Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 27 December 2021

::NATIONAL::

Conformity Assessment Scheme

The Prime Minister launches a Portal and Logo dedicated to the Conformity Assessment Scheme of milk products, in Varanasi.
Portal and Logo developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) with the help of National Dairy Development Board.

About:

This is a novel and first of its kind certification scheme considering the perishable nature and short shelf-life of milk and milk products, as well as the extensive cold-chain involved in the production and supply of milk and milk products.
This has brought ‘Product–Food Safety Management System–Process’ certification under one umbrella with a unified logo featuring the earlier respective logos BIS-ISI mark & NDDB-Quality Mark and Kamdhenu Cow.

Benefits:
This is a significant step towards ensuring Quality & Food safety of Milk and Milk products across the country as the Conformity Assessment Scheme will
1.   Simplify the certification process
2.   Create an instantly recognisable logo for public to be reassured about dairy product quality
3.   Increase the sales of milk and milk products in organized sector and in turn enhancing income of farmers
4.   Develop a quality culture in the dairy sector

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Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020

The Maharashtra Assembly unanimously cleared the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill, 2020 on crimes against women and children.

About:

Introduces death penalty for offences such as causing grievous hurt by use of acid, rape, and gang rape.
Reduces the time for completion of investigation, trial, and disposal of appeal for offences committed against women and children.
Places the onus on social media platforms and Internet data providing companies to share data for the police investigation.
The Bill is modelled on the Disha Act of Andhra Pradesh.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

Mission Sagar

As part of yet another deployment undertaken by Indian Navy since May 2020 under Mission SAGAR, Indian Naval Ship Kesari entered Port of Maputo, Mozambique on 25 December 2021.

Key highlights:

This is the eighth such deployment in consonance with Prime Minister vision of Security And Growth for All in the Region and is being conducted in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, and other agencies of the Government of India.
These deployments were conducted in solidarity with India’s extended Maritime Neighbourhood and highlights the importance accorded by India to these special relationships. 500 Tons of food aid has been shipped by INS Kesari to support the efforts of Government of Mozambique to cope with ongoing drought and concurrent challenges of pandemic.
India also remains committed to supporting the capacity building efforts of the Armed Forces of Mozambique. To this end INS Kesari is carrying two Fast Interceptor Craft and self defence equipment to be handed over to the Armed Forces of Mozambique.
INS Kesari, a Landing Ship Tank (Large) had undertaken similar mission in May – June 2020 to provide humanitarian and medical assistance to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, including deployment of Medical Assistance Teams of the Indian Navy in multiple locations.
Since May 2020, the Indian Navy has deployed ships to 15 Friendly Foreign Countries under SAGAR missions.

Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who helped end apartheid in South Africa, has died aged 90.
A contemporary of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, he was was one of the driving forces behind the movement to end the policy of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the white minority government against the black majority in South Africa from 1948 until 1991.
He was considered the nation’s conscience by both, the black majority and the white minority, an enduring testament to his faith and spirit of reconciliation in a divided nation.

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::ECONOMY::

Amendment to UnifiedLicense Agreement

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has amended the Unified License Agreement for Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), to revise the provision that gives the licenser the right to modify at any time the terms and conditions of the License.

Key amendments include:

Telecom and Internet service providers to maintain commercial and call detail records for atleast 2 years, instead of the current one-year practice.
Internet service providers to maintain details of "internet telephony"in addition to the usualIP detail record.
This has been done by the government for security reasons.
Unified License implies that a customer can get all types of telecom services, from a UnifiedLicense Operator.

::SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY::

Scientists trace first clue to understand transient high energy pulses from magnetars

Scientists have found the first clues to understand violent short duration flares from a compact star of rare category called magnetar located thirteen million light years away.

About:

When massive stars like supergiant stars with a total mass of between 10 and 25 solar masses collapse they might form neutron stars. Among neutron stars, stands out a small group with the most intense magnetic field known: magnetars.
Neutron stars are formed when a massive star (with a core between 1 and 3solar masses) runs out of fuel and collapses, crushing together every protonand electron into a neutron.
Stars withhigher masseswill continue tocollapse intostellar-massblack holes.

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