Daily Current Affairs Notes for 26 August 2022

World Water Week is a water conference held in Stockholm. It is hosted by SIWI. SIWI is Stockholm International Water Institute. In 2022, it was conducted between August 23 and September 1.

Overview

The theme of World Water Week 2022

Seeing the Unseen: The Value of Water

The theme focuses on three main aspects. They are as follows:

• Value of water among the people and in development
• Importance of water in climate change and nature
• Economic value and Financial value of water

About World Water Week

• It was first conducted in 1991.
• During the week, experts discuss the programs focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 6. (SDG 6: To ensure water access to all).
• The primary purpose of celebrating the week is to spread awareness of the water crisis.

The focus of 2022 World Water Week

This year, the week was observed focusing on the following:

• UN-Water Conference, 2023
• World Toilet Day, 2023
• Significance of water and sanitation in society

The road, railway, and shipping ministries recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop Multi Modal Logistics Parks (MMLP). The agreement was signed under Bharatmala Pariyojana.

Overview

Who signed the MoU?

The agreement was signed between RVNL, IWAI, and NHLML.

• RVNL: Rail Vikas Nigam Limited
• NHLML: National Highways Logistics Management Limited
• IWAI: Inland Waterways Authority of India

The objective of the MoU

The objectives of the agreement are as follows:

• To reduce logistics costs in the country from 14% to 10% of GDP
• Centralize freight consolidation
• To improve the standards in the country at par with international standards

What will the MMLP do?

• According to the MoU, the MMLPs will handle freights
• The parks will be accessible through rails and roads
• The MMLPs will have cargo terminals, material handling facilities, warehouses, container terminals, and cold storage
• The MMLPs are to adopt technology-driven freight management systems
• They will provide value-added services such as labeling, repackaging, and packaging

 

 

The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the Centre to increase coverage under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) so that “more and more needy persons and citizens get the benefit” under the 2013 law which entitles rural and urban poor to subsidised foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.

Overview

• The coverage under the NFSA is still decided by the population figures of the 2011 census.
• The SC ordered the Union government to re-determine the NFSA coverage in the States and Union Territories after considering the population increase between 2011 and 2021 so that benefits were not restricted to beneficiaries identified back in 2011.
• “The right to food is a fundamental right available under Article 21 of the Constitution,” the Supreme Court noted.

e-Shram portal

• In the order, the court directed the States which were not able to register unorganised workers, including migrant labourers, in the e-Shram portal to do so within six weeks.
• The Union Labour Ministry has developed a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) portal and the e-Shram portal for registration of labourers spread over 400 occupations including in constructions, agriculture, fishing, and dairy, those self-employed and even ASHA and anganwadi workers. 

 

Overview

• He said an e-chip and a few more features will be added to the passport book which will provide security upgradation of the Indian passport and enable machine reading.
• Stating that the interests of diaspora are important, the secretary said several steps are being taken to facilitate Indian citizens who are migrating to work in other countries and providing legal support.
• He said 87 billion dollars have been remitted to India by diaspora last year, compared to the 83 billion dollars in the previous year.
• Sayeed said maximum number of Immigration clearances are being given in Telangana.
• Referring to immigration processes, he said 15 more countries have been identified for singing Migration and Mobility Agreements while the agreement with 12 countries is currently in force. 

 

A 17-year-old pilot, Mack Rutherford became the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a small aircraft after he landed in Bulgaria.

Overview

• A 17-year-old pilot, Mack Rutherford became the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a small aircraft after he landed in Bulgaria, where his journey kicked off five months ago. Mack Rutherford, a Belgian-British dual national, landed on an airstrip west of Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, to complete his task and claim two Guinness World Records. Along with becoming the youngest person to fly around the world by himself, Rutherford is the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe in a microlight plane.