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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 04 November 2022

::NATIONAL::

Performance Grading Index

The Ministry of Education has released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for States and Union Territories for 2020-21.

About:

It is a unique index for evidence-based comprehensive analysis of school education systems across States and UTs.
The prime objective of PGI is to promote evidence-based policy-making and highlight course correction to ensure quality education for all.
As per the index, a total of seven States and Union Territories namely Kerala, Punjab, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh have attained Level -2 grading in 2020-21.
Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh are the new entrants with the highest achieved level.
Union Territory Ladakh has made significant improvements in PGI from Level 8 to Level 4 in 2020-21.
PGI 2020-21 classified the States and UTs into ten grades of which the highest achievable Grade is Level 1 for the states scoring more than 950 points out of a total of 1000 points. The lowest grade is Level 10 which is for a score below 551.

Two-finger Test

The Supreme Court on Monday said that those conducting the ‘two-finger test’ on alleged rape victims will be held guilty of misconduct.

About:

A woman who has been sexually assaulted undergoes a medical examination for ascertaining her health and medical needs, collection of evidence, etc.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

The International Day for Biosphere Reserves

November 3 will be the first ‘The International Day for Biosphere Reserves’, to be celebrated beginning 2022.

About:

Biosphere Reserves:

Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by UNESCO for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof.
They are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.
Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located.

World Network of Biosphere Reserves:

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) was formed in 1971, as a backbone for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and living in harmony with nature.
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the MAB Programme consists of a dynamic and interactive network of sites of excellence.
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves promotes North-South and South-South collaboration and represents a unique tool for international co-operation through sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences, building capacity and promoting best practices.
There are now 738 properties in 134 countries, including 12 in India, four in Sri Lanka, and three in the Maldives.

India could fulfill Africa's maritime, aerospace and defence requirements

India has emerged as a leading defence exporter in recent years and could fulfill Africa's maritime, aerospace and defence requirements, with Mauritius, Mozambique and Seychelles becoming the major buyers of Indian arms during 2017-2021, according to a research report.

About:

Released by Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank), working paper highlights need for strategic alliances between India and South African Development Community (SADC) countries.
In existence since 1980, SADC includes 16 member countries, comprising 35.4% of Africa’s total land area, 28.4% of its GDP and 28.2% population (refer image).
SADC shares strong and deep ties and is an important trade partner for India with total trade of USD 30.8 billion in 2021 and USD 69.9 billion investment from India in SADC in last 26 years.

Strategies to Enhance India’s Engagements with SADC

Rare Earth Elements (REE): SADC region is richly endowed in lithium, graphite,cobalt, nickel, copper, and other REE.

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::Economy::

Project Arunank

Processed steel slag railway rack was flagged off to Border Road Organisation’s (BRO) ‘ProjectArunank’ in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.

About:

It is a joint initiative of CSIR- Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), TATA steel and BRO.
Steel slag is a by-product of steel making, produced during the separation of the molten steelfrom impurities in steel-making furnaces.
Slag occurs as a molten liquid melt and is a complex solution of silicates and oxides that solidifiesupon cooling.

Applications:

In agricultural sector due to its ability to correct soil acidity,
Transportation,

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::SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY::

Cordy gold nanoparticles

Assam’s Bodoland University is part of collaborative research on a fungus-powered biosynthesised nanogold particles that has received an international patent from Germany.

About:

Cordy gold nanoparticles (Cor-AuNPs), the outcome of a collaborative experiment by scientists from four Indian institutions, has earned an international patent from Germany.
These nanoparticles, derived from the synthesis of the extracts of Cordyceps militaris and gold salts, could make drug delivery in the human body faster and surer.
Cordyceps militaris is a high value parasitic fungus, lab-grown at the Department of Biotechnology’s Technology Incubation Centre (TIC) in Bodoland University, one of the collaborators of the patented research work.

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alled ‘Sahaj’, is for small and medium taxpayers. Sahaj forms can be filed by individuals who have an income up to Rs 50 lakh, with earnings from salary, one house property/ other sources (interest etc).

ITR-2 is filed by people with income from residential property.

ITR-3 is intended for people who have income as profits from business/ profession

ITR-4 (Sugam) is, like ITR-1 (Sahaj), a simple forms, and can be filed by individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs) and firms with total income up to Rs 50 lakh from business and profession.

ITR-5 and 6 are for limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and businesses respectively.

ITR-7 is filed by trusts and non-profit organisations.

According to the proposal, all taxpayers, barring trusts and non-profit organisations (ITR-7), will be able to use a common ITR form, which will include a separate head for disclosure of income from virtual digital assets.

Zojila Day

Zojila Day was commemorated at Zojila War Memorial near Drass on November 1.

About:

It aims to celebrate the gallant action by Indian troops in 'Operation Bison' in 1948 which was launched on the icy heights of Zojila pass, the gateway to Ladakh.
This day marked the Indian Army's historic win over the Pakistani regulars and infiltrators, and helped recapture the strategic Zojila Pass
This battle was also historic for the reason that tanks were used for the first time at such heights.

Zoji La:

Zoji La or sometimes known as Zojila Pass, is a high mountain pass in the Himalayas.
It is in the Indian Union territory of Ladakh, Kargil district, Kashmir.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

Cities Alive Report

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the University of Liverpool, offers a novel approach and a clear methodology to directly engage women in decision-making processes, incorporating their needs, concerns, and ideas across all aspects of urban planning and development.
It also provides actionable recommendations for all urban practitioners, government authorities, and communities alike, with real-world case studies to illustrate how cities can be designed in a gender-inclusive way.

Key findings of the report said:

Safety and security: Unsafe streets and public spaces, reduced mobility due tosafety concerns, disproportionate exposure to climate hazard.
Justice and equity: Limited gender equity in urban governance, limited voicein decision-making and leadership.
Health and wellbeing: Inadequate public spaces, Inadequate healthcare,water, hygiene etc.
Enrichment and fulfilment: Prejudice and obstacles to education andemployment, Inadequate leisure, and Poor sense of belonging.

Coronal Holes

Recently, the NASA’s Twitter handle shared an image of the sun seemingly ‘smiling’. Captured by the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory.
The image has dark patches on the sun’s surface resembling eyes and a smile.
NASA explained that the patches are called coronal holes, which can be seen in ultraviolet light but are typically invisible to our eyes.

What are coronal holes?

These are regions on the sun’s surface from where fast solar wind gushes out into space. Because they contain little solar material, they have lower temperatures and thus appear much darker than their surroundings.
Here, the magnetic field is open to interplanetary space, sending solar material out in a high-speed stream of solar wind. Coronal holes can last between a few weeks to months.

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::Economy::

Digital Rupee pilot

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will become one of the first major central banks in the world to start a pilot project with its own virtual currency when the wholesale digital rupee is used on a trial basis initially for settlement of transactions in government securities.

Key highlights:

It would make monetary and payment systems more efficient.
It would reduce transaction costs by pre-empting the need for settlement guarantee infrastructure.
Also, first pilot in Digital Rupee - retail segment will be commenced soon in selected locations.
Earlier, launch of a Digital rupee was announced in 2022 Union Budget.
Digital rupee or Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is legal tender issued by RBI in digital form. It will be referred as e₹ (digitalRupee).
It will be same as a sovereign currency and is exchangeable, convertible one-to-one at par (1:1) with the fiat currency.

Benefits of Digital Rupee

Make inter-bank market more efficient.
Bolster digitisation and to achieve a less cash economy.
Support financial inclusion.

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::SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY::

Paediatric Rare Genetic Disorders

The Hyderabad based Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), has initiated an inter-disciplinary approach to decode the genetic mutations that causes Paediatric Rare Genetic Disorders (PRaGeD).

About:

The PRaGeD mission is a PAN-India initiative funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
The centre will be collaborating with paediatrics departments of medical colleges besides, DBT’s own diagnostic centres set up under the Unique Methods of Management of Inherited Disorders (UMMID) programme and others across India to analyse samples from children with rare genetic disorders and their parents.
CDFD is developing a state of the art facility to study the Pediatric Rare Genetic Diseases.

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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 04 November 2022