Daily Current Affairs for UPSC Exam- 23 December

Table of Contents

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 23 December

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC: Daily Current Affairs for UPSC article covers important articles of the day which is important for various competitive exams like UPSC, State PCS, SSC and various Bank Exams.

Global Covid-19 Situation

Global Covid-19 Situation in News

Recently, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired a high-level review meeting that comes in the backdrop of spike in COVID19 cases in some countries.

‘Zero-Covid’ Strategy

Indian PM on Global Covid-19 Situation

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to assess-
- The Covid-19 situation in the country,
- Preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics,
- Status of the vaccination campaign in the country and
- The emergence of new Covid-19 variants and their public health implications for the country.
Prime Minister was briefed that India has been witnessing a steady decline in cases with average daily cases falling to 153 and weekly positivity down to 0.14% in the week ending 22nd Dec, 2022.
- However, 5.9 lakh daily average cases have been reported globally since the last 6 weeks.
Prime Minister cautioned against complacency and advised strict vigil.
- He reiterated that Covid is not over yet and directed officials to strengthen the ongoing surveillance measures, especially at the international airports.
PM Modi advised States to audit Covid specific facilities to ensure operational readiness of Hospital Infrastructure, including Oxygen Cylinders, PSA plants, ventilators and human resources.
States have been asked to share a larger number of samples with the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (lGSLs) for Genome Sequencing on a daily basis.
- This will support timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and facilitate undertaking requisite public health measures.
Prime Minister urged everyone to follow Covid appropriate behaviour at all times, especially in view of the upcoming festive season, including wearing masks in crowded public places.
- Prime Minister also urged that that precaution dose may be encouraged especially for vulnerable and elderly groups.

India Developed World’s First Intranasal Vaccine Against COVID-19 | The Hindu Editorial

UIDAI HQ Building wins top Green Building Award

GRIHA Exemplary Performance Award 2022

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Headquarter in New Delhi has won the prestigious GRIHA Exemplary Performance Award 2022, a top national level Green Building Award.

GRIHA Exemplary Performance Award 2022

GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) is a national rating system for green buildings in India. UIDAI HQ has been declared a winner among the existing highest rated building category.
UIDAI believes and promotes the idea of recycle and reuse to reduce carbon footprint.
- It has been harnessing solar power to meet a portion of its energy consumption.
- It is recycling and reusing water and has been adhering to sustainable waste management practices.
On an average, 25% to 30% of its daily water consumption is coming from recycled water. Similarly, the UIDAI HQ building is also recharging ground water 3590 KL per year, on an average.
The nominations for this award were invited in the month of October 2022 from GRIHA rated buildings across the country.
UIDAI HQ building participated in the said competition in which 100 point rating system was considered across 34 criteria.

Schemes of Financial Support to Protect Folklore Artists

Schemes of Financial Support to Protect Folklore Artists in News

Ministry of Culture administers the scheme of Scholarship and Fellowship for promotion of art and culture.
Under the scheme, scholars and artists including folklore artists are provided financial assistance in the form of scholarships and fellowships to pursue their respective forms of art and buy the specific art instruments etc.

Other Schemes to Support Artists

Sangeet Natak Akademi also provides financial assistance to support folklore artists across the country on the recommendation of its Advisory Committees.
- Sangeet Natak Akademi is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture.
Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) implements Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme (CTSSS) which provides facilities to young talented children in the age group of 10-14 years to study various art forms.
- Under this scheme, 650 scholarships are awarded every year out of which 100 are reserved for Tribal Culture (ST candidates).
- Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India provides funds for Tribal Festivals (at State Level) like Hornbill Festival of Nagaland, Pawl-Kut festival of Mizoram and Medaram Jatra of Telangana through Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs).
OCTAVE is a festival organized regularly by the Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) to promote and protect the rich cultural heritage of North East Region.
- Only folk & tribal artists belonging to the North East Region are specifically provided opportunity to perform during this festival for which they are provided remuneration.

What are the Zonal Cultural Councils (ZCCs)?

To protect, promote and preserve various forms of folk art and culture throughout the country, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) in the country.
These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes all over the country on regular basis for which folk and tribal artists are engaged by these ZCCs to showcase their talents.
These artists are paid TA/DA, honorarium, boarding & lodging, local transport etc. to help them to earn their livelihood.

Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2022

Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2022 in News

The Annual Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2022 was conducted at Indian Naval Academy Ezhimala on 19 & 20 Dec 22.

Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2022

The Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2022 included conduct of Academic Advisory Committee, Management Advisory Committee and Executive Committee meetings to discuss varied issues of academic and administrative nature.
On this occasion, schools were also awarded with NES Rolling Trophies for academic excellence.
A guided tour of the Indian Naval Academy was also organised for all delegates as a part of Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2022.
Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, Controller Personnel Services, IHQ MoD (Navy) & Chairman NES chaired the conference.
- The conference was attended by Cmde AA Abhyankar, Commodore (Naval Education) & Vice Chairman NES and Chairmen/ Vice Chairmen/ Directors and Principals/ Headmistresses of all 13 Navy Children Schools (NCSs).

Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Bits, 20th December 2022