Daily Current Affairs – 28th April 2021
Topics/Highlights
- Article 223 of the Constitution.
- Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)
- Trends in global military expenditure in 2020
- Human Rights Watch
- ‘Large Area Certification’ scheme:
- Project ‘Pyrasol
Focus
1. Article 223 of the Constitution
In News
- Justice Rajesh Bindal has been appointed to perform the duties of the office of the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court (acting CJI).
- The President of India appointed him by exercising his powers under the Article 223 of the Indian Constitution.
About Article 223 of the Indian Constitution:
Appointment of acting Chief Justice
- When the office of Chief Justice of High Court is vacant or when any such Chief Justice is, by reason of absence or otherwise, unable to perform the duties of his office, the duties of the office shall be performed by such one of the other Judges of the Court as the President may appoint for the purposes
Source – PIB
2. Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)
In News
- Trade ministers of India, Australia and Japan have launched the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).
- This is seen as a move to counter the Chinese dominance in the supply chain space of the Indo-pacific region.
Key Points
- The initiative is aimed at creating a cycle to enhance the supply chain resilience.
- The initial focus would be on sharing best practices on supply chain resilience, holding promotional events, as well as buyer-seller matching events.
Source – PIB
3. Trends in global military expenditure in 2020
In News
Report on trends in global military expenditure in 2020 has been released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI.
Key Points
- USA, China, India, Russia, the United Kingdom – five biggest spenders in 2020 (62% of the global military expenditure)
- Overall increase in military spending was witnessed when compared with 2019, during a pandemic year.
- Military expenditure increased by 2.6 percent in real terms than 2019.
- The spending has only seen an upward trend in the last decade.
About SIPRI
- An independent international institute that is dedicated to research into arms control, conflict, disarmaments.
- Established in 1966 on the basis of a decision by the Swedish Parliament; also gets annual funding from the Swedish Government.
Source – Indian Express
4. Human Rights Watch
In News
Human Rights Watch said that Israel was committing “apartheid” against the Palestinians by mainting their Jewish “domination”.
About Human Rights Watch
- Founded in 1978, an international non-governmental organization.
- Conducts research and advocates Human Rights.
- Acts as a pressure group, and influences policy making pertaining to Human rights.
- Headquartered in New York.
Source – The Hindu
5. ‘Large Area Certification’ scheme:
In News
- The 14,491 ha area of Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands is now the first largest contiguous territory which has been conferred with the organic certification.
- This certification is granted under the “Large Area Certification” Scheme.
Key Points
- Launched by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under its flagship scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY).
- Each village in the area is considered as one cluster/group under the scheme.
- All farmers with their farmland and livestock need to adhere to the standard requirements.
- On being verified, the farmers get certified en-mass without the need to go under conversion period.
- Certification is renewed on an annual basis through annual verification by a process of peer appraisals as per the process of PGS-India.
Source – All India Radio
6. Project ‘Pyrasol
In News
- It is a pilot project launched in Chennai, which integrates a Solar Dryer and Pyrolysis.
- The idea is to transform urban organic waste to biochar and energy, which can be utilized to fulfill the energy requirements of the smart cities.
Project Pyrasol
Focus of the project is on managing and organizing, collecting, and them treatment and disposal system in the urban waste spaces, to organize this sector in the Smart Cities as well as other urban centres.
Source – All India Radio
