. Any uproar that is not intended at direct and open violence against the laws is considered sedition.

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Asani Cyclone- Live updates and Cyclone Nomenclature

Asani Cyclone 2022

Asani cyclone is formed over the Southeastern part of the Bay of Bengal. It is an intensified cyclone storm that is likely to hit Orissa and Andhra Pradesh as per the Indian meteorological department (IMD). On Sunday evening the cyclone Asani intensified into a severe cyclonic storm that moved Northwest words in the direction of Andhra Pradesh and the Odisha coast. The Odisha Government has planned to evacuate people living in low-lying areas. The government has also asked the district collectors of Puri, Ganjam, kendrapara, and Jagatsinghpur to evacuate people to cyclone centers when the district starts to receive rainfall.

In Kolkata, the regional meteorological center announces that the state will receive moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning. This could affect the eastern West Midnapore districts and people are advised to stay in safe places. Due to cyclone Asani, the chief minister Mamata Banerjee has postponed her 3 days program in Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur district.

Recent Updates on Asani Cyclone

• From 10th May to 12th May heavy rainfall is likely over Howrah, Medinipur north and south 24 Parganas and Nadia district of West Bengal.
• Aasani cyclone storm is likely to recover the sea away from the coast and it is likely to not cross Andhra Pradesh Orissa and West Bengal according to the IMD. The Asani is around 450 and 500 km south of Visakhapatnam and Puri.
• The cyclone Asani intensified on May 9th and Andhra Pradesh is likely to receive heavy rainfall for the next 2 days.
• Till 10th May the Asani cyclonic storm is likely to move Northwest wards.
• West Bengal has received heavy rainfall which has caused severe waterlogging on the roads.
• As per the cyclonic movement track, the storm Asani will reach the Andhra Pradesh-Orissa coast by Tuesday.
• The intensified Asani storm has a 120 km per hour wind speed and is moving towards the east coast bringing heavy rain.
• Cyclone Asani has moved in the west-northwestward direction in the past 6 hours with a speed of 25 km per hour.

Why the Cyclone is named Asani?

The cyclone has been named Asani, which in Sri Lankan local language, Sinhalese means “wrath”. It is the first cyclone of 2022 which originated from the Bay of Bengal. According to the world meteorological organization, the cyclones are named to avoid confusion in the instance where multiple systems are operating in one location. There are 6 regional specified meteorological centers all over the world and five regional tropical storm warning centers (RSMC), which are authorized to issue tropical cyclone advisory and the names of cyclones. The Indian meteorological department is one of the six RSMCs and advises countries in South and Southeast Asia like Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, and Yemen. IMD has compiled a list of 169 names that can be used for cyclone nomenclature in April 2020. 169 names are placed in to13 lists with each list consisting of at least one submission from every country. From this list so far nine names are used, Nisarga, Nivar, Gati, Burevi, Tauktae, Yaas, Shahid, Gulab, and Javed and next up is Asani.

FAQs related to Asani Cyclone

1. What is the speed of Asani Storm?
Ans. The Asani Cyclonic storm has a speed of 25 km per hour and the winds are 120 km per hour.

2. Where did Cyclone Asani come from?
Ans. The Asani Cyclone has formed in the Bay of Bengal and it is moving towards the east coast.

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HDFC Bank Launches ‘Xpress Car Loan’ Industry First Digital New Car Loan

HDFC Bank, a private sector lender, has introduced 30-minute ‘Xpress Car Loans’, an end-to-end digital new car loan solution for both existing and non-customers. The bank has integrated its lending application with automobile dealers throughout India. It is the industry’s first automotive lending experience, and it is expected to change the way automobile financing is done in India.

Key Points of ‘Xpress Car Loans’:

• The facility will be offered at all of the bank’s branches, dealerships, and, eventually, on third-party aggregator platforms.
• This comprehensive, faster, more convenient, and inclusive digital journey for car buyers will simplify the automobile purchase process and boost car sales across India, particularly in semi-urban and rural locations.
• As it has integrated its lending application with vehicle dealers across India, it anticipates 20%–30% of clients to use this loan facility of up to Rs. 20 lakhs.
• Currently, the facility is only available for four-wheelers, and it will be gradually extended to include two-wheeler loans.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams: 

• HDFC Bank Ltd MD & CEO: Sashidhar Jagdishan;
• HDFC Bank Ltd Establishment: 1994;
• HDFC Bank Ltd Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra;
• HDFC Bank Ltd Tagline: We Understand Your World.

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UPI hits record 5.58 Bn transactions worth Rs 9.83 trillion in April 2022

According to the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India’s flagship digital payments platform, has recorded 5.58 billion(bn) transactions worth Rs 9.83 trillion in April 2022. This is the highest ever number of transactions recorded by UPI. The monthly UPI recorded a 3.33 % increase in transaction volume from 5.4 billion transactions worth Rs 9.6 trillion in March 2022.

Key points:

• Compared to April 2021, the transaction volume increased by 111% and the transaction value increased by nearly 100%. In April 2021, UPI processed 2.64 billion transactions worth Rs 4.93 trillion.
• The UPI had breached the USD 1 trillion mark in transaction values in the financial year 2021-22.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• NPCI Founded: 2008;
• NPCI Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra;
• NPCI MD & CEO: Dilip Asbe.

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Ministry of Tourism take part in the Arabian Travel Market, Dubai-2022

The Ministry of Tourism, GoI, is going to participate in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), Dubai -2022, as part of its Incredible India brand line, displaying India’s rich and diverse tourism potential and providing a platform for tourism stakeholders to demonstrate various tourism destinations and products, including niche products. It also aims to market India as a “Must See, Must Visit” tourist destination.

KEY POINTS:

• The India Pavilion at the Mart is promoting India as a “365 Days Destination,” a year-round multi-faceted tourist destination that includes culture, adventure, cruise, golf, MICE, luxury, wildlife, wellness, and medical tourism, among other things.
• The ‘Namaste Campaign’ to welcome International Travellers exhibiting must-visit sites in India has accentuated the theme of India Reopening during the mart.
• Around 18 Indian participants will be present in the India Pavilion, representing the state tourism governments of Kerala and Nagaland, as well as tour operators, travel agents, and hoteliers/resorts, to showcase the different tourism products and services.
• Apart from that, the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka are promoting their states’ tourism potential.

Attendees:

• Mr. Satpal Maharaj, Minister of Tourism, Government of Uttarakhand
• Ms. Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
• Dr. Aman Puri, H.E. Consul General of India to Dubai
• Mr. Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary, Tourism & MD, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board
• Mr. Kitto Zhimomi, Commissioner & Secretary, Government of Nagaland

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NITI Aayog’s AIM has released the AIM-PRIME Playbook to assist academics

The AIM-PRIME Playbook was launched at the Dr. Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi. The AIM-PRIME programme, a national project of the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, is being executed by Venture Center, Pune, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Office of Principal Scientific Advisor. Following the launch, the dignitaries attended a startup display where they engaged with selected cohort start-ups and incubators.

KEY POINTS:

• The AIM Program for Researchers in Innovation, Market Readiness, and Entrepreneurship (PRIME) programme was designed to help bring early-stage science-based, deep technology concepts to market over the course of a year using a blended learning curriculum.
• The PRIME Playbook, a guide for science-based entrepreneurs and undertakings, the PRIME Library, a curated source of information shared by the program’s faculty and expert mentors, and the PRIME Videos, an open-access video collection of the lectures delivered as part of the PRIME Classroom, are among the other programme benefits.
• The AIM PRIME program’s initial cohort included science-based businesses, faculty entrepreneurs, and incubator managers who collaborated to further their ideas by partnering with an incubator.
• The cohort consisted of 40 organisations and 64 people from 23 cities across seven states. Industrial automation, IoT, electronics, robotics, energy and environment, health and rehabilitation, and food, nutrition, and agriculture were among the sectors represented by the cohort.
• As part of the initiative, over 17 national and foreign faculty members were onboarded, with a total mentor ship time of over 640 hours.

Attendees:

• Mr. Suman Bery, Vice-Chair, NITI Aayog, the Guest of Honor
• Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Hon’ble Union Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
• Dr. VK Paul, Member, NITI Aayog

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LS Speaker Om Birla launches One of its Kind ‘Kalam Website’

Lok Sabha (LS) Speaker, Om Birla has launched the one-of-its-kind literary initiative Kalam website of the Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF) to support and encourage vernacular literature. The aim of Kalam is to popularize Hindi literature and provide a platform for veteran and young authors and poets to talk about their writings and love for vernacular literature.

About Kalam Initiative:

• Kalam started its journey back in the summer of 2015 in the cities of Jaipur and Patna and has conducted over 550 sessions spread over 40 cities in India and overseas since then.
• Kalam is in sync with the philosophy of our nation – ‘Unity in Diversity’ which is reflected in the tagline of Prabha Khaitan Foundation – ‘Aapne Bhasha Aapne Log’.

About Prabha Khaitan Foundation:

• The Foundation is the custodian of the jewels of literary creations in the Hindi language and Kalam scripts successful sessions enriching the literary heritage of the nation. The hallmarks of Kalam, one of the prized literary verticals of Prabha Khaitan Foundation have a nationwide reach, global identity, and a niche audience.
• It is a non-profit trust founded by the Late Dr Prabha Khaitan in the early 1980s. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, it is dedicated to promoting performing arts, culture, education, literature, gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Its tagline is ‘Aapne Bhasha Aapne Log’.

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A book Titled “The Struggle for Police Reforms in India” by Ex-IPS Prakash Singh

Vice President (VP) of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, released a book titled “The Struggle for Police Reforms in India: Ruler’s Police to People’s Police” authored by a former IPS officer, Prakash Singh in New Delhi. The book is published by Rupa Publications India Pvt Ltd.

About the book:

i. This book documents the efforts made to bring about police reforms in India.
ii. The book provides the historical background to the origin of the Indian Police and traces the evolution during British Rule and subsequently since independence.
iii. The book focuses on the efforts of Prakash Singh to bring transformational changes in the Indian Police.

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In Delhi, India’s first Khadi Centre of Excellence will open

The Ministry of MSME has created a Centre for Experimentation, Innovation, and Design for the Khadi Village and Industries Commission (KVIC) with the goal of empowering Khadi Institutions across the country. The Center’s mission is to create clothing, home goods, and fashion accessories that appeal to individuals of all ages. The goal of the Khadi Centre of Excellence (CoEK) is to make Khadi a worldwide, classic, and value-driven brand.

Narayan Rane, the Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, will open the first Khadi Centre of Excellence in New Delhi. Minister of State for MSME Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Minister of State for Textiles Darshana Vikram Jardosh, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles U P Singh, and Secretary, Ministry of MSME B.B Swain will also attend the event.

KEY POINTS:

• The National Institute of Fashion Technology has developed a Khadi Centre of Excellence in Delhi, with spokes in Bangalore, Gandhinagar, Kolkata, and Shillong.
• The Centre of Excellence will focus on creating clothing, home furnishings, and accessories for people of all ages.
• Khadi fabric, which is hand-spun and hand-woven, became a tool to bring people together, and thousands of people joined collectives to make Khadi fabric and dress in comfortable clothing at Mahatma Gandhi’s request.
• The Khadi Village and Industries Commission has been tasked with developing, promoting, organising, and implementing programmes to develop Khadi and other village industries in rural regions, in collaboration with other rural development organisations as needed.
• Researchers are working on improving productivity and minimising drudgery in a variety of areas, including the utilisation of non-conventional energy and electric power.

Important Takeaways For All Competitive Exams:

• Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: Narayan Rane
• Minister of State for MSME: Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma
• Minister of State for Textiles: Darshana Vikram Jardosh

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