Jan 4, 20224 min read

Current affairs - January 3rd, 2022 from The Hindu.

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 2 - Social Justice

The Economically Weaker Section (EWS) is considered for "Income" or, more specifically, "family income," which is a viable criterion for defining EWS. Currently, an annual family income of Rs. 8 lakh appears reasonable for determining EWS and is used for the OBC creamy layer cutoff. It stated that the income criterion for EWS was "stricter" than that for the OBC creamy layer. NEET aspirants challenging the Centre's announcement of a 27% quota for July 29 notification for OBCs and a 10% reservation for EWS in AIQ filed the petition for the batch for the court hearing. On November 25, the Centre informed the court regarding their decision to reconsider the criteria for determining EWS deliberately and stated that "Considering the figure will assure us that the immense number of low-income people who are not required to work can do so."

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 1/2 - Social Justice/Human Geography

In April 2020, the exercise was supposed to start. Due to the postponement of census activities, requests were received from several State/Union Territory governments seeking clarifications/permission for the creation/extension/upgradation of various administrative units. As a result, the date of boundary freezing has been extended until December 31, 2020, says the statement. It was, however, extended once more, this time until December 31, 2021. A new date has been set for June 30, 2022.

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 2 - International Relation

The Taliban reaffirmed their promise to protect diplomats from countries that want to reopen embassies in Kabul that have been closed. The announcement arrived just hours after India announced the delivery of vaccines and wheat to Afghanistan.

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 3 - Security

According to a source, "The Pegasus spyware" was being used on Indian citizens' cellphones and personal and organizational computers to access stored data and listen in on one's conversations and confidential information for any purpose." Citizens who believe Pegasus spied on them should contact the technical committee by January 7th at noon at inquiry@pegasusindiainvestigation.com.

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 2 - Social Justice

The income criterion of Rs. 8 lakh has proven to be effective in identifying and providing EWS quota advantages to deserving UPSC exam aspirants. According to a Supreme Court expert committee report, NEET-UG and JEE (Mains), which have been held separately since 2019, "the proof of the pudding is not just in the recipe, but also in the snacking." The committee stated that the present annual income criteria of Rs. 8 lakh rupees is not really extensive and that "only the deserving will benefit from the quota."

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 2 - Social Justice

Termination is legal under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act if the pregnancy is less than 20 weeks long.

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 3 - Biodiversity

Two newly discovered species have been given the names Fimbristylis sunilii and Neanotis prabhuii, and the findings of the study team have been published in the plant taxonomy journal Phytotaxa. Inadequate information: A perennial plant belonging to the Cyperaceae family that grows to a height of 20–59 cm and may be found at an elevation of 1,100 meters is found. Neanotis prabhuii is a flowering plant that may grow up to 70 cm in length and has several flowers with pale pink petals.

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 3 - Security

In the Keran Sector of the Kupwara district, one infiltrator was killed.

On January 1st, an infiltration or BAT action was attempted in the Keran Sector of Kupwara district, completely violating the ongoing ceasefire agreement between the two armies across the LoC. Quick action thwarted the bid.

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 2 - International Relation

"We promise to safeguard all embassy staff and diplomatic missions so that they can return to Kabul and function productively. "Even though its humanitarian reach has expanded over the wartorn region, India has not yet sent a diplomacy crew back to Kabul for a first-hand report. India has been requesting "unimpeded" access to the Afghan people to help deliver humanitarian relief. Due to the arrival of the Taliban, India decided to carry out a round of rescue operations for Afghan Sikhs and Hindus with support from locals.

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 2 - Social Justice

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports was referred to the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill during the Lok Sabha's winter session. The law, which is currently being tested by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, intends to raise the legal age of marriage from 18 to 21 years old.

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 2 - International Relation

Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal's prime minister, is scheduled to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, which begins on January 10 and provides an opportunity for both Kathmandu and New Delhi to move from the contentious Kalapani problem.

UPSC Mains General Studies Paper 2 - International Relation

After a year of demolition by a mob affiliated with a radical Islamist party, over 200 Hindu pilgrims from India, the United States, and the Middle East gathered on Saturday to pray at the 100-year-old Maharaja Paramhans Ji temple in Pakistan, which had been rebuilt. According to a statement, a positive message for India is being sent today by yatris (pilgrims) who are praying at the mandir (temple) to promote peace and religious harmony.