Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 06 December 2021

Daily Current Affairs 06/12/2021

Report of National Health Account Estimates for India for 2017-18

Why in News

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfarereleased findings of the National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates for India for 2017-18.
This is the fifth consecutive NHA report produced by National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), designated as National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS) in 2014 by the Union Health Ministry.

Key Points

The NHA estimates are prepared by using an accounting framework based on the internationally accepted System of Health Accounts 2011, provided by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The NHA estimates for 2017-18 clearly show that there has been an increase in the share of government health expenditure in the total GDP of the country. It has increased from 1.15% in 2013-14 to 1.35% in 2017-18.
Additionally, the share of Government Health Expenditure in total health expenditure has also increased overtime.
In 2017-18, the share of government expenditure was 40.8%, which is much higher than 28.6% in 2013-14.
The government’s efforts to improve public health care are evident with Out-Of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) as a share of total health expenditure coming down to 48.8% in 2017-18 from 64.2% in 2013-14.
Even in the case of per capita OOPE there has been a decline from Rs.2336 to Rs.2097 between 2013-14 to 2017-18.

Source: PIB

PM Modi inaugurates InFinity Forum

Why in News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated InFinity Forum, a thought leadership Forum on FinTech through video conference.
The event was hosted by International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), under the aegis of the Government of India in collaboration with GIFT City and Bloomberg on December 3 and 4, 2021.
Indonesia, South Africa and the U.K. were partner countries in the first edition of the Forum.

Key Points

InFinity Forum brought together the leading minds of the world in policy, business, and technology to discuss and come up with actionable insight into how technology and innovation can be leveraged by the FinTech industry for inclusive growth and serving humanity at large.

About International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA):

Under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) was founded with its headquarters in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
As India’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), it serves as a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services, and financial institutions.
The GIFT IFSC is currently India’s first international financial services centre.

Source: PIB

NITI Aayog releases report on Online Dispute Resolution policy for speedy access to justice

Why in News

NITI Aayog released the report ‘Designing the Future of Dispute Resolution: The ODR Policy Plan for India’, to scale dispute avoidance, containment and resolution online.

Key Points

The roll out of the stated recommendations in the report can help make India a world leader in using technology and innovation through Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) for effective access to justice for every individual.
The report is a culmination of the action plan made by a committee constituted at the peak of the COVID crisis by NITI Aayog on ODR in 2020 and chaired by Supreme Court Justice (Retd) AK Sikri.

About Online Dispute Resolution (ODR):

ODR is the resolution of disputes, particularly small- and medium-value cases, using digital technology and techniques of ADR, such as arbitration, conciliation and mediation.
It refers to the process of using technology for dispute avoidance, containment and resolution outside the traditional court system.

Source: PIB

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launches unique Face Recognition Technology for Pensioners

Why in News

Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh launched unique Face Recognition Technology for Pensioners.
It will bring ease of living for the retired and the elderly citizens.

Key Points

Face Recognition Technique of giving Life Certificate is a historic and far reaching reform, since it will touch the lives of not only 68 lakh Central Government Pensioners but also Crores of Pensioners who fall outside the jurisdiction of this Department such as EPFO, State Government Pensioners etc.
This technology has been devised by the National Infomatics Center (NIC), the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology in collaboration with the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India).

Other Related Initiatives:

Digital Life Certificate
Introduction of intelligent common software “Bhavishya” for all Government of India Ministries for processing Pension cases
Grievance redressal portal CPENGRAMS along with a Call-centre
Anubhav portal to show-case the experiences in Government of retiring officials
Pension Adalats

Source: PIB

India joins G20 ‘Troika’ with Indonesia and Italy

Why in News

India joined the G20 ‘Troika’ on December 1, 2021.
With this move, India has started the procedure for taking over the G20 presidency next year.
Troika refers to the top grouping within the G20 that consists of the current, previous and the incoming presidencies — Indonesia, Italy and India.

Key Points

India will assume the G20 presidency on December 1, 2022 from Indonesia, and will convene the G20 Leaders’ Summit for the first time in India in 2023.
Indonesia took over the G20 presidency December 1, 2021.

About the G-20:

The G-20 is the international forum that brings together the world’s major economies.
Its members account for more than 80% of world GDP, 75% of global trade and 60% of the population of the planet.
The G20 is made up of 19 countries and the European Union.
The 19 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, and the US.

Source: The Hindu

Centre forms three-member committee to review criteria for EWS quota

Why in News

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment announced the formation of a three-member committee to review the criteria for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservations.
The committee will comprise Former Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Member Secretary ICSSR Prof VK Malhotra and Principal Economic Advisor to the Indian government Sanjeev Sanyal.

Key Points

The committee will examine various approaches followed in the country so far for identifying the economically weaker sections.
The office memorandum issued by the ministry states that the committee is being set up “in accordance with the commitment” given to the Supreme Court to revisit the criteria for determining the economically weaker sections in terms of the provisions of the explanation to Article 15 of the Constitution.

Note: The 10% EWS quota was introduced under the 103rd Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2019 which is under challenge before a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court.

Source: Indian Express

Lionel Messi wins men’s Ballon d’Or Award 2021 for a record seventh time

Why in News

Argentina football player Lionel Messi won the men’s Ballon d’Or Award 2021 for a record 7^th time and Barcilona's Alexia Putellas won the women’s Ballon d’Or 2021.

Key Points

Messi won the last edition of the Ballon d'Or in 2019 before last year's awards were cancelled due to the pandemic. He also won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and in 2015.

Note: The 2021 Ballon d'Or was the 65th annual ceremony of the Ballon d'Or, presented by France Football.

Source: newsonair

PM Modi chairs high level meeting to review preparedness to deal with Cyclone Jawad

Why in News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high level meeting to review the preparedness of States and Central Ministries & concerned agencies to deal with the situation arising out of the likely formation of Cyclone Jawad.

Key Points

India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that a low pressure region in the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into Cyclone Jawad and is expected to reach the coast of North Andhra Pradesh – Odisha.
It is likely to cause heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha & West Bengal.

Source: PIB

December 4, Navy Day (India)

Why in News

Navy Day in India is observed on December 4 every year to recognise the role and achievements of the Indian Navy.

Key Points

The day was chosen to commemorate the launch of Operation Trident against Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan War in 1971.
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces.
Commander-in-Chief: President Ram Nath Kovind
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): General Bipin Rawat
Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral R. Hari Kumar

Source: news18

December 5, World Soil Day

Why in News

World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.

Key Points

World Soil Day 2021 theme is "Halt soil salinization, boost soil productivity".
An international day to celebrate soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002.
The FAO Conference unanimously endorsed World Soil Day in June 2013 and requested its official adoption at the 68th UN General Assembly.
In December 2013, the UN General Assembly responded by designating 5 December 2014 as the first official World Soil Day.

Source: un.org