28th December, 2021 Current Affairs
NATIONAL
NITI Aayog’s Fourth Health Index released’’
– On December 27, 2021, the NITI Aayog released its fourth Health Index.
– The fourth round of Index took into account the period 2019-20 as reference year.
– NITI Aayog prepared this report in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare as well as with the technical assistance from the World Bank.
Key findings
– According to NITI Aayog’s health index, Kerala has emerged as the top performer with respect to overall health performance among larger states.On the other hand, Uttar Pradesh has been ranked the last.
– However, Uttar Pradesh topped in terms of incremental performance since it registered the highest incremental change in reference year 2019-20 as compared to the base year 2018-19.
– Tamil Nadu emerged as second while Telangana emerged as the third best performers, on health parameters.
– Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have been ranked among top five.
– Bihar is the second and Madhya Pradesh is the third worst performers, on health parameters.
– In smaller states category, Mizoram became the best performer in overall performance and incremental performance.
– Among Union Territories, Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir have been ranked among bottom UTs with respect to overall performance.However, they emerged as leading performer with respect to incremental performance.
– In terms of health performance, Kerala emerged as the best state, for the fourth time.
– Kerala and Tamil Nadu were top two performers with highest reference year (2019-20) index score, in terms of overall performance.However, they have been ranked twelfth and eighth in terms of incremental performance.
– Telangana secured the third place in terms of overall performance as well as incremental performance.
– Rajasthan was the worst performer, in terms of overall performance and incremental performance.
– Among smaller states, Mizoram & Tripura registered strong overall performance.They also showed improvements in incremental performance.
Government did not freeze bank accounts of Missionaries of Charity: MHA
– Ministry of Home Affairs has said that it did not freeze bank accounts of Missionaries of Charity.
It said, State Bank of India informed that Missionaries of Charity itself sent a request to SBI to freeze its accounts.
– The renewal application under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act for the renewal of registration of Missionaries of Charity was refused on 25th of December this year for not meeting the eligibility conditions under the act and Foreign Contribution Regulation Rules.
– The Ministry said, no request or revision application has been received from Missionaries of Charity for review of this refusal of renewal.
– However, while considering the renewal application of Missionaries of Charity, some adverse inputs were noticed.
In consideration of these inputs on record, the renewal application was not approved.
Sex Ratio at birth improved by 19 points at National level, from 918 in 2014-15 to 937 in 2020-21: Women and Child Development Ministry
– Women and Child Development Ministry has taken various measures to ensure development, care and protection of women and children.The Bill on Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2021 has been introduced in Lok Sabha this month for raising the age of marriage of women from 18 to 21 years.
– The Ministry said, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme is being implemented across India, covering 640 districts to address the issue of declining child sex ratio.
– The scheme has stirred up collective consciousness towards changing the mind-set of the Nation towards valuing the girl child.
This is also reflected in the improvement of sex ratio at birth by 19 points at National level from 918 in 2014-15 to 937 in 2020-21.
– To promote the nutritional status of women and children, a transparent and enabling environment is being created that nurtures health, wellness and immunity.
– The Ministry said, Poshan Tracker Application has been built on latest technology for ensuring real-time monitoring of supplementary nutrition and providing information for prompt supervision and management of services.
Home Ministry decides to create a mechanism to prevent increasing use of Dark-net and Crypto-currency in Narcotics trade
– Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the third Apex Level meeting of Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.During the meeting several key decisions were taken.
– Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar, Narcotics Control Bureau Chief SN Pradhan, Director General Border Security Force, Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of States, and administrators in Union Territories took part in the meeting.
– Chairing the meeting, the Home Minister asked the States to constitute a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force under the DGP to act as the Secretariat of the State NCORD.He also instructed for the formation of a central NCORD unit under NCB at the national level.Mr Shah also suggested to develop Narcotics training module at national level to train police, CAPF personnel, prosecutors and people from various civil departments.
– During the meeting, the decision was taken to create an effective mechanism to prevent the increasing use of Dark-net and Crypto-currency in the business of Narcotics.
Besides, cultivation of illegal drugs will be prevented by the use of drones, satellites and other technology.
– States were also suggested that chapters related to drug abuse and its ill-effects should be added in the school curriculum for which the Department of School Education, Bureau of Police Research and Development and Ministry of Social Welfare and Empowerment should prepare a roadmap.
– Drugs worth 1881 crore rupees were seized between 2018 and 2021, which is three times the number of drugs seized between 2011 and 2014.
INTERNATIONAL
India to chair counter terrorism committee of UNSC in Jan 2022 after ten years
– India will chair the Counter-Terrorism Committee of UNSC in January 2022 after 10 years.The Counter-Terrorism Committee was established by Security Council resolution 1373 adopted unanimously on 28 September 2001 in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks in the US.
– The Committee was tasked with monitoring implementation of resolution 1373 which requested countries to implement a number of measures aimed at enhancing their legal and institutional ability to counter terrorist activities at home and around the world.
– This includes taking steps to criminalize the financing of terrorism, freezing any funds related to persons involved in acts of terrorism, deny all forms of financial support for terrorist groups, suppress the provision of safe haven, sustenance or support for terrorists and share information with other governments on any groups practicing or planning terrorist acts.
– Besides, the Committee monitors steps taken to cooperate with other governments in the investigation, detection, arrest, extradition and prosecution of those involved in terror acts and criminalizes active and passive assistance for terrorism.
Iran’s top nuclear negotiator urges other sides in Vienna talks to guarantee lifting of sanctions
– Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani has urged other sides in Vienna talks to guarantee lifting of sanctions and pave the way for verification of the embargo removal.He referred to progress made in the previous round of talks in Vienna, Austria, to lift anti-Iran sanctions and revive the 2015 nuclear deal, adding that the Iranian negotiating team is completely serious and ready to continue the Vienna talks.
– The eighth round of talks for lifting anti-Iran sanctions kicked off when Iranian top nuclear negotiator and the European Union’s representative in Vienna talks Enrique Mora co-chaired the Joint Commission meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) involve the United States, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China.
– Western diplomats said, they will not allow the talks to drag on much longer, possibly with early February as the final deadline.Western diplomats accept Iran is closer to breakout time than ever before, but this is not the same as being close to possessing a nuclear weapon.
– The landmark 2015 deal, from which Donald Trump withdrew the US in 2018, had lifted sanctions on Iran in return for controls on its civilian nuclear programme.
– The seventh round of talks, the first under Iran’s new President Ebrahim Raisi, ended 10 days ago after adding some new Iranian demands to a working text.
Somalia’s President suspends PM Mohamed Hussein Roble over corruption allegations
– Somalian Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble has been suspended.Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has suspended the Prime Minister, who is facing allegations of involvement in the theft of land.
– Mr.Farmajo said, he was suspending the Prime Minister pending the outcome of an investigation into the corruption allegations.
– Mohamed Hussein Roble accused the President of trying to stage a coup and said, he would continue in office.
He urged the security forces to take orders from him rather than Mr Farmajo.The term of Farmajo officially ended in February but was extended because of disagreements over how to choose a new incumbent.
– Troops loyal to the President earlier failed to block Mr Roble from entering his office in the capital Mogadishu.
The two men have been involved in a long-running power struggle, raising fears of further instability in Somalia.
– Somalia has not had an effective Central Government since the overthrow of long-serving ruler Siad Barre in 1991.The country is marred by disputes between rival politicians and clans.It is also battling an insurgency by al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda affiliate.
– A complex election for Parliament, which involves clan elders choosing MPs, has been underway since November.It was supposed to have concluded by 24th of December, but the deadline was missed.
The two leaders have accused each other of undermining the elections.
APPOINTMENTS
Vice Admiral Puneet Bahl takes over as Commandant, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala
– Vice Admiral Puneet K.Bahl took over as the Commandant, Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala.
– The Flag Officer was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 1st July 1984.
– He was awarded with Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal.
SPORTS
Nitesh Kumar wins double gold at 4th Para-Badminton National Championship in Odisha
– World No.7 Nitesh Kumar doubled his gold tally at the 4th Para-Badminton National Championship, which concluded in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
– Haryana’s Nitesh along with his partner Tarun defeated World No.1 Paralympic Games gold medallist Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar in straight sets 21-19, 21-11 in the Men’s doubles finals to win the gold.
– Earlier, Nitesh also won the gold medal in the Men’s singles category.World No 1 SL3 Para-Badminton player Parul Parmar from Gujarat also secured gold while Mandeep Kaur from Uttarakhand won Silver and Mansi won bronze.
– In Women Wheelchair 1 category, Alphia James from Kerala secured gold, while silver went to Neerja Goyal from Uttarakhand.Nirmala Mehta from Uttarakhand and Ranjeeta Maurya from Uttar Pradesh secured bronze.
In Women Wheelchair 2 category, Ammu Mohan from Karnataka secured gold while silver went to Shabana from Punjab and Prema Biswas and Suman Rawat had to settle for bronze.
– In Women SU5 category, Manisha from Tamil Nadu secured gold while Arti ended up with silver.Jyoti and Vaishali ended with a bronze medal.
– In Women SL4 category, Jyoti from Haryana secured gold while Chiranjita secured silver and Kanak had to settle for bronze.
– In Women SH6 category, Nitya Sre from Tamil Nadu secured Gold, while Rhui had to settle for silver.
Sasikala and Rachana secured Bronze.
– The 3-day event saw over 500 athletes compete in 22 different categories..
