Bihar Affairs
Govt, opposition lock horns as Bihar rated Indias poorest state
With theNITI Aayogplacing Bihar at the bottom compared to other states on the basis of 12 parameters in its national multi-dimensional POVERTY index (NMPI) report, the states opposition and the ruling parties are engaged in a war of words. RJD national president Lalu Prasad and CM Nitish Kumar have also crossed swords in their own ways.
The report, prepared on the basis of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) with reference to 2015-16, has pointed to Bihars startling situation at the household level, even though its gross state domestic product (GSDP) has been in double figures. Bihar has been put in the club of the three poorest states Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.
In fact, Bihar has figured poorly compared to Jharkhand and UP, as its 51.96% of people have been categorised as poor, another chunk of 51.88% deprived of Nutrition and 45.62% of Women as deprived of maternal health.
The 12 parameters on which the has rated states are nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, antenatal care, years of schooling of children, their school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets and bank accounts. Bihar has been rated as poor performing against seven of the 12 parameters and its best performing area is the provision of drinking water for people.
The other 10 other districts in the poorest category are Araria (64.65%), Madhepura (64.43%), East Champaran (64.13%), Supaul (64.10%), Jamui (64.01%), Sitamarhi (63.46%), Purnia (63.29%), Katihar (62.80%), Saharsa (61.48%) and Sheohar (60.30%).
National and International Affairs
Anju Bobby George Wins Woman of the Year Award
The Indian Athlete Anju Bobby George has accomplished the Woman of the Year Award from World Athletics.
Highlights:
She has won the accolade for grooming young girls to take up Sports.
In the 2005 IAAF World Athletics Finals, she was a gold medallist and the first Indian contestant to win a bronze medal in the long jump at the World Championships in Athletics held in 2013 in Paris. In the 2004 Olympics, she finished sixth.
Anju was conferred the Arjuna award in 2002, Padma Shri in 2004, Khel Ratna in 2003.
In 2021, she won the BBC lifetime achievement award under Best Athlete Category.
In 2016, she formed a sports academy for young girls, helped India advance in sports, and inspired more Women to follow in her footsteps.
She is also presented with the award for advocating gender .
The Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey recently replied to question in Lok Sabha that the Government of India has amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. This was done to protect the interests of the consumers in the country.
The unit sale price of the commodity should compulsorily be displayed on the package. This allows the consumers to make informed decision irrespective of quantity and size of the commodity packed in the package. Also, this will remove the inexactness in declaration of quantity in pre packed commodities.
Judges Bill In Lok Sabha
The Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Judges Bill in Lok Sabha, which amends The Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Condition of Service) Act and the Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act.
Highlights
The bill attempts to explain whether the SC and HC judges can get additional pensions on attaining a certain age.
All the retired judges or his family (after his death) can get an additional quantum of pension. This is generally referred to as a family pension.
The pension slabs for the retired High Court and Supreme Court judges start when finishing 80, 85,90,95 or 100 years.
The confusion is whether the pension should be paid from the Month’s first day as he completes the age or the first day he enters the age. The bill inserts explanation about this issue.
India joins G20 Troika
India recently joined the Troika. The G20 Troika is made of Indonesia, India and Italy. That is Troika is made of the current presidency, Indonesia; the previous presidency Italy and the incoming presidency which is India.
Troika means a group of three people working together. It is an English word. The Troika of G20 is made of the current, next and immediate past host countries. The Troika ensures continuity and provides presidency support.
The G20 operates without a permanent staff or secretariat. The chair of the group rotates annually among its members. The current chair establishes secretariat temporarily. This secretariat organises meetings and coordinates the working of the group. Thus, there is need for Troika to help with the secretariat so that there is continuity in the works of G20.
In 2019, the G20 was hosted by Japan. In 2020, Italy hosted G20. In 2021, it is Indonesia. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, it will be hosted by Indonesia, India and Brazil.
Thus, the following countries formed the Troika in G20
2020: Japan, Italy and Indonesia
2021: Italy, Indonesia and India
2022: Indonesia, India and Brazil
World AIDS Day Is Commemorated On December 1
World AIDS Day is observed across the globe on 1st December.
Highlights:
It provides a chance for people worldwide to join in the fight against HIV, aid people with HIV, and remember those we have lost from an AIDS-related illness.
This theme of World AIDS Day 2021 is End inequalities. End AIDS and End Pandemics.
With a singular focus on reaching people left behind, WHO and its partners highlight the increasing disparities in access to essential HIV Services.
The day was first marked in 1988 and was also the first-ever international day for global Health.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a recurring disease induced by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The immune system of the person experiencing the disease gets damaged and reduces the body’s disease-fighting ability.