These current affairs are written in a easy to remember format and are useful for competitive exams like - UPSC Civil Services, UPPSC, BPSC, MPPPSC, State PSCs and other competitive examinations.
"ID-Art" app by Interpole
"ID-Art" is a mobile phone app launched by the Interpol, it will help identify stolen cultural property, reduce smuggling and increase the possibility of recovering stolen works and artefacts.
The app enables law enforcement agencies and general public to get mobile access to the Interpol's "Stolen Works of Art" database.
The app creates an inventory of private art collections and report cultural sites that are potentially at risk.
Read More: Interpol
International Relations
Sputnik Light Vaccine
Russia has authorised the use of Sputnik Light - a single dose vaccine against COVID-19.
Sputnik Light is the first component - recombinant human adenovirus serotype number 26 (rAd26) of Sputnik V vaccine that has been approved by over 60 countries, including India.
It can be used as a booster shot for other vaccines.
Indian companies are in discussion with Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, the marketing partner for Sputnik V in the country, to get the vaccine for their workforce and families.
Science & Tech
Easing of IP norms on Covid vaccines
U.S. President Joe Biden?s administration announced its support for waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines.
In May 2020, the World Health Organisation proposed a COVID-technology access pool as a knowledge sharing initiative to rapidly scale up vaccine output around the world. The companies that develop vaccines, however, have not participated in the initiative.
In October 2020, India and South Africa floated a proposal at the World Trade Organisation's TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Council to waive certain provisions of the WTO's TRIPS pact till the pandemic subsides.
Some countries like China, Turkey, the E.U., the U.S., Switzerland, Norway, Australia, Canada, Japan and the U.K. rejected it - arguing that such waivers could dampen innovation and research.
After the second wave hit many countries, by April, 2021, 100+ nations had backed the proposal.
Read More: TRIPS
International Relations
The Simla Agreement, 1972
President of the U.N. General Assembly Volkan Bozkir has encouraged India and Pakistan to resolve the issue of Kashmir "through peaceful means".
India has, many a times, maintained that Kashmir dispute is a bilateral issue and must be settled through bilateral negotiations as per Simla Agreement, 1972 and thus, had denied any third party intervention even that of United Nations.
The Simla Agreement, was signed between India (Indira Gandh) and Pakistan (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto) on 2 July 1972, it followed from the Bangladesh Liberation war in 1971 that led to the independence of Bangladesh.
It conceived the steps to be taken for further normalisation of mutual relations and it also laid down the principles that should govern their future relations.
The agreement also paved the way for diplomatic recognition of Bangladesh by Pakistan.
As per the agreement, both countries will "settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations?.
In Operation Meghdoot of 1984 India seized all of the inhospitable Siachen Glacier region where the frontier had been clearly not defined in the agreement.
Defence