Daily Current Capsules
12 and 13 December 2022

Sri Aurobindo's 150th birth anniversary

 

 

What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister will participate in a programme commemorating Sri Aurobindo's 150th birth anniversary, on 13th December, 2022
• The programme, being held in Kamban Kalai Sangam, Puducherry, under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav

 

Know! about Sri Aurobindo

• Sri Aurobindo, born on 15th August 1872, was a visionary who made lasting contributions to India's freedom struggle.
• He was an Indian philosopher, yogi, maharishi, poet, and Indian nationalist.
• He was also a journalist, editing newspapers such as Vande Mataram.
• He joined the Indian movement for independence from British colonial rule, until 1910 was one of its influential leaders, and then became a spiritual reformer, introducing his visions on human progress and spiritual evolution.
• Aurobindo studied for the Indian Civil Service at King's College, Cambridge, England.
• After returning to India he took up various civil service works under the Maharaja of the Princely state of Baroda and became increasingly involved in nationalist politics in the Indian National Congress and the nascent revolutionary movement in Bengal with the Anushilan Samiti.
• He was arrested in the aftermath of a number of bombings linked to his organization in a public trial where he faced charges of treason for Alipore Conspiracy.
• However, Sri Aurobindo could only be convicted and imprisoned for writing articles against British colonial rule in India.
• During his stay in the jail, he had mystical and spiritual experiences, after which he moved to Pondicherry, leaving politics for spiritual work.
• At Pondicherry, Sri Aurobindo developed a spiritual practice he called Integral Yoga.
• The central theme of his vision was the evolution of human life into a divine life in divine body.
• Literary work - The Life Divine, Synthesis of Yoga, and Savitri

 

Carboplatin

 

What's the NEWS

• The results of the study by the Tata Memorial Centre show that a commonly available and inexpensive drug, carboplatin, increased the cure rate and survival of a very aggressive type of breast cancer, called triple-negative breast cancer, especially among young women who have this disease.
• Until the results of this study there was no conclusive evidence that this drug should be routinely used as part of the treatment of this disease.

 

 

Mopa International Airport

 

What's the NEWS

 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the first phase of the international airport at Mopa in north Goa.

 

Know! about it

 

• The airport is named after late Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
• The airport which was built at cost of ₹2,870 crore will begin its operations from 5 January, 2023.
• The foundation stone of the airport was laid by the Prime Minister in November 2016.
• This will be the second airport in the state after the Dabolim airport in South Goa.
• The airport has been built on the theme of sustainable infrastructure and has solar power plant, green buildings, LED lights on the runway, besides rainwater harvesting, state of the art sewage treatment plant with recycling facilities, among other such facilities.
• It has adopted some of the best-in-class technologies like 3-D Monolithic Precast buildings, StabilRoad, Robomatic Hollow precast walls, 5G compatible IT infrastructure.

 

Mahakavi Subramanian Bharathiyar

 

 

What's the NEWS

 

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister recently inaugurated the statue of Mahakavi Subramanian Bharathiyar.

 

Know! about Mahakavi Subramanian Bharathiyar

 

• He was a Tamil writer, poet, journalist, Indian independence activist, social reformer and polyglot.
• He was bestowed the title "Bharathi" for his excellence in poetry.
• Bharathiyar fought for the emancipation of women, against child marriage, vehemently opposed the caste system.
• Sister Nivedita inspired Bharathi to recognise the privileges of women and the emancipation of women exercised Bharathi's mind.
• Bharathi joined as Assistant Editor of the Swadesamitran a Tamil daily in 1904.
• In1907, he started editing the Tamil weekly India and the English newspaper Bala Bharatham with M.P.T. Acharya.
• He assisted Aurobindo in the Arya journal and later Karma Yogi in Pondicherry.
• Three of his greatest works namely, Kuyil Pattu, Panchali Sapatham and Kannan Pattu were composed during 1912
•  He also translated Vedic hymns, Patanjali's Yoga Sutra and Bhagavat Gita to Tamil.

 

 

IND-INDO CORPAT Exercise

What's the NEWS

 

• The 39th edition of India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) between the Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy is being conducted

 

Know! about the exercise

 

• India and Indonesia have been carrying out CORPATs twice a year since 2002.
• Aim: Keeping the vital part of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) safe and secure for commercial shipping, international trade and conduct of legitimate maritime activities.
• CORPATs help build understanding and interoperability between navies, and facilitate institution of measures to prevent and suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.
• It helps to enhance the operational synergy by exchange of information for prevention of smuggling, illegal immigration and for conduct of Search and Rescue (SAR) operations at sea.
• As part of Government of India's vision SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to enhance maritime security in the region.

 

 

Kochi-Muziris Biennale

 

 

What's the NEWS

 

• The 5th edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale opens on December 12, 2022, displaying works of over 90 artists from across the globe in varied media.
• Biennales often named after the host city, become a reason for local pride, promoting cultural tourism and generating revenue through visitors.
• Biennale is often viewed as recognition of an artists work
• Participation in Biennale can open opportunities for future museum exhibitions, gallery representation and acquisitions.

 

Know! about Kochi Muziris Biennale

 

• The Kochi Muziris Biennale was founded in 2011 by Kerala-born, Mumbai-based artists Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu.
• It aims to "create a platform that will introduce contemporary, global visual art theory and practice to India".

 

Know! about Biennale

 

• A biennale is an international large-scale showcase of art that takes place every two years at a particular site, centred around a curatorial theme.
• The theme for 2022: "In Our Views Flow Ink and Fire".
• One of the most prestigious and oldest biennales in the world is the Venice Biennale, which was established through a resolution by the city council in 1893 to celebrate national artistic talent.
• In 2009, a global Biennale Foundation was established with an "aim to create a platform for dialogue, networking, and knowledge sharing among contemporary art biennials around the world".

 

 

International Human Rights Day

 

What's the NEWS

 

• The President of India addressed the Human Rights Day celebration, organised by the National Human Rights Commission.
• 2022 Theme: Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All

 

Know! about Human Rights Day

 

• Human Rights Day is observed by the international community every year on 10 December.
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 December 1948.
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out a broad range of fundamental rights and freedoms to which all of us are entitled.
• It guarantees the rights of every individual everywhere, without distinction based on nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, religion, language, or any other status.
• Although the Declaration is not a binding document, it inspired more than 60 human rights instruments which together constitute an international standard of human rights.

 

National Human Rights Commission of India (abbreviated as NHRC)

 

• It is a statutory public body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance of 28 September 1993.
• It was given a statutory basis by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (PHRA).
• It was established in conformity with the Paris Principles, adopted for the promotion and protection of human rights in Paris (October, 1991) and endorsed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 December, 1993.
• The NHRC is responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights, defined by the act as "Rights Relating To Life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the constitution or embodied in the international covenants and enforceable by courts in India"
• It is a multi-member body consisting of a chairperson, five full-time Members and seven deemed Members.
• A person who has been the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court can become a chairman.
• The chairman and members are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a six-member committee consisting of the Prime Minister as its head, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, leaders of the Opposition in both the Houses of Parliament and the Union Home Minister.
• In addition, the Chairpersons of National Commissions viz., National Commission for Scheduled Castes, National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Women , National Commission for Minorities, National Commission for Backward Classes, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights; and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities serve as ex officio members.
• The chairman and members hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
• The President can remove the chairman or any member from the office under some
• They can be removed only on the charges of proved misbehavior or incapacity, if proved by an inquiry conducted by a Supreme Court Judge.
• The sitting Judge of the Supreme Court or sitting Chief Justice of any High Court can be appointed only after the consultation with the Chief Justice of India.

 

Parliament Winter Session Highlights - Information given by Ministers in Parliament

Zonal Cultural Centers

What's the NEWS

• For conservation and development of art, culture and crafts across the country, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur.

 

Know! about the role of ZCCs

• These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes on regular basis in their member States throughout the year.
• For conducting various activities/ programmes, ZCCs are provided regular annual grant-in-aid by the Government.
• However, no State/UT-wise funds are released by the Ministry of Culture for the purpose.
• Further, for preservation and development of art, culture and crafts across the country, Ministry of Culture also organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) through these ZCCs where a large number of artists from all over India are engaged to showcase their talents.
• From November, 2015 onwards, twelve (12) RSMs have been organized by Ministry of Culture across the country.
• These ZCCs also organize minimum 42 Regional Festivals for promotion of art and culture every year as per their programme calendar.

 

DARE TO DREAM' SCHEME FOR PROMOTING START-UPS

What's the NEWS

• A total of 5,637 applications have been received under three Dare to Dream Contests to promote individual and start-ups for innovation in the area of Defence and Aerospace in last three years.
• A total of 52 individuals and 34 start-ups have been awarded under three Dare to Dream contests out of 5,637 applications received in last three years.
• A total of 07 projects have been sanctioned and awarded to start-ups of Dare to Dream contest winners so far.

Know! about the contest

• DRDO has been launching Dare to Dream Contest every year since 2019 to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, individuals above 18 years and start-ups (recognised by DPIIT and with Indian founders) for innovative ideas in the field of Defence and Aerospace.
• The selection criteria for evaluation of the entries are completeness of proposal, scientific soundness, design completeness, merit, technological readiness level achieved and innovation.
• The selected individual/company are getting benefitted as DRDO supports them to realise awarded ideas into Prototype through Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme.

LAUNCHING OF SPECIAL PORTAL FOR BATTLE CASUALTIES WELFARE FUND

 

What's the NEWS

• ‘Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot' website was launched by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on 14 October 2022 for contribution towards Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund for providing financial assistance to the families of soldiers who are injured or died during military operations.
• However, the fund has been in existence since the year 2016.
• Maa Bharati Ke Sapoot website has been launched, so that the spirited Indian citizens, corporates, banks and premier organisation can directly make their contributions towards Armed Forces Battle Casualties Welfare Fund (AFBCWF), for providing immediate financial assistance to the families of soldiers who have scarified their lives or injured during military operations.

 

DEFENCE INDUSTRIAL CORRIDORS IN THE COUNTRY

What's the NEWS

• To achieve Aatmanirbharta and realise the goal of ‘Make in India', Government of India has established two Defence Industrial Corridors (DICs) in the country, one in Uttar Pradesh and other in Tamil Nadu.
• 06 (six) nodes viz. Agra, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, Jhansi, Kanpur and Lucknow have been identified for developing Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC).
• Similarly, 05 (five) nodes viz. Chennai, Coimbatore, Hosur, Salem, and Tiruchirappalli identified for developing Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC).
• Government intends to develop defence manufacturing ecosystem having conducive conditions including supply chain for giving push to production and testing & certification to create economies of scale and facilitate development of internationally competitive enterprises in the country.

 

Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna

What's the NEWS

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs has revamped the existing Scheme of ‘Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme (SCA to TSS) with nomenclature ‘Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojna (PMAAGY)', for implementation during 2021-22 to 2025-26, which aims at transforming villages with significant tribal population into model village (Adarsh Gram)covering about population of 4.22 crore (About 40% of the total Tribal Population).
• It is envisaged to cover 36,428 villages having at least 50% tribal population and 500 STs across States / UTs with notified STs.

Know! about the scheme

• The main objective of this scheme is to achieve integrated socio-economic development of selected villages through convergence approach.
• It includes preparing Village Development Plan based on the needs, potential, and aspirations.
• It also includes maximizing the coverage of individual / family benefit schemes of the Central / State Governments and improving the infrastructure in vital sectors like health, education, connectivity and livelihood.
• The scheme envisions to mitigate gaps prominently in 8 sectors of development viz. Road connectivity (Internal and Intervillage /block), Telecom connectivity (Mobile /internet), School, Anganwadi Centres, Health Sub-Centre, Drinking water facility, Drainage and solid waste management.

 

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