Daily Current Affairs – 2nd October 2022

Swachh Survekshan:

Why in News?

President Draupadi Murumu announces and presents awards to winners of Swachh Survekshan 2022.

About:

• Introduced in 2016 as competitive framework to encourage cities to improve status of urban sanitation.
• Initiated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs.
• Governed under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
• Emerged as largest urban sanitation survey in the world.

Goal:

to promote widespread public engagement and raise awareness of the value of cleanliness across all facets of society.

Swachh Survekshan Awards 2022:

Cleanest city

Indore – 1st

Surat – 2nd

NAVI Mumbai – 3rd

Cleanest state

Madhya Pradesh – 1st

Chhattisgarh – 2nd

Maharashtra – 3rd

Best Ganga town – Haridwar, Uttarakhand

GST Council

The country’s adoption of the Goods and Services Tax was made possible by the 101st Constitutional Amendment Act. The amendment also makes provision for the formation of the GST council.

1. Inserted new article 279A in the Constitution.
2. Ex officio secretary – Union Revenue Secretary.

Vision:

To uphold the greatest norms of cooperative federalism in how the Council functions, which has the authority to make all significant GST-related decisions.

Composition:

• Chairperson – Union Finance Minister
• Union Minister of State in charge of Revenue or Finance
• Minister in charge of Finances or Taxation or any ministers nominated by each state government.

Functions:

The Council is required to make recommendations to the centre and states on the following matters,

• The taxes, cesses and surcharges levied by the centre, states and local bodies that would be merged in GST.
• The Goods and Services that may be subjected to GST or exempted from GST.
• Any other matters relating to GST, as the Council may decide.

Digital India

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched first phase of 5G technology services in 13 cities.

About:

Digital India is a flagship programme launched by Government of India on July1, 2015 with a vision of transforming India into digitally empowered society and knowledgeable economy.

Motto – Power to Empower

Aim:

• To Create digital infrastructure
• To Deliver services digitally
• Making people digitally literate

Objectives:

• To provide access to high-speed network to remote areas.
• To provide easy access to Common Service Centre in all the localities.

Pillars of growth area:

Broadband highways, Universal access to mobile connectivity, public interest access programme, E-Governance, e-Kranti, Information for All, Electronic Manufacturing, IT for jobs, Early harvest programmes.

Medical uses of fungi

Why in News? 

Some chemicals they secrete may be useful as novel drugs. 

About fungi: 

• One of the oldest groups of organisms in the plant kingdom
• Study of fungi is known as mycology.
• Fungi lacks chlorophyll thus it cannot prepare its own food. 
  

Medical uses : 

•  Fungi produce antibiotics, which are compounds that can be used to treat diseases caused on by pathogens.
• Actinomycetes and moulds create antibiotics that prevent the growth of other bacteria.
  Antibiotic penicillin, which is frequently used, makes bacteria incapable of surviving.
•  It is widely used because it kills gram-positive bacteria but has no effect on human cells.
  Another antibiotic with significant therapeutic significance is streptomycin. 
• Since it eliminates gram-negative organisms, it is more effective than penicillin.
• Griseofulvin is used to treat fungal skin disorders because it absorbs keratinized tissues (ringworms).

Heatwaves:

Why in News? 

Heatwaves in China highlights climate change impact

 About heatwaves: 

A heatwave is a period of abnormal high temperatures

Criteria for heatwave:

• When a station’s maximum temperature reaches at least 40°C for plains regions and at least 30°C for hilly regions. if the normal temperature of the station is greater than 40⁰c, an rise of 5 to 6°C above the normal temperature is regarded as a heat wave. 
• severe heat wave condition is defined as an increase of 6°C or more than the normal temperature. 
• Heat wave conditions exist when the actual maximum temperature is 45°C or higher regardless of the normal maximum temperature.
  

Effects of heatwave: 

Economic impacts:

Loss of working days has a detrimental effect on the livelihood of poor and marginal farmers. 

Agriculture impact:

Temperatures over the optimal range reduce crop production.

On human health: 

Diabetes, cardiovascular, and respiratory disorders will all become more prevalent as the temperature rises.

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI): 

Why in News?

Transparency International has released the Corruption Perceptions Index.(2021).

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI): 
 

• India has been ranked at 85th spot (Score of 40).
• Three nations—Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand—shared first place in the ranking.
• This index gauges how corrupt the public sector is in each nation
• The outcomes are shown on a scale from 0 (very corrupt) to 100. (very clean).
• 180 countries are ranked in this index.12:21 PM