CURRENT AFFAIRS 21 FEB 2021
1.AYESHA AZIZ
Ayesha Aziz is emerging as a role model for Kashmir women.
About:
- Ayesha Aziz became the nation’s youngest pilot when she acquired her student flying licence at the age of 16. At 25 now, she flies GoAir planes.
- Aziz was given the First Ladies’ Award by the President of India in 2018.
Source : The Hindu
2. CENTRE FOR DNA FINGERPRINTING AND DIAGNOSTICS (CDFD)
Vice President of India paid a visit to Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) in Hyderabad. He also inaugurated a Paediatric Rare Genetic Disorders Laboratory.
About:
- The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) is an autonomous organization funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.
- Established in 1990.
- Location: Hyderabad, Telangana.
Source : PIB
3. GIG ECONOMY WORKERS
The UK Supreme Court ruled that Uber drivers were to be considered workers and not freelance contractors, thereby making them eligible for all employment related benefits such as minimum wage, annual leaves, and insurance.
About:
- With this ruling, Uber and other service providing platforms could also potentially face legal and regulatory challenges in India, as big tech companies from across the globe are under government scrutiny for the differential terms of service and engagement in geographies such as the EU and in locations such as India.
- The increased focus on big tech aside, the central government has already put in place some legal protection for gig economy workers.
- The budget for the 2021-22 has already mandated that the law on minimum wages would now apply to workers of all categories including those associated with platforms such as Uber.
- Such workers would now be covered by the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), which mandates employers depositing a certain amount of money with the state insurer, the rest of which is paid by the government.
- Under the new rules, ride hailing apps could charge a maximum of 20 per cent commission per ride from driver partners, while also capping the total number of working hours per day at 12.
- The new regulations also provided for the maximum fare that these platforms could charge customers even during high demand peak hours, and that they would have to provide drivers with insurance.
November last year, the central government had come out with specific norms for ride hailing apps such as Uber and Ola.
Important Info :
• A gig economy is a free market system in which temporary positions are common and organizations hire independent workers for short-term commitments.
Source : Indian Express
4. FOOTWEAR SIZING SYSTEM
By next year, India could have its own ‘Footwear Sizing System’, which will hopefully remove some of the confusion involved in buying shoes of ‘EU’, ‘UK’ or ‘US’ sizes, especially online.
About:
- CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) will lead a pan India feet scanning survey, data from which will be used to define Indian footwear size standards – and which will be included by shoe manufacturers in their size charts.
- The project, which is scheduled to begin later this year and continue for 14 months, is supported by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) of the Union Ministry of Commerce.
What footwear sizing system does India follow?
- India has never had its own footwear sizing system. The British introduced English sizes before Independence, which are followed still. Manufacturers size footwear according to the English system, with charts mentioning the equivalent European and American sizes.
- According to this UK system, the average Indian woman wears footwear sizes between 4 and 6, and the average man between 5 to 11.
- Back in 1969, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which lays down standards and certifies product quality, had notified the Indian Standard Specification for Sizes and Fitting of Footwear (IS 1638-1969). The characteristics of Indian feet have changed since.
Source : Indian Express