Daily Current Affairs – 6th October

OPEC plus:

 Why in News?

 Oil prices rises as OPEC+ agrees to deep cuts.

About OPEC:

• OPEC is a permanent, intergovernmental organization that was created in the Conference of Baghdad in 1960. 

• The creators included Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.

• The headquarters of OPEC are in Vienna, Austria.

• However, there are currently 13 nations that are members of the Organization.

Purpose:

• 13 oil-exporting developing countries make up OPEC. 

• A permanent international organisation that coordinates and harmonises the national petroleum policies of its members.

• This organization’s mission is to control the global flow of oil and work toward determining the price of that commodity on the world market. 

• This was carried out to prevent swings that would harm the economics of both producers and consumers.

What is OPEC + or OPEC Plus?

• The non-OPEC countries which export crude oil are termed as OPEC plus countries. 

• OPEC and non-OPEC producers initially came together to form the alliance at a significant conference in Algiers in 2016.

Difference:

• OPEC’s 14 members control 35% of global oil supplies, as well as 82% of proven reserves.
• With the addition of ten non-OPEC countries as OPEC+, including several important countries such as Russia, Mexico, and Kazakhstan, the share of holdings has increased to 55 percent and 90 percent, respectively.
• This gives OPEC+ greater influence over the global economy than OPEC countries.
• Iraq is India’s largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates.

UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council)

Why in News? 

A resolution on Sri lanka related to war crimes  will be put to vote.

About UNHRC: 

The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.

Formation:

• In 2006, the United Nations General Assembly established the Council. It succeeded the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) serves as the Secretariat of the Human Rights Council.

• headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

Members:

• It is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
• The membership of the Council is based on an equitable geographical distribution.
• African States: 13 seats
• Asia-Pacific States: 13 seats
• Latin American and Caribbean States: 8 seats
• Western European and other States: 7 seats
• Eastern European States: 6 seats
• Members of the Council serve three-year terms and are not eligible for re-election after serving two consecutive terms.

Miscellaneous:

• It enables individuals and organisations to bring human rights violations to the Council’s attention.
• The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) assesses the human rights situations in all UN Member States.

National parties in India:

Why in News? 

Telangana CM  launched new national Party. ( Bharat rashtra samithi )

About national parties: 

Conditions for Recognition as a National Party:

• A party is recognised as a national party if any of the following conditions is fulfilled
• If it secures six per cent of valid votes polled in any four or more states at a general election to the Lok Sabha or to the legislative assembly; and, in addition, it wins four seats in the Lok Sabha from any state or states; or
• If it wins two per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha at a general election; and these candidates are elected from three states; or
• If it is recognised as a state party in four states. 

8 recognised national parties:

1. All India Trinamool Congress (AITC)

2. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

3. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

4. Communist Party of India (CPI)

5.Communist Party of India – Marxist (CPI-M)

6.Indian National Congress (INC)

7.Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)

8.National peoples party( NPP)

Ramalinga Adigal

Why in News ?

On the occasion of 200th birth anniversary of Vallar, the Tamil Nadu government has constituted a 14-member special committee for planning the celebration in major cities across the State between October this year and October 2023.

About :

1. Also popularly known as Vallalar.
2. Born in 1823 at Marudhur, a village near Chidambaram.
3. Songs were compiled and published under the title Thiruvarutpa (Songs of Grace).

Organisations :

1. Samarasa Veda Sanmarga Sangam (1865)

1. To preach the principles of One God, Compassion towards fellow beings, Jeevakarunyam.
2. Renamed as Samasara Suddha Sanmarga Satya Sangam (1872).

• Satya Dharma Salai (1867)

1. Free feeding house for everyone irrespective of caste at Vadalur.

Thaniperum Karunai Day :

1. Tamilnadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that the birth anniversary of Ramalinga Adigal which is celebrated every year on October 5 will be celebrated as ‘Thaniperum Karunai’ day.

ASER Report 

About :

ASER – Annual State Education Report

ASER survey provides reliable annual estimates of children’s schooling status and basic learning levels.

1. Published by Pratham, a NGO since 2005,
2. Originally it was annual publication but after 2016 it has become biennial report.
3. ASER 2020 – 1^st ever phone based ASER survey.

ASER 2021 report :

1. School enrolment
2. Govt. school – 70.3%
3. Private school – 24.4%
4. Learning Outcome
5. 92% children had textbook for their grade.
6. Online learning
7. No access to smartphone – 26.1%
8. Paid Tuition class
9. 40% students took tuition class because of pandemic.

Tamilnadu Backward Class Commission

About:

The Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Commission has been constituted as a permanent body under Article 16(4) read with Article 340 of the Constitution of India.

1. Chairperson – Justice M.Thanikachalam
2. Functioning under chairmanship of Retired Chief Justice of High court.
3. Term of office – 3 years
4. Quasi-Judicial in nature

Functions:

1. Examine and recommend upon requests for inclusion and complaints of over and under inclusion in the lists of Backward Classes / Most Backward Classes.
2. Periodic revision of list of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes in this State
3. Make recommendations on improved reservation for Christians, Muslims and other Minorities based on their social and educational backwardness. 
4. Examine and make recommendations on any other matter relating to Backward Classes that may be referred to it by Government from time to time.
5. Examine and recommend upon the demand made by various communities to provide for internal reservation within the reservation provided for Most Backward Classes.