Daily Current Affairs – 15th Jan. 2021

Given below are the daily current affairs for 15th Jan 2021. You can take the daily current affairs quiz here for free.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 3.0)

Context:

Third phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY 3.0) will be launched soon. It will be launched in 600 districts across all states of India.

• Spearheaded by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), this phase will focus on new-age and COVID-related skills.

About PMKVY 3.0:

Skill India Mission PMKVY 3.0 envisages training of eight lakh candidates over a scheme period of 2020-2021.

• The 729 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKKs), empaneled non-PMKK training centres and more than 200 ITIs under Skill India will be rolling out PMKVY 3.0 training to build a robust pool of skilled professionals.
• On the basis of the learning gained from PMKVY 1.0 and PMKVY 2.0, the Ministry has improved the newer version of the scheme to match the current policy doctrine and energize the skilling ecosystem affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About PMKVY:

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), launched in 2015, is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implemented by National Skill Development Corporation.

• The objective of this Skill Certification Scheme: is to enable a large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.
• Individuals with prior learning experience or skills will also be assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 2.0 (PMKVY 2.0) 2016-20

After the successful implementation of pilot PMKVY (2015-16), PMKVY 2016-20 was launched by scaling up both in terms of Sector and Geography and by greater alignment with other missions of Government of India like Make in India, Digital India, Swachh Bharat, etc.

Objectives of PMKVY 2016-20

Enable and mobilize a large number of youths to take up industry designed quality skill training, become employable and earn their livelihood.

• Encourage standardisation of the Certification process and put in place the foundation for creating a registry of skills.
• Benefit 10 million youth over the period of four years (2016- 2020).

Skill India Mission

“Skill India Mission” has gained tremendous momentum through launch of its flagship scheme PMKVY to unlock the vision of making India the ‘Skill Capital’ of the world.

National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India

Context:

Science & Technology minister dedicates an Innovation Portal developed by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India to the nation.

Highlights:

Innovation Portal is developed by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

• The National Innovation Portal (NIP) is currently home to about 1.15 lakh innovations scouted from common people of the country, covering Engineering, Agriculture, Veterinary and Human Health.
• In terms of domain areas, presently the innovations cover Energy, mechanical, automobile, electrical, electronics, household, nutraceuticals etc.

About National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India:

It is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.

• Set up in February 2000 at Ahmedabad, Gujarat to provide institutional support for scouting, spawning, sustaining and scaling up the grassroots innovations across the country.
• It is India’s national initiative to strengthen the grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge.
• Its mission is to help India become a creative and knowledge-based society by expanding policy and institutional space for grassroots technological innovators.

Impeachment of the President of the USA

Why in News:

Donald Trump has become the first President of the USA in history to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. He was charged for inciting an insurrection.

• On 6^th January, 2021, as the USA Congress assembled to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, a mob of Donald Trump supporters occupied the USA Capitol in a failed bid to overturn the election results.

Key Points:

• Mechanism of Impeachment of President in USA:
  • Two Houses: The legislature of the United States of America i.e. Congress of the United States consists of two houses:
    • The Senate, in which each state, regardless of its size, is represented by two senators.
    • House of Representatives, to which members are elected on the basis of population.
  • Reasons for Impeachment: The USA Constitution states that the President can be removed for conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanor.
  • Earlier Impeachments:
    • Three USA Presidents, Trump in 2019, Bill Clinton in 1998 and Andrew Johnson in 1868, previously were impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate.
    • Thus, no USA President ever has been removed from office through impeachment.
• Mechanism of Impeachment of President in India:
  • In India, the President can be removed only for ‘violation of the Constitution’ and the Constitution does not define the meaning of the phrase ‘violation of the Constitution’.
  • The impeachment charges can be initiated by either House of Parliament – Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.

Henley Passport Index 2021

Why in News:

India has been ranked 85^th in the most powerful passport report ‘Henley Passport Index 2021’.

Key Points:

• About the Index:
  • The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
  • Originally created by Dr. Christian H. Kaelin (chairman of Henley & Partners), the ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information.
  • It was launched in 2006 and includes 199 different passports.
• Latest Rankings:
  • Top Rank Holders:
    • Japan continues to hold the number one position on the index, with passport holders able to access 191 destinations around the world visa-free.
    • Singapore is in second place (with a score of 190) and South Korea ties with Germany in third place (with a score of 189).
    • The top spots were traditionally held by EU countries, the UK, or the US. This year, it is the Asia-Pacific (APAC) passports which are the most powerful in the world as it includes some of the first countries to begin the process of recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Bottom Rank Holders:
    • Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan continue to be the countries with the worst passport to hold with a passport score of 29, 28 and 26 respectively.
  • India’s Performance:
    • India ranks 85^th, with a visa-free score of 58.
    • The Indian passport ranked higher in both 2020 (84^th) and 2019 (82^nd).
  • Comparison with Neighbouring Countries:
    • Pakistan was ranked 107^th and Nepal was ranked 104^th.
• Related Government Initiatives:
  • The government has been making efforts to increase the number of countries that provide visa free travel, visa-on-arrival and e-visa facilities so as to further ease international travel for Indians.
    • While issuance of visa and visa related process is the sovereign and unilateral decision of the respective country, the matter regarding easier and liberalised visa policy for Indian nationals is taken up regularly in bilateral meetings and forums with foreign countries.

Indian Army day

Why in News:

Army Day is celebrated every year on 15^th January in India to commemorate the jawans and the Indian Army.

• This year India is celebrating its 73^rd Army Day.

Key Points:

• Historical Background:
  • On 15^th January 1949, Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa, who was then a Lieutenant General, took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher, the last British person to hold that post.
  • K. M. Cariappa adopted the slogan ‘Jail Hindi’ which means ‘Victory of India’. He is also one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the Five-star rank of Field Marshal, the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
• Army Day :
  • Army Day is celebrated every year to honor the soldiers of the country, who have set the greatest example of selfless service and brotherhood and more than anything the love for the country.
  • In the celebration of Army Day, the parade is organised every year at the Cariappa Parade Ground of Delhi Cantonment.
• Indian Army:
  • The Indian army originated from the forces of the East India Company, which later became the ‘British Indian Army’, and eventually, after Independence, the Indian Army.
  • The Indian Army was founded almost 126 years ago by the British on 1^st April, 1895.
  • According to the Global Fire Power Index 2021, India’s army is considered the world’s fourth strongest army.
    • Global Fire Power Index: The rankings for the index are reached after judging the countries on 50 parameters, including military resources, natural resources, industry and geographical features and available manpower.

‘Prarambh: Startup India International Summit’

The Summit is being organized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

• The Summit marks the fifth anniversary of the Startup India initiative, launched on 16 January, 2016.
• The Summit will be the largest startup confluence organised by the Government of India since the launch of the Startup India initiative.

India’s first indigenously Developed 9mm Machine Pistol

India’s first indigenous 9mm Machine Pistol has been jointly developed by DRDO and Indian Army. The machine pistol fires the in-service 9mm ammunition and sports an upper receiver made from aircraft grade aluminium and lower receiver from carbon fibre.

• 3D Printing process has been used in designing and prototyping of various parts including trigger components made by metal 3D printing.
• The weapon is named “Asmi” meaning “Pride”, “Self-Respect” & “Hard Work”.
• The weapon has huge potential in Armed forces as personal weapon for heavy weapon detachments, commanders and counter terrorism operations etc.