Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 8 January 2022, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
Daily Current Affairs 8 January 2022
UN World Food Programme tie up with The Akshaya Patra Foundation for PM-POSHAN Scheme
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in India has partnered with The Akshaya Patra Foundation to enhance the effectiveness of the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN) scheme, which was earlier known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. The agreement in this regard was signed on January 03, 2022 between WFP India country director Bishow Parajuli and Chanchalapthi Dasa, Vice Chairman of The Akshaya Patra Foundation in New Delhi.
PM Poshan Scheme was launched on September 29, 2021 as a new meal scheme for government and government-aided schools for 5 years (from 2021-22 to 2025-26) with the financial outlay of Rs 1.31 trillion.
The existing ‘Mid Day Meal’ scheme has been included in this programme. The WFP and Akshaya Patra will form a steering committee with representatives from both organisations to discuss various aspects of the tie-up. Finances to implement the programmes will be provided by both organisations. Bengaluru-based The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a non-profit organisation that operates a school lunch programme.
Chinese diplomat Zhang Ming takes charge as new Secretary-General of SCO
China’s senior diplomat Zhang Ming has taken charge as the new Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in which India is a member. Zhang has taken charge from Vladimir Norov, former Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan from January 1 for a three-year term.
The 65-year-old Zhang replaces Vladimir Norov, a former diplomat from Uzbekistan who completed his term on December 31, 2021.
Prior to joining SCO, Zhang served as the head of the Chinese mission to the European Union for four years.
PM Narendra Modi virtually inaugurates second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) in Kolkata on January 07, 2022 in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The new campus has been built at an estimated cost of over Rs 530 crore. Out of this, Rs 400 crores have been provided by the Union government and remaining by West Bengal government, in the ratio of 75:25. The 460-bedded second campus of CNCI has been built under the Union Ministry of Health, in line with the prime minister’s vision to expand and upgrade the health facilities in all parts of the country.
CNCI is named after Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das and was established in 1950. It is a premiere centre for cancer treatment and research in the eastern region of India. CNCI is an autonomous body under the Centre, and the only government-run cancer hospital in Bengal so far.
Uttar Pradesh bags Best State award in 3rd National Water Awards for 2020
Uttar Pradesh added another feather to its cap on January 07, 2022, winning the first position in the Union Jal Shakti Ministry’s National Water Awards 2020 in the ‘best state category’. This is the third edition of the award given for adopting a holistic approach towards water resources management in India.
It is followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu respectively. The 57 awards were announced in 11 categories including best states, districts, panchayat and best industries.
These include: Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best Media (Print & Electronic), Best School, Best Institution/RWA/Religious organization for Campus usage, Best Industry, Best NGO, Best Water User Association, and Best Industry for CSR Activity.
The award comes with a citation, trophy and cash prize. The National Water Award was launched by the Jal Shakti Ministry in 2018 to recognise and motivate individuals and organizations doing exemplary work in the field of water resources management.
Election Commission raises expenditure limit for candidates in Parliamentary and Assembly polls
The Election Commission of India (ECI) raised the existing election expenditure limit for candidates in Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies, due to the rise in inflation. The new limits will be applicable in all upcoming elections in the country. The last major revision in the election expenditure limit for candidates was carried out in 2014, which was further increased by 10 % in 2020.
Parliamentary constituencies poll expenditure ceiling:
- Bigger states (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka)- Increased to Rs 95 lakh from previous limit of Rs 70 lakh.
- Smaller states (Goa, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and UTs) – Increased to 75 lakh from previous Rs 54 lakh.
- UT of Jammu and Kashmir has been raised to 95 lakhs.
Assembly constituencies poll expenditure limits:
- Bigger states: Increased to Rs 40 lakh from Rs 28 lakhs
- Smaller states: Increased to Rs 28 lakhs from Rs 20 lakhs
Cabinet approves MoU with Nepal for construction of bridge over Mahakali river at Dharchula in Uttarakhand
Government of India announced that The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal to build a bridge over the Mahakali river at Dharchula in Uttarakhand.
The bridge will connect the twin town of Dharchula in Uttarakhand with Dharchula in the territory of Nepal. The construction of the bridge will be completed within 3 years. It will strengthen the relationship and further improve the diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Puducherry to host 25th National Youth Festival in 2022
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chosen Puducherry to host the 25th National Youth Festival 2022.
The 25th National Youth Festival has been organized from January 12 to 16, 2022. The celebration is part of the Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav, which commemorates the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, according to Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports as well as Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur. Around 1000 youths from across the country are expected to participate in the festival.
It NYF 2022 will showcase the rich cultural heritage and the unsung heroes of India’s freedom movement who gave their life to it and many other such topics
Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurates 24th Conference on e-Governance 2020-21 in Hyderabad
The Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has inaugurated the 24th National Conference on e-Governance in Hyderabad, Telangana on January 07, 2022. the 24th Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) 2020-21 will be conducted from 7th – 8th January 2022.
The theme of the two-day Conference is ‘India’s Techade: Digital Governance in a Post Pandemic World’.
The conference has been organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG) and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), in association with the State Government of Telangana.
Ind-Ra lowers India’s GDP growth forecast by 10 basis points to 9.3% in FY22
The ratings agency India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has downgraded the GDP of India for the current fiscal FY 2021-2022.
For the entire FY22, the GDP is expected to clock a growth rate of 9.3% y-o-y, 10bps lower than our earlier estimate of 9.4%.” Meanwhile, Brickworks Ratings has also revised India’s GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal (FY22) to 8.5-9%. Earlier this was estimated at 10%. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant is the main driver to downgrade GDP growth projections.
Antigua and Barbuda joins as 102nd member of ISA
Antigua and Barbuda has officially joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a member country on 5 January 2022.
With this, the Caribbean nation has become the 102nd country to join the India-led global energy initiative, ISA. The framework agreement was formally signed by Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne in the presence of the Indian High Commissioner Dr KJ Srinivasa.
The International Solar Alliance is an action-oriented, collaborative and member-driven platform promoting the enhanced deployment of solar energy technology in member nations as a method of increasing energy access, guaranteeing energy security, and accelerating the energy transition.
