BPSC Current Affairs 22 August 2024, Bihar Current Affairs

BPSC Current Affairs 22 August 2024

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Bihar Special

Rajya Sabha Candidates from Bihar

• Position: Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court, Chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI)
• Background: From Gopalganj, serving his third consecutive term as BCI member representative, and has chaired the BCI for a decade
• Rajya Sabha Role: Will replace Misa Bharti, serving a four-year term

• Background: Former Union Minister, previously served in the Lok Sabha, Bihar legislative assembly, and the Council
• Rajya Sabha Role: Will replace Vivek Thakur, serving a two-year term

Click Here To Download BPSC Current Affairs 22 August 2024 PDF In Hindi

Bihar Leads in Nutrition Month and Fortnight Activities

• Frequency: Poshan Mah and Pakhwada occur twice a year, in March and September.
• Consistency: Bihar has been leading in these activities for the last three cycles, including March 2023, September 2023, and March 2024.
• ICDS Performance: The state’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) has outperformed other state departments in organizing these activities.

• Awareness Rallies: Nutrition awareness rallies and morning processions.
• Consultation Centers: Operation of nutrition counselling centres.
• Educational Programs: Nutrition education programs in schools.
• Exhibitions and Fairs: Nutrition-related exhibitions and fairs.
• Competitions: Nutrition-related contests.
• Community Meals: Organization of community meals.
• Awareness Vans: Operation of nutrition awareness vans.
• Competitions and Seminars: Recipe contests and nutrition seminars.

• ICDS Performance: ICDS has surpassed all other departments in organising activities.
• Second Place: Rural Development Department (Jeevika) ranked second.

• Bihar: 7,78,56,297 activities.
• Karnataka: 5,60,32,123 activities.
• Madhya Pradesh: 2,65,23,222 activities.
• Uttar Pradesh: 1,32,56,117 activities.
• Gujarat: 1,11,34,432 activities.

Establishment of New Soil Testing Labs

• Locations: The labs will be established in Muzaffarpur, Siwan, Purnia, West Champaran, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Nalanda, Begusarai, and Aurangabad.
• Building Locations: Each lab will be set up at the e-Kisan Bhavan in the block headquarters of these districts.

• Total Labs: The establishment of these new labs will increase the total number of soil testing laboratories in the state to 63.

• Improved Testing: The new labs will provide easier access for farmers to soil testing services.

Polity And Governance

Constitution of National Task Force (NTF)

• Action Taken : The Supreme Court has established a 10-member National Task Force (NTF).
• Purpose of Task Force : The NTF is tasked with developing a national protocol to enhance the safety and facilities for doctors.

International Relations

India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

• Recruitment, Employment, and Repatriation of Workers: MoU signed to streamline labour practices and ensure worker protection.
• Ayurveda and Traditional Medicines: Promotes cooperation in Ayurveda, including knowledge exchange and research.
• Digital Technologies: Focus on collaboration in cybersecurity, 5G, quantum computing, and innovation.
• Culture, Arts, and Heritage: Enhances cultural exchanges and supports artistic collaborations.
• Tourism: Aims to promote sustainable tourism and ease visa processes.
• Global South Summit: Malaysia appreciated India’s initiative in hosting the Voice of the Global South Summit (VOGSS) and India acknowledged Malaysia’s active participation.
• High-Level Exchanges: Both leaders agreed to hold regular exchanges and dialogues on bilateral, plurilateral, and multilateral issues.
• Parliamentary Exchanges: The two Prime Ministers encouraged enhanced interaction between the Parliaments of both countries to further strengthen bilateral relations.
• Youth Exchanges: Both leaders recognized the importance of youth in development and agreed to promote greater youth exchanges.
• Bilateral Trade: The leaders expressed satisfaction with the record-high bilateral trade of US$19.5 billion and encouraged further enhancement of trade in a sustainable manner.
• ASEAN-India Trade Agreement (AITIGA): Agreed to expedite the review process to strengthen supply chains and make it more effective for businesses.
• MICECA Meeting: The leaders welcomed discussions on convening the 2nd Joint Committee Meeting of the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA).
• Local Currency Settlement: Both leaders appreciated collaboration between the Reserve Bank of India and Bank Negara Malaysia to promote local currency settlement in trade.
• Digital Cooperation: The leaders welcomed the signing of the MoU on Digital Technologies and emphasized early convening of the Malaysia-India Digital Council.
• Payment Systems Collaboration: The success of India’s UPI was acknowledged, and ongoing engagements in payment systems between India and Malaysia were commended.
• Start-up Collaboration: Ongoing discussions between Start-up India and Malaysia’s Cradle Fund were welcomed.
• Science and Technology: The leaders agreed to advance collaboration in fields such as space, nuclear energy, semiconductors, and vaccines.
• Defence Cooperation: Both sides agreed to intensify defence cooperation, including industry collaboration and R&D.
• Counter-Terrorism: Both leaders condemned terrorism and agreed to work together to bring perpetrators to justice and address the links between terrorism and transnational organized crime.
• Higher Education: Malaysia welcomed India’s special allocation of 100 seats under the ITEC Programme, particularly in cybersecurity, AI, and machine learning.
• Ayurveda Cooperation: Both sides emphasized continuing cooperation, including establishing the Ayurveda Chair at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia.
• Cultural Cooperation: Welcomed discussions for establishing the Tiruvalluvar Chair of Indian Studies at Universiti Malaya.
• Agriculture Cooperation: Agreed to intensify cooperation in agriculture, including joint R&D, capacity building, and digital technology applications.
• Audio-Visual Co-Production: Both leaders agreed to expand cooperation in audio-visual co-production, building on the cultural connections between the two countries.
• Sustainable Energy and Climate Change: Agreed to strengthen cooperation in sustainable energy and climate change adaptation, with Malaysia appreciating India’s initiatives like the ISA and CDRI.
• International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA): India welcomed Malaysia’s decision to join IBCA as a founding member, and both sides agreed to expedite the Framework Agreement.
• Skilled Talent and Tourism: Both leaders welcomed the contributions of Indian nationals in Malaysia and agreed to streamline the flow of skilled talent and enhance tourism cooperation.
• Air Connectivity: Emphasized enhancing air connectivity, encouraging civil aviation authorities to engage in further discussions.
• Freedom of Navigation: Both leaders reiterated their commitment to freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.
• ASEAN Cooperation: Malaysia appreciated India’s support for ASEAN centrality and welcomed more engagement through ASEAN-led mechanisms.
• UN Cooperation: Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation at the UN, emphasizing the need for a more representative UN Security Council.

India and Japan "2+2" Dialogue

• The Indian delegation was led by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
• The Japanese delegation was headed by Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defence Minister Minoru Kihara.

• India urged Japan to address regulatory barriers affecting critical technology sharing during their third '2+2' dialogue.

• Both countries committed to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, responding to China's military assertiveness.

• India and Japan agreed to prepare a new framework for security cooperation to enhance their strategic ties.

• They acknowledged successful cooperation on Unmanned Ground Vehicles and Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN), with plans to sign related agreements.

• Both nations condemned terrorism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and called for justice for attacks like 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot.

• The 2008 joint security declaration will be revised to reflect contemporary priorities and accelerate cooperation in defence equipment and technology.

• The Indian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will explore future cooperation, including ship maintenance and defence assistance to third countries.

• Both sides agreed to strengthen capacity-building and address cybersecurity challenges.

• India will establish a new consulate in Fukuoka, and the '2+2' dialogue will continue to deepen the India-Japan strategic partnership, reflecting their evolving national goals and priorities.

Economy

RBI Governor's Achievement: Shaktikanta Das Earns "A+" Grade

• Grading Criteria:
  • The grades in the report are based on a scale from "A+" to "F".
  • These grades reflect success in key areas such as:
    • Inflation control
    • Economic growth goals
    • Currency stability
    • Interest rate management
• Grade Explanation:
  • An "A+" represents an excellent performance.
  • The scale ranges down to "F", which indicates outright failure.

India plans to build 50 e-commerce export hubs

• Current Status: E-commerce exports stand at US$ 5 billion, aiming to match China's US$ 300 billion.

• First Year: Set up 10 hubs in the current financial year.

• Focus Areas: Improve efficiency, reduce logistical challenges, and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

• Key Locations: Identify hubs across various states, including the northeastern region.

• Supportive Infrastructure: Develop large warehousing facilities and enhance logistics.

• Target Beneficiaries: Support MSMEs and producers of consumer goods.

• Job Creation: Potentially generate employment opportunities.

• Quality Emphasis: Focus on maintaining high product quality.

• New Framework: Develop a regulatory framework to simplify cross-border trade for small businesses.

Miscellaneous

PROMPT Portal

• Objective : To provide real-time tracking and analysis of thermal power projects to improve decision-making and project management.
• Development : The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and National Thermal Power Corporation ( NTPC) developed the portal to enhance monitoring of under-construction power projects through digital means.
• Features :
  • Real-Time Tracking and Analysis : Offers a centralised platform for monitoring project execution and identifying issues early.
  • Transparency and Accountability : Ensures better transparency, reduces time and cost overruns, and improves project execution.
  • Resource Optimization : Helps in managing resources effectively to meet electricity demands at reasonable costs.

DRIPS Portal

• Developed by: Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
• Purpose : The portal facilitates rapid resource identification and deployment for the power sector during disasters, improving response efficiency.
• Context : Recent natural disasters have exposed vulnerabilities in the power sector. DRIPS addresses these by enhancing disaster preparedness and management.

Awards and Honors

National Geoscience Awards 2023

• Awards Presented :
  • National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement : Prof. Dhiraj Mohan Banerjee for his pioneering research in phosphorites and isotope geology.
  • National Geoscience Awards : 10 awards, including 3 team awards, in various geoscience fields.

Sports

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Relocated

• Dates and Venues : The tournament will take place from October 3 to October 20, 2024, at two venues in the UAE: Dubai and Sharjah. The event dates remain unchanged.
• Edition : This will be the ninth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
• Hosting Rights : Despite the relocation, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will retain its hosting rights and will co-host the event with the Emirates Cricket Board.

Cincinnati Open 2024

• Men’s Final : Top-ranked Jannik Sinner (Italian) won the Cincinnati Open, defeating Frances Tiafoe (American). Sinner became the youngest Cincinnati champion since Andy Murray in 2008. It was Sinner's first title at the tournament.