Today Current Affairs: 13th September 2022 for UPSC IAS exams, State PSC exams, SSC CGL, State SSC, RRB, Railways, Banking Exam & IBPS, etc
Table of Contents
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework:
Indo-Pacific Economic framework (IPEF) ministerial summit concludes.
- IPEF is the US-led economic grouping of 14 countries in the Indo-Pacific region, intended to counter Chinese aggressive and non-transparent trade and economic policies.
- Members: Four QUAD countries, South Korea, New Zealand, Fiji and seven out of the ASEAN members
- The IPEF framework has four pillars: Supply-chain resilience, Clean energy, decarbonisation & infrastructure, Taxation & anti-corruption and Fair & resilient trade (strong labour and environment standards etc.)
- It aims to define the rules of trade among countries which belief in fair play, transparency, and rules-based trading in the future
- India has joined three out of four pillars related to supply chains, tax and anti-corruption and clean energy, but didn’t join the “Fair and resilient trade” pillar as it was apprehensive of commitments required on the environment, labour, digital trade and public procurement.
Kushiyara River Treaty Between India And Bangladesh:
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on sharing of the waters of the Kushiyara river which flows through Assam, and then on to Bangladesh.
- Under the agreement, Bangladesh will be able to withdraw 153 cubic feet per second of water from the Kushiyara which will solve the water crisis for farmers .
- The water of Kushiyara will be channelled through the Rahimpur Canal project in Sylhet.
- Rahimpur canal is the only supplier of water from the Kushiyara to the region.
- India’s objection to the Rahimpur Canal:The dyke and other infrastructure along the canal interfered in border security as Kushiyara itself forms part of the border between the two sides.
Zero-Emission Vehicle Transition Council (ZEVTC):
Niti Aayog led India into the 4th ministerial dialogue of the ZEVTC.
- ZEVTC is a global forum (formed in 2020) to accelerate the pace of the global transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs)
- Cars, vans, buses, and trucks account for 21% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions.
- Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80% over the vehicle’s life cycle.
Serious Frauds Investigation Office:
The Serious Frauds Investigation Office (SFIO) has arrested the alleged mastermind of a widespread racket involving the setting up of shell companies with Chinese links and supply of dummy directors.
- SFIO was assigned by the government to investigate Jillian Consultants India Pvt Ltd and 32 other companies.
- SFIO is a multi-disciplinary organization under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, consisting of experts in the field of accountancy, forensic auditing, law, information technology, investigation, company law, capital market and taxation for detecting and prosecuting or recommending for prosecution white-collar crimes/frauds.
- It has its head office in New Delhi.
- The Computer Forensic and Data Mining Laboratory (CFDML) was set up in 2013 to provide support and service to the officers of SFIO in their investigations.
- SFIO is headed by a Director as Head of Department in the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India.
- Serious Fraud investigation (SFIO) was initially set up by the Government of India by way of a resolution dated 2nd July, 2003.
- At that time SFIO did not enjoy a formal legal status.
- Section 211 of the Companies Act, 2013, has accorded statutory status to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).
- SFIO also has powers to arrest people for the violation of the Company law.
Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago Speech In 1893:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled Swami Vivekananda’s iconic speech at Chicago in 1893. Mr Modi said, his address gave the world a glimpse of India’s culture and ethos.
- On September 11 in 1893, more than a century ago, Swami Vivekananda delivered a speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago and introduced the world to the human values of India.
- Swami Vivekananda is believed to have introduced the concepts and ideals of the Vedanta to the Western world.
- He became popular in the West after his famous speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions.
- He was also the chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission.
- Swami Vivekananda was considered a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India and brought it to the status of major world religion in the late 19th century.
- Swami Vivekananda’s birthday on January 12 is also observed as National Youth Day in the country.
- Vivekananda is also considered a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the West and is credited with raising the profile of Hinduism to that of a world religion.
- Books written by him: ‘Raja Yoga’, ‘Jnana Yoga’, and ‘Karma Yoga’ are some of the books he wrote.
Operation ‘Gear Box’:
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) launched operation ‘Gear Box’ to stop heroin smuggling, seizes 39.5 kg of contraband from Kolkata port.
- The heroin was examined and seized under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
- Operation Gear Box is conducted to detect the hidden drugs in the gear boxes.
- The gears from old and used gearboxes were removed after opening them and plastic packets containing the narcotic substance were placed in the created cavity and the gearboxes were refitted to avoid detection.
- The drug syndicate has used this unique modus operandi to conceal heroin.
- These packets were shipped concealing inside this metal scrap with other metal scrap so that it would go unnoticed by the authorities.
Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme:
The Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme has rolled out in Rajasthan with the objective of providing economic support to the poor and needy families living in the cities through work to be provided on demand for 100 days in a year.
- The Congress government has touted it as the country’s biggest scheme to give guaranteed jobs to the people residing in cities, on the lines of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for villagers started by the UPA government at the Centre in 2006.
- Those in the age group of 18 to 60 years residing within the limits of urban local bodies are eligible to demand and get employment in the identified segments.
- There is no income limit, though the poor and destitute people, especially those who lost their livelihood during the pandemic, will be given preference.
- More than 3.5 lakh people across the State have got themselves registered under the scheme so far and job cards have been issued to 2.25 lakh of them.
World’s First Fleet Of Fully Hydrogen-Powered Trains : Germany
Germany launched the world’s first fleet of fully hydrogen-powered trains, these are emissions-free trains that can reach speeds of 140 kilometres per hour and can run about 1,000 km before the tank runs dry.
- Hydrogen fuel cells are a clean, reliable, quiet, and efficient source of high-quality electric power.
- They use hydrogen as a fuel to drive an electrochemical process that produces electricity, with water and heat as the only by-products.
- Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on earth for a cleaner alternative fuel option.
- It is one of the best Zero Emission solutions.
- It is completely environment friendly with no tailpipe emissions other than water.
- Tailpipe emissions: Emission of something such as gas or radiation into the atmosphere.
- Quiet operation: The fact that the fuel cells make little noise means that they can be used in challenging contexts, such as in hospital buildings.
- Easier scaling: Operation times of fuel cells are longer than those of batteries, with fuel cells, only the amount of fuel needs to be doubled to double the operation time, while batteries require the capacity of the components to be doubled to achieve the same.
Vinoba Bhave:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Vinoba Bhave on his birth anniversary.
- Vinayak Narahari also known as Vinoba Bhave (1895 – 1982) was an Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights.
- Often called Acharya, he is best known for the Bhoodan Movement.
- He is considered a National Teacher of India and the spiritual successor of Mahatma Gandhi.
- He was an eminent philosopher.
- The Gita has also been translated into Marathi language by him with the title Geetai
National Defense MSME Conclave And Exhibition:
Defense Conclave and Exhibition is being organized for the first time in Rajasthan.
- The two-day National Defense MSME Conclave and Exhibition began in Kota, Rajasthan.
- Defense equipment including T-90 and BMP-2 tanks, artillery guns, various types of sniper and machine guns and military bridges are being displayed in the exhibition.
- Youth innovating in the defense sector, start-ups and MSMEs are also displaying their products.
- More than 50 companies, start-ups and MSMEs working in the defense sector are participating in the event.
- The conclave was formally inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
