Daily Current Affairs : 10-12-2020

Smuggling in India report, 2019-20 

• It analyses organised smuggling trends on Gold and Foreign Currency, Narcotic Drugs, Security, Environment and Commercial Frauds. 

Key Findings:

• 120 tonnes of gold (15% to 17% of the annual demand) were smuggled into India in 2019-20.
• India has become the fourth largest illegal cigarette market in the world.
• Directorate of Revenue Intelligence arrested 837 economic offenders.
• Cases of Customs duty evasion amounting to ????2, 183 crore were unearthed.

Source: The Hindu

Social commerce 

• Social commerce is the process of selling products directly on social media.
• It differs from social media marketing as it is not redirecting users to an online store, but offering them the ability to checkout directly within the network they're using at that moment.
• Social commerce in India is expected rise tenfold to touch $16-20 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) over the next five years from the existing $1.5-2 billion, according to a joint report by Bain and Co. and Sequoia India.

Molnupiravir

• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research are holding discussions to initiate clinical trials of new oral drug Molnupiravir. 
• Development comes after a recent study in US found that Molnupiravir can completely suppress transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus within 24 hours.

New sports added to the Paris Olympic Games 2024 

• Skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing and breaking (breakdancing) were confirmed as additional sports proposed by the Paris 2024 Organising Committee.
• Surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing are also part of next year's Tokyo Games. 
• It is aimed to make the Games more gender balanced, more youthful and more urban. 
• It will help to refresh the sports program in a bid to remain relevant to sponsors, broadcasters and younger fans.

Mount Everest 

• Nepal and China jointly certified the elevation of Mount Everest at 8,848.86 metres above sea level - 86 cm higher than what was recognised since 1954. 
• Mount Everest rises from border between Nepal and China. It is believed to be 50-60 million years old. It is formed out of the collision of Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Vanchit lkai Samooh aur Vargon ki Aarthik Sahayta (VISVAS) Yojana 

• It is an Interest subvention Scheme of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for financial empowerment of economically marginalized OBC/SC SHGs & Individuals. 
• The scheme will benefit OBC/SC SH Gs with loans/borrowings up to Rs.4.00 Lakh and OBC/SC individuals with loan/borrowing up to Rs.2.00 Lakh with a quick interest subvention benefit of 5% directly into the standard accounts of borrowing SHGs/beneficiaries.

New'Policy on School Bag 2020' of Union ministry of education 

Key recommendations

• School bags should not be more than 10% of the body weight of students across classes I to X. There should be no bags in pre-primary.
• Weight of the bag needs to be monitored on a regular basis in schools. 
• It also suggests maximum homework time for students of different classes.
• Adequate good quality mid-day meal and potable water to all students so that they need not carry lunch boxes or water bottles.
• Weight of each textbook may come printed on them by the publishers.

Partners in Population and Development (PPD) 

• Recently, Union Minister of Health addressed the Inter Ministerial Conference by PPD.
• PPD is an intergovernmental Alliance of 27 developing countries (including India) created specifically for expanding and improving South-to-South collaboration in the fields of reproductive health, population, and development.
• It was created at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994.

GWALIOR, ORCHA OF MADHYA PRADESH (MP) ARE ON UNESCO'S WORLD HERITAGE CITIES  (WHC) LIST

• Both sites have been included under UNESCO's urban landscape city programme. Prior to this India had 38 world heritage sites (refer box).
• Historic Urban Landscape approach moves beyond preservation of physical environment and focuses on the entire human environment with all of its tangible and intangible qualities. 
• It focuses on involving more people in preservation efforts, raise levels of awareness, and seek innovative schemes.
• Gwalior was established in 9th century and ruled by Gurjar Pratihar Rajvansh, Tamar, Baghel Kachvaho and Scindias.
• It is known for its palaces and temples, including Sas Bahu Ka Mandir temple.
• Orchha is located in the Bundelkhand region of MP and was the 16th century capital of the erstwhile Bundela dynasty.
• Famous spots in the town are Jehangir Mahal, Ramraja Temple, Laxminarayan Temple etc.

After Inclusion in WHC list

• Chemical treatment of historic spots will be done so that art inscribed on them will become more visible. 
• UNESCO will suggest best measures and resources for the development of these places. 

Source: Indian Express

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