Current Affairs 6th December 2018

Current Affairs 6th December 2018 - Important Points

• India, Peru sign pact for co-operation and mutual assistance in Customs Matters
• World Soil Day observed globally on 5th December
• More than 100 new exoplanets discovered using NASA’s Kepler Space telescope
• As per WIPO, Patents approved by India up by 50% in 2017
• Odisha’s Kandhamal Haldi to get GI tag
• Gautam Gambhir announces retirement from all forms of cricket

Current Affairs 6th December 2018 - Details

India, Peru sign pact for co-operation and mutual assistance in Customs Matters

India and the Republic of Peru on December 5th, 2018 inked a pact for cooperation and mutual assistance in customs issues.

The pact was inked on the side-lines of the 80th Session of the Policy Commission meeting of the World Customs Organisations which was organised in Mumbai during December 3rd-5th, 2018.

The Pact was inked by S Ramesh, Chairman of Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs of India and Rafael Garcia, the National Superintendent of Customs of Peru.

Pact for co-operation in Customs Matters

• The Pact provides a legal framework for sharing of data and intelligence between the Customs authorities of the two nation.
• It will benefit in the proper application of Customs laws, prevention and investigation of Customs crimes. 
• The Pact will also benefit in the availability of relevant data for the prevention and investigation of Customs crimes. 
• It is believed to facilitate trade and ensure well-organized clearance of goods traded between the nations.

World Soil Day observed globally on 5th December

The World Soil Day was celebrated worldwide on December 5th, 2018. The day is celebrated yearly to highlight the significance of healthy soil and advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources.

2018 Theme

The theme of the day present year is “Be the Solution to Soil Pollution”. The campaign intends to increase awareness regarding soil pollution and call people to #StopSoilPollution.

Soil Pollution

As pollution increases worldwide, the soil is also getting affected. Around 1/3 of global soils have already tarnished. 

Soil pollution can be invisible and noticed far away but everyone universally is affected due to it. 

With the population predictable to reach 9 billion by 2050, soil pollution is an around the world problem that is not only leading to the degradation of soil globally but is also resulting in the poisoning of food, water and air.

World Soil Day in India

On the eve, Indian Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu called upon all the residents of the India to take a pledge to maintain the purity of soil.

In a tweet, the Vice President informed, it is the duty of every humans to protect the most perilous component of nature, thus, people should move towards nature and organic farming techniques and must learn to protect the purity of mother earth.

More than 100 new exoplanets discovered using NASA’s Kepler Space telescope

Researchers have located more than 100 new exoplanets using data from National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Kepler Space telescope as well as ground-based observatories. Exoplanet also known as extrasolar planet, is planet that orbits star other than Sun. The discovery of 100 fresh exoplanets is beliebed to play large role in developing research field of exoplanets and life in universe.

Kepler Space Telescope

Kepler Space telescope is an unmanned space observatory released in 2009 by NASA. It was tasked with decisive how many Earth-like planets exist throughout the Milky Way galaxy.

It was intended for statistical mission and not to probe into environmental conditions of planets that occur in so-called Goldilocks zone of their stars. It locates planets by using transit method. It is detection of tiny brightness dips resulted by planet after it crosses its host star’s face from spacecraft’s perspective. Transit method technique needs extremely detailed pointing of spacecraft.

Kepler Space telescope had experienced mechanical trouble in 2013, which resulted into successor mission called K2. Astronomers worldwide are competing to authorize exoplanets suggested by K2 data. National Aeronautics and Space Administration had retired Kepler Space telescope in November 2018 after it ran out of fuel required for further science activities. In its mission lifespan of 9.5 year, it had located more than 2,600 intriguing exoplanets from outside our solar system some of which may harbour life.

As per WIPO, Patents approved by India up by 50% in 2017

As per to World Intellectual Property Indicators 2018 report published by UN’s World Intellectual Property Organisation- WIPO, number of patents approved by India shot-up by 50 percent in 2017. The patents approved by India raised from 8,248 in 2016 to 12,387 in 2017, thus keeping up trend of steep raises.

Important Points

Patents approved in 2017 in India were above double 6,022 patents approved in 2015. Of the patents approved in 2017, 1,712 went to entities and individuals based in India, and 10,675 to foreigners. The steep rise in number was driven by patents approved to foreigners, which accounted for 85 percent of total rise. The number of patents issued to domestic entities also has shown growing trend.

In 2016, 1,115 went to domestic individuals and 7,133 to foreigners and in 2015, 822 were approved to applicants in India and 5,200 to foreigners. Worldwide, 1.4 million patents were approved in 2017. China led world with 4,20,144 approved patents and was followed by United States with 3,18,829.

World Intellectual Property Organisation

It is the worldwide body for promotion and fortification of intellectual property rights. It is one of the 15 specialized agencies of United Nations. It was recognized in 1967 and is HQ in Geneva, Switzerland. Its mandate is to promote creative activity, to encourage the protection of intellectual property worldwide.

Odisha’s Kandhamal Haldi to get GI tag

Odisha’s Kandhamal Haldi (turmeric) will shortly get GI tag. It is a few steps away from getting this Geographical Indications tag. Its registration was initiated by Kandhamal Apex Spices Association for Marketing and was acknowledged under sub-section (1) of Section 13 of Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. Kandhamal Haldi is well-known for its healing properties. It is significant cash crop of tribal people in Kandhamal. Apart from domestic usage, it is also utilised for cosmetic and medicinal motives.

Geographical Indication

Geographical Indications tag is name utilised on certain products which correspond to specific geographical location. It is utilised for agricultural, natural and manufactured goods having unique quality and established reputation. The motive of Geographical Indications tag enables shareholders to authenticate their production while earning a premium and derive an improved income.

The goods and products having GI tag ensures that none can make use of their name, giving them exclusivity. The registration of Geographical Indications is legal for 10 years after which it requires to be renewed. Violation of Geographical Indications tags is punishable offence under law.

Geographical Indications is covered as element of intellectual property rights under Paris Convention for Protection of Industrial Property. At international level, Geographical Indications is administered by World Trade Organisation’s Pact on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. In India, Geographical Indications tag Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection Act), 1999 administers it.

Gautam Gambhir announces retirement from all forms of cricket

After more than 15 years of successful career in Indian cricket, Indian Opener Gautam Gambhir on December 4th, 2018 declared his retirement from all forms of cricket.

Gautam Gambhir was one of the most accomplish batsmen for opening game well in all 3 forms of cricket including Test matches, One Day Internationals and T20s. He displayed best in his innings between 2008 and the 2011 World Cup.

World T20

Gambhir played a crucial role in helping India securing the World T20 final in 2007 against Pakistan. Gambhir opened the innings with Yusuf Pathan and smashed 75 runs off 54 balls to benefit India after 157/5 from their 20 overs. On the other hand, Pakistan fell 5 runs short and India won the title in the inaugural edition of the World T20.

2011 World Cup

In the 2011 World Cup finals, Gautam Gambhir was elaborate in a crucial 109 runs with M.S.Dhoni against Sri Lanka. Gautam Gambhir was dismissed with 97 scores in his kitty that had made India secure the 2011 World Cup. India formed history in 2011 by becoming the 1st host country to secure the World Cup, that could not have been probable without Gambhir’s innings.

Gambhir’s cricket career

Gautam Gambhir completed 58 Test appearances for India, making 4154 scores at an average of 41.95. His 147 One Day Internationals raised his 5238 runs, while in 37 T20 International matches, he scored 932 scores. The left-handed batsman scored 10324 runs in international cricket.

He is also the only Indian batsman to score above 300 runs in 4 consecutive Test series. He was also a part of the India team that gained the No.1 position in Test cricket in 2009 under Captainship of M.S.Dhoni.

In 2009, he was ranked No.1 batsman in Test cricket in the International Cricket Council's rankings, 2 years after he was ranked No.1 as T20 internationals batsman.

In ODIs, Gambhir attained his career-best 8th position in ODIs. He formed one of India's most tough opening partnerships in world cricket with Virendra Sehwag, and the pair together scored 4412 runs for India in 87 openings from 2004-2012. 

He headed Delhi to the Ranji Trophy title in 2007-08. He was bestowed with the Arjuna Award in 2008.

Gautam Gambhir made his international debut in 2003, in an One Day International against Bangladesh in Dhaka.