Current Affairs 9 July 2021 – IAS Current Affairs

Current Affairs 9 July 2021 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :

BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (2021-24)

Source : PIB
International Relation

What is discussed under BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (2021-24) ?

1. About the Plan
2. About BRICS

Why in News ?

All BRICS countries have agreed to the STI-led BRICS Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (2021-24) proposed by India during 12th Meeting of BRICS S&T Steering Committee.

• Department of Science and Technology (DST), India, hosted the 12th Meeting of BRICS S&T Steering Committee.
• Scientific ministries and agencies of all BRICS countries participated in it.

Key Facts

• Indian had proposed the plan to facilitate sharing of experiences of each other’s innovation ecosystem and

  

  networking of innovators and entrepreneurs.

• The Details of the Action Plan would be worked out by BRICS Science, Technology Innovation Entrepreneurship partnership (STIEP) Working Group.
• It was agreed that the proposal may be forwarded to BRICS STIEP working group through the respective country’s STI focal point.
• Call for proposals at the meeting and unanimously agreed for collaboration in ten thematic areas.
• The thematic areas included
  1. Transient Astronomical Events and Deep Survey Science,
  2. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment,
  3. Simulation and Big Data Analytics for Advanced Precision Medicine and Public Healthcare,
  4. HPC and Big Data for Sustainable Development: Solving Large Scale Ecological, Climate and Pollution Problems,
  5. Innovation and Entrepreneurship on Photonic, Nanophotonics, and Metamaterials for Addressing Bio-medicine, Agriculture,
  6. Food Industry and Energy Harvesting Issues,
  7. Materials Science and Nanotechnology for Addressing Environmental, Climate Change, Agricultural, Food, and Energy Issues,
  8. Renewable Energy including Smart Grid Integration,
  9. Ocean and Polar Science
  10. Technology Water Treatment Technology Research in Aeronautics and Aerospace.
• These areas have been recommended by different thematic Working Groups.
• All countries agreed to thematic areas proposed by India for 6th edition of BRICS Young Scientist Conclave.
  • It will be held in Bangalore during September 2021.
  • The three themes to be discussed at the conclave include Healthcare; Energy Solutions, Cyber-Physical System (CPS), and their applications.

About BRICS

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• The acronym for five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• The grouping has held annual summits since 2009.
• New Development Bank (NDB) is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states.

Headquarters	Shanghai, China
Membership	Brazil  Russia  India  China  South Africa
Official language	English

• BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) is a framework for providing protection against global liquidity pressures.
• Bangladesh has been formally invited to join the organization in 2020.
• BRICS countries signed a letter of intent to cooperate in the Information and Communication Technology sector.

India Industrial Land Bank (IILB)

Source : PIB
Infrastructure

What is discussed under IILB ?

1. About IILB
2. How it is useful ?

Why in News ?

India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) is a GIS-based portal a one-stop repository of all industrial infrastructure related information connectivity, infra, natural resources & terrain, plot-level information on vacant plots, line of activity, and contact details. 

Key Facts

• IILB has approximately 4000 industrial parks mapped across an area of 5.5 lakh hectare of land, serving as a decision support system for investors scouting for land remotely.
• The system has been integrated with industry based GIS systems of 17 states to have details on the portal updated on a real-time basis and will achieve pan-India integration by December 2021.

• The system has been integrated with industry-based GIS systems of 17 states so that details can be updated on the portal on a real-time basis.
• The industrial land bank has grown in popularity, with its website registering 30 per cent increase in page views each month since April 2021.
• It is under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• It serves as a decision support system for investors scouting for land remotely.

Oxfam’s Hunger Virus Multiplies Report

Source : OXAFAM
Issues relating to poverty and hunger

What is discussed under Oxfam’s Hunger Virus Multiplies Report ?

1. Major Findings
2. Situation In India
   • What India did with the support of Oxfam?
   • Reasons for Increase in Hunger
3. How can it be addressed ?

Why in News ?

 The Hunger Virus Multiplies, a new Oxfam report published recently. 11 people are likely dying every minute from acute hunger.

Key Facts

• Background
  • A year and a half since the Covid-19 pandemic began the report has  high importance for assessing Hunger related issue
  • Ongoing conflict combined with the economic disruptions of the pandemic and an escalating climate crisis has deepened poverty and catastrophic food insecurity in the world’s hunger hotspots and established strongholds in new epicentres of hunger.
• Major Findings
  • 11 people are likely dying every minute from acute hunger linked to three lethal C’s :- conflict, Covid-19, and the

    

    climate crisis.

    • This is 36 per cent more than the seven people dying around the world every minute as a result of Covid-19.
  • This rate outpaces the current pandemic mortality rate, which is at 7 people per minute.
  • More than half a million people are living in famine-like conditions.
  • Also brink of starvation.
  • The current situation led to a six-fold increase in catastrophic levels of hunger since the beginning of 2020.
  • 155 million people around the world are facing crisis levels of hunger and malnutrition a rise of 20 million compared to last year.
  • Major Hunger Hotspots
    • Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen continue to suffer from conflict
    • Also have witnessed a surge in extreme levels of hunger since last year.
  • Emerging Hunger Hotspots
    • Hunger has also intensified in middle income countries such as Brazil, India and South Africa which have experienced some of the highest numbers of Covid-19 infections.
    • In Brazil extreme poverty nearly tripled and almost 20 million people were pushed into hunger during the pandemic.
  • Issues related to climate change
    • 400 weather-related disasters have increased hunger in communities
    • Many of which are already battered by conflict and coronavirus.
    • Severely disrupted food production has led to a 40 per cent surge in global food prices, the highest rise in over a decade.

Situation In India

• Millions of people are experiencing a severe lack of food.
• In 2020 nearly 190 million people were under-nourished and over one third of children under the age of five were stunted.
• People’s consumption of essential food staples like lentils fell by 64% while their consumption of green vegetables  plummeted by 73% in 2020.
• Over 70% of people reported having to reduce their overall quantity of food intake compared to their pre-pandemic eating levels.
• Reasons for Increase in Hunger
  • Reduced income, poor implementation of social protection programmes, and school closures have fuelled hunger in India.
    • 120 million children across the country who relied on schools mid-day meals could no longer receive food.
  • A survey of 47,000 households across 15 states found that the average family lost more than 60% of its income since the pandemic due to massive job losses especially in the informal sector.
  • Nearly 8 million jobs were cut in the month of April 2021 alone.
  • The government relies on 2011 Census data for calculating beneficiaries of its Public Distribution Scheme which is 10 year old.
    • It is estimated that only 57% of the population entitled to this assistance is covered.
• What India did with the support of Oxfam?
  • 423,800 people in 92 districts across 16 states with dry ration kits and cooked meal packets.
  • With the country experiencing a second wave of the pandemic Oxfam extended food distribution to Delhi and Maharashtra.
  • Also campaigning to ensure that India’s poor and marginalized communities have access to government relief packages and other benefits.

How can it be addressed ?

• Governments must focus on funding urgent hunger response and social protection programs to save lives now, rather than striking arms deals that perpetuate conflict, war and hunger.
• As equally important as stopping Covid-19 itself is stopping it from killing more people through hunger.
• Need action to create fairer, more resilient and sustainable ways of feeding the world.
• Waiver Covid-19 vaccine patents to ensure developing countries can vaccinate their people.
• Guarantee humanitarian assistance reaches people.
• Promote women’s leadership in COVID-19 solutions.
• Take urgent action to tackle the climate crisis.

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