DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS - 11 JANUARY 2022
1. JUDGES RECUSAL
Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and A.S. Bopanna of the Supreme Court recused themselves from hearing a dispute among the States of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on the allocation of the Krishna river water.
When does a judge recuse?
- When there is a conflict of interest, a judge can withdraw from hearing a case to prevent creating a perception that she carried a bias while deciding the case.
- The conflict of interest can be in many ways — from holding shares in a company that is a litigant to having a prior or personal association with a party involved in the case.
- Another instance for recusal is when an appeal is filed in the Supreme Court against a judgement of a High Court that may have been delivered by the SC judge when she was in the HC.
- The practice stems from the cardinal principle of due process of law that nobody can be a judge in her own case.
Do judges record reasons for recusal?
- Since there are no formal rules governing the process, it is often left to individual judges to record reasons for recusal. Some judges disclose the reasons in open court; in some cases, the reasons are apparent.
What is the process for recusal?
- The decision to recuse generally comes from the judge herself as it rests on the conscience and discretion of the judge to disclose any potential conflict of interest.
- In some circumstances, lawyers or parties in the case bring it up before the judge. If a judge recuses, the case is listed before the Chief Justice for allotment to a fresh Bench.
Source : The Hindu
2. CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL TAMIL (CICT)
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new campus of Central Institute of Classical Tamil in Chennai, on 12th January, 2022.
About:
- The establishment of a new campus of Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) in Chennai is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to protect and preserve Indian heritage and promote classical languages.
- The new campus is fully funded by the Union Government and is built at a cost of Rs 24 Crore.
- CICT, which was operating from a rented building so far, will now operate from a new 3 storey campus.
- An autonomous organization under the Union Ministry of Education, CICT is contributing to the promotion of classical Tamil by doing research activities so as to establish the ancientness and uniqueness of Tamil language.
- To promote classical Tamil and support its students, the Institute indulges in academic activities like holding seminars and training programmes, granting fellowship etc. It also aims to translate and publish ‘Thirukkural’ in various Indian as well as 100 foreign languages.
Source : PIB
3. KHADI HANDMADE PAPER SLIPPERS
The devotees visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and hundreds of temple workers will no longer need to enter the temple premises barefoot.
About:
- Starting 14th January, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is beginning the sale of Khadi handmade paper “Use & Throw” slippers for the use of the devotees and the workers.
- The slippers will be sold by Kashi Hastkala Pratisthan, a registered Khadi Institution in Varanasi.
- The development comes in wake of the jute slippers sent by the Prime Minister for the workers of Kashi Vishwanath Temple after he learnt that most of the people working at the temple performed their duty barefoot. It is forbidden to wear footwear made of leather or rubber on the temple premises.
- The “use & throw” slippers made of handmade paper will maintain the sanctity of the temple and at the same time will also save devotees from heat and cold during harsh weather conditions. Also, these slippers will prevent any kind of pollution as they are made of natural fibres.
- Notably, Khadi’s handmade paper “use & throw” slippers have been developed for the first time in India. These handmade paper slippers are 100% eco-friendly and cost-effective.
- The Handmade paper used in making these slippers is completely wood-free and made of natural fibres like Cotton & Silk rags and agro waste and hence, suitable for use in places of worship.
Source : PIB
4. DEVELOPING COUNTRY STATUS (WTO)
China’s status as a ‘developing country’ at the World Trade Organization (WTO) has become a contentious issue with a number of countries raising concerns over the upper middle-income nation deriving benefits reserved for developing countries under WTO norms.
What are the benefits of ‘developing country’ tag?
- Certain WTO agreements give developing countries special rights through ‘special and differential treatment’ (S&DT) provisions, which can grant developing countries longer timeframes to implement the agreements and even commitments to raise trading opportunities for such countries.
- WTO pacts are often aimed at reduction in government support to certain industries over time and set more lenient target for developing nations and grant them more time to achieve these targets compared to developed ones.
- The classification also allows other countries to offer preferential treatment.
How is a ‘developing country’ decided?
- The WTO has not defined ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries and therefore member countries are free to announce whether they are ‘developed’ or ‘developing’.
Source : Indian Express
5. ‘LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY’ (LDC) STATUS
Concerns have been raised at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the ‘least developed country’ (LDC) status, with Bangladesh potentially losing this tag after surpassing India in terms of GDP per capita.
What are the benefits of LDC classification?
- The WTO recognises LDCs relying on a classification by the UN based on a criteria that is reviewed every three years. LDCs are often exempted from certain provisions of WTO pacts.
- Bangladesh, currently classified as an LDC, receives zero duty, zero quota access for almost all exports to the EU.
- It is, however, set to graduate from the LDC status in 2026 as its per capita GDP has risen sharply surpassing that of India in FY21.
Source : Indian Express
6. AUNG SAN SUU KYI
A court in military-ruled Myanmar sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to four years in jail on charges including possession of unlicensed walkie-talkies.
About:
- The latest sentencing in legal proceedings that rights groups have criticised as a “farce and a courtroom circus” means she faces a six-year jail term after two convictions last month.
- Nobel laureate Suu Kyi, 76, is on trial in nearly a dozen cases that carry combined maximum sentences of more than 100 years in prison. She denies all charges.
- Myanmar has been in turmoil since the coup against Ms. Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government led to widespread protests and signalled the end of 10 years of tentative political reforms that followed decades of strict military rule.
Aung San Suu Kyi
- Aung San Suu Kyi (born 1945) is a Burmese politician, diplomat, author, and a 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate who served as State Counsellor of Myanmar (equivalent to a prime minister) and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2021.
- She has served as the chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) since 2011.
- Suu Kyi, whose party had won the November 2020 Myanmar general election, was arrested on 1 February 2021 following a coup d'état that returned the Military leaders to power.
Source : The Hindu
7. SECOND ROUND OF THE QUARTERLY EMPLOYMENT SURVEY (QES)
Union Labour and Employment Ministry released July-Sept. 2021 employment figures under the second round of the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES).
About:
- Nine sectors that account for about 85% of total employment in establishments with 10 or more workers hired two lakh more people in July-September 2021 compared to April-June 2021,
- The estimated total employment in the nine selected sectors from the second round of QES (July-September, 2021) came out as 3.10 crore approximately, which is 2 lakh higher than the estimated employment (3.08 crore) from the first round of QES (April 1, 2021).
- The report covers manufacturing, construction, trade, transport, education, health, accommodation and restaurants, IT/BPOs and financial services sectors.
- The second QES report that covered 11,503 establishments said nearly 90% of the establishments had less than 100 workers, while 30% of the IT/BPO establishments had at least 100 workers.
- The overall percentage of female workers stood at 32.1%, higher than 29.3% reported during the first round of QES.
- Regular workers constitute 87% of the estimated workforce in the nine selected sectors, with only 2% being casual workers.
- However, in the construction sector, 20% of the workers were contractual and 6.4% were casual workers.
- It also said 5.6% of the total establishments had reported vacancies, a total of 4.3 lakh. While most of the vacancies (65.8%) were for unspecified reasons, 23% were due to resignation and 11.7% due to retirement of employees.
Source : The Hindu
8. GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
The 79th Golden Globe Awards honored the best in film and American television of 2021, as chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). The ceremony took place on January 9, 2022.
About:
- While the Power Of The Dog movie won the two biggest awards, one of Best Film in Drama category and another of Best Director honoured upon Jane Campion.
- Will Smith took home his first Golden Globe of Best Film Actor for his movie King Richard. Nicole Kidman won her fifth Golden Globe for Best Film Actress for Being The Ricardos.
- West Side Story directed by Steven Spielberg won major awards that included Best Film in Comedy/Musical segment, Best Film Actress for Rachel Zegler and Best Supporting Actress for Ariana DeBose. Andrew Garfield won Best Film Actor award in comedy/musical segment for Tick, Tick... BOOM!.
Source : All India Radio
9. ESTABLISHING OF NEW MEDICAL COLLEGES ATTACHED WITH EXISTING DISTRICT/REFERRAL HOSPITAL
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 11 New Government Medical Colleges across Tamil Nadu on 12th January, 2022.
About:
- The new medical colleges, with cumulative capacity of 1450 seats, are being established under the Centrally Sponsored scheme of ’Establishing of New Medical Colleges attached with existing district/referral hospital’.
- Under the scheme, medical colleges are established in districts, which do not have either a government or private medical college.
Source : PIB
10. NATIONAL ATLAS & THEMATIC MAPPING ORGANISATION (NATMO)
Visually challenged students from all over the country will have the access soon to Braille Maps designed and developed using Digital Embossing Technology, enabling them for ease of use, user friendly, better feeling and durable in terms of quality.
About:
- The digital embossing technology is a technology which eliminates the need for printing plates, moulds, chemicals, and solvents, emitting no pollutants or waste and reduces overall energy usage.
- This innovative technology has been introduced, designed and implemented first time in India by National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) functioning as the Attached Office of the Department of Science & Technology.
- The maps produced using this technology is not only useful for high-speed production of the maps but can also produce Braille Maps that can be used by more people for years together.
- NATMO started the journey in the year 1997, however, it has become popularized with the publication of Braille Atlas for Visually Impaired (India), edition 2017 in English Braille Script which received a huge response from the visually impaired community.
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi conferred National Award on “Science & Technology Intervention for Physically Challenged” to NATMO for this publication which was officially released on 10th February 2017 at New Delhi.
Source : PIB