03 JULY 2021 CURRENT AFFAIRS 

1. TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PLATFORMS

• Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises inaugurated six Technology Innovation Platforms which will focus on development of technologies for the globally competitive manufacturing in India.

About:

• This will facilitate the development of the key ‘mother’ manufacturing technologies' indigenously through ‘Grand Challenges’ on the Platforms.
• The six technology platforms have been developed by IIT Madras, Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI), International Centre for Automotive Technology(iCAT), Automotive Research Association of India(ARAI), BHEL and HMT in association with IISc Bangalore.

Source : Economic Times

2. RETAIL AND WHOLESALE TRADES

Minister of MSME announced revised guidelines for MSMEs with inclusion of Retail and Wholesale trades as MSMEs.

About:

• The revised guidelines will benefit 2.5 Crore Retail and Wholesale Traders.
• Retail and wholesale trade which were left out of the ambit of MSME are now under the revised guidelines and thus will also get benefit of priority sector lending under RBI guidelines.
• With the revised guidelines the Retail and wholesale trades will be now be allowed to register on Udyam Registration Portal.

Source : Business Standard

3. GLOBAL PEACE INDEX (GPI) 2021

• The 15th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI) was released which ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness. Global Peace Index (GPI) is a report produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP).

Methodology

The GPI covers 99.7 per cent of the world’s population, using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators and measures the state of peace across three domains:

1. the level of Societal Safety and Security,
2. the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict, and the degree of Militarisation.

Findings

• India ranked 135/163 with an improvement of 2 ranks.
• Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has held since 2008.
• Afghanistan is the least peaceful country in the world for the fourth consecutive year, followed by Yemen, Syria, South Sudan, and Iraq.

Source : ReliefWeb

4. KICKBOXING

• The Ministry of Youth affairs & Sports has decided to grant recognition to WAKO India Kickboxing Federation as National Sports Federation (NSF) for promotion and development of the Kickboxing sport in India

About:

• WAKO India Kickboxing Federation is affiliated to World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO), which is the International Federation for the sport of Kickboxing.
• International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board at its meeting on 10th June 2021 has approved the recommendation for WAKO to become fully recognized member of the Olympic family of sport.
• WAKO have been provisionally recognized member of the IOC Since 30 November 2018.
• The full recognition of WAKO will be finally decided by the IOC Session in Tokyo in July 2021.
• To be fully included and accepted in the Olympic movement is important for the recognition and development of the sport of kickboxing.
• It is expected that with government recognition of WAKO India Kickboxing Federation as NSF, the sport of kickboxing will develop at a faster pace in the country.

Source : Times of India

5. ISTANBUL CONVENTION ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Turkey’s controversial exit from Istanbul Convention on Violence Against Women on July 1 has received severe criticism from various quarters and has led to protests across the country.

About:

• The Council of Europe established the Istanbul Convention, a human rights treaty, with the aim to prevent and prosecute all forms of violence against women, promote gender equality and ensure protection and rehabilitation of women who are victims of violence.
• The treaty was opened for ratification in May 2011. From the European Union, 34 countries signed this treaty.
• On November 24, 2011, Turkey became the first country to ratify the Istanbul convention and, on March 8, 2012, it incorporated the Istanbul Convention into domestic law. 

What are the reasons for Turkey’s withdrawal?

• some officials of Erdogan’s nationalist party claimed that the convention demeans traditional family structure, promotes divorces and encourages acceptance of LGBTQ in the society.

How serious is the problem of violence against women in Turkey?

• Violence against women and honour killings are persistent in Turkey. The country ranks 133 out of 156 countries in the Global Gender Gap report 2021. According to UN women data, 38 per cent of women in Turkey face violence from a partner in their lifetime. 

Source : Indian Express

6. SARDAR PATEL NATIONAL UNITY AWARD-2021

The online nominations/recommendations process for the Sardar Patel National Unity Award is on and the last date for nominations/recommendations is 15th August 2021.

About:

• The Government of India has instituted the highest civilian award in the field of contribution to the unity and integrity of India, in the name of SardarVallabhbhai Patel.
• The Award seeks to recognize notable and inspiring contributions to promote the cause of national unity and integrity and to reinforce the value of a strong and united India.
• Any citizen of India without distinction of religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth, age or occupation, and any institution/organization would be eligible for the Award.
• Any Indian national or institution or organization based in India may nominate an individual or institution or organization for consideration for this Award.
• Individuals/institutions/organizationsmay also nominate themselves. State Governments, Union Territory Administrations and Ministries of the Government of India may also send nominations for the award. 

Source : DD News

7. OECD/G20 INCLUSIVE FRAMEWORK TAX DEAL

India has joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and G20 Inclusive Framework tax deal of global corporate tax.

About:

• Majority of the members OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting(including India)adopted a high-level statement containing an outline of a consensus solution to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy.

The proposed solution consists of two components –

1. Pillar One which is about reallocation of additional share of profit to the market jurisdictions and
2. Pillar Two consisting of minimum tax and subject to tax rules.

Further, the technical details of the proposal will be worked out in the coming months and a consensus agreement is expected by October.

Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) refers to tax-avoiding strategies used by big multinational companies that exploit the gaps and mismatches in tax rules across the globe.

Source : Business Standard

8. SHORT SPAN BRIDGING SYSTEM (SSBS)-10 M

The first production lot of 12 Short Span Bridging System (SSBS)-10 m, designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has been inducted into Indian Army.

About:

• The SSBS-10 m plays a crucial role of bridging the gaps up to 9.5 m as a single span providing a 4 m wide, fully decked roadway, ensuring faster movement of the troops.
• Research & Development Establishment (Engrs) Pune, a premier engineering laboratory of DRDO, has designed and developed the system in association with M/s L&T Ltd.
• The 12 bridges are part of 102 SSBS-10 m from M/s L&T Ltd, which is the production agency.

Important Info :

Do you know?

• The Project Short Span Bridging System involved the development of two prototypes of 5 m SSBS on Tatra 6x6 chassis and another two prototypes of 10 m SSBS on Tatra 8x8 re-engineered chassis.
• This bridging system is compatible with Sarvatra Bridging System (75 m), where the last span requires covering gaps less than 9.5 m.

Source : The Hindu

9. FREIGHT SMART CITIES

• Commerce Ministry’s Logistics Division unveils plans for ‘Freight Smart Cities’ to improve the efficiency of urban freight and create an opportunity for reduction in the logistics costs.

About:

• Under the Freight Smart Cities initiative, city-level logistics committees would be formed.
• These committees would have related government departments and agencies at the local level, state and from the reacted central ministries and agencies.
• These would also include private sector from the logistics services and also users of logistics services.
• These committees would co-create City Logistics Plans to implement performance improvement measures locally.
• On the Freight smart city initiatives, the Logistics Division is working closely with GIZ (Germany) under Indo-German Development Cooperation, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and RMI India.

Significance

• This is all the more relevant as the demand for urban freight is expected to grow by 140 per cent over the next 10 years.
• Final-mile freight movement in Indian cities is currently responsible for 50 per cent of total logistics costs in India’s growing e-commerce supply chains.

Source : Business Standard

10. 15th FINANCE COMMISSION

• The Supreme Court directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to frame guidelines for payment of ex-gratia compensation to family members of persons who succumbed to COVID-19, while considering the recommendations in the 15th Finance Commission Report.

Key recommendations in the Report of the 15th Finance Commission for 2021-26:

• The share of states in the central taxes for the 2021-26 period is recommended to be 41%, same as that for 2020-21.
• The criteria for distribution of central taxes among states for 2021-26 period is same as that for 2020-21. However, the reference period for computing income distance and tax efforts are different (2015-18 for 2020-21 and 2016-19 for 2021-26), hence, the individual share of states may still change.
• Fiscal deficit and debt levels: The Commission suggested that the centre bring down fiscal deficit to 4% of GDP by 2025-26. For states, it recommended the fiscal deficit limit (as % of GSDP) of: (i) 4% in 2021-22, (ii) 3.5% in 2022-23, and (iii) 3% during 2023-26. 
• Health: States should increase spending on health to more than 8% of their budget by 2022.
• A dedicated non-lapsable fund called the Modernisation Fund for Defence and Internal Security (MFDIS) will be constituted to primarily bridge the gap between budgetary requirements and allocation for capital outlay in defence and internal security.

Source : The Hindu