Daily Current Affairs for 22th Dec 2021

GS PAPER II NEWS

Program for Women Empowerment

Why in News

• The Prime Minister visited Prayagraj and participated in an event to empower women, especially at the grassroots level.

Key point

• The Prime Minister transferred an amount of Rs 1,000 crore to the bank accounts of Self Help Groups (SHGs), which would benefit about 16 lakh women members of the SHGs.
• This transfer of funds is being done under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), which includes 80,000 SHGs, Rs 1.10 lakh per SHG and 60,000 SHGs under Community Investment Fund (CIF), Revolving Fund fund) as Rs 15,000 per SHG.
• In this program, the Prime Minister encouraged BC-Sakhis by transferring Rs.4, 000 as honorarium for the first month to the accounts of 20,000 Business Correspondent-Sakhis (BC-Sakhis).
• During the programme, the Prime Minister transferred a total amount of over Rs 20 crore to over 1 lakh beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana.
• The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of 202 units of supplementary nutrition manufacturing.
• The Prime Minister said that the whole country is watching the work being done for women empowerment in Uttar Pradesh.
• The Prime Minister said that programs like Mukhyamantri Kanya Sumangala Yojana, under which he transferred crores of rupees to the accounts of more than one lakh beneficiary daughters of the state today, are becoming a great medium of trust for the poor and the poor.
• The Prime Minister said that because of the construction of crores of toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the poorest of the poor sisters get gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme, the water coming from the tap at home, convenience is also coming in the lives of the sisters and His dignity has also increased.
• The Prime Minister said that for decades there was such a system that the house and property of the house were considered as the right of men only. If the house is in whose name? Men’s names. If the farm is in whose name? Men’s names. Who has the right to a job, a shop? Of men. For decades, home and property were considered the right of men only. Today, the schemes of our government are removing this inequality as well. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is the biggest example of this.
• The houses being given under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana are being built in the name of women on priority basis.
• The Prime Minister said, “Today there is security as well as rights in Uttar Pradesh. Today, UP have possibilities as well as business. I am sure that when we have the blessings of our mothers and sisters, no one will return to this new UP. Can’t push into the dark.”

GS PAPER III

National Mathematics Day

Why in News

• • National Mathematics Day is organized every year on 22 December in India.

Key point

• • National Mathematics Day is celebrated to recognize the achievements of the great Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Ramanujan has made valuable contributions in the field of mathematics.
  • The objective of celebrating National Mathematics Day is to raise awareness among people about the importance of mathematics.
  • Ramanujan was recognized for his mastery of continued fractions and worked on hypermetric series, Riemann series, zeta functions and functional equations of elliptic integrals.
• Importance
  • The purpose of celebrating this day is to raise awareness among people about the importance of mathematics.
  • This day is celebrated to increase the positive attitude towards learning among the generation of the country.
  • On this day, training is provided to mathematicians, teachers and students through camps and development and dissemination of teaching materials for mathematics and research in related fields are highlighted.
• National Mathematics Day
  • The main objective behind celebrating this day is to raise awareness among people about the importance of mathematics for the development of humanity.
  • Several initiatives are taken to inspire, encourage and develop a positive attitude towards learning Mathematics among the young generation of the country.
  • National Mathematics Day is celebrated in various schools, colleges, universities and educational institutions of India. Even the International Society UNESCO and India had agreed to work together to spread mathematics learning and understanding.
  • All the states of India celebrate National Mathematics Day in different ways. Various competitions and mathematical quizzes are organized at school, college and university level.

History

• • The former Prime Minister of India declared 22 December as National Mathematics Day at a function organized on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan in Chennai in 2012.
  • Thus for the first time on 22 December 2012, National Mathematics Day was celebrated across the country.

Srinivasa Ramanujan

• • India’s great mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on 22 December 1887 in the Erode village of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
  • Despite the lack of formal education, at the age of 12, Srinivasa Ramanujan excelled in trigonometry and developed many theorems.
  • He made important contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series and fractions. For this reason, Mathematics Day is celebrated every year in the country on 22 December in his honor.
  • Ramanujan was so fond of mathematics that he used to come with full marks in mathematics, but he used to fail in it if he could not pay proper attention to other subjects.
  • His childhood was spent in many difficulties. He used to study mostly in school by borrowing books from friends. When he was young, he took up the job of a clerk to meet the financial needs of the house and used to solve maths problems when he was vacant.
  • He died on 26 April 1920 due to TB disease at the age of just 33.

GS PAPER III

S-400 air defense missile system

Why in News

• • The Indian Air Force has deployed the first squadron of the S-400 air defense missile system in the Punjab sector to boost the country’s air defense capabilities.

Key point

• • The first batch is being deployed in Punjab Sector. It is capable of saving the country from air strikes by both Pakistan and China.
  • Parts of the Russian missile system began arriving in India earlier this month and the unit is expected to be operational in the next few weeks.
  • The deployment of the air defense system is expected to give a major boost to India’s air defense capabilities.
  • After the arrival of this air defense missile system, the security of the country is becoming impenetrable.
  • The S-400 air defense system was contracted by India in a deal worth about Rs 35,000 crore and five squadrons will be provided to India to deal with air threats up to 400 km.
  • The first squadron delivery is expected to be completed by the end of this year. It is capable of saving the country from air strikes by both Pakistan and China.
  • The first squadron related deliveries are expected to be completed by the end of this year. This equipment will be brought to India from Russia by sea and air.
  • After the deployment of the first squadron, the IAF will start focusing on the eastern frontiers along with providing resources for personnel training within the country.
  • Capable of taking out cruise missiles
  • Indian Air Force officers and personnel have undergone training in Russia on this system.
  • The air defense system will give India strength in the South Asian skies as they will be able to take out enemy aircraft and cruise missiles from a distance of 400 km.

S-400 missile

• • The S-400 missile defense system is equipped with four different missiles that can hit enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles and AWAS aircraft at 400 km, 250 km, medium range 120 km and short range 40 km.
  • The S-400 air defense missile system is not a weapon but a great armor. The biggest enemy starts trembling in front of it.
  • The S-400 missile system is considered the world’s most capable missile system. Pakistan and China have always been a challenge for India. The country needed such a missile system to maintain the balance of power.
  • The S-400 can fire up to 72 missiles at a time. The most important thing is that it is very easy to move this air defense system anywhere as it can be mounted on an 8X8 truck.
  • The S-400 missile system consists of four types of missiles with a range of 40, 100, 200, and 400 km. This system can identify and destroy every target flying from 100 to 40 thousand feet.
  • The radar of the S-400 missile system is very state-of-the-art and powerful. This missile strikes from the ground to the air, which will strengthen India’s firepower.
  • The S-400 consists of supersonic and hypersonic missiles, which are adept at hitting targets. The S-400 is counted among the most modern weapons in the world.
  • This missile is capable of hitting enemy fighter planes, drones, missiles and even hidden aircraft. With its help, aircraft that are not caught by radar can also be shot down.

GS PAPER III

YouTube channel and website ban

Why in News

• • In a coordinated effort between intelligence agencies and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ordered the blocking of 20 YouTube channels and 2 websites for spreading anti-India propaganda and fake news on the Internet.

Key point

• • The Ministry, through two separate orders – first, directing YouTube regarding 20 YouTube channels and second, requesting DoT for 2 news websites – asked Internet service providers to provide these news channels. / Instruct portals to be blocked.
  • These channels and websites belong to a coordinated propaganda network operating from Pakistan and are spreading fake news about various sensitive topics related to India.
  • These channels were used to post divisive content in a coordinated manner on topics like Kashmir, Indian Army, and Minority Communities in India, Ram Mandir, and General Bipin Rawat etc.

Anti-India propaganda campaign

• • Anti-India propaganda campaign mods include The Naya Pakistan Group (NPG), which operates from Pakistan and has a network of YouTube channels.
  • Some other YouTube channels are also included in this propaganda campaign, which are not related to NPG.
  • These channels had a combined subscriber base of over 3.5 million, and their videos had over 55 million views.
  • Some YouTube channels of Naya Pakistan Group (NPG) were being operated by anchors of Pakistani news channels.
  • These YouTube channels also posted content on issues such as farmers’ protests, protests related to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and tried to incite minorities against the Indian government.
  • There were also apprehensions that these YouTube channels would be used to post content aimed at undermining the democratic process of the upcoming elections in five states.
  • The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has taken this action with a view to secure the information space in India and has exercised emergency powers under Rule 16 of the Information Technology (Intermediate Guidelines and Digital Media Code of Conduct) Rules, 2021.
  • The Ministry found that most of the material relates to sensitive topics from the perspective of national security and is factually incorrect.
  • These materials are being posted primarily from Pakistan as a coordinated propaganda network against India (as in the case of the Naya Pakistan group).
• Therefore, the Ministry considered it appropriate to take action under the provisions of blocking of content in case of emergency.