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Current Affairs Articles Compilation [PDF] - January, 2023
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Current Affairs Articles Compilation [PDF] - January, 2023
Contents
......................... ........ ....... _ .. .. . ........................................................
News Headlines ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
January 1, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 3
January 2, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 3
January 3, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 4
January 4, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 5
January 5, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 6
January 6, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 7
January 7, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 8
January 8, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 8
January 9, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 9
January 10, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 10
January 11, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................... 11
January 12, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 12
January 13, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 13

January 14, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 13
January 16, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 14
January 17, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 15
January 19, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 16
January 20, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 17
January 21, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 18
January 22, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 19
January 24, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 19
January 25, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 20
January 26, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 21
January 27, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 22
January 28, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 23
January 30, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 24
January 30, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 25
January 31, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 25
January 2, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 26
Dexa: BCCI's new selection criteria for Indian players ...................................................................... 26
Six years of 'Bharat Interface for Money' .............................................................................................. 27
India Assumes Chairmanship of Wassenaar Arrangement ................................................................ 28
New integrated Food Security Scheme ................................................................................................. 30
Bhima-Koregaon Battle Anniversary ....................................................................................................... 31
Covid-19 Variant XBB.1.5 Emerges as a New Threat ......................................................................... 32
Supreme Court Verdict on Demonetisation Case ................................................................................ 33
UPI Reaches Record High in December ................................................................................................ 34
Draft Statement on Industrial Policy 2022 ............................................................................................ 35
Railways' Energy efficiency plan .............................................................................................................. 36
RBI's Launch of Utkarsh 2.0 .................................................................................................................... 37
Birth Anniversary of Satyendra Nath Bose ........................................................................................... 38
International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 ............................................................................................. 39
India's Unemployment Rate Reaches Highest Level in 16 Months .................................................. 40
Croatia's switch to Euro ............................................................................................................................. 41
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India-Austria Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement ........................... 42
January 3, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 43
Electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project ........................................................................... 43
'Didir Suraksha Kawach' and 'Didir Doot' Initiatives in West Bengal ............................................ 44
Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) - Update (January, 2023) .............................. 45
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award .......................................................................................................... 46
Assam Achieves Zero Poaching of Endangered Rhinos ..................................................................... 47
New Technology to filter micro-plastics from Water ........................................................................ 48
Second Phase of the Sari Festival "VIRAASAT" Begins ..................................................................... 49
J&K Legal Aid Defence Counsel System ................................................................................................ 50
RBI's Systemic Risk Survey (SRS) ............................................................................................................ 51
Indian Science Congress (ISC) ................................................................................................................ 52
Hydrogen for Heritage: Indian Railways Introducing Hydrogen Power Trains on Heritage Lines
.................................................................................................................................................................. 52
January 4, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 53
Manipur Gaan Ngai festival ...................................................................................................................... 53

Arunachal Pradesh Siyom bridge ............................................................................................................ 54
India's First Green Hydrogen Blending Project .................................................................................... 55
Exemption for PSUs from Minimum Public Float Rules .................................................................... 56
National Scout and Guide Jamboree ...................................................................................................... 57
New Members Join United Nations Security Council ........................................................................ 58
World Braille Day: January 4 - Update (January, 2023) .................................................................... 59
Kalasa Banduri Nala project ..................................................................................................................... 60
Savitribai Phule ............................................................................................................................................. 61
MHA High Powered Committee on Ladakh ........................................................................................ 62
Bikaner Solar Power Project to Boost India's Renewable Energy .................................................... 63
ADB's Recent Loans to 4 States .............................................................................................................. 63
RISE- Rising India Through Spiritual Empowerment ......................................................................... 65
PM pays tributes to Rani Velu Nachiyar on her birth anniversary ................................................... 65
Europe Winter Heat wave ........................................................................................................................ 66
Madagascar: Discovery of 20 New Frog Species ............................................................................... 67
Draft Online Gaming Policy ..................................................................................................................... 68
January 5, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 69
Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme .................................... 69
Cabinet Approves National Green Hydrogen Mission ....................................................................... 70
Supreme Court ruling on Article 19 ambit ............................................................................................ 71
Telangana Joins Free Rice Scheme ......................................................................................................... 72
India-France Strategic Dialogue .............................................................................................................. 73
6th edition of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' ...................................................................................................... 74
Assam's highest civilian award ................................................................................................................. 75
Chief Minister's Residential Land Rights scheme ................................................................................ 76
Silent Valley Bird Survey ........................................................................................................................... 77
January 6, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 78
Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) ................................................................................................. 78
Ganga Vilas River cruise ........................................................................................................................... 79
Study on Asian elephants .......................................................................................................................... 80
Decennial Census in India Postponed Until September ...................................................................... 81
UGC Draft norms to allow foreign university campuses in India .................................................... 82
Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium ................................................................................................................. 83
Schemes of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region ...................................................... 84
Varanasi Cantt railway station bags 'Eat Right Station' Certification .............................................. 85
New electrolyte to help better ammonia synthesis ............................................................................. 87
Startup India Innovation Week ................................................................................................................ 87
Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) .............................................................. 89
Kerala: WhatsApp grievance redress mechanism for industries ...................................................... 89
Village Defence Committees .................................................................................................................... 90
Fay Weldon: A Pioneering Feminist Writer ........................................................................................... 91
Freedom Caucus Group ............................................................................................................................ 92
India's Pranesh M Becomes Youngest Grandmaster at 16 ................................................................ 93
January 7, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 93
World's first Palm-leaf Manuscript Museum in Kerala ...................................................................... 93
Aamantran Invitation Management Portal ............................................................................................ 94
Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano .......................................................................................................................... 95

NSO First Advance Estimates of National Income ............................................................................. 96
Bihar Government to Conduct Caste-Based Survey .......................................................................... 97
Reserve Bank of India to Issue Sovereign Green Bonds .................................................................... 98
FAO Food price index ............................................................................................................................... 99
BIS Portal for mapping of Industrial Units and Labs ........................................................................ 100
Military Tattoo & Tribal Dance Festival ............................................................................................... 101
122-Foot-Tall Polo Player Statue Unveiled in Manipur .................................................................... 102
Orthodox Christmas ................................................................................................................................. 102
Sania Mirza to Retire from Professional Tennis ................................................................................ 104
Cyber Threat Predictions Report for 2023 ......................................................................................... 104
January 9, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................. 105
Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity ......................................................................................................... 105
Odisha wins World Habitat Award 2023 for JAGA Mission .......................................................... 106
International Kite Festival 2023 ............................................................................................................. 107
Indian Navy ‘SPRINT’ initiative ............................................................................................................. 107
IISER Ionic organic material to remove pollutants ............................................................................ 108
"UP Global City" Campaign Launched in Uttar Pradesh ................................................................. 109
Google- CCI Row- Update ...................................................................................................................... 110
Lecanemab Approved for Alzheimer's Treatment ............................................................................. 110
India is set to deploy female peacekeepers to the UN Mission in Abyei ........................................ 111
Top-performing global airports List ...................................................................................................... 112
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention ....................................................................................................... 113
RBI Releases Annual Report on Ombudsman Schemes .................................................................... 114
January 10, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 116
Theme for “National Science Day 2023" ............................................................................................ 116
Bird Population and Diversity Increases at Bhitarkanika National Park ........................................ 117
I&B Ministry advisory on reportage of Violence ................................................................................. 117
NHA Initiative to Grade Hospitals ......................................................................................................... 118
Joshimath 'Sinking Zone' ......................................................................................................................... 120
10 January: World Hindi Day - Update (January, 2023) ................................................................... 121
Education Group of G-20 Meeting ....................................................................................................... 121
Global Tamil Angels platform ................................................................................................................ 122
India and UK Launch Young Professionals Scheme .......................................................................... 123
Earth's Ozone Layer on Track to Recovery within Four Decades ................................................. 124
Tussle between Tamil Nadu Governor and CM Escalates in Assembly ....................................... 125
Who was Fatima Sheikh? ........................................................................................................................ 126
U.S. ‘Title 42’ Immigration Policy ......................................................................................................... 127
Brazil Anti-Democratic Riots .................................................................................................................. 128
Kerala Becomes Country's First Fully Digital Banking State ........................................................... 129
January 11, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 130
India Hosts "The Voice of Global South" Summit, Gathers 120 Countries ................................. 130
Bengaluru Dominates Startup Funding in India with $10.8 Billion in 2022 ................................ 131
Anthropological study in rural China .................................................................................................... 132
Union Minister Narayan Rane launches web portal for RAMP ...................................................... 133
Gujarat and Rajasthan Emerge as Top Investment Destinations in India ..................................... 134
Kerala 'Year of Enterprises' Project ....................................................................................................... 136
Uttarakhand Women Reservation Bill ................................................................................................... 137

Draft Regulation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants Rules, 2022 ......................................... 138
Statement on climate of India during 2022 ........................................................................................ 138
Levels & Trends in Child Mortality 2022 ............................................................................................ 139
BharatPe Gets Nod for ePayment Aggregator Licence .................................................................... 140
Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit .......................................................................................... 141
India Conducts Successful Test Launch of Prithvi-II Ballistic Missile ............................................ 142
26th National Youth Festival: Empowering the Youth of India ...................................................... 143
"Observing Road Safety Week: A National Effort for Safer Roads" .............................................. 143
Astro Night Sky Tourism at Kartvyapath ........................................................................................... 144
80th Golden Globe Awards ................................................................................................................... 145
January 12, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 146
UAE announces blanket ban on single-use plastic shopping bags ................................................. 146
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) .................................................................. 147
Henley Passport Index : India Ranks 85th on the Henley Passport Index ................................... 148
World Bank's Latest Report on Global Economic Prospects .......................................................... 149
Incentive scheme for promotion of RuPay Debit Cards ................................................................... 150
National level Multi-state cooperative export society ......................................................................... 151
NASA spots Earth-sized, rocky Planet .................................................................................................. 152
Cherchera Festival of Chhattisgarh ....................................................................................................... 153
January 12 : National Youth Day ........................................................................................................... 154
Digital India Awards 2022 ...................................................................................................................... 154
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS) ...... 156
FSSAI Survey on Dietary Supplements ................................................................................................ 156
WEF Global Risks Report 2023 ............................................................................................................. 157
FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2023 ................................................................................................... 158
Uganda Successfully Ends Sudan Ebola Virus Outbreak .................................................................. 159
Odisha: CAMPA New Action Plan for 2023-24 ............................................................................... 160
January 13, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 161
Covovax Heterologous Booster Dose Approved for Use in India .................................................. 161
FSSAI regulatory standards for Basmati Rice ..................................................................................... 162
CBIC -Customs Automated System ..................................................................................................... 162
India's Direct Tax Collection Records Steady Growth in FY2023 ................................................ 163
Lohri Harvest Festival .............................................................................................................................. 164
Sur Sarita - Symphony of Ganga .......................................................................................................... 165
Sethusamudram Project ........................................................................................................................... 165
Neelakurinji Plant Listed as a Protected Species under Wildlife Protection Act ......................... 167
Joshimath at Risk of Sinking: Satellite Images Reveal Ground Subsidence ................................. 167
India Abolishes Discretionary Haj Quota for Pilgrims ...................................................................... 168
What is Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution? ............................................................... 169
What is the "Pineapple Express" Phenomenon? ................................................................................. 170
Notification of Minority Communities .................................................................................................. 171
NOTAM System Glitch Causes Airspace Shutdown in America ................................................... 172
Garuda Aerospace and Union Bank Collaborate to Boost Agriculture with Drones ................ 173
January 14, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 174
2022 : World's Fifth-Warmest on Record ........................................................................................... 174
Rural Health Statistics Report 2021-22: Key Findings and Implications ....................................... 175
Makar Sankranti Festival ......................................................................................................................... 176

Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train - Update (January, 2023) .................................................................. 177
"Soul of Steel" High-Altitude Endurance Challenge to be launched in India .............................. 178
Supreme Court on IT relief of Sikkimese women ............................................................................ 179
Global South Centre of Excellence ....................................................................................................... 180
January 14 : Armed Forces Veterans Day - Update (January, 2023) ............................................. 181
India-China Trade Reaches All-Time High ......................................................................................... 182
Europe's Largest Deposit of Rare Earths Discovered in Sweden ................................................... 183
Peru Crisis: Protests Turn Deadly ......................................................................................................... 184
January 16, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 185
What is ‘Saharsh’ Initiative of Tripura? ................................................................................................ 185
Skyhawk: India’s first 5G enabled drone ............................................................................................. 185
15 January : Army Day in India ............................................................................................................. 186
Davos 2023: World Economic Forum ................................................................................................. 187
Oxfam's "Survival of the Richest" Report ............................................................................................ 187
National Urban Technology Mission for Municipal Services and ULBs ....................................... 188
CII Business Confidence Index .............................................................................................................. 189
Rajasthan's Blindness Control Policy .................................................................................................... 190
India's First Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming ......................................................................... 191
Rajasthan Becomes First State to Implement Blindness Control Policy ......................................... 191
India's National Green Hydrogen Mission .......................................................................................... 192
National Startup Day 2023 ..................................................................................................................... 193
Jallikattu celebrations begin in Madurai ............................................................................................... 193
Thiruvalluvar Day ..................................................................................................................................... 194
Varuna 2023: India-France Bilateral Naval Exercise ......................................................................... 195
CEA Disaster management plan for Power Sector ........................................................................... 195
January 17, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 196
National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme .............................................................. 196
January 18, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 197
Who is Abdul Rehman Makki? .............................................................................................................. 197
India and Russia Joint Venture starts production of Kalashnikov AK-203 .................................. 198
What is the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) Initiative? .................................................... 199
January 20, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 199
World Population Review ........................................................................................................................ 199
India-UAE Partnership Summit .............................................................................................................. 201
Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura Foundation Day: January 21 .................................................... 202
Kerala rolls out menstrual and maternity leaves for students ......................................................... 202
Jaipur Literature Festival ......................................................................................................................... 203
Apache attack helicopters ...................................................................................................................... 204
Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone-I ................................................................................... 204
First Movers Coalition (FMC) Leadership Meeting .......................................................................... 205
FITUR International Travel Exhibition ................................................................................................. 205
Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules, 2023 .................................................................................... 206
Odisha’s Strategy to mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict ................................................................. 206
Decline in Number of birds in Kole Wetlands ................................................................................... 207
South Africa announces Joint Naval Drills with Russia, China ...................................................... 208
US launches Welcome Corps Scheme ................................................................................................. 209
January 21, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 209

Performance Assessment Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development
(PARAKH) ......................................................................................................................................... 209
Chris Hipkins – New Zealand’s Next Prime Minister ....................................................................... 210
Endorsement Guidelines for Celebs and Social Media Influencers ................................................ 210
January 22, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 211
BharOS: Indigenous Mobile Operating System ................................................................................... 211
India International Science Festival, 2023 ............................................................................................ 212
Egyptian President
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Fattah El-Sisi – Chief Guest of Republic Day ...................................... 213
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New Initiatives launched at WEF ........................................................................................................... 213
IAF to hold Exercise Pralay ..................................................................................................................... 214
India’s Stand on Implementation of 13A in Sri Lanka ....................................................................... 215
January 23, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 215
EXIM Data: Trade Deficit narrows by 10 billion USD ..................................................................... 215
Mega Infrastructure Project on Great Nicobar Islands .................................................................... 216
Border Security Force (BSF) starts ‘Ops alert’ exercise ................................................................... 216
Prime Minister’s National Award for Children ................................................................................... 217
INS Vagir Commissioned into Navy ..................................................................................................... 218
Parakram Diwas – Netaji Jayanti ........................................................................................................... 218
Republic Day Tableau to reflect Nari Shakti ...................................................................................... 219
Israeli Astro Physics Mission: ULTRASAT ......................................................................................... 220
JUICE Space Mission of Europe ............................................................................................................ 220
Power Outage in Pakistan ....................................................................................................................... 221
What is Immune Imprinting? .................................................................................................................. 221
Business 20 (B20) Inception Meeting ................................................................................................. 222
January 24, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 222
National Girl Child Day: January 24 .................................................................................................... 223
Ministry of Ayush signs MoU to promote medical travel value ..................................................... 223
Democracy Summit: ECI hosts conference ........................................................................................ 224
Smart City Conference held at Panaji .................................................................................................. 224
SCO Film Festival in Mumbai ................................................................................................................ 225
SEBI launches Information Database on municipal bonds .............................................................. 225
Jammu and Kashmir launches New Food Processing Project ........................................................ 226
Uttar Pradesh celebrates Foundation Day ........................................................................................... 226
Assam Initiative against Child Marriage .............................................................................................. 227
Rajasthan to rent out drones to farmers ............................................................................................. 227
International Craft Summit .................................................................................................................... 228
Tri Services Amphibious Exercise, AMPHEX 2023 ......................................................................... 228
National Voters Day: January 25 ........................................................................................................... 229
Low Carbon Cruise on Mahabahu Brahmaputra .............................................................................. 229
January 25, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 230
Aero – India 2023 ................................................................................................................................... 230
DRACO: Nuclear Fission powered Spacecraft of NASA ................................................................. 231
Uganda’s First Oil Drilling Program ...................................................................................................... 231
First India Stack Developer Conference .............................................................................................. 232
10th Infrastructure Committee Meet held .......................................................................................... 232
PM Modi hold talks with the Egyptian President .............................................................................. 233
SCO Meet: India invites Pakistan, China ............................................................................................. 233

Mass Mortality of Olive Ridley Turtles in Andhra ............................................................................ 234
Purse Seine Fishing .................................................................................................................................. 234
Statehood Day of Himachal Pradesh .................................................................................................... 235
National Tourism Day: January 25 ....................................................................................................... 236
Jal Jeevan Mission achieves 11 crore tap water connections ........................................................... 236
Nagaland Orange Festival ....................................................................................................................... 237
FAO: India elected the Vice Chair ........................................................................................................ 238
January 26, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 238
Maiden Tranche of Sovereign Green Bonds ...................................................................................... 238
Revamped Monument Mitra Scheme .................................................................................................. 239
CERVAVAC: Cervical Cancer Vaccine ................................................................................................. 239
Kantar India Union Budget Survey 2023 ........................................................................................... 240
Competition (Amendment) Bill ............................................................................................................. 241
She Feeds the World Programme ......................................................................................................... 241
APEDA to use River Names for Branding .......................................................................................... 242
India’s Estimates of Millet Procurement .............................................................................................. 242
India and Egypt declare Strategic Partnership ................................................................................... 243
What is White Card in Football Match? .............................................................................................. 243
Sweden International Information Campaign .................................................................................... 244
U-WIN Platform ....................................................................................................................................... 244
UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023 Report ........................................................... 245
Five to Seven Countries Sign Up for adopting India Stack ............................................................ 246
January 27, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 246
Conferment of 106 Padma Awards ..................................................................................................... 246
Ukraine’s Odesa designated as World Heritage in Danger site ..................................................... 247
Stressed Assets Securitisation Framework ......................................................................................... 248
Tax – Paid Green Bond Issuance ......................................................................................................... 248
T+1 Settlement Cycle .............................................................................................................................. 249
Veer Gatha 2.0 Contest .......................................................................................................................... 249
Krishi Mahotsav – Exhibition and Training Programme ................................................................. 250
G – 20 Startup Engagement Group .................................................................................................... 250
Punjab Aam Aadmi Clinics ...................................................................................................................... 251
Aditya – L1 Solar Mission ........................................................................................................................ 251
Chhattisgarh Unemployment Allowance ............................................................................................. 252
National Child Science Congress .......................................................................................................... 252
January 28, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 253
MEITY Grievance Appellate Committees ........................................................................................... 253
Indus Water Treaty (IWT): India sends notice for modification .................................................... 253
Shipping Ministry Marine Logistics Portal .......................................................................................... 254
Jharkhand’s First Survey of Migrants ................................................................................................... 254
Phase 1 of Bihar caste – based survey completed ............................................................................. 255
Hinderburg Research Report on Adani Group .................................................................................. 256
Draft National Electricity Policy ............................................................................................................ 256
Ministry of Corporate Affairs Facility for e – Adjudication ............................................................ 257
First Made in India Helmet to meet Europe ECE 22.06 standard ................................................ 257
International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023 ............................................................................ 258
US-EU AI Agreement .............................................................................................................................. 258

Sale of 30 LMT of wheat under Open Market Sale Scheme ......................................................... 259
January 29, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 259
Mandatory Minimum Sentences ........................................................................................................... 259
India’s 74th Republic Day Parade – Highlights ................................................................................ 260
iNCOVACC: First Intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine .............................................................................. 261
Google Policy Change In line with CCI direction .............................................................................. 261
January 30, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 262
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All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), 2020-2021 ......................................................... 262
RBI Study on GST Compensation receiving States .......................................................................... 263
Soliga ecarinata: New Wasp named after Soliga Community ........................................................ 264
Commission for the sub-categorisation of OBCs ............................................................................. 264
Twenty Point Programme (TPP) Progress Report ........................................................................... 265
NSE: World’s Largest Derivatives Exchange ....................................................................................... 265
Noble’s Helen: New Swallowtail Butterfly from Arunachal Pradesh ............................................ 266
WHO Report on Global Trans – Fat Elimination 2022 .................................................................. 266
Scientific Study on Sea Erosion in Kozhikode ................................................................................... 267
Annual Death Penalty Report, 2022 .................................................................................................... 267
National Anti-Leprosy Day 2023 ......................................................................................................... 268
India’s First Model G – 20 Summit ..................................................................................................... 268
Air India’s New Software for Real – Time Reporting of In – flight Incidents .......................... 269
Atal Pension Yojana crosses landmark 5 crore Enrolments ........................................................... 270
China’s Baidu may launch ChatGPT – style AI Bot ......................................................................... 270
Beating Retreat Ceremony 2023 ........................................................................................................... 271
January 31, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 271
Survey: 60% households expect dip in earning ................................................................................. 271
Defence Ministry is top buyer of MSME Goods in 2022 ............................................................... 272
Ernakulam: First District to register 10,000 new MSMEs .............................................................. 272
IMF: India’s Inflation will fall to 5% in 2023, 4% in 2024 ............................................................. 273
Hindenburg Research – Adani Group Row ....................................................................................... 273
Advisory on Obligation of Public Service Broadcasting .................................................................. 274
First Employment Working Group Meeting ...................................................................................... 274
Budget Session of Parliament ................................................................................................................ 275
What is Economic survey 2023? ........................................................................................................... 275
UK to be country Partner for BioAsia 2023 ...................................................................................... 276
IMF 4.7 billion USD support program for Bangladesh .................................................................. 277
Recent Wave of Tech Layoffs ................................................................................................................ 277
Economic Survey 2022-23: Highlights ............................................................................................... 278
Economic Survey: Health Expenditure at 2.1% of GDP in FY23 ................................................... 279
News Headlines
January 1, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for January 1, 2023.
INDIA
Assam merges 4 districts and redraws boundaries ahead of Election Commission’s
(EC) delimitation deadline.
New integrated Food Security Scheme to be rolled out from January 1, 2023.
India assumes the chairmanship of the plenary of the Wassenaar Arrangement.
Government spent Rs 13,000 crore on cleaning Ganga since 2014.
50 of India’s 3,693 centrally protected monuments are missing, according to the
Ministry of Culture.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issues cyber alert for G20 Summit, shared a list of
cyber attackers targeted G20 Summits with all ministries and departments.
Defence Ministry starts process for the procurement of 100 more K9-Vajra tracked
self-propelled howitzers.
ECONOMY
Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has elevated Ajay Kumar Srivastava as MD and CEO.
Centre signs pact with Institute of Veterinary Biological Products (IVBP) for
commercial production of ‘Lumpi-ProVac’, a vaccine for lumpy skin disease in cattle.
Transport consultancy and engineering firm RITES inks pact with Kerala’s KIIFCON
for consultancy projects.
WORLD
Former Pope Benedict XVI, passed away aged 95. In 2013, he became the first pontiff
to resign in 600 years.
International convention of Theosophical Society commences at headquarters in
Chennai.
India abstains from voting on UN resolution on Israel
SPORTS
Magnus Carlsen wins all three world chess championship titles for the third time in
his career
January 2, 2023
INDIA
International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 begins with Activities by Central Ministries,
State Governments and Indian Embassies.
India has asked Pakistan to release and repatriate 631 Indian fishermen and two
civilian prisoners.
India will sign a “Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement”
(MMPA) with Austria.
Anil Kumar Lahoti takes over charge of new Chairman & CEO of Railway Board
Uttar Pradesh panel on OBC quota to submit first report in 3 months.
Supreme Court to pronounce its verdict today on pleas against Demonetization
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh briefs media about ‘2023 Science Vision’ at New
Delhi
Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Amazon collaborate for future engineer program.
ECONOMY
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das launched central bank’s medium-
term strategy framework titled ‘Utkarsh 2.0’ .
India’s Gross GST collection in December goes up by 15 per cent to nearly Rs 1.5 lakh
crore
CMIE Report: Unemployment rate rises to 8.3% in Dec., highest in 16 months.
India’s forex reserves dropped by USD 691 million to USD 562.808 billion: RBI Data.
WORLD
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office for a third term as President of Brazil
Croatia switched to the Euro and entered Europe’s borderless zone
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurates Pokhara Regional
International Airport
SpaceX launches 54 upgraded Starlink internet satellites; nails rocket landing at sea
in 60th flight of the year.
SPORTS JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Yuki Bhambri and Ramkumar Ramanathan enter 2nd round in Men’s Singles event at
Maharashtra Open tennis
BCCI has re-introduced Yo-Yo test and Dexa scan results as criteria for selection of
players.
January 3, 2023
INDIA
Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, US-based businessman Darshan Singh
Dhaliwal, and DSB Group CEO Piyush Gupta are among 21 recipients of the 17th
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.
Supreme Court will launch a project providing free access to official law reports of its
verdicts to law students, lawyers and the general public.
DPIIT floats draft quality control orders (QCO) for 16 light-engineering industry
products, including air coolers, bicycles and bottled water dispensers.
No rhinos were poached in the state of Assam in 2022, the first time since 2000.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC).
Centre constitutes Committee to discuss measures to protect Ladakh’s unique
culture, language and employment.
Supreme Court upholds Centre’s 2016 decision to demonetise currency notes of 500
and 1000 rupee denominations.
ECONOMY
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Chief Georgieva warns of ‘Tough Year’ for World
Economy.
RBI announced that SBI, ICICI and HDFC Bank continue to be Systemically Important.
UPI Payments Touch Record High of ₹12.82 lakh crore in December.
Google challenges CCI ruling in Android case before National Company Law
Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
DPIIT Lists 20 Restrictive norms of Ministries that violate ‘Make in India’ Plan.
India’s manufacturing output rises to 13 month high in December.
WORLD
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as the 39th president of Brazil.
Canada bans most Foreigners from buying Homes, to make more homes available to
locals facing a housing crunch.
South Korea and US are planning joint exercises involving American nuclear assets.
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan announces parallel government with full Cabinet.
SPORTS
World No. 2 Rafael Nadal faced a second-straight defeat at the United Cup.
Vaidehi Chaudhari wins ITF women’s tournament singles in Gwalior after beating top
seed Ksenia Laskutova.
January 4, 2023
Here are Today’s News
JOINHeadlines by GK Today or
@thehindu444 for January 4, 2023.
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INDIA
Supreme Court observed that all religious conversions cannot be presumed by a
State to be illegal.
King Charles III of UK held a telephone conversation on India’s G-20 Presidency with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
An invertebrate survey was undertaken in the Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Division.
Captain Shiva Chouhan becomes first women officer operationally deployed at
Kumar Post, Siachen.
HC asks Delhi Government to ensure free food, treatment to poor HIV-positive
persons.
Department of Posts releases special cover on Institute of Mathematical Sciences.
President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the 18th National Scout and Guide
Jamboree in Rajasthan.
UIDAI introduces Head of the Family (HoF)-based online address update in Aadhar.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurates Bailey Suspension Bridge over
river Chenab in Jammu division.
ECONOMY
The government kept the interest rate unchanged at 7.1 per cent for the subscribers
of the General Provident Fund and other similar funds.
Government exempts PSUs from the minimum 25 per cent public float requirement.
India and Asian Development Bank sign several loan agreements to boost
infrastructure sector.
Google alleges CCI copied parts of EU ruling on Android abuse.
Government raises windfall tax on crude oil, export of diesel and ATF
WORLD
India starts probe into circuit board dumping by China and Hong Kong
Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland replace India, Ireland, Kenya,
Mexico and Norway in U.N. Security Council.
U.S. carries out first execution of a transgender person
South Korea fines Tesla USD 2.2 million for EV range exaggeration
Japan plans to boost financial support to households to move away from the capital
city Tokyo.
SPORTS
Tata Open Maharashtra: India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan enters doubles quarter-

finals.
BCCI floats tender to own and operate a Women’s IPL team.
Ranji Trophy: Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat became the first bowler to take a
hat-trick in the first over.
January 5, 2023
INDIA JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Union Cabinet approves National Green Hydrogen Mission with an initial outlay of
₹19,744 crore.
Union Cabinet approves naming of Greenfield International Airport at Goa’s Mopa
after Manohar Parrikar.
Cabinet approves Rs 2,500-cr scheme to raise infrastructure of DoorDarshan and All
India Radio.
Supreme Court rules that a citizen can seek enforcement of the fundamental rights
to freedom of speech not just against the state.
The Government approves Rs 28.11 crore to extend the interest-free loan to tobacco
farmers of Andhra Pradesh.
PM Narendra Modi will chair the second National Conference of Chief Secretaries in
Delhi.
India-France will discuss bilateral and global issues at the 36th India-France strategic
dialogue.
ECONOMY
India initiates anti-dumping probe into import of vitamin, used for animal
consumption, from China, European Union and Switzerland.
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal refuses to stay the penalty of Rs 1,337.76
crore imposed on Google India by CCI.
India’s December services PMI expands to a 6-month high of 58.5
U.S. FDA approves Aurobindo subsidiary’s cancer drug copy

Ireland hits Facebook parent Meta with €390 million in fines for online privacy
violations.
WORLD
Britain’s power grid hits record 88% zero-carbon power generation, delivers the
cleanest energy on record to households and businesses.
Russia ships record 1.17 million barrels a day (mbd) of crude in December
Elon Musk says Twitter Inc will reverse its 2019 ban on political ads.
Japan pledges to deepen his country’s alliance with the U.S. under Japan’s new
Defence policy.
SPORTS
Retired Australian Open champion Ash Barty to mentor Olivia Gadecki, who received
a wildcard for the season’s first Grand Slam.
Lionel Messi was chosen as the best player for 2022 by International Football
Federation History and Statistics (IFFHS)
Cape Verde becomes first country to name stadium after Pele
January 6, 2023
INDIA
ISRO to launch Space Kidz India satellite made by 750 school girls studying in
government JOIN
schools.@thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Prime Minister participated in All India Annual State Ministers’ Conference on Water
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met his counterpart, the visiting Diplomatic
Adviser to the French President, Emmanuel Bonne.
Presidents of Guyana and Suriname will attend Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister inaugurates 26 schemes worth Rs 306 crores.
The Centre is set to launch the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) to raise blocks
on development scale.
PM Narendra Modi will flag off the world’s longest river cruise, ‘Ganga Vilas’, from
Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi to Dibrugarh via Bangladesh.
ECONOMY
Reserve Bank of India has selected six entities for ‘Test Phase’ under regulatory
sandbox for theme ‘Prevention and Mitigation of Financial Frauds’.
SEBI allows Government to re-classify its IDBI Bank stake as ‘public’ for ease of
divestment
SEBI imposes ₹2 lakh fine on MCX for violating norms in awarding software deal to
London firm
Edelweiss Tokio Life rolls out campaign for organ donation
800 companies are set to participate in the ‘Auto Expo 2023-Components’ show.
WORLD
A strange fossil with a dinosaur-like head & bird-like body found in China
The 10th edition of the Dhaka Lit Fest (DLF) begins in Bangaldesh.
Taliban announced to sign oil extraction deal at Amu Darya basin, with a Chinese
firm.
SPORTS
Jio Platforms signs agreement to Be Manchester City’s Network Partner in India
Divya Deshmukh becomes the youngest to retain the National women’s chess title.
January 7, 2023
INDIA
Supreme Court transfers to itself all pleas related to same-sex marriage
Bureau of Indian Standards commemorates its 76th Foundation Day with door-to-
door campaign “Quality Connect”.
Caste-based survey of 12 crore people in Bihar begins

Astro Tourism – A Sky Gazing event was inaugurated at India Gate, Delhi
Supreme Court directs committee to build a framework to ensure road safety.
BIS launches portal for mapping of industrial units and laboratories
ECONOMY
India’s real GDP is expected to grow 7% in 2022-23, as per the First Advance
Estimates of National Income released by National Statistical Office (NSO).
RBI said thatJOIN
the maiden Sovereign Green
@thehindu444 or Bonds (SGrBs) would be issued in two
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tranches of ₹8,000 crore each.
IMF: Indian economy is in a relative bright spot’, It must leverage exports.
NABARD raises close to Rs 5,000 crore through three-year bonds.
Forex reserves up by USD 44 mn to USD 562.85 billion.
WORLD
India to host the ‘Voice of the Global South Summit’
USA moots new law for people from across border.
US announces military assistance worth over USD 3.75 billion for Ukraine and
European allies.
United Kingdom records 2022 as warmest year ever.
SPORTS
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will unveil the mascot, torch, and anthem of
Khelo India Youth Games-2022
Indian table tennis star Manika Batra has reached her career-best 35th position in
women’s singles.
January 8, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for January 8, 2023
INDIA
17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention begins at Indore in Madhya Pradesh
International Kite Festival 2023 begins in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Indian Navy signs agreement with Sagar Defence for armed autonomous boat
swarms under ‘SPRINT’ initiative.
IISER Pune’s new macro/microporous ionic organic material removes pollutants
from water.
Uttar Pradesh launches a statewide 100-day ‘UP Global City’ campaign to make
urban bodies of the state on par with global standards.
IIT-Kharagpur delivers new software to detect welding defect, to Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers.
Ayodhya to get 10 solar ferries on Saryu River to promote tourism.
Former Bengal and Bihar governor Keshari Nath Tripathi dies.
ECONOMY
Commerce minister Piyush Goyal will visit New York and Washington DC to
participate in India-US Trade Policy Forum.
The government received several expressions of interest (EoIs) for the strategic sale
of stake in IDBI Bank
Google moved the Supreme Court against a ruling of the National Company Law
Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
Study: Bengaluru led the rank in office space absorption; Tech, engineering sectors
lead office space absorption in Oct-Dec 22.
WORLD
Republican leader
JOIN Kevin McCarthy elected
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Representatives
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants Accelerated Approval for
Alzheimer’s Disease.
Elon Musk announces tweaks in Twitter interface, Twitter will roll out the long-form
text feature in February.
India provides 75 buses to Sri Lanka as part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
SPORTS
Suryakumar Yadav scores century and helps India against Sri Lanka clinch the T20I
series 2-1.
Indian National Car Racing Championship: Chirag Ghropade wins his second race of
the season
January 9, 2023
INDIA
India-US Trade Policy Forum (TPF), set up to resolve trade and investment issues
between the two countries, will hold a meeting in Washington on January 11,
Indian undersea cable landing stations increase their capacity by nine times from
2016-2021: TRAI
Delhi government to launch a new mobility card for commuters to pay fares
electronically on both buses and the metro.
Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela to be conducted in 242 districts

Kerala Health Department calls for caution as Avian flu is confirmed in many Kerala
districts.
ECONOMY
Apple prepares to open first retail stores in India, starts hiring employees:
Paytm Payments Bank appoints Surinder Chawla as Managing Director and CEO,
Paytm’s parent entity One 97 Communications.
Indian Bank to Hold Special Rupee Vostro Accounts of Sri Lanka Banks.
Lenders led by Canara Bank receive close to ₹1,300 crore as part of their dues from
Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS)
RBI announces indicative calendar for issuance of Sovereign Green Bonds
WORLD
The first orbital satellite is to set off for space from Western Europe will be launched
in southwest England
Pakistan set to dispatch 159 Containers of Ammunition to Ukraine
China carries out combat drills around Taiwan again in a second such exercise in less
than a month.
SPORTS
Novak Djokovic showed beats American Sebastian Korda 6-7 (8), 7-6 (3), 6-4 to win
the Adelaide International.
Anahat SinghJOIN
clinches Girls U-15 squashor
@thehindu444 titleThenewsmaster
at British Junior Open tournament in
Birmingham
January 10, 2023

INDIA
President Droupadi Murmu to confer Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Award upon 27
overseas Indians.
T.N. Governor walks out of House as Chief Minister objects to deviation from speech.
Delhi Government imposes temporary ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel
four-wheelers in the national capital.
First Education Group of G-20 countries to meet in Chennai.
Joshimath sinking: Town divided into 3 zones and most-damaged buildings are to be
demolished.
Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin launches Global Tamil Angels platform of Start-upTN, an
investment platform for Tamil diaspora.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) publishes new country-specific standards for
manufacturing of digital television receivers.
India, Britain sign and exchange letters for Young Professionals Scheme.
ECONOMY
Report: Insured losses by climate change exceeding $100 billion a year.
Central government extends the term of RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata
Patra, by one year.
Union Minister of State for Finance informed that India’s export with Nepal is over 10
million dollars.
RBI announces indicative calendar for issuance of Sovereign Green Bonds.
WORLD
Pakistan to get $100 million from USA for flood recovery and reconstruction aid.
Tokyo inflation raises 4% for the first time since 1982.
Jack Ma to give up control of Chinese fin-tech giant Ant Group after a regulatory
crackdown.
Privately-owned Virgin Orbit’s first space launch from Britain’s soil failed.
US President Biden makes first visit to US-Mexico border since taking office.
SPORTS
Suryakumar Yadav becomes the fastest player to reach 1,500 runs in T20
International cricket in terms of balls faced.
Khelo India National Women Kho Kho leagues commences in Punjab.
January 11, 2023
INDIA
All India Presiding Officers (Assembly Speakers) Conference will be held in Jaipur.
Road Transport
JOINand @thehindu444
Highways Ministry to
orobserve Road Safety Week from 11th to
Thenewsmaster
17th of January
DRDO carries out successful test launch of short-range ballistic missile Prithvi II off
Odisha coast
RRR’s song Naatu Naatu wins prestigious Golden Globe award for Best Original Song
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate Global Investors Summit in Indore
Defence ministry has approved the procurement of indigenous anti-tank missiles
and Air Defence Missiles
ECONOMY
World Bank: India will be fastest-growing economy among seven largest emerging
markets and developing economies
BharatPe Gets In-principle Nod for ePayment Aggregator Licence
Exim Bank Raises USD 1 billion via 10-year Bonds
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has relaxed the offer-for-sale
(OFS) norms.
WORLD
Constantine, the former and last king of Greece, dies at the age of 82.
UK and Japan to sign major defence deal as PM Fumio Kishida visits London.
Bangladesh registers more than 75 percent decline in under-5 child mortality rate:
UNICEF
Nepal’s PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachand wins vote of confidence in Parliament
India, Panama sign MoU to enhance cooperation in training of diplomats

Japan continues to top the list of the world’s most powerful passport.
SPORTS
Virat Kohli’s 45th ODI hundred made India win the first of the ODI series against Sri
Lanka
Ranji Trophy: Prithvi Shaw scores triple hundred against Assam
January 12, 2023
INDIA
The central government’s integrated food security scheme has been named as
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY).
Union cabinet approved the setting up of three new national-level multi-state
cooperative societies to promote organic products, seeds, and exports.
Cabinet clears Rs 2,600 crores to promote RuPay debit card, BHIM transactions.
FSSAI survey says 15% of dietary supplements of substandard quality.
National Centre for Drinking Water, Sanitation and Quality in Kolkata has been
renamed as Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institution of Water and
Sanitation.
‘Naatu Naatu’ song from ‘RRR’ Movie bags first Golden Globe in ‘best original song’
category.
School of Logistics, Waterways and Communication
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Agartala.
ECONOMY
Cost of living crisis, digital inequality among risks for India: WEF Global Risks Report
2023.
Meta partners with Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) to upskill
auto dealers.
India’s economic growth will slow to 6.6% in the next fiscal year from an expected
6.9% in the current year, says the World Bank’s latest economic update.
India’s net direct tax collections stood at ₹12.31 lakh crore as on January 10, at
almost 87% of the target for 2022-23.
WORLD
U.K and Japan sign defence pact allowing troop deployments in each other’s
countries and increase security cooperation.
Uganda declares end to Ebola virus outbreak which claimed 55 lives
Russia to send rescue capsule to rescue three crew of the International Space
Station, after a meteorite damaged the spacecraft.
SPORTS
FIH Men’s World Cup Hockey-2023 begins in Odisha with an opening ceremony at
Barabati Stadium.
Swastika Ghosh becomes the fourth Indian to qualify for the World Table Tennis
Championship.
January 13, 2023

INDIA
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) adds Neelakurinji
(Strobilanthes kunthiana) on the list of protected plants under Schedule III of the
Wildlife (Protection) Act.
Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution, urging the Centre to
immediately implement the Sethusamudram project.
Press Information Bureau flags six YouTube channels for fake news.
Centre submits views of 24 States to Supreme Court on notification of religious and
linguistic minority communities.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar criticises the Supreme Court for using Basic
Structure Doctrine to strike down constitutional amendments by Parliament.
ECONOMY
Industrial output reached 7.1% growth in November after October contraction.
SEBI allows stock exchanges to introduce multiple contracts in the same commodity.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal rules out mini trade pact with U.S.
InternationalJOIN
Monetary Fund (IMF) holdsor
@thehindu444 its forecast for 2.7 % growth in 2023; MD
Thenewsmaster
Kristalina Georgieva said 2023 would be another tough year for global economy.
WORLD
California is hit by record-breaking rains and storms
Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of UAE, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has
been named as COP 28 President.
French government to increase retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030
James Webb Space Telescope Confirms Earth-Sized Planet around the habitable zone
of the red dwarf LHS 475.
SPORTS
India clinches Sri Lanka ODI series with four-wicket win in second match.
Hockey World Cup 2023: India lines up against Spain for its opening World Cup
game.
January 14, 2023

INDIA
Prime Minister Modi flags off world’s longest river cruise from Varanasi to
Dibrugarh.
Makar Sankranti festival is being observed across the country.
TRAI releases Consultation Paper on Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing,

Spectrum Sharing and Spectrum Leasing.
Indian Railways to launch Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train.
Himachal Pradesh govt restores old pension scheme
Tamil Nadu adopts Bill to make Tamil paper compulsory for State government jobs.
Supreme Court held that exclusion of Sikkimese women who marry non-Sikkimese
men from exemptions under the Income Tax Act is unconstitutional.
ECONOMY
Rise in government capital spending pushes up investments till December by 53%
higher than FY22.
India-China trade recordec at $135.98 bn in 2022; Trade deficit crosses $100 bn mark
for the first time
Jio-BP to build EV charging infrastructure for Citroen’s India unit.
Retail inflation eases to 12-month low of 5.72% in December

WORLD
US renames five places that used racist slur for Native Americans
WHO urges South-East Asian countries to take urgent and accelerated measures
against measles
Europe’s largest known deposit of rare earth elements found in Sweden.
Sri Lanka plans to downsize military by half by 2030.
China operates first domestic
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flight since 2019
SPORTS
FIFA charges Argentine Football Association for alleged offensive player misconduct
and violations of fair play at World Cup final.
Chirag Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy storm into semifinals of Malaysia Open Men’s
doubles Badminton event.
India defeats Spain in the opening match of World Cup Hockey 2023.
January 16, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for January 15-16, 2023.
INDIA
Festivals of Makar Sankranti, Magh Bihu and Pongal were celebrated in different
parts of the country.
Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express train runs from today.
G20: Two-day ‘Think-20’ meeting to start in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
G20 Infrastructure Working Group (IWG) to begin in Pune, Maharashtra.
Centre to launch five-year National Urban Technology Mission for Municipal Services
and ULBs.
Chhattisgarh begins road construction work in Pudaang village, for the first time
since India’s Independence.
ECONOMY
Report: Richest 1% Indians own more than 40% of country’s wealth.
Japan’s SMBC Bank and Oaktree Capital Management submit expressions of interest
(EoIs) for strategic stake sale in IDBI Bank.
Swiggy has rolled out Ambulance Service for Delivery Partners and its dependants.
The government has extended the tenure of managing director (MD) and CEO of
Bank of Baroda (BoB) Sanjiv Chadha till June 2023.
CII Business Confidence Index for the October-December quarter records its highest
reading in two years.
World’s longest River Cruise MV Ganga Vilas will reach Patna today; The Cruise is on
way to Dibrugarh via Bangladesh.
WORLD
Davos 2023 : World Economic Forum Meeting begins today on the theme,
‘Cooperation in a Fragmented World’.
Britain to send 14 of its main battle tanks along with additional artillery support to
Ukraine.
Earthquake of 6.0 magnitude strikes Indonesia’s Northern Sumatra.
US President Joe Biden approves emergency declaration for California due to winter
storms
SPORTS
Shang Juncheng becomes the first male Chinese player to win an Australian Open
match.
Barcelona beats
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Madrid 3-1 to lift Spanish Super Cup
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India defeats Sri Lanka by the largest ever margin of 317 runs in the last ODI and
clinched the series by 3-0.
Indian team of Yuki Bhambri- Saketh Myneni wins Bangkok Open tennis title.
January 17, 2023

INDIA
Excellence in Governance Awards for District Magistrates to be presented by Union
Home Minister Amit Shah.
Odisha government initiates process to divest 49 per cent stake in Odisha Power
Generation Corporation (OPGC), a profit-making PSU.
Bhavin Rabari of Gujarati film Chhello Show bags International Press Academy (IPA)
award.
Chennai organises its first International Book Fair.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal felicitates National Startup
Awards 2022 winners
21st Edition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise between India and France- VARUNA
commenced on the Western Seaboard.
ECONOMY
India exported goods worth USD 34.48 billion in December 2022, at a 7.75% rise from
November’s figure but 12.2% dip from a year ago.
Siemens signs 3 billion euro contract to supply and service freight trains in India.
India exported more than USD 6 billion worth of smart-phones during April-
November 2022.
Wholesale inflation in December 2022 slips to 22-month low at 4.95%.
WORLD
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe says the government will implement 13th
Amendment, which provides for devolution of power to minority Tamil community.
China’s population falls to a 60 year low, to 1.41 billion with a fall of roughly 850,000.
Nepal’s Yeti Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara crashed before landing; All 68
passengers onboard died.
Russia and Belarus began joint military exercises in Belarus military airfields.
SPORTS
World No. 1 Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi claim men’s
and women’s singles titles in the Malaysia Open.
Yonex- Sunrise India Open 2023 is set to start in New Delhi.
Hockey World Cup 2023: Match between India and England ends in goalless draw.
January 19, 2023
Here are Today’s News
JOINHeadlines by GK Today or
@thehindu444 for January 18-19, 2023.
Thenewsmaster
INDIA
Annual Status of Education Report (ASER 2022) survey was released by Pratham
Foundation; flags widening learning gaps.
Network Planning Group (NPG) constituted under the PM GatiShakti National Master
Plan recommends three projects for implementation.
Tourism Ministry to organize 1st Global Tourism Investors Summit in April 2023.
India announces 100 million Maldivian Rufiyaa for community development projects
in Maldives.
First G20 Health Working Group meeting under India’s G20 presidency begins in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Centre and Jharkhand state government decide not to convert Jain site of Sammed
Shikharji into tourism hub.
Indian Air Force launches Kargil Courier Services from Kargil to Srinagar and Jammu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates second phase of Saansad Khel
Mahakumbh in Basti, Uttar Pradesh.
ECONOMY
India’s overall exports in April to December 2022 is estimated to record a positive
growth of 16.11 per cent over the same period last year.
India’s Index of Industrial Production increases 7.1 percent for November 2022,
highest in five months.
India sent financing assurances to IMF, becoming the first of Sri Lanka’s creditors to
officially back the island country.
SEBI propose to introduce a blocking-of-funds facility for trading in secondary
markets.
WORLD
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will step down by next month.
NASA awarded USD 425 million to Boeing Company for the agency’s sustainable
flight demonstrator project.
Vietnam President Nguyen Xuan Phuc announces resignation following corruption
scandals.
India-Bangladesh Friendship pipeline to start supplying diesel to Bangladesh from
June
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calls for talks with Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
SPORTS
Rani Rampal made a comeback with a goal as India defeated South Africa 5-1 in the
first match of the hockey series in Cape Town.
India Open 2023: PV Sindhu exits after first-round loss.
Defending champion and top seed Rafael Nadal crashes out second round at the
Australian Open.
January 20,
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Thenewsmaster
INDIA
Sensitisation workshop on G-20 Environment and Climate Sustainability is being held
in Bengaluru.
PM launches several development projects related to water security, farmers’
welfare and road connectivity in Karnataka.
Indian Ports Association signs MoU with Research and Information System for
Developing Countries for setting up a Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity
in New Delhi.
Kerala Higher Education Department issued an order to implement menstrual and
maternity leaves for students in universities.
Jaipur Literature Festival is being held completely in-person for the first time since
the COVID-19 outbreak.
ECONOMY
India produces over 5,000 lakh metric tons of sugarcane in sugar season 2021-22
Domestic air passenger traffic goes up by 47% last year compared to 2021
Supreme Court rejects Google’s plea against NCLAT order in Android case.
WORLD
Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit wins Bahrain’s ISA Award for Service to
Humanity
Jacinda Ardern announces resignation as Prime Ministerof New Zealand.

NASA awards 425 million to Boeing Company for the sustainable flight demonstrator
project
Nationwide strikes hit France against government plans to raise the retirement age
by two years to 64.
South Africa announces joint naval drills with Russia and China.
SPORTS
Hockey World Cup: India defeated Wales 4-2 in the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup.
FIDE World Championship 2023 is due to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from April
7th to May 1st.
January 21, 2023

INDIA
Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur celebrate statehood day.
The 57th Conference of Directors General of Police / Inspectors General of Police was
organised in New Delhi
Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde inaugurates Regional Conference on ‘e-
Governance’ at Mumbai.
Millets & Organics 2023 – International Trade Fair was inaugurated in Thripuravasini,
Bengaluru. JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution released a guide
‘Endorsements Know-hows!’ for celebrities, influencers and virtual influencers on
social media platforms
DGCA imposed a fine of ₹30 lakh on Air India and suspended the licence of a pilot-in-
command for three months over mid-air urination row.
ECONOMY
PFRDA allows nominees, claimants’ verification via online videos
IIT-Madras develops indigenous mobile operating system BharOS.
Karnataka State Cabinet decided to allow regularisation of unauthorised quarrying.
Centre to extend export scheme benefits to green hydrogen fuel manufacturers
WORLD
President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to increase France’s defence budget
by a third for the next seven years.
Inaugural Edition of Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone – I commences in
Rajasthan.
Chris Hipkins set to replace Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand’s Prime Minister.
India is set to increase development assistance for debt-ridden Sri Lanka.
SPORTS
Indian Wrestlers call off protest after Sports Minister forms probe committee.
Japanese sports equipment maker Yonex to expand manufacturing capability in
India to make full carbon graphite badminton racquets.
January 22, 2023

INDIA
Prime Minister Modi to name 21 islands of Andaman & Nicobar after Param Vir
Chakra awardees
G20’s first Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group Meeting to be
held in Bengaluru.
Centre has decided to nominate Assam’s Charaideo Maidams for the UNESCO World
Heritage Site status.
Tamil Nadu to set up a turtle conservation and rehabilitation centre in Chennai.
President of India to confer the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar 2023 on 11
children for their achievement.

Jharkhand launches a water conservation scheme with an outlay of Rs 467.32 crore.
Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr.
Jitendra Singh inaugurated “India International Science Festival, IISF-2022” in Bhopal.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issues directions to block the first episode
of BBC Documentary ‘India: The Modi Question’ on YouTube.
ECONOMY
Average daysJOIN
of employment provided per
@thehindu444 or household under the Mahatma Gandhi
Thenewsmaster
National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is at a five-year low.
Commerce Ministry relaxes Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme norms
to promote ease of doing business.
World Economic Forum’s 2023 Davos event ends
WORLD
UNESCO dedicates this year’s International Day of Education to Afghan girls and
women.
CDC : Omicron XBB.1.5 estimated to make up nearly half of US COVID-19 cases.
The United States is set to send hundreds of armored vehicles, rockets to Ukraine.
The U.S. designated Russia’s Wagner group as a transnational criminal organisation.
New research reveals the genes that allowed whales to grow to giant sizes.
SPORTS
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik releases ‘Hockey & India — A Golden Legacy’ book by
Sportstar on Indian hockey
Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna stormed into second round of the Australian Open
2023 mixed doubles event.
World Number one Iga Swiatek knocked out of Australian Open by Elena Rybakina.
January 24, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for January 23-24, 2023.
INDIA
President Droupadi Murmu conferred Pradhanmantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar awards
on 11 children for exceptional achievement in six categories including Art, Culture,
Bravery, Innovation, Social Service, and Sports.
The first B20 meet being organized as part of the G20 will conclude in Gandhinagar.
PM Modi interacts with youngsters selected under ‘Know Your Leader’ programme
at his residence.
Ayush Ministry signs MoU with ITDC for promotion of medical value travel in
Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine.
Foundation day of Uttar Pradesh is being celebrated on January 24.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) directed YouTube and Twitter to take
down links sharing the BBC documentary ‘India: The Modi Question.’
The Indian Navy commissioned the fifth diesel-electric Kalvari-class submarine Vagir.
Centre to send a proposal to UNESCO for nominating Charaideo moidams of the

Ahom kingdom as a World Heritage Site.
Assam: Men marrying girls below 14 to be booked under POCSO Act.
ECONOMY
SEBI launches information database on municipal bonds.
World Bank lauds Bangladesh as one of the world’s greatest development stories.
Atal Pension Yojana records 10 million enrolments in a calendar year.
Jammu and Kashmir launches Rs 879-crore
JOIN @thehindu444 orfood processing project.
Thenewsmaster
RBI gave banks time till end of December 2023 to complete renewal of agreements
for existing safe deposit lockers of customers.
WORLD
United States launches several new initiatives and schemes to reduce delays in visa
processing in India.
Amazon India announced the launch of Amazon Air -dedicated air cargo service in
India to speed up deliveries.
Russia and Estonia expelled the ambassadors from each other’s countries in a tit-for-
tat move.
Brazil declares medical emergency in Yanomami territory after reports of children
deaths from malnutrition.
SPORTS
India’s Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna advances to mixed doubles quarter-finals in
Australian Open Tennis.
Thai shuttler Kunlavut Vitidsarn wins India Open Badminton title.
FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup: New Zealand enters quarterfinals beating India in
penalty shoot-out.
January 25, 2023
INDIA
The Supreme Court of India simplifies procedure for passive euthanasia.
National Voters’ Day observed with the theme of ‘Nothing Like Voting, I Vote For
Sure’.
901 Police personnel awarded Police Medals on the occasion of Republic Day.
First India Stack Developer Conference to be held in New Delhi
National Girl Child Day is being observed on January 24.
Union Minister Hardeep Puri inaugurates demo-run of Inland Water Vessel in
Guwahati.
Indian Institute of Technology Madras is hosting a G20 University Connect lecture
series to engage the youth.
Himachal Pradesh Statehood Day observed on January 25.
ECONOMY
IMF confirms India’s assurance to restructure Sri Lanka’s debt

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, EPFO, has added 16 lakh 26 thousand net
members in the month of November last year.
Domestic air passenger traffic goes up by 47% last year compared to 2021
India’s maiden tranche of Rs 8,000-cr sovereign green bond debuts.
WORLD
India bags Oscar nominations for original song and 2 documentaries
Chris HipkinsJOIN
sworn in as the 41st Prime Minister
@thehindu444 of New Zealand
or Thenewsmaster
NASA, DARPA collaborate to test ‘DRACO’ rocket engine that’ll send humans to Mars
Microsoft announced its multi-billion investment in OpenAI, the research lab that
recently created ChatGPT.
SPORTS
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill pair registers highest opening stand against New
Zealand in ODIs.
FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup: Germany enters quarterfinals defeating France
India becomes No. 1 ODI team in ICC Rankings after 3-0 series win over New Zealand
January 26, 2023

INDIA
India and Egypt signs a MoU to facilitate content exchange, capacity building, and co-
productions between Prasar Bharati and National Media Authority of Egypt.
President has approved the conferment of 106 Padma Awards- 6 Padma Vibhushan,
9 Padma Bhushan and 91 Padma Shri Awards.
President of India approves 412 Gallantry Awards for Defence personnel.
5.9-magnitude earthquake hits Western Nepal
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud announced in open court that the Supreme
Court will release 1,268 judgments in 13 Indian languages on Republic Day.
The Monument Mitra scheme will soon be revamped to enable private firms, to
upkeep 1,000 ASI monuments.
Five to seven countries to sign up for adopting ‘India Stack’- India-developed
technology platforms like UPI, DigiLocker and Aadhaar.
ECONOMY
Google announced it would change its Android and Play policies in India in order to
comply with the CCI’s directives.
UN predicts India growth to moderate to 5.8% in 2023, in its World Economic
Situation and Prospects 2023 report.
Tata-owned Air India rolls out a staff stock option plan.
Centre to release 3 million tonnes wheat to open market to tackle high prices.
RBI Proposes Stressed Assets Securitisation Framework for Quicker Resolution
WORLD
UNESCO designates Ukraine’s Odesa a World Heritage in Danger site

Australians are marking the 235th anniversary of British colonization; Australia Day
focuses on Black recognition in constitution.
North Korea locks down capital city Pyongyang over ‘respiratory illness’
Germany and the United States said they will send battle tanks to Ukraine.
SPORTS
Women’s IPL auction attracts Rs 4,670 cr in winning bids as the second most
lucrative cricket
JOINleagu; Adani tops bidder list.
@thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Hockey World Cup: Germany beat England and Netherlands defeat Korea to enter
Semi-finals
Australian Open: Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna defeat American-British duo in
mixed doubles semifinal.
January 27, 2023

INDIA
India celebrates 74th Republic Day on Kartavya Path; Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah
al-Sisi was the chief guest at the ceremonial event.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to inaugurate 500 ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’
(Mohalla Clinics) across Amritsar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold the yearly Pariksha Pe Charcha, to interact
with students, teachers and parents from across the country,
DGCA: Domestic airlines in the country have received a total of 5,901 passenger
complaints in 2022.
Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) launched iNCOVACC (BBV154), the
world’s first intranasal vaccine for Covid-19.
ISRO: Aditya-L1, the first Indian space mission to observe the Sun and the solar
corona will be launched by June-July: ISRO chairman
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Announces Unemployment Allowance

BSF launches mobile app to book tickets for Wagah border retreat ceremony parade.
ECONOMY
Preparations for FY 2023-24 Union Budget entered the last stage with the customary
Halwa ceremony.
Food Corporation of India (FCI)’s first wheat e-auction to be held on February 1.
Dell Acquires Cloud Services Startup Cloudify for USD 100 mn
WORLD
South Africa signs deal with India to relocate dozens of cheetahs over the next
decade.
Egypt plans to allot land to Indian industries in Suez Canal Special Economic Zone
US shuts down major ransomware network Hive, which extorted more than US$100
million from more than 1,500 victims worldwide.
Canada appoints first representative to fight Islamophobia.

SPORTS
Sania Mirza, Rohan Bopanna lose Australian Open mixed doubles title to the
Brazilian team of Luisa Stefani and Rafael Matos.
India’s Lakshya Sen entered the men’s singles quarterfinals of the Indonesia Masters
BWF Super 500 tournament.
Babar Azam wins the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Sir Garfield Sobers award
for cricketer of the year.
January 28, 2023
INDIA
India issued a notice to Islamabad seeking modification of the 1960 Indus Waters
Treaty (IWT).
All government vehicles older than 15 years to be scrapped from April.
SCO Film Festival 2023 opens in a grand ceremony in Mumbai.
Textiles Ministry clears 15 Research & Development projects across key strategic
areas
MeitY Startup Hub and Meta shortlists 120 Startups and Innovators for the XR
Startup Program
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Friday notified nine officials to
act as members of Grievance Appellate Committees
Centre prepares for Rs 41,000 crore international transhipment port at Great Nicobar
Island
ECONOMY
EPFO launches massive outreach programme in all districts through revamped ‘Nidhi
Aapke Nikat’ programme.
Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) celebrates International
Customs Day, 2023
Govt clears 15 R&D projects worth around Rs 32.25 cr in key strategic areas
FSSAI notifies financial regulations, under which it will maintain a Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India Fund.
WORLD
India-Egypt MoU on cultural cooperation signed for five years
India and South Africa signed a long-pending agreement to translocate 12 cheetahs
to India.
President Joe Biden names Jeff Zients, who oversaw the administration’s coronavirus
response, as the next White House chief of staff.
15th BRICS summit to be held in August in South Africa’s Durban.
SPORTS
ICC names all-female panel of match officials for 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Novak Djokovic reaches 10th Australian Open final, to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in final
clash.
January 30, 2023

INDIA
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches Ladli Bahina
Scheme. JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
President Droupadi Murmu to grace opening of Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan in
Udyan Utsav 2023.
Indian Air Force orders inquiry to find the cause of accident of two fighter planes at
Morena
Two-day inception meeting of Startup-20 begins in Hyderabad.
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) signs MoU to make Rolls-Royce
marine engines
Delhi government to introduce 1,500 e-scooters at 250 locations in the next one year.
ECONOMY
Aadhaar e-KYC transactions jump 18.53 percent to 84.8 crores between October to
December 2022.
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) starts exports of aviation gasoline, which is used to
operate unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and small planes.
WORLD
President of 77th Session of UN General Assembly, Csaba Korosi to be on a visit to
India.
Flood emergency continues in New Zealand’s north island
WHO releases latest assessment of omicron variant
SPORTS
World Boxing Champion Nikhat Zareen to represent mining PSU NMDC as its brand
ambassador.
Khelo India Youth Games to commence on 30th January in Madhya Pradesh.
Australian Open 2023: Aryna Sabalenka beats Elena Rybakina to secure title
January 30, 2023

INDIA
Odisha’s Health Minister Naba Kishore Das died after being shot by a policeman.
Patiala Military Literature Festival concludes
New plateau found by ARI team in Thane, Maharashtra could hold clues to plant
survival.
First G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting begins in
Chandigarh.
Nation observes Mahatma Gandhi’s 74th death anniversary on January 30.

ECONOMY
Google blocked 50,000 pieces of content shared by pro-China accounts last year
across various platforms.
Tata Trusts are setting up endowment funding entities on the lines of the US-based
Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
NSE emerges as the World’s Largest Derivatives Bourse for 4th year in a row.
High Street Rentals
JOIN in@thehindu444
Top 8 Cities rise up or
to 50% in 2022.
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WORLD
Google researchers create AI that can generate minutes-long musical pieces from
text.
British PM sacks Conservative Party Chairman Nadhim Zahawi from government
over his tax affairs
Pakistan federal government announces an increase in prices of petrol and diesel by
35 rupees.
SPORTS
India claimed its maiden ICC title in women’s cricket as it lifted the inaugural U-19
World Cup.
Germany beat Belgium 5-4 in penalty shootout to win FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup
in Bhubaneswar.
Tech-driven sports company SFA signs a five-year sponsorship deal with Sports
Authority of India (SAI) for Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG).
January 31, 2023
INDIA
President of India to address the 31st Foundation Day event of National Commission
for Women (NCW).
Bengaluru to host the first G20 Energy Transition Working Group Meeting under
India’s Presidency.
Best marching contingents and tableaux of Republic Day Parade 2023 announced:
Uttarakhand adjudged best State/UT tableau; Ministry of Tribal Affairs tops
Ministries/Departments.
First Employment Working Group meeting under the Indian presidency of G20 to be
held in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Budget Session of Parliament begins with the address of President Droupadi Murmu
to the joint sitting of both Houses.
More than 900,000 vehicles older than 15 years, owned by the Centre and states, will
be scrapped.
ECONOMY
IMF raises its 2023 global growth outlook due to resilient demand in the US and
Europe and the reopening of China’s economy.
IMF board approves USD 4.7 billion support program for Bangladesh.
Netherlands emerged as India’s third largest exports destination after the US and
UAE during April-December 2022.
WORLD
In Pakistan Peshawar mosque suicide blast, death toll rises to 59, and over 150 are
injured.
Finland invites Indian tech professionals during layoff season.
UK to be country
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global event hosted by Telangana.
Toyota remains top-selling car-maker in World for third straight year.
SPORTS
Khelo India Youth Games declared open in Bhopal; 6,000 athletes to take part in 27
sports.
Novak Djokovic back at top of ATP rankings, after winning Australian Open
Championship.
January 2, 2023
Dexa: BCCI's new selection criteria for Indian players
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on January 1st that the Dexa
bone density test will be mandatory for Indian players to be selected for the national
team. The Yo-Yo Test will also return as part of the team’s preparation for the 2023 ODI
World Cup. This comes after a year of injuries for the Indian team, which saw them fail to
reach the final of both the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup.
What is Dexa?
Dexa, also known as the bone density test, is an X-ray technology that measures
bone strength.
It can help identify if a person has a risk of breaking or losing bones, and can be used
to determine if a player is at risk of fracturing any body parts.
Dexa can also measure body composition and record body fat and muscle mass.
Why the Changes?
The strict measures implemented by the BCCI to ensure player fitness before
selection come as a response to the team’s injury crisis over the past year.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma has spoken out about the issue, suggesting that half-fit
players have been playing for India.
The Yo-Yo Test and Dexa will help ensure that only fully fit players are selected for
the national team.
What is DEXA Test?
DEXA, or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, is a method of determining bone mineral
density using spectral imaging.
Two X-ray beams at different energy levels are directed at the bone, and the
resulting chart shows the current bone density and mineral content of the bone.
Why is DEXA Test Important for Injured Players Making a Return?
The DEXA Test is important for injured players aiming to return to the Indian national
team because it can help determine their bone strength and mineral density.
When players are injured, their bone mineral density can decrease significantly.
The DEXA Test can be used as a precautionary measure to ensure that injured
players are fully fit and not at risk of re-injury when they return to the team.
What is Yo-Yo Test?
The Yo-Yo test is a fitness test that is used to measure a person’s endurance. It
involves running back and forth between two cones placed 20 meters apart.
The speed at which the person runs increases over time, and the test is stopped
when the person is unable to keep up with the required speed. The Yo-Yo test is
often used in sports to evaluate the endurance of athletes, and it is particularly
popular in soccer.
The test has also been used by other sports teams, including the Indian cricket team.
The implementation of the Yo-Yo Test and Dexa by the BCCI is a proactive measure to
ensure the fitness and health of Indian players. By only selecting fully fit players, the team
hopes to avoid the injury struggles of the past year and compete at the highest level. The
Yo-Yo Test and Dexa will be important tools for the team as they prepare for the 2023 ODI
World Cup.
Six years of 'Bharat Interface for Money'
On the 30th of December 2016, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, launched the
Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) payment app. Six years later, BHIM is still going strong,
with a steadily increasing user base and a high volume of transactions being processed
through the app. In this article, we take a look at what BHIM is, how it works, and its
impact on the Indian payment landscape.
What is BHIM?
BHIM is a mobile payment app developed by the National Payments Corporation of India
(NPCI). It is based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which allows for electronic
payment directly through a bank. The app is available for use on all mobile devices,
including smartphones and feature phones, and can be used with or without an internet
connection.
One of the key features of BHIM is its use of biometric authentication. Users can link their
bank accounts with the app and make payments by simply using their thumb impression.
This makes the payment process quick and easy, and also helps to ensure the security of
transactions.
How Does BHIM Work?
To use BHIM, users first need to download the app and link it to their bank account.
This can be done by entering their bank details and authenticating the connection
using their thumb impression. Once the app is set up, users can make payments to
other BHIM users or to merchants who accept BHIM payments.
To make a payment, the user simply needs to enter the recipient’s UPI ID or scan
their QR code. They can then enter the amount they wish to pay and confirm the
transaction using their thumb impression. The payment is then transferred instantly
to the recipient’s account.
BHIM also has a range of additional features, including the ability to check account
balances, view transaction history, and request and send money to other users.
Impact of BHIM on the Indian Payment Landscape
Since its launch, BHIM has had a significant impact on the Indian payment landscape.
One of the main goals of the app was to encourage cashless transactions and reduce
the reliance on physical
JOIN currency. In thisor
@thehindu444 respect, BHIM has been successful, with a
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steadily increasing number of transactions being processed through the app.
According to data from the NPCI, the value of UPI transactions processed through
BHIM in November 2021 was INR 11.9 lakh crore (approximately $162 billion), with a
volume of 7.3 billion transactions. This represents a significant increase from the
previous year, and is a testament to the growing popularity of BHIM among users.
In addition to increasing the use of cashless transactions, BHIM has also helped to
make payment processing more efficient. By allowing users to make payments
directly through their bank accounts, BHIM has reduced the need for intermediaries,
such as credit card companies, in the payment process. This has helped to reduce
transaction fees and make payment processing more cost-effective for both users
and merchants.
In the six years since its launch, BHIM has become an integral part of the Indian payment
landscape. Its use of biometric authentication and its ability to facilitate electronic
payments directly through bank accounts has made it an attractive option for both users
and merchants. As the app continues to grow in popularity, it is likely to have an even
greater impact on the way that payments are made in India.
India Assumes Chairmanship of Wassenaar Arrangement
The Wassenaar Arrangement (WA), a voluntary export control regime that monitors the
transfer of conventional weapons and dual-use goods, has announced that India will
assume the chairmanship of its plenary for the next year. The 26th annual plenary of the
WA, held in Vienna on November 30 and December 1, saw Ireland’s ambassador Eoin
O’Leary hand over the chairmanship to India’s ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar, the
permanent representative to the UN and international organizations in Vienna. India
joined the WA in December 2017 as its 42nd participating state.
What is the Wassenaar Arrangement?
The Wassenaar Arrangement is a multilateral export control regime that promotes
transparency and responsibility in the transfer of conventional arms and dual-use goods
and technologies through regular exchanges of information among its members. The
regime aims to track such transfers and prevent “destabilizing accumulations” of
conventional arms and dual-use goods. The WA operates on a consensus basis and its
plenary is the main decision-making body.
The WA is an elite group of countries that subscribe to arms export controls, similar to the
Nuclear Suppliers Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime. It was established in
1996 to succeed the Cold War-era Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls
and is named after Wassenaar, a suburb of The Hague where the agreement to start such
multilateral cooperation was reached in 1995. The WA is headquartered in Vienna and
currently has 42 members, with all permanent members of the UN Security Council
(except for China) being signatories.
How Does the Wassenaar Arrangement Work?
The goal of the WA is to “promote transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of
conventional armsJOIN
and dual-use goods and technologies,”
@thehindu444 according to the WA website.
or Thenewsmaster
Participants are required to ensure that transfers of these items do not contribute to the
development or enhancement of military capabilities that undermine the goal of the WA,
which is also to prevent the acquisition of these items by terrorists. The WA operates using
what it calls WA Control Lists, which are subject to ratification by the participants.
Members of the WA agree to exchange information on sensitive dual-use goods and
technologies and report on such transfers and denials of controlled items to non-
participants.
What Does This Mean for India?
India’s membership in the WA has aided its efforts to gain access to sensitive goods and
technologies from leading players in the West. Additionally, as a non-signatory of the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, India hopes that its membership in the WA will boost its
credentials to enter the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). It is worth noting that China,
which has blocked India’s entry into the NSG, is not a member of the WA.
Criticisms of the Wassenaar Arrangement
Some critics view the WA as a Cold War instrument with a different name, arguing that it
perpetuates a digital divide by restricting western companies and governments from
supplying crucial technologies to emerging markets. Computer scientists and policy
analysts have also expressed concern that developed economies are using less developed
countries as guinea pigs for their cybersecurity research by supplying them with intrusive
technologies that could be used for mass surveillance. The Electronic Frontier Foundation,
a digital rights group, has accused the United States of seeking even narrower restrictions
on technology transfer.
New integrated Food Security Scheme
The Central Government of India recently announced the launch of a new integrated food
security scheme, which will provide free food grains to 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the
National Food Security Act (NFSA) for the year 2023. The Cabinet has decided to
implement this central sector scheme in order to fulfill the vision of “One Nation-One
Price-One Ration” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This commitment of the
government is intended to benefit the most vulnerable 67% of the population, which is
81.35 crore persons covered under the NFSA.
Objectives of the Scheme
According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the government has a social and legal
commitment to ensuring that the people of India have access to food and nutritional
security, through the availability of quality food grains. The new scheme aims to ensure
effective and uniform implementation of the National Food Security Act, and to provide
accessibility, affordability, and availability of food grains for the poor. It will also enable
uniform implementation of portability under the “One Nation One Ration Card” program,
which allows ration cards to be used anywhere in the country.
Beneficiaries of the Scheme
Under the scheme, the government will provide free food grains to all NFSA beneficiaries,
including Antyodaya Ann Yojana
JOIN households and
@thehindu444 orPriority Household persons, for one year
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through the network of 5.33 lakh fair price shops across the country. The food grains will
be distributed through the widespread network of over five lakh Fair Price Shops across
the country.
Implementation of the Scheme
The new integrated scheme will subsume two current food subsidy schemes of the
Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD): the food subsidy to the Food
Corporation of India (FCI) for the NFSA, and sops for decentralized procurement
states, which deal with the procurement, allocation, and delivery of free food grains
under the NFSA.
In order to implement the scheme, the Secretary of DFPD held a meeting with all
state food secretaries on December 29, 2022, during which issues related to the
distribution of free food grains were discussed, including technical resolutions. All
states and Union Territories assured to implement the free food grain scheme from
January 1, 2023.
The government has also issued an order to all general managers of the FCI to visit
three ration shops every day in different areas of their jurisdiction from January 1
until January 7, and to submit a report to the DFPD nodal officer on a daily basis for
review and corrective action.
In view of the free food grains, an advisory has been issued to the states and Union
Territories on the mechanism for providing a dealer’s margin for distributing food
grains to beneficiaries, as well as on the status of the implementation of the scheme.

Financial Implications of the Scheme
The Central Government will bear the food subsidy of more than Rs 2 lakh crore (200
billion rupees) for 2023. This decision will strengthen the provisions of the NFSA in terms
of accessibility, affordability, and availability of food grains for the poor.
The launch of the new integrated food security scheme is a significant step towards
fulfilling the government’s commitment to ensuring access to food and nutritional
security for the people of India. The scheme will provide free food grains to 81.35 crore
beneficiaries under the NFSA for the year 2023, and aims to ensure effective and uniform
implementation of the National Food Security Act. It will also enable uniform
implementation of portability under the “One Nation One Ration Card” program, and will
be implemented through the network of 5.33 lakh fair price shops across the country.
Bhima-Koregaon Battle Anniversary
The 205th anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle was celebrated peacefully this year,
with lakhs of Ambedkarites from across Maharashtra and the country gathering near the
Ranstambh (victory pillar) in Perne village, Pune district. This year’s celebration was
heavily guarded by 7,000 security personnel, with the Pune Rural Police monitoring social
media to delete any posts containing potentially provocative content in order to prevent a
recurrence of the violence that occurred during the bicentenary celebrations in 2018.
Background of the Bhima-Koregaon battle
The Bhima-Koregaon JOINbattle took place on January
@thehindu444 or 1, 1818, between the British East India
Thenewsmaster
Company and the army of Peshwa Bajirao II. The British had just 834 infantrymen, around
500 of whom were from the Mahar community, and 12 officers, while the Peshwa army
consisted of 28,000 soldiers. Although the outcome of the battle was inconclusive, the
Jaystambh (obelisk) in Bhima-Koregaon village was erected by the British government in
1821 to commemorate the soldiers who had fought against the Peshwas.
Importance to the Dalit community
For the Dalit community, the Bhima-Koregaon battle gained renewed significance when
Babasaheb Ambedkar visited the site on January 1, 1927. The battle became a rallying
point and a source of pride for the community, as the narrative of Ambedkarite Dalits is
that a British army comprising 500 Mahar soldiers defeated a 25,000 strong force of upper
caste Brahmins (the Peshwas) in the battle. This led to lakhs of people, mainly from the
Ambedkarite Mahar community, turning up on January 1 to pay homage at the Jaystambh
and see the battle as a “war for freedom” against alleged casteism of the Peshwas.
2018 violence and aftermath
Unfortunately, the bicentenary celebrations in 2018 were marred by violence and social
tensions in Maharashtra, with property belonging to Ambedkarite members being
destroyed. Ambedkarite outfits have accused the state police of not properly investigating
the clashes, which took place under the BJP government led by Devendra Fadnavis. The
Pune-based Republican Yuva Morcha (RYM) has even accused the former BJP regime of
shielding the alleged perpetrators of the violence, including radical Hindutva leaders
Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide.

Narrative of the Maratha community
However, the descendants of Kandojibin Gajoji Jamadar, a soldier appointed as in-charge
of the Jaystambh by the British on December 13, 1824, argue that both the British and
Peshwa forces consisted of soldiers from various castes and religions. They maintain that
the history of the Bhima-Koregaon battle “should not be distorted and used for making
any casteist remarks.”
Covid-19 Variant XBB.1.5 Emerges as a New Threat
The emergence of a new Covid-19 variant called XBB.1.5 has experts worried about the
potential for a significant upsurge in cases globally. The first case of this new strain was
found in India, and it has already caused concern due to its ability to evade immune
systems and its high level of contagion.
Here are five things you should know about the XBB.1.5 variant.
XBB.1.5 is More Contagious and Immune Evasive than Other Variants

One of the most concerning aspects of the XBB.1.5 variant is its ability to spread more
quickly and evade immune systems more effectively than other variants. In fact, data
shows that it is 108% more contagious than the BQ1 variant, and it continues to improve,
currently standing at 120% quicker. This makes it more dangerous than the Omicron BF
variant, which is already known to be highly contagious.
XBB.1.5 is a Recombinant Strain with Genetic Material from Two Variants
The XBB.1.5 variant is a recombinant
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different coronavirus variants. Specifically, it descends from the XBB subvariant, which was
produced by the recombination of two sub-variants that evolved from the BA.2 omicron
subvariant. This means that it has genetic material from two variants that descended from
the BA.2 subvariant.
XBB.1.5 May Have Originated in India or New York
The omicron sub-variants XBB and XBB.1 were originally discovered in India, leading some
researchers to suggest that XBB.1.5 may have mutated in that country. However, Eric
Topol, a professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research Institute, has suggested that
it may have originated in New York instead. The exact origins of this new variant are still
being investigated.
XBB.1.5 is Responsible for a High Percentage of Covid-19 Cases in the US
According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the highly
contagious XBB.1.5 subvariant is now responsible for over 40% of Covid-19 cases in the
United States. In the past week alone, the number of cases caused by this subvariant has
doubled. This highlights the need for caution and continued efforts to slow the spread of
this highly contagious variant.
Covid Booster Shots May Not Offer Ideal Protection Against
Infectious diseases specialist Anthony Fauci has stated that while Covid booster shots,
which target the original variant of the coronavirus as well as the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-
variants, may offer some protection against the XBB subvariant, it would not be ideal. This
underscores the importance of continuing to monitor the spread of the XBB.1.5 variant
and working to develop new vaccines and treatments that can effectively combat it.
Overall, the emergence of the XBB.1.5 variant highlights the need for continued vigilance
in the fight against Covid-19. This highly contagious and immune evasive strain has the
potential to trigger a significant upsurge in cases globally, and it is important for
individuals to take steps to protect themselves and slow the spread of this new threat.
Supreme Court Verdict on Demonetisation Case
The Supreme Court of India has upheld the 2016 decision of the Narendra Modi
government to demonetize currency notes of INR 500 and INR 1,000 denominations. The
decision, which was taken by a 4:1 majority of the Constitution Bench, stated that the
central government’s notification of November 8, 2016 was valid and met the test of
proportionality.
Background of Demonetization
On November 8, 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the

demonetization of INR 500 and INR 1,000 banknotes in a bid to promote digital payments
and curb black money flows. However, the move was met with widespread criticism and
protests, with many accusing the government of causing inconvenience and economic
disruption.
Timeline of Demonetization Case
The decision to demonetize the high-value currency notes was challenged in the
Supreme Court,
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a plea being filed on
orNovember 9, 2016. In August 2017, the
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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a paper stating that unusual deposits of INR 1.7
lakh crore had been made during demonetization. The RBI also estimated that in
nominal terms, excess deposits accrued to the banking system due to
demonetization were in the range of INR 2.8-4.3 lakh crore.
In July 2017, the Income Tax department announced that it had detected around INR
71,941 crore worth of “undisclosed income” through searches, seizures, and surveys
over the past three years. In August of the same year, the RBI issued new INR 500
and INR 2000 denomination banknotes.
The Supreme Court constituted a Constitution Bench in September 2022 to consider
the validity of the demonetization decision. In December 2022, the Court reserved its
verdict on the pleas challenging demonetization and directed the central
government and the RBI to provide relevant records for its perusal.
Supreme Court’s Decision
On January 2, 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the decision to demonetize the INR
500 and INR 1,000 denomination notes in a 4:1 majority verdict. The Court stated that
the decision-making process was not flawed and that great restraint must be
exercised in matters of economic policy. The Court also emphasized that it cannot
supplant the wisdom of the executive through a judicial review of its decision.
However, Justice BV Nagarathna rendered a dissenting view, stating that the
scrapping of the whole series of INR 500 and INR 1,000 notes was unlawful on legal
grounds. Despite acknowledging that the demonetization was well-intentioned and

well thought out, Justice Nagarathna maintained that it had to be declared unlawful.
Impact of Demonetization
According to data from the Reserve Bank of India, the currency in circulation (CIC) in value
terms soared from INR 17.74 lakh crore on November 4, 2016, to INR 32.42 lakh crore on
December 23, 2022. This indicates that demonetization had no discernible impact on CIC in
the country.
UPI Reaches Record High in December
India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed a record 7.82 billion transactions in
December, worth a total of INR 12.82tn ($174.6bn). This represents an increase of 7.12% in
volume and 7.73% in value compared to November. On a year-on-year basis, volume and
value increased by 71% and 55% respectively.
Rapid Growth for UPI in Last Two Years
In 2022, UPI processed over 74 billion transactions worth INR 125.94tn. In 2021, it
processed 38 billion transactions worth INR 71.54tn.
This represents a YoY increase of 90% in volume and 76% in value.
UPI reached 1 billion transactions in October 2019, 2 billion in October 2020, and 3
billion in January 2021.
Shift from P2P to P2M Transactions
UPI was initially used mostly for P2P transactions, but has seen a significant shift
towards P2MJOIN
transactions in recent years.or
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It is now the most popular payment method for P2M transactions in terms of
volume.
The adoption of the RuPay credit feature on UPI by larger credit issuers, including
HDFC Bank and three public sector issuers, is expected to boost UPI transactions
further.
NPCI Targets One Billion Transactions Per Day
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which manages and operates UPI, has
a target of one billion transactions per day. NPCI hopes to achieve this within the next
three to five years.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
It is an umbrella non-for-profit organization that operates the retail payments and
settlement systems across India. It was founded in December 2008. It has been registered
under Section 8 of Companies Act 2013. The organisation was established by Reserve Bank
of India and Indian Banks’ Association. It is owned by a consortium of major banks.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
It is an instant real-time payment system which has been developed by National Payments
Corporation of India. This interface provides for the inter-bank transactions. It is regulated
by the Reserve Bank of India. Around 207 banks are available on UPI, as of December
2020, that accounts for the transaction of 2334.16 million monthly.
Draft Statement on Industrial Policy 2022

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in India is currently
working on a new industrial policy that aims to increase financing options for industry and
promote the “Made in India” brand. This policy, titled the “Statement on Industrial Policy
2022 – Make in India for the world,” has been circulated to various ministries for their
input and comments. It is expected to address the challenges and issues facing industry in
India by implementing policy measures that will foster an innovative and competitive
industrial ecosystem.
Objectives of the Industrial Policy
The proposed policy has identified six main objectives:
Competitiveness and capability: The policy aims to increase competitiveness and
capability within the industrial sector in India.
Economic integration and global value chain: The policy aims to increase
economic integration and move up the global value chain.

Attractive investment destination: The policy aims to make India an attractive
investment destination.
Innovation and entrepreneurship: The policy aims to nurture innovation and
entrepreneurship within the industrial sector.
Global scale and standards: The policy aims to achieve global scale and standards
within the industrial sector.
Integrated investment promotion: The
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investment promotion strategy by involving district, state, national, and international
market synergies.
Financing Options for Industry
The proposed policy includes several suggestions for increasing access to finance for the
industry. These include:
Setting up a development finance institution to provide finance at competitive rates.
Using a portion of foreign exchange reserves for funding.
Providing performance-based loans and incentives for innovation and green growth.
Leveraging fintech to increase access to finance.
Encouraging MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) to use the corporate
bond market for financing.
Accepting intellectual property rights as collateral for loans.
Enabling supply chain financing.
Encouraging microfinance institutions to form cooperative groups and finance
micro-enterprises at affordable rates.
Promoting the “Made in India” Brand
The proposed policy includes a scheme to promote the “Made in India” brand, which
could serve as a platform for manufacturers to demonstrate local value addition and
enhance the country’s credibility as a source of quality products.
Other Suggestions in the Proposed Policy
In addition to the financing options and the “Made in India” brand promotion scheme, the
proposed policy includes several other suggestions:
Incentivizing public procurement to promote “Make in India.”
Creating a national digital grid.
Developing a robust data protection regime.
Setting up a technology fund.
Creating a task force to continuously identify skill gaps.
Strengthening export finance systems to enhance export competitiveness.
Creating innovation zones at the level of urban local bodies.
Formulating a national capacity development program to nurture innovation.
Rolling out social security schemes for women workers.
Including labor-intensive industries under the production-linked incentive scheme.
The proposed industrial policy from the DPIIT in India aims to address the challenges and
issues facing the industrial sector in the country. It includes several suggestions for
increasing access to finance and promoting the “Made in India” brand, as well as other
measures to foster innovation and competitiveness. The policy is expected to replace the
industrial policy of 1991 and is currently being circulated to various ministries for their
input and comments.
Railways' Energy efficiency plan
The Indian RailwayJOIN
Ministry has outlined a five-pronged
@thehindu444 plan to become carbon-neutral by
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2030, as part of the country’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change. The plan aims to reduce energy consumption through efficient
operations and increase the use of renewable energy.
One key component of the plan is the installation of rooftop solar panels on all railway
establishments, which is expected to significantly increase the use of renewable energy in
non-traction operations, such as administrative and maintenance activities. Non-traction
operations currently account for over 2,100 GWh of electricity use per year, and this is
projected to increase by 30% by 2030 as the Indian railway network expands.
Sustainable Buildings
The railway board also plans to ensure that buildings are compliant with the Shunya
standards of net-zero emissions set by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. This includes the
adoption of sustainable cooling solutions, as well as the integration of automatic power
factor correction in all railway establishments.
Energy Efficiency in Equipment and Appliances
The railway ministry is looking to induct new technology, such as artificial intelligence and
the Internet of Things (IoT), to monitor and manage greenhouse gas emissions. The
railway board has also sought the input of the Research Development and Standards
Organization to come up with innovative ways to reduce its carbon output.
Power Quality and Restoration
On the traction front, the railways are undertaking electrification on their tracks, as well as
a simultaneous shift to electric locomotives. In FY23, the railways achieved 1973 route km
of electrification, which is 41% higher than the previous year. However, experts have
pointed out that electrified trains, which operate through power supplied via grids, cannot
truly be carbon-neutral as long as the grid itself is powered by coal instead of renewable
sources.
Capacity Building and Awareness
The railway ministry has asked zonal railways to create an action plan for energy efficiency
within 15 days. This includes the development of a cloud-based data monitoring and
management portal, which will allow for better tracking and management of energy
consumption and emissions.
Overall, the Indian railway ministry’s energy efficiency plan represents a significant step
towards achieving the country’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2070. By adopting
sustainable buildings, energy-efficient equipment and appliances, and increasing the use
of renewable energy, the railways hope to significantly reduce their carbon output and
become a leader in sustainable transportation.
RBI's Launch of Utkarsh 2.0
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched Utkarsh 2.0, the second phase of its
medium-term strategy for strengthening regulatory and supervisory mechanisms.
Utkarsh 2.0 builds upon the foundation laid by Utkarsh 2022, which was launched in July
2019 and covered the period from 2019 to 2022. Utkarsh 2.0 will guide the RBI over the
period from 2023 to 2025 and
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@thehindu444 orstatements that are designed to improve
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the performance of the RBI’s statutory and other functions, enhance its relevance and
significance at the national and global levels, and improve its internal governance,
infrastructure, and human resources.
Utkarsh 2.0
Utkarsh 2.0 is the second phase of the RBI’s medium-term strategy for strengthening
regulatory and supervisory mechanisms. It builds upon the foundation laid by Utkarsh
2022, which was launched in July 2019 and covered the period from 2019 to 2022. Utkarsh
2.0 will guide the RBI over the period from 2023 to 2025 and includes six vision statements
that are designed to improve the performance of the RBI’s statutory and other functions,
enhance its relevance and significance at the national and global levels, and improve its
internal governance, infrastructure, and human resources.
The six vision statements are:
Excellence in performance of statutory and other functions: This vision statement
aims to improve the performance of the RBI’s statutory and other functions in order
to better serve the needs of the Indian people and the economy.
Strengthened trust of citizens and institutions in the RBI: This vision statement seeks
to enhance the trust that citizens and institutions have in the RBI, as this is essential
for the RBI to effectively fulfill its mandate.
Enhanced relevance and significance in national and global roles: This vision
statement aims to improve the RBI’s relevance and significance at the national and
global levels, as this will enable the RBI to better contribute to the stability and
development of the Indian economy.
Transparent, accountable, and ethics-driven internal governance: This vision
statement focuses on improving the RBI’s internal governance by making it more
transparent, accountable, and guided by a strong ethical code.
Best-in-class and environment-friendly digital and physical infrastructure: This vision
statement seeks to improve the RBI’s digital and physical infrastructure by making it
the best-in-class and environmentally friendly.
Innovative, dynamic, and skilled human resources: This vision statement aims to
improve the quality and capabilities of the RBI’s human resources by making them
more innovative, dynamic, and skilled.
Implementation and Progress Monitoring:
The RBI attaches great importance to its medium-term strategy and monitors its
implementation and progress through a sub-committee of its Central Board. This ensures
that the RBI remains on track in achieving the milestones set out in Utkarsh 2.0 and is able
to adapt to changing circumstances as needed.
About the Reserve Bank of India:
The Reserve Bank of India is the central bank of India and was established under the
Reserve Bank of India Act of 1934. It began operations on April 1, 1935, and was
nationalized in 1949, with the government of India becoming its owner. The RBI is
responsible for regulating banks under the Banking
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banking financial companies (NBFCs) under the Reserve Bank of India Act of 1934. It is
also the regulator of the digital payment system under the Payment and Settlement Act of
2007. The headquarters of the RBI are located in Mumbai, and the current governor is
Shaktikanta Das.
Birth Anniversary of Satyendra Nath Bose
The Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose made significant contributions to the field of
quantum mechanics, and his work with Albert Einstein led to the development of the
Bose-Einstein statistics. On the occasion of his 129th birth anniversary, we take a look at
his life and achievements.
Early Life and Education
Born in Kolkata, India in 1894, Bose showed an early aptitude for mathematics, thanks in
part to his father, who gave him arithmetic problems to solve every day. Bose excelled in
his studies, earning a Bachelor of Science degree at the Presidency College and later a
MSc in Mixed Mathematics in 1915. He was only 22 when he was appointed as a lecturer at
Calcutta University, alongside astrophysicist Meghnad Saha.
Breakthrough in Quantum Mechanics
While teaching Planck’s formula for the distribution of energy from black body radiation,
Bose began to question the way particles were counted. He argued that one photon of
light is not distinguishable from another of the same color and came up with his own
derivation, rather than relying on classical electrodynamics. Bose recorded his findings in
a paper titled “Planck’s Law and the Hypothesis of Light Quanta” and sent it to The
Philosophical Magazine, but it was rejected. However, he did not let this discourage him
and instead sent his research to Einstein, who recognized its importance and had it
published.
This publication marked a turning point in Bose’s life and career. He was granted study
leave from his university for two years and allowed to visit Europe, where he met other
renowned scientists such as Paul Langevin and Madame Curie. He also joined the
laboratory of Maurice de Broglie and learned techniques of X-ray spectroscopy and
crystallography.
Return to India and Later Life
After his time in Europe, Bose returned to India and was appointed Professor of Physics
and later Head of Department at Dhaka University in 1927. There, he devoted himself to
teaching and research, designing equipment for an X-ray crystallography laboratory and
publishing papers on various subjects. In 1945, he left Dhaka to return to the University of
Calcutta as the Khaira Professor of Physics. He retired from the University of Calcutta in
1956 and spent a year as the Vice Chancellor at Viswa-Bharati University.
In 1954, the Indian government awarded Bose the Padma Vibhushan, one of the highest
civilian honors in the country. He was appointed National Professor in 1959 and was
elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1960. Bose passed away in 1974, but his
contributions to the field of quantum mechanics continue to be recognized and
celebrated. Today, any particle
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@thehindu444 or Bose-Einstein
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boson, in honor of Bose’s legacy.
International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023
The Government of India has sponsored the proposal for the International Year of Millets
(IYM) 2023, which has been accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
This has given the Indian Government the opportunity to celebrate the IYM and position
India as the global hub for millets. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also shared his
vision for the IYM to become a “People’s Movement”.
What are Millets?
Millets are small-seeded grasses that are often referred to as “Nutri-cereals”. Some
common types of millets include sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi),
little millet (kutki), foxtail millet (kakun), proso millet (cheena), barnyard millet (sawa), and
kodo millet (kodon). These grains are a staple cereal crop for millions of smallholder
dryland farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia and offer a variety of benefits such as
nutrition, income, and livelihood for farmers. They can also be used for food, feed, fodder,
biofuels, and brewing.
Significance and Benefits of Millets
Millets are nutritionally superior to wheat and rice due to their higher protein levels and a
more balanced amino acid profile. They also contain various phytochemicals which have
therapeutic properties due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. In
addition to being climate resilient, millet grains are rich in nutrients like carbohydrates,
protein, dietary fiber, and good-quality fat; minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium,
iron, manganese, zinc, and B complex vitamins. Importantly, millet production does not
depend on the use of chemical fertilizers, making it a sustainable and environmentally
friendly option.
India’s Prioritization of Millets
In April 2018, millets were rebranded as “Nutri Cereals” in India, and the year 2018
was declared as the National Year of Millets with the goal of increasing promotion
and demand for these grains. The global millets market is expected to have a CAGR
of 4.5% between 2021 and 2026.
The Indian Government has recognized the significant potential of millets and has
prioritized them, aligning with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In
December 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
hosted the opening ceremony for the International Year of Millets – 2023 in Rome,
Italy, which was attended by a delegation of senior government officials from India.
In the lead-up to the year-long celebration of the IYM, the Department of Agriculture
and Farmers Welfare in India hosted a special “Millet Luncheon” for Members of
Parliament at the Parliament house.
Activities for the International Year of Millets
Several Indian ministries and states have planned activities for the IYM in January 2023.
The Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has planned 15 activities over 15 days, including
engaging sports JOIN
persons,@thehindu444
nutritionists, and or
fitness experts through video messages,
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conducting webinars on millets with leading nutritionists and dieticians, and promoting
millets through the Fit India App.
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries will be organizing Millet Fair-cum-exhibitions in
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh, and the Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India (FSSAI) will hold Eat Right Melas in Punjab, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
India's Unemployment Rate Reaches Highest Level in 16 Months
According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India’s
unemployment rate reached 8.30% in December, the highest level in 16 months. This
marks an increase from the 8.00% recorded in November. The urban unemployment rate
also saw a rise, going from 8.96% in November to 10.09% in December. However, the rural
unemployment rate saw a slight decrease, going from 7.55% in November to 7.44% in
December.
Haryana recorded the highest unemployment rate at 37.4%, while Odisha had the lowest
at 0.9%. In addition to Haryana, seven other states saw double-digit unemployment rates,
including the national capital.
Top 5 States with Highest Unemployment Rates in December:
Haryana: 37.4%
Rajasthan: 28.5%
Delhi: 20.8%
Bihar: 19.1%
Jharkhand: 18%
Top 5 States with Lowest Unemployment Rates in December:
Odisha: 0.9%
Gujarat: 2.3%
Karnataka: 2.5%
Meghalaya: 2.7%
Maharashtra: 3.1%
Despite the increase in unemployment, Mahesh Vyas, Managing Director of CMIE, noted
that the rise in the unemployment rate was “not as bad as it may seem,” as it came
alongside a significant increase in the labor participation rate, which reached 40.48% in
December, the highest in 12 months. Vyas also pointed out that the employment rate had
increased to 37.1% in December, the highest since January 2022.
According to data from the National Statistical Office (NSO), the unemployment rate had
actually declined to 7.2% in the July-September quarter, compared to 7.6% in the same
period the previous year.
While the unemployment rate in India reached a 16-month high in December, there are
still some positive indicators in the labor market. The increase in the labor participation
rate and the employment rate suggest that more people are actively seeking and finding
work. It will be important to continue monitoring these trends in the coming months to
see if the unemployment rate begins to improve.
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Croatia's switch Euro
Croatia has taken two major steps towards further integration with the European Union
(EU) by adopting the euro and joining the Schengen zone. The country officially became
the 20th member of the eurozone on January 1st, and the removal of land border controls
with neighboring Slovenia and Hungary marks its inclusion in the Schengen zone.
The Adoption of the Euro
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković hailed the adoption of the euro as a “historic
moment” that would better protect Croatian citizens from financial crises. The euro was
already widely used in the country, with about 80% of bank deposits denominated in the
currency and many shops and restaurants in tourist areas accepting payment in euros.
The adoption of the euro is expected to improve borrowing conditions in Croatia and
shield its economy at a time when inflation is soaring worldwide. In November, Croatia’s
inflation rate was 13.5%, higher than the 10% in the eurozone.
Joining the Schengen Zone
The inclusion of Croatia in the Schengen zone, which allows for passport-free travel
between 26 European countries, is expected to boost tourism in the country. The tourism
industry accounts for 20% of Croatia’s GDP, and the end of land border controls with
Slovenia and Hungary is expected to make it easier for tourists to visit the country’s
popular Adriatic coastline.
A Symbol of Croatia’s Journey
Croatian politicians have described the adoption of the euro and the removal of borders
with neighbouring countries as symbolic steps that mark the end of the country’s post-
independence journey. Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and
fought a war to cement its existence as an independent state, in which 20,000 were killed
and hundreds of thousands were displaced. The country joined the EU in 2013, making it
the most recent member.
Reactions to the Changes
The general mood in Croatia has been celebratory about the changes, with some
people even traveling to border crossings to witness the end of passport checks in
real-time. “I spent years of my life waiting at border checkpoints, so I came here
tonight to witness this moment, the moment after which I will wait no more,” said
72-year-old professional driver Stipica Mandić at the Bergana crossing with Slovenia.
However, some Croatians have expressed fears that the switch to the euro could
lead to price increases. Experts have pointed out that inflation in recent months has
tended to be higher in EU countries, such as Poland and Hungary, which are outside
the eurozone.
The adoption of the euro and inclusion in the Schengen zone represent significant steps
for Croatia as it further integrates with the EU. The changes are expected to benefit the
country’s economy and tourism industry, and are seen as a symbol of the end of Croatia’s
post-independence journey.
India-Austria Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement
As part of its efforts to facilitate
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promote migration for professional and economic reasons, India is set to sign a
Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) with Austria
during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Vienna. This follows similar
agreements signed with other European countries such as France, the United Kingdom,
Germany, and Finland.
About the MMPA
The main objective of the MMPA is to provide for the equal treatment of nationals of both
Parties in similar situations, while also ensuring that the provisions of the Agreement do
not prejudice the application of national laws on the stay of foreigners on all points not
dealt with in the Agreement.
Significance of the Agreement
One of the key benefits of the MMPA is that it will help to curb illegal migration between
India and Austria. Both countries are keen to finalize the Agreement as a stepping stone
towards resolving issues related to the long-pending India-European Union (EU) Free
Trade Agreement and facilitating the movement of Indian professionals working in
European countries. In addition, the European countries see the Agreement as a way to
curb illegal immigration from India.
In light of the sharp increase in illegal migration that Austria faced last year, including
over 15,000 illegal migrants from India with practically no chance of asylum, the
Agreement is seen as a useful tool to combat illegal migration together, as it enables the
swift return of illegal migrants.

Skill Development and Exchange Programs
Another significant aspect of the MMPA is that it will regulate multiple entry visas for
professionals and student exchange programs. These programs will be reviewed regularly
by a Joint Working Group (JWG) to ensure that they are meeting their objectives and
delivering the desired outcomes.
India-Germany Mobility Agreement
India and Germany have also recently signed a Mobility and Migration partnership
agreement to foster the exchange of skills and talents between the two countries. This
Agreement aims to provide opportunities for Indian professionals and students to work
and study in Germany, and for German professionals and students to do the same in
India.
The Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and
Austria, along with similar agreements signed with other European countries, represents a
significant step forward in promoting mobility and migration for professional and
economic reasons. The Agreement will help to curb illegal migration and provide
opportunities for skill development and exchange programs. It will also facilitate the
movement of professionals and students between the two countries, fostering the
exchange of skills and talents.
January 3, 2023
Electronic
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The Chief Justice of India (CJI), D Y Chandrachudh, has announced the launch of the
electronic Supreme Court Reports (e-SCR) project, which aims to provide free access to
around 34,000 judgments of the apex court to lawyers, law students, and the general
public. These judgments will be available on the Supreme Court’s website, mobile app,
and on the National Judicial Data Grid’s judgment portal. The e-SCR project is part of the
Indian judiciary’s efforts towards digitization and aims to bring positive change for all
stakeholders in the justice system, including litigants, members of the Bar, and judicial
academies.
Digital Repository of Judgments
To create the digital repository of judgments, the Judges’ Library and Editorial Section
worked tirelessly to digitize and scan the Supreme Court Reports (SCR) from 1950 to 2017
and preserve them in digital form as PDFs. This process assisted the Registry in creating a
digital repository of the reported judgments in soft form.
Search Engine and Its Features
The Supreme Court has developed a search engine with the help of the National
Informatics Centre (NIC), which uses elastic search techniques in the database of e-SCR.
The search facility in e-SCR provides several options, including free text search, search
within search, case type and case year search, judge search, year and volume search, and
bench strength search.
Neutral Citations to be Introduced
In addition to the e-SCR project, the CJI also announced that neutral citations will be
introduced in the Supreme Court. Neutral citations are standardized legal citations that do
not identify the publisher of a legal document, allowing for impartial and objective
referencing. Delhi and Kerala High Courts already use neutral citations. A committee
comprising three judges has been constituted to work on the process of introducing
neutral citations in the Supreme Court.
Benefits for Stakeholders in Justice System
The e-SCR project and the introduction of neutral citations are expected to bring several
benefits to stakeholders in the justice system. Lawyers, law students, and the general
public will have easy access to the judgments of the apex court, which will help them in
their research and understanding of legal matters. The digital repository of judgments will
also make it easier for legal professionals to search for and access relevant judgments,
saving time and effort.

Availability of Judgments Online
With the launch of the e-SCR project, all judgments of the Supreme Court will be made
available online within 24 hours. These judgments will be accessible on the Supreme
Court’s mobile app and on the National Judicial Data Grid’s judgment portal.
Deadline for Head-Noted Judgments of 2022
The CJI has set a deadline of February 15th for the head-noted judgments of 2022 to be
made available online. Head-noted judgments are those that have been selected for
publication in the official law report, the Supreme Court Reports. By making these
judgments available online, the Supreme Court aims to provide greater transparency and
accessibility to its work and decisions.
The launch of the e-SCR project and the introduction of neutral citations in the Supreme
Court mark significant steps towards the digitalization of the Indian judiciary. These
initiatives will provide easy access to the judgments of the apex court and facilitate
research and understanding of legal matters. The digital repository of judgments will also
make it easier for legal professionals to search and access relevant judgments, saving
time and effort. The deadline for head-noted judgments of 2022 to be made available
online will provide greater transparency and accessibility to the Supreme Court’s work
and decisions. Overall, these initiatives are expected to bring positive change for all
stakeholders in the justice
'Didir Suraksha Kawach' and 'Didir Doot' Initiatives in West Bengal
Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has
launched two initiatives ahead of the panchayat elections this year – ‘Didir Suraksha
Kawach’ and ‘Didir Doot’. The programme, ‘Didir Suraksha Kawach’, will see 3.5 lakh party
leaders reach every block and cover 2 crore families in 60 days, with workers staying in
villages to understand the problems faced by locals and promoting the TMC government’s
flagship programmes. An app, ‘Didir Doot’, has also been developed for people to register
their problems. This initiative follows Banerjee’s ‘Didi ke Balo’ programme in 2019, which
aimed to reach out to common people and was successful.

The programme will be launched on January 11 and will focus on 15 state government
schemes, covering various sectors such as food, housing, health, education, social
security, income and employment.
About the initiatives
‘Didir Suraksha Kawach’
The programme, ‘Didir Suraksha Kawach’ or ‘Didi’s Protective Shield’, aims to be a welfare
umbrella for the people of West Bengal. It will see nearly 3.5 lakh party workers visit
around two crore households (covering the state’s 10 crore population) over the next two
months, completing the exercise just before the panchayat polls come around.
The party plans to train its workers for this campaign, with leaders going to local booth
areas. Booth workers will then reach out to houses, encouraging them to download ‘Didir
Doot’ to register their problems. The activity will be carried out across 3,343 Gram
Panchayats, with each house given a letter signed by Mamata Banerjee.

‘Didir Doot’ App
The TMC has also developed an app, ‘Didir Doot’, which can be downloaded by anyone to
register their problems. The app will be used in conjunction with the ‘Didir Suraksha
Kawach’ programme, with booth workers encouraging people to download it and register
their issues.
Focus on State Government Schemes
The ‘Didir Suraksha Kawach’ programme will focus on 15 state government schemes,
including:
Khadya Sathi
Banglar Awas Yojana
Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi
Swasthya Sathi
Kanyashree
Sikshashree
Aikyashree
Student Credit Card
Lakshmir Bhandar
Krishak Bandhu
Samajik Suraksha Yojana
Manabik Pension
Jai Bangla Pension Scheme
Bidhaba Bhata
Yuvashree
These schemes cover all sectors such as food, housing, health, education, social security,
income and employment, which touch a person’s life.
Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) - Update (January, 2023)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has named the top three lenders in India – State Bank of
India (SBI), ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank – as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-
SIBs), or banks that are too big to fail. In other words, these banks are interconnected
entities whose failure could potentially impact the entire financial system and cause
instability. As a result, they are subject to closer supervision and regulation by the RBI.
What is a D-SIB?
A D-SIB is a bank that is considered to be so important to the financial system that its
failure could cause significant disruption. As a result, these banks are required to maintain
higher capital buffers to protect against potential losses and ensure their stability. In
India, the RBI has established a framework for dealing with D-SIBs, which requires the
central bank to disclose the names of designated banks starting from 2015 and place
them in appropriate buckets based on their systemic importance.
How are D-SIBs regulated?
In addition to the usual capital conservation buffer, D-SIBs in India are required to
maintain additional Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital. According to the RBI’s latest
press release, SBI must maintain an additional 0.60% CET1 as a percentage of its risk-
weighted assets, while ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank must maintain an additional 0.20%
each.
Foreign banks with a branch presence in India that are designated as Global Systemically
Important Banks (G-SIBs) must also maintain additional CET1 capital surcharges in India
as required by the rules for G-SIBs.
Why were only three banks
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The RBI announced SBI and ICICI Bank as D-SIBs in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
Based on data from banks as of March 31, 2017, HDFC Bank was also classified as a
D-SIB, along with SBI and ICICI Bank. The current update is based on data from
banks as of March 31, 2022.
In 2015, global rating agency Moody’s questioned the RBI’s decision to initially
designate only two banks as D-SIBs, stating that the central bank’s approach was
“less stringent” than in other jurisdictions and was therefore credit negative.
The RBI’s designation of SBI, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank as D-SIBs highlights the
importance of these banks to the financial system in India. As a result, they are
subject to additional regulatory requirements and closer supervision to ensure their
stability and protect against potential losses.
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) is the highest honor conferred on overseas
Indians during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, which will be held from January 8
to 10 in Indore this year. The award is presented by the President of India as part of the
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian
Origin (PIOs), or organizations established and run by NRIs or PIOs in recognition of their
outstanding achievements both in India and abroad. A jury-cum-awards committee, with
the Vice President as the chairman and the External Affairs Minister as the vice-chair,
considered the nominations and unanimously selected the awardees.
Notable Recipients
Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali: Ali, who was sworn in as the ninth President
of Guyana in August 2020, belongs to an Indo-Guyanese Muslim family. He will also
be the chief guest at the convention.
US-based businessman Darshan Singh Dhaliwal: Dhaliwal, a US-based Non-Resident
Indian, was sent back from Delhi’s IGI Airport on the night of October 23-24, 2021,
over his alleged involvement in organizing a langar (community meal) for protesting
farmers at Delhi borders against the three farm laws, which have since been
withdrawn. Dhaliwal is the younger brother of Surjit Singh Rakhra, who was a
minister in the previous Akali Dal government in Punjab.
DSB Group CEO Piyush Gupta: Gupta is the CEO of DSB Group, a leading business
group in India.
Poland-based businessman Amit Kailash Chandra Lath: Lath assisted Indian
authorities during the evacuation of students during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

FedEx Corporation CEO Rajesh Subramaniam: Subramaniam is the CEO of FedEx
Corporation, a global courier delivery services company.
Indian-Australian economist Chennupati Jagadish: Jagadish is a renowned economist
with a focus on technology and innovation.
Kannam Ambalam, associate professor in Ethiopia-based Wolega University:
Ambalam is credited with building water springs and small bridges in Ethiopia.
Reena VinodJOIN
Pushkarna, an Israel-based or
@thehindu444 chef:Thenewsmaster
Pushkarna was part of the team that
prepared dishes for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Israel in
2017.
Importance of the PBSA
The PBSA recognizes the contributions and achievements of NRIs and PIOs to their
respective fields, as well as their efforts in maintaining a strong connection with their
homeland. It is an important event for the Indian diaspora, as it provides a platform for
NRIs and PIOs to connect with their roots and contribute to the development of India.
The PBSA also serves as a way for the government of India to engage with the Indian
diaspora and strengthen its ties with NRIs and PIOs. The chief guest at this year’s
convention, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, is a testament to the importance of the PBSA
and the role of the Indian diaspora in the development of their home country.
Assam Achieves Zero Poaching of Endangered Rhinos
For the first time in nearly 45 years, Assam recorded zero poaching of endangered rhinos
in 2022. These animals, known for their valuable horns, were poached 191 times in Assam
between 2000 and 2021. The highest number of incidents occurred in 2013 and 2014, with
27 rhino deaths each reported. In 2020 and 2021, two rhinos were killed each year. The last
time no poaching was reported in Assam was in 1977.
Coordinated Efforts by State Departments
Officials attribute the success in reducing rhino poaching to the sincere, concerted, and
coordinated efforts of the state’s forest and police departments. Upon taking office in May
2021, the special director general of police (law and order), G P Singh, made it a priority to
implement zero tolerance towards rhino poaching. In June 2021, a special task force was
created with Singh as its head and 22 senior police and forest department officials,
including chief wildlife warden MK Yadava.
Previously, the forest and police departments worked independently to address wildlife
crimes such as poaching. The task force was established to coordinate the fight against
poachers. Yadava reported that the coordinated efforts have been effective, stating, “We
have intelligence both from forest and police sources about activities and movements of
poachers, which helps in action against them.”
Database and Use of Technology
The task force compiled a database of past incidents of rhino poaching, including details
of when, how, and where they occurred. Information was also collected on the entry and
exit points used by poachers to access Kaziranga, Manas, Orang, and Pobitora, as well as
the identities of all criminals associated with rhino poaching. The task force used this
information to take tough action against poachers, including the deployment of armed
commandos and the use of technology, such as drones and dog squads, to track
poachers’ movements.
Assam’s One-Horned Rhino Population
Assam is home to nearly 2,900 one-horned rhinos, making it the largest habitat for this
vulnerable species. According to the State of the Rhinos Report 2022, the total population
of one-horned rhinos,
JOIN found only in India, Nepal,
@thehindu444 or and Bhutan, is 4,012. Poaching has long
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been a concern in Assam’s national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, with poachers linked to
international wildlife parts smuggling gangs responsible for 191 rhino deaths since 2000.
In 2014 and 2015, the highest number of poaching incidents occurred, with 17 each year.
The number of rhinos killed decreased in subsequent years, with 18 in 2016 and only one
in 2021.
Government Commitment to Zero Poaching
The BJP-led government, which was reelected in May 2021, made a commitment to
achieving zero poaching. This issue was also raised in the election manifestos of the
Congress party and other political parties. In June 2021, the state government established
a 22-member task force headed by GP Singh and deployed armed commandos to
vigilantly and strictly combat poachers. The task force included senior forest officers and
SPs from 11 districts and six wildlife divisions, as well as armed commandos from the
police and state forest personnel. These resources were deployed in the core areas of
rhino habitats, including Kaziranga, Manas, Orang, and Pobitora. The use of drones and
dog squads helped to track poachers and bring them to justice.
New Technology to filter micro-plastics from Water
Scientists from South Korea have developed a new water purification system that can
effectively remove microplastics from water in just 10 seconds. The system uses a polymer
that is relatively inexpensive and has excellent adsorption performance and good
photothermal properties. The breakthrough technology requires lower levels of energy,
making it suitable for solar-based use, particularly in developing countries where power
supply is unreliable.
The Problem of Microplastics in Water
Microplastics, tiny plastic particles that are less than 5mm in size, have become a global
problem. They have been found in water bodies, soil, and air, and have even made their
way into the human food chain. The presence of microplastics in water can have negative
impacts on aquatic life and potentially on human health.
Limitations of Traditional Carbon-Based Filters
While some traditional carbon-based filters can filter out microplastics, they have
limitations. The adsorption rate is slow, and they are not energy-efficient. These
limitations make it difficult to use these filters on a large scale to purify water affected by
microplastics.
Benefits of the New System
The new water purification system has several benefits over traditional carbon-based
filters. In addition to being more efficient at removing microplastics, the system also
requires lower levels of energy and is relatively inexpensive.
These benefits make it an ideal solution for purifying water in a variety of settings,
including developing countries where access to clean water is a critical issue.
The new water purification system developed by scientists in South Korea offers an
effective and efficient solution to the problem of microplastics in water. The system uses a
polymer that is able to quickly
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@thehindu444 filterThenewsmaster
out these contaminants and requires
lower levels of energy, making it ideal for use with solar power. With its many benefits,
this system has the potential to make a significant impact on the availability of clean water
in a variety of settings.
Second Phase of the Sari Festival "VIRAASAT" Begins
The second phase of the Sari Festival “VIRAASAT” will be held from January 3 to 17, 2023,
at Handloom Haat, Janpath, New Delhi. Organized by the Ministry of Textiles, the event will
take place from 11 AM to 8 PM and aims to raise awareness about India’s traditional
handmade saris.
Phase Two Features Enhanced Attractions
The second phase of VIRAASAT will feature 90 participants from across the country and
include famous handcrafted varieties of saris, such as Tie and Dye, Chikan embroidered
Saris, Hand Block Saris, Kalamkari printed Saris, Ajrakh, Kantha, and Phulkari. These will be
in addition to the exclusive handloom saris of Jamdani, Ikat, Pochampally, Banaras
Brocade, Tussar Silk (Champa), Baluchari, Bhagalpuri Sik, Tangail, Chanderi, Lalitpuri,
Patola, and Paithani. Also available will be handloom saris such as Tanchoi, Jangla, Kota
Doria, Cutwork, Maheshwari, Bhujodi, Santipuri, Bomkai, and others, including Garad
Korial, Khandua, and Arni Silk Saris.
First Phase of VIRAASAT
The first phase of VIRAASAT took place from December 16 to 30, 2022, and was
inaugurated by the Honorable Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, along with the
Honorable Minister of State Darshana Jardosh and other women parliamentarians. During
this phase, 70 participants took part in the event, which featured a wide publicity program
through print media, posters, invitation cards, social media, cultural programs, and
designers’ workshops. The event was a big hit and brought much-needed attention to the
sector, resulting in increased sales of handloom goods for weavers.
Social Media Campaign
To support handloom weavers, a social media campaign has been launched under the
hashtag #MySariMyPride. Coinciding with the 75th anniversary of Independence, “Azadi
ka Amrit Mahotsav,” there will be an exhibition-cum-sale of handloom saris by 75
handloom weavers.
Activities for Visitors
The festival will feature a range of activities for visitors, including a curated display of
handloom saris, direct retail of saris by weavers, live loom demonstrations, workshops and
talks on saris and sustainability, and famous folk dances of Indian culture. The event aims
to bring renewed focus to the age-old tradition of sari weaving and improve earnings for
the handloom community.
Importance of the Handloom Sector
The handloom sector is an integral part of India’s rich cultural heritage and a key provider
of employment, particularly for women. The VIRAASAT festival celebrates both the
tradition and potential of the handloom sector. By raising awareness about handmade
saris and the hardworking weavers who produce
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earnings of the handloom community and keep this important tradition alive.
J&K Legal Aid Defence Counsel System
Recently, Acting Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice
Tashi Rabstan, launched the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System (LADCS) in ten districts of
the Union Territory.
Expansion of the System
The system, which aims to provide quality legal services in criminal matters to eligible
poor persons, will be extended to the remaining ten districts in the coming months.
Strengthening Court-Based Legal Services
During the inaugural address, Justice Rabstan congratulated the selected Legal Aid
Defense Counselors and encouraged them to work towards making the system a success.
He emphasized the need to strengthen court-based legal services for marginalized
sections of society and highlighted the various steps being taken to achieve this, including
capacity building for lawyers and the upgrading of front offices.
Comparison to Other Legal Aid Delivery Systems
During the launch of the LADCS, M K Sharma, Member Secretary of the J&K Legal Services
Authority (LSA), provided an overview of the scheme and explained how the LADCS is
superior to other legal aid delivery systems. In India, the Assigned Counsel System is used
to deliver legal aid, with cases being assigned to salaried panel lawyers by legal services
institutions. The LADCS, on the other hand, will deal exclusively with legal aid work in
criminal matters and will create institutional capacity to effectively provide legal aid to
those in need within the criminal justice system.
The launch of the Legal Aid Defense Counsel System in Jammu and Kashmir is a significant
step towards providing quality legal services to marginalized sections of society. The
system, which will be implemented on a pilot basis in sessions courts, has the potential to
be extended to other courts throughout the country if successful. The LADCS will operate
exclusively in criminal matters and will provide institutional capacity to effectively provide
legal aid to those in need within the criminal justice system.
RBI's Systemic Risk Survey (SRS)
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest Systemic Risk Survey (SRS) has shown that global
spillovers, financial market and general risks have increased, while macroeconomic risks
have moderated. The survey, which was conducted in November 2022 and solicited the
perceptions of experts including market participants and academicians on major risks
faced by the Indian financial system, found that respondents’ confidence in the stability of
the Indian financial system had further improved, with 93.6% of them remaining fairly or
highly confident.
Global Risks Increase
The major contributors to the rise in global, financial market and general risks were
identified as monetary tightening in advanced economies, tightening of financial
conditions, geopolitical risks, global growth uncertainty and growing risks from private
cryptocurrencies and
JOINclimate change. Confidence
@thehindu444 in the stability of the global financial
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system slightly declined over the last six months, according to the survey.
Macroeconomic Risks Moderate
Despite the global headwinds posing risks to domestic macro-financial conditions, the
impact of external sector developments remained moderate, with 53.2% of respondents
perceiving it as having medium impact. More than three-quarters of respondents also
perceived that the aggressive monetary policy tightening by advanced economies would
adversely impact the exchange rate, capital flows, foreign exchange reserves and bond
yields. However, less than 40% of respondents viewed that banks’ profitability and
external debt would be adversely impacted.
Institutional Risks Remain Unchanged
There was no change perceived in institutional risks. The majority of respondents saw
further improvement in credit prospects for the Indian economy and remained confident
about the stability of the Indian banking sector. Nearly 90% of respondents assessed that
the prospects of the Indian banking sector are likely to improve or remain unchanged
over a one-year horizon, with more than half of respondents assessing that the prospects
have improved.
Confidence in Indian Financial System Improves
Confidence in the stability of the Indian financial system further improved, with 93.6% of
respondents remaining fairly or highly confident. However, 52.1% of respondents
expected that the Indian economy will be impacted somewhat/to a limited extent from
global spillovers.
Overall, the 23rd round of the RBI’s Systemic Risk Survey has shown that while global,
financial market and general risks have increased, macroeconomic risks have moderated.
Respondents’ confidence in the stability of the Indian financial system has also improved,
with the majority seeing further improvement in credit prospects for the Indian economy
and remaining confident about the stability of the Indian banking sector.
Indian Science Congress (ISC)
In his address at the 108th Indian Science Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
highlighted the significant progress India has made in the field of science and innovation.
He stated that India is now ranked 40th on the Global Innovation Index, up from 81st in
2015, and is among the top three countries in terms of startups and PhD research works.
The theme of this year’s Science Congress is “Science Technology for Sustainable
Development with Women Empowerment,” and PM Modi emphasized the importance of
women’s involvement in scientific research.

PM Modi also emphasized the role of science in making India self-reliant, or Atmanirbhar.
He stated that the efforts of science can only bear fruit when they are applied in the real
world, and called for the further improvement of India’s millets through the use of
science, with 2023 being declared the International Year of Millets.
Data Analysis and Technology in India
In the 21st century, PM Modi noted that India has an abundance of data and technology,
which can be utilized
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@thehindu444 to new heights. He highlighted the
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importance of data analysis in converting information into insight and analysis into
actionable knowledge.
G20 Presidency and Women’s Empowerment
India recently took on the responsibility of G20 presidency, and PM Modi stated that
women’s empowerment is a major priority among the major topics of G-20. He also
emphasized that the increasing participation of women in science is a reflection of the
progress of society and science, and that the goal is to empower science through the
participation of women.
Importance of Science in India’s Development
PM Modi asserted that the development of science in India should be motivated by the
needs of the country. He stated that the role of India’s scientific power will be crucial in
determining the heights the country will reach in the next 25 years. He also emphasized
that science should be focused on making India self-reliant, and called for the efforts of
science to be applied in the real world.
Data Analysis and Technology as Drivers of Scientific Progress
PM Modi pointed to the abundance of data and technology in 21st century India as key
drivers of scientific progress. He emphasized the role of data analysis in converting
information into insight and turning analysis into actionable knowledge.
Hydrogen for Heritage: Indian Railways Introducing Hydrogen Power Trains on Heritage Lines
At the start of the New Year 2023, Indian Railways has set a goal to modernize its heritage
lines with the latest technology. To achieve this, the Ministry of Railways has announced a
plan to introduce hydrogen power trains on its heritage lines in the second half of the
year. This plan, called “Hydrogen for Heritage,” aims to not only update the appearance
and operating system of trains, but also promote the use of green energy in public
transportation.
Overview of the Plan
The hydrogen-powered trains will be implemented on both narrow gauge and meter
gauge lines. Eight heritage roots have been identified for the introduction of these trains:
the Matheran Hill Railway of Central Railway (length: 19.97 kilometers), the Darjeeling
Himalayan Railway of North Frontier Railway (length: 88.6 kilometers), the Kalka Shimla
Railway (length: 96.5 kilometers), the Kangra Valley Railway of Northern Railway (length:
164 kilometers), the Bilmora Waghai Root of Western Railway (length: 62.7 kilometers), the
Mhow Patalpani Root of Western Railway (length: 58 kilometers), the Nilgiri Mountain
Root of Southern Railway (length: 46 kilometers), and the Marwar Devgarh Madriya Root
of North Western Railway (length: 52 kilometers).
Benefits of Hydrogen-Powered Trains
The implementation of hydrogen-powered trains on these heritage roots is expected to
bring a number of benefits. Firstly, it will reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and promote
the use of green energy in public transportation. Secondly, the trains will be more efficient
and require less maintenance compared to their fossil fuel counterparts. Finally, the
introduction of these
JOIN trains is expected toor
@thehindu444 lead to a better travel experience for
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passengers, as they will be equipped with vistadome coaches for a more comfortable and
immersive journey.
Details of the Implementation
To operate the hydrogen-powered trains on these heritage roots, a number of technical
changes are being made. A propulsion unit will be installed in every coach to ensure
smooth operation. In addition, vistadome coaches will be added to each train to enhance
the travel experience for passengers. It is hoped that these hydrogen trains will eventually
replace the trains designed in the 1950s and 60s currently in use in the country.
January 4, 2023
Manipur Gaan Ngai festival
The Gaan Ngai festival is a major event in the state of Manipur, celebrated by the
Zeliarong community every year after the harvest season. On January 4, 2023, the
community will come together to show their gratitude for a good harvest, pray for a
prosperous year ahead, and mark the beginning of the new year with the production of
new fire. The festival is a celebration of culture, music, dance, and spiritual rituals that
brings the community together in unity and joy.
Zeliarong Community in Manipur
Manipur is home to numerous indigenous tribes, each with their own unique culture,
lifestyle, and religious beliefs. The Zeliarong community, made up of the Rongmei,
Liangmei, and Zeme tribes, is one of the most prominent tribal communities in the state.
The Gaan Ngai festival, also known as the Chakan Gaan-Ngai or festival of winter, is an
important occasion for the Zeliarong people, as it allows them to come together and
celebrate their heritage.
Celebration Dates and Month
The Gaan Ngai festival is celebrated for a full five days, usually in the month of December
or January. The exact date of the festival varies from year to year, but it is always a much-
anticipated event for the Zeliarong community.
Highlights of the Festival
The Gaan Ngai festival is a time for the Zeliarong people to pay homage to their
ancestors and honor the gods and deities.
On the first day of the festival, sacred rituals are performed, including the creation of
sacred fire and the offering of prayers and flowers at the graves of the ancestors.
The next four days are filled with music, dance, and a communal feast, as the men
and women of the community don their traditional attire and perform to the
melodies of traditional musical instruments.
In recent years, sports activities such as long jump and shot put have also been
included in the celebrations. The Gaan Ngai festival is a time for the Zeliarong
community to come together in unity, peace, and love, and to celebrate their culture
and way of life.
Significance of the Gaan Ngai Festival
The Gaan Ngai festival
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@thehindu444 celebration of music and dance. It is a time
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for the Zeliarong people to express their gratitude for the blessings they have
received and to pray for a prosperous future. It is also an opportunity for the
community to come together and strengthen their bonds of unity and solidarity.
The production of new fire on the first day of the festival is an important ritual that
symbolizes the start of a new year. The fire is produced by rubbing dry wood and
split bamboo pieces together, and it is distributed to every household in the
community. The new fire represents the cleansing of the old year and the beginning
of a new, fresh start.
The Gaan Ngai festival is a rich and vibrant celebration of culture and tradition that is
deeply meaningful for the Zeliarong people. It is a time for the community to come
together and celebrate their way of life, and to honor the gods and their ancestors. It is a
celebration of unity, peace, and prosperity, and a time to look forward to a bright and
hopeful future.
Arunachal Pradesh Siyom bridge
Defence minister Rajnath Singh recently inaugurated the Siyom bridge in Arunachal
Pradesh, along with 27 other infrastructure projects completed by the Border Roads
Organisation (BRO). These projects, costing a total of 724 crore rupees, will significantly
improve India’s border infrastructure, particularly along the Chinese border from Ladakh
to Arunachal Pradesh.
Siyom Bridge
Located on the Along-Yinkiong Road, the Siyom bridge will greatly enhance the speed of
troop deployment, as well as the transportation of heavy equipment and mechanized
vehicles to forward areas in the Upper Siang district, Tuting, and Yinkiong regions along
the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In addition to the Siyom bridge, 21 other bridges, three
roads, and three additional infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and
Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Punjab, and Rajasthan were also virtually
inaugurated by Rajnath Singh from the Siyom bridge site.
The BRO has also connected remote villages, such as Huri Village in Arunachal Pradesh, to
the mainland. This connectivity has triggered reverse migration in these areas, with
population increases being witnessed due to the availability of basic amenities such as
schooling facilities, primary health care centres, electric supply, and employment
opportunities, according to the Defence Minister.
Importance of Improved Border Infrastructure

The construction of the Siyom bridge and the other infrastructure projects
completed by the BRO will greatly benefit the Indian military’s ability to quickly and
efficiently deploy troops and equipment to the border regions. This is particularly
important in the context of India’s ongoing border tensions with China, as it allows
for a more rapid response to any potential threats or hostilities.
In addition to its military significance, the Siyom bridge and other infrastructure
projects willJOIN
also have significant economic
@thehindu444 and social benefits for the local
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communities. The improved transportation links will facilitate trade and commerce,
as well as provide better access to essential services such as healthcare and
education.
Overall, the completion of the Siyom bridge and the other infrastructure projects
completed by the Border Roads Organization is a major milestone for India’s border
infrastructure. These projects will greatly enhance the military’s ability to respond to
potential threats, as well as provide economic and social benefits to local communities. It
is a testament to the commitment of the Indian government to strengthening the
country’s border infrastructure and ensuring the safety and security of its citizens.
India's First Green Hydrogen Blending Project
NTPC Limited and Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL) have commissioned India’s first green
hydrogen blending project in the piped natural gas (PNG) network of NTPC Kawas
township, Surat. The project, which aims to supply H2-NG (natural gas) to households in
the Kawas township, was made possible through the electrolysis of water using power
from a 1 MW floating solar project. The first molecule of green hydrogen from the project
was set in motion by P. Ram Prasad, head of the project Kawas, in the presence of other
senior executives of NTPC Kawas and GGL.
What is Green Hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water, using electricity
generated from renewable sources such as solar or wind power. This process splits
water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, with the hydrogen being captured and
stored for use as a fuel. The oxygen is released into the atmosphere.
The main advantage of green hydrogen is that it is a clean, renewable fuel that can
be used to power a variety of applications, including transportation and electricity
generation. It also has the potential to play a significant role in the decarbonization
of the energy sector, as it can be used to replace fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
Benefits of Green Hydrogen Blending
The green hydrogen blending project in Surat is being carried out with the approval
of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB). The regulatory body
has given permission for a 5% vol./vol. blending of green hydrogen with PNG to start
with, with the blending level to be gradually increased to reach 20%.
The addition of green hydrogen to the natural gas network has a number of benefits.
First and foremost, it reduces CO2 emissions while maintaining the same net heating
content. This is an important step in the fight against climate change and will help
India reduce its hydrocarbon import bill while also bringing in foreign exchange
through the export of green hydrogen and green chemicals to the rest of the world.
In addition, the use of green hydrogen in the energy sector has the potential to
create new job opportunities and boost economic growth. It can also improve energy
security by reducing the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.
The commissioning of India’s
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that puts the country at the forefront of the global hydrogen economy. It is a testament to
the hard work and dedication of NTPC and GGL, who have been able to achieve this feat in
record time.
The project serves as a model for other countries to follow and demonstrates the potential
for green hydrogen to play a key role in the decarbonization of the energy sector. It is
hoped that this project will pave the way for the wider adoption of green hydrogen in
India and help the country transition to a more sustainable and cleaner energy future.
Exemption for PSUs from Minimum Public Float Rules
The Indian government has announced that public sector entities will be exempt from the
Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) norm. The MPS norm mandates that listed
companies must have at least 25% of their shares held by the public. However, this
exemption will apply to public sector entities regardless of the government’s direct or
indirect holding in them. The exemption will be in effect for a “specified period” and will
remain valid even if there is a change in ownership or control after the exemption has
been granted.
The MPS norm has been in place since 2010 and is designed to ensure that listed
companies are held accountable to a diverse group of shareholders. The exemption will
apply to “any listed entity in which the Central Government or State Government or public
sector company, either individually or in any combination with others, hold directly or
indirectly, majority of the shares or voting rights or control of such listed entity.” The
exemption was announced in the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Amendment Rules,

2022, which were notified by the government on January 2nd.
IDBI Bank to Benefit from Exemption
One of the companies that will benefit from the exemption is IDBI Bank. The government
and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) together hold a 94.71% stake in the bank, and they
are currently in the process of selling a 60.72% stake to a potential buyer. The deadline for
submitting preliminary bids for the bank was extended until January 7th.
Under the MPS norm, the successful bidder would have been required to make an open
offer to acquire an additional 5.28% of IDBI Bank’s shares from public shareholders.
However, with the exemption in place, the successful bidder will no longer be required to
do so.
Implications of Exemption
The exemption from the MPS norm will likely have significant implications for public sector
entities in India. It will allow these companies to retain a greater level of control over their
operations, as they will not be required to dilute their ownership by selling additional
shares to the public.
However, some critics have argued that the exemption may reduce accountability and
transparency at these companies. Without the MPS norm in place, there may be fewer
incentives for these companies to disclose information to the public and to engage with a
diverse group of shareholders.
Overall, the exemption from the MPS norm
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public sector entities in India is a
significant development that will likely have far-reaching consequences for these
companies and the broader Indian economy.
National Scout and Guide Jamboree
Rajasthan, a state in western India, is set to host the 18th National Scout and Guide
Jamboree after a 66-year gap. The event, which will take place at Rohat in the Pali district,
is expected to attract over 35,000 scouts and guides from all over the country. The
Jamboree, which will be a 7-day event, is sure to be a unique and memorable experience
for all those who attend.
President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates the Event
President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the Jamboree today, having arrived in Jaipur,
the capital of Rajasthan, yesterday for a two-day visit to the state. On the second day of
her visit, the President meditated at Gyansarovar of Brahmakumari Sansthan in Mount
Abu and also visited the Pandav Bhavan of Brahmakumari Sansthan. She is set to leave for
Pali, where the Jamboree is being held, from Abu Road’s Manpur airstrip in the afternoon.
The Jamboree Village
A smart jamboree village has been set up at Nimblee village, covering a 220 hectare area
and equipped with all the necessary facilities. Over 3,500 tents have been erected at the
venue to accommodate the large number of participants expected to attend. The village is
sure to be a hub of activity during the Jamboree, with a range of activities and attractions
on offer.
Activities and Attractions
The Jamboree will have a range of activities and attractions for participants to enjoy.
One of the main attractions will be the display of the Indian Airforce Surya Kiran
Aerobatics Team. This talented group of pilots will surely be a sight to behold as they
perform their impressive manoeuvres in the skies above the Jamboree.
In addition to the aerobatics display, there will also be a demonstration by the BSF
Camel Squad. These skilled riders and their trusty camels are sure to be a hit with
attendees, as they show off their skills and training.
A variety of competitions will also be organized during the Jamboree. These
competitions will provide a chance for scouts to showcase their skills and abilities,
and compete against their peers from all over the country.
The Jamboree will also provide a platform for young scouts to share their customs,
food habits, handicrafts, and religious practices with each other. This cultural
exchange is sure to be a highlight of the event, as scouts learn about and appreciate
the diversity of their fellow participants.
The 18th National Scout and Guide Jamboree is set to be a 7-day mega-event that is sure
to be a unique and memorable experience for all those who attend. With a range of
activities and attractions on offer, as well as the opportunity to learn about and appreciate
the customs and traditions of fellow scouts and guides, the Jamboree is sure to be a
highlight of the year for many.
New Members
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@thehindu444 Security Council
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On January 3, Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland officially began their
two-year term as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The
flag installation ceremony, initiated by Kazakhstan in 2018, marked the start of their
responsibilities and was presided over by Kazakhstan’s permanent representative, Akan
Rakhmetullin. Rakhmetullin expressed confidence that the new council members would
bring a wealth of knowledge and perspective to global issues of peace and security.
Role of Non-Permanent Members
The United Nations Security Council is composed of 15 members, with 5 permanent
members (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China) and 10 non-
permanent members. The non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the
UN General Assembly, with five new members replacing outgoing ones each year. In
addition to participating in the decision-making process of the Security Council, non-
permanent members also have the opportunity to bring attention to specific issues and
regional concerns.
Outgoing Members
The incoming members (Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland) are
replacing India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, and Norway, whose two-year terms have now
come to an end. These countries have made significant contributions to the Security
Council during their tenure and will continue to play important roles in global affairs.
Continuing Members
Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates are currently in the middle of
their two-year term as non-permanent members of the Security Council. These countries
will continue to work alongside the new members to address the pressing issues facing
the international community.
UNSC Membership
The UNSC is the most powerful body within the United Nations and is responsible for
maintaining international peace and security. It has 15 members in total, including the five
permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States)
who have veto power, and 10 elected members who serve two-year terms. The elected
members are allocated by global regions and are replaced every two years.
Significance of UNSC Membership
Becoming a member of the UNSC is considered a significant diplomatic
accomplishment for a country, as it can increase its global profile and give smaller
nations a larger voice on international peace and security issues.
The council has the power to deploy peacekeeping missions, impose sanctions, and
address conflicts and flashpoints, as well as addressing issues such as terrorism and
arms control.
The United Nations Security Council plays a crucial role in maintaining international peace
and security, and the contribution of its non-permanent members is vital to this mission.
The incoming members
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diverse range of experiences and perspectives to the table, and their participation will no
doubt enrich the work of the Council. As the world faces numerous challenges, the
cooperation and collaboration of all members will be essential in finding solutions and
promoting peace.
World Braille Day: January 4 - Update (January, 2023)
Every year, the World Braille Day is celebrated on January 4 by the United Nations and
several other international organizations. The day is celebrated to create awareness of the
importance of Braille as a means of communication in the realization of human rights for
the blind.
Why is World Braille Day celebrated on January 4?
The celebration of World Braille Day on January 4 is in honor of Louis Braille, the inventor
of the Braille system. Braille was born in France on January 4, 1809, and it was his
development of the system that has allowed blind individuals to read and write, increasing
their independence and access to education and employment opportunities.
When was the first World Braille Day celebrated?
The first World Braille Day was celebrated in 2019.
What is Braille?
Braille is a system of representing alphabetic and numerical symbols using six raised dots.
The dots are arranged in a grid, with different combinations of dots representing different
letters, numbers, and symbols. This allows blind individuals to read and write by feeling
the raised dots with their fingers.

Who invented Braille?
Braille was invented by Louis Braille in the 19th century in France. As a young boy, Braille
was blinded in an accident and struggled to find ways to continue his education. He
eventually developed the Braille system as a way for blind individuals to read and write,
and it has since become the primary means of communication for the blind community
around the world.
Braille Language in India
In India, the Braille system has been in use for many years, with the country adopting
uniform Braille codes for different languages in 1951. India also established the Central
Braille Plant in Dehradun and the Central Braille Press in 1954, which produce simple
Braille equipment such as slates and styluses.
Steps Taken by the Government of India to Support People with Disabilities
The Government of India has taken several steps to support people with disabilities,
including enacting the Persons with Disabilities Act in 1995. This act provides a
special category called “low vision” in addition to the category of “blind,” and meets
the stipulations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities.
India has also accepted several United Nations resolutions on disabled people,
including observing the International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981 and the UN
Decade for the Disabled
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Additionally, India has observed the Asia-Pacific Decade for the Disabled declared by
the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), a regional
think-tank that provides analysis on social, economic, and environmental dynamics in
the region.
Kalasa Banduri Nala project
Despite opposition from Goa, Karnataka Water Resources minister Govind Karjol
announced that the state will proceed with the Kalasa-Banduri project on the River
Mahadayi. The project, which aims to divert water from the Mahadayi to provide drinking
water for the districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Gadag, has been the subject of
controversy for decades. In 2020, the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal allocated 13.42
tmcft of water from the river to Karnataka, a decision that has been challenged in the
Supreme Court by Goa and Maharashtra.
What is the Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project?
The Kalasa Banduri Nala project involves the construction of barrages against the Kalasa
and Banduri streams, tributaries of the Mahadayi, in order to divert water towards
Karnataka’s parched districts. The project was first proposed in the 1980s, but it has yet to
be implemented due to a dispute between Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.
The Mahadayi Dispute
The Mahadayi river originates in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in the Belagavi district of
Karnataka and flows into the Arabian Sea in Goa. In 2006, Karnataka began work on the
Kalasa-Banduri project, prompting Goa to approach the Supreme Court and request the
creation of a tribunal to settle the water sharing dispute. The tribunal was eventually
established by the UPA government in November 2010.
In 2018, the tribunal awarded 13.42 TMC of water from the Mahadayi river basin to
Karnataka, 1.33 TMC to Maharashtra, and 24 TMC to Goa. Of Karnataka’s allocation, 5.5
TMC was allocated for drinking water and 8.02 TMC was allocated for hydroelectricity
generation. Of the 5.5 TMC allocated for drinking water, 3.8 TMC was to be diverted to the
Malaprabha basin through the Kalasa and Banduri Nalas (canals). This decision was
notified by the Central government in February 2020.
Issues with the Tribunal’s Award
Goa has filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the allocation of
water from the Mahadayi by the tribunal. In October 2020, it also filed a contempt petition
accusing Karnataka of illegally diverting water from the river. Maharashtra has also filed
civil appeals in the dispute.

Karnataka’s Decision to Proceed with the Project
Despite the ongoing legal disputes, Karnataka Water Resources minister Govind Karjol has
announced that the state will proceed with the Kalasa-Banduri project. Karjol stated that
Karnataka does not need permission from Goa to use the water awarded to the state by
the tribunal and that the project is necessary to meet the drinking water needs of
Karnataka. He added that the Supreme Court has generally taken a favorable view of
drinking water projects.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced on December 30, 2020, that the
Union government had cleared the DPR for the project. This move is expected to benefit
the BJP in parts of Kittur Karnataka that will be served by the project.
Savitribai Phule
Savitribai Phule is a well-known figure in Indian history for her pioneering efforts in the
fields of women’s education, social reform, and gender equality. She is considered the first
female teacher in India, and is often referred to as the “Mother of Indian Feminism.”
Along with her husband Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai founded the first girls’ school in Pune in
1848, and worked tirelessly to fight against gender and caste discrimination. In addition to
her work as a teacher and social reformer, Savitribai was also a prolific Marathi writer,
with several literary works to her name. In this article, we will explore Savitribai’s life,
achievements, and legacies in greater detail.
Early Life
Savitribai K. Patil was born on January 3, 1831, into a family of farmers. At the age of nine,
she was married to 13-year-old Jyotirao Phule, who later became her partner in activism
and social reform. Savitribai was home-schooled by her husband, who taught her how to
read and write.
The First School for Girls and Women
In 1848, Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule founded the first school for girls and women in
Bhidewada, Pune (Maharashtra). The school started with just nine girls from different
castes, and was considered a historic step in a society where female education was
considered taboo. The Phule couple had launched a crusade against social discrimination
based on caste and gender, and their efforts to educate women sparked the flame for
women’s equal rights.
Campaign for Women’s Rights
During the British rule in India, Savitribai Phule led a courageous campaign for women’s
rights, focusing on issues such as child marriages, child widows, and the practice of “Sati,”
which involved the forced suicide of a widow on her husband’s funeral pyre. Savitribai also
fought for equal rights for all women, and worked hard to improve the status of women in
Indian society.
Legacies
After Jyotirao Phule’s death in 1890, Savitribai continued his work with the Satyashodhak
Samaj, a group that supported inter-caste marriages. She died while serving people
suffering from the bubonic plague in Maharashtra in 1897. In recognition of her

pioneering efforts in the fields of women’s education, social reform, and gender equality,
the Maharashtra government renamed the University of Pune as the Savitribai Phule Pune
University. The India Post also released a stamp in honor of Savitribai on March 10, 1998.
Savitribai Phule was a trailblazer in the fight for women’s rights in India, and her
contributions to the fields of education, social reform, and gender equality continue to be
recognized and celebrated. Though she faced many challenges as a woman in a
patriarchal and orthodox society, Savitribai’s courage
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to follow in her footsteps, and helped pave the way for a more equal and just society.
MHA High Powered Committee on Ladakh
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in India has established a High Powered Committee
(HPC) to address issues related to the protection of Ladakh’s culture, language, land, and
employment opportunities.
Purpose of the Committee
The committee has been formed with the goal of promoting inclusive development and
employment generation in the region, as well as empowering the Ladakh Autonomous Hill
Development Councils (LAHDCs) of Leh and Kargil.
Its mandate includes discussing measures to protect Ladakh’s unique culture and
language, and to ensure that the region’s land and employment opportunities are
protected for the benefit of its people.
Members of the Committee
The committee will be chaired by Shri Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home
Affairs.
In addition to Rai, the committee will include the Lieutenant Governor of the Union
Territory of Ladakh, the Member of Parliament for Ladakh, the Chairmen/Chief
Executive Councilors of the LAHDCs of Leh and Kargil, and several other officials
from the MHA and the Department of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs.
Representatives from both Leh and Kargil have also been invited to participate in the
committee. From Leh, the committee will include members of the Apex Body, a
group representing the interests of Ladakh’s Buddhist community, as well as
representatives of other religious and community organizations. From Kargil, the
committee will include members of the Kargil Democratic Alliance, a political group,
as well as other community leaders.
The establishment of the HPC reflects the Indian government’s commitment to
addressing the concerns of the people of Ladakh and ensuring that the region’s unique
culture and way of life are preserved. With its strategic location and importance, Ladakh
plays a vital role in the security and stability of the region, and the HPC will work to ensure
that the needs of the people of Ladakh are met and that the region is able to contribute to
the overall development of the country.
Bikaner Solar Power Project to Boost India's Renewable Energy
President Droupadi Murmu virtually laid the foundation stone for the 1,000 MW Bikaner
Solar Power Project on Tuesday in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The project is being implemented by
state-owned energy firm SJVN Limited through its subsidiary, SJVN Green Energy Limited
(SGEL), and is being developed on 5,000 acres of outright purchased land near the village
of Banderwala, district Bikaner in Rajasthan.
Details of the Project
The project is expected to be commissioned by March 2024 and will generate
approximately 2454.55 million units in the first year, with a cumulative total of 56838 MU
over 25 years. TheJOIN
maximum usage charges have
@thehindu444 or been set at Rs. 2.57 per unit, which will
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provide cheaper electricity to consumers. In addition to helping the government achieve
its renewable energy target of 500 GW by 2030, the project will also reduce carbon
emissions by 27,85,077 tones.
The project is expected to create direct and indirect employment for 150-200 and 800-1000
people, respectively, and will stimulate the local economy and create green jobs. The
project will also utilize domestically manufactured solar photovoltaic cells and modules,
supporting the “Make in India” initiative.
Funding and Implementation:
The development cost of the project is ₹5492 crores, with viability gap funding support of
₹44.72 lakh per megawatt provided by IREDA. SJVN has been awarded the 1,000 MW
Bikaner Solar Power Project under the Central Public Sector Undertaking Scheme Phase-II,
Tranche-III (Government Producer Scheme) through competitive bidding. The power
generated by the project will be for self-use or use by the government or government
entities, either directly or through distribution companies (DISCOMS).
SJVN’s Portfolio
SJVN is a leading CPSE under the Ministry of Power with a total project portfolio of
approximately 45,000 MW. The company is currently developing 73 hydro, solar, wind, and
thermal projects in 13 states in India and in Nepal.
ADB's Recent Loans to 4 States
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently signed a loan agreement with the Indian
government to provide $1.22 billion in funding for projects aimed at improving

connectivity and infrastructure in four Indian states. The loan will cover a range of projects
including improving the power sector and highways in the northeastern states of Tripura
and Assam, expanding the metro rail network in the southern city of Chennai, and
improving key economic areas in the western state of Maharashtra.
$350 Million Loan for Maharashtra
The ADB loan for Maharashtra will provide funding for the upgrade of 319 kilometers
of state highways and 149 kilometers of district roads, incorporating climate and
disaster-resilient features to strengthen the state’s core road network in 10 districts.
The project will also include the construction of 5 kilometers of major district roads
connecting Nanded and Telangana, and will promote gender equality and social
inclusion in highway programs, schools, health services, and social services.
Integrated service centers will also be set up to provide basic sanitation, education,
and other services.

$300 Million Loan for Assam
The ADB loan for Assam will fund the upgrading of six road sections in the state’s western,
central, and southern regions, which are connected to SASEC corridors linking India with
Bhutan and Bangladesh. The upgraded roads are expected to boost cross-border trade
and transport and will complement the multimodal logistics park being built in Jogighopa
and another proposed in Silchar, which will serve road, rail, inland waterway, and air
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$350 Million Loan for Chennai Metro Rail Network
The ADB loan for the expansion of the Chennai metro rail network will support the
development of three new lines: Line 3, Line 4, and Line 5.
For Line 3, the loan will fund the construction of 10.1 kilometers of the elevated
section between Sholinganallur and State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil
Nadu-2, including nine metro stations and system components.
For Line 4, the loan will help fund the construction of 10 kilometers of the
underground section between Lighthouse and Meenakshi College, including nine
stations.
For Line 5, the loan will finance 31 kilometers of system components such as
electrical, mechanical, power, and telecommunication infrastructure between
Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus and Okkiyam Thoraipakkam. The stations will
incorporate disaster- and climate-resilient features and will be responsive to the
needs of the elderly, women, children, differently abled, and transgender people.
$220 Million Loan for Tripura Power Sector
The ADB loan for the power sector in Tripura will fund the replacement of the Rokhia
power plant with a highly efficient combined cycle gas turbine, which will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions through fuel saving. The project will also modernize the
state’s power distribution network and build institutional capacity.
The project will also promote gender equality through pilot testing of gender and
socially inclusive workplace practices and will support at least 15 selected women’s
self-help groups (SHGs) under the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission.
The SHGs will target the socio-economic empowerment of the rural poor and women
of the state, including those in the farming and non-farming sectors.
RISE- Rising India Through Spiritual Empowerment
On January 3, 2023, the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, participated in the
launch of the National Campaign on ‘RISE- Rising India Through Spiritual Empowerment’,
organized by Brahma Kumaris at Mount Abu, Rajasthan. Additionally, she virtually
inaugurated the Brahma Kumaris Silence Retreat Centre in Secunderabad and laid the
foundation stone for the Brahma Kumaris Auditorium and Spiritual Art Gallery in Indore.
President’s Personal Connection with Brahma Kumaris
In her address to the gathering, the President spoke of her personal connection with the
Brahma Kumaris Institution. She explained that she had learned the method of Raja Yoga,
which emphasizes inner spiritual power rather than external physical conveniences and
events. This helped her to find light and enthusiasm during a time when she felt
surrounded by darkness and lacked hope.
Objectives of RISE
The National Campaign on ‘RISE- Rising India Through Spiritual Empowerment’ is aimed
at spiritually empowering Indian nationals in order to fulfill the dream of a “Golden India.”
Brahma Kumaris believes that self-transformation leads to world transformation, and that
the journey of a million
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the rebuilding of the nation.
Methodology
To achieve these goals, a range of lectures, workshops, short courses, youth camps, and
fests will be conducted nationwide to create awareness and transformation among youth.
Additionally, Brahma Kumaris will collaborate on various projects that provide
opportunities for young people to participate in activities of social and humanitarian
concern.
Key Areas
The National Campaign on ‘RISE- Rising India Through Spiritual Empowerment’ will focus
on a range of areas, including lectures, workshops, short courses, youth camps, and fests
nationwide to create awareness and transformation among youth. Additionally, the
campaign will involve collaboration on projects that offer opportunities for young people
to engage in social and humanitarian activities.
PM pays tributes to Rani Velu Nachiyar on her birth anniversary
Rani Velu Nachiyar was an 18th-century warrior queen who belonged to the Sivagangai
estate in present-day Tamil Nadu. She was the only daughter of the royal couple of the
Sethupathi dynasty and was trained in martial arts, archery, and horseback riding. Rani
Velu Nachiyar was also multilingual, with proficiency in languages such as French, English,
and Urdu. On her birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to her
“courageous” spirit and her contributions to the fight against colonialism and for the
welfare of society.
Here are five points about the life of this celebrated warrior
1. Tragedy struck early on in Rani Velu Nachiyar’s life when her husband, Muthu
Vaduganatha Thevar, was killed by the British and the son of the Nawab of Arcot
during the Kalaiyar Koil War. Following this event, Velu Nachiyar and her daughter
were forced to flee from their land.
2. After fleeing, Rani Velu Nachiyar sought refuge with Gopal Naicker, the ruler of
Dindigul. While under Naicker’s protection, she also met Haider Ali, the Sultan of
Mysore, and impressed him with her fluent Urdu and intellect.
3. With the support of Naicker and Sultan’s forces, Rani Velu Nachiyar set out to regain
control of her kingdom in 1780. This historic event is also believed to be the first
instance of suicide bombing in India, with Velu Nachiyar and her military
commander, Kuyuili, devising the plan to destroy British weapons.
4. Kuyuili sacrificed herself by setting herself on fire and walking into the armoury
chambers of the fort captured by the British, thereby paving the way for Rani Velu
Nachiyar to launch an attack and win her kingdom back. She earned the title
“Veeramangai,” or “the brave one,” for her bravery in fighting the British and the
Nawab of Arcot.
5. In addition to her military successes, Rani Velu Nachiyar is also remembered for her
efforts to improve the welfare of her people. She granted powers to Marudhu
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Brothers to administer or them
the country and made Thenewsmaster
responsible for the welfare of the
people. She also abolished the practice of sati, the ritual of widows immolating
themselves on their husband’s funeral pyres, and implemented several social
reforms.
Rani Velu Nachiyar’s legacy as a warrior queen who fought against British colonialism and
worked for the welfare of her people continues to inspire and motivate generations. She is
remembered through a commemorative postal stamp and will always be remembered as
a symbol of courage and determination.
Europe Winter Heat wave
Europe experienced an unprecedented winter heat wave over the New Year’s weekend,
with at least seven countries recording their hottest January weather ever. Climatologists
suggest that the heat dome forming over the region caused temperatures to surge to
summer or springtime levels. This article explores what a heat dome is, the relationship
between heat domes and the jet stream, and the potential role of climate change in their
formation.
What is a Heat Dome?
A heat dome is an area of high-pressure that traps warm air over a region for an extended
period of time, similar to a lid on a pot. The longer the air remains trapped, the more the
sun works to heat it, resulting in warmer conditions. Heat domes can last for a few days or
even weeks, potentially leading to deadly heat waves.
When high pressure forces air to sink, it gets compressed and becomes even warmer.
Additionally, as the air sinks, it becomes drier, further raising the temperature of the area.
Heat Domes and the Jet Stream
The formation of heat domes is related to the behaviour of the jet stream, a fast-moving
area of air in the atmosphere with a wave-like pattern that moves from north to south and
back again. When these waves become bigger and elongated, they can slow down or
become stationary, leading to the formation of a high-pressure system and a heat dome.
Climate Change and Heat Domes
While heat domes are likely to have always existed, researchers suggest that climate
change may be making them more intense and longer-lasting. As temperatures rise, it is
expected that the jet stream will become more wavy and have larger deviations, leading to
more frequent extreme heat events.
Previous Instances of Heat Domes
In 2021, a heat dome formed over western Canada and the US, causing deadly heat waves.
Portland saw temperatures reach 46°C, Washington hit 49°C, and Lytton in British
Columbia saw temperatures soar to over 46°C. It is believed that hundreds of people died
as a result of this extreme weather event.
Madagascar: Discovery of 20 New Frog Species
The humid vegetation in Madagascar is home to a diverse population of small, brown
frogs. These frogs are known for their subtle mating calls that can be heard in the
darkness, and are difficult to spot due to their ability to camouflage with mud. Until
recently, scientistsJOIN
had only formally described or
@thehindu444 14 species of the Malagasy common brown
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frog. However, a new study has identified and described 20 additional species of these
frogs that had previously been overlooked.
Importance of Species Identification
Identifying and naming species is crucial for understanding the planet’s biodiversity, as
habitat destruction is causing animals to go extinct at a faster rate than they can be
catalogued. The discovery of these new frog species is exciting, as it adds to our
understanding of the diversity of life on Earth. However, it is also concerning, as it is
occurring in the midst of widespread deforestation in Madagascar.
Complexity of Studying Malagasy Frogs
Madagascar is home to hundreds of endemic frog species, but studying these animals and
collecting detailed data about them is complex. Fieldwork in the remote and inaccessible
areas of the island can be difficult, and technology has not always been sufficient for
extracting useful data from frog specimens in national collections and museums.
Additionally, many of the species of common brown frog in Madagascar look similar,
making it challenging to accurately classify them.
Using Museomics to Classify Frogs
To more accurately classify the different species of common brown frog in Madagascar,
the study team used a state-of-the-art approach called museomics. This involves
extracting and sequencing DNA from preserved frog specimens, and comparing that
genetic data with information about the frogs’ physical appearance, mating calls, and
geographic location. This allowed the team to identify 20 previously overlooked species of
frogs.
Significance of These Findings
The discovery of these 20 new species of frogs is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it
adds to our understanding of the diversity of life on Earth, and helps to fill in the blanks in
the biological inventory of the planet. Secondly, it highlights the importance of museums
and national collections, as they can be a valuable resource for studying and protecting
biodiversity. Finally, it demonstrates the ongoing need for research and conservation
efforts in Madagascar, which is home to a wealth of unique and vulnerable species.
Draft Online Gaming Policy
The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has released the Draft Rules for Online Gaming,
which have been introduced as an amendment to the Information Technology
(Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These proposed rules
aim to regulate the online gaming industry in India and ensure a safe and fair gaming
ecosystem for users.
Overview of the Draft Rules
Self Regulatory Body: Online gaming companies in India will be required to register
with a self-regulatory body. Only games that have been cleared by this body will be
allowed to legally operate in the country. The self-regulatory body will have a board
of directors with five members from various fields, including online gaming, public
policy, IT, psychology, and medicine. It is possible
JOIN @thehindu444 for there to be more than one self-
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regulatory body, and all of them will need to inform the government about the
games they have registered, along with a report detailing the criteria for registering
these games.
Due Diligence: Online gaming firms will also have to undertake additional due
diligence measures, including KYC (know your customer) checks for users,
transparent withdrawal and refund policies for money, and fair distribution of
winnings. For KYC checks, these firms will need to follow norms set by the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI).
Random Number Generation Certificate and No Bot Certificate: Gaming
companies will be required to obtain a Random Number Generation Certificate,
which is typically used by platforms offering card games to ensure that game
outputs are randomly generated and unpredictable. They will also need to obtain a
“no bot certificate” from a reputed certifying body, which will confirm that the
platform does not use bots or automated processes.
Restrictions on Betting: Online gaming companies will not be allowed to engage in
betting on the outcome of games.
Compliance: Similar to social media and e-commerce companies, online gaming
platforms will also need to appoint a compliance officer to ensure that the platform
is following all relevant rules and regulations. They will also need to appoint a nodal
officer, who will act as a liaison with the government and assist law enforcement
agencies, as well as a grievance officer to resolve user complaints.

Reasons for the Introduction of the Rules
Protection of Female Gamers: Approximately 40-45% of gamers in India are
women, making it important to ensure the safety of this segment of the gaming
population. The introduction of these rules is seen as a positive step towards
comprehensive regulation of the online gaming industry in India.
Reduction of Regulatory Fragmentation: The online gaming industry in India has
previously faced regulatory fragmentation at the state level, making it challenging
for the industry to operate smoothly. The introduction of these draft rules is
expected to reduce this fragmentation and provide a more unified regulatory
framework for the industry.
Growing Industry: The Indian mobile gaming industry is expected to reach a
revenue of USD 5 billion in 2025. Between 2017-2020, the industry grew at a
compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38% in India, compared to 8% in China and
10% in the US. According to a report by VC firm Sequoia and management consulting
company BCG, the industry is expected to continue growing at a CAGR of 15% and
reach INR 153 billion in revenue by 2024.
January 5, 2023
Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has recently approved a large infrastructure
JOINfor@thehindu444
development scheme Prasar Bharati, theor Thenewsmaster
public broadcasting service in India that
heads All India Radio and Doordarshan. The Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network
Development (BIND) scheme, worth over ₹2,500 crore, will focus on expanding and
upgrading the infrastructure of Prasar Bharati, as well as improving the digital content
and distribution network.
Purpose of BIND Scheme
The BIND scheme is designed to provide financial support to Prasar Bharati for expenses
related to the expansion and upgradation of its broadcasting infrastructure, content
development, and civil work related to the organization. As the public broadcaster of
India, Prasar Bharati serves as a crucial source of information, education, entertainment,
and engagement for the public, especially in remote areas of the country through DD and
AIR.
CCEA Praises Prasar Bharati’s Covid Response
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) praised Prasar Bharati for its efforts in
communicating important public health messages and awareness to the public during the
Covid-19 pandemic.
Upgrading Infrastructure and Increasing Reach
The BIND scheme will enable Prasar Bharati to undertake major upgrades of its
facilities with improved infrastructure, which will expand its reach to include areas
with left-wing extremism, strategic locations, and border regions.
In addition, the scheme aims to provide high-quality content for both domestic and
international audiences and increase the availability of diverse content by upgrading

the capacity of the DTH platform to accommodate more channels.
Other Aspects of the BIND Scheme
As part of the project, Prasar Bharati will also purchase OB vans and digitally
upgrade DD and AIR studios to make them HD ready. Currently, DD operates 36 TV
channels, including 28 regional channels, while AIR operates over 500 broadcasting
centers.
The BIND scheme will increase the coverage of AIR FM transmitters in the country to
66% by geographical area and 80% by population, up from 59% and 68%,
respectively.
The scheme also includes the free distribution of over 800,000 DD Free Dish STBs to
people living in remote, tribal, left-wing extremism-affected, and border areas.
Indirect Employment Opportunities
In addition to enhancing the scope of public broadcasting, the project for modernization
and augmentation of broadcast infrastructure also has the potential to generate indirect
employment through the manufacturing and services related to the supply and
installation of broadcast equipment. The content generation and content innovation for
AIR and DD also have the potential for indirect employment in the content production
sector, including TV/radio production, transmission, and associated media-related
services. The expansion of the reach of DD Free Dish is expected to create employment
opportunities in the manufacturing
JOIN of DD Free or
@thehindu444 Dish Thenewsmaster
DTH boxes.
Prasar Bharati
Prasar Bharati is a public service broadcaster in India, which was established by an Act of
Parliament in 1997. It is an autonomous body that operates Doordarshan and All India
Radio, two of the largest media organizations in the country. Prasar Bharati is responsible
for the distribution of television and radio signals throughout India and for the production
of television and radio programming. The organization aims to provide impartial,
accurate, and comprehensive news and information to the public, and to promote cultural
diversity and national integration. Prasar Bharati also plays a crucial role in promoting
Indian culture and heritage through its various programming initiatives.
Cabinet Approves National Green Hydrogen Mission
The Union Cabinet, led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the
National Green Hydrogen Mission. The mission aims to make India a global hub for the
production, utilization, and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. It will also help
India become energy independent and decarbonize major sectors of the economy.
The initial outlay for the mission will be Rs. 19,744 crore, including Rs. 17,490 crore for the
Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) program, Rs. 1,466 crore
for pilot projects, Rs. 400 crore for research and development, and Rs. 388 crore for other
mission components.
Benefits of the Mission
The National Green Hydrogen Mission is expected to have wide-ranging benefits,
including:
Creation of export opportunities for green hydrogen and its derivatives
Decarbonization of the industrial, mobility, and energy sectors
Reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock
Development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities
Creation of employment opportunities
Development of cutting-edge technologies
Projected Outcomes by 2030
By 2030, the National Green Hydrogen Mission is expected to achieve the following
outcomes:
Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 million metric tons
per year, with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW
Over Rs. 8 lakh crore in total investments
Creation of over 6 lakh jobs.

Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports of over Rs. 1 lakh crore
Abatement of nearly 50 million metric tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions
Implementation of the Mission
The National Green Hydrogen Mission will facilitate the demand, production,
utilization, and export of green hydrogen. Under the SIGHT program, two distinct
financial incentive mechanisms – targeting domestic manufacturing of electrolyzers
and production
JOINof green hydrogen – will or
@thehindu444 be provided. The mission will also support
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pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways. Regions
capable of supporting large-scale production and/or utilization of hydrogen will be
identified and developed as green hydrogen hubs.
An enabling policy framework will be developed to support the establishment of a
green hydrogen ecosystem. A robust standards and regulations framework will also
be developed. A public-private partnership framework for research and development
(Strategic Hydrogen Innovation Partnership – SHIP) will be facilitated under the
mission. R&D projects will be goal-oriented, time-bound, and suitably scaled up to
develop globally competitive technologies. A coordinated skill development program
will also be undertaken under the mission.
Overall coordination and implementation of the National Green Hydrogen Mission will be
the responsibility of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. All relevant ministries,
departments, agencies, and institutions of the central and state governments will
undertake focused and coordinated steps to ensure the successful achievement of the
mission’s objectives.
Supreme Court ruling on Article 19 ambit
The Supreme Court of India recently made a significant ruling in a case involving the
fundamental right to freedom of speech. In a 4-1 majority decision, the Constitution Bench
of the court stated that an individual can seek enforcement of this right not only against
the government, but also against other citizens. This ruling expands the grounds for
seeking protection of these rights.

Article 19 and the Right to Free Speech
Article 19 of the Constitution of India guarantees the right to freedom of speech and
expression, and is typically invoked against the state. Some fundamental rights, such as
those prohibiting untouchability, trafficking, and bonded labor, are explicitly against both
the state and other individuals. The recent Supreme Court ruling extends the right to free
speech to include protection against private citizens.
Enforcing Rights against Private Entities
This interpretation brings an obligation on the state to ensure that private entities also
abide by Constitutional norms. It opens up a range of possibilities in Constitutional law,
potentially allowing for the enforcement of privacy rights against a private doctor or the
right to free speech against a private social media entity.
Reference to Previous Court Rulings
The Court referenced the 2017 verdict in Puttaswamy, in which a nine-judge bench
unanimously upheld privacy as a fundamental right. The government had argued that
privacy is a right enforceable against other citizens and, therefore, cannot be elevated to
the status of a fundamental right against the state.
International Perspectives on Fundamental Rights
The Court also looked to foreign jurisdictions, contrasting the American approach with the
European Courts. The US Supreme Court’s ruling in New York Times vs. Sullivan, which
found that defamation law as applied by the state against The New York Times was
inconsistent with the Constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech and expression, was
cited as an example of a shift in US law from a “purely vertical approach” to a “horizontal
approach.”
A vertical application of rights means they can only be enforced against the state, while a
horizontal approach means they are enforceable against other citizens. For example, a
horizontal application of the right to life would enable a citizen to bring a case against a
private entity for causing pollution, which would be a violation of the right to a clean
environment.
Telangana Joins Free Rice Scheme
The Telangana government has recently made the decision to join the free rice scheme of
the Central government under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). This initiative aims
to provide assistance to families in need by distributing free rice to those who are eligible
under the NFSA. The Telangana government’s decision to join this scheme demonstrates
a commitment to addressing issues of food security and poverty in the state.
Details of the Scheme
The Central scheme envisages the supply of five kilograms of rice per person per
month to 54.44 lakh NFSA cardholders in the state. However, the Telangana
government will extend this benefit to an additional 35.52 lakh cardholders, at its
own cost.
Previously, both types of cardholders were receiving free rice under the Prime
Minister’s Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which is a part of the Public Distribution System
(PDS). The Central government used to supply this rice at a subsidized price of ₹3 per
kilogram. However, the Telangana government added its own subsidy of ₹2 per
kilogram and distributed the PDS rice for only ₹1 per kilogram.
Effective January 1, rice will be completely free under the Central scheme. As a result,
the Telangana government will bear the additional cost of ₹1 per kilogram and will
begin distributing free rice to all 89.96 lakh cardholders from January 5.
Uncertainty Surrounding Amount of Rice Supplied
It is currently unclear whether the state government will continue to supply six kilograms
of rice per person per month, as it did under the PMGKA, or if it will restrict this amount to
the five kilograms specified under the NFSA.
The Telangana government has made the decision to join the free rice scheme of the
Central government under the National Food Security Act in order to provide assistance to
families in need. Although there is some uncertainty surrounding the amount of rice that
will be supplied, the state government is committed to distributing free rice to all
cardholders starting on January 5.
About PMGKAY
In March 2020, during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the central
government had announced the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
(PMGKAY) welfare scheme. Initially, the scheme was planned for a period of 3
months but since
JOINthen, it has been extended
@thehindu444 or several times.
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This scheme looked to provide every individual covered under the National Food
Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) with an additional 5 kg of grains (rice or wheat) free of cost,
along with the 5 kg of subsidized food grain that is already being provided through
the country’s Public Distribution System (PDS). It covers people belonging to Below
Poverty Line – Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH)
categories.
It also covers other vulnerable people like widows, terminally ill, elderly, landless
agricultural labourers, primitive tribe households, informal sector workers etc. More
than 81.35 crore people are benefiting from this scheme. Wheat has been allocated
for 6 states and union territories and rice has been provided for the rest. This
supplements the monthly entitlements under the NFSA.
India-France Strategic Dialogue
The 36th India-France Strategic Dialogue is set to take place on January 5, with a focus on
addressing China’s militarization of the Indo-Pacific region and ways in which the two
nations can work together to counter it. In addition to the strategic talks, Diplomatic
Advisor Bonne will also meet with India’s Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister.
Though the Indian government has not disclosed further details about the content of the
dialogue, it is clear that India is seeking to strengthen its self-reliance in weapons and
hardware with the help of key allies like France due to Russia’s preoccupation with the war
in Ukraine.
Aircraft Engines and Submarines
One area where India is seeking French assistance is in the manufacturing of aircraft
engines. India is looking for a transfer of technology to enable it to make engines for its
indigenous twin-engine fighter, as well as the design and development of next-generation
military and civilian engines for future fighter and transport platforms. The Tata group has
already teamed up with Airbus to manufacture C295 tactical transport aircraft in Gujarat,
and this partnership is set to be expanded to include the production of other civilian and
military aircraft through a joint venture with France.
In addition to aircraft engines, India is also interested in continued French assistance with
the production of submarines. The Kalvari (French Scorpene) class submarine line is set to
deliver its final submarine this year, and India is hoping that France will help to continue
the manufacturing line at Mumbai Dockyards. The plan is to retrofit diesel attack
submarines with indigenous air independent propulsion (AIP) systems for long
endurance. It is expected that progress will be made on both aircraft engines and long-
range submarines during this year’s strategic dialogue with France.
Indo-Pacific Security and Space Cooperation
Another key topic of discussion during the strategic dialogue will be the Indo-Pacific
region, where France is ready to help India with ocean bed mapping and the
development of underwater drones and sensors. With the People’s Liberation Army
(PLA) of China becoming increasingly aggressive in the Indo-Pacific, and rapidly
expanding its warship
JOIN and nuclear submarine
@thehindu444 force, India and its allies must be
or Thenewsmaster
prepared for any eventualities in the Indian Ocean, which is fast becoming a new
frontier. In order to ensure maritime domain awareness and security from the east
coast of Africa to the far Pacific, India and France have formed a trilateral group with
the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In addition to security in the Indo-Pacific, India and France are also working together
in the field of space technology, sharing knowledge in an effort to counter China’s
rapid strides in this area.
Terrorism and Regional Stability
During the strategic dialogue, Bonne will also be briefed by Doval on the posture of the
PLA along the 3488 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) between China and India, and the two
leaders will discuss ways to bring both Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table to end
the conflict that began in February 2022. Another topic of discussion will be the issue of
radicalization in the region, particularly in the Af-Pak region, in the wake of the rise of the
Taliban, as well as terrorism emanating from Pakistan and targeting India, as seen in the
recent terrorist attacks in Rajouri by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayebba (LeT) group.
6th edition of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha'
The 6th edition of ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ (PPC), an interactive program that brings
together students, teachers, and parents to discuss anxieties related to exams and life
after school, will be held on January 27 at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be participating in the event and has encouraged
everyone to take part in the program. The goal of PPC is to help participants overcome
stress and celebrate life as an ‘Utsav’, or celebration. The Department of School Education
and Literacy within the Ministry of Education has organized the event successfully for the
past five years.
Overview of Pariksha Pe Charcha
Conceptualized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pariksha Pe Charcha is a unique
interactive program that brings together students, parents, and teachers from across
India and overseas to discuss anxieties related to exams and life after school. The goal of
the event is to help participants overcome stress and celebrate life as an ‘Utsav’, or
celebration. The Department of School Education and Literacy within the Ministry of
Education has organized the event successfully for the past five years.
Registration for PPC 2023
Registration for the 6th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha began on November 25 and closed
on December 30. This year, registrations more than doubled compared to the previous
year, with 38.80 lakh participants (31.24 lakh students, 5.60 lakh teachers, and 1.95 lakh
parents) signing up for PPC 2023. This includes students from over 150 countries, teachers
from 51 countries, and parents from 50 countries.
Participation in PPC 2023
Students, teachers, and parents have enthusiastically participated in large numbers from
state boards, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Kendriya Vidyalaya
Sangathan (KVS), JOIN
the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti
@thehindu444 or (NVS), and other boards. Additionally,
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2,050 participants who were selected through creative writing competitions on MyGov will
receive a special Pariksha Pe Charcha kit, including the Exam Warriors book written by
Prime Minister Modi in both Hindi and English, as well as a certificate. Some of the
questions posed by these participants may also be featured in PPC 2023.
Format of PPC 2023
PPC 2023 is proposed to be in a town hall format, similar to the previous year, while
adhering to COVID-19 protocols as determined by the Ministry of Health. Prime Minister
Modi will be interacting with students, teachers, and parents to discuss ways to make
exams stress-free and support Exam Warriors.
Assam's highest civilian award
The Assam government has recently announced the recipients of three prestigious
awards: “Asom Baibhav,” “Asom Sourav,” and “Asom Gourav” for the year 2022-2023.
These awards recognize and honor individuals who have made significant contributions to
the state and its people.
Asom Baibhav
Asom Baibhav is the highest civilian award given by the Assam government and this
year’s recipient is Dr. Tapan Saikia. A resident of Naharkatia, Dibrugarh in Assam, Dr.
Saikia is a patron of the Deesikha Foundation and has made significant contributions
towards generating awareness and early detection of cancer in Assam and Northeast
States.
Dr. Saikia currently serves as the Head of Medical Oncology and Research Director at
Prince Aly Khan Hospital and the Director of Oncology Sciences at the Jaslok Hospital
& Research Centre in Mumbai. In addition, he has worked as an MD and external
examiner at AIIMS Delhi and Allahabad University.
The Asom Baibav award comes with a cash prize of Rs 5 lakhs and the recipient is
entitled to medical treatment at government expense for the rest of their life.
Asom Sourav
The Asom Sourav award is given to individuals who have made outstanding
contributions in their respective fields. This year’s recipients are Krishna Roy, Gilbert
Sangma, Dr. Binoy Kumar Saikia, and Dr. Sashidhar Phukan.
The award carries a reward of Rs 4 lakhs and recipients are entitled to medical
treatment at government expense up to Rs 3 lakhs each year.
Asom Gourav
The Asom Gourav award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional
achievements in their respective fields. This year’s recipients are Debajit Barman,
Rustom Basumatary, Manje La, Binanda Hatibaruah, Atul Ch Baruah, Shila Gowala,
Dr. Jogesh Deuri, Dr. Pankaj Lal Gogoi, Sarbeswar Basumatary, Manthang Hmar,
Dayal Goswami, Dr. Syed Ifthikar Ahmed, and Dr. Dhrubajyoti Sharma.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 3 lakhs and the recipient is entitled to medical
treatment at government expense up to Rs 3 lakhs each year.
Chief
JOIN Minister's Residential
@thehindu444 orLand Rights scheme
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On 4 January 2023, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Chief Minister’s
Residential Land Rights scheme (Mukhyamantri Awasiya Bhu Adhikar Yojana) in
Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh. The scheme aims to provide free plots to poor rural
families for building their homes.
Key Points
During the launch event, Chief Minister Chouhan distributed free pattas of
residential land to the selected beneficiaries and interacted with them, even sharing
a meal with them sitting on the ground. He also instructed the officers present to
ensure that all basic facilities such as roads, electricity, water, and sewage lines were
made available around the allotted plots.
In total, land plots worth Rs 129 crore 37 lakh were distributed to 10,918 beneficiaries
in the district. Along with this, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for
development works worth Rs 255 crore.
These development works include an irrigation scheme that will provide drinking
water to 214 villages in the district and the opening of an SDM court in Badagaon
Dhasan, Shivpuri.
Eligibility and Application Process
Under the scheme, applications from 14 lakh people across the state were received,
and plots worth approximately Rs 120 crore were provided to 10,500 eligible
beneficiaries in Tikamgarh district. The Chief Minister had instructed the Revenue
Department to identify eligible beneficiaries for the scheme and prepare their data.
Each beneficiary family will be given a plot of about 600 square feet for the
construction of their homes under various schemes including the Pradhan Mantri
Awas Yojana.
The scheme will eventually be launched throughout the state, and this step will also
pave the way for the construction of pucca houses for poor families under the
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Chief Minister Jan-Awas Yojana.
The land will be given completely free of cost along with the benefits of all other
schemes, and the lease of the land will be in the name of the husband and wife.
Other Initiatives
In addition to launching the residential land rights scheme, the Chief Minister also
laid the foundation stone for development works worth Rs 255 crore. He emphasized
the importance of ensuring high quality in the Rs 255 crore irrigation scheme, which
will provide drinking water to 214 villages in the district.

The Chief Minister also announced the opening of an SDM court in Badagaon
Dhasan, Shivpuri and the renaming of the town to Kundeshwar Dham. He also
announced the development of the Bagaj temple Kundeshwar Dham premises.
Silent Valley Bird Survey
A recent bird survey conducted at Silent Valley National Park in Kerala identified a total of
175 species, with 17 of those being newly recorded. The survey, which took place on
December 27-29, JOIN
marked@thehindu444
the 30th anniversary
orofThenewsmaster
the first bird survey at Silent Valley.
Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, a team of 30 birders and forest staff participated in the
survey, which was held in association with the Kerala Natural History Society.
During the survey, a variety of species were spotted, including the Brown wood owl,
Banded bay cuckoo, and Malabar woodshrike. The number of identified species has
increased from 139 in 2006 and 142 in 2014. Endemic species, such as the Nilgiri
laughingthrush and Nilgiri flowerpecker, were also identified in the high elevation areas of
the park.
New Discoveries
The 17 new species identified during the survey include the brown wood owl, banded bay
cuckoo, Malabar woodshrike, white-throated kingfisher, Indian nightjar, jungle nightjar,
and large cuckooshrike. These additions bring the total number of identified species up to
175, with an impressive 139 species identified in the 2006 survey and 142 in the 2014
survey.
Abundant Species
Silent Valley is home to a number of abundant bird species, including the crimson-
backed sunbird, yellow-browed bulbul, black bulbul, Indian white-eye, and Indian
swiftlet.
Endemic species, found only in high elevation areas, were also identified during the
survey, such as the Nilgiri laughingthrush, Nilgiri flowerpecker, brown-cheeked
fulvetta, black-and-orange flycatcher, grey-headed canary-flycatcher, greenish
warbler, common chiffchaff, Tytler’s leaf warbler, Shaheen falcon, Nilgiri wood
pigeon, and Malabar whistling thrush.
Future Plans
Wildlife Warden S. Vinod stated that another bird survey will be conducted in the buffer
zone of Silent Valley National Park in the near future. This will provide a more
comprehensive understanding of the bird population in the national park and help in
conservation efforts.
Silent Valley National Park
Located in the Nilgiri hills on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Silent Valley
National Park is a protected area of 89.52 km2 (34.56 sq mi) that is home to a variety
of rare and endangered species.
The park, which is surrounded by a buffer zone of 148 km2 (57 sq mi), is located
within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, a rich area of biodiversity that also includes the
Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary, New Amarambalam Reserved Forest, and

Nedumkayam Rainforest in Nilambur Taluk of Malappuram district, Attappadi
Reserved Forest in Mannarkkad Taluk of Palakkad district, and Mukurthi National
Park of Nilgiris district.
Silent Valley National Park is home to a variety of rare flora and fauna, and was first
explored by botanist Robert Wight in 1847.
The park is located in the vicinity of the Mukurthi peak, the fifth-highest peak in
South India, and
JOINthe @thehindu444
Anginda peak. or Thenewsmaster
The Bhavani River, a tributary of the Kaveri River, and the Kunthipuzha River, a
tributary of the Bharathappuzha river, both have their origins in the area around
Silent Valley. The Kadalundi River also has its origin in Silent Valley.
January 6, 2023
Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP)
The Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), a new initiative aimed at improving the
performance of blocks within districts lagging in various development parameters, is set
to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 7 January. The ABP was announced by
Finance Minister Nirmal Sitharaman in her 2022-23 Budget speech as an extension of the
Aspirational District Programme. The launch of the ABP will take place during the
concluding session of the second National Conference of Chief Secretaries, with the
program’s introduction expected to be given by NITI Aayog CEO Parmeswaran Iyer.
Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP)
The ABP is expected to be introduced by NITI Aayog CEO Parmeswaran Iyer during the
conference. Under the program, 500 blocks across states have been identified for
quarterly ranking based on their performance in sectors such as health, education, and
nutrition. The states and NITI Aayog will work together to establish ranking indicators,
with the private sector also able to contribute to the development of these blocks. The first
ranking is set to be released in April 2022.
Identification of Blocks
The 500 blocks identified for the ABP were chosen based on the recommendations of a
four-member committee established by the government in the previous year. These
blocks were selected due to their continued lag in development compared to the rest of
the districts in which they are located.
Growth and Job Creation
The three-day conference, which began on 5 January, will also cover discussions on issues
such as growth and job creation, the lessons learned from the implementation of the
Goods and Services Tax (GST), global geopolitical challenges and India’s response, and
inclusive human development.
The ABP aims to improve the quality of life for citizens in the most backward blocks of the
country through targeted development initiatives. The program builds on the success of
the Aspirational District Programme, which has already seen 95% of the 112 targeted
districts make significant progress in sectors including health, nutrition, financial inclusion,
and basic infrastructure. The launch of the ABP and the address by Prime Minister Modi
are the final items on the conference’s agenda.
Ganga Vilas River cruise
On January 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to flag off the world’s longest river
cruise, “Ganga Vilas,” from Varanasi to Dibrugarh via Bangladesh. The luxury vessel, which
can accommodate 80 passengers, will take 50 days to complete its journey, covering 3200
km and passing throughJOIN 27@thehindu444
river systems in India
orand Bangladesh.
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Highlights of the Trip
Tourists on the “Ganga Vilas” will have the opportunity to visit over 50 architecturally
significant places, including world heritage sites, during the course of the trip. These
landmarks range from Varanasi – one of the oldest cities in the world and a holy site
for Hindus – to the abandoned Buddhist monastery Vikramshila.
In Bangladesh, travelers can experience the beauty of the ghost city of Sonargaon
and the ornate 1400s-era Sixty Dome Mosque, among other culturally and
historically important locations.
In addition to visiting these iconic sites, the cruise will also pass through national
parks and wildlife sanctuaries, including the Sundarbans Delta and Kaziranga
National Park.
To ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all passengers, the “Ganga
Vilas” will offer a range of amenities, such as a gym, a spa, an open-air observation
deck, personal butler service, and cultural programs and music.
Cruise Itinerary
According to the schedule released by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the “Ganga Vilas”
cruise will begin its journey in Varanasi and reach Patna on the eighth day, with stops in
Buxar, Ramnagar, and Ghazipur along the way. From Patna, the cruise will set sail for
Kolkata and arrive on the 20th day, passing through Farakka and Murshidabad. The
following day, it will depart for Dhaka and enter Bangladesh waters, where it will remain
for the next 15 days. Finally, the cruise will return to India through Guwahati before sailing
through Sibsagar and reaching its final destination in Dibrugarh.
Swiss Visitors on the Cruise
The “Ganga Vilas” cruise departed from Kolkata on December 22 with 32 Swiss visitors
aboard. Upon arrival in Varanasi on January 6, these tourists will have the chance to
explore the city’s spiritual and religious sites, according to Raj Singh, the Director of
Ganga Vilas Cruises.
Improving Amenities in Varanasi
The Uttar Pradesh government is working to improve the amenities for visitors to Varanasi
in preparation for the arrival of Prime Minister Modi and the launch of the “Ganga Vilas”
cruise. With its rich cultural and historical significance, the city is a popular destination for
tourists from around the world, and the government is eager to ensure that their
experience is a positive one.
The “Ganga Vilas” cruise offers travelers a unique opportunity to experience the beauty
and diversity of India and Bangladesh, with stops at some of the most iconic and culturally
significant sites in the region. From the ancient city of Varanasi to the ornate Sixty Dome
Mosque in Bangladesh, this 50-day journey is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Study on Asian elephants
A recent study published in the journal Conservation has found that human settlements in
the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) in India are causing a decline in the population of
endangered AsianJOINelephants.
Impact of Human Settlements on Elephant Movement
The research, conducted by a team of ecologists and conservationists, found that
when barriers are erected in hilly areas, gene flow between elephant populations is
reduced, leading to inbreeding, low genetic diversity, and increased risk of
extinction.
The Western Ghats mountain range, which includes the NBR, is home to around
6,000 wild elephants, the largest remaining population in the region. However, the
Palghat Gap, a relatively flat area that has been transformed by agriculture, has been
cut off from the rest of the Ghats by human settlements and crop cultivation.
This has confined the elephants to hilly areas with suboptimal habitats and increased
their risk of injury or death due to the dangerous terrain.
Lack of Connectivity between Elephant Populations
In addition to the physical barriers, the study found that the northern and southern
elephant populations in the Ghats have moderate levels of genetic differentiation,
indicating limited gene flow between the two regions. This lack of connectivity through
corridors has led to fragmentation of the elephant population and a decline in its overall
genetic diversity.
Recommendations for Conservation
Conservation efforts in the NBR have focused on enclosing protected areas without
considering the distribution of the terrain, according to Jean-Philippe Puyravaud, one of
the lead authors of the study. To effectively protect and conserve the Asian elephant
population in the NBR and the rest of the Ghats, Puyravaud suggests maintaining
corridors to ensure connectivity and preserving flat, easily negotiable terrain. This will
allow the elephants to roam freely and maintain a healthy level of genetic diversity,
improving their chances of survival and reproduction.
Asian elephant
The Asian elephant is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and is an important
cultural and religious symbol in the region. In India, the Asian elephant is listed as an
endangered species due to habitat loss, poaching, and conflict with humans.
There are an estimated 27,000 Asian elephants remaining in the wild in India, making
up a significant portion of the global population of around 50,000 individuals.
The Asian elephant is known for its distinctive appearance, including its large, floppy
ears, and is smaller in size than the African elephant. In India, the Asian elephant is
found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

Decennial Census in India Postponed Until September
The decennial census, a comprehensive survey conducted by the government of India
every 10 years, has been postponed until September 30th, at least. This exercise is used to
gather information on the size, distribution, and various characteristics of the country’s
population, including socio-economic and demographic data.
Postponement and Future Plans
The housing JOIN
listing phase of the census and
@thehindu444 or the National Population Register (NPR)
Thenewsmaster
update were originally scheduled to take place from April 1 to September 30, 2020.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these plans were postponed. In a letter to
all states, the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner informed
that the date for freezing administrative boundaries has been extended until June
30th.
Per norms, the census can only be conducted three months after the freezing of
boundary limits of administrative units such as districts, sub-districts, tehsils, talukas,
and police stations. The boundaries of these units for the upcoming census will now
be frozen as of July 1, 2023. This process involves covering all jurisdictional changes
that have occurred between the last two censuses.
The state governments have been asked to finalize any changes to administrative
boundaries by June 30, 2023, and send copies of notifications on jurisdictional
changes to the relevant Directorate of Census Operations in the state or Union
Territory, with an endorsement to the census authorities in Delhi.
The general elections, which are expected to take place in March-April 2024, and the
completion of both phases of the census, which will take at least 11 months even if
conducted at an accelerated pace from October, make it unlikely that the census will be
conducted in 2023 or early 2024. It is possible that the census could be conducted before
the 2024 general elections if rules are modified to allow for a shorter process.
Who Conducts the Census?
The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Ministry
of Home Affairs, is responsible for carrying out the decennial census. The first
synchronous census in India took place in 1881 and has been conducted uninterrupted
every ten years since.
Importance of the Census
The census in India is important because it provides information on the size, distribution,
and characteristics of the country’s population, including socio-economic and
demographic data. This information is used to inform policy and government programs
aimed at improving the community. The last census in India was conducted in 2011.
History of the Census in India
The census in India has a long history dating back to the time of the Rig-Veda, which
mentions some form of population count being kept around 800-600 BC. In the 3rd
century BC, the Arthashastra by Kautilya prescribed the collection of population statistics
as a state policy for taxation purposes. During the reign of Mughal king Akbar, the Ain-e-
Akbari administrative report included extensive data on population, wealth, industry, and
other characteristics.
The first synchronous census in India was conducted in 1881, and censuses have been
conducted uninterruptedly every 10 years since then. The last census was held in 2011.
UGC Draft norms to allow foreign university campuses in India
The University Grants
JOINCommission (UGC) has
@thehindu444 orreleased draft regulations for foreign
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universities or higher education institutions to establish their campuses in India. The UGC
(Setting up and Operation of Campuses of Foreign Higher Educational Institutions in
India) Draft Regulations 2023 state that foreign universities wishing to set up in India
should be ranked within the top 500 of global rankings in their subject area. Institutions
that have not participated in world rankings may also be considered for establishing a
campus in India if they are highly reputed in their home countries.
Establishment Criteria
The draft regulations mandate that foreign universities establishing a campus in India
must comply with the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999. They may set up a
campus through the Companies Act, the Limited Liability Partnership Act 2008, or through
a joint venture with an existing Indian entity, or by starting a branch office. Once the
necessary criteria have been fulfilled, the UGC will grant approval for 10 years, which must
be renewed in the 9th year.
Admission Criteria and Fee Structure
The UGC has granted authority to foreign universities or higher education institutions to
determine their own admission criteria for both Indian and international students on their
campus in India. They have also been given the freedom to decide on their fee structure,
which must be transparent and reasonable, and hosted on their website.
Based on the evaluation process, foreign higher education institutions may offer full or
partial need-based scholarships to students from their endowment funds, alumni
donations, tuition revenues, or any other resources, according to Prof. Kumar.

Course Offerings and Staffing
Foreign universities with campuses in India will not be permitted to offer courses through
online or ODL (open and distance learning) modes. They will also not be allowed to offer
any programs of study that compromise national interests or standards of higher
education in India. Violation of or failure to adhere to regulations may result in penalties,
suspension, or withdrawal of approval.
Qualifications awarded to students who study at the Indian campus of a foreign university
will be recognized and treated as equivalent to the corresponding qualifications awarded
by the foreign university at its main campus in its country of origin. Foreign universities or
higher education institutions have been granted autonomy to recruit staff from India and
abroad in accordance with their recruitment norms. Foreign faculty appointed to teach at
the Indian campus should stay for a reasonable period of time, such as one or two
semesters.
European countries have expressed interest in establishing their universities’ campuses in
India, according to Prof. Kumar. The draft regulations will also be sent to foreign
ambassadors in New Delhi and abroad for their suggestions and comments.
Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium
Recently, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the world’s largest dedicated hockey
stadium in Rourkela, Odisha. The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium (BMHS) was built at a cost
of over Rs 260 crore
JOINin a@thehindu444
record 15 months or
and Thenewsmaster
has the capacity to host over 20,000
spectators. The BMHS will host 20 of the 44 matches of the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup,
which is set to begin on January 13. The remaining matches will be held at the Kalinga
Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
Infrastructure and Facilities
The BMHS is equipped with world-class infrastructure and facilities. It includes a
practice pitch, fitness center, hydrotherapy pool, dressing and changing rooms, and
a 225-room residential complex with five-star accommodations capable of housing
400 players.
The complex, which was developed in a record nine months, is expected to offer a
holistic environment for the participating World Cup teams.
Taj Group has been enlisted by Hockey India to offer hospitality services that reflect
the culture of Odisha for the Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup.
The Chief Minister stated that the BMHS is the most valued gift of Odisha to the
nation and a glory for the state. He added that the stadium will serve as the main
center for international hockey and provide opportunities for players from around
the world to showcase their talent.
Promotion of Hockey in Odisha
The Odisha government, under the leadership of CM Naveen Patnaik, has actively
encouraged and funded the promotion of hockey in the state in recent years. In 2018,
when the Indian national men’s and women’s hockey teams were struggling to find a
sponsor, Patnaik stepped forward to offer support. As a result, both teams made it to the
semifinals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, with the men’s team winning the bronze medal,
their first medal in almost four decades.
In preparation for the Hockey World Cup, the government has constructed the Birsa
Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, the world’s largest hockey stadium, and decked up
both Bhubaneswar and Rourkela for the event. The mascot for the FIH Odisha Hockey
World Cup is ‘Olly’, an Olive Ridley sea turtle that travels to the coast of Odisha to nest
every year.
Sundergarh District and Hockey
The Sundergarh district in Odisha, which is predominantly tribal, has a long association
with hockey. Located in a region that was once part of the Maoist Red-corridor,
Sundergarh has become known as the ‘Cradle of Indian Hockey’. The district has
produced five national captains of the Indian hockey team and over 60 international
players.
Some believe that the natural soil and rock in the limestone belt of the Chotanagpur
plateau, with its high calcium content, strengthens the bones and provides energy to the
people of the area, making them well-suited for playing hockey. The sport has become a
cultural identity for tribal communities such as the Orams, Kharia, Munda, and Bhuniya,
and even elderly people in these villages can be seen playing the game.
Three players from Sundergarh – Deep Grace Ekka, Amit Rohidas, and Birendra Lakra –
represented India at the@thehindu444
JOIN Tokyo Olympics inor
2021. The Odisha government has also
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organized a series of promotional events to encourage public interest in the sport and the
trophy of the Hockey World Cup toured 16 states before arriving in Odisha on 27
December.
Support for Indian Hockey Team
Prior to the inauguration of the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, CM Naveen Patnaik met
with the Indian Hockey Team and pledged to award Rs 1 Crore to each member of the
team if they win the Hockey World Cup 2023. This commitment demonstrates the state
government’s support for the team and its belief in their ability to succeed on the
international stage.
Schemes of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
The Centre has approved the continuation of schemes of the Ministry of Development of
Northeastern Region (DoNER) with an outlay of Rs 12,882 crore for the balance period of
the 15th Finance Commission (2022-23 to 2025-26).
DoNER Minister G Kishan Reddy announced at a press conference that the approved
schemes will be extended for the balance period of the 15th Finance Commission, a
decision that was made at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The extension will allow for better planning in terms of
project selection and front-loading of projects during the scheme period.
Outlays for Specific DoNER Schemes
The outlay for the North East Special Infrastructure Scheme (NESIDS) will be Rs 8,139.5
crore, including the committed liabilities of ongoing projects, according to the Expenditure
Finance Committee’s recommendations. The outlay for the ‘Schemes of NEC’ will be Rs
3,202.7 crore, including the committed liabilities of ongoing projects. The outlay for special
packages for the Bodoland Territorial Council, the Dima Hasao Autonomous Territorial
Council, and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council in Assam is Rs 1,540 crore,
including the committed liabilities of ongoing projects.
NESIDS, a central sector scheme with 100% central funding, has been restructured to
include two components: NESIDS (roads) and NESIDS (other than road infrastructure).
Objectives of DoNER Ministry Schemes
The DoNER ministry’s schemes aim to supplement the efforts of various central
ministries and departments on one hand and address the needs of the North-
eastern states on the other hand, for uncovered development and welfare activities.
The schemes provide gap-filling support to the eight states in the region based on
their felt needs by taking up projects that develop infrastructure to mitigate

connectivity and social sector deficits, and enhance livelihood and employment
opportunities in the region.
The five pillars of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan for a self-reliant India –
economy, infrastructure, system, vibrant demography, and demand – will also get a
boost through the DoNER schemes, according to Reddy.
Budget Allocations for DoNER Schemes
The actual expenditure
JOINin @thehindu444
the last four years under
or DoNER schemes was Rs 7,534.46 crore,
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while the fund available for expenditure in the next four years until 2025-26 is Rs 19,482.2
crore. There has been a 370% increase in the average annual budget allocation, totaling Rs
9,970 crore, in the last eight years compared to the average annual budget allocation of Rs
2,122 crore during 2009-14.
Infrastructure Development in the North-eastern Region
Efforts have been made to improve infrastructure in the Northeastern region, with a
focus on improving connectivity. For improving railway connectivity, Rs 51,019 crore
have been spent since 2014. A total of 19 new projects worth Rs 77,930 crore have
been sanctioned.
For improving road connectivity, 375 projects worth Rs 1.05 lakh crore are underway.
In the next three years, the government will lay 9,476 kilometers of roads under 209
projects, with the Centre spending Rs 1,06,004 crore on this effort.
Air connectivity has also improved significantly in the Northeastern region. In the last
eight years, the number of airports in the region has increased from 9 to 17, and air
traffic movement has increased by over 200%.
In addition to infrastructure development, the DoNER ministry is also working on various
other initiatives to boost the region’s development, including promoting
entrepreneurship, skill development, and tourism.
Varanasi Cantt railway station bags 'Eat Right Station' Certification
Indian Railways’ Varanasi Cantt Railway Station has been awarded a 5-star “Eat Right
Station” certification for providing high-quality, nutritious food to passengers. This

certification is granted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to
railway stations that adhere to standard food storage and hygiene practices.
What is the “Eat Right Station” Certification?
The “Eat Right Station” certification is awarded by FSSAI to railway stations that set
benchmarks in providing safe and wholesome food to passengers. A third-party audit
agency, empaneled by FSSAI, conducts the certification process and rates the stations on a
scale of 1 to 5. A 5-star rating indicates full compliance by the station to ensure safe and
hygienic food is available to passengers.
What is the “Eat Right India” Movement?
The “Eat Right Station” certification is part of the “Eat Right India” movement, a large-
scale effort by FSSAI to transform the country’s food system to ensure safe, healthy, and
sustainable food for all Indians. Eat Right India adopts a mix of regulatory, capacity
building, collaborative, and empowerment approaches to ensure that our food is suitable
both for people and the planet.
What is the need of this initiative?
Today, in fast-paced environment, working professionals and students are spending
majority of their time at the workplace or college campus. Long working hours, long
client meetings and classes coupled with short deadlines are increasing the time
spent at these places. Thus, they are left with little time left for eating healthy or
exercising. Most
JOIN people eat at least oneor
@thehindu444 mealThenewsmaster
in campus settings. But, eating safe
and healthy food is significant in the light of increasing number of foods borne
diseases, non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension and heart related
diseases.
In India, 196 million people are undernourished. Furthermore, 135 million are
overweight or obese. Number of foodborne illnesses are also increasing year by
year. Thus, this initiative is a significant step to ensure safe and nutritious food.
Other 5-Star “Eat Right” Certified Railway Stations
Varanasi Cantt Railway Station is not the only railway station in India to have received the
5-star “Eat Right” certification. Other stations with this distinction include:
1. Anand Vihar Terminal Railway Station (Delhi)
2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Mumbai)
3. Mumbai Central Railway Station (Mumbai)
4. Vadodara Railway Station
5. Chandigarh Railway Station
6. Bhopal Railway Station
The “Eat Right Station” certification is a testament to the efforts of Varanasi Cantt Railway
Station to provide high-quality, nutritious food to its passengers. Along with other 5-star
certified stations, it is setting an example for food safety and sustainability in the Indian
railway system.
New electrolyte to help better ammonia synthesis

Ammonia synthesis is an important process for industries producing green energy or
hydrogen. However, the electrochemical ammonia synthesis process has been limited by
the poor solubility of nitrogen (N2) in an aqueous electrolyte environment, as well as the
competitive hydrogen evolution reaction.
In an effort to address these issues, scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and
Technology (INST) in Mohali, India have developed a new electrolyte called sodium
tetrafluoroborate (NaBF4) that not only acts as an N2 carrier in the medium, but also
functions as a full-fledged “co-catalyst” with active material transition metal-doped
nanocarbon (MnN4) to produce high yields of ammonia (NH3) under ambient
experimental conditions.
Current Challenges in Ammonia Synthesis:
The electrochemical reduction of N2, also known as the Nitrogen Reduction Reaction
(NRR), is critical for the production of ammonia. However, researchers have faced
several challenges in achieving this reaction in an aqueous electrolyte environment.
One major obstacle is the poor solubility of N2 in water, which limits the efficiency of
the NRR. In addition, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) competes with the NRR,
reducing the overall yield of ammonia. As a result, scientists have mainly focused on
catalyst development to overcome these challenges, while the improvement of
electrolytes has remained in its infancy.
According toJOIN
a recent report, 90.7% of or
@thehindu444 research on NRR has focused on catalyst
Thenewsmaster
development, while only 4.7% has been devoted to electrolyte improvement.
New Electrolyte
To address these challenges, the scientists at INST have developed a new electrolyte
called sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF4) that not only acts as an N2 carrier in the
medium, but also functions as a “co-catalyst” with MnN4 to produce high yields of
NH3 under ambient conditions.
The high production rate of NH3 reached industrial scale and exceeded the
performance of other standard catalysts in other electrolyte media.
The source of NH3 was found to be primarily from the electrochemical reduction of
purged N2 gas in the N2-saturated electrolyte.
This research, published in the journal PNAS, represents a novel approach to addressing
the long-standing issues of N2 solubility in aqueous media and achieving industrial-scale
NH3 production via NRR under ambient conditions. The development of the aqueous
electrolyte NaBF4 is an important step towards improving the performance of
electrocatalysts for NRR and could encourage further research on electrolyte design. A
patent has been filed for this work, and the scientists are now working towards
developing an electrolyzer for rapid NH3 production at an industrial scale.
Startup India Innovation Week
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will be organizing
the Startup India Innovation Week from January 10th to January 16th, 2023. This event is
part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and will take place in over 75 locations
across the country.
“Startup India Innovation Week 2023 aims to engage startup ecosystem stakeholders
across the nation during 10 January-16 January and spur the spirit of entrepreneurship
and innovation in India,” the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a release.
Events and Workshops
The Startup India Innovation Week will include a variety of events and workshops for
entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and other enablers. These will involve relevant
stakeholders from the startup ecosystem, such as government officials, incubators,
corporates, and investors. Some of the events and workshops that will be held during the
week include:
Dedicated workshops for women entrepreneurs
Training for incubators
Mentorship workshops
Stakeholder round tables
Conferences
Capacity building workshops
Startup pitching sessions
Start-up India Scheme
The Start-up India scheme was launched on January 16, 2016 by the Department for
Promotion of Industry
JOINand Internal Trade with
@thehindu444 orthe goal of supporting and promoting
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start-ups in India. The scheme, which was inaugurated by the former finance minister
Arun Jaitley, aims to remove restrictive state government policies such as the License Raj,
foreign investment proposals, land permissions, and environmental clearances.
Three Pillars of the Start-up India Scheme
The Start-up India scheme is based on three pillars:
1. Funding Support and Incentives: The scheme provides funding support and
incentives to various start-ups in India.
2. Industry-Academia Partnership and Incubation: The scheme promotes
partnerships and incubation between industry and academia to encourage
innovation and entrepreneurship.
3. Simplification and Handholding: The scheme simplifies processes and provides
support to start-ups to help them navigate the early stages of operation.
Benefits of the Scheme
There are several key benefits to the Start-up India scheme, including:
Reduced patent registration fees
Improved Bankruptcy Code with a 90-day exit window
Freedom from inspections and capital gain tax during the first three years of
operation
The creation of an innovation hub under the Atal Innovation Mission
Encouragement of entrepreneurship across India
National Startup Day
To commemorate National Startup Day on January 16th, the DPIIT will be hosting the
felicitation ceremony for the winners of the National Startup Awards 2022.
This flagship initiative under the Startup India program recognizes and rewards the
excellence demonstrated by startups and ecosystem enablers in a variety of sectors,
sub-sectors, and categories.
Overall, the Startup India Innovation Week provides a valuable platform for the country’s
startup community to come together, share ideas, and collaborate towards the promotion
of entrepreneurship and innovation in India.
Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM)
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has announced that the Pradhan
Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) will be held on January 9th, 2023. The
event will be held in 242 districts across states and union territories, and is open to all
individuals who are interested in pursuing apprenticeship training with local businesses.
Registration for PMNAM is now open on the official website, apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.
Interested candidates are encouraged to register as soon as possible in order to secure a
spot at the event.
Opportunities for Youth
PMNAM offers a unique opportunity for local youth to shape their careers through
apprenticeship training. Participating businesses will have the chance to meet potential
apprentices on a single
JOINplatform and choose applicants
@thehindu444 on the spot, providing them with
or Thenewsmaster
an opportunity to strengthen their livelihood and learn new skills.
The government is aiming to train 1 million youth per year through this initiative and
platform. In addition to the valuable on-the-job training that will be provided, candidates
will also earn National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET)-recognized
certifications upon completion of the training session. This will help to improve their
employability and increase their chances of finding long-term employment.
Eligibility and Requirements
To be eligible for PMNAM, candidates must have successfully cleared class 5 to class 12
and must have skill training certificates, or ITI diploma holders or graduates. In addition to
their educational qualifications, candidates must also bring several documents to the
event, including three copies of their resume, three copies of all marksheets and
certificates, a photo ID (such as an Aadhaar card, driving license, or PAN card), and three
passport size photographs.
PMNAM is a fantastic opportunity for local youth to gain valuable on-the-job training and
earn NCVET-recognized certifications. With the participation of several local businesses,
candidates will have the chance to choose the best employer for their needs, while
businesses will have the chance to select the most suitable candidates.
Kerala: WhatsApp grievance redress mechanism for industries
The industries department of the Kerala government has launched a new system for
entrepreneurs to submit complaints or seek redressals using WhatsApp. This temporary
solution will be in place until the statutory grievance settlement mechanism is put into
effect.
Details of the Complaint System
Complaint messages will be attended to within 10 minutes of submission.
Complainees will be contacted through the relevant district.
The goal is to resolve all complaints within seven days of submission.
The system will have both district-level and state-level operations.
Other Support for Entrepreneurs in Kerala
The Margin Money Grant for nano units has been utilized by 56 entrepreneurs, 42 of
whom are women.
A total of Rs 1.59 crore has been disbursed during the current financial year.
88 units have received subsidy support totaling Rs 2.44 crore under the Prime
Minister’s Employment Generation Programme.
84 units have taken advantage of the entrepreneurs’ support programme, with a

total of Rs 6.95 crore being disbursed during the period 2022-23.
The Kerala government is dedicated to providing resources and support to entrepreneurs
in the state, and the introduction of the WhatsApp complaint system is just one example
of their efforts.
Village Defence Committees
After militants killed six people in two days in the Upper Dangri village of Jammu and
Kashmir this Sunday and Monday,
JOIN locals have or
@thehindu444 demanded that they be provided weapons
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to take on attackers. Responding to the demands, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on January 2
assured the people that they would get a Village Defence Committee (VDC) on the lines of
those in Doda district. The same was echoed by Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh,
who visited the village, on the outskirts of Rajouri town, after the twin attacks.
What is a VDC?
The VDCs were first formed in the erstwhile Doda district (now Kishtwar, Doda and
Ramban districts) in mid 1990s as a force multiplier against militant attacks. The then
Jammu and Kashmir administration decided to provide residents of remote hilly villages
with weapons and give them arms training to defend themselves.
How are Village Defence Guards (VDG) different from VDCs?
The VDCs have now been renamed as Village Defence Guards (VDG). The new scheme to
set up VDGs in vulnerable areas of J&K was approved by the Union Ministry of Home
Affairs in March last year. Like a VDC member, each VDG will be provided a gun and 100
rounds of ammunition. Both VDG and VDC are groups of civilians provided guns and
ammunition to tackle militants in case of attack until the arrival of security forces.
Under the new scheme, the persons leading the VDGs will be paid Rs 4,500 per month by
the government, while others will get Rs 4,000 each. In the VDCs, only the Special Police
Officers (SPOs) leading them were provided a remuneration, of Rs 1,500 monthly. The
SPOs, the lowest rank in the J&K Police, used to be retired army, paramilitary, or police
personnel. The VDGs, officials said, will function under the direction of the SP/SSP of the
district concerned.
What was the composition of VDCs?
A minimum of 10-15 ex-servicemen, ex-policemen, and able-bodied local youth were
enrolled in each VDC on a voluntary basis. On average, at least five of them were provided
.303 rifles and 100 rounds each, through the district Superintendent of Police. The
allotment of weapons could go up depending on the credentials of the volunteers, the
total population of a village, and its security requirements, as assessed by the district
magistrate and SSP concerned.
Why was the need to set up VDCs felt?
The militancy that began in Kashmir in the early 1990s had spread to the adjoining Doda
district by mid 1990s. The demand for arming the civilian population first arose after the
massacre of 13 people in Kishtwar in 1993. As the killings increased, prompting the
migration of Hindus from villages to nearby towns, the Home Ministry in 1995 decided to
set up the VDCs to stop this exodus, coming after Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee the
state in the early 1990s.
Fay Weldon: A Pioneering Feminist Writer
Fay Weldon was an English author, essayist, and playwright known for her work as a self-
declared feminist. Throughout her 55-year career, she published 31 novels, including “The
Life and Loves of a She-Devil,” which was televised by the BBC in 1986.
Early Life
Weldon was bornJOINFranklin@thehindu444
Birkinshaw in Birmingham, England, on September 22, 1931.
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Her family had a literary background, with her maternal grandfather, uncle, and mother
all publishing novels. Weldon and her sister Jane spent their summers with their father in
New Zealand, where he worked as a doctor. In 1936, when Weldon was five, her parents
separated and later divorced in 1940. Weldon attended Christchurch Girls’ High School
before returning to England with her mother and sister in 1946.
In England, Weldon won a scholarship to South Hampstead High School, an all-girls
school, before going on to study psychology and economics at the University of St.
Andrews in Scotland. She completed her Master of Arts in 1952 and moved to London,
where she worked as a clerk at the Foreign Office.
Early Career
After leaving the Foreign Office, Weldon took temporary jobs as a waitress and hospital
ward orderly before working at Crawford’s Advertising Agency. There, she worked with
the writer Elizabeth Smart and was eventually promoted to head of copywriting at Ogilvy,
Benson & Mather. While working in advertising, Weldon created the slogan “Go to work
on an egg” and “Vodka gets you drunker quicker.”
Writing Career
Weldon began her writing career in the late 1960s with the publication of her first novel,
“The Fat Woman’s Joke.” She continued to write and publish throughout the following
decades, producing a total of 31 novels, including “Puffball,” “The Cloning of Joanna May,”
“Wicked Women,” and “The Bulgari Connection.”
Feminism in Weldon’s Work
Weldon was a self-declared feminist and her work often featured “overweight, plain
women” as the heroines. In an unpublished article for the Daily Mail, she wrote about how
her own experiences as an “overweight, plain” woman influenced her writing and led her
to become a feminist. She believed that there were many reasons for women to be
feminists, including the lack of equal opportunities and the myth that women were
supported by male relatives.
Legacy
Fay Weldon passed away on January 4, 2023, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering
feminist writer. Throughout her career, she published 31 novels and was known for her
work featuring “overweight, plain women” and for her self-declared feminism.
Freedom Caucus Group
On January 4 and Thursday January 5, Republicans in the House of Representatives failed
to elect a leader, with a faction of holdouts, largely from the ultra-conservative, hard-right
Freedom Caucus, refusing to vote for nominee Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). This marks the first
time since 1923 that a nominee of the majority party in the House hasn’t been able to win
the first vote for the position of Speaker.
The Freedom Caucus, which comprises roughly 30 members and emerged from the Tea
Party movement, is known for its fiscally conservative and right-wing populist positions.
This includes a desire for lower taxes, budget cuts, decentralization of government
powers, and opposition
JOIN to immigration. The or
@thehindu444 caucus has also been labelled “nativist,”
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“anti-globalist,” and “white supremacist” by observers.
In 2016, the Freedom Caucus threw its support behind Donald Trump’s presidential
campaign and has been described as “more populist and nationalist, but less bound by
policy principles.” However, despite Trump’s own support for McCarthy as Speaker
candidate, many in the Freedom Caucus have opposed McCarthy’s bid.
Why is the Freedom Caucus Opposing McCarthy?
It is unclear exactly why the Freedom Caucus is opposed to McCarthy’s bid for House
Speaker. Some speculate that the group is seeking to exert more influence within the
party and to push it further to the right. Others believe that the opposition may be
personal, with McCarthy’s leadership style and management of the caucus coming into
question.
It is also worth noting that nearly all of the lawmakers who voted against McCarthy have
made statements casting doubt on the validity of the 2020 election. Fourteen of the 15
incumbents who voted against McCarthy were among the 139 House Republicans who
voted to overturn the 2020 Electoral College results on January 6, 2021.
Who Are the Members of the Freedom Caucus?
The Freedom Caucus is made up of a mix of both long-serving and newly-elected
members of the House of Representatives. Some notable members include Jim Jordan (R-
OH) and Andy Biggs (R-AZ), both of whom have been vocal in their opposition to
McCarthy’s bid for Speaker.
What Happens Next?
It is currently unclear what the next steps will be for the Republican Party in the House of
Representatives. McCarthy has stated that he will continue to seek the position of Speaker,
but it remains to be seen if he will be able to garner enough support from his own party.
Some have called for a new nominee to be put forward, while others have suggested that
a compromise candidate could be sought.
In the meantime, the failure to elect a leader marks a significant embarrassment for the
GOP and leaves the party in disarray. It remains to be seen how the situation will be
resolved and what impact it will have on the party’s ability to function effectively in the
coming months.
India's Pranesh M Becomes Youngest Grandmaster at 16
India has gained its 79th Grandmaster with the title being awarded to 16-year-old Pranesh
M from Tamil Nadu. Pranesh achieved the required 2500 ELO rating and won the Rilton
Cup in the final round of the competition, which featured 136 players representing 29
national federations. Pranesh finished in first place, while his compatriot and fellow
Grandmaster, R Raja Rithvik, finished in eighth place with six points.
Pranesh’s Road to Grandmaster Status
Pranesh won his first norm at the 18th Delhi GM Open in January 2020 and his second
norm at the Sunway Sitges International Chess Festival in Spain in December 2021. In
November 2022, he won his third norm at the Asian Continental Chess Championship in
Stockholm, Sweden, finally@thehindu444
JOIN achieving the required
or ELO rating to become a Grandmaster.
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Reactions to Pranesh’s Accomplishment
Pranesh received praise on social media for his achievement, including a special mention
from India’s first Grandmaster and five-time World Champion, Viswanathan Anand, who
tweeted, “Congratulations to GM Pranesh on an excellent performance. He won with an
incredible score. We have added three grandmasters in quick succession…” Pranesh’s
coach, RB Ramesh, also praised him, stating, “Pranesh is a very practical player. Hard
working, raw talent… his openings are not that good but his middle-game and end-game
skills are quite good.”
FIDE Circuit Leader
With 6.8 circuit points, Pranesh is currently the leader of the FIDE Circuit. Qualification for
the 2024 FIDE Candidates is determined by the accumulation of the most points by the
end of the year.
January 7, 2023
World's first Palm-leaf Manuscript Museum in Kerala
The recently opened Palm Leaf Manuscript Museum in Thiruvananthapuram has added to
the cultural and intellectual life of the state of Kerala. The museum, which is the world’s
first of its kind, contains 187 manuscripts and other artefacts related to the former
Travancore kingdom from 650 AD until the end of the 19th century. It also has documents
from the regions of Kochi and Malabar.
Exhibits at the Museum
The museum’s exhibits include palm leaf manuscripts, styluses, carriers for Cadjan
bundles, copper plates, and bamboo splints. The museum is divided into eight galleries,
each focused on a different aspect of Travancore history, including “History of Writing,”
“Land and People,” “Administration,” “War and Peace,” “Education and Health,”
“Economy,” “Art and Culture,” and “Mathilakam Records.” Some galleries also include
films and QR code technology for gathering additional information.
The museum is particularly notable for its manuscripts, which are written on cured and
treated palm leaves and contain primary source material on a variety of topics. One of the
most famous manuscripts is the account of the Battle of Colachel, in which Travancore’s
Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch East India Company in 1741. This
battle put a halt to Dutch expansion in India and cemented Travancore’s place as a major
power in the region.
The museum is divided into eight galleries representing different segments of Travancore
history: ‘History of Writing’, ‘Land and people’, ‘Administration’, ‘War and peace’,
‘Education and Health’, ‘Economy’, ‘Art and culture’, and ‘Mathilakam Records’. These
galleries also include films and QR code technologies for gathering information.
Conservation Efforts
The Palm Leaf Manuscript Museum was created as part of a larger conservation effort by
the state of Kerala. The museum is located in a three-century-old building that is home to
the Central Archives for the
JOIN state government.or
@thehindu444 The Thenewsmaster
first phase of the museum’s collection
was selected from 1.5 crore (15 million) palm leaf records that had been poorly preserved
throughout the state.
According to Dr. V. Venu, the State Additional Chief Secretary and former Director General
of the National Museum in Delhi, the manuscripts at the museum provide important
information on the development of writing in the area, including the evolution of the
Malayalam script from earlier systems like Vattezhuthu and Kolezhuthu. They also offer
insights into the complex administrative systems, proclamations of the Travancore royals,
and international negotiations and agreements that shaped the kingdom’s history.
The Palm Leaf Manuscript Museum is a valuable resource for both general visitors and
specialized researchers. It offers a glimpse into the rich history of the Travancore kingdom
and helps to fill in gaps in our understanding of Kerala’s past. The museum’s audio-visual
technology and multimedia exhibits make it an engaging and informative experience for
all who visit.
Aamantran Invitation Management Portal
As part of the Indian government’s e-governance initiative, the Invitation Management
Portal (www.aamantran.mod.gov.in) was launched on January 06, 2023 by Raksha Rajya
Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt in New Delhi. This portal will allow for the extension of e-Invitations
to dignitaries and guests, as well as the online sale of tickets to the general public for
upcoming Republic and Independence Day events.
The Aamantran portal aims to make the invitation and ticketing process more user-
friendly and environmentally friendly, while also helping to bridge the gap between the
government and the general public. Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, emphasized
the importance of the “Digital India” initiative and the commitment to ease of living for
every citizen.
Features of the Aamantran Portal
QR code-based authentication for enhanced security
Digital delivery of passes/tickets via email or SMS
Non-cancellable and non-transferrable tickets
RSVP option for passes to seek acceptance from invitees
Post event data analytics for better management of future events
Benefits of the Aamantran Portal
One of the key benefits of the Aamantran portal is the convenience it offers to both
dignitaries and the general public. Dignitaries and their guests can now easily obtain
passes for events online, while the general public can purchase tickets from
anywhere, regardless of their location.
In addition, the use of the Aamantran portal will lead to significant cost and resource
savings. By eliminating the need for printed passes and tickets, the government will
be able to save on printing costs and reduce its environmental impact. Raksha Rajya
Mantri Shri Ajay Bhatt also noted that the portal will increase the security of Republic
Day celebrations.
The launch of theJOIN
Aamantran portal marks an
@thehindu444 orimportant step in the government’s e-
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governance initiative, providing a convenient and secure platform for the issuance of e-
Invitations and the sale of tickets for upcoming national events. It is expected to greatly
benefit both dignitaries and the general public, while also bringing about cost and
resource savings for the government.
Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, one of the world’s most active, erupted again on January 5th,
2022, releasing lava fountains and discharges of volcanic ash into the air. While the
eruption is providing a spectacle for visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, no Big
Island communities are in danger.
Current Eruption
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected a glow in webcam images indicating Kilauea
had begun erupting inside Halemaumau crater at the volcano’s summit caldera. The
observatory raised Kilauea’s alert level on Thursday, but on Friday morning lowered it
from warning to watch because the initial high effusion rates are declining and no
infrastructure is threatened. The observatory expects the eruption to remain in the
summit.
There is generally a three-month cooling off period before scientists consider an eruption
to be complete. It is currently unclear why both Kilauea and Mauna Loa ceased erupting at
around the same time in December 2021.
Cultural and Spiritual Significance
Volcanic eruptions hold significant cultural and spiritual meanings for native Hawaiians.
During the Mauna Loa eruption in November 2021, many Hawaiians participated in
traditional practices such as singing, chanting, and dancing in honor of Pele, the god of
fire and volcanoes.
About Kilauea Volcano
The Kilauea volcano is the most active of the five volcanoes that make up the Island of
Hawaii. It is a shield volcano, which is a type of volcano composed of fluid lava and
characterized by its vast lava flow. Kilauea has two active rift zones and a recently formed
caldera, a massive depression formed when the ground surface collapses into an emptied
magma chamber. The pit crater within Kilauea is called Halemaumau, which contained a
lava lake before it began erupting in multiple locations in 2018.
Kilauea’s Last Eruptions
This is not the first time Kilauea has erupted in recent years. It last erupted for 16 months
starting in September 2021, and for about two weeks in November 2021, Hawaii had two
volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, spewing lava side by side. Mauna Loa had not erupted
in 38 years. Visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park were able to see lava from both
events at the same time.
Kilauea’s summit, where the current eruption is taking place, is inside Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park and away from residential communities. This is reassuring for Big Island
Mayor Mitch Roth,JOIN
who stated, “We’re feeling pretty
@thehindu444 good about where it’s at right now.”
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The Big Island is no stranger to the dangers of living with active volcanoes. In November
2021, Mauna Loa lava came within 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) of a major highway
connecting the east and west sides of the island. And in 2018, a Kilauea eruption
destroyed over 700 residences.
The Five Major Volcanoes of Hawaii Island
In addition to Kilauea, the Island of Hawaii is made up of four other volcanoes: Kohala
(extinct), Mauna Kea (dormant), Hualalai (dormant), and Mauna Loa (active). The island is
currently growing due to the activity of Mauna Loa and Kilauea.
NSO First Advance Estimates of National Income
The National Statistical Office (NSO), a division of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation, has released its First Advance Estimates (FAE) of national income for the
financial year 2022-23 at both constant (2011-12) and current prices. These estimates,
which serve as essential inputs for the budgeting process, are based on limited data and
compiled using the Benchmark-Indicator Method. This involves extrapolating the
estimates from the previous year using relevant indicators that reflect the performance of
various sectors.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Real GDP, or GDP at constant (2011-12) prices, is estimated to be ₹157.60 lakh crore in
2022-23, compared to the provisional estimate of ₹147.36 lakh crore for the previous year.
This reflects a growth rate of 7.0% in 2022-23, down from 8.7% in 2021-22.
Nominal GDP, or GDP at current prices, is estimated to be ₹273.08 lakh crore in 2022-23,
compared to the provisional estimate of ₹236.65 lakh crore for the previous year. This
reflects a growth rate of 15.4% in 2022-23, down from 19.5% in 2021-22.
Sector-Wise Estimates
The sector-wise estimates for 2022-23 were compiled using a range of indicators, including
the Index of Industrial Production, financial performance of listed companies, crop and
livestock production, fish production, and transportation data from railways, civil aviation,
and major sea ports. Sales of commercial vehicles and bank deposits and credits were also
taken into account. The percentage changes in these indicators are provided in the
annexure.
Tax Revenue and Government Spending
The total tax revenue used for GDP compilation includes both non-GST and GST revenue.
The budget estimates for tax revenue in 2022-23, as provided by the Controller General of
Accounts and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, were used to estimate taxes
on products at current prices. For taxes on products at constant prices, volume
extrapolation was used based on the volume growth of taxed goods and services.
Total product subsidies were compiled using the latest information on major subsidies,
such as those for food, urea, petroleum, and nutrient-based subsidies, as well as
expenditure incurred on subsidies by most states up to November 2022. Information on
revenue expenditure, interest payments, and subsidies from the budget documents of the
central and state governments for 2022-23 were
JOIN @thehindu444 or also used to estimate government final
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consumption expenditure.
Revisions to Estimates
It is important to note that these are early projections for 2022-23 and are subject to
revision. Improved data coverage, actual tax collections and expenditure on subsidies, and
data revisions by source agencies may all impact subsequent revisions of these estimates.
The First Revised Estimates for 2021-22, due for release on 28.02.2023, may also lead to
revision in the growth rates reflected in the FAE. As such, these estimates should be
treated with caution.
Bihar Government to Conduct Caste-Based Survey
The government of Bihar, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is set to begin the first phase
of a caste-based survey in the state on January 7, 2023. The survey, which is set to
conclude on May 31, 2023, will be conducted in two phases.
Phase 1: Household Count
The first phase of the survey will involve counting and recording the number of all
households in the state. This phase is set to run from January 7 to January 21, 2023 and will
be carried out by 5.24 lakh surveyors. These surveyors, who are mostly teachers,
agriculture coordinators, and government workers, will visit each of the 2.58 crore
households in urban and rural areas across all 38 districts of the state. The survey is
expected to cover an estimated population of 12.70 crore in Bihar.
Phase 2: Caste and Socio-Economic Information Collection
The second phase of the survey will take place from April 1 to April 30, 2023 and will
involve surveyors visiting each household to gather information about the caste of family
members, their socio-economic profile, and their exposure to government welfare
schemes. There will be 26 columns in the survey form for this phase, and all of the
collected data will be uploaded to a portal.
Purpose of the Survey
According to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the purpose of the survey is to create a detailed
record of castes and communities in the state in order to aid in their development. The
survey is expected to be particularly beneficial to the ruling parties of Bihar, the Janata Dal
(United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, as they have the support of many socially and
economically disadvantaged caste groups. The survey report will allow for more effective
implementation of welfare schemes for these groups.
Data Collection Methods

Data for the survey will be collected digitally through a mobile application as part of an
eight-level survey process from the panchayat to the district level. The app will include
questions about the place of residence, caste, number of people in the family, their
profession, and their annual income. Information will also be collected about family
members who are living outside the state.
Support for the Survey
The decision to conduct a caste-based survey in Bihar was approved by the state cabinet
on June 2, 2022 and was later passed unanimously by the Bihar legislative assembly.
Leaders of all political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), met with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to demand a caste-based census for the entire country. When the
demand was denied, the Bihar government decided to conduct their own survey and will
be sending the report to the central government.
Reserve Bank of India to Issue Sovereign Green Bonds
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced its plans to issue Sovereign Green Bonds
worth Rs 8,000 crore in two tranches on January 25 and February 9. The proceeds of the
bonds will be used to fund public sector projects aimed at reducing the carbon intensity of
India’s economy.
Details of the Bonds
The bonds will be sold in two denominations maturing in five years and ten years, worth
Rs 4,000 crore each. They will be issued through Uniform Price Auctions and 5% of the
total amount will be reserved for retail investors. The bonds will also be eligible for
Repurchase Transactions (Repo) and can be used as eligible investments for Statutory
Liquidity Ratio (SLR) purposes. Primary dealers will be able to participate in the auction
through the “Revised Scheme of Underwriting Commitment and Liquidity Support” issued
by the RBI.
Government Borrowing Plans
The Indian government had previously announced its intention to raise Rs 16,000 crore
through sovereign green bonds as part of its second half borrowing calendar. The bonds
will be part of the government’s overall Rs 5.92 lakh crore borrowing target for the second
half of the year.
Framework for Sovereign Green Bonds
In November of last year, the government released a framework for sovereign Green
Bonds. The framework established a committee headed by the Chief Economic Adviser to
select eligible projects for financing. The payment of principal and interest on the bonds
will not be dependent on the performance of the selected projects, meaning that investors
will not bear any project-related risks. The eligible expenditures for the bonds will be
limited to government expenditures that occurred a maximum of 12 months prior to
issuance, with the goal of allocating the proceeds to projects within 24 months of
issuance.
FAO Food price index
According to a report released by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) on January 6, world food prices reached a record high in 2022, despite experiencing
a ninth consecutive monthly fall in December.
Record Highs in 2022
The FAO’s food price index, which tracks international prices of the most globally traded
food commodities, averaged 143.7 points in 2022, marking a 14.3% increase from 2021 and
the highest level since records began in 1990. The index had already gained 28% in 2021
from the previous JOIN
year as @thehindu444
the world economy recovered from the impact of the pandemic.
or Thenewsmaster
December Decline
In December, the benchmark index fell to 132.4 points, compared with 135.00 points in
November. This decline was attributed to a drop in the international price of vegetable
oils, as well as some declines in cereal and meat prices, but was offset by slight increases
in sugar and dairy prices. Despite this month-on-month decrease, four of the FAO’s five
food sub-indexes – cereals, meat, dairy, and vegetable oils – reached record highs in 2022,
while the sugar sub-index hit a 10-year high.
Impact on Poor Countries
The FAO predicted last year that the rising costs of food imports would lead poorer
countries to reduce the volume of shipped goods. The Cereal Price Index, in particular,
rose 17.9% in 2022 due to factors including market disruptions, higher energy and input
costs, adverse weather conditions, and continued strong global food demand.
Efforts to Mitigate Rising Costs
In an effort to mitigate the impact of these rising costs, the U.N. established a grain export
channel from Ukraine in 2021. This, along with the prospect of improved supplies in
producing countries, has helped to partially offset the initial surge in food prices caused
by the Ukraine conflict.
Overall, despite experiencing a consecutive monthly fall in December, the FAO’s food price
index reached a record high in 2022, driven by the conflict in Ukraine and a range of other
factors including market disruptions, higher energy and input costs, adverse weather
conditions, and strong global food demand. The rising cost of food imports is likely to
impact poorer countries, leading them to reduce the volume of shipped goods. However,
initiatives such as the U.N.-backed grain export channel from Ukraine and the prospect of
improved supplies in producing countries may help to mitigate some of these rising costs.
BIS Portal for mapping of Industrial Units and Labs
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal emphasized the importance of
quality in India’s development at the 76th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS) in New Delhi. Goyal pointed out that developed nations that adopted a
focus on quality in their early stages of development progressed faster and were able to
engage with the world from a position of strength, leading to high quality products,
goods, and services, and ultimately, a higher quality of life for their citizens.
Goyal launched several initiatives at the BIS Foundation Day event, including a portal for
mapping industrial units and laboratories, standard clubs in schools, the Standards
National Action Plan 2022-27, and revised versions of the National Building Code of India
and the National Electrical Code of India.
Portal for Mapping Industrial Units and Laboratories
The portal launched by Goyal serves as a central platform for information on industrial
units and laboratories across India. It will allow for analysis of test facilities in the country
and provide entrepreneurs with access to information about testing facilities.
Standard Clubs in Schools
The BIS also aimsJOINto expose science studentsor
@thehindu444 in grades 9 and above to the concepts of
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quality and standardization through student-centric activities with the establishment of
standard clubs in schools. So far, over 4,000 standard clubs have been established across
India, with a target of 10,000 by the end of 2022-23.
Standards National Action Plan 2022-27
The Standards National Action Plan (SNAP) 2022-27 aims to strengthen the quality culture
in India and serve as a foundation for standardization to meet the emerging technologies
and concerns of sustainability and climate change. Goyal stated that the SNAP “lays down
the roadmap on which we will all have to work to make quality a part of the very thinking
and philosophy of every citizen in our country.”
Revised National Building Code of India
Through the National Building Code Sectional Committee, the BIS is initiating the revision
of the National Building Code of India to include sustainable city planning norms, new and
sustainable building materials, design concepts, construction technologies, and building
and plumbing services.
Revised National Electrical Code of India
The revised National Electrical Code of India, set to launch in 2023, aims to regulate
electrical installation practices across the country. India’s first National Electrical Code was
formulated in 1985 and revised in 2011. The revised NEC includes new chapters on
requirements for electrical installations in special locations such as hospitals, community
facilities, hotels, swimming pools, amusement parks, supplies for electric vehicles, and
multi-storied buildings.
Zero Effect, Zero Defect
Goyal also referred to the prime minister’s call for zero effect, zero defect, stating that it
will help the country produce high-quality goods and services for the benefit of its citizens.
He emphasized the importance of zero defects as the “urgent call of the hour.”
In conclusion, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal emphasized the
importance of quality in the development of India at the 76th Foundation Day of the
Bureau of Indian Standards. Goyal launched several initiatives, including a portal for
mapping industrial units and laboratories, standard clubs in schools, the Standards
National Action Plan 2022-27, and revised versions of the National Building Code of India
and the National Electrical Code of India. These initiatives aim to promote a focus on
quality and standardization in the country and contribute to the overall development and
progress of India.
Military Tattoo & Tribal Dance Festival

Aadi Shaurya – Parv Parakram Ka, a Military Tattoo and Tribal Dance Festival, will be held
at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in New Delhi on January 23 and 24, 2023. This event is being
organized by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, with the Indian
Coast Guard serving as the coordinating agency.
Overview of the Festival
As part of the Republic Day Celebrations 2023 and to mark the 126th birth anniversary of
Netaji Subhas Chandra
JOINBose (celebrated as Parakram
@thehindu444 Diwas), this festival will showcase
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the prowess of the Armed Forces and the ethnic beauty of India’s tribal culture. The
festival is free to attend, with tickets available through www.bookmyshow.com.
Festival Program
The festival program includes a Military Tattoo featuring paramotor gliding, hot air
ballooning, a horse show, a motor cycle display, an air warrior drill, and a performance by
the Navy Band. There will also be an hour of traditional dance performances by tribal
artists from across the country, including the Khukhri Dance, Gatka, Mallakhamb,
Kalaripaytu, and Thangta. The grand finale will feature a performance by famous singer
Shri Kailash Kher.
Festival Goals and Objectives
The aim of the festival is to remember the sacrifices of India’s bravehearts and celebrate
the rich cultural heritage that makes the country so unique and diverse. The festival also
aims to celebrate the bravery of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, embrace the true spirit of
India, and renew the commitment to building a strong and prosperous “New India.”
Festival Organizers
The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are jointly organizing the Aadi
Shaurya – Parv Parakram Ka festival, with the Indian Coast Guard serving as the
coordinating agency. This event is sure to be a memorable and enjoyable celebration of
India’s Armed Forces and cultural heritage.
122-Foot-Tall Polo Player Statue Unveiled in Manipur

Recently, a 122-foot-tall statue of a polo player astride a Manipur Pony was unveiled in
Imphal, Manipur as part of Home Minister Amit Shah’s programme in the state. The
Marjing Polo Complex, which has been in the works for several years, aims to conserve the
Manipur Pony breed, which is indigenous to the region and holds significant cultural
importance for Manipuri society.
Polo Game Sagol Kangjei Originated in Manipur
Modern polo is believed to have originated from Sagol Kangjei, a sport indigenous to
Manipur in which players ride the Manipur Pony. Shah tweeted about the inauguration of
the Marjing Polo Complex, stating, “It is believed that Sagol Kangjei, the modern-day Polo
game originated in Manipur. Today, inaugurated a 122 feet Marjing Polo Complex in
Imphal. This will surely take the legacy forward and inspire more youngsters toward the
game.” The Marjing Polo Complex and the unveiling of the statue are meant to inspire
more young people to take up the sport and continue the legacy of Sagol Kangjei.
Manipur Pony Numbers Dwindling
The small and dwindling numbers of the Manipur Pony have been a cause for concern.
The 17th Quinquennial Livestock Census in 2003 recorded 1,898 Manipur Ponies; this
number fell to 1,101 in the 19th Quinquennial Livestock Census in 2012. When the
Manipuri Pony Society conducted a survey in the state in 2014, they found it difficult to
count even 500 of the animals. “There were some remote parts we could not reach, so I
can say that at most
JOINthere might be around
@thehindu444 or600,” said N Ibungochoubi, writer and
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secretary of the Manipur Equestrian Association. The Marjing Polo Complex aims to
conserve the Manipur Pony breed and has been developed as a way to do so.
Development of Marjing Pony Sanctuary as Tourist Destination
While the unveiling of the 122-foot-tall statue and the development of the Marjing Polo
Complex have been met with excitement, some have expressed scepticism about the
development of the Marjing Pony Sanctuary as a tourist destination. Despite this, the
inauguration of the statue and the opening of the Marjing Polo Complex highlight the
cultural significance of both polo and the Manipur Pony in the state of Manipur.
Orthodox Christmas
Christmas is a time of celebration and joy for many people around the world, but for
Orthodox Christians, the date on which they celebrate this holiday can vary depending on
which calendar they follow. While the majority of Western countries celebrate Christmas
on December 25 according to the Gregorian calendar, Orthodox Christians follow the
Julian calendar and celebrate on January 7. This distinction has long been a source of
tension between Orthodox groups, and has been brought into the spotlight this year by
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for a temporary 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine so
that Orthodox followers can attend Christmas services.
The Orthodox Church
Orthodox Christians are estimated to number between 200 and 300 million people
globally, and are found in countries including Russia, Ukraine, and Greece, which are
majority-Orthodox and belong to the Eastern Orthodox branch. There are also significant
Orthodox communities in Egypt and Ethiopia, most of whom belong to the smaller
Oriental Orthodox branch.
The Great Schism and the Julian calendar
The split between the Orthodox Church and the Western Church, known as the Great
Schism, took place in 1054 and was the result of years of increasing tensions over religious
and political differences. As a result of this split, Orthodox Christians did not adopt the
Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, which standardized Christian
holidays and placed the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. Instead, they continued to
follow the Julian calendar, which is why they celebrate Christmas on January 7.
The rift between the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox churches
In recent years, a large part of the Orthodox community in Ukraine has sought to distance
itself from Moscow and establish an independent Orthodox Church. This movement was
accelerated by the conflict in eastern Ukraine that began in 2014 and was further
strengthened in 2018 when Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, the spiritual
leader of Eastern Orthodox believers worldwide, endorsed the establishment of an
independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine and revoked a centuries-old agreement that
granted the Patriarch in Moscow authority over churches in the country.
In January 2019, Bartholomew signed a decree called a “tomos” that officially granted
independence to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, severing its ties with the Russian
church. This decision
JOINhas @thehindu444
infuriated Putin, whoor
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made the restoration of the so-called
“Russian world” a centerpiece of his foreign policy and has dismissed Ukrainian national
identity as illegitimate.
The Ongoing conflict in Ukraine
The conflict in Ukraine, which began in 2014 and escalated into a full-scale war in 2015, has
only exacerbated the rift between the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox churches. In
October of this year, a branch of Ukraine’s Orthodox Church announced that it would
allow its churches to celebrate Christmas on December 25 rather than January 7. This
decision was met with criticism from the Russian Orthodox Church, which accused the
Ukrainian Church of attempting to “legitimize the breakaway process.”
Putin’s call for a ceasefire
In the midst of this ongoing conflict, Putin’s call for a temporary 36-hour ceasefire in
Ukraine so that Orthodox followers can attend Christmas services has been met with
skepticism and accusations of hypocrisy. Ukrainian officials have described the proposal
as “propaganda,” and shelling has continued from both sides.
The rift between the Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox churches, which has its roots in the
Great Schism of 1054 and has been further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in
Ukraine, has once again been brought into the spotlight with Putin’s call for a ceasefire to
allow Orthodox followers to celebrate Christmas. While the majority of Western countries
celebrate Christmas on December 25, Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar and
mark the holiday on January 7.
Sania Mirza to Retire from Professional Tennis

India’s former doubles World No. 1 champion, Sania Mirza, has announced that she will
retire from professional tennis in February at the WTA 1000 event in Dubai. The 36-year-
old has had a successful career, winning six Grand Slam doubles titles and becoming the
first Indian to win a WTA singles title when she won the Hyderabad event in 2005. Mirza
reached a career-high ranking of world number 27 and is regarded as her country’s
greatest women’s tennis player.
Earlier Retirement Plans
Mirza had originally planned to retire at the end of the 2022 season, but an elbow injury in
August forced her to miss the US Open and led to her deciding to bring forward her
retirement plans. “I really don’t have the capacity in my mind to emotionally push that
much anymore,” Mirza said in an interview with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). “I
turned pro in 2003…Priorities change, and now my priority is not to push my body to the
limit every single day.”

Injuries and Final Major Appearance
Injuries have plagued Mirza in recent years, including a lingering calf injury. She will make
her final appearance at a Grand Slam event in January at the Australian Open, where she
will play in the women’s doubles alongside Kazakhstan’s Anna Danilina. Mirza won the
women’s doubles title at the Australian Open in 2016.
After Retirement
After retiring fromJOIN
professional tennis, Mirza will
@thehindu444 orfocus on her academics in Dubai, where
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she has lived with her husband, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik, for over a decade.
Mixed Doubles Success
In addition to her success in women’s doubles, Mirza has also had a successful career in
mixed doubles. She won her first mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in 2009,
partnering with Mahesh Bhupathi. The pair earned a second victory at the 2012 French
Open. Mirza’s third mixed doubles title came at the 2014 US Open, where she partnered
with Brazilian player Bruno Soares. In 2015, she partnered with Swiss legend Martina
Hingis and won three back-to-back Grand Slam doubles titles.
Cyber Threat Predictions Report for 2023
Security solutions firm Barracuda recently shared its predictions for the top cyber threats
in 2023. According to the company, organizations should be prepared to face every type of
cyber threat, regardless of size or industry, as attackers increasingly target existing
authentication methods and expand their attack surfaces.
Exploitation of Authentication Methods
As attackers continue to challenge existing authentication methods, security practitioners
will need to consider alternative options to protect their organizations.
Expansions of Attack Surfaces
With the adoption of cloud-based and software-as-a-service offerings for remote work on
the rise, the number of potential attack surfaces within organizations will continue to
increase. It is important for organizations to be aware of this trend and take necessary
measures to secure their systems.

Increasing Zero-Day and Supply Chain Attacks
Barracuda predicts that there will be a rise in zero-day vulnerabilities and attacks on
supply chains in 2023. In 2022, nearly 21,000 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures
(CVEs) were registered, with many classified as “critical” and actively exploited by
attackers. It is important for organizations to stay up-to-date on the latest threats and
vulnerabilities and implement proper patch management protocols to protect against
these types of attacks.
Web Application Attacks
Web application attacks, including those targeting vulnerable third-party software
libraries, are also expected to be a significant threat in 2023. It is crucial for organizations
to secure their web applications and ensure that they are regularly testing and updating
them to prevent these types of attacks.
Exploitation of Vulnerabilities in IoT

As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow in popularity, the exploitation of
vulnerabilities in these devices is expected to be a significant threat. It is important for
organizations to properly secure their IoT devices and ensure that they are regularly
updated to prevent against attacks.
Overall, Barracuda’s predictions highlight the need for organizations to stay vigilant and
proactive in their cybersecurity efforts in 2023. By keeping track of the latest threats and
vulnerabilities and implementing
JOIN appropriate
@thehindu444 or security measures, organizations can
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effectively protect themselves against cyber attacks.
January 9, 2023
Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity
India’s first-of-its-kind inclusivity festival, “Purple Fest: Celebrating Diversity,” kicked off
with a grand ceremony on January 6, 2023 in Goa. The festival aims to bring people
together and create a welcoming and inclusive world for all. Union Minister for Social
Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, was present at the opening ceremony and
visited an exhibition cum sale featuring products made by Divyangjans (people with
disabilities).
Goa has traditionally been known for its New Year celebrations, but with the introduction
of Purple Fest, the state is taking a step forward in empowering Divyangjans.
About Purple Fest
Purple Fest is a celebration of diversity and inclusivity, and aims to showcase how we
can come together as a community to create a welcoming environment for everyone.
The festival features a variety of live performances, including stand-up comedy,
dance, and music events. There will also be sporting activities, such as a blind
automobile rally, bird watching, and live art camps for those interested.
In addition to these entertaining events, Purple Fest will also include exhibitions
showcasing the latest assistive technologies developed for individuals with
disabilities (PwDs). This is a great opportunity for PwDs to learn about and try out
new technologies that can help improve their daily lives.

Excursions to tourist destinations and historic places will also be offered as part of
Purple Fest. This is a chance for attendees to learn more about the rich culture and
history of Goa while also enjoying the beauty of the region.
Why purple was chosen for this event?
The color purple is often associated with disability and has become popularly used in
recent years to symbolize the positive contributions made by individuals with disabilities in
society and the workforce. The use of purple in campaigns, charities, and government
initiatives helps to recognize the power and potential of people with disabilities and
promotes the creation of an inclusive society. The adoption of purple as a symbol for
disability can be traced back to a 2010 protest movement opposing benefit cuts. By using
purple, we can challenge outdated perceptions and prejudices and work towards a more
inclusive society.
Odisha wins World Habitat Award 2023 for JAGA Mission

Odisha has been recognized by the United Nations-Habitat (UN-Habitat) for its efforts to
empower the lives of slum dwellers and create a slum-free state in India through its 5T
initiative, Jaga Mission.
Jaga Mission
According to an official statement, Jaga Mission is the world’s largest land titling and
slum upgrading program. It aims to upgrade all 2,919 slums in the state of Odisha,
under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen
JOIN @thehindu444 Patnaik.
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In the last five years of the initiative, 1,75,000 families have been granted land tenure
security. This means that they have received legal ownership of the land on which
their homes are located, providing them with a sense of security and stability.
In addition to providing land tenure security, the Jaga Mission has also made
significant progress in improving living conditions for slum dwellers. 100 percent of
households in 2,724 slums have been provided with piped water connections, and
707 slums have been transformed into fully livable habitats. 100 percent of
households in 666 slums also have individual toilets, and 8 cities have become slum-
free as a result of the initiative.
Previous Recognition and Current Award
These efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2019, the Jaga Mission received the World
Habitat Award for its success in providing land security for slum dwellers. And now, in
2023, the state of Odisha has won the UN-Habitat World Habitat Award for its 5T initiative,
Jaga Mission.
The World Habitat Award is a prestigious recognition given by the charity organization,
UN-Habitat, which is recognized by the United Nations Department of Public Information.
It recognizes innovative, effective, and sustainable solutions that address the challenges
of urbanization and improve the quality of life for those living in cities and towns.
Odisha Leading the Way in Slum-Free Cities
Odisha’s Jaga Mission is a prime example of such a solution. By providing land tenure
security and improving living conditions for slum dwellers, it is empowering individuals
and communities to break the cycle of poverty and improve their quality of life.
The state of Odisha is leading the way in the fight against urban poverty and the creation
of slum-free cities. Its efforts through the Jaga Mission deserve recognition and serve as
an inspiration for other states and countries around the world to follow in its footsteps.
International Kite Festival 2023
The International Kite Festival 2023 officially started on January 7th in Ahmedabad,
Gujarat, with a theme centered around the G20 countries. Gujarat Chief Minister
Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the event, which runs from January 8th to 14th and marks
the first time the festival has been held in two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the inauguration, Chief Minister Patel praised the progress made by India under
the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, specifically citing the country’s
strengthening defense system and digital economy which have helped it become the 5th
largest economy in the world.

Key Points
The International Kite Festival has been held in Ahmedabad annually since 1989 as
part of the official celebration of uttarayan.
The event brings together master kite makers and flyers from around the world to
showcase their unique creations and demonstrate impressive flying techniques.
Past festivals have featured kites from a variety of countries, including Malaysia’s
wau-balang kites,
JOINIndonesia’s layang-layang,
@thehindu444 or American giant banner kites, Japanese
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rokkaku fighting kites, Italian sculptural kites, Chinese flying dragons, and more.
One particularly notable attraction is the demonstration by master kite maker and
flyer Rasulbhai Rahimbhai, who is known for training up to 500 kites on a single
string.
G20 Countries Invited to Share Cultural Traditions
This year, delegates from the G20 countries have been invited to participate in the
inaugural celebration and share their cultural traditions through kite flying. The
International Kite Festival is a beloved tradition in Ahmedabad and an exciting opportunity
for kite enthusiasts from around the world to come together and enjoy this unique form
of art and entertainment.
Indian Navy ‘SPRINT’ initiative
The Indian Navy has recently announced a collaboration with Sagar Defence Engineering
Private Limited for the development of armed autonomous boat swarms as part of the
“SPRINT” initiative. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July of last year, SPRINT
(Supporting Pole-Vaulting in R&D through Innovations for Defence Excellence) aims to
promote the development and usage of indigenous defense technologies by domestic
companies. The task of developing this technology is one of the 75 challenges introduced
by the Indian Navy under the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations.
India’s First Armed Autonomous Unmanned Boat
Sagar Defence Engineering has stated that it possesses the know-how to develop India’s
first armed autonomous unmanned boat with swarming capabilities. According to the
company, the platform will be able to conduct a variety of navy and security tasks,
including high-speed interdiction, surveillance, constabulary operations, and intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Indian Navy Plans to Order 12 Systems
The collaboration with Sagar Defence Engineering is the 50th contract signed under the
SPRINT initiative, and the Indian Navy plans to place an order for 12 systems once the
construction of the weaponized autonomous unmanned boat is completed. The
agreement is part of the Defense India Start-up Challenge (DISC 7) SPRINT initiative.
SPRINT Initiative Aims to Induct 75 New Technologies by 2023
As part of the “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations and in an effort to achieve self-
reliance in defense, the Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) aims to
induct at least 75 new indigenous technologies/products into the Indian Navy through the
SPRINT initiative. Prime Minister Modi has stated that the goal should be for the Indian
Navy to be at an “unprecedented height” when the country celebrates 100 years of
independence.
In March of last year, the Indian Navy also signed a memorandum of understanding for a
knowledge partnership with BharatShakti.in and the Society for Indigenous Defence
Manufacturing (SIDM) as a step towards encouraging innovation and self-reliance in
defense in the country.
IISER
JOIN Ionic organic material
@thehindu444 orto remove pollutants
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Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune,
India have developed a unique molecular sponge-like material that can effectively clean
polluted water. The material, called a macro/microporous ionic organic framework, is able
to absorb and remove a wide range of toxic contaminants, including organic dyes,
antibiotics, pesticides, iodides, and oxo-pollutants such as perrhenate. These
contaminants can pose a direct threat to human health and the environment, and are
commonly found in freshwater sources.
Conventional Sorbent Materials Lack Efficiency
Traditionally, sorbent materials have been used to purify water by trapping pollutants
through an ion-exchange process. However, these materials often suffer from poor
kinetics and specificity, leading to limited effectiveness in removing contaminants. In an
effort to address this issue, the researchers at IISER Pune developed a new material called
viologen-unit grafted organic-framework (iVOFm).
iVOFm Utilizes Electrostatics and Macropores to Remove Pollutants
The iVOFm material combines ion-exchange with nanometer-sized macropores and
specific binding sites to target and remove pollutants from water. The size and number of
the macropores, as well as the strong electrostatic interaction of the material, allow for
the swift capture of a variety of toxic pollutants. To create the material, the researchers
employed a “make-and-break” strategy, using a charged porous organic polymer (POP) as
a sponge-like framework on silica nanoparticles. The silica nanoparticles were then
removed, resulting in an ordered, hierarchical, interconnected macro/microporous

structure.
iVOFm Shows Fast and Effective Removal of Pollutants
The iVOFm material has an inherent cationic nature and large macropores, allowing for
fast diffusion of pollutants. In testing, the material was able to remove over 93% of a wide
range of contaminants within 30 seconds. It was particularly effective at removing the
sulfadimethoxine antibiotic. In addition to its efficiency, the material can also be reused
multiple times to clean contaminated water.
Overall, the development of the iVOFm material represents a significant advancement in
the field of water purification. Its ability to quickly and effectively remove a wide range of
contaminants makes it a promising solution for addressing water pollution.
"UP Global City" Campaign Launched in Uttar Pradesh
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a 100-day “UP Global City” campaign in
advance of the Global Investors Summit and G20 summit. The campaign aims to bring
urban areas in the state up to global standards, with a focus on improving urban facilities,
air quality, cleanliness, and beautification, as well as proper garbage disposal. The
campaign will be implemented in all 762 urban bodies in the state.
Significance
The “UP Global City” campaign was launched by state Urban Development and Energy
Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma. A high-level meeting on the campaign was chaired by
Sharma, who directed
JOINofficers to make the campaign
@thehindu444 a success. The Chief Minister Yogi
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Adityanath-led government has set a goal of making the state a USD 1 trillion economy in
the next five years.
Global Investors Summit
The Global Investors Summit, which takes place from February 10-12, 2023 in Lucknow, will
bring together business delegations, corporate and industry leaders, policy makers,
academia, think-tanks, and political and government leadership from around the world.
The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government has set a target of making the state a
USD 1 trillion economy in the next five years.
G20 Summit Preparations
In preparation for the G20 summit, the Uttar Pradesh government will introduce “Brand
UP” and has planned a number of events in Agra, Varanasi, Greater Noida, and Lucknow.
The government will also implement door-to-door garbage collection from February 1 to
March 31, 2023, and will hold a marathon race later this month.
Other Campaigns
In addition to the “UP Global City” campaign, the state government is also running the
“Swachh Dhaba” campaign, which focuses on proper garbage disposal at hotels,
restaurants, and dhabas, and the “Swachh Virasat Abhiyan,” which focuses on cleanliness
at tourist, historical, and religious sites. The “Swachh Dhaba” campaign will run until
March 2023, while the “Swachh Virasat Abhiyan” is set to begin on January 14.
Google- CCI Row- Update

Within days of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) denying Google’s
request for a stay on the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) ruling in the Android
case, the tech giant filed an appeal with the Supreme Court (SC) against the NCLAT’s
decision. The appeal is set to be mentioned by Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Senior Counsel
representing Google, on Monday before the Chief Justice of India (CJI), D Y Chandrachud.
Background
On October 29, 2020, the CCI ruled that Google had abused its dominant position with its
Google Play policy and imposed a fine of INR 937 crore (approximately $126 million).
Google appealed the ruling to the NCLAT, requesting an immediate and complete stay on
the order. In its appeal, Google argued that the CCI’s findings were “patently erroneous”
and ignored “the reality of competition in India, Google’s procompetitive business model,
and the benefits created for all stakeholders.” Google also accused the CCI’s investigation
arm, the Office of the Director General (DG), of copying the conclusions of foreign
authorities without proper consideration.
NCLAT’s Decision
The NCLAT bench, consisting of Justice Rakesh Kumar and Alok Srivastava, denied
Google’s request for interim relief, stating that the company had waited until the
“eleventh hour” to appeal and that the case involved a large number of documents. The
NCLAT also rejected Google’s argument that Android’s benefits to consumers should be
taken into consideration, stating that the issue
JOIN @thehindu444 at hand was Google’s alleged anti-
or Thenewsmaster
competitive practices and abuse of dominance.
Google has now appealed to the SC against the NCLAT’s decision. Under competition law,
companies have a sixty-day window in which to appeal NCLAT orders. It remains to be
seen how the SC will rule on the matter.
Lecanemab Approved for Alzheimer's Treatment
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved lecanemab, a monoclonal
antibody developed by Eisai and Biogen, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Lecanemab is the second drug to receive approval for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and
the first to slow cognitive decline in a clinical trial. However, the approval process has been
controversial, with patient deaths and accusations that the FDA acted improperly when
approving the first such drug, aducanumab, last year.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by the
accumulation of amyloid beta protein in the brain, leading to the formation of amyloid
plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. These abnormalities cause damage and death to
brain cells, leading to memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. There is
currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, and treatment options are limited to therapies that aim
to slow the progression of the disease and improve symptoms.
Lecanemab
Lecanemab is a monoclonal antibody that targets amyloid beta protein. By binding to and
neutralizing this protein, lecanemab aims to reduce the formation of amyloid plaques and
neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. In a clinical trial involving 1,800 patients with early-
stage Alzheimer’s, lecanemab slowed cognitive decline by 27% over 18 months of
treatment. The drug is administered intravenously and is intended to be used in the early
stages of Alzheimer’s to allow individuals to “have more time to participate in daily life
and live independently,” according to Joanne Pike, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s
Association in Washington DC.
Approval Process
Lecanemab received approval through the FDA’s “accelerated approval” pathway, which is
reserved for therapies for diseases with few treatment options and does not require
phase III clinical trial data. However, lecanemab was granted approval on the basis of
phase II data, rather than the more comprehensive phase III data, which were published
in November 2021. The phase III data showed that lecanemab slowed cognitive decline by
27% in a clinical trial involving 1,800 patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s. The phase II
data showed that lecanemab reduced plaques in the brains of 856 patients, but did not
assess the effect on cognitive abilities.
Controversy
The approval of lecanemab has been controversial, with some questioning the decision to
grant approval on the basis of phase II data and concerns about patient deaths. Three
patients enrolled in the lecanemab phase III trial died during the extended phase of the
trial, when patients receiving
JOIN placebo can ask
@thehindu444 ortoThenewsmaster
be given the drug. The deaths were
attributed to complications involving brain bleeding and seizures, and researchers suspect
that the antibody may have weakened blood vessels in the brain as it attacked amyloid
plaques. All of the patients were taking anticoagulant drugs at the time of their deaths,
and the FDA has stated that lecanemab should not be used in patients taking these
medications.
Additionally, the approval process for lecanemab has been compared to that of
aducanumab, the first Alzheimer’s treatment to receive FDA approval. Both drugs were
granted approval through the accelerated approval pathway on the basis of phase II data,
and there have been accusations that the FDA acted improperly in approving
aducanumab.
India is set to deploy female peacekeepers to the UN Mission in Abyei
India is set to deploy a platoon of female peacekeepers to the United Nations Interim
Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) on the border of Sudan and South Sudan on January 6.
This marks the largest single unit of women peacekeepers in a UN mission since India
deployed the first all-female contingent in Liberia in 2007. The deployment is part of
India’s efforts to increase the number of women in peacekeeping contingents and will be
particularly welcomed in Abyei, where recent violence has led to humanitarian concerns
for women and children in the conflict zone.
Women Peacekeepers
Women peacekeepers are highly regarded in peacekeeping missions worldwide for their
ability to connect with women and children in local populations, particularly victims of
sexual violence in conflict zones. India has a long history of participating in peacekeeping
efforts and has had several notable female peacekeepers, including Dr. Kiran Bedi, the
UN’s first police adviser, and Major Suman Gawani and Shakti Devi. Indian teams in the
Congo and South Sudan have also contributed to community and social development
projects at the grassroots level.
Indian Contingent
The Indian contingent for the UNISFA mission consists of two officers and 25 other ranks,
who will specialize in community outreach and carry out various security-related duties.
India is one of the largest contributors of troops to UN peacekeeping missions and this
deployment marks a significant increase in the proportion of women in its peacekeeping
contingents.
Importance of Women in Peacekeeping
The effectiveness of the UN’s peace and security efforts depends heavily on the
contribution of women peacekeepers. More women than ever before hold executive
positions in UN peacekeeping, with women working with the UN as citizens, police
officers, and military personnel. The UN has recognized the importance of women in
peacekeeping and has implemented a number of initiatives to increase the representation
of women, including the establishment of a gender unit and the adoption of a resolution
on the role of women in peace and security.
The deployment ofJOIN
the all-female Indian platoon
@thehindu444 orto Thenewsmaster
the UNISFA mission in Abyei marks an
important step forward in the efforts to increase the representation of women in
peacekeeping. Women peacekeepers have a crucial role to play in peacekeeping missions
and their presence will be particularly welcomed in Abyei, where recent violence has led to
humanitarian concerns for women and children in the conflict zone.
About UNISFA
The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) was created by the United
Nations Security Council in 2011 to address the critical situation in the Abyei region of
Sudan. The Security Council was alarmed by the violence, rising tensions, and population
displacement in the area. UNISFA works to protect civilians and promote stability in the
region, while also supporting the peace process between Sudan and South Sudan. It is
composed of military, police, and civilian personnel from various countries, and operates
under the authority of the UN Secretary-General.
Top-performing global airports List
The past year saw the return of travel in full force after the COVID-19 pandemic, with
airlines and airports struggling to keep up with the sudden surge of passengers. However,
despite these challenges, some airports and airlines worldwide excelled, according to a
report by Cirium Aviation Analytics.
Top-Performing Global Airports
Cirium released a list of the top-performing global airports of 2022, with Bangalore’s
Kempegowda International Airport and Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport taking
the second and seventh spots, respectively. The top 10 airports, according to Cirium, are:
1. Haneda Airport (Tokyo, Japan)
2. Kempegowda International Airport (Bangalore, India)
3. Salt Lake City International Airport (Utah, US)
4. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (Michigan, US)
5. Philadelphia International Airport (Pennsylvania, US)
6. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (Minnesota, US)
7. Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi, India)
8. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Washington, US)
9. El Dorado International Airport (Bogota, Colombia)
10. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (North Carolina, US)
According to the report, the aviation industry struggled with understaffing and insufficient
capacity in 2022, leading to delays and cancellations. However, operations improved over
time as the industry added workers and adjusted capacity.

Most Punctual Airlines
Cirium also released a list of the most punctual airlines worldwide, with Azul Airlines
coming out as the “global leader.” Azul is a Brazilian carrier based in São Paulo that offers
flights to destinations within Brazil and other parts of South America, North America, and
Europe. The airline has won numerous awards, including “Best Regional Airline in South
America,” “Best Airline Staff in South America,” and “Best Airline Cabin Cleanliness in
South America” inJOIN
the 2019 Skytrax awards.
Delta Airlines was also recognized by Cirium, receiving the Platinum Award for global
operational excellence for the second consecutive year. This award takes into account on-
time performance, operational complexity, and an airline’s ability to limit the impact of
flight disruption on passengers.
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
(PBD) Convention, an annual event that brings together members of the Indian diaspora
from around the world. This year’s convention, held in Indore in partnership with the
Madhya Pradesh government, features over 3,500 representatives from 70 countries and
is being celebrated under the theme “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress
in Amrit Kaal.”
What is Pravasi Bharatiya Divas?
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is the flagship event of the Government of India that
provides an important platform for engagement and connection with overseas Indians.
The convention, which is held annually on January 9th, also allows the diaspora to interact
with one another. This year marks the 17th PBD Convention, which is being held in Indore
from January 8th to 10th.
In addition to the main convention, several other events and initiatives took place as part
of the PBD celebrations. A commemorative postal stamp titled “Surakshit Jaayen,
Prashikshit Jaayen” (meaning “safe, trained, and skilled migration”) was released to
highlight the importance of legal and skilled migration. The Prime Minister also
inaugurated the first-ever digital PBD Exhibition, which focuses on the contribution of the
diaspora to India’s freedom struggle.
Thematic Plenary Sessions
The 17th PBD Convention features five thematic plenary sessions, each focused on a
different aspect of the diaspora’s role in India’s progress. The sessions and their
chairpersons are as follows:
First Plenary on “Role of Diaspora Youth in Innovations and New Technologies,”
chaired by Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur
Second Plenary on “Role of Indian Diaspora in Promoting Indian Healthcare Eco-
system in Amrit Kaal: Vision @2047,” chaired by Minister of Health & Family Welfare,
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and co-chaired by Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr.
Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
Third Plenary on “Leveraging the Soft Power of India – Goodwill through Craft,
Cuisine & Creativity,” chaired by Minister of State for External Affairs, Smt. Meenakshi
Lekhi
Fourth Plenary on “Enabling Global Mobility of Indian Workforce – Role of Indian
Diaspora,” chaired by Minister of Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship,
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan
Fifth Plenary on “Harnessing the Potential of Diaspora Entrepreneurs Towards an
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Nation Building,” chaired by Minister of Finance, Smt. Nirmala
Sitharaman
Each plenary session will feature panel discussions with notable experts from the
diaspora.
Significance of the 17th PBD Convention
The 17th PBD Convention holds special significance as it is the first to be held in person in
four years and the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous PBD
Convention, held in 2021, was held virtually due to the pandemic. The return to in-person
events is seen as a hopeful sign of a return to normalcy and the importance of face-to-face
engagement in building and strengthening ties between India and the diaspora.
RBI Releases Annual Report on Ombudsman Schemes
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its annual report on the “consumer
education and protection activities” carried out during the 2021-2022 financial year as part
of its Ombudsman Schemes. The report covers the activities of the three ombudsman
schemes: the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, 2006 (BOS), the Ombudsman Scheme for
Non-Banking Financial Companies, 2018 (OSNBFC), and the Ombudsman Scheme for
Digital Transactions, 2019 (OSDT). It also covers the activities of the RBI-Internal
Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), which was launched on November 12, 2021.
Key Statistics
The number of complaints received through the Ombudsman Schemes and
Consumer Education and Protection Cells increased by 9.39% over the previous year,
totaling 4,18,184.
Digital mode of payment and transaction complaints accounted for 42.12% of all
complaints received.
The rate of complaint resolution by the RBI’s Ombudsman Offices (ORBIOs)
increased to 97.97% in 2021-2022, up from 96.59% in 2020-2021.
The majority of maintainable complaints were resolved through mutual settlement,
conciliation, or mediation.
Initiatives to Strengthen Grievance Redress System
The RBI’s Consumer Education and Protection Department (CEPD) has implemented a
number of initiatives to strengthen the grievance redress system, including:
The launch of the RB-IOS on November 12, 2021, which has been expanded to
include non-scheduled Urban Cooperative Banks with deposits of Rs 50 Crore or
more.
The establishment of a Centralized Receipt and Processing Center (CRPC) at the RBI
in Chandigarh to receive complaints from across the country via email/physical
mode and handle the initial scrutiny and processing of these complaints before
assigning the maintainable ones to ORBIOs for further redressal.
The establishment of a Contact Center to assist complainants in lodging their
complaints and provide information about the RBI’s redressal mechanism, and to
spread awareness about safe banking practices in ten regional languages
(Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Oriya,
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and Telugu) in addition to Hindi and English.
A nationwide intensive awareness program launched on World Consumer Rights
Day, March 15, 2022, to strengthen the department’s and Ombudsman Offices’
ongoing financial awareness and education.
29 town hall meetings and 175 awareness campaigns held by the ORBIOs during the
year.
Way Forward
The CEPD of the RBI will work on the following action plans from 01/04/2022 to
31/03/2023:
A review of the January 2021 guidelines on “Strengthening the Grievance Redress
Framework for Banks.”
Extension of the RB-IOS and Internal Ombudsman Scheme to additional sectors that
are not currently covered.
Improvement of the efficiency and usability of the Complaint Management System
(CMS).
Extension of the Internal Ombudsman Scheme to Credit Information Companies
(CICs) and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs).
Additional initiatives under the nationwide awareness campaign to reach out to
previously excluded segments of the population.
Upgrade of the Contact Center to meet the needs of Business Continuity and
Disaster Recovery.
January 10, 2023
Theme for “National Science Day 2023"
Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh recently announced the theme for
National Science Day 2023: “Global Science for Global Wellbeing”. This year’s theme
highlights India’s emerging role on the global stage and its increasing visibility in the
international community.
Key Points
The theme of “Global Science for Global Wellbeing” reflects the importance of
science in addressing global issues and promoting wellbeing worldwide. It also
coincides with India’s assumption of the presidency of the G20, where it will become
the voice of the Global South, comprising developing countries in Asia, Africa, and
South America.
National Science Day is celebrated annually on February 28th to honor the discovery
of the “Raman Effect” by Indian physicist Sir C V Raman, who received the Nobel
Prize in 1930 for his discovery. As part of the National Science Day celebrations,
theme-based science communication activities will take place across the country.
These activities aim to increase the public’s appreciation of the role of science in
addressing global issues and promoting global wellbeing.
National Science Day in India
National Science DayJOIN is a significant
@thehindu444annual event
or inThenewsmaster
India, celebrated on February 28th to
mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist Sir C. V. Raman on the same
date in 1928. The celebration of National Science Day aims to spread awareness about the
importance of science in daily life and to showcase the efforts and achievements in the
field of science for human welfare. It also serves as an opportunity to discuss and
implement new technologies for the development of science in the country.
History of National Science Day
National Science Day was first celebrated in India in 1986, following a request by the
National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) to the Government
of India. Since then, the event has been widely celebrated in schools, colleges, universities,
and other academic, scientific, technical, medical, and research institutions across the
country. On the occasion of the first National Science Day (26 February 2020), the NCSTC
announced the institution of the National Science Popularization awards to recognize
outstanding efforts in the area of science and communication.
Objectives of Celebrating National Science Day
The main objectives of celebrating National Science Day in India are:
To spread a message about the importance of science in daily life
To display all the activities, efforts, and achievements in the field of science for
human welfare
To give an opportunity to the scientific minded citizens in India to discuss and
address issues related to science and technology
To encourage and popularize science and technology among the people.

Bird Population and Diversity Increases at Bhitarkanika National Park
The Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha has seen an increase in its bird population this
year, according to the Odisha forest department. The staff counted a total of 1,39,959
birds in the park, compared to 1,38,107 last year. While the number of birds has increased,
the diversity of species has decreased compared to last year, with the park seeing 140
species of birds this year as opposed to 144 last year. However, many rare and
endangered species were spotted during this year’s count.
Location and Importance of Bhitarkanika National Park
The Bhitarkanika National Park is a prime location for birds of different species and is
located 130 km from Odisha’s capital city of Bhubaneswar. The Chilka and Bhitarkanika
wetland spots in Odisha are some of the favored destinations for migratory birds during
the winter months.
Bird Count Results

During the census exercise conducted on January 6th, the forest department spotted
around 81,930 geese and ducks, as well as other species such as grebes, rails, gallinules,
finfoots, jacanas, gulls, terns, and sandpipers. Divisional Forest Officer Adhir Behera
stated, “The enumerators have sighted rare groups of winged species at the wetland
spots of the national park. It is a clear indicator that Bhitarkanika is still a congenial spot
for attracting birds.”
New Migratory Bird Species
JOINSighted in Tripura
In related news, the Tripura forest department also reported that new species of
migratory birds from Siberia and Europe were sighted at Sukhsagar lake in Tripura’s
Gomati district. The three new species include the Ruff, found in Europe, the Oriental
pratincole, and the Common crane from Siberia in Russia. Ornithologist Dipankar Sinha, a
member of the state Biodiversity Board, remarked, “The flow of migratory birds this year
into the lake is also amazing.”
Overall, the increased bird population and sighting of rare species at Bhitarkanika
National Park and Sukhsagar lake in Tripura is a positive sign for the health and diversity
of the region’s ecosystems. The “chirpy cacophony” of feathered species adds color and
vibrancy to the region, and serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting and
preserving these natural habitats.
Bhitarkanika National Park
The Park obtained the status of Ramsar site in 2002. It was the second area to get the
status after Chilika lake. The Park is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in India.
The Fauna of the park includes saltwater crocodile, black ibis, Indian Python, wild boar,
cobra, darter, monitor lizard, etc. The park holds Guinness World Record of spotting
largest male salt water crocodile in the world that weighed 2,000 kg in 2006.
I&B Ministry advisory on reportage of Violence
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India has issued an advisory to television
channels warning against reporting incidents of accidents, deaths, and violence in a way
that may compromise “good taste and decency.” This advisory comes after several
instances of lack of discretion by television channels were noticed by the ministry.
Details of the Advisory
According to the ministry’s statement, television channels have been observed to show
“dead bodies of individuals and images or videos of injured persons with blood splattered
around, people, including women, children and elderly being beaten mercilessly in close
shots, continuous cries and shrieks of a child being beaten by a teacher, shown repeatedly
over several minutes including circling the actions thereby making it even more ghastly,
without taking the precaution of blurring the images or showing them from long shots.”
The ministry emphasized that the manner in which such incidents are reported is
distasteful and distressing for the audience.
Impact on Different Audience Segments
The advisory also highlighted the impact that such graphic reporting can have on various
audience segments. It noted that such reports can have an adverse psychological impact
on children and that there is also a crucial issue of invasion of privacy, which could be
potentially maligning and defamatory.
Responsibility of Broadcasters
The ministry emphasized that television, as a platform typically watched by families in
households with people from all different age groups and socio-economic backgrounds,
places a sense of responsibility and discipline on broadcasters. The advisory pointed out
that these responsibilities are outlined in the Programme
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Use of Social Media Videos
The ministry also observed that in many cases, the videos being shown on television are
taken from social media and broadcast without editorial discretion or modifications to
ensure compliance with the Programme Code.
Overall, the advisory issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting serves as a
reminder of the need for discretion and sensitivity in reporting incidents of accidents,
deaths, and violence. Such graphic reporting can have a negative impact on the audience
and can also potentially invade the privacy of individuals involved. It is important for
broadcasters to adhere to the Programme Code and the Advertising Code in order to
ensure responsible and ethical reporting.
NHA Initiative to Grade Hospitals
The National Health Authority (NHA) in India is introducing a new system to measure and
grade hospital performance under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
Yojana (AB PM-JAY) scheme, with the goal of shifting the focus of hospital performance
measurement from the volume of services provided to the value of healthcare services.
The new initiative will introduce the concept of “value-based care,” where payment will be
outcome-based and providers will be rewarded based on the quality of treatment they
deliver.
Shift from Quantity to Quality
Traditionally, the healthcare model has been focused on the quantity of services delivered,
with case-based bundled payments made on the basis of the number of services provided.
Under the new value-based care model, providers will be rewarded for helping patients
improve their health, which will ultimately reduce the effects of disease in the population
in the long term. This shift promises significant increases in overall health gains and is
expected to benefit all stakeholders, from patients to healthcare providers, payers, and
suppliers.
Measures Taken by NHA to Ensure Quality Care
To ensure that PM-JAY beneficiaries receive both cashless healthcare benefits and high-
quality care at every empaneled hospital, the NHA has implemented various measures.
These measures include standardizing the cost of treatment under the scheme and
adding new and advanced treatment procedures. Additionally, the NHA has made
provisions to incentivize the best performing hospitals that provide quality care to
patients.
Performance Indicators and Public Dashboard

Under the value-based care system, the performance of AB PM-JAY empaneled hospitals
will be measured based on five performance indicators:
1. Beneficiary Satisfaction;
2. Hospital Readmission Rate;
3. Out-of-Pocket Expenditure;
4. Confirmed Grievances; and
5. ImprovementJOIN
in Patient’s Health-Related Quality
@thehindu444 of Life.
or Thenewsmaster
The performance of hospitals based on these indicators will also be made available on a
public dashboard, allowing beneficiaries to make informed decisions about their
healthcare. This will not only determine the financial incentives of hospitals, but also
create a demand for quality treatment among PMJAY beneficiaries.
Benefits of Value-Based Care
The implementation of value-based care promises to significantly improve the healthcare
landscape in India by incentivizing and encouraging healthcare providers to focus more
on delivering patient-centric services. Patients will receive better health outcomes and
higher satisfaction from the services they receive, while providers will benefit from
improved care efficiencies. Payers will be able to maximize the health benefits generated
from their spending, and suppliers will be able to align their products and services with
positive patient outcomes and reduced costs. Additionally, payers will have the
opportunity to exercise strong cost controls in a value-based healthcare system, as a
healthier population with fewer claims translates into less strain on premium pools and
investments.
Overall, the introduction of value-based care by the National Health Authority under the
AB PM-JAY scheme represents a significant shift in the focus of hospital performance
measurement in India, from quantity to quality of care. The use of performance
assessment and value-based incentives, health technology assessment, and digital tools
to monitor the quality of care will help to transform the AB PM-JAY program and the
Indian healthcare system as a whole from a volume-based to a value-based healthcare

delivery system.
Joshimath 'Sinking Zone'
Land subsidence in Joshimath (Uttarakhand), is a grave reminder of the harm that can be
caused by reckless infrastructure development and the role of climate change in
exacerbating the situation. Over 60 families living in uninhabitable houses have already
been moved to temporary relief centers, with at least 90 more families set to be
evacuated. Of the 4,500 buildings in Joshimath, 610 have developed large cracks and are
no longer fit for habitation.
Cause
The primary cause of the land subsidence in Joshimath is believed to be the National
Thermal Power Corporation’s Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Power Project, though climate
change is also a contributing factor. Climate scientist Anjal Prakash, one of the authors of
the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), stated that
the project has contributed to the caving incident in Joshimath and highlighted the
importance of careful planning in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Prakash also
emphasized the role of climate change as a force-multiplier, citing the increased
frequency of disaster events in Uttarakhand in recent years.
Impact
The land subsidence in Joshimath has had a significant impact on the city and its
residents. In addition
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the forced evacuations, hundreds of houses have developed
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cracks, rendering them uninhabitable. The situation is expected to worsen, with at least 90
more families set to be evacuated.
Solution
Professor Y P Sundriyal, Head of the Department of Geology at HNB Garhwal
University, called for the implementation of strong rules and regulations to prevent
future disasters, stating that most parts of Uttarakhand are located in seismic zones
IV and V, which are prone to earthquakes, and that climate change is worsening the
situation with more extreme weather events.
Given the cost associated with the environmental and ecological damage caused by
hydropower projects, Anjal Prakash suggested looking into alternative energy
sources as a solution. He emphasized the need for planning at the bio-regional scale,
taking into account what is allowed and what is not in order to protect the
environment.
The situation in Joshimath is not new, as incidents of land subsidence were also reported
in the 1970s. In 1978, a panel led by Garhwal Commissioner Mahesh Chandra Mishra
submitted a report stating that major construction works should not be carried out in the
city and the Niti and Mana valleys due to their location on moraines. The IPCC’s 2019 and
2022 reports similarly noted the region’s high susceptibility to disasters.
Given the cost associated with the environmental and ecological damage caused by
hydropower projects, Prakash suggested looking into alternative energy sources as a
solution. He emphasized the need for planning at the bio-regional scale, taking into
account what is allowed and what is not in order to protect the environment. The situation
in Joshimath serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of disregarding the fragility
of the Himalayan ecosystem and the importance of careful planning and regulation.
10 January: World Hindi Day - Update (January, 2023)
World Hindi Day, also known as Vishwa Hindi Diwas, is an annual celebration that takes
place on January 10th. The holiday was established to commemorate the date in 1949
when Hindi was first spoken in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). With almost
600 million speakers worldwide, Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world,
after Mandarin Chinese and English.
History
The celebration of World Hindi Day dates back to 1949 when Hindi was officially
recognized as the official language of India at the UNGA. In 1975, the first-ever World
Hindi Conference was held in Nagpur, India to commemorate this achievement. The
conference, which was inaugurated by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, took place from
January 10th to January 12th and was attended by 100 delegates from around 30
countries, as well as Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the then-Prime Minister of Mauritius, who
served as the conference’s chief guest.
In 2006, former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announced that every year on
January 10th, World Hindi Day would be observed. This was also the first year that the
Ministry of External Affairs@thehindu444
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orcelebrations of the day abroad.
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Why is World Hindi Day Celebrated?
World Hindi Day is an opportunity to recognize Hindi as a universal language and to raise
awareness about the use of the Indian language. It is also a chance to celebrate the
contributions of Hindi speakers and to encourage a love for the language. Additionally,
the holiday is used to address ongoing issues related to the promotion and use of Hindi.
How is World Hindi Day Celebrated?
World Hindi Day is celebrated with great fanfare by the Ministry of External Affairs, both
nationally and internationally. A variety of events are planned to promote Hindi, including
poetry readings, quizzes, cultural programs, speech contests, and debates. The Indian
Postal Department also releases special commemorative stamps to mark the expansion of
Hindi as a language.
In India, Hindi is the most common language, with 43.63% of the population speaking it
according to the 2011 census. Globally, 430 million people speak Hindi as their first
language.
Education Group of G-20 Meeting
As India assumes the G20 presidency and prepares to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit for
the first time in 2023, the education ministry is making preparations for the various events
that will take place.
University Connect Outreach Campaign
The ministry has launched a unique outreach campaign called University Connect,
which aims to involve young people in India’s G20 presidency.

As part of this campaign, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to
universities and colleges, requesting that they begin preparing students for
conferences and other events related to the G20.
The UGC has asked students to serve as facilitators for foreign delegates, provide
translation assistance, and organize cultural shows, workshops, and lectures on
topics related to the G20.
The higher education regulator has also encouraged universities to promote model
G20 forums and G20 branding in festivals, and to encourage student participation in
poetry, quiz, and logo competitions being organized by the G20 Secretariat.
Involvement of Students and Universities
The UGC has asked universities to start conducting activities to prepare students for
conferences that will be held in various locations and on a variety of topics related to the
history, culture, and legacy of the area. These activities will allow students to participate in
the conferences and serve as facilitators for foreign delegates. “Students may be
encouraged for being rapporteurs of sessions, providing translation assistance in foreign
languages required for the meetings, organizing cultural shows, workshops, lectures on
topics related to the G20 issues,” the commission said in a letter. The goal is to make
India’s G20 presidency “truly a people’s G20 movement.”
Showcasing India’s Educational Heritage and Traditions
The Indian KnowledgeJOIN System (IKS) division, anor
@thehindu444 innovation cell within the All India Council
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for Technical Education, has been tasked with showcasing India’s knowledge systems to
the world. The division has invited bids for the creation of four documentaries that
highlight India’s educational heritage, agricultural practices, and water management
traditions. It is expected that at least 15-20 venues across India will be featured in each
documentary.
The ministry is conducting various activities and events in different parts of the country as
part of India’s G20 presidency. Four education working group meetings are scheduled to
take place in Chennai, Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, and Pune between January and June of
2023. These events will provide opportunities for people in India to become involved in the
country’s G20 presidency.
Global Tamil Angels platform
The Global Tamil Angels platform was launched on Monday at the “Global Startup
Investors Summit,” co-organized by the Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission and
FeTNA International Tamil Entrepreneur Network. The platform, hosted by StartupTN,
allows Tamil Nadu-based start-ups to connect with potential investors from the global
Tamil diaspora.
How the Global Tamil Angels Platform Works?
Start-ups can get started by creating a profile on the Global Tamil Angels platform. They
will need to submit basic information about their company and upload their pitch deck,
revenue model, traction, and fundraising goals. After verification by StartupTN, their
profiles will be published on the portal and made visible to investors. Founders can then
explore a personalized list of investors based on the sectors in which they are interested in
investing and send invitations to start investment discussions.
American Tamil Fund Announced
At the Global Startup Investors Summit, an American Tamil Fund (ATF) was also
announced. The ATF, which is made up of investors from the Tamil diaspora in the US, has
pledged to invest INR 16 crore (approximately $2.2 million) in Tamil Nadu start-ups before
December 2023.
Encouraging Investment in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin spoke at the event, highlighting the success of the
state’s industries in attracting investment. He noted that investments in industries
operating in Tamil Nadu reached an all-time high of $1.5 billion last year, a 70% increase
compared to 2021. Stalin encouraged the global Tamil investor community to get involved
in the various initiatives being taken by the state government.

India and UK Launch Young Professionals Scheme
The governments of India and the UK marked Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 9, 2023
by launching the Young Professionals Scheme, which allows up to 3,000 degree-holding
citizens aged between 18 and 30 to live and work in each other’s countries for a period of
two years. The scheme, which was announced in November at the G20 summit in Bali, is
part of the India-UK Migration and Mobility Memorandum of Understanding signed in
May 2021. JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Details of the Young Professionals Scheme
According to High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, the Young Professionals Scheme
will hopefully be “up and running in March,” although he noted that there are still some
processes that need to be completed before a March launch can be confirmed. Successful
candidates will be able to search for job, educational, or cultural opportunities in their host
country, or simply visit for the two-year period. The scheme allows for exchange visas for
up to 3,000 individuals per year. It is not necessary for candidates to have a job lined up
when they apply for the visa.
Benefits of the Young Professionals Scheme
The Young Professionals Scheme offers a unique opportunity for young Indians and
Britons to gain international experience and expand their cultural horizons. It also has the
potential to strengthen ties between the two countries by fostering cultural exchange and
building networks of professionals.
Ongoing India-UK Trade Negotiations
The launch of the Young Professionals Scheme comes amidst ongoing negotiations for a
free trade agreement between the two countries, which have been complicated by issues
surrounding the movement of persons across borders. The UK has also been seeking
greater ease in the movement of skilled professionals and students from India to the UK
as part of the trade talks.
History of India-UK Migration and Mobility Agreement
The Migration and Mobility agreement between India and the UK was signed in May 2021
and seeks to address a number of issues related to the movement of persons between the
two countries. One aspect of the agreement aims to facilitate the return of illegal migrants
to their home countries.
However, the negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries, which
the governments had hoped to conclude before Deepavali last year, have been
complicated by issues related to the movement of persons across borders. In particular,
UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has pointed out that Indians are the largest group
of visa-overstayers in Britain and that the agreement with India has “not necessarily
worked very well.”
In response, the High Commission of India in London has stated that it has acted on every
case of visa overstaying referred to it by the UK authorities and that the government is
awaiting “demonstrable progress” on some of the UK’s commitments under the

agreement.
Progress of Trade Talks
The sixth round of India-UK trade negotiations took place in December in New Delhi, with
a seventh round planned for sometime “within the next month,” according to the High
Commissioner. While progress has been consistent, the High Commissioner declined to
provide an update on the current sticking points, stating that “nothing is agreed till it’s all
agreed.” JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Earth's Ozone Layer on Track to Recovery within Four Decades
The Earth’s protective ozone layer, which shields the planet from harmful ultraviolet
radiation, is on track to recover within four decades, according to a scientific assessment
conducted by a panel of experts and backed by the United Nations. The findings, which
were published Monday, come nearly 35 years after the landmark Montreal Protocol was
enacted in 1987, banning the production and consumption of chemicals that deplete the
ozone layer.
Ozone Layer Recovery
The recent scientific assessment found that, thanks to the measures taken under the
Montreal Protocol, the ozone layer is on track to recover to levels seen before the
appearance of the ozone hole over Antarctica by 2040. The report also predicts that the
Arctic will return to normal ozone levels by 2045, while Antarctica is expected to see
normal ozone levels by 2066. However, the recovery process is expected to be gradual,
taking place over several decades.
The Ozone Layer and Its Importance
The ozone layer, which sits in the upper atmosphere, plays a crucial role in protecting the
Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. This radiation has been linked to a range of
negative effects on human health, including skin cancer, eye cataracts, and compromised
immune systems, as well as damage to agricultural land. In the 1980s, a hole in the ozone
layer over Antarctica was first discovered, which prompted international efforts to combat
the problem.
The Montreal Protocol and Its Impact
The Montreal Protocol, which was adopted in 1987, aimed to phase out the use of ozone-
depleting chemicals, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were widely used in
refrigeration and as insulation in building materials. The protocol was widely hailed as a
major achievement in international environmental cooperation, and it set a precedent for
further efforts to regulate climate-warming emissions.
Challenges Ahead
While the assessment presents a positive outlook, scientists also warned that there are
still challenges ahead in the effort to protect the ozone layer. For example, emissions of
CFC-11, a banned ozone-depleting chemical, have been found to have increased
unexpectedly in recent years, with a significant portion of these emissions thought to have
originated in eastern China. Additionally, scientists have expressed concern about the
potential impact of geoengineering technologies, such as injecting aerosols into the upper
atmosphere to cool the Earth, on the ozone layer.
The recent scientific assessment affirms the success of the Montreal Protocol in protecting
the ozone layer, and sets a positive precedent for further efforts to combat climate
change. However, it also highlights the ongoing challenges in the fight to protect this
essential component of the Earth’s atmosphere. Further research and international
cooperation will be needed to ensure the continued recovery of the ozone layer and the
protection of the planet
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Tussle between Tamil Nadu Governor and CM Escalates in Assembly
The relationship between the Governor of Tamil Nadu and the Chief Minister of the state
has been fraught with tension in recent times, but things came to a head recently when
the Governor walked out of the assembly in a huff. The cause of the altercation was a
disagreement over a speech that had been given by the Governor, which led to the Chief
Minister, M.K. Stalin, tabling a resolution against him.
Governor-Government Tussle
The Governor, R.N. Ravi, and the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, have been locked in a tussle
for some time now. This came to a head on Monday when the Governor delivered a
speech in the assembly, which had been “approved” by the Chief Minister, but which
Stalin felt was not fully read or appropriately presented. Stalin then quickly drafted a
resolution, which he tabled, in response to the Governor’s speech, and the Assembly
subsequently adopted the resolution that had been put to voice vote by Speaker M
Appavu. Stalin said the draft of the speech sent to Raj Bhavan a few days prior to the
scheduled address had been cleared by him and subsequently printed and made available
to all MLAs on the tablets placed on their desks, besides hard copies on request.
Protest against Governor
The Governor’s walkout from the assembly prompted shouts of “Vazhga Tamil Nadu
(Long live Tamil Nadu)” from the treasury benches. This led to a rising tide of protests
across the state, with slogans of ‘GetOutRavi’ trending on Twitter and posters demanding
the same seen across the state. DMK cadres, on Monday night, protested against the
governor by burning his posters at Sulur, while Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam
cadres burnt his effigy in Chennai and Coimbatore.
The altercation in the assembly on Monday and the subsequent protests demonstrate the
high level of tension that exists between the Governor and Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu.
The resolution adopted by the Assembly and the Governor’s walkout have added fuel to
the fire, and it remains to be seen how this issue will be resolved. The relationship
between the Governor and Chief Minister is important for the smooth functioning of the
state, and it is crucial that both sides work towards resolving their differences for the
benefit of the state and its people.
Who was Fatima Sheikh?
Fatima Sheikh was an Indian educator and social reformer, who was a colleague of the
social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. She was born on 9 January 1831, and
passed away on 9 October 1900. Sheikh is widely considered to be India’s first Muslim
woman teacher. She is remembered for her pioneering role in educating and empowering
women and marginalized communities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Fatima Sheikh was born in 1831 in the city of Aurangabad, in the state of
Maharashtra, India. She was the sister of Mian Usman Sheikh, in whose house
Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule took up residence. From a young age, Fatima was
passionate about
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around her.
In 1848, Sheikh and Savitribai Phule, both enrolled at a teacher training institution
run by Cynthia Farrar, an American missionary. They both completed training there
and got a chance to work with Jyotirao Phule.
Career as Educator
Sheikh took charge of spreading education among the downtrodden communities.
One of the first Muslim women teachers of modern India, she started educating
Bahujan children in Phules’ school. She taught at all five schools that the Phules went
on to establish and she taught children of all religions and castes. Sheikh took part in
the founding of two schools in Mumbai (Then Bombay) in 1851.
Sheikh’s commitment to educate people from marginalized communities had no
bounds. Her willingness to work with people from different castes and religions is
what makes her an exceptional social reformer of her time. She was determined to
break barriers of caste and religion and bring education to people who otherwise
would have been denied it.
Contribution to Social Reform
Fatima Sheikh was deeply committed to the education and empowerment of women. She
believed that education was the key to unlocking the potential of women and helping
them to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. Her tireless efforts and
dedication to empower women, especially from marginalized communities, played a
crucial role in advancing women’s rights in India and helped to pave the way for future
generations.
In addition to her work for women’s education and empowerment, Fatima also devoted
her time and energy to improving the lives of other marginalized communities in India.
She worked with Dalit communities to improve their living conditions and access to
education and was an early supporter of the Indian independence movement.
U.S. ‘Title 42’ Immigration Policy
The United States recently announced that it will extend COVID-19 pandemic-era
restrictions, known as Title 42, to expel migrants from Nicaragua, Cuba and Haiti caught
crossing the U.S.-Mexico border back to Mexico. The move would block more nationalities
from seeking asylum in the United States, and raises questions about the implications of
this policy expansion and its legality.
What is Title 42 and Why was it Implemented?
Title 42 is an immigration policy that was implemented by the U.S. health authorities in
March 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy was
implemented to allow border agents to rapidly send migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico
border back to Mexico or other countries. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) said at the time it was needed to stem the spread of COVID-19 in
crowded detention settings. The policy was implemented under Republican former
President Donald Trump, whose administration sought to greatly curtail both
immigration. JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Critics of Title 42 argue that it unlawfully blocks migrants from claiming asylum and
subjects them to dangers, such as kidnapping and assault, in Mexico. Migrants and
immigrant advocate organizations sued to lift the order, while Republican states have
sued to keep it in place, litigation that is still ongoing.
The Biden Administration and Title 42
U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat who took office in January 2021, campaigned on a
promise to reverse Trump’s restrictive asylum policies. While Biden moved to end some
Trump restrictions, he left Title 42 in place for more than a year, exempting
unaccompanied children but allowing U.S. authorities to send hundreds of thousands of
migrants, including families, back to Mexico. Since Biden took office, there have been
record numbers of migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, causing operational
and political challenges for his administration.
Supreme Court Ruling on Title 42
The CDC announced in April 2022 that it would end Title 42, stating that it was no longer
needed to limit the spread of COVID-19 in light of vaccines and other medical advances.
But a federal judge in Louisiana blocked the termination after a legal challenge brought by
a group of two dozen U.S. states with Republican attorneys general who argued that
increased migration would saddle their states with costs. In a separate lawsuit, brought by
the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other groups on behalf of migrant families
who argue they were harmed by Title 42, a Washington, D.C.-based judge struck down
Title 42 on Nov. 15. The judge, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, ruled Title 42 violated
federal regulatory law but delayed the effective date of his decision until Dec. 21 to give
authorities time to prepare.
After the Supreme court intervened and ruled to keep the policy in place as they consider
the case, the Biden administration announced that it would be expanding Title 42 to
include Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti.
Why is the Biden Administration expanding Title 42?
The Biden administration has not provided an explicit reason for expanding Title 42 to
include Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti. However, it is likely that the decision is based on
operational and political challenges that have risen as a result of record numbers of
migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border since the Biden Administration took office.
The expanding of the Title 42 policy will have significant consequences on migrants from
these countries who will be blocked from seeking asylum in the United States. The legality
of this policy expansion is also questionable and will likely be challenged in the courts.
Brazil Anti-Democratic Riots
On January 8, 2023, thousands of supporters of Brazil’s ousted former president, Jair
Bolsonaro, ransacked Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court and presidential offices in a full-
blown riot to protest what they alleged was a stolen election. More than 1,200 protesters
were detained following the riots. In this article, we will take a closer look at the events
that led to the uprising in the Brazilian capital on Sunday.
Background JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
On October 30, 2022, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who served as the president from 2003
to 2011, beat Bolsonaro in a run-off vote.
Following this, right-wing supporters began gathering outside military bases across
Brazil, calling for military intervention to prevent the newly elected president Lula
from returning to office on January 1.
For months, people staged protests demanding the same. Many Bolsonaro
supporters in Brazil were convinced that October’s election was rigged.
Bolsonaro had challenged the results of the Brazilian election, arguing votes from
some machines should be “invalidated” in a complaint that election authorities
rebuffed. For years, Bolsonaro had alleged that Brazil’s election systems were rife
with fraud and that the nation’s elites were conspiring to remove him from power.
Escalation of Tensions
On December 12, Lula’s election victory was certified by the federal electoral court.
Later that day, after the arrest of a pro-Bolsonaro indigenous leader for alleged anti-
democratic acts, Bolsonaro supporters tried to invade the federal police
headquarters in Brasilia. A few days later, on December 24, a man named George
Washington de Oliveira Sousa was arrested for attempting to set off a bomb in
protest against Brazil’s election results.
A copy of his police statement showed that he was inspired to build up an arsenal by
Bolsonaro’s traditional support of the arming of civilians. In the last week of
December, at least four people were arrested by Brazilian police for an alleged coup
attempt during riots by Bolsonaro supporters. Amid the riots, Bolsonaro landed in
Florida less than two days before Lula was set to take office.
Riots in Brasília
On January 1, 2023, Lula was sworn in as president for the third time. Bolsonaro
supporters were convinced that the election was stolen from them. Congregating in front
of the Congress, Supreme Court and presidential offices, the protesters were met with
tear gas and rubber bullets, but were eventually able to overrun the security and set fire
to the buildings.
Reactions
On January 1, Lula joined leaders of both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court chief
justice in condemning the “terrorist acts” by Bolsonaro’s supporters. Several other world
leaders also condemned the riots that took place in Brasilia. More than 1,200 people were
detained and several are facing charges of terrorism, rebellion and attempted coup.
The events of January 8 in Brasília highlights the deeply polarized state of Brazilian society,
with many Bolsonaro supporters convinced that the election was stolen from them. The
riots and acts of violence that took place are a direct result of the heated political climate
in Brazil and the mistrust of democratic institutions by a large portion of the population. It
is important for the Brazilian government to address the concerns of those who feel
disenfranchised, while also holding those who committed violent acts accountable.
Kerala Becomes
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Digital Banking State
Kerala has become the first state in India to enable digital banking in all eligible accounts.
According to the State-Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), the state now has at least one
product enabled digitally in 3.76 crore accounts. The state government, led by Chief
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has implemented this move under the ‘Expanding and
Deepening of Digital Payments Ecosystem’ scheme of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Thrissur: The First District to Implement Digital Banking
In 2021, Thrissur became the first district in Kerala to implement digital banking under the
scheme. This has been a major step towards digitization of the state’s economy, and the
government is hopeful that this will lead to a significant boost in the state’s economy.
Digital Banking as a Stimulus for the State Economy
The Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, has emphasized that digital banking targets can only
be fully achieved when there are sweeping social interventions that complement
infrastructure additions and technological advances in the banking sector. He said that
the digital divide should disappear for digital facilities and services to be universally
accessible.
Kerala Fiber Optic Network (KFON)
The state government has been working on the Kerala Fiber Optic Network (KFON)
project, which is aimed at providing cost-effective internet access to the public. The Chief
Minister has announced that 90% of the work on the project has been completed and that
optical fibre cable has been drawn over a distance of 17,155 km. The project envisions
linking government offices to the network and arranging over 2,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots
across the state.
Cybercrimes and Digital Literacy
The government is also aware of the need to be vigilant against cybercrimes in the
banking sector. The state police has created an Economic Offences Wing to tackle such
offences. However, the government has stressed that preventing cybercrimes through
public awareness and cooperation of the banking sector is of paramount importance.
To raise digital literacy among citizens, the government has undertaken a programme
through local bodies. Kerala has won three awards at the recent Digital India Awards
instituted by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of
India, which is a testament to the state’s commitment to implementing efficient digital
mechanisms.
January 11, 2023
India Hosts "The Voice of Global South" Summit, Gathers 120 Countries
India will host the virtual ‘The Voice of Global South’ Summit on January 12-13, according
to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. The summit will bring together 120 countries from the
Global South to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform. India
currently holds the presidency of the G20 group, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
indicated that priorities would be shaped in consultation with developing countries.
Theme and Sessions
The theme of the JOIN
summit@thehindu444
is ‘Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose’, and it will consist of ten
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sessions over the course of two days. The inaugural and concluding sessions will be at the
head of state or government level and will be hosted by the Prime Minister. The theme of
the Inaugural Leaders’ session is ‘Voice of Global South – for Human-Centric
Development’, and the theme of the Concluding Leaders’ session is ‘Unity of Voice -Unity
of Purpose’.
Eight ministerial sessions will take place on the following themes:
Finance Ministers’ session on ‘Financing People-Centric Development’
Environment Ministers’ session on ‘Balancing Growth with Environment Friendly
Lifestyles (LiFE)’
Foreign Ministers’ session on ‘Priorities of the Global South – Ensuring a Conducive
Environment’
Energy Ministers’ session on ‘Energy Security and Development – Roadmap to
Prosperity’
Health Ministers’ session on ‘Cooperation to Build Resilient Healthcare Systems’
Education Ministers session on ‘Human Resource Development and Capacity
Building’
Commerce and Trade Ministers’ session on ‘Developing Synergies in the Global
South – Trade, Technology, Tourism and Resources’
What is Global North and Global South?
The classification of countries as ‘Global North’ or ‘Global South’ is based on similarities in
terms of wealth, indicators of education and healthcare, etc. ‘Global North’ refers loosely
to countries like the US, Canada, Europe, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand, while ‘Global
South’ includes countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. In recent years, some
countries in the Global South, such as India and China, have experienced significant
economic growth, challenging the idea that the North is the ideal.
The Global South and Geo-economics
The Global South is actively pursuing geo-economics, and fears of the US strategy of
freezing dollar reserves has made the South cautious. The recent announcement by the
US of its trade policies of ‘re-shoring’ and ‘friend-shoring’ has led the South to find ways
of bypassing the dollar in bilateral trade by using local currencies. Currency swap
arrangements are used by China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
+ 3 countries, and India with Russia and 23 other countries.
India as the Voice of Global South
India is eager to become a bridge between the North and the South by focusing on
practical outcomes rather than returning to old ideological battles. To achieve this, India
must actively engage with the messy regional politics within the developing world and
come to terms with the fact that the Global South is not a coherent group and does not
have a single shared agenda. This demands a tailored Indian policy to different regions
and groups of the developing world. If India can translate this ambition into effective
policy, there will be no contradiction between the simultaneous pursuit of universal and
particular goals. JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Bengaluru Dominates Startup Funding in India with $10.8 Billion in 2022
In 2022, Bengaluru, the technology capital of India, has topped the startup funding chart
with a whopping $10.8 billion, according to data provided by Tracxn, a global market
intelligence platform. Mumbai, the financial capital of India, followed close behind with
$3.9 billion, while Gurugram took the third spot with $2.6 billion in funding. The cities of
Delhi and Chennai each recorded $1.2 billion in funding, and Pune had $1 billion in
funding.
Impact of Funding Winter
In 2021, Bengaluru-based startups had raised $20.8 billion in funding, while Mumbai-
based startups had pocketed $5.2 billion. This shows the impact of the deepening funding
winter last year. The number of unicorns, or startups valued at over $1 billion, in 2022 was
22, compared to 46 in 2021. The average funding before the unicorn round was around
$160 million, and it was taking an average of 5.1 years from Series A funding to the
unicorn round for Indian startups.
According to the Tracxn annual report, “India started experiencing funding winter in Q4 of
2021 and it has been on a declining trend since. Because of rising interest rates and fear of
a worldwide recession, investments across all industries have been impacted.” The
months of April, October, and November in 2022 saw no new unicorns.
Tech IPOs in 2022
A total of 11 tech initial public offerings (IPOs) were launched in 2022, matching the
number from the same period in 2021. Some of the major IPOs in 2022 included Delhivery,
Tracxn, and eMudhra.
Active Investors in 2022
LetsVenture, AngelList, and Y Combinator have topped the list of most active investors in
2022 to date, according to Tracxn.
Leading the Way in Edtech: Byju’s
Despite the impact on funding in the edtech sector, Byju’s has topped the list of the
highest funding raised in 2022. The edtech giant raised over $1.2 billion in 2022 from
existing investors, which amounted to almost 50% of the total funding received in the
edtech sector.
Bengaluru has proven to be the leading city for startup funding in India with $10.8 billion
in 2022. Despite the impact of the funding winter, Indian startups are still attracting
significant investments from active investors. The edtech sector, in particular, has seen
significant growth with Byju’s leading the way in funding raised. It would be interesting to
see how the funding landscape for startups in India will change in the coming years.
Anthropological study in rural China
For most people around the world, physical work takes up a significant amount of time
and energy every day. However, it is not always clear whether it is men or women who are
working harder in households. In hunter-gatherer societies, men are typically the hunters
and women are the gatherers. But what is the labor breakdown in other societies? A
recent study conducted
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the Tibetan borderlands in rural China aimed to uncover the
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factors that determine who works the hardest in a household and why.
Marriage and Bargaining Power
The majority of adults around the world are married. Marriage is a contract, so one would
expect roughly equal costs and benefits from the union for both parties. However,
unequal bargaining power in a household – such as one person threatening divorce – can
lead to unequal contributions to the partnership. The study hypothesis was that leaving
one’s natal area after heterosexual marriage to live with the spouse’s family may
contribute to a higher level of workload.
Dispersal Patterns in Marriage
In such marriages, the new person typically is not related to and does not share a history
with anyone in their new household. Without blood relatives around them, they might
therefore be at a disadvantage when it comes to bargaining power.
The most common form of marriage around the world is where women are the
“dispersers”, leaving their native home, while men stay with their families in their
natal area. This is known as Patrilocality.
Neolocality – in which both sexes disperse at marriage and the couple lives in a new
place away from both their families – is another common practice in many parts of
the world.
Matrilocality – where women stay in the natal family and men move to live with the
wife and her family – is quite rare.
Duolocality – where neither sex leaves home and husband and wife live apart – is
very rarely seen.
Women work harder
In the diverse Tibetan borderlands, all four of these different dispersal patterns can be
found across various ethnic groups. The study focused on rural villages from six different
ethnic cultures. With collaborators from Lanzhou University in China, the researchers
interviewed more than 500 people about their dispersal status after marriage and invited
them to wear an activity tracker (like a fitbit) to assess their workloads.
The first finding was that women worked much harder than men and contributed most of
the fruits of this labor to their families. This was evidenced both by their own reports of
how much they worked and by their activity trackers. Women walked on average just over
12,000 steps per day, while men walked just over 9,000 steps. Men also worked hard, but
less so than women. They spent more time in leisure or social activities, or just hanging
around and resting.

The study highlights that physical weakness may be one reason for the imbalance in
workload, but the main factor is the dispersal status after marriage. Individuals who
disperse at marriage to live away from their kin have higher workloads than those who
stay with their natal families. Perfect sex equality in workload only occurs in instances
where men disperse and women do not. These results help us to understand why women
globally disperse, but men generally do not. Dispersal is especially bad for men – adding
about 2,000 more JOIN
steps per day to their step count,
@thehindu444 but only adding about 1,000 steps per
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day for women.
Union Minister Narayan Rane launches web portal for RAMP
In an effort to scale up the implementation capacity and coverage of Micro, Small, and
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, the Minister of MSMEs, Narayan Rane
recently launched the web portal for the Rs 6,062.45 crore World Bank-assisted central
government scheme, Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP).
Key Points
The scheme was originally announced back in 2020 to support Covid-hit MSMEs in
the country and aims to improve the performance of 5.55 lakh MSMEs, according to a
World Bank statement.
The launch of the web portal for the RAMP scheme is a step towards providing much-
needed support to MSMEs in India that have been affected by the Covid-19
pandemic.
The scheme, which is backed by both the World Bank and the Indian government,
aims to improve the performance of MSMEs in the country by supporting
institutional and policy reforms, research studies, and technology upgradation.
The scheme will initially be implemented in five states, with the goal of eventually
scaling up to cover MSMEs throughout India.
About the RAMP Scheme
The RAMP scheme, which has a budget of Rs 6,062.45 crore, was approved by the World
Bank in June 2021. Of the total budget, Rs 3,750 crore was approved by the World Bank,
while the remaining Rs 2,312.45 crore will be funded by the government. The scheme aims
to improve the performance of 5.55 lakh MSMEs in the country and will be overseen by a
National MSME Council headed by the MSME Minister.
The budget for the RAMP scheme will be used for supporting institutional and policy
reforms, research studies, integration of portals within the ministries/departments,
increasing firm-level capabilities through technology upgradation, and reducing the
incidence of delayed payments over a five-year period beginning in FY23.
Implementation of the RAMP Scheme
During the first year of implementation, FY23, the RAMP scheme will invite states and
union territories to prepare a financing roadmap called Strategic Investment Plans (SIPs).
The projects or businesses proposed in the SIPs will be funded based on their appraisals
by the MSME Ministry. The scheme will begin with five states – Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, which are home to reportedly 54% of all registered
MSMEs in the country.
The financial support under the RAMP scheme will be routed into the MSME Ministry’s
budget against ‘Disbursement Linked Indicators’ (DLIs) to back the ministry’s various
MSME programs. The DLIs will include the National MSME Reform Agenda, accelerating
MSME sector center-state collaboration, strengthening the invoice discounting market for
MSMEs, and boosting the effectiveness of the CGTMSE scheme.
Gujarat and Rajasthan
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@thehindu444 Investment Destinations in India
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According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Gujarat has
surpassed all other Indian states in attracting new investments from both domestic and
foreign corporations. Fresh investments worth Rs 3.98 trillion were announced for Gujarat
during the financial year (FY) 2022, representing a 273 percent increase over the FY 2021
figure of Rs 2.91 trillion.
Rajasthan, on the other hand, emerged as the second most attractive destination for
investments in India in FY 2022. Interestingly, the state witnessed the highest rate of
growth during the period, soaring by almost 535 percent and attracting new investments
worth Rs 2.37 trillion.
In this article, we will discuss why these two states are the leading investment destinations
in India.
Why Gujarat is an Ideal Investment Destination?
Gujarat is India’s top industrial state in terms of manufacturing capacity, investment
opportunities, and operational special economic zones.
Gujarat is the second-largest producer of crude oil (onshore) and the fourth largest
producer of natural gas, and it hosts the world’s largest petroleum refining hub at
Jamnagar district.
Gujarat’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) which reached USD260 billion in FY
2022 and showed a 7 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) growth rate, is anticipated to
reach USD280 billion in FY 2023.
Gujarat has 42 ports, comprising one major port and 41 non-major ports in terms of
logistics and connectivity.
Gujarat is an ideal investment destination due to its industrial and investment-
friendly policies and is one of the leading industrialized states in India. The state is
recognized as an “Achiever” among the coastal states by DPIIT in Logistics Ease
(LEADS 2022).
There are 21 operational Special Economic Zones (SEZs), with 26 SEZs having formal
approvals, eight notified Special Investment Regions (SIR), and 202 industrial
derivatives in Gujarat.
Gujarat is a leader in chemical manufacturing in India. The state has India’s first
Petroleum, Chemicals, and Petrochemicals Investment Region for the manufacturing
of petroleum products, chemicals, and petrochemicals.
Gujarat is also producing a significant amount of green energy. In comparison to
7,541.5 megawatts (MW) in FY 2020, the state’s operational capacity for producing
electricity from wind energy sources currently stands at 8,561.8 MW.
To attract offshore financial market investors, India’s first International Financial
Services Centre (IFSC) has been set up in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT
City).
Why Rajasthan is an Ideal Investment Destination?
One of the main reasons for Rajasthan’s attractiveness as an investment destination
is its strategic
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significant Indian states: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and
Gujarat. Around 40 percent of the Indian market is accessible through this state’s
bordering states, and it also acts as a vital transportation link between the northern
Indian states and the ports along India’s western coast. This makes Rajasthan an
ideal location for companies looking to expand their market reach in India.
Another factor that makes Rajasthan an attractive investment destination is its
skilled workforce which has resulted in a large pool of skilled workers in various
fields. This is particularly true for the service sector, which contributed around 45
percent of the state’s gross value added (GVA) at current prices in FY 2021.
Rajasthan is also a major mineral producing state in India, with 82 major and minor
minerals. The state produces more minerals than any other state in India, with
limestone, copper ore, silver, rock phosphate, and gypsum being the top
commodities.
The state has a diversified industry base, with leading industries such as Agri-
processing, automotive, IT/ITES, petrochemicals, renewable energy, and textiles.
More than 100 automotive and auto-component manufacturing units as well as
about 850 factories in the food processing sector are located in the state.
The state’s economic profile is also impressive, with its GSDP reaching Rs 11.96
trillion in FY 2022, up 11.06 percent y-o-y. The state’s per-capita income was Rs
1,35,000 during that time. This economic growth has resulted in an increase in
investment in the state, with companies such as Adani investing in Rajasthan.

According to data from Invest India, during the period from October 2019 to
September 2022, Rajasthan received FDI inflows of USD1.88 billion. This indicates the
growing interest of foreign investors in the state and its potential for further
economic growth.
Kerala 'Year of Enterprises' Project
The Kerala government’s ‘Year of Enterprises’ project has been selected as a best
practices model in the thrust on Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) session
during the recent Chief Secretaries National Conference held in the national capital. The
project, which began in the current fiscal, aimed at creating one lakh enterprises in one
year. However, the state government achieved this goal in just eight months, setting a
new benchmark for promoting small and medium-sized enterprises in India.
Creating Enterprises at an unprecedented scale:
The project was aimed at creating one lakh enterprises in one year and the state
government achieved this goal in eight months. In November, as many as 1,01,353
enterprises were set up under the project, and the total investment stood at around Rs
6,282 crore. This is an unprecedented scale of creating enterprises in such a short period
of time and showcases the dedication of the Kerala government towards promoting
MSMEs in the state.
Efficient Infrastructure and Ease of Doing Business:
The Kerala government JOIN has made significantor
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ease of doing business in the state. The government has streamlined the process of
starting and running a business, making it easier for entrepreneurs to get their ventures
off the ground. In addition, the government has also provided easier access to land and
other resources to entrepreneurs. These efforts have helped to create a conducive
environment for MSMEs to grow and thrive in the state.
Financial Assistance and Training:
The Kerala government has set up a dedicated fund for MSMEs, which provides financial
assistance to eligible businesses. In addition, the project also provides training and
mentorship to MSMEs to help them improve their business skills and knowledge. This is an
important aspect of the project as it helps to ensure that entrepreneurs are equipped with
the necessary knowledge and skills to run their businesses effectively.
Networking Opportunities:
The project also provides networking opportunities for MSMEs through events and trade
fairs. These events bring entrepreneurs in contact with potential investors, customers, and
suppliers, which helps to expand their business network. This is crucial for the growth and
development of MSMEs as it helps to increase their visibility and access to new markets.
Economic Impact:
The ‘Year of Enterprises’ project is expected to create job opportunities and boost the
state’s economy. The state government’s target of creating 1 lakh new enterprises in the
state over the next year is expected to lead to the creation of 2 lakh jobs. This is a
significant step forward in promoting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises
in Kerala, which will have a positive impact on the state’s economy.
Uttarakhand Women Reservation Bill
Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh has approved a bill providing 30%
horizontal reservation for domiciled women citizens of the state in public services and
posts. The bill, known as the Uttarakhand Public Services (Horizontal Reservation for
Women) Bill 2022, was passed by the Uttarakhand assembly during the winter session on
November 30. This move is a significant step forward in ensuring gender equality and
social justice in the state’s government jobs.
Reservation for Women
The bill provides for 20% horizontal reservation for direct recruitment in public services
and posts in the vacancies to be recruited until July 24, 2006. After that, 30% horizontal
reservation will be given in favor of the women candidates permanently domiciled in
Uttarakhand. The bill cites the need for reservation for women as a way to ensure “social
justice, equality of opportunity, improvement in living standards.”
Need for the Bill
The bill was introduced following developments in the Uttarakhand high court, where the
women reservation was challenged. On August 24, the high court had stayed the 2006
state government order regarding providing 30% reservation in state services to women
having domicile of the state until further orders. The petitioners had argued that the state
government had no power
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India allows reservation on the basis of domicile only by an act of parliament.
Cabinet Approval
On October 12, the state cabinet authorized Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to bring
an ordinance on the issue of women’s reservation in the state government jobs. This
move came after the high court ruling and was aimed at ensuring that the 30%
reservation for women in state services would be implemented.
Reactions
The approval of the bill has been welcomed by various organizations and individuals
working towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. The bill is seen as a
positive step towards ensuring gender equality and providing equal opportunities to
women in the state. The reservation will give women more opportunities to participate in
the workforce and contribute to the state’s economy.
In conclusion, the bill providing 30% horizontal reservation for domiciled women citizens
of the state in public services and posts has been approved by Uttarakhand Governor Lt
Gen (Retd) Gurmit Singh. The bill, which was passed by the Uttarakhand assembly during
the winter session on November 30, is a significant step forward in ensuring gender
equality and social justice in the state’s government jobs. The reservation will give women
more opportunities to participate in the workforce and contribute to the state’s economy,
which will ultimately improve the living standards of the citizens of Uttarakhand.
Draft Regulation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants Rules, 2022

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on January 04, 2023,
issued Draft Regulation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants Rules, 2022. These
regulations aim to ensure that adequate upstream and downstream conveyance
linkages/channels are in place for the proper carriage of effluent, as well as to provide
guidelines for the management of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs).
Roles and Responsibilities
The draft regulations outline the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders
involved in the operation and maintenance of CETPs.
State Governments/SPCBs/PCCs
The State Government or its agencies are responsible for ensuring that adequate
upstream and downstream conveyance linkages/channels are in place for the proper
carriage of effluent. They will work closely with CETP operating agencies to manage the
CETP professionally.
CETP Operating Agencies
In order to manage the CETP professionally, there shall be a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)
or Society (registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860) or Trust (registered
under an appropriate statute), which would be responsible for the entire operation and
maintenance of CETP. These agencies are responsible for ensuring that the CETP meets
the outlet norms of their individual PETPs, as prescribed in the consents issued by
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Member Industries of a CETP
Member industries of a CETP are also held responsible for their actions under the draft
regulations. They are expected to discharge the trade effluent meeting the outlet norms
of their individual PETPs, as prescribed in the consents issued by SPCBs/PCCs. This will
help in maintaining the overall quality of effluent and the environment.
Overall, these draft regulations aim to provide a clear and defined framework for the
management of CETPs, while also ensuring the protection of the environment. It assigns
responsibilities to different stakeholders and ensures that adequate measures are taken
to properly manage effluent. These regulations will help to safeguard the environment
and the health of people living near CETPs.
Statement on climate of India during 2022
In 2022, the annual mean land surface air temperature in India was 0.510C above the long-
term average (1981-2010 period). This made the year the fifth warmest on record since
nationwide records began in 1901. Despite this, it was lower than the highest warming
observed over India during 2016, which had an anomaly of 0.710C, but higher than the
previous year, 2021, which had an anomaly of 0.440C.
Temperature Analysis
The all-India mean temperatures during the winter season (January to February) were
normal, with an anomaly of -0.04°C. However, during other seasons, the temperatures
were above normal. The pre-monsoon season (March to May) had an anomaly of ±1.06°C,
the monsoon season (June to September) had an anomaly of +0.36°C and the post-
monsoon season (October to December) had an anomaly of +0.52°C.
Global Temperature
Global mean temperature in 2022 is currently estimated to be 1.15 ± 0.13 °C above the
preindustrial (1850-1900) average. This is likely to make the past eight years (2015-2022)
the warmest on record. Despite La Niña conditions keeping global temperature low for
the second consecutive year, 2022 is still most likely to be the 5th or 6th warmest year on
record.
Rainfall Analysis
The rainfall over India in 2022 was 108% of its Long Period Average (LPA) value based on
the period 1971-2020. During the winter season, the rainfall was 147% of its LPA, pre-
monsoon season rainfall was 99% of its LPA, the southwest monsoon season had rainfall
106 % of its LPA, and the post-monsoon season had rainfall 119% of its LPA.
Extreme Weather Events

During 2022, 15 cyclonic disturbances formed over the north Indian Ocean, against the
normal of 11.2 based on data from 1965-2021. It included three cyclones, seven
depressions formed over the Bay of Bengal, three depressions over the Arabian Sea, and
two land depressions. In addition to these, extreme weather events like extremely heavy
rainfall, floods, landslides, lightning, thunderstorms, droughts etc were also experienced
in various parts of the country.
Overall, India witnessed
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year 2022. The year 2022 witnessed cyclonic disturbances and extreme weather events
which were above the average count, as well as the effect of global warming.
Levels & Trends in Child Mortality 2022
In 2021, a staggering 5 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday. This is a
tragedy on a personal level, and a setback to global development. The root cause of many
of these deaths is a lack of access to basic rights such as quality healthcare, vaccinations,
food, clean water, and sanitation. Despite ongoing efforts, preventable communicable and
infectious diseases continue to take the lives of innocent children. This article will explore
the impact of preventable child deaths in 2021 and what needs to be done to ensure the
survival of the most vulnerable children, adolescents, and youth.
Different Chances of Survival for Children
Children around the world face vastly different chances of survival. In 2021, the global
under-five mortality rate was 38 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, in sub-Saharan
Africa, the rate was 74 deaths per 1,000 live births. In low-income countries, the under-five
mortality rate was 67 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to just 5 deaths per 1,000 live
births in high-income countries. The situation is similarly dire for older children and youth
in sub-Saharan Africa, who face the highest probability of dying.
Deaths Concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia
The burden of child deaths is disproportionately concentrated in certain regions of the
world. In 2021, more children and youth died in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia
than in all other regions combined. Over 80% of under-five deaths and about 70% of all
deaths among 5-24-year-olds occurred in these two regions. This highlights the need for
increased recognition, prioritization, and action in these areas.
Vulnerability during the First 28 Days of Life
The first 28 days of life remain the most critical period for child survival. In 2021,
approximately 2.3 million children died during the first month of life, or about 6,400 babies
every day. These deaths accounted for nearly 47% of all under-five deaths that year.
Children in sub-Saharan Africa continue to face the greatest risk of dying during this
period.
Addressing Mortality Among Children 1-59 Months
Children aged 1-59 months accounted for 2.7 million of 2021’s under-five deaths. This
burden is not evenly distributed across the world, with over 40% of all under-five deaths
globally in 2021 among children in this age group in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern
Asia. This highlights the need for renewed focus on addressing mortality among these
children.
Impact of Conflict and Emergencies
Conflict and emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to pose a
significant threat to child survival. In 2021, the under-five mortality rate in countries
classified as fragile and conflict-affected was triple the rate in other countries. While there
is currently no systematic evidence of excess child mortality due to COVID-19, continued
monitoring is needed
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the pandemic on access to healthcare
and intervention provision.
Data Gaps Limiting Efforts to End Preventable Deaths
Data gaps are hindering efforts to end preventable child deaths. Quality data is vital to
monitoring the survival of children from the neonatal period to young adulthood,
particularly in conflict-affected situations. Investing in data collection mechanisms and
systems is an essential part of realizing children’s rights and achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
BharatPe Gets Nod for ePayment Aggregator Licence
Fintech unicorn BharatPe recently announced that it has received in-principle approval
from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment Aggregator. The approval
was granted to the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Resilient Innovations Private Ltd.
This comes as a relief for BharatPe, which has been facing controversies and high-profile
exits since last year, including a court battle with its former co-founder.
Payment Aggregator Framework
Payment aggregators are entities that facilitate e-commerce sites and merchants to
accept various payment instruments from customers. They do not require merchants to
create a separate payment integration system of their own. The RBI had issued a Payment
Aggregator Framework, mandating payment gateways to obtain a license for acquiring
merchants and providing them with digital payment acceptance solutions. This in-
principle approval will help BharatPe to expand its reach and provide digital payment
acceptance solutions to millions of merchants.

Fintech Firms Approval
Several fintech firms like Razorpay, Pine Labs, Open, Cashfree, and 1Pay have already
received approval from the RBI for a Payment Aggregator license in recent months. Over
185 fintech enterprises and startups submitted their proposals for a Payment Aggregator
licence.
Conditions for Final Authorization
The final authorization for BharatPe is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions,
which the company will work to fulfill within the given timelines. BharatPe, which was
founded in 2018, began by launching the first interoperable UPI code. It serves more than
1 crore merchants across 400+ cities.
BharatPe’s Current Situation
The company’s board is currently searching for a new CEO to replace Suhail Sameer, who
resigned from his position. Nalin Negi, the company’s Chief financial officer, has been
appointed as the interim CEO. He has previously worked with GE Capital and SBI Card.
This in-principal approval for Payment Aggregator license, is a vital step for BharatPe to
continue its operations and provide digital payment acceptance solutions.
The in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India for BharatPe to operate as a
Payment Aggregator is a significant milestone for the fintech unicorn, which has been
facing controversies and high-profile exits in recent times. The Payment Aggregator
framework established
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acceptance solutions for merchants and BharatPe’s subsidiary Resilient Innovations
Private Ltd is one of the several fintech firms that have received the approval. The final
authorization is subject to certain conditions and the company is moving forward to fulfill
them within the given timelines.
Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit
On January 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the 7th edition of
‘Invest Madhya Pradesh-Global Investors Summit’, a flagship event of the Madhya
Pradesh state government. The theme of the two-day summit is ‘Madhya Pradesh-The
Future Ready State’, showcasing the state’s industrial ecosystem and promoting its
policies to attract investment and spur growth. The virtual event will also feature
addresses from leaders of Guyana and Suriname, as well as India’s Union Commerce and
Industry Minister.
Key Objectives
The key objectives of the summit are to showcase the industrial ecosystem of Madhya
Pradesh, promote the state’s policies, consult with industrial organizations to formulate
industry-friendly policies, provide opportunities for collaboration, and promote export
potential through buyer-seller meets and vendor development. The event will bring
together a diverse group of international delegates, buyers, industrialists, and
representatives of various international industry associations, and representatives of all
G20 countries.
Participants
A total of 447 international delegates from 84 countries, 401 international buyers, more
than 5,000 industrialists, and representatives of various international industry
associations, and representatives of all G20 countries will take part in the event. The
summit provides an opportunity for participants to engage with the government and
industry leaders, explore investment opportunities, and network with potential partners
and clients.
Role of the Prime Minister
The virtual inaugural address by Prime Minister Modi will set the tone for the summit and
highlight the government’s commitment to attracting investment and promoting
economic growth in Madhya Pradesh. The participation of Guyana and Suriname
President, will also be an indication of the importance the international community places
on the opportunities available in the state.
India Conducts Successful Test Launch of Prithvi-II Ballistic Missile

India successfully carried out a test launch of the tactical ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a
test range off the Odisha coast on January 10. The missile successfully struck its target
with “high accuracy”, according to the Defence Ministry. The test validated all operational
and technical parameters of the missile, which is an integral part of India’s nuclear
deterrence capabilities.
The Test Launch
The test launch was
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from the Integrated Test Range in
Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha. The “user training launch” was conducted to validate
all operational and technical parameters of the missile, as well as to ensure the readiness
of the missile system.
Capabilities of Prithvi-II
Prithvi-II is a short-range ballistic missile, with a range of around 350 kilometres. It is well-
established system that has been an integral part of India’s nuclear deterrence. This
missile system will enable India to target enemy’s assets with high accuracy, and it will
make the country’s defense more robust.
Significance of the Test
The successful test launch of the Prithvi-II missile is significant in several ways. Firstly, it
demonstrates the readiness of India’s missile defense capabilities. Secondly, it validates
the technical and operational capabilities of the missile, which is an essential part of
India’s nuclear deterrence. This test has also boosted the confidence of the defense
system.
The successful test launch of Prithvi-II ballistic missile is a major milestone for India’s
defense capabilities. The missile’s ability to hit the target with high accuracy is a testimony
of the strength of the missile system. The test also validates all operational and technical
parameters of the missile, which makes it more robust. India’s nuclear deterrence
capabilities have been enhanced with the successful test launch of Prithvi-II, this will make
the country’s defense more robust.
26th National Youth Festival: Empowering the Youth of India

The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, in collaboration with the Government of
Karnataka, is organizing the 26th National Youth Festival from January 12th to 16th in
Hubballi-Dharwad, Karnataka. The theme of this year’s festival is “Viksit Yuva Viksit
Bharat,” which aims to empower the youth of India and promote their active participation
in shaping the country’s future.
The festival will commence with an inaugural function that is expected to be attended by
more than 30,000 youth from across the country. The Prime Minister of India will share his
vision for the future with the young attendees, providing them with an opportunity to
engage with the country’s leaders and policymakers.
Learning Activities
During the five-day event, over 7500 youth delegates, who are recognized leaders in their
respective fields of activity, will come together to participate in a variety of learning
activities. These activities will include discussions on relevant themes such as student-
centric governance and Digital India, as well as exhibitions of traditional sports and
competitive cultural events like folk dance and folk song.
Adventure Sports
In addition to the learning activities, the festival will also include a wide range of
adventure sports, including scuba diving, providing young people with an opportunity to
experience new and exciting challenges.
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One of the highlights of the festival will be the Youth Summit, which will provide a
platform for two-way discussions on various themes, including the future of work,
industry, innovation, and 21st century skills, climate change and disaster risk reduction,
peacebuilding and reconciliation, shared future-youth in democracy and governance, and
health and well-being.
Many of the events at the festival will be live streamed across the nation, allowing crores
of young people to engage with the festival and its activities, despite not being able to
attend in person.
Green Festival
This year, the festival is being celebrated as a Green Youth Festival, where only reusable
cutlery, napkins, and other materials are being used. All mementos, medals, and
stationery are made of reusable materials, and water refilling stations have been set up to
reduce the use of disposables.
Yogathon
On January 15th, a YOGATHON is planned between 6 AM to 8 AM, which will mobilize 5
lakh people from across 31 districts of Karnataka.
"Observing Road Safety Week: A National Effort for Safer Roads"
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, is observing the Road
Safety Week from January 11th to 17th, 2023, as part of the “Swachhata Pakhwada”
initiative. The week-long observance aims to propagate the cause of safer roads for all and
create awareness among the general public about the importance of road safety.
Creating Awareness
During the Road Safety Week, various activities are being organized throughout the
country to create awareness among all stakeholders, including school and college
students, drivers, and other road users. These activities include Nukkad Nataks (Street
Shows) and Sensitization Campaigns at various locations in the Capital, as well as essay
writing and poster making competitions for school students.
Exhibition & Theatre Pavilion
Corporates, PSUs, and NGOs actively working in the field of road safety will also organize
exhibitions and theatre pavilions to educate the public about the causes of road accidents
and measures to prevent them. Additionally, Walkathon and talks/interactions with senior
officers will be held at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, Delhi.
Enforcement of Rules & Regulations
Road owning agencies such as NHAI, NHIDCL will conduct special drives throughout the
country related to compliance of traffic rules and regulations, pedestrian safety, eye
check-up camps for drivers, and other road engineering-related initiatives.
Involvement of Stakeholders
The Ministry has requested all Members of Parliament, State Governments, and related
stakeholders (including corporates, PSUs, NGOs, etc.) to actively participate in the event by
conducting awareness campaigns about road safety, first responder training, ensuring
strict enforcement of rules & regulations up to grass root levels, and conducting other
activities, workshops & advocacy programs related to road safety.
The observance of Road Safety Week is a national effort that brings together all
stakeholders to promote road safety and raise awareness about the importance of safer
roads for all. With the active participation of the government, citizens, and other
stakeholders, it is hoped that the week-long observance will lead to a reduction in road
accidents and make our roads safer for all.
Astro Night Sky Tourism at Kartvyapath
Astro tourism in India is set to take off with the National Council of Science Museums
(NCSM) in association with Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) organizing a sky
gazing event at India Gate Lawns, Kartavya Path, Delhi. The event is part of the “Azadi ka
Amrit Mahotsav” celebrations and is designed to be interactive and practical to attract
more people. The event was inaugurated by Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram
Meghwal on January 6 and will continue till January 8.
Background
An autonomous society under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, National
Council of Science Museums (NCSM) today, administers 25 Science Centres/Museums
spread all over India. Even though Astro tourism as a concept is not new to Europe and
the US, the trend has recently picked up in India, with more people traveling to remote
locations with clearer skies. The Ministry of Tourism recently launched a lot of initiatives to
discuss and explore this ecotourism concept through the webinar series ‘Dekho Apna
Desh’, bringing to fore efforts made by states like Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and
Madhya Pradesh in the field.
Sky Gazing Event
The sky gazing event includes various activities such as Astro Talks by expert astronomers,
exhibition on Astronomy, storytelling related to celestial objects, experience of using a
telescope to see craters of the moon, astronomy activities, photographic panel exhibition,
and astro-photography. This event provides an opportunity to learn about the sky, stars,
planets and other celestial objects.
Emerging Astro Tourism Destinations
Building on the concept of Astro tourism, states like Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and
Madhya Pradesh have demarcated dark sky reserves and sanctuaries, started astro-
photography and astro-activities, besides astro parks to give a boost to this segment.
Benital Village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli District, Mandu in Madhya Pradesh, Jaipur in
Rajasthan and Hanle Village in Ladakh are emerging as strong destinations for Astro
tourism.
Significance of Astro Tourism
Astro-tourism, being a part of eco-tourism, prospers on sustainable travel and brings
travelers to remote corners of the country, and it not just parallels the existing popular
segment of adventure tourism but also is a more responsible form of traveling. This form
of tourism becomes even more significant at a time when the Ministry of Tourism has set
its hopes on the JOIN
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sustainable tourism in India.
The sky gazing event organized by NCSM and NMML is a step towards promoting Astro
tourism in India. With more and more states promoting sustainable travel and Astro
tourism, the future of this form of tourism looks bright. The event not only provides an
opportunity to learn about the sky but also helps to promote sustainable travel.
80th Golden Globe Awards
The 80th Golden Globe Awards were held on Wednesday in Beverly Hills, California. Due to
the ongoing pandemic and recent revelations about the lack of diversity and alleged
ethical lapses among the awards’ organizers, the gala did not have its usual star-studded
and raucous atmosphere that typically kicks off the annual movie awards season.
Winners of the Award
In the motion picture categories, Steven Spielberg’s The Fablemans won for Best
Motion Picture (Drama) and Banshees of Inisherin won for Best Motion Picture –
Musical or Comedy.
On the television side, HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon won for
Best TV Series Drama, Kevin Costner won for Best Actor – Television Series, Drama
for Yellowstone, and Abbott Elementary won for Best Television Series – Musical or
Comedy.
Evan Peters won for Best Actor – Limited Series, Anthology Series or TV Movie for
Dahmer: Monster-The Jeffery Dahmer Story, and Amanda Seyfried won for Best
Actress – Limited Series, Anthology Series or TV Movie for The Dropout.

Best Director went to Steven Spielberg for The Fablemans, and Best Picture Non
English went to 1985 from Argentina, while RRR was among the nominees in the
category.
RRR at the Golden Globes
One of the films in contention at the Golden Globe awards was Telugu title RRR, directed
by SS Rajamouli. The film ultimately won the award for Best Original Song for “Naatu
Naatu” out of the two categories it was nominated for. It missed out on the award for Best
Non-English Language Film, which was won by Argentina’s 1985.
The film tells the story of two freedom fighters, Komaram Bheem and Alluri
Seetharamaraju, in British-occupied India during the 1920s, and features Jr NTR and Ram
Charan in lead roles, as well as Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn and British actors Ray Stevenson,
Alison Doody and Olivia Morris. The film was a box office success, grossing over ₹ 1,200
crore globally. RRR’s director, SS Rajamouli, and stars, Jr NTR and Ram Charan were in
attendance at the event, with Ram Charan being accompanied by his wife Upasana
Kamineni.
Previous Accolades
RRR has already won a plethora of international honours, including a win for Best Director
for Rajamouli at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. The film has also submitted itself
for consideration in various Oscar categories and is expected to be nominated in at least
one category, if not more. @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
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The Golden Globe Awards
The Golden Globe Awards were held in Los Angeles and hosted by comedian Jerrod
Carmichael. The awards returned to the Hollywood mainstream after making internal
reforms following criticism of its allegedly racist and sexist voting practices. Last year’s
Golden Globes were boycotted by NBC, which broadcasts the show, and many of
Hollywood’s big stars led by Tom Cruise who returned his three Globes.
Despite the lack of glitz and glamour due to the ongoing pandemic and recent
controversies, the 80th Golden Globe Awards still featured a diverse and impressive group
of nominees and winners. RRR’s win for Best Original Song serves as yet another
recognition for the film on a global scale, and with potential Oscar nominations on the
horizon, it seems that the success of the film is far from over.
January 12, 2023
UAE announces blanket ban on single-use plastic shopping bags
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced that it will enforce a blanket ban on
single-use plastic shopping bags starting January 1, 2024. The decision, made by a
ministerial resolution, prohibits the import, production, and circulation of single-use
plastic shopping bags in the country. The move is aimed at protecting the environment
from plastic pollution and reducing dependence on single-use plastic.
Ban on Single-Use Materials
This ban on single-use plastic shopping bags serves as a prelude to banning products
made of single-use materials. Starting January 1, 2026, the UAE will ban plastic or foam
products like cups, plates, cutlery, containers, and boxes. These include items such as
spoons, forks, knives, chopsticks, straws, and stirrers.
Exemptions to the Ban
The decision excludes some products from the ban, including thin bag rolls used to keep
food items fresh. Products that are to be exported or re-exported are also exempt,
provided they are clearly labeled. Bags made out of recycled materials within the country
are also exempt.
Initiatives to Reduce Dependence on Single-Use Plastic
The authorities are urged to develop mechanisms to reduce the production of single-use
materials to package items including ear buds, cigarettes, wet wipes, and balloons, among
others. All stakeholders, including the authorities and consumers, are required to work
together to reduce dependence on single-use plastic and adopt initiatives to switch to
multi-use products. The authorities must also make sure that alternatives are readily
available at shopping centers and retail stores.
Previous Efforts to Regulate Plastic Usage
The announcement of the nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags follows similar efforts
by at least four emirates to regulate plastic usage. In Abu Dhabi, a ban on single-use
plastics went into effect on June 1, while in Dubai, retailers have been charging 25 fils per
bag since July 1. Sharjah introduced a 25-fil tariff per single-use plastic bags from October
1, 2022, with a ban set to@thehindu444
JOIN go into effect fromor
January 1, 2024. Umm Al Quwain banned
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single-use plastics from January 1, 2023.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY)
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) is an integrated food security scheme
launched by the Central Government of India in January 2023. The scheme aims to provide
free foodgrains to more than 80 crore poor people across the country.
Background
The scheme has been introduced amid the criticism from the opposition over the
discontinuation of the free monthly distribution of 5 kilograms of foodgrains to poor
people under a scheme that was also known as PMGKAY. The previous scheme was
launched in April 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic and ended in December
2022.
Integration of existing schemes
The Central Government decided to subsume PMGKAY into two existing food subsidy
schemes. The new integrated food security scheme, named Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan
Ann Yojana (PMGKAY), came into force from January 1, 2023.
Implementation
Under the new scheme, free foodgrains will be provided to the poor beneficiaries as per
the entitlement under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The entitlement of
foodgrains per person per month is 5 kg for priority households category and 35 kg per
family per month for Antodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) families. Until December 2022, the NFSA
beneficiaries were getting their foodgrains entitlement at a highly subsidised rate of ₹1,
₹2, and ₹3 per kg for coarse cereals, wheat and rice, respectively. However, from January
2023, the beneficiaries will get it for free.
Budget allocation
The Central Government will spend more than ₹2 lakh crore in 2023 as food subsidy under
the NFSA and other welfare schemes to remove the financial burden of the poor.
Necessary steps have already been taken for smooth implementation of the PMGKAY in
the field. The Ministry and state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) officials are regularly
interacting with state government officers for smooth roll out of the new scheme.
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) aims to provide free foodgrains to
more than 80 crore poor people across the country. The integration of the scheme into
two existing food subsidy schemes is expected to improve the overall implementation and
reach of the scheme to the needy people. The Central Government is expected to spend
more than ₹2 lakh crore in 2023 as food subsidy under the NFSA and other welfare
schemes to remove the financial burden of the poor.
Henley Passport Index : India Ranks 85th on the Henley Passport Index
For frequent travelers, the strength of a passport can mean more access and mobility to
foreign markets and economies. The latest Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports
based on their power and mobility, has some good news for Indian passport holders.
India now stands at 85th position, two places ahead of last year’s 87th spot. According to
the index, an Indian passport
JOIN holder now has or
@thehindu444 visa-free access to 59 countries, compared
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to 60 last year while Iraq and Afghanistan is on the last spot.
Top 10 Strongest Passports
According to the index, the strongest passport is defined by the number of countries
people with a passport can visit visa-free or visa-on-arrival. The top 10 strongest passports
in the world are:
1. Japan (193)
2. Singapore/South Korea (192)
3. Germany/Spain (190)
4. Finland/Italy/Luxembourg (189)
5. Austria/Denmark/Netherlands/Sweden (188)
6. France/Ireland/Portugal/United Kingdom (187)
7. Belgium/Czech Republic/New Zealand/Norway/Switzerland/United States (186)
8. Australia/Canada/Greece/Malta (185)
9. Hungary/Poland (184)
10. Lithuania/Slovakia (183)
Why Does it Matter?
A strong passport can make it easier for individuals to travel internationally for business,
tourism, and study. It can also provide greater access to foreign markets and economies,
which can be beneficial for individuals and businesses.
India’s Position in the Index
India ranks 85th on the index, up two places from last year’s 87th position. Despite having
the world’s fifth-largest economy, Indian passport holders can access only 59 destinations
worldwide and only 6.7% of global GDP, of which India’s own GDP accounts for about half.
Indian passport holders have lost visa-free access to Serbia. Starting January 1, 2023,
Indian passport holders are required to apply for a visa to enter the country, unlike in the
past when visa-free travel to the country for 90 days was allowed. Indian passport holders
can travel visa-free to 59 destinations such as Bhutan, Indonesia, Macao, Maldives, Nepal,
Sri Lanka, Thailand, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Iran, and Qatar.
Some countries require visa-on-arrival.
What is the Henley Passport Index?
The Henley Passport Index is prepared by London-based Henley and Partners, a global
citizenship and residence advisory firm. The index claims to be the “original ranking of all
the world’s passports”, and is updated quarterly according to countries’ visa policy
changes. It gathers data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which
manages inter-airline cooperation globally. The index covers 227 destinations and 199
passports, and compares the visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 travel
destinations. If no visa is required, then a score with value = 1 is created for that passport.
The same applies if you can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic
travel authority (ETA) when entering the destination.
World Bank's
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@thehindu444 Economic Prospects
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The World Bank has released its latest report on Global Economic Prospects, outlining a
slowdown in global growth due to a variety of factors including elevated inflation, higher
interest rates, reduced investment, and disruptions caused by Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine. The report warns that any additional negative developments, such as a
resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic or escalating geopolitical tensions, could push the
global economy into recession, marking the first time in more than 80 years that two
global recessions have occurred within the same decade.
Growth Projections
According to the report, the global economy is projected to grow by 1.7% in 2023 and 2.7%
in 2024. The downturn in growth is expected to be widespread, with forecasts in 2023
revised down for 95% of advanced economies and nearly 70% of emerging market and
developing economies. Over the next two years, per-capita income growth in emerging
market and developing economies is projected to average 2.8%, a full percentage point
lower than the 2010-2019 average.
Impact on Developing Countries
The report highlights that the crisis facing development is intensifying as the global
growth outlook deteriorates. Emerging and developing countries are facing a multi-year
period of slow growth driven by heavy debt burdens and weak investment as global
capital is absorbed by advanced economies. This will result in a weakness in growth and
business investment, compounding the already-devastating reversals in education, health,
poverty, and infrastructure, as well as the increasing demands from climate change. In
Sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for about 60% of the world’s extreme poor, growth in
per capita income over 2023-24 is expected to average just 1.2%, a rate that could cause
poverty rates to rise, not fall.
Advanced Economies
Growth in advanced economies is projected to slow from 2.5% in 2022 to 0.5% in 2023.
Over the past two decades, slowdowns of this scale have foreshadowed a global
recession. In the United States, growth is forecast to fall to 0.5% in 2023, the weakest
performance outside of official recessions since 1970. In 2023, Euro-area growth is
expected at zero percent, and in China, growth is projected at 4.3% in 2023.
Emerging Market and Developing Economies
Excluding China, growth in emerging market and developing economies is expected to
decelerate from 3.8% in 2022 to 2.7% in 2023, reflecting significantly weaker external
demand compounded by high inflation, currency depreciation, tighter financing

conditions, and other domestic headwinds. By the end of 2024, GDP levels in emerging
and developing economies will be roughly 6% below levels expected before the pandemic.
Although global inflation is expected to moderate, it will remain above pre-pandemic
levels.
Investment Growth
The report also offers a comprehensive assessment of the medium-term outlook for
investment growth in emerging
JOIN market and developing
@thehindu444 economies. Over the 2022-2024
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period, gross investment in these economies is likely to grow by about 3.5% on
average—less than half the rate that prevailed in the previous two decades. The report
suggests a menu of options for policymakers to accelerate investment growth, such as
establishing sound fiscal and monetary policy frameworks and undertaking
comprehensive reforms in the investment climate.
Incentive scheme for promotion of RuPay Debit Cards
The Indian government has recently approved an incentive scheme worth Rs 2,600 crore
to promote Rupay debit card and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions in the current financial
year. The decision was made during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Promoting Digital Payments
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav announced that the incentives will be given for the use
of Rupay debit cards and BHIM-UPI, and that it will be provided to banks for promoting
Point of Sale (PoS) and e-commerce transactions using RuPay and UPI.
This scheme is in line with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement in
last year’s budget speech, which outlined the government’s intent to continue supporting
digital payments. The focus was on promoting digital payments platforms that are
economical and user-friendly, with the aim of building a robust digital payments
ecosystem in India.
Growing Popularity of UPI
UPI, or Unified Payments Interface, has seen a record number of transactions in
December 2022. With 782.9 crore digital payment transactions worth Rs 12.82 lakh crore, it
has become a popular digital payment method in India. The scheme will also promote UPI
Lite and UPI123PAY as economical and user-friendly digital payments.
Promoting Exports, Organic Products, and Seeds
The Indian government has also approved a plan to set up three new cooperatives to
promote exports, organic products and seeds. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav
announced that the Cabinet has approved the establishment of the National Export
Society, National Cooperative Society for Organic Products and National Level Multi-state
Seed Cooperative Society.
These cooperatives, which are associated with farmers, farmers’ income and agriculture
production, will help realize the vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi” (prosperity through
cooperatives), and boost rural growth and farmers’ income.

National level Multi-state cooperative export society
Recently, the Indian government has approved the setting up and promotion of a National
Level multi-state cooperative export society. The decision was made during a meeting of
the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The society will operate
under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002 with support from relevant
Ministries, especially the Ministry of External Affairs and Department of Commerce,
Ministry of Commerce
JOINand Industry throughor
@thehindu444 their export-related policies, schemes &
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agencies by following the ‘Whole of Government Approach’.
Unlocking the Export Potential of Indian Cooperatives
The proposed society aims to provide a thrust to exports from the cooperative sector by
acting as an umbrella organization for carrying out and promoting exports. This will help
unlock the export potential of Indian cooperatives in global markets, said a press release
Cabinet. It will also help cooperatives get benefits of various export-related schemes and
policies of different ministries of the Government of India in a focused manner through
the ‘Whole of Government Approach’, added the press release.
Promoting Inclusive Growth through Cooperatives
This will also help in achieving the goal of “Sahakar-se-Samriddhi” through the inclusive
growth model of cooperatives where the members would benefit both by the realization
of better prices through the export of their goods and services and also by dividends
distributed out of the surplus generated by the society.
Increasing Employment and Production
Higher exports through the proposed society will increase production of goods and
services by the cooperatives at various levels thus leading to more employment in the
cooperative sector. The processing of goods and enhancing the services to match
international standards will also generate additional employment.
Promoting “Make in India”
Increased export of cooperative products would, in turn, also promote “Make in India”
thus leading to Atmanirbhar Bharat.

National-level Multi-state Seed Cooperative Society
In addition to the National Level Multi-state Cooperative Export Society, the cabinet has
also approved the setting up of the National-level Multi-state Seed Cooperative Society. It
will help increase the Seed Replacement Rate (SRR), and Varietal Replacement Rate (VRR),
ensuring the role of farmers in quality seed cultivation and seed variety trials, production,
and distribution of certified seeds with a single brand name by utilizing the network of all
levels of cooperatives.
The society will act as an apex organization for the production, procurement, processing,
branding, labelling, packaging, storage, marketing, and distribution of quality seeds;
strategic research and development; and the development of a system for the
preservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds; through various cooperative
societies across the country, stated a Ministry of Cooperation statement issued following
the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

NASA spots Earth-sized, rocky Planet
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission has discovered a second
Earth-sized, rocky planet within the habitable zone of its star – the range of distances
where liquid water could occur on a planet’s surface. The planet, named TOI 700 e, is one
of only a few systems with multiple, small, habitable-zone planets that we know of. The
discovery was made by a team led by Emily Gilbert, a postdoctoral fellow at NASA’s Jet
Propulsion Laboratory
JOIN in Southern California. or Thenewsmaster
@thehindu444
Previously Discovered Planets in the TOI 700 System
Astronomers have previously discovered three planets in the TOI 700 system, named TOI
700 b, c, and d. Planet d also orbits within the habitable zone, but the scientists needed an
additional year of TESS observations to discover TOI 700 e. “That makes the TOI 700
system an exciting prospect for additional follow up. Planet e is about 10 per cent smaller
than planet d, so the system also shows how additional TESS observations help us find
smaller and smaller worlds,” said Gilbert.
About the TOI 700 Star System
TOI 700 is a small, cool M dwarf star located around 100 light-years away in the southern
constellation Dorado. In 2020, Gilbert and others announced the discovery of the Earth-
size, habitable-zone planet d, which is on a 37-day orbit, along with two other worlds. The
innermost planet, TOI 700 b, is about 90 per cent Earth’s size and orbits the star every 10
days. TOI 700 c is over 2.5 times bigger than Earth and completes an orbit every 16 days.
Habitable Zone and Tidal Locking
The newly discovered planet, TOI 700 e, takes 28 days to orbit its star, placing it between
planets c and d in the so-called optimistic habitable zone. Scientists define the optimistic
habitable zone as the range of distances from a star where liquid surface water could be
present at some point in a planet’s history. This area extends to either side of the
conservative habitable zone, the range where researchers hypothesize liquid water could
exist over most of the planet’s lifetime. TOI 700 d orbits in this region. TOI 700 e, which
may also be tidally locked, is one of the planets that have the possibility of having liquid
water on its surface.
Significance of the Discovery
“Finding other systems with Earth-size worlds in this region helps planetary scientists
learn more about the history of our own solar system,” said Gilbert. The discovery was
presented by Gilbert at the 241st meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle,
and a paper about the newly discovered planet was accepted by The Astrophysical Journal
Letters. The discovery of TOI 700 e expands the known sample of potentially habitable
rocky planets, and opens the door to future studies to understand the habitability of these
worlds and search for signs of life on them.
Cherchera Festival of Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh,recently celebrated the Cherchera festival at the Dudhadhari Math in Raipur.
The festival, which takes place on the full moon night of the Paush Hindu calendar month,
is a celebration of the happiness and joy brought about by the cultivation and harvesting
of crops.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel extended warm wishes to all citizens of Chhattisgarh on
the auspicious occasion and used the opportunity to demand that the Governor sign a
reservation bill for the young generation of the state. This bill would ensure that they have
access to college education and government jobs.
Demand for Reservation Bill
On the occasion ofJOIN
the Cherchera festival, Chiefor
@thehindu444 Minister Baghel also used the opportunity
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to call on the Governor to sign a reservation bill for the young generation of Chhattisgarh.
The bill, if passed, would provide for the reservation of college admissions and
government jobs for the youth of the state.
Celebrating Community and Generosity
The Cherchera festival is not just about celebrating the successful harvest, but also about
spreading joy and generosity within the community. People donate green vegetables and
paddy on this day, with the amount donated being used for public welfare. The
government of Chhattisgarh has declared a holiday on all festivals and also celebrates all
festivals at the CM’s house. Giving charity is seen as a symbol of generosity, while
accepting charity is seen as a symbol of humility.
Good Yield of Paddy
The government of Chhattisgarh has reported a good yield of paddy this year, with 85 lakh
metric tonnes of paddy being purchased from farmers. The state government has also
ensured that farmers are paid immediately for their crops. This is a positive development
for the agricultural community in the state, as it allows them to invest in the next
cultivation season and improve their livelihoods.
Background of the Cherchera Festival
The Cherchera festival is celebrated in the month of Paush on the full moon night.
According to mythological belief, on this day Lord Shankar begged Mata Annapurna. The
festival is celebrated to mark the end of the crop cultivation season and the beginning of
the harvest. People celebrate the cultivation of crops and spread joy among each other.
They also donate green vegetables along with paddy on this day.
January 12 : National Youth Day
Every year on January 12, India observes National Youth Day to commemorate the
birthday of Swami Vivekananda, one of the country’s most influential leaders. This
national event honors the country’s youth and encourages them to embrace
Vivekananda’s ideas and philosophies.
What is the theme of National Youth Day, 2023?
This year, the National Youth Day 2023 theme is “Viksit Yuva-Viksit Bharat.
Why is National Youth Day Observed on January 12?
National Youth Day is observed on January 12 to mark the birth anniversary of Swami
Vivekananda, who has always been an inspiration to the country’s youth and advocated
for the proper use of youth in the country’s development.
The Indian government first declared Swami Vivekananda’s birthday, January 12, as
National Youth Day in 1984. Since then, the day has been observed as National Youth Day
throughout the country.
How National Youth Day is Celebrated in India?
According to Indian culture and tradition, National Youth Day, also known as Yuva Diwas
or Swami Vivekananda’s birthday, is celebrated every year with great enthusiasm and joy
at many centers of Ramakrishna Math, Ramakrishna Mission, and their branches. There is
a great mangal aarti,
JOIN devotional songs, meditation,
@thehindu444 religious speech, sandhya aarti, and so
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on.
The National Youth Festival is held every year to provide exposure to talented youth at the
national level, along with galvanizing them towards nation-building. It brings diverse
cultures from all parts of the country on a common platform and unites the participants in
the spirit of Ek Bharat and Shreshtha Bharat. This year, the Festival is being held in
Hubballi-Dharwad in Karnataka from the 12th to the 16th of January, with the theme being
“Viksit Yuva – Viksit Bharat”
Digital India Awards 2022
The Digital India Awards, instituted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology (MeitY), recognize and honor innovative digital solutions and exemplary
initiatives by various government entities in the realm of digital governance. The awards
aim to promote universal accessibility to digital resources, anytime anywhere access, and
collaboration in participative governance and digital literacy, leading to enhanced ease of
living.
This year, the awards were given out in several categories, with Platinum, Gold, and Silver
awards being given to the winning teams. The winners in each category are as follows:
Digital Empowerment of Citizens
Platinum: e-NAM, the flagship initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare
Gold: Transport Mission Mode Project (eTransport)
Silver: Judgment Search Portal

Digital Initiatives at Grassroots Level
Platinum: e-Vivechna App (MP)
Gold: DeGS Computer Basic Training (Jharkhand)
Silver: Ksheerasree Portal (Kerala)
Digital Initiatives for Ease of Doing Business
Platinum: Mine Mitra (UP)
Gold: eAbkari (Odisha)
Silver: Invest Punjab
Data Sharing and Use for Socio Economic Development
Platinum: Smart Cities Mission, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Gold: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
Silver: Center for e-governance (Karnataka)
Public Digital Platforms – Central Ministries, Departments and States

States
Platinum: DUARE SARKAR (West Bengal)
Gold: e-Services Manipur
Central Ministries, Departments
Platinum: ICEGATE Portal
Gold: e-Shram
What is e-NAM?
e-NAM is a digital platform that integrates 1,260 APMC (Agricultural Produce Market
Committee) mandis across 22 states and 3 UTs (Union Territories) to facilitate online
trading of 203 agriculture and horticulture commodities. The platform aims to enable
farmers to realize better remunerative prices for their produce. e-NAM is catalysing the
digital transformation of mandi operations and e-trading of agricultural commodities.
As of December 31, 2022, more than 1.74 crore farmers and 2.39 lakh traders have been
registered on the e-NAM portal. A total trade consisting of 69 million metric tonnes of
worth Rs 2.42 lakh crore has been recorded on the e-NAM platform, according to the
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Benefits of e-NAM
e-NAM provides various benefits and facilities to farmers and other stakeholders such as
providing access to prevailing commodity prices on a mobile app, GPS-based feature
capturing e-NAM mandis and mandi prices within a 100 km radius along with route maps,
advance lot registration, SMS alerts on final bid prices of the lot and payment receipts,
real-time competitive price bidding through e-NAM, weighment integration for accurate
weight, bidding progress available on mobile, facilitates direct trade between farmers and
traders, direct payment to farmers’ bank accounts, reduction in transaction costs for
buyers and sellers, FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) trading module to facilitate FPOs
to e-trade, and more.
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS)
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has
given ex post facto approval for renaming the National Centre for Drinking Water,
Sanitation and Quality in Joka, Kolkata, to the “Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National
Institute of Water and Sanitation” (SPM-NIWAS). The Institute has been set up on 8.72
acres of land at Joka, Diamond Harbor Road, Kolkata, West Bengal. This institute was
inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2022.
Purpose of the Institute
The Institute is envisioned as a premier institute to develop capacities in states/UTs in the
field of public health engineering, drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene through training
programs. Such capacities are envisaged not only for the front-line workforce engaged in
the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission and Jal Jeevan Mission but also for
representatives of local bodies, both rural and urban.
Infrastructure and Training

To facilitate this, suitable infrastructure has been developed, including training
infrastructure, a research and development block, and a residential complex. Working and
miniature models of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) technologies have also been
installed to facilitate training at the Institute.
Naming of the Institute
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, one of the most deserving sons of West Bengal and a front-
runner in national integration,
JOIN inspiration for
@thehindu444 orindustrialization,
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scholar and academician and the youngest Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta.
Naming the Institute after Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s name is intended to inspire all
stakeholders to honor him by adopting his values of honesty, integrity, and commitment
in the work ethic of the Institute.
The Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee National Institute of Water and Sanitation (SPM-NIWAS)
is set to become a premier institution for training and development in the field of public
health engineering, drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene. The Institute is dedicated to
the memory of a great son of West Bengal and a leader in national integration, and aims
to inspire all stakeholders to adopt his values of honesty, integrity, and commitment in
their work.
FSSAI Survey on Dietary Supplements
A recent survey by the Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has found that 15%
of food items including protein powders and dietary supplements used by athletes and
bodybuilders in India are unsafe for consumption or substandard. The survey, which was
conducted during 2021-22, found that 4,890 out of 144,345 samples collected were unsafe
for consumption, 16,582 were substandard, and over 11,482 samples had labelling defects
and misleading information.
Unsafe Protein Powders
Doctors warn that consuming unsafe protein powders, which are commonly used by
young people to build muscle mass, can harm the kidneys, liver, and heart, and cause
other health issues. In light of the results of the survey, FSSAI launched 4,946 criminal
cases and many other civil cases. The authority has also initiated civil cases in 28,906
instances, resulting in the punishment of 19,437 offenders and the imposition of a penalty
of ₹53.39 crore.
Regulation of Protein Powders and Dietary Supplements
FSSAI has notified specific rules to regulate the production and sale of protein powders
and other dietary supplements in India. The food regulator regularly monitors food
business operators, including protein powder manufacturers, by conducting drives across
states.
Increased Demand for Dietary Supplements
Health experts have noted that dietary supplements have seen increased demand in
recent decades globally, including in India. Many young people, especially athletes, use
these products to build muscle. However, many of these so-called dietary supplements
can be harmful to the body. According to researcher IMARC Group, the Indian dietary
supplements market is expected to grow to ₹84,790 crore by 2027 from ₹37,630 crore in
2021.
Other Food Regulations
Apart from regulating dietary supplements, the food regulator has also been working with
stakeholders to implement curbs on circulation of nutraceuticals, which are sold as
alternatives to pharmaceuticals with properties of both pharmaceutical and nutritional
products, and to regulate mislabelling of ingredients.
JOIN @thehindu444 In 2016, the regulator began the
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process of reigning in the sale of these products by formulating rules for eight categories
of foods, which included carrying detailed descriptions of their composition.
The results of the FSSAI survey reveal the need for stricter regulations and monitoring of
the production and sale of protein powders and dietary supplements in India. These
products, which are commonly used by young people and athletes to build muscle, can be
harmful to the body if they are unsafe or substandard. The food regulator has launched
criminal and civil cases and imposed penalties in response to the survey’s findings, and
has also implemented rules to regulate the production and sale of these products.
WEF Global Risks Report 2023
The World Economic Forum’s annual Global Risks Report has highlighted the cost of living
crisis as the biggest short-term risk facing the world right now, with climate change as the
biggest long-term threat. The report, which is published ahead of the Davos summit,
factors the views of 1,200 figures across the private and public sectors. This year’s edition
was produced with professional services firm Marsh McLennan and Zurich Insurance
Group.
Cost of Living Crisis
The report states that Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic have propelled
the energy crisis, food scarcity, and inflation as the most pressing global issues. The
impact of the cost of living crisis on vulnerable populations is “very difficult to accept,”
according to Carolina Klint, Risk Management Leader for Continental Europe at Marsh.
Governments are now working towards mitigating the impact of the cost of living crisis
while also trying to protect from spiralling inflation and servicing historically high debt
loads.
Climate Change
The report states that the world must collaborate more effectively on climate mitigation
and adaptation over the next decade to avoid “ecological breakdown” and continued
global warming. Governments will face “trade-offs” in the coming years, as societal
challenges, the environment, and security risks compete for their attention. The most-
cited long-term risks included climate change, extreme weather, biodiversity loss, and
human-made environmental damage.
Other Risks
The most-cited two-year term risks included natural disasters, geo-economic
confrontation, the erosion of social cohesion, widespread cybercrime, large-scale
involuntary migration, and natural resource crises, alongside climate change. Cybercrime
and migration also featured as long-term risks, though climate-related issues took the top
four spots. The cost of living was absent from the list.
The WEF Global Risks Report 2023 highlights the cost of living crisis and climate change as
the top short and long-term risks facing the world. The report states that governments
will face “trade-offs” in the coming years as they try to navigate societal challenges, the
environment, and security risks. The report stresses the need for more effective
collaboration on JOIN
climate@thehindu444
mitigation and adaptation over the next decade to avoid
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“ecological breakdown” and continued global warming.
FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2023
The 15th edition of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup is set to begin on January 13th in
India. The tournament, which is held every four years, will feature 16 teams from around
the world competing for the coveted title. India, who is the host nation, will be looking to
secure a podium finish after a 48-year hiatus. The tournament has a rich history, with
Pakistan being the most successful team with four titles, followed by Netherlands and
Australia with three titles each, and Germany with two titles.
Host Nation India
India has only won the World Cup once, back in 1975. The home team will be looking to
change that this year and secure a podium finish. The Indian team has been preparing for
the tournament for the past year and will be looking to make the most of the home
advantage. The opening match of the tournament will see Argentina take on South Africa,
followed by Australia playing against France and England taking on Wales. In the final
match of the opening day, hosts India will take on Spain in their first group-stage match at
7 pm IST.
Live Streaming and Broadcast Details
The match between India and Spain will be broadcast live on Star Sports First, Star Sports
Select 2HD, and Star Sports Select 2SD. The match will also be streamed live on the
Disney+ Hotstar app and website.
Recent World Cup Winners
In the last edition of the tournament, Belgium became the sixth team to win the World
Cup after defeating Netherlands in the penalty shoot-out. The team will be looking to
defend their title this year and secure their second World Cup win. Other teams to look
out for in the tournament include Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, France, and
South Africa.
The FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 is set to be an exciting tournament, with 16 teams
from around the world competing for the coveted title. Host nation India will be looking to
secure a podium finish after a 48-year hiatus, while recent winners Belgium will be looking
to defend their title. The tournament will be broadcast live on television and streamed live
on various platforms, making it easily accessible for hockey fans around the world.
Uganda Successfully Ends Sudan Ebola Virus Outbreak
On January 11, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that Uganda had
successfully declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak caused by Sudan ebolavirus.
The country managed to end the outbreak in less than four months after the first case was
confirmed in central Mubende district on September 20, 2022.
This was Uganda’s first Sudan Ebola Virus outbreak in a decade and its fifth overall. The
East African country recorded a total of 164 cases, of which 142 were confirmed, and 55
deaths due to the disease. The overall case-fatality ratio was 47 per cent.
Background of Ebola
Ebola, also knownJOIN
as Ebola virus disease (EVD),
@thehindu444 orisThenewsmaster
a rare and deadly disease caused by
infection with one of the Ebola virus strains. The virus was first identified in 1976 near the
Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. The virus is transmitted to
people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-
human transmission. Symptoms of EVD can include fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue,
diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising).
Epicenter and Containment Measures
Two districts at the epicentre of the epidemic, Mubende and Kassanda, were placed under
lockdown for two months until mid-December, but the government did not impose similar
measures nationwide. This allowed the authorities to track and isolate patients and
prevent further transmission of the virus.
Impact on the Community
WHO said in total there had been 142 confirmed cases, 55 confirmed deaths and 87
recovered patients, with children among the victims.
Uganda’s outbreak was caused by the Sudan Ebola virus, one of six species of the
Ebola virus and for which there is currently no confirmed vaccine.
The previous outbreak in Uganda, which shares a porous border with the DRC, was
in 2019 when at least five people died.
Transmission and Symptoms
Human transmission is through body fluids, with the main symptoms being fever,
vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea. People who are infected do not become
contagious until symptoms appear, which is after an incubation period of between

two and 21 days.
Outbreaks are difficult to contain, especially in urban environments. The deadliest
epidemic unfolded in West Africa between 2013 and 2016, killing more than 11,300
people. The DRC has had more than a dozen epidemics, the deadliest claiming the
lives of 2,280 people in 2020.
Overall, the Ugandan government’s swift response and targeted measures were
successful in containing the outbreak and preventing it from spreading further. The WHO
commended the efforts of the Ugandan government and health workers in effectively
managing the outbreak and preventing a larger scale catastrophe. However, the ongoing
threat of Ebola highlights the need for continued surveillance and preparedness measures
in the region to prevent future outbreaks.
Odisha: CAMPA New Action Plan for 2023-24
The Odisha government’s State-level steering committee for the Compensatory

Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has approved an annual
plan of INR 1,086 crore for the 2023-24 fiscal year, with a focus on reducing man-animal
conflicts. The plan was approved during a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary S. C.
Mohapatra on January 11th, where various issues related to wildlife management and
afforestation were discussed.
Wildlife Management and Conflict Reduction
Mr. Mohapatra raised
JOINthe issue of wildlife management
@thehindu444 activities being carried out
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through CAMPA funds and stressed the need for relocation of villages from tiger reserve
sanctuaries. He also emphasized the need to improve Very High Frequency (VHF)
networking in all divisions to ensure constant monitoring and suggested the engagement
of forest labor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
(MGNREGS) for 100 days of work. A comprehensive plan was also proposed to avoid
human-animal conflicts, with the Chandaka Wild Life Division tasked with identifying all
revenue forest patches to develop elephant corridors.
Afforestation and Forest Preservation
The CAMPA annual plan of operations (APO) for 2023-24, presented by the Chief Executive
Officer, State Authority, CAMPA, Pradeep Raj Karat, mainly focuses on taking up
plantations and other activities such as maintenance of old plantations, forest protection,
fire protection, simultaneous silvicultural operations for bamboo forests, soil and moisture
conservation activities in forest lands, wildlife management, relocation of villages from
protected areas, and forest infrastructure development. The Chief Secretary also directed
the concerned officials to prepare a comprehensive plan to avoid human-animal conflict.
Monitoring and Verification
The Chief Secretary also emphasized the need for monitoring afforestation programs
using the CAMPA tracker and through satellite imagery every six months, with frequent
inspections by senior officers to verify the progress. A joint meeting with the concerned
department was also proposed to prepare a five-year action plan to upgrade forest roads
to grade-1 metalling, with the material-intensive components such as culverts and

causeways to be covered under CAMPA funding.
Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Mona Sharma
suggested that a plan made at the district level for combating forest fires will be discussed
with the district collectors concerned for effective control of forest fires and should be
uploaded in the public domain. She also suggested preparing a 5-year Action Plan for the
improvement of forest roads, identifying all revenue forest patches.
January 13, 2023
Covovax Heterologous Booster Dose Approved for Use in India
The Central drug regulatory authority, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), has given
the green light for the market authorization of Serum Institute of India’s Covid-19 vaccine,
Covovax, as a heterologous booster dose for those who have already received two doses
of Covishield or Covaxin. This is a significant development as it expands the options for
individuals seeking to boost their immunity against the virus.

Covovax is a recombinant protein-based vaccine that is manufactured through technology
transfer from Novavax. It has received conditional marketing authorization from the
European Medicines Agency and emergency-use listing from the World Health
Organization (WHO) on December 17, 2021.
Previous Approvals for Covovax
Previously, DCGI had approved Covovax for restricted use in emergency situations in
adults on December 28, 2021.
JOIN This was followed
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approval for use in children between
the ages of 12-17 on March 9, 2022, and for children under 7-11 years on June 28, 2022,
subject to certain conditions. With the latest recommendation, Covovax can now be used
as a booster dose for a wider population, including those who have already received two
doses of either Covishield or Covaxin.
Bharat Biotech’s Nasal Covid Vaccine Approved
In a related development, Bharat Biotech’s nasal Covid vaccine for adults above 18-year-
old has also been approved by the Government of India and will be used as a
heterologous booster dose. This approval expands the options for individuals looking to
boost their immunity against the virus and provides more flexibility in terms of
administration.
Importance of Booster Doses
As the pandemic continues to evolve, it has become increasingly clear that booster doses
of Covid-19 vaccines are necessary to maintain protection against the virus. Studies have
shown that the immunity provided by a single dose of a vaccine may wane over time,
making booster doses important to ensure long-term protection. The use of heterologous
booster doses, where an individual receives a different vaccine as a booster dose, has
been shown to provide additional protection against different variants of the virus.
Availability of the Vaccine
The vaccine will be available in private hospitals. It is expected that the availability of
Covovax as a heterologous booster dose will further aid in the fight against the pandemic
in India. With the increasing number of cases and the emergence of new variants, it is
crucial that individuals have access to multiple options for boosting their immunity. The
approval of Covovax and Bharat Biotech’s nasal Covid vaccine as heterologous booster
doses is a positive step in this direction.
FSSAI regulatory standards for Basmati Rice
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has specified the identity
standards for basmati rice. The comprehensive regulatory standards will be enforced from
August 1, according to a statement from the Union Health Ministry. These standards apply
to brown basmati rice, milled basmati rice, parboiled brown basmati rice, and milled
parboiled basmati rice and are intended to establish fair practices in the trade of basmati
rice and protect consumer interest, both domestically and globally.
Standards for Quality and Identity
As per the standards, basmati rice must possess the natural fragrance characteristic of
basmati rice and be free from artificial coloring, polishing agents and artificial fragrances.
The standards also specify various identity and quality parameters for basmati rice such as
average size of grains and their elongation ratio after cooking, maximum limits of
moisture, amylose content, uric acid, defective/damaged grains and incidental presence of
other non-basmati rice.
Basmati Rice and its Unique Qualities
Basmati rice is a premium variety of rice cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of the Indian
sub-continent andJOIN
is known for its long grainor
@thehindu444 size, fluffy texture, and unique inherent
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aroma and flavor. The agro-climatic conditions of the specific geographical areas where
Basmati rice is grown, as well as the method of harvesting, processing, and aging of the
rice, contribute to the uniqueness of Basmati rice.
Due to its unique quality attributes, Basmati is a widely consumed variety of rice both
domestically and globally, and India accounts for two-thirds of its global supply.
Adulteration and Standardization
Being a premium quality rice and fetching a price higher than the non-basmati varieties,
Basmati rice is prone to various types of adulteration for economic gains which may
include, among others, undeclared blending of other non-basmati varieties of rice.
Therefore, in order to ensure the supply of standardized genuine Basmati rice in domestic
and export markets, FSSAI has implemented these regulatory standards, which have been
framed through extensive consultations with the concerned government
departments/agencies and other stakeholders.
CBIC -Customs Automated System
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has announced that it will come
out with a list of “identified goods” that will be subject to stricter scrutiny for their true
value. The CBIC has notified the Customs (Assistance in Value Declaration of Identified
Imported Goods) Rules, 2023, aimed at addressing the undervaluation of specified
imported goods. The rules will be effective from February 11, 2023, according to a
notification issued by the CBIC.
Committee Formation
As per the rules, two committees will be constituted – a screening committee for a
preliminary examination of “identified goods” and an evaluation committee for a detailed
examination. Importers of the identified goods will be required to declare the value of
goods using the Unique Quantity Code. Under the Customs Automated System, importers
will also be required to fulfill additional obligations, and the assessment of goods will be
subjected to additional checks.
Violation Consequences
In the case of violation, further proceedings will be initiated under the Customs Valuation
Rules 2007. The budget proposed to amend section 14 of the Customs Act by imposing
additional obligations on importers in respect of a certain class of imported goods where
the Board believes that importers are evading duty by not declaring the true value,
causing a loss to the exchequer.
The identified goods

The specified goods will be a list of items selected by the Board where it has reason to
believe that the value of such goods may not be declared truthfully or accurately. The list
of such goods will be prepared and recommended by the screening committee and the
evaluation committee.
In conclusion, the CBIC’s implementation of stricter scrutiny of imported goods through
the formation of committees and additional obligations for importers is aimed at
addressing undervaluation and protecting the or
JOIN @thehindu444 exchequer’s interests. The list of identified
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goods and the roll-out of these rules will be closely monitored in the coming months.
India's Direct Tax Collection Records Steady Growth in FY2023
According to government data, the country’s gross direct tax collection of the current
fiscal year (FY2023) till January 10 went up 24.58% to Rs 14.71 lakh crore, against the gross
collections made in the corresponding period the previous fiscal. The finance ministry
stated that the provisional figures of direct tax collections continue to register steady
growth.
Net Direct Tax Collection
After adjusting refunds, net direct tax collection was at Rs 12.31 lakh crore, which is 19%
higher than the previous year’s collection during the corresponding period. The Centre’s
direct tax collections, net of refunds, reached 86.7% of the 2022-23 budget target by
January 10, the finance ministry said on January 11.
Corporate and Personal Income Tax
Between April 1, 2022 and January 10, 2023, the government’s gross direct tax collections
stood at Rs 14.71 lakh crore, the ministry said in a statement. The Centre had estimated it
would collect Rs 14.2 lakh crore as direct taxes in 2022-23—Rs 7.2 lakh crore in corporate
tax and Rs 7 lakh crore in personal income tax. After adjustment of refunds, the net
growth in CIT (corporate income tax) collections is 18.33% and that in PIT (personal
income tax) collections is 21.64%, the finance ministry said.
GST Collection
The robust growth in direct tax collections is good news for the government as indirect tax
collections are also on the rise. Data released on January 1 showed total Goods and
Services Tax collected in December was Rs 1.5 lakh crore, up 2.5% month-on-month and
15.2% compared to December 2021. Monthly GST collections have averaged Rs 1.49 lakh
crore, so far, in the financial year 2022-23, up 20.5% from the monthly average for 2021-22.
Lohri Harvest Festival
Lohri is a popular Indian festival that is celebrated to mark the beginning of the harvest
season for winter crops. Every year, during the month of Paush, a day before Makar
Sankranti – usually on January 13, with much fanfare especially by the people of Punjab,
Lohri is celebrated. The festival is also popular in other parts of the country such as
Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Jammu. In 2023, Lohri is celebrated on January 13
(Friday).
Background of Lohri
Originally, Lohri was observed on the evening before the Winter Solstice, but in more
recent years, it is observed the day before Makar Sankranti. Lohri, also known as Lohadi or
Lal Loi, is a festival that is closely related to Makar Sankranti. Lohri festival is traditionally
associated with the harvest of rabi crops. It is time to harvest sugarcane crops. Even the
Punjabi farmers after Lohri (Maghi) see it as the financial New Year. Three edibles are
associated with the Lohri festival that is rewri, peanuts and popcorn.
Indian Origins of LohriJOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
There are numerous origins of Lohri. The main subject of Lohri is the conviction that Lohri
is the enlightening celebration of Winter solstice. The key trait of Lohri is the bonfire.
Illuminating the fire has been familiar in winter solstice festivals all through time. It
implies the comeback of the longer days.
Significance of the Lohri Festival
In the state of Punjab, the breadbasket of India, Wheat is the major winter crop, which is
planted in the month of October and reaped in the month of March or in April. In the
month of January, the fields turn up with the swear of a golden harvest & farmers
celebrate the Lohri festival during this period before the cutting & gathering of the crops.
During this period of time, the earth which is farthest from the sun, initiates its journey
towards the sun, consequently ending the coldest months of the year, Paush. It
announces the beginning of Magh & the propitious period of Uttarayan. In accordance
with the Bhagawad Gita, Lord Krishna gives evidence of himself in his full splendor this
time. The Hindus annul their sins by taking bath in the Ganges River.
The Bonfire Ritual
In the dusk, massive bonfires are lit in harvested fields & in front yards of homes. People
get together around the flames, circle around the bonfire and toss puffed rice, munchies,
and popcorn into the fire and hum popular folk songs. They pray to the fire god, to
sanctify the land with prosperity and abundance. The prasad consists of 5 major items:
gajak, til, jaggery, popcorn, and peanuts.
Lohri Celebrations
From clandestinely licking – off that final grain of sugared, cinnamon-infused rice to
relaxing in the tenderness of the splendid bonfire – the Lohri festival is a time of untainted
extravagance. Singing folk songs, dancing to the tunes of dhol, performing bhangra,
gidda and chajja, relishing makki ki roti and sarson ka saag and munching gajak,
moongfali, tilkut, puffed rice, revdi, popcorn by the bonfire are some of the popular Lohri
Sur Sarita - Symphony of Ganga
The Ministry of Culture in India recently organized a grand curtain raiser program called
‘Sur Sarita – Symphony of Ganga’ at the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, on the eve
of the launch of the world’s longest river cruise. The program was led by renowned singer
Shankar Mahadevan, and was attended by dignitaries and tourists who were set to
embark on the Ganga Vilas Cruise. The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi,
flagged off the cruise the following day.
Launch of the World’s Longest River Cruise

The Ganga Vilas Cruise will cross through four states in India, including Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, and Assam, over a journey of 51 days. The cruise is expected to create new history
in the waterways sector of India and marks the beginning of a new era of river cruise
tourism in the country. The cruise will also take tourists through places with rich history
and mythology associated with the river Ganges.
Cultural Program
The cultural program,
JOIN‘Sur Sarita – Symphony
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Ganga’, was organized to give the
audiences a taste of the different flavors of the states that the cruise would be passing
through. Folk musicians from Assam, Bihar and Bengal joined popular singer Shankar
Mahadevan in paying homage to the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra. The
concert lasted for about an hour and ended with Shankar Mahadevan’s rendition of
‘Kartavya Ganga’ (Promise to Ganga), a song that promises the river goddess that every
Indian will take care of her and protect her waters.
The concert also included an audio-visual presentation that showcased the relevance of
the river and its importance in Indian culture. It was a way for the dignitaries and tourists
to get a glimpse of what they could expect on the cruise and to understand the
importance of the river Ganges to every Indian.
Mobile Science Exhibition
In addition to the cultural program, the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) in
Kolkata also organized a mobile science exhibition called ‘Arth Ganga’ as a tribute to the
river Ganges. The exhibition was flagged off from Varanasi before the concert and will
travel through districts and sites located near the river Ganges. The exhibition includes 18
panels that cover topics such as the tributaries of the Ganges, dams on the river, and the
Sunderbans, among others. The exhibition is meant to raise public awareness about the
conservation and restoration of the holy river.
Sethusamudram Project
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has recently moved a resolution in the state assembly
seeking the revival of the Sethusamudram Project, a proposed shipping canal project in
India that would connect the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. The project, which has
been controversial since its inception, was put on hold by the Government of India in 2007.
Background
The Sethusamudram Project aims to construct a shipping canal through the shallow
waters of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar, which would reduce the distance and time
required for ships to travel between the east and west coasts of India. The project would
bypass the traditional shipping route through the Palk Strait, which is considered a
navigational hazard.
Controversies
The Sethusamudram Project has been met with opposition from various groups, who raise
concerns about its potential impact on the environment, the Ram Setu, and its economic
viability.
1. Environmental impact: Critics argue that the construction of the canal would cause
significant damage to the marine ecosystem of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar.
They claim that the dredging and blasting required for the construction of the canal
would harm the coral reefs and other marine life in the area.
2. Damage to Ram Setu: Some Hindus consider Ram Setu to be sacred and believe
that the bridge was built by Lord Rama himself. They argue that the construction of
the canal would cause damage to the bridge and desecrate a religious site.
3. Economic viability:
JOIN Critics question the economic
@thehindu444 viability of the project, arguing
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that the cost of construction would be high and the benefits would be limited. They
say that the canal would not be able to accommodate large ships and would not
offer a significant reduction in the distance travelled by ships, compared to the
existing route through the Palk Strait.
4. Technical feasibility: There are also concerns about the technical feasibility of the
project, with critics arguing that the canal would not be able to handle the large tidal
differences and would be susceptible to silting and other issues.
5. Political and legal disputes: The project has been on hold since 2007 following a
legal dispute involving the Indian government and the opposition party, which
challenged the project on the grounds that it would cause damage to the Ram Setu.
6. Security: Critics also argue that the project would increase the security risk for India,
as it would provide an opening for foreign ships to enter into the Bay of Bengal,
making it easier for hostile forces to attack India’s eastern coast.
What is Ram Setu?
Ram Setu, also known as Adam’s Bridge, is a chain of limestone shoals that runs between
the Indian mainland and Sri Lanka. According to Hindu mythology, the bridge was built by
the monkey-god Hanuman and his army to help Lord Rama, an incarnation of the god
Vishnu, rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana, who had abducted her and
taken her to Lanka. The bridge is considered sacred by Hindus and is believed to be the
physical manifestation of a bridge mentioned in the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana.
Neelakurinji Plant Listed as a Protected Species under Wildlife Protection Act

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) has listed Neelakurinji
(Strobilanthes kunthiana) under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,
including it on the list of protected plants. This move is aimed at protecting the plant from
being destroyed or uprooted, which has become a major threat to the flowering areas.
The new order also includes strict penalties for those found guilty of destroying or
uprooting the plant.
Penalties for destroying the plant
As per the new order, those who uproot or destroy the Neelakurinji plant will invite a fine
of ₹25,000 and three years’ imprisonment. The cultivation of Neelakurinji and its
possession is also not allowed. This is a significant move, as it will help in protecting the
plant and its habitats.
Why Neelakurinji needs protection?
Neelakurinji is an endemic plant found in a small stretch in the Western Ghats, from the
Mangaladevi hills to the Nilgiris hills. The most popular Neelakurinji is Strobilanthes
kunthiana which blooms once in 12 years. However, some other rare varieties of
Neelakurnji are also found in the Western Ghats region. The blooming of Neelakurinji is a
major attraction for tourists, who flock to the locations where it blooms. However, this has
also led to the destruction and uprooting of the plant, which is a major threat to the
flowering areas.
Importance of the newJOIN
order @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
The new order will help in protecting the plant and its habitats. Forest department officials
will take action against those who uproot or destroy Neelakurinji in forest areas, protected
areas, and national parks. The department will strictly implement the government order.
Environmentalists have welcomed this move, and have called on the Forest department to
ensure the protection of the areas where Neelakurinji blooms.
The listing of Neelakurinji under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is a
significant move that will help in protecting the plant and its habitats. The new order will
also help in penalizing those who destroy or uproot the plant, which is a major threat to
the flowering areas. The Forest department should ensure the protection of the areas
where Neelakurinji blooms, especially the Kallippara hills in Idukki, where the plant was
recently in bloom. This will help in preserving the plant for future generations and
ensuring that tourists continue to enjoy the beauty of the blooming Neelakurinji.
Joshimath at Risk of Sinking: Satellite Images Reveal Ground Subsidence
The National Remote Sensing Center (NSRC) of the Indian Space Research Organization
(ISRO) has released satellite images of the city of Joshimath, Uttarakhand, which reveal a
preliminary land subsidence analysis that indicates that the entire city is in danger of
completely sinking. The images have been captured by the Cartosat-2S satellite, and the
NRSC, situated in Hyderabad, has published satellite photos of the sinking areas. This is a
very serious situation and the government of Uttarakhand is taking necessary steps to
tackle this issue.
Satellite Images Reveal Ground Subsidence
The released satellite imagery reveals that the entire city of Joshimath is sinking. The
images show massive cracks and fissures in almost all houses, major hotels, and roads.
More than 700 families are impacted, and leaning buildings can be seen across the town.
In the revealed images, the entire town, including the Narasimha temple and the Army’s
helipad, has been designated a sensitive zone. The Joshimath-Auli road is also at risk of
sinking, according to the satellite pictures.
Rescue Operations Launched
Based on the preliminary information from ISRO, the Uttarakhand government is
launching rescue operations in dangerous areas. The government is prioritizing the
relocation of residents from these locations to safer areas. Joshimath is situated on the
central slopes of the hill, bordered by the rivers Dhauliganga and Alaknanda on the
opposite sides, and Karmanasa and Dhaknala to the west and east, respectively.
Preliminary Reports by ISRO

According to the analysis of the preliminary reports by ISRO, Joshimath sank by 8.9 cm
between April and November 2022, during which time ground subsidence was sluggish.
However, the rate of soil subsidence accelerated between December 27, 2022, and January
8, 2023. The town sank by 5.4 cm in only 12 days. As a result of the terrain subsiding,
fissures have emerged in the houses and roads. The Joshimath-Auli road is also at risk of
sinking, and people living in the city are urged to leave their houses and relocate to a safer
place. JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Effect of Urbanization
Urbanization is one of the main causes of this problem. Due to its effects on natural water
drainage, slopes, and water flow, urbanization has traditionally made these problems
worse. The District Disaster Management Department reports that 561 homes in
Joshimath have developed fractures as a result of the ongoing ground subsidence.
According to reports, around 66 families have reportedly left Joshimath so far.
The Uttarakhand government is holding meetings over the frightening situation in the
Himalayan town. The satellite images released by ISRO reveal a serious ground
subsidence problem in Joshimath, and the government is taking necessary steps to tackle
this issue. The residents of the town are urged to relocate to safer areas and the
government is prioritizing the relocation of residents from dangerous areas. Urbanization
is one of the main causes of this problem and it is important to take measures to prevent
further ground subsidence in the future.
India Abolishes Discretionary Haj Quota for Pilgrims
The Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani, recently announced that the Indian
government has done away with the discretionary Haj quota for pilgrims, in accordance
with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “resolve to end VIP culture” in the country. A new,
exhaustive Haj policy has been formulated and will be announced soon, said Irani.
The Haj pilgrimage is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, considered to
be a mandatory religious duty for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially
capable of doing so. For Saudi Arabia, it poses a massive logistical challenge as they have
to house, feed and facilitate safe pilgrimages for millions of pilgrims who descend upon
Mecca from across the world during a brief period of time. Saudi Arabia allots country-
wise quotas which determine the total number of pilgrims who can make a journey from a
particular country.
Abolition of Discretionary Quota
The “Government discretionary quota” is further divided in two, 200 seats are with the Haj
Committee itself and 300 are with people holding important offices at the Centre. These
include, 100 with the President, 75 with the Prime Minister, 75 with the Vice President, 50
with the Minister of Minority Affairs. As per the old policy, these seats could be allocated to
individuals who applied for the pilgrimage through the normal means but were
unsuccessful in getting a slot for the pilgrimage.
This quota has now been abolished with these seats being added back to the general pool.
This move is in line with Prime Minister Modi’s resolve to end VIP culture, which was put in
place with respect to Haj during the UPA rule under which there was a special quota
allocated to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Haj Committee and all those in the top
constitutional posts.
India’s Distribution of Haj Slots
On January 9, the Indian consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia tweeted that India signed the
Haj 2023 bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia. According to the agreement, a total of
1,75,025 Indian Haj pilgrims
JOIN will be able to perform
@thehindu444 Haj, reportedly the highest in history.
or Thenewsmaster
While the specifics of India’s latest Haj policy are yet to be seen, the way the system has
traditionally worked is that the quota allotted to India (by Saudi Arabia) is then further
distributed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) to
various stakeholders.
According to the 2018-22 policy document, 70 per cent of India’s total quota goes to the
HCoI and 30 per cent goes to private operators. While private operators are free to charge
as they wish and take anyone who pays, the majority of pilgrims traditionally go through
the HCoI which runs a subsidised tour on the part of the government (though the subsidy
is being phased out).
Out of the total number of slots with the HCoI, 500 are held under the “Government
discretionary quota” whereas the rest are distributed to different states on the basis of
their Muslim population, according to the 2018-22 policy. A draw of lots is conducted in
each state to determine who makes the journey in case the number of applicants exceed
the number of slots available.
What is Doctrine of Basic Structure of the Constitution?
Recently, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar sparked a debate on the separation of powers
between the executive and the judiciary. He criticized the Supreme Court for using the
doctrine of basic structure to strike down the constitutional amendment that introduced
the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act. In his maiden speech in the Rajya
Sabha, Dhankhar had referred to the striking down of the NJAC Act as a “severe
compromise” of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the “mandate of the people”.

This article will examine the basic structure doctrine and its impact on the powers of the
legislature.
What is the Basic Structure Doctrine?
The Doctrine of Basic Structure is a form of judicial review that is used to test the legality
of any legislation by the courts. It was evolved by the Supreme Court in the 1973 landmark
ruling in Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala. In a 7-6 verdict, a 13-judge Constitution
Bench ruled that the ‘basic structure’ of the Constitution is inviolable and cannot be
amended by Parliament. If a law is found to “damage or destroy” the “basic features of
the Constitution”, the Court declares it unconstitutional. The test is applied to
constitutional amendments to ensure that the amendment does not dilute the
fundamentals of the Constitution itself.
The test is widely regarded as a check on majoritarian impulses of the Parliament since it
places substantive limits on the power to amend the Constitution. The Court had to
examine the scope of the Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution and the legality
of land reforms. The 13-judge bench gave 11 separate judgments and the doctrine was
culled out as the majority opinion in the case. The Court ruled that while Parliament has
vast powers to amend the Constitution, it cannot amend certain “basic features”. On land
reforms, the Court upheld the amendment that removed the fundamental right to
property and ruled that in spirit, the amendment would not violate the “basic structure” of
the Constitution. JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Origins of the Basic Structure Doctrine
The origins of the basic structure doctrine are found in the post-war German Constitution
law which, after the Nazi regime, was amended to protect some basic laws. Jurist Nanbhoy
Palkhivala who appeared against the government relied on the writings of Professor
Dietrich Conrad in support of the basic structure doctrine.
What are the Basic Features of the Indian Constitution?
In the Kesavananda ruling, the Supreme Court cited several aspects of the Constitution
that could be identified as “basic features” of the document but added that it was not an
exhaustive list. For example, judicial review, rule of law, federalism, and democratic
republic structure are identified as basic features. In the 2015 ruling where the Supreme
Court struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act and the related
Constitutional Amendment, “judicial independence” was identified as a basic feature of
the Constitution.
What is the "Pineapple Express" Phenomenon?
Over the past two weeks, California and other parts of the West Coast have been hit with a
series of what meteorologists call atmospheric rivers. Forecasters have said that the rain
arriving in California on January 12 is being caused by a “true Pineapple Express” – a
specific example of a common atmospheric phenomenon that resembles a conveyor belt
for moisture. This article will examine the “Pineapple Express” phenomenon and its
impact on California’s recent storms.
What is the “Pineapple Express” Phenomenon?
“Pineapple Express” is a specific example of a common atmospheric phenomenon known
as atmospheric rivers. These rivers in the sky, also known as “rivers in the sky” according
to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are long, narrow regions in the
atmosphere that transport most of the water vapor outside the tropics. They carry a lot of
moisture – enough water vapor to equal or sometimes exceed the average flow of the
Mississippi River at the point where it flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
For an atmospheric river to be classified as a “true Pineapple Express,” its location is key.
The tail end, where the moisture is pulled into the atmosphere, must start near Hawaii.
Then the river must stretch continuously through the atmosphere to the U.S. West Coast.
This type of atmospheric river is known to bring heavy precipitation to the West Coast, as
it is a continuous flow of moisture.
Is the “Pineapple Express” a common phenomenon?
Atmospheric rivers occur often on the West Coast but can happen in other locations,
including the eastern United States, where they often channel moisture from the
Caribbean. They are an essential part of the livelihood of coastal states, which rely heavily
on precipitation for their water supply. Between 30% and 50% of the annual precipitation
on the West Coast occurs from just a few atmospheric river events, according to the
NOAA.
What are the effects of “Pineapple Express” storms?
When the atmospheric JOINrivers are particularly strong
@thehindu444 – or come back-to-back in what are
or Thenewsmaster
called “atmospheric river families” – the effects can be serious. This is the case in
California, where the recent storms have led to extensive flooding. The “Pineapple
Express” can be a double-edged sword, as it brings much-needed water to the state but
also leads to destructive flooding if the storms are too strong.
The “Pineapple Express” is a common atmospheric phenomenon that brings much-
needed precipitation to the West Coast. However, when the storms are particularly strong,
as is the case in California, the effects can be severe. Understanding the “Pineapple
Express” and its impact on the state’s weather patterns is essential in being able to
predict and prepare for future storms.
Notification of Minority Communities
The Delhi government has suggested that the Centre can grant “migrated minority”
status to Hindus who have moved to the national capital from places like Jammu and
Kashmir or Ladakh where they are a religious minority. The suggestion is part of a
compilation of views collected by the Centre from 24 States on whether religious and
linguistic minority communities should be identified and notified by the Union or the
respective States. It is part of an affidavit submitted by the Centre in the Supreme Court.
Notification of Minority Communities
Currently, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Zoroastrians (Parsis) have been
notified as minority communities under Section 2 (c) of the National Commission for
Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992. As per the Census 2011, the percentage of minorities in the
country is about 19.3 of the total population of the country. The population of Muslims is
14.2%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jains 0.4%, and Parsis 0.006%.
Migrated Minority Status for Hindus
The Delhi government suggests that “The followers of Hinduism are not the religious
minority in the NCT of Delhi but the Central government may declare the ‘migrated
minority’ status to the followers of Hinduism who are the religious minority in their origin
State (i.e., Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, etc) and residing in Delhi after migration from
their home State,” as per the Centre’s note in court.
Views of Different States
Tamil Nadu is clear that the identification and notification of religious and linguistic
minorities should be made at the State level. Similarly, West Bengal has also categorically
said the power to declare a community as a minority should be with the State. Andhra
Pradesh and Assam too have said minorities should be identified Statewide. Punjab has
reasoned that the State is in a better position to appreciate the “interests, well-being and
problems” of different communities residing in it and should be allowed to continue to
notify its own minorities.
Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh have said that they are “comfortable with the present
procedure of identifying minorities”. Haryana and Himachal Pradesh have left it to the
Centre to notify minority communities. Maharashtra is of the opinion that “in the interest
of uniformity, the Centre can notify minority communities”. Karnataka has called for
“status quo” afterJOIN
declaring Muslims, Christians,
@thehindu444 Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis as
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minorities in the State. Kerala held the view that the existing provisions of the NCMEI Act,
2004 and NCM Act, 1992 should continue.
Petition in Supreme Court
The suggestions have come on a petition filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay in the apex
court challenging the “exclusive” power given to the Centre under Section 2(f) and Section
2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Educational Institutions (NCMEI) Act, 2004,
and the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992, respectively, to notify a minority
community. Upadhyay has argued that the followers of Judaism, Baha’ism and Hinduism,
who are the real minorities in Ladakh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Kashmir, Nagaland,
Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Manipur, cannot even establish and
administer educational institutions of their choice in these States. He has argued that
religious and linguistic minorities were spread all over the country and not restricted to
any single State or Union Territory.
NOTAM System Glitch Causes Airspace Shutdown in America
America’s airspace shut down for several hours Wednesday morning following a glitch in
a computer system used to send alerts to pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
said that its Notice to Air Missions system, or NOTAM, had failed and was not processing
new information. The system, which dates to the middle of the last century, gives pilots
real-time updates on flight conditions. According to the FAA’s website, NOTAM
communicates “information essential to personnel concerned with flight operations, but
not known far enough in advance to be publicized by other means.”

When was NOTAM created?
Air traffic operations started using NOTAMs in 1947, according to FAA documents. At the
time, the notices were modeled after the Notice to Mariners, which advised ship captains
about hazards on the seas. When it was created, the air-notification system was called
“Notice to Airmen.” It was renamed to the more inclusive “Notice to Air Missions” late last
year. NOTAMs used to be telephone-based, with pilots calling dedicated flight service
stations for the information, but have now moved online with the advent of the internet.
What kind of information does a NOTAM deliver?
According to the FAA, a NOTAM includes “abnormal” information about the status of
airspace. Alerts can convey a range of details including time, airport, location and
descriptions of a hazard, obstruction or service. To pack in so many details, the notification
system uses specialized abbreviations that can be parsed by computers. Those
abbreviations are set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which
oversees global air travel. If there is no appropriate ICAO term, “plain language” is used in
the NOTAM, according to FAA.
Information conveyed in NOTAMS can range from the mundane to the critical. Messages
“may include items such as runway closures, general bird hazard warnings or low-altitude
construction obstacles,” Reuters reported. For long-haul international flights, NOTAMs can
run up to 200 pages, according to the wire service.
When did the NOTAMJOIN
system go down?
According to an FAA advisory, the NOTAM failed Tuesday night, at 8:28 p.m. Eastern Time.
Its failure prevented new or amended notices from being sent to pilots, the Associated
Press reported. The FAA resorted to a telephone hotline to keep departures flying
overnight, but as daytime traffic picked up it overwhelmed the telephone backup system,
according to the AP.
Has the NOTAM system failed before?
Longtime aviation insiders told the Associated Press they could not recall a technology
breakdown causing an outage on this scale. “Periodically there have been local issues
here or there, but this is pretty significant historically,” Tim Campbell, a former senior vice
president of air operations at American Airlines and now a consultant in Minneapolis, told
the AP. John Cox, a former airline pilot and aviation safety expert, told the wire service that
the scale of the problem suggests a “catastrophic failure.”
The FAA is currently investigating the cause of the failure and working to restore the
system. In the meantime, the FAA is using other means to communicate flight conditions
to pilots, such as telephone hotlines. The incident highlights the importance of NOTAM
system and the need to ensure its reliability and security in order to avoid disruptions and
ensure the safety of flights.
Garuda Aerospace and Union Bank Collaborate to Boost Agriculture with Drones
1. Who has Chennai’s drone startup Garuda Aerospace partnered with?
Answer: Garuda Aerospace has partnered with the Union Bank of India.
2. How many Garuda Agri Kisan drones have received a loan under the Kisan Pushpak
Scheme?
Answer: 150 Garuda Agri Kisan drones have received a loan under the Kisan Pushpak
Scheme.
3. What will the drone loan help farmers to do?
Answer: The drone loan will help farmers to digitize land record operations for crop
production and spraying of fertilizers, chemicals, and pesticides with the help of drones.
4. What will the partnership be useful for?
Answer: The partnership will be useful for lead generation, customer acquisition, sourcing
of applications, and due diligence of customers for credit deployment.
5. How will the Agri Infrastructure Fund Scheme benefit farmers?
Answer: The Agri Infrastructure Fund Scheme will finance 150 drone applications that will
benefit the farmer community and create 150 skilled pilots who will engage to become
entrepreneurs and improve farmers income.

6. How will the partnership with Union Bank of India benefit Garuda Aerospace?
Answer: The partnership with Union Bank of India, which has a pan-India presence and a
wide network of branches, will help Garuda Aerospace provide farmer-centric products in
the field of agriculture.
7. How many youth is Garuda Aerospace training free of cost?
Answer: Garuda Aerospace is training 1 lakh youth free of cost.
8. What is Garuda JOIN @thehindu444
Aerospace’s target for droneor
salesThenewsmaster
before March 31st?
Answer: Garuda Aerospace is targeting to sell 5,000 drones before March 31st.
9. How much are the AIF Loans for the drones?
Answer: The AIF Loans are collateral-free and can secure up to Rs.10 lakhs with 3 months
of EMI relaxation and a 5% interest rate for the youth and farmers.
10. How much can a youth earn per month by using the drone loan?
Answer: A youth can earn around Rs.75,000 to Rs.1 lakh per month by using the drone
loan.
January 14, 2023
2022 : World's Fifth-Warmest on Record
The world’s average global temperature is now 1.1C to 1.2C higher than in pre-industrial
times, according to U.S. scientists. Last year was the joint fifth-warmest on record, and the
last nine years were the nine warmest since pre-industrial times. This puts the 2015 Paris
Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5C in serious jeopardy.
Temperature Rankings
NASA announced that last year tied with 2015 as the fifth-warmest year since record-
keeping began in 1880. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ranked
2022 as the sixth warmest since 1880, while European Union scientists said it was the fifth
warmest year in their records. Climate assessments may produce slightly different
rankings depending on the data sources used and the way records account for minor data
alterations over time, such as a weather station being moved to a new location.
Increasing Temperature
NASA reported that temperatures are increasing by more than 0.2C per decade, putting
the world on track to blow past the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to
1.5C to avoid its most devastating consequences. Schmidt also expected 2023 to be
slightly warmer than 2022, due to a weaker La Nina cooling phenomenon.
Weather Extremes
The changing climate fueled weather extremes across the planet in 2022. Europe suffered
its hottest summer on record, while in Pakistan floods killed 1,700 people and wrecked
infrastructure, drought ravaged crops in Uganda and wildfires ripped through
Mediterranean countries.
CO2 Emissions
Despite most of the world’s major emitters pledging to eventually slash their net
emissions to zero, global CO2 emissions continue to rise. Climate change is driving
extreme heat and flooding, concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere last year reached
levels not experienced on earth for 3 million years, Schmidt said.
COP28 Climate Conference
At this year’s COP28 climate conference, countries will formally assess their progress
towards the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C goal and the far faster emissions cuts needed to meet
it. COP28 host the United Arab Emirates appointed the head of its state-owned oil
company as president of the conference, sparking concerns among campaigners and
scientists about the fossil fuel industry’s influence in the talks.
In conclusion, the world’s average global temperature is now 1.1C to 1.2C higher than in
pre-industrial times, putting the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to
1.5C in serious jeopardy. Unless countries stop burning CO2-emitting fossil fuels,
temperatures will continue to climb, and weather extremes will become more frequent
and more severe. The COP28 climate conference will be a crucial opportunity for countries
to formally assess their progress towards the Paris Agreement’s goals and the far faster
emissions cuts needed to meet them.
Rural Health Statistics Report 2021-22: Key Findings and Implications
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has recently released the Rural Health
Statistics Report 2021-22, providing a comprehensive overview of the state of rural
healthcare infrastructure and human resources in India. This report is an annual
publication by MoHFW since 1992, which is based on data uploaded by states and union
territories on the Health Management Information System (HMIS) portal and verified by
respective states. The report serves as a vision document in identifying the gaps in the
existing healthcare infrastructure and human resources in rural, urban and tribal areas of
the country and is an important source of information for citizens.
Rural Health Statistics 2021-22: Key Highlights of the Report
Health Centers
The RHS estimates as of 31 March, 2022, has revealed that each sub center (SC) catered to
an average of 5691 people, each Primary Health Centers (PHC) to 36049 people and each
Community Health Centers (CHC) to 164027 people. As per norms, each SC is supposed to
cater to a population of 3,000-5,000, each PHC to a population of 20,000-30,000 and each
CHC to a population of 80,000-1,20,000.
Urban Health Statistics
There is a vacancy of 18.8% of doctors, 16.8% of pharmacists, 16.8% of lab technicians and
19.1% of staff nurses at the U-PHCs (Urban PHCs). The population covered by a U-PHC
may vary from 50,000 to 75,000. Urban Community Health Centre (U-CHCs) is set up as a
referral facility for every 4-5 U-PHCs. The U-CHC caters to a population of 2,50,000 to 5
lakhs.
Rise in Number of Allopathy Doctors
There has been an over 50% rise in the number of allopathy doctors in primary health
centers since the launch of the National Rural Health Mission in 2005. The allopathic
doctors at PHCs have increased from 20,308 in 2005 to 30,640 in 2022.

Shortage of Specialist Doctors
The RHS report also highlights the acute shortage of specialist doctors in the country, with
a shortfall of nearly 80% of the required specialists at Community Health Centers (CHCs).
CHCs are 30-bed block-level health facilities that are supposed to provide basic care
related to surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, and general medicine. There are 6,064 CHCs
across India, and the Health Ministry has been unsuccessful in meeting the requirement
for specialist doctors
JOINin @thehindu444
most of these centers.
or The report points out that there is a
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shortfall of specialist doctors, including surgeons (83.2%), obstetricians and gynecologists
(74.2%), physicians (79.1%), and pediatricians (81.6%).
Apart from specialist doctors, there is also a shortage of female health workers and
auxiliary nursing midwives, with up to 14.4% of these posts lying vacant in PHCs and SCs.
About Rural Health Statistics Report
The Rural Health Statistics Report is an annual publication of MoHFW since the year 1992.
This report provides data on health infrastructure including manpower up to 31st March
of every year. The publication is based on the data uploaded by States/UTs on Health
Management Information System (HMIS) Portal and is published only after getting
verified by respective States/UTs. The HMIS portal provides periodic reports on the status
of the health services performances and Human Resources and Infrastructure services
facilities available. It serves as a vision document in identifying the gaps in the existing
Healthcare Infrastructure and Human Resources in rural, urban and tribal areas of the
country.
Makar Sankranti Festival
Makar Sankranti is an important festival that marks the day the sun transits into Makara
Rashi or Capricorn zodiac. As per the solar calendar, it falls on 14 January every year. The
festival also marks the end of winter and the beginning of a new harvest season. It has
both seasonal and religious significance. It is considered one of the most auspicious days
of the Hindu calendar.
Makar Sankranti is celebrated in different ways across India under different names, each
region having its unique customs and traditions.
In Tamil Nadu, it is celebrated as Thai Pongal, where the festival is celebrated for four
days, with the first day being Bhogi Pongal, the second day being Surya Pongal, the
third day being Mattu Pongal and the fourth day being Kaanum Pongal.
In Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Kerala, Bihar, Goa, Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Manipur, and Uttar Pradesh, it is celebrated as Makar Sankranti.
In Gujarat and Rajasthan, it is celebrated as Uttarayana, and people take a dip in holy
rivers and perform rituals to mark the beginning of the sun’s northward journey.
In Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, it is celebrated as Lohri, where people
light bonfires and perform folk dances around them.
In Assam, it is celebrated as Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu, where people light bonfires
and feast on traditional food.
Why is Makar Sankranti celebrated?

Sankranti day is dedicated to Lord Sun. It also refers to a specific solar day in the Hindu
calendar. On this auspicious day, the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn or Makar
which marks the end of winter months and the beginning of longer days. This is the
beginning of the month of Magh. To recompense for the distinction that happens due to
the revolution around the sun, every 80 years the day of Sankranti is deferred by one day.
From the day of Makar Sankranti, the sun begins its northward journey or Uttarayan
journey. Therefore, this festival
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@thehindu444 as Uttarayan. On this day, farmers across
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the country wish for a good harvest.
Makar Sankranti 2023: Surya Namaskar Demonstration Programme
Surya Namaskar Demonstration programme will be organized by the Ministry of AYUSH
on 14 January 2023 for 75 lakh people globally on Makar Sankranti to commemorate the
journey of the Sun to the Northern Hemisphere. According to pib, this occasion
commemorates thanksgiving to ‘Mother Nature’ for bestowing health, wealth, and
happiness. Exposure to the Sun further provides the human body with Vitamin D, which
has been widely recommended in all medical branches around the world.
Makar Sankranti History
Sankranti is deemed a Deity. As per the legend, Sankranti killed a devil named Sankarasur.
The day next to Makar Sankrant is called Karidin or Kinkrant. On this day, Devi slew the
devil Kinkarasur. The information of Makar Sankranti is available in Panchang. The
Panchang is the Hindu Almanac that provides information on the age, form, clothing,
direction, and movement of Sankranti.
Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train - Update (January, 2023)
Indian Railways has announced that it will be running its Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train on a
route connecting pilgrimage sites of Ayodhya in India and Janakpur in Nepal next month.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and promoting cultural relations
between the two countries. The tour, called ‘Shri Ram-Janaki Yatra: Ayodhya to Janakpur’
will start from Delhi on February 17th, and will cover several other significant sites such as
Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Kashi, and Prayagraj. In this article, we will delve into the details of
the tour, the features of the train, and the pricing.
The Tour Itinerary
The tour, which is a seven-day package, will begin from Delhi on February 17th and will
have its first stop at Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram. Tourists will visit the Shri Ram
Janmabhoomi temple, Hanuman temple, and Bharat Mandir at Nandigram. From there,
the train will move to Sitamarhi Railway station in Bihar, where tourists will proceed to
Janakpur in Nepal by bus, which is 70 km away from the railway station. There will be two
nights stay in hotels in Janakpur and Varanasi, as per the statement issued by the Railway
Ministry.
Features of the Train
The Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train is a state-of-the-art Deluxe AC Tourist Train that comes
with a host of features to ensure a comfortable journey for the tourists. Some of these
features include two fine dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in
coaches, sensor-based washroom functions, and foot massager. The train also provides
two nights stay in hotels in Janakpur and Varanasi, as per the statement issued by the
Railway Ministry.
Pricing and Payment Options
The tour package is priced at a starting range of ₹39,775 per person, and the price will
cover train journey in the respective class, night stay at AC hotels, vegetarian meals, all
transfer and sight-seeing in buses, travel insurance,
JOIN @thehindu444 and services of a guide. To make the
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package more affordable and accessible to a larger population, IRCTC has tied up with
Paytm and Razorpay payment gateways to provide EMI payment options. Users can avail
the EMI payment option for making payment in 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 or 24-month EMIs through
debit/credit cards.
COVID-19 Measures
The statement issued by the Railway Ministry also mentions that COVID-19 final
vaccination is mandatory for all guests above 18 years of age. This measure has been
taken to ensure the safety and well-being of all the tourists on the train.
The launch of the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train is in line with the Government of India’s
initiative “Dekho Apna Desh” to promote domestic tourism. The train offers a perfect
opportunity for tourists to explore the rich cultural heritage of India and Nepal, and the
tour package provides an all-inclusive and affordable way to experience it. The train’s
state-of-the-art features, comfortable accommodations, and affordable pricing make it a
perfect option for tourists looking to explore the pilgrimage sites of Ayodhya and
Janakpur.
"Soul of Steel" High-Altitude Endurance Challenge to be launched in India
In an effort to test one’s high-altitude endurance, a new challenge called “Soul of Steel”
will be launched in India. Spearheaded by venture CLAW Global, which is run by veterans
and supported by the Indian Army, the challenge will take place in the state of
Uttarakhand and is similar to the “Ironman triathlon” long-distance triathlon challenge in
Europe. The expedition will officially launch on January 14th, and will include 12 Indian
participants and six international teams, with the age group for applicants being between
18 and 30 years.
Purpose of the Challenge
The idea behind the “Soul of Steel” challenge, according to Major Vivek Jacob (Retd.) of
CLAW Global, is “pooling of skillsets and creating a challenge that will unlock the human
ability to survive, stabilize and thrive in high altitude areas.” The challenge will also
provide life skill training, youth development, and global promotion of adventure tourism
in Uttarakhand, in addition to showcasing the skills of veterans.
Modalities of the Challenge
The challenge will be divided into four stages, as explained by Major Jacob. In stage 1,
participants will undergo jungle and mountain training for over 40 days. In stage 2, high
altitude training will be provided for over 30 days. Stage 3 will involve a refresher course
for international teams for 15 days, followed by a seven-day challenge in stage 4.

Participant screening will begin on March 1st, and an instructor orientation program will
take place on March 15th. The final participant screening will be done on the ground at
Nanital on March 27th. Training will be provided during April and May of 2023.
Location of the Challenge
The general area of the expedition will be the Nanda Devi national park, which has several
peaks that are over 7000 feet tall. During the actual challenge, various situations will be
presented to the participants through navigation
JOIN @thehindu444 orpoints that they must cross.
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Cost and Sponsorship
The total cost of the project is estimated to be around ₹30 crore, and the organizers are
looking for companies to sponsor the challenge in addition to resources from the Army
and CLAW. Participants will be asked to pay a token fee, which will be affordable for all
Indians, according to Major Jacob.
About CLAW Global
CLAW Global was established in January 2019 by Major Jacob, a para special forces officer
who had to retire from the Army after 14 years of service due to a combat skydive injury.
In August 2021, a group of differently-abled people led by CLAW Global trekked up to
Kumar post on Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield.
Supreme Court on IT relief of Sikkimese women
The Supreme Court of India has recently ruled that the exclusion of Sikkimese women who
marry non-Sikkimese men after April 1, 2008 from exemptions under the Income Tax Act is
unconstitutional and amounts to gender discrimination. The court, in its judgment, held
that this discrimination is based on gender, which is violative of Articles 14, 15, and 21 of
the Constitution. This decision comes as a victory for women’s rights and gender equality.
Discrimination for Sikkimese Women
According to the judgment, the court observed that there is no disqualification for a
Sikkim man who marries a non-Sikkimese after April 1, 2008. This means that a Sikkimese
man who marries a non-Sikkimese woman after April 1, 2008 is still eligible for exemptions
under the Income Tax Act, while a Sikkimese woman who marries a non-Sikkimese man
after the same date is not.
In a separate opinion, Justice B.V. Nagarathna agreed that “there cannot be a
discrimination vis-à-vis Sikkimese women marrying a non-Sikkimese individual, whether
an Indian citizen or a foreigner, that too, on or after April 1, 2008”. The judges noted that a
woman is not a chattel and has an identity of her own, and the mere factum of being
married ought not to take away that identity.
Merger with India
Justice Nagarathna reminded that pursuant to the merger of Sikkim with India, the state
has become a part of India and “all Sikkim Subjects and all Sikkimese domiciled in the
territory of Sikkim have become Indian citizens”. This means that all Sikkimese citizens,
including women, should have equal rights and protections under the Constitution of
India.
Gender Equality
The court also emphasized the importance of gender equality, noting that women heirs
have to be treated equally with their male counterparts. Justice Shah observed that
“gender equality is recognized by the world community in general in the human rights
regime”.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s ruling on the exclusion of Sikkimese women from
exemptions under the Income Tax Act is a significant step towards achieving gender
equality and protecting
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@thehindu444 orIndia. The court’s decision reaffirms the
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principle that a woman’s identity should not be determined by her marital status and that
all citizens, regardless of their gender, should have equal rights and protections under the
law
Global South Centre of Excellence
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will establish a Global
South Centre of Excellence to undertake research on development solutions for
developing countries. He also called for a human-centric globalisation to address the
concerns of these countries. The announcement was made during his opening address at
the concluding session of the Voice of Global South virtual summit.
Challenges Faced by Developing Countries
In his address, Prime Minister Modi acknowledged that the challenges of COVID-19, rising
prices of fuel, fertilisers, and food grains, and increasing geo-political tensions have
adversely impacted the developing countries. He said that these countries desire a
globalisation that does not create a climate crisis, debt crisis, or trigger unequal
distribution of vaccines or over-concentrated global supply chains.
“We want a human-centric globalisation. We, the developing countries, are concerned
about increasing fragmentation of the international landscape,” he said. “These
geopolitical tensions distract us from focusing on our development priorities… To address
this geopolitical fragmentation, we urgently need fundamental reform of international
organizations including the UN Security Council and Bretton Woods institutions,” he
added.
Global South Centre of Excellence
To address these challenges, Prime Minister Modi announced that India will establish a
Global South Centre of Excellence. This center will undertake research on “development
solutions or best practices of any of our countries which can be scaled up and
implemented in other members of the Global South”. The prime minister also noted that
the summit has seen participation from more than 120 developing countries.
This center will act as a platform for developing countries to share their best practices and
solutions to common development challenges, as well as to collaborate and learn from
each other. It will play an important role in promoting sustainable development and
addressing the needs of developing countries.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Modi’s announcement of establishing a Global South Centre
of Excellence for research on development solutions is a positive step towards addressing
the concerns of developing countries and promoting sustainable development. This

center will act as a platform for countries to share their best practices and collaborate to
find solutions to common development challenges.
January 14 : Armed Forces Veterans Day - Update (January, 2023)
Every year, on January 14, India celebrates Armed Forces Veterans Day. This day is
dedicated to honoring the sacrifices and service of veterans who have served in the
country’s armed forces. The celebration of this day began in 2017, and it is an important
day to reflect on the heroism
JOIN and dedication ofor
@thehindu444 veterans.
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Background
The origins of this day can be traced back to Armistice Day, which is celebrated on
November 11 all over the world. The first Armistice Day was held on November 11, 1919, to
commemorate the end of World War I and to honor the brave soldiers who fought in the
war. In India, the day was first marked through a resolution passed by the Congress in
1926.
Why November 11?
Armistice Day is commemorated on November 11 because it marks the armistice that was
signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany.
Veterans Day
In 1954, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day to honor the living veterans of all
wars. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day is a day to pay tribute to the living veterans who
have served in wars.
Armed Forces Veterans Day
In 2017, Armistice Day was renamed Armed Forces Veterans Day in India. The fourth
Armed Forces Veterans Day was celebrated at the National War Memorial in 2020. The
Chief of Army, Chief of Navy, and Chief of Air Force were present at the event.
Why January 14?
Armed Forces Veterans Day is celebrated on January 14th every year, as it marks the day
when Field Marshal KM Cariappa, the first Commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed
Forces, retired. This day is chosen to honor the contributions of veterans in the armed
forces and recognize the sacrifices they have made for the country.
India-China Trade Reaches All-Time High
The trade between India and China reached an all-time high of USD 135.98 billion in 2022,
even as New Delhi’s trade deficit with Beijing crossed the USD 100 billion mark for the first
time, according to data released by the Chinese customs. This marks a significant increase
from the USD 125 billion recorded in 2021. Despite border tensions following the military
standoff in eastern Ladakh in May 2020, the trade between the two countries continues to
boom.
Trade Deficit
The trade deficit for India stood at USD 101.02 billion, crossing the 2021 figure of USD
69.38 billion. This is the first time the trade deficit, a serious concern constantly expressed
by India, has crossed the USD 100 billion mark. In 2021, the overall trade with China
totalled USD 125.62 billion, an increase of 43.32 per cent year on year crossing the USD 100
billion mark for the first time. The trade deficit in 2021 stood at USD 69.56 billion as India’s
imports from China witnessed an increase of 46.14 per cent to reach USD 97.59 billion.
India’s exports to China increased by 34.28 per cent year on year to reach USD 28.03
billion in 2021.
Trade Growth
According to an official brief on trade posted on the Indian Embassy website in Beijing, the
rapid expansion of India-China
JOIN bilateral trade
@thehindu444 orsince the beginning of this century has
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propelled China to emerge as India’s largest goods trading partner by 2008. Since the
beginning of the last decade, bilateral trade between the two countries has recorded
exponential growth. From 2015 to 2021, India-China bilateral trade grew by 75.30 per cent,
an average yearly growth of 12.55 per cent.
Trade Concerns
Officials say that while trade with China thrived on the availability of cheap Chinese goods
to India, it has continuously resulted in the spiralling trade deficit India had with any other
country. “Our trade deficit concerns are two-pronged. One is the actual size of the deficit.
Two is the fact that the imbalance has continuously been widening year after year,” the
Embassy brief said. “The growth of trade deficit with China could be attributed to two
factors: narrow basket of commodities, mostly primary, that we export to China and
second, market access impediments for most of our agricultural products and the sectors
where we are competitive in, such as pharmaceuticals, IT/ITES,” it said. Despite placating
statements to address India’s concerns, China has not taken any major steps to open up
pharma and IT sectors to Indian exports despite widespread demand.
Exports and Imports
On the decline of Indian exports to China, the Indian Embassy brief said “our predominant
exports have consisted of iron ore, cotton, copper, aluminium and diamonds/ natural
gems”. “Over time, these raw material-based commodities have been overshadowed by
Chinese exports of machinery, power-related equipment, telecom equipment, organic
chemicals and fertilisers.

Despite frosty bilateral relations and border tensions, the trade between India and China
continues to thrive, reaching an all-time high of USD 135.98 billion in 2022. However,
India’s trade deficit with China has also reached a new high, crossing the USD 100 billion
mark for the first time. India has expressed concerns about the trade deficit and market
access impediments for its agricultural products and sectors where it is competitive, such
as pharmaceuticals and IT. Despite these concerns, the growth of bilateral trade between
the two countries continues to be exponential.
Europe's Largest Deposit of Rare Earths Discovered in Sweden
Europe’s largest deposit of rare earths, which are used in everything from mobile phones
to missiles, has been found in Sweden. The discovery is being hailed as a way to reduce
the European Union’s (EU) dependence on China, which currently supplies 98% of the rare
earths used in the EU. The discovery is also being seen as crucial for the green transition,
given the expected increase in demand for electric vehicles and wind turbines.
Rare Earths Importance
The term rare earth refers to a group of 17 elements that are used to make a range of
products and infrastructure which are increasingly important to everyday life. They can be
found in mobiles, hard drives, and trains. But they are also important for green
technology including wind turbines and electric vehicles. Some are essential for military
equipment like missile guidance systems.
Discovery of Rare Earths
JOINin Sweden
Over one million tonnes of rare earths have now been found in Sweden’s far north.
Although significant, that is a fraction of the world’s 120-million-tonne reserves, according
to a US estimate. However, the discovery is being seen as a way to reduce the EU’s
dependence on China.
Demand for Rare Earths
Demand for rare earths is expected to increase fivefold by 2030. “Lithum and rare earths
will soon be more important than oil and gas,” the EU’s internal market commissioner
Thierry Breton said last year.
Importance for Green Transition
The newly discovered raw materials may not reach the market before 10-15 years’ time,
the LKAB mining company’s CEO Jan Mostrom said. Permitting processes take time due to
environmental risk evaluations. But Mr Mostrom called on authorities to speed up the
process, “to ensure increased mining of this type of raw material in Europe”. The
discovery of rare earths in Sweden is being seen as crucial for the green transition given
the expected increase in demand for electric vehicles and wind turbines.
The discovery of Europe’s largest deposit of rare earths in Sweden is being hailed as a way
to reduce the EU’s dependence on China. The rare earths are used in a wide range of
products and infrastructure, including green technology like wind turbines and electric
vehicles. The discovery is also seen as crucial for the green transition given the expected
increase in demand for these products. However, it may take 10-15 years for the raw
materials to reach the market, and authorities are being urged to speed up the permitting
process to ensure increased mining of this type of raw material in Europe.
Peru Crisis: Protests Turn Deadly
Peru is currently facing its worst outbreak of violence in over 20 years, as clashes between
security forces and protesters have left at least 40 people dead. The protests, which began
in December 2022, have been sparked by calls for fresh elections and government
accountability.
What sparked the protests?
The latest round of protests began in December 2022, following the impeachment and
arrest of former president Pedro Castillo on multiple corruption charges and for an
attempted “coup.” Castillo’s impeachment and arrest was followed by the ascent of his
former vice-president, Dina Boluarte, to the presidency. However, many Peruvians view
Boluarte as an illegitimate leader, and have called for fresh elections to allow the people
to choose their own leader. Boluarte has so far been unwilling to step down, and has only
agreed to hold “early” elections in 2024, rather than the scheduled 2026.
Government response adding fuel to fire
The Boluarte government’s response to the protests has only served to fuel the anger of
the protesters. Allegations of undue and excessive force by the government have been
widespread, with reports of live rounds being fired at protesters and smoke bombs being
dropped from helicopters. Human rights groups have also condemned the government’s
actions, with Amnesty
JOIN International Peru’s executive
@thehindu444 director Marina Navarro stating that
or Thenewsmaster
“the escalation of violence taking place in Peru is unacceptable. State repression against
demonstrators and the loss of human lives is exacerbating the crisis.”
The nature of the protests
While the government has been criticized for its handling of the protests, it is important to
note that the protesters themselves have also been responsible for acts of violence.
Reports of stone-pelting, vandalism, and arson have been reported across the country,
with protesters blockading highways, setting government and business buildings on fire,
and invading airports. These actions have caused tens of millions of dollars in damage and
lost revenue.
The impact on tourism
Peru is one of South America’s biggest tourist destinations, with visitors from across the
world attracted to the country’s natural beauty and archaeological heritage. The tourism
industry contributed nearly 4% of Peru’s total GDP in 2020, and employed nearly 8% of the
population, according to OECD iLibrary. However, the protests have brought the industry
to a near standstill, as prospective visitors fear for their safety.
Location of the protests
While protests have been seen across the country, the worst of the violence has been
reported from Peru’s long-marginalized, left-leaning south. This region, which is largely
indigenous, has long been overlooked by successive governments and is now demanding
greater representation and resources.
In conclusion, the situation in Peru is dire, with the country in the grip of its worst
outbreak of violence in over 20 years. The root cause of the protests is the people’s desire
for fresh elections and government accountability, however, the government’s response
to the protests has only served to fuel the anger of the protesters. The violence has also
had a significant impact on the country’s tourism industry, which is a significant
contributor to the economy. It is crucial that a peaceful resolution to the crisis is found
soon, before the situation deteriorates further.
January 16, 2023
What is ‘Saharsh’ Initiative of Tripura?
Tripura government has launched a special education programme called ‘Saharsh’ in an
effort to encourage social and emotional learning. The initiative was launched on a pilot
basis in August last year in 40 schools in the state, and from January 2023, it will be
extended to all government and aided schools of the state. The programme is aimed at
empowering children to learn with happiness and contribute to empathetic development.

What is Social and Emotional Learning?
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults learn
the skills they need to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals,
feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make
responsible decisions. SEL is critical for students to succeed in school and in life. The
‘Saharsh’ initiative is designed to help students develop these skills and become well-
rounded, resilient JOIN
individuals.
Effectiveness of the Program
The ‘Saharsh’ initiative is based on a similar programme that was found to be effective in
social and economic development in research studies of Harvard and Columbia
Universities. The programme is being contextualised with local realities of India before
implementing it in Tripura. The state government has already trained 204 schools for the
‘Saharsh’ curriculum while 200 more will be trained soon. Thirty assistant headmasters
from different districts of Tripura were also selected to work as Saharsh implementation
ambassadors.
Skyhawk: India’s first 5G enabled drone
Startup firm IG Drones, which was born out of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology
(VSSUT) campus in Odisha’s Sambalpur has developed a 5G-enabled drone that is capable
of vertical take-off and landing. The drone, named Skyhawk, can be used in defence and
medical applications, among other sectors.
Key Features
Skyhawk drone can carry a 10 kg payload and has an endurance of around five
hours.
As it’s a VTOL (Vertical Take-off and Landing), it can be operated from any terrain
without the need of a conventional runway.
With the addition of Artificial intelligence and thermal imaging capabilities, the
drones can be used in monitoring border intrusion and also during regular patrolling
by the defence forces, according to the company.

It is IP67 rated and can be controlled via a combination of NavIC + GPS navigational
satellites which remain connected in the upper range of 50 to 60 in case of failsafe
activation.
Potential Applications
Skyhawk has been developed keeping in mind the needs of defence and medical sectors.
It is also ideal for border surveillance and defence operations. The drone is also capable of
operating through satellites in case an internet link is not available, which makes it useful
in remote areas. Additionally, the drone’s speed and range make it well-suited for medical
services delivery.
Application of 5G in Drones
The use of 5G technology in drones allows for much more precision in controlling the
drone. These drones can be controlled directly from the command centre rather than
being on the field. Additionally, 5G networks allow for faster communication between the
drone and the control center, which can be critical in time-sensitive operations such as
border surveillance and medical services delivery.
15 January : Army Day in India
India celebrates Army Day on January 15 every year to commemorate the achievements of
the first Indian Commanders in Chief of the Indian Army, General (later Field Marshal)
K.M. Cariappa. This day marks the day when Cariappa, who led Indian forces to victory in
the 1947 war, tookJOIN
over the command of the or
@thehindu444 Indian Army from General Sir FRR Bucher,
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the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Indian Commanders-in-
Chief of Independent India. The Army Day is celebrated every year to honor Cariappa and
the defense forces.
75th Army Day
Until last year, the main Army Day parade was held at the Cariappa Parade ground in
Delhi where Service Chiefs paid homage to the Indian Army. However, this year as part of
an initiative to take major events to other parts of the country, away from the national
capital region, the 75th Army Day will be held in Bengaluru. The rationale behind the move
is to bring about increased visibility of these events and secure greater engagement with
the local population.
Army Day Parade and Activities
The parade on Army Day will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony by Chief of Army
Staff General Manoj Pande at Madras Engineer Centre War Memorial. Gen. Pande
will then review the Army Day parade. COAS unit citations will also be awarded to
units for their exceptional performance.
As many as eight marching contingents including a horse-mounted contingent from
the Army Service Corps and a military band comprising regimental brass bands will
be a part of this year’s Army parade. The Army Day parade will also be supported by
a flypast of Army aviation Dhruv and Rudra helicopters.
As a part of the Army outreach program to build a better bond with civilians, a run
was organized in Hyderabad at Necklace Road where around 1,000 people

participated.
A blood donation camp was also organized in which 7,500 units of blood were
donated in both Hyderabad and Secunderabad at Military hospitals.
Theme for the Event
In 2022, the Indian Army’s theme for the event was “In Stride with the Future”. It was seen
as an acknowledgement of the “increasingly critical role played by niche and disruptive
technologies in modern warfare”.
Davos 2023: World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting is set to begin in Davos on Monday, January 16,
bringing together world leaders to discuss pressing issues such as the Russia-Ukraine war,
global inflation, and climate change. The theme for this year’s meeting is ‘Cooperation in
a Fragmented World’ and will conclude on January 20.
What are the main focus of the discussions at WEF meeting?

Discussions are due to focus on short-term challenges like how to avoid the risk of a
global recession in 2023 and how to ensure a failing global effort to tackle climate
change is not set back even further by the energy crunch exacerbated by the Ukraine
war and sanctions on Russia.
While Ukraine dominated the sessions at the World Economic Forum’s annual
summit last time around, this time, too, there is expected to be a lot of discussion on
whether geopolitics
JOIN has trumped geoeconomics,
@thehindu444 if deglobalisation can pave the way
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for re-globalisation and the future of the global world order.
Add to these, issues such as the climate crisis, a possible recession, the future of
work, preparing for the next pandemic, and it looks like the world has problems
aplenty.
Who will be attending the WEF meeting?
The WEF meeting is another major platform for global leaders to address the
multiple crises that have deepened divisions and fragmented the geopolitical
landscape. The 53rd annual meeting will be joined by more than 2,700 leaders from
130 countries, including 52 heads of state/government.
In addition to world leaders, several leaders, entrepreneurs, and young businessmen
from India will also join the meeting. Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh
Mandaviya, Smriti Irani, and R K Singh will be in attendance, as well as state chief
ministers Eknath Shinde, B S Bommai, and Yogi Adityanath.
Indian businessmen and entrepreneurs joining the congregation include Byju
Ravindran, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Rajesh Gopinath, CP Gurnani, Rishad Premji,
Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Adar Poonawalla, and Dinesh Kumar Khara.
Oxfam's "Survival of the Richest" Report
According to a new study by Oxfam International, the richest 1% of people in India now
own more than 40% of the country’s total wealth, while the bottom half of the population
together share just 3% of wealth. The study, titled “Survival of the Richest,” was released
on the first day of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

How Can Taxing India’s Billionaires Help Address Inequality?
The report suggests that taxing India’s ten-richest at 5% could fetch enough money to
bring children back to school. Additionally, if India’s billionaires were taxed once at 2% on
their entire wealth, it would support the requirement of Rs 40,423 crore for the nutrition of
malnourished in the country for the next three years. A one-time tax of 5% on the 10
richest billionaires in the country (Rs 1.37 lakh crore) is more than 1.5 times the funds
estimated by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry (Rs 86,200 crore) and the Ministry of
Ayush (Rs 3,050 crore) for the year 2022-23.
What Impact Does Gender Inequality Have on Earnings?
The report also highlights the impact of gender inequality on earnings. It states that
female workers earned only 63 paise for every 1 rupee a male worker earned. For
Scheduled Castes and rural workers, the difference is even starker – the former earned
55% of what the advantaged social groups earned, and the latter earned only half of the
urban earnings between 2018 and 2019.
How Has the Pandemic Affected India’s Billionaires?
Since the pandemic began in November 2022, billionaires in India have seen their wealth
surge by 121% or Rs 3,608 crore per day in real terms, Oxfam said. On the other hand,
approximately 64% of the total Rs 14.83 lakh crore in Goods and Services Tax (GST) came
from bottom 50% of the population in 2021-22, with only 3% of GST coming from the top
10%. The total number
JOIN of billionaires
@thehindu444 in India increased from 102 in 2020 to 166 in 2022.
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What Can Be Done to Address Wealth Inequality in India?
Oxfam India CEO Amitabh Behar said, “The country’s marginalized – Dalits, Adivasis,
Muslims, Women and informal sector workers are continuing to suffer in a system which
ensures the survival of the richest.” He urged the Union finance minister to implement
progressive tax measures such as wealth tax and inheritance tax, which he said have been
historically proven to be effective in tackling inequality.
Citing a nationwide survey by Fight Inequality Alliance India (FIA India) in 2021, Oxfam said
it found that more than 80% of people in India support tax on the rich and corporations
who earned record profits during the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 90% participants
demanded budget measures to combat inequality such as universal social security, right
to health and expansion of budget to prevent gender-based violence.
National Urban Technology Mission for Municipal Services and ULBs
The Centre is set to launch a five-year National Urban Technology Mission, which will
infuse technological innovations in municipal services and infrastructure of 4,500 urban
local bodies in the country. The mission, to be spearheaded by the ministry of housing and
urban affairs, will have three major sub-heads and an outlay of ₹15,000 crore for five
years.
What is the Purpose of the Mission?
The National Urban Technology Mission will aim to improve the online governance
and monitoring of environmental infrastructure of 1,000 cities.
The mission will identify six basic common citizen services which every urban local
body will have to offer online, including issuing birth and death certificates, providing
water and electricity connections, computation and collection of property tax and
grievance redress.
Additionally, the sewage treatment, air quality, flood management and water bodies
of these cities will be monitored through technological interventions.
What Services Will be Offered Online Under the Mission?
Under the mission, all urban local bodies will be required to offer six common services to
citizens, which will mean that the entire country will offer these services online to the
people. These services will necessarily include issuing birth and death certificates,
providing water and electricity connections, computation and collection of property tax
and grievance redress.
How Will the Environmental Infrastructure be monitored?
The second sub-head of the mission would be monitoring and efficient management of
the environmental infrastructure of 1,000 cities. Under the mission, sewage treatment, air
quality, flood management and water bodies of these cities will be monitored through
technological interventions. This will help to ensure that cities are equipped with the
necessary technology to manage and monitor their environmental infrastructure, leading
to improved services for citizens.
CII Business Confidence Index
The Confederation of Indian
JOIN Industry (CII) has
@thehindu444 or reported that the latest CII Business
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Confidence Index for the October-December quarter rebounded to its highest reading in
almost two years, with a value of 67.6. This is an increase from 62.2 in the previous
quarter, reflecting optimism around India’s position despite rising global uncertainties.
The CII stated that the sharp improvement in the value of the index was due to subsiding
concerns around the impending recession and its impact on the Indian economy.
The Index is based on the findings of a survey of over 120 firms of varying sizes and across
all industry sectors and regions of the country.
What is the Expected Growth Rate of the Indian Economy?
A majority (70 per cent) of the survey respondents feel that the Indian economy will
expand in a range of 6.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent in the current financial year ending
March, down from 8.7 per cent in the last fiscal. The latest first advance estimates of GDP
for the current fiscal put the GDP print at 7 per cent.
What is the Impact of Policy Rate Hikes on Economic Activity?
Nearly half of the respondents (47 per cent) have indicated that they have already started
feeling the impact of the policy rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the overall
economic activity, as revealed by the survey. High interest rates have also impinged on
private investment levels. Currently, most of the heavy lifting to support growth is being
done by public capex, with private capex playing a supporting role.
How is Global Economic Headwinds Affecting India’s Economy?
Despite global economic growth witnessing headwinds due to tightening financial
conditions and geopolitical tensions, an overwhelming 73 per cent of the survey

respondents expect only a moderate impact on the Indian economy. The confidence
among respondents stems from the fact that 86 per cent believe the government’s focus
on infrastructure is the biggest positive for the Indian economy, followed by improvement
in tax collections and good consumption recovery.
Will Investment Cycles Recover in the Next Fiscal?
The survey results present an encouraging prognosis with 90 per cent feeling that their
company’s investment cycle will recover during the next fiscal. Around 52 per cent expect
recovery during the first half of the next fiscal while about 37 per cent of them foreseeing
a pickup in investments by the second half of the year.
What is the Outlook for Profit Margins in the Oct-Dec Quarter?
With a resumption of business activity, expectations for the Oct-Dec quarter have
improved as majority of the respondents anticipate an increase in sales (60 per cent) and
count of new orders (55 per cent). Consequently, the profit outlook for the quarter has
strengthened as nearly half of the respondents (47 per cent) foresee an increase in profit
margins, despite the majority of them indicating high input costs.
Rajasthan's Blindness Control Policy
The state of Rajasthan has made history by implementing the first-ever policy for
blindness control in the country, with the objective of “Right to Sight.” Rajasthan Chief
Minister Ashok Gehlot has taken an innovative initiative towards realizing the concept of
“Nirogi Rajasthan”JOIN
(Healthy Rajasthan) in the state.
Key Points
The policy aims to bring light in the lives of more than 3 lakh people suffering from
visual impairment in the state. The prevalence rate of blindness in the country was
1.1% in 2020, and the government aims to bring it down to 0.3% through the
Blindness Control Policy.
The government is taking a number of measures to improve access to eye care
services in the state. The state government under the policy for Blindness Control
will mandatorily run Keratoplasty Center and eye bank in all the government medical
colleges.
Under this policy, cornea collected by private organizations and NGOs getting
financial help from the government will have to be provided to the government
institutions on priority.
Efforts to eliminate visual impairment would be made in the districts in collaboration
with voluntary organizations, trusts, hospitals, and other charitable institutions
working in this field. The state government will carry out a campaign for eye
donation on an extensive level along with the private institutions.
Nirogi Rajasthan Campaign
The “Nirogi Rajasthan” campaign, launched by the Rajasthan government on December
17th, 2019, aims to improve the overall health and well-being of the state’s citizens. The
campaign focuses on a wide range of health-related issues and employs a multi-pronged
approach to address them, including promoting healthy lifestyles, preventative healthcare

measures, and creating awareness about various health-related issues.
This policy and campaign are a significant step towards improving the standard of living in
Rajasthan and providing the residents with access to essential services that were
previously out of reach.
India's First Centre of Excellence in Online Gaming
The Indian government has recently announced plans to set up the country’s first Centre
of Excellence in Online Gaming in Shillong, Meghalaya by March 2023.
Key Points
The centre, which will be established under the Digital India Startup Hub through the
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), is aimed at catalyzing start-ups and
entrepreneurs from the entire North East Region to build the next generation of
online gaming ecosystem.
In addition to the Centre of Excellence, the government will also be setting up a

state-of-the-art facility under the National Institute of Electronics and IT (NIELIT) in
Shillong to provide training on cutting-edge digital skills.
The 10-acre campus, which is currently under construction, will cater to the skilling
requirements of youth in the North East Region.
Scope of the Online Gaming Industry in India
India has one of the largest markets for the gaming business. A report by the Boston
Consulting GroupJOIN
(BCG) @thehindu444
and Sequoia India or
suggests that the Indian mobile gaming
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industry will be worth $5 billion in 2025. However, the industry also faces issues with
violent and unregulated content in online games. The government is taking steps to
address these issues and foster a safe and trusted ecosystem for the online gaming
industry.
Re-Launching Skill India through PMKVY 4.0
The government is also re-launching the Skill India program through PMKVY 4.0, which
will train around 50,000 youth in Meghalaya in future-ready skills with industry-backed job
opportunities. The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship under PMKVY 4.0 has
set a target to skill around 60,000 youth in Tripura and 35,000 in Nagaland across a
spectrum of approved courses.
Rajasthan Becomes First State to Implement Blindness Control Policy
Rajasthan has become the first state in India to implement a policy for blindness control
with the objective of ensuring the “right to sight” for its citizens. The Medical & Health
Department of the state government released the policy document over the weekend,
outlining a massive drive to reduce the rate of blindness and bring light into the lives of
over 3 lakh people suffering from visual impairment.
Prevalence of Blindness
The prevalence rate of blindness in Rajasthan was 1.1% in 2020, and the new policy aims to
bring it down to 0.3%. This ambitious goal will be achieved through a combination of
keratoplasty centers for cornea transplant, eye banks in medical colleges, and public
awareness campaigns.
Cornea Transplants and Eye Banks
The state government will mandatorily run keratoplasty centers for cornea transplant and
eye banks in all medical colleges. Additionally, cornea collected by private bodies and non-
government organizations receiving financial assistance will be made available to
government institutions on priority.
Collaboration with Voluntary Organizations
Comprehensive efforts for the elimination of visual impairment will be made in all districts
in collaboration with voluntary organizations, trusts, hospitals, and charitable institutions.
This will include special training for eye experts and surgeons, post-graduate students,
and counsellors working for eye donation.
Public Awareness and Technical Improvements
The policy also entails a drive for public awareness as well as technical improvement
activities related to the cure of blindness. This will include campaigns for eye donation on
an extensive level and training for eye assistants, in addition to training for eye surgeons
and other specialists.
Rajasthan has taken a bold step in implementing a policy for blindness control, with the
goal of ensuring the “right to sight” for all its citizens. The state government’s efforts, in
collaboration with voluntary organizations, trusts, hospitals and charitable institutions, will
go a long way in reducing the prevalence of blindness and bringing light into the lives of
those suffering from visual@thehindu444
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India's National Green Hydrogen Mission
In a move towards a greener future, the Indian government has announced the National
Green Hydrogen Mission, with the goal of making India the global hub for green
hydrogen production. The mission aims to achieve a production capacity of 5 million
metric tons of hydrogen per year by 2030 and will be overseen by an Empowered Group,
comprising of key government officials and industry experts.
The National Green Hydrogen Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet on January 4th,
with an expenditure budget of Rs 19,744 crore.
Empowered Group for National Green Hydrogen Mission
The Empowered Group for National Green Hydrogen Mission will be headed by the
cabinet secretary and will include the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of
India, NITI Aayog CEO, and secretaries of various ministries, as well as experts from the
industry. This group will be responsible for steering and implementing the mission,
providing guidance, monitoring progress, and recommending policy interventions to
achieve the mission’s objectives.
National Green Hydrogen Advisory Group
In addition to the Empowered Group, a National Green Hydrogen Advisory Group will also
be established. This group will comprise experts from academic and research institutions,
industry, and civil society, and will advise the Empowered Group on all science and
technology-related matters pertaining to the mission.
Technology Gap Analysis and Benchmarking
The National Green Hydrogen Advisory Group will carry out a technology gap analysis for
various aspects of the hydrogen value chain. Based on this analysis, the group will define
broad performance and cost targets based on global benchmarking.
National Startup Day 2023
National Startup Day is celebrated annually on January 16th in India, to recognize and
promote the country’s vibrant startup ecosystem. The day is marked by a week-long
event, the Startup India Innovation Week, organized by the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
While there is no designated theme for the day, the event is focused on highlighting the
contributions of startup businesses and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship in
the country. The event provides a platform for startup business owners to connect with
investors, mentors, and other entrepreneurs, and to share their ideas and experiences.
History of National Startup Day

National Startup Day was established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, as a way
to celebrate the successes of the startup community in India. The first National Startup
Day was observed in 2022, and PM Modi praised the expansion of startups over the
previous few years as he spoke with aspiring business owners via video conference.
Significance of National Startup Day
National Startup Day is an opportunity for startup business owners to discuss innovation
and their contribution
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the economy. It also
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initiatives and how they contribute to society at large. Additionally, it encourages young
people to pursue entrepreneurship as a career option. This day is also celebrated to
applaud and promote the Indian startup ecosystem.
Startup India Innovation Week
The Startup India Innovation Week is organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in the entire
week of National Startup Day January 10 to 16. The first day of the week features events,
including a webinar on “Founders of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow” despite the lack of a
set theme for the day.
Jallikattu celebrations begin in Madurai
Recently, the bull-taming sport of Jallikattu, also known as ‘Eru Thazhuvuthal’ and
‘Mancuvirattu’, has begun in full swing in the Palamedu of Madurai district.
Key Points
This traditional event, which is a part of the Pongal celebrations and is held on the
day of Mattu Pongal, is a sport where a bull is let loose among a crowd, and
participants attempt to take control of the bull by holding on to its hump for as long
as they can.
The sport is held in various locations across the state, including Avaniyapuram,
Palamedu, and Alanganallur.
This year, over 9,690 bulls and 5,399 tamers have registered online for participating
in the Jallikattu.
To control the spread of COVID-19, the District Collector Aneesh Shekhar issued
standard guidelines for the Jallikattu event. Only 300 bull tamers and 150 spectators
are allowed in the Palamedu Jallikattu competition.
Mann Kuthal Process
Before the Jallikattu event, the ‘Mann Kuthal’ process takes place where bulls are trained
to develop their skills by digging their horns in the wet earth. The bulls are prepared to
attack when someone tries to catch their hump.
Why is Jallikattu important?
The sport is a traditional way of preserving pure breed native bulls for the peasant
community. Currently, cattle breeding has become an artificial process. The
conservationists argue that Jallikattu is the best way to protect the male animals which
otherwise are used only for meat.
Jallikattu in other states

In Karnataka Jallikattu is called Kambala. The Karnataka Government too passed a law to
save the sport. Except in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the sport is banned in other states
such as Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Controversy Surrounding Jallikattu
The sport of Jallikattu has been a controversial topic in India, with some arguing that it
violates animal rights while others argue in favor of preserving the “culture and customs”
of the local populace.
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Supreme Court’s decision to abolish Jallikattu served as the
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primary impetus for the demonstration. The protests’ largely peaceful atmosphere
attracted praise from all throughout the nation, spurring efforts to make several other
Indian states’ previously unlawful festivals legitimate.
Thiruvalluvar Day
The Thiruvalluvar Day is celebrated annually on January 15th or January 16th in Tamil
Nadu as a part of Pongal (or Sankranti) celebrations. The day is dedicated to honoring the
contribution of the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, who is best known for his literary work, the
Thirukkural. The Thirukkural is a collection of 1330 couplets divided into 133 sections, and
is considered one of the greatest works of Tamil literature.
About Thiruvalluvar
Despite his literary legacy, little is known about Thiruvalluvar’s life. There is no information
available about his family, birthplace, or religious affiliation. Some believe that he lived in
Mylapore, Chennai, and was born under a tree in the Ekambareshwar (Lord Shiva) temple
complex. Others suggest that he lived in the 8th century. In 1976, the Tamil Nadu
Government built the Valluvar Kottam in his honor and a 133-foot statue was erected in
Kanniyakumari.
Thirukkural
The Thirukkural, written by Thiruvalluvar, is divided into three parts: Dharma, Artha, and
Kama. Dharma represents virtue, Artha represents wealth, and Kama represents love. The
couplets in the Thirukkural define moral living, ideal characteristics of every relationship in
the world, and moral responsibilities of every human being.

Valluvar Year
The Valluvar year is a calendar system that has an additional 31 years. For example, the
Valluvar year 2022 (Gregorian year) is 2053. The idea of Valluvar Day was initiated by the
former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi.
Why is the Day Celebrated on January 16 or January 17?
The resolution to celebrate Thiruvalluvar Day was passed on January 17, 1935, by Kali
Sivakannuswami Pillai and Padmashri Suppayya. The first Thiruvalluvar Day was
celebrated in May 1935. However, over time the celebrations began to fade away. In 1954,
an Elam scholar from Sri Lanka took efforts to revive the day. Today, the day is widely
celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.
Varuna 2023: India-France Bilateral Naval Exercise
The 21st edition of the bilateral naval exercise between India and France, Exercise Varuna,
has begun on the Western Seaboard on January 16th, 2023.

Key Points
The bilateral exercise, which was initiated in 1993, was named ‘Varuna’ in 2001 and
has become a defining feature of the India-France strategic bilateral relationship.
This edition of the exercise will see the participation of the Indian Navy’s indigenous
guided missile stealth destroyer INS Chennai, guided missile frigate INS Teg,
maritime patrol aircraft P-8I and Dornier, integral helicopters, and MiG29K fighter
aircraft. JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
The French Navy will be represented by the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, frigates
FS Forbin and Provence, support vessel FS Marne, and maritime patrol aircraft
Atlantique.
Importance of the Exercise
The exercise will take place over five days, from January 16th to 20th, 2023, and will
involve advanced air defense exercises, tactical maneuvers, surface firings, underway
replenishment, and other maritime operations.
Exercise Varuna plays a critical role in strengthening the strategic partnership
between India and France, and in enhancing the interoperability and understanding
between the two navies. It also serves as an opportunity for both countries to
demonstrate their commitment to regional peace, security, and stability.
The exercise also enables the Indian Navy to learn from the French Navy’s advanced
capabilities and technologies and to improve its own maritime capabilities.
CEA Disaster management plan for Power Sector
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has released a disaster management plan (DMP) for
the power sector, in order to evolve a proactive and integrated approach to strengthen
disaster mitigation, preparedness, emergency response, and recovery efforts. The power
sector is one of the most critical infrastructures of the country, and any disruption due to a
disaster can create hardship for human beings as every aspect of human life is directly or
indirectly associated with electricity.
Background
The DMP comes as the Government is investigating instances of land subsidence in the
Uk’s Joshimath, the gateway to pilgrimage sites, such as Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib.
The DMP is also in conformity with the 10-point agenda articulated by the Prime Minister
at the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2016. This includes
investing in risk mapping globally, creating a network of universities working on disaster-
related issues, leveraging social media and mobile technologies for disaster risk reduction
(DRR), and building local capacities for disaster management, reduction, and relief.
Highlights of the DMP
The DMP provides a framework and direction to the utilities in the power sector for
all phases of the disaster management cycle.
It is intended to guide all agencies within the sector with a general concept of
potential emergencies and roles and assignments before, during, and following
emergency situations.
To estimate threats to power infrastructure, it is pertinent that fragility and
vulnerability analysis is carried out for civil structures like buildings and foundations
in transmission and distribution facilities.
Objectives of the DMP
The main objectives of the DMP are to find out the quantitative risk involved in power
networks and to devise effective strategies for prevention, mitigation, response, and
recovery. JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Significance of DMP
Accurately assessing climate risks is challenging, hence, electric utilities can manage risks
by considering different climate scenarios and potential impacts on their assets. This will
ensure a reliable power supply and quick restoration even in times of extreme weather
events and natural disasters. This will also be helpful for policy and decision-makers to
evaluate strategies and measures for critical infrastructure planning and protection.
January 17, 2023
National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme
The National Aquifer Mapping and Management programme, which aims to identify
aquifers and water availability, is set to be completed in one year, according to G. Asok
Kumar, Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, Union Ministry of Jal
Shakti. The announcement was made during a conference on ‘Water Reclamation and
Reuse’ organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)
and the International Water Association (IWA) in Chennai.
Aquifer Mapping
Elaborating on the Central government’s initiatives to resolve issues of water
management and water governance, Mr. Kumar said the aquifer mapping would help in
developing plans for groundwater management. The mapping will provide a detailed
understanding of the location and extent of aquifers, the amount of water available, and
the quality of the water. This information will be used to develop plans for the sustainable
management of groundwater resources.

Reuse and Recycling of Wastewater
Noting that the policy on reusing of treated wastewater has found resonance in many
States, Mr. Kumar said the Central government’s emphasis was on wastewater as a
resource rather than as waste, and would work towards banning freshwater use for non-
potable purposes. He spoke about the national framework for safe reuse of treated water,
and the prime focus now is on reuse and recycling of wastewater and monetisation of
sludge and treated sewage.
Jal Jeevan Mission and Namami Gange
Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide tap connections to all households by 2025, and
the Namami Gange programme, which aims at a cleaner Ganga and enhanced sewage
treatment capacities. The Jal Jeevan Mission will provide safe and adequate drinking water
to households in rural areas, while the Namami Gange programme will work towards
cleaning up the Ganges river and improving sewage treatment facilities.

Chennai as a Manufactured Water Capital
Experts also spoke about how Chennai was fast-emerging as a manufactured water
capital in the country, with its recent wastewater reuse initiatives. Rajiv Mittal, CMD and
Group CEO of VA Tech Wabag Ltd., a company that has executed desalination and tertiary
treatment projects for Chennai, said besides adding desalination plants with treatment
capacities of 550 million litres a day, projects are being planned for the optimum supply of
recycled water and use of
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recharge of lakes.
Investing in Water Recycling
Naina Lal Kidwai, chairman of FICCI Water Mission, spoke about the significance of
investing in water recycling, sharing industrial best practices and creating a market for
treated waste water to build a water-resilient future. Wastewater must be treated as an
asset and incentives like carbon credits must be provided for reuse and recycling of
wastewater. Reclaimed water would ensure drought-proof water availability, food security
and sustainable socio-economic development.
January 18, 2023
Who is Abdul Rehman Makki?
Abdul Rehman Makki is a Pakistan-based terrorist who was recently listed as a global
terrorist by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) under its ISIL (Daesh) and Al-
Qaeda Sanctions Committee. He has been sanctioned based on his links to the 2000 Red
Fort attack and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Makki is the brother-in-law of Lashkar
leader and founder Hafiz Saeed, who was the mastermind of the 26/11 attacks. In 2022,
India and the United States jointly proposed listing Makki under the United Nations
Security Council’s Al-Qaeda and ISIL Sanctions Committee, however, China rejected the
proposal by putting a “technical hold” on it.
Key Facts
Makki’s listing serves as an effective tool to counter terrorist threats and dismantle
terror infrastructure in the region.

It puts pressure on Pakistan to take action against those involved in terrorist
activities.
It highlights the importance of international cooperation in the fight against
terrorism.
It sends a clear message to Pakistan that the international community will not
tolerate state-sponsored terrorism.
It serves as a reminder of China’s role in the international community and the
responsibility it holds in addressing global security issues.
It holds those responsible accountable for their actions, and sends a clear message
that the international community will not tolerate their actions.
Implications
Makki’s listing as a global terrorist could lead to financial sanctions on Makki and his
associates. It puts pressure on Pakistan to take action against those involved in terrorist
activities and could lead to further isolation on the international stage. Makki’s listing
highlights Pakistan’s role as a breeding ground for terrorist groups and its failure to take
action against them. It undermines Pakistan’s claim that it is a victim of terrorism and
supports counter-terrorism efforts, it will be seen as evidence of the opposite.
India and Russia Joint Venture starts production of Kalashnikov AK-203
The Indo-Russian joint venture for the manufacturing of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles
is a testament to the strong
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@thehindu444 orbetween the two countries. The move to
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manufacture these rifles in India through a joint venture not only lends greater firepower
to the Indian armed forces but also serves as a significant step in strengthening military-
technical cooperation between the two nations.
Production and Distribution
The Kalashnikov AK-203 is now being produced in India through a joint venture between
Russia’s Rosoboronexport and India’s government-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB)
under the brand name “Kalashnikov India” in Korwa, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. The facility
has the capacity to produce 750,000 rifles per year
Made in India Initiative
The joint venture, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited, plans to ensure 100% localisation of
the production of AK-203 rifles in India, in line with the government of India’s ‘Made in
India’ initiative. The facility will not only be able to fully equip the personnel of other law
enforcement agencies in India with AK-203 assault rifles but also has plans to export its
products to third countries, thereby promoting the ‘Make in India’ initiative on a global
scale.
What is Kalashnikov AK-203 Assault Rifle?
The Kalashnikov AK-203 is a type of assault rifle that is designed and manufactured by the
Kalashnikov Concern, a subsidiary of the Russian Rostec State Corporation. The AK-203 is
part of the AK-200 series of rifles, which are based on the traditional AK-47 design but
feature modernized and updated components.
What is the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) Initiative?

The World Economic Forum, in partnership with over 45 organizations, has launched the
Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA) initiative. The goal of GAEA is to fund and grow new
and existing public, private, and philanthropic partnerships (PPPPs) to unlock the $3
trillion of financing needed each year to reach net zero, reverse nature loss, and restore
biodiversity by 2050.
GAEA’s Partners and Objectives
GAEA’s growing body of philanthropic partners includes organizations such as the African
Climate Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Over the next 12
months, GAEA will work with these partners and McKinsey Sustainability as a knowledge
partner, to build momentum around three clear objectives:
Convene leaders from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to identify and
target climate and nature solutions where they are best positioned to play a catalytic
role.
Pilot and refine funding models that can support PPPP interventions.
Scale up funding for targeted climate and nature solutions, leveraging philanthropy
as a catalyst for attracting and deploying other forms of financing.
The Role of Philanthropy
Philanthropic giving can address this funding gap, with unique qualities not found in other
financing. Philanthropy is nimble, more tolerant of risks and is driven by values and long-
term outcomes rather
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@thehindu444 Philanthropic financing for climate
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mitigation has risen in recent years, but still represents less than 2% of total philanthropic
giving, estimated at $810 billion in 2021.
GAEA aims to change this by tapping into the potential of philanthropic funding to
catalyze and attract other forms of financing to help unlock the $3 trillion needed annually
to reach net zero, reverse nature loss and restore biodiversity by 2050.
World Economic Forum (WEF)
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Swiss non-profit organization that brings
together leaders to discuss global issues.
Founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab
Mission is to “improve the state of the world” by shaping global, regional, and
industry agendas.
WEF’s activities include publishing research reports, hosting events, and providing a
platform for collaboration.
WEF’s 2023 annual meeting in Davos Switzerland.
January 20, 2023
World Population Review
The United States Census Bureau World Population Clock recently released its “World
Population Review” report. According to the report, the world’s population (as of
September 2022) was 7.9 billion. It is to reach 8 billion by November 2022. In 2015, the
world population was 7.2 billion.
Key Findings of the Report
India and China were the only countries with more than 1 billion people.
China is the most populous nation in the world with 1.42 billion people.
The population of India is 1.41 billion. India is to overtake China and become the
most populous nation in the world by 2030.
The population growth rate of the world is decreasing. It will reach zero by
2080-2100. After 2100, the growth rate will be negative.
Prediction made: By 2100, the world population is to reach 10.4 billion people.
Countries with more than 100 million people
Twelve countries in the world have more than 100 million people. They are as follows:
US: 338 million
Indonesia: 275 million
Pakistan: 236 million
Nigeria: 219 million

Brazil: 215 million
Bangladesh: 171 million
Russia: 144 million
Mexico: 127 million
Japan: 123 million
Ethiopia: 124 million
Philippines: 115 million
Egypt: 111 million
Of these twelve countries, the population of Russia and Japan is to decrease by 2050. But
the population growth rate of the rest of the countries is expected to increase.
Countries with less than 100 million people
Vatican City is the least populated country in the world with a population count of
500 people.
Eighty countries have populations between 10 million and 99.9 million.
Sixty-six countries have populations between 1 million and 9.9 million.
Seventy-Four countries have a population of less than one million.
Population Growth rate
World Population growth rate: 140 babies are born every minute
The growth rate fell below 1% in 2020. This occurrence is the first since 1950.
Future Predictions
Half of the world’s population is expected to come from just eight countries. They are as
follows:
India
Egypt
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Pakistan
Philippines
Tanzania
Congo
As fertility and birth rates are increasing in some African countries, their population is
expected to double in the coming days. Another reason for the doubling is the decrease in
malnutrition and infant mortality.
Life Expectancy
Global life expectancy has increased. It was 72.8 years in 2019. This is nine years
longer than the expectancy in 1990. The global expectancy is expected to increase
and reach 77.2 years by 2050.
Life expectancy is increasing because of the reduction of impacts of non-
communicable diseases and AIDS.
India-UAE Partnership Summit
The India-UAE Partnership Summit is to be held in Dubai on January 23-25, 2023.

International Business Linkage Forum is to host the summit along with Dubai Chambers.
The summit follows increasing trade ties between the countries due to the Golden Visa
policy of UAE and The CEPA Agreement.
About the Summit
Government speakers and business personalities will attend the summit and will
discuss strategies to increase trade opportunities between the countries.
Sectors to beJOIN
focused in the summit: Health
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manufacturing
The summit will discuss the golden Visa Scheme of UAE and the success stories of
businesses that thrived in Dubai
India-UAE
In 2021, India was the second biggest trading partner of the UAE.
India was the first country to sign the bilateral trade agreement with UAE.
5 million Indians are staying in UAE and they make up 30% of the UAE population
CEPA Agreement
CEPA is Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. India and UAE signed the
agreement in 2022
The gems and jewelry sector are expected to benefit more from the agreement
CEPA is expected to increase the trade between the countries to 100 billion USD
within five years
CEPA is a free trade agreement between two countries. It adds trade benefits. For
instance, by signing CEPA with UAE, Indian goods received an 80% reduction in
tariffs.
India and other countries’ CEPA agreement
India has signed the CEPA agreement with two other countries other than UAE. They are
Japan and South Korea.
Golden Visa Scheme
It is an immigration program of the UAE government. Under the scheme, a businessman
(a wealthy individual) gets a residence permit and even citizenship in some cases. Apart
from UAE, several other countries follow this scheme. They are Portugal, Italy, Germany,
Greece, Bulgaria, Austria, Belgium, Malta, the UK, Canada, the USA, etc.
Impact of the Golden Visa Scheme
The UAE government recently increased the validity of the golden visa to 10 years. This
change and the CEPA agreement have widened trade opportunities between the
countries. The Summit is one of the opportunistic events of these changes.
Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura Foundation Day: January 21
On January 21, 2023, the northeastern states Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura celebrated
their Statehood day. The government of India granted their statehood on January 21,
1972, under the North Eastern Region (Reorganization) Act, 1971.
Background
During British rule, there were 565 princely states in India. They were not part of British
India but were tied to the system via Subsidiary Alliances. The Government of India Act, of
1935 introduced the Instrument of Accession. Under this, a princely state may choose to
join the Federation of India. Most of the princely states disagreed with the Instrument of
Accession but changed their opinion after Second World War. After the British left India in
1947, many states joined the federation. Some held on to their autonomy.
Formation of Manipur
Maharaja of Manipur, Bodhachandra Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with India
in 1947. Indian Government assured the king that the internal autonomy of Manipur will
be maintained. The king started facing pressure from the public and therefore made
Manipur a constitutional monarchy in 1948-49. With this Manipur became the first Indian
region to hold elections. By 1948, the Manipur assembly started facing differences and the
Maharaja was losing his power amongst the public. By 1949, the Indian Government
signed a merger agreement with Maharaja of Manipur. From 1949 to 1972, Tripura
remained a Union Territory. It received statehood in 1972.
Formation of Meghalaya
Meghalaya comprises three main regions called Khasi hills, the Garo hills, and the Jaintia
hills. The rulers of Garo and Khasi joined India in 1947.
Meghalaya was made a sub-state of Assam in 1969 under the Assam Reorganization
(Meghalaya) Act, 1969. This was done according to the sixth schedule of the Indian
constitution. The sixth schedule discusses the administration of tribal areas and their
autonomy. Later Meghalaya received its statehood in 1972.
Formation of Tripura
Tripura did not sign the Instrument of Accession initially. It merged with India in 1949 and
was made a Union Territory. Later it received its statehood in 1972.
Kerala rolls out menstrual and maternity leaves for students
The Kerala Government recently introduced menstrual leave for girl students above the
age of 18 years. The decision is a part of the gender-sensitive education reforms of the
Kerala Government.
About Menstrual and Maternity leaves
The decision on menstrual and maternity leaves was made by the Higher Education
Department. In accordance with the decision, a girl of age 18 years and above is
eligible to avail of 60 days of menstrual leave in a year.
The Higher Education Department also availed maternity leave for students pursuing
their higher education.
With this, the attendance percentage of girl students is sealed at 73% as against the
usual 75%.
Why the menstrual leave?
To ease the physical and mental pressure of girl children during their cycles. Girls face
physical and mental pressure during their menstrual cycles due to fluctuating hormone
levels.
First Menstrual leave in India
The concept of menstrual leave was first introduced by the Cochin University of Science
and Technology (Cusat). The university launched the move on the demand of SFI students.
The student union demanded 24 days of extra menstrual leave for girls.
Menstrual leave policy in India
There are no laws on menstrual leave in India. However, certain private companies are
offering menstrual leaves to their female employees. Some of them are Swiggy, Magzter,
Gozoop, Zomato, etc. The discussion of menstrual leave has recently increased due to the
rapid changes in lifestyle. As you observe, these companies are in the door delivery
business, and therefore, the need for menstrual leave has become mandatory.
Menstrual leave in other countries
In 2016, Sweden introduced paid menstrual leaves by passing a law. But most of the other
EU nations including Spain and France have not yet adopted the policy.
Bills on Menstrual leave
In 2017, a Congress Lok Sabha MP, Ninong Ering from Arunachal Pradesh introduced the
Menstruation Bill calling for two days of menstrual leave.
Jaipur Literature Festival
The Jaipur Literature Festival is celebrated in the month of January in the city of Jaipur, the
Pink city. 16th edition of the festival is to be celebrated in 2023. The festival was introduced
in 2006 and is the largest free literary festival in the world.
Key Highlights
Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah addressed the festival, Abdul received the Nobel
prize in literature in 2021. He was honored for his works on the fate of the refugees
and the effects of colonialism in the Gulf.
The Festival is to focus on varied topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Geopolitics, the
Russia-Ukraine conflict, crime fiction, translation, economics, etc.
Why is Jaipur Literature Festival Celebrated?
To bring the literary experts, artists of different fields, and writers to a single
platform
To give space for the artists to indulge in a meaningful debate
Jaipur: Pink City
Jaipur is rich in architecture. In 1876, the city was completely painted pink upon the visit of
Prince Albert. Albert was Queen Victoria’s husband. The city was painted pink to welcome
him. Since then the city is widely called the Pink city.
Apache attack helicopters
The Indian Army had ordered six Apache Helicopters with the Tata Boeing Aerospace
Limited (TBAL). So far, six of these helicopters have been delivered and five more are
being prepared. The order was placed under the GoI’s Aatma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.
The initiative aims to make India self-reliant. And therefore, GoI placed its order with the
Hyderabad-based TBAL. The TBAL is a joint venture established to make India a global
defense exporter.
India’s role in Apache helicopter
Today, after the establishment of TBAL, every Apache helicopter sole in the world has its
origin in India. This is because the venture supplies secondary structures required in the
production of the helicopters.
Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited
Apart from Apache helicopters, the TBAL also manufactures fin structures of Boeing 737.
TATA in airspace
TATA is planning to produce EADS CASA C 295 aircraft in Vadodara. These are transport
aircraft. GoI sold Air India to TATA under its disinvestment plan. TATA has now merged Air
India with Vistara Airlines. Vistara Airlines is a joint venture of TATA and Singapore Airlines.
Apache helicopter
It is an attack helicopter with a Turbo Shaft engine. It is armed with chain guns. The
helicopter has night vision systems and target acquisition systems. Also, it can carry
missiles and rocket pods. The Apache model was designed and developed by the Hughes
helicopter for the US Army.
Apache helicopters in Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force inducted these helicopters in 2019. They were first deployed in Pathankot
Air Force Station. They replaced the MI-35 helicopters. India bought MI-35 from Russia.
Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise Cyclone-I
The Indian and the Egyptian Armies are to conduct the first-ever joint exercise Cyclone-I. It
is to be held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan for 14 days. The exercise is the first of its kind as it
brings the special forces of the countries to a common platform. Cyclone-I would help the
armies exchange their culture and ethos. Also, they will foster interoperability and aid in
boosting the diplomatic relation between the nations.
Objectives of the exercise
The exercise is to honor the professional skills of the armies.
It will focus on skills necessary to fight in desert terrain undertaking reconnaissance,

counter-terrorism, and other special operations.
The armies will share their experience, professional knowledge, and tactics
The exercise aims to build trust between the countries
Training and Drills
30-40 special forces are participating in the exercise
The armies will engage and get trained in combat free fall, sniping, surveillance, etc
India-Egypt
Exercise Desert Warrior is held between the Air Forces of the countries.
India and Egypt manufactured Helen-300 jointly
In 2006, the Defense Committee was formed. The committee is responsible for
framing key defense decisions between the countries. The sixth meeting of the
committee was held in 2016.
2022 marked the 75th year of India-Egypt relations

Trade between India and Egypt was 7.26 billion USD in 2021.
First Movers Coalition (FMC) Leadership Meeting
The World Economic Forum recently conducted the First Movers Coalition Leadership
Meeting deliberating the need for clean energy technologies. India participated in the
meeting.
What did India say at the meeting?
India pushedJOIN for increased European investments.
@thehindu444 The country highlighted the need
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for mutual partnership with European countries.
India met several world leaders and discussed its Startup 20 agenda. The S 20 is a
Science Summit to be organized by India on the sidelines of the G20. In 2023, India is
hosting the G20 meeting.
First Movers Coalition
The FMC was launched by US President Joe Biden in 2021. He launched it at the Climate
Change Conference held in Glasgow. The aim of the coalition is to create a robust market
for clean energy technologies. The FMC aims to aid high-emitting industries like aviation,
steel, shipping, and chemicals to decarbonize. This is to be achieved by leveraging their
purchasing power
Which countries are part of FMC?
India, Japan, Norway, Italy, and Sweden. UK, USA, Singapore, Germany, Denmark. Canada
joined the coalition in 2023. Apart from these countries, 60 other multinational companies
are also part of FMC.
FITUR International Travel Exhibition
The International Tourism Fair or the FITUR travel exhibition is being held in Madrid, Spain
for five days. India participated in the exhibition. The tourism fair is one of the most
important tourism exhibitions in the world. FITUR means Feria Internacional del Turismo.
Background
After COVID, the tourism sector has been facing a huge downfall. With the countries
relaxing travel restrictions, the travel and tourism sector is looking for opportunities to
replenish. India is attending the exhibition to increase its tourism revenue. Almost 42
million Indians associated with the tourism sector became jobless post-COVID. India is
now looking for opportunities to develop its tourism sector. And therefore, FITUR is one of
the best opportunities.
About the FITUR Exhibition
It was first held in 1981. The exhibition dedicates a separate pavilion for each participating
country. The countries shall use these pavilions to exhibit their tourist attractions.
India at FITUR
The Ministry of Tourism is representing India at the fair. The exhibition has provided 253
square meters for India to exhibit its attractions. Along with India, there are 30 other
countries participating in the exhibition.
Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules, 2023
The Government of India legislated the Major Port Authorities Act in 2021. Section 54 of
the act brings in the need for the constitution of an Adjudicatory Board to regulate the
major ports in the country. Section 58 of the act gives the function of the board. The
Government of India recently issued a notice regarding the rules of the board.
Major Ports Adjudicatory Board Rules
The board will set the port tariffs
It will take over the roles and responsibilities of the tariff authorities currently
operating in respective ports
It will function under the same authority as granted to a civil court
The board has full power to adjudicate the rights of the ports, their obligations,
partnership concessions, dedicated berths
Board also has powers to issue orders based on the complaints registered by the
users of the ports. The users include private participants as well
It can investigate the operations of the ports at any time at will
Members of the board
A selection committee is to choose the members of the board. The committee is formed
by the Chief Justice of India, the Personnel and Training department, shipping ministry
secretaries
Major Ports of India
There are more than 200 ports in India. However, not all the ports are categorized as
major ports. The Indian Ports Act, of 1908 defines the Major Ports as the port declared by
the Union Government. The Central Government declares a port as a major port based on
the facilities in the port. Today there are 13 major ports in India. The Vadhvan port in
Maharashtra is the 13 th and newly added major port. The other 12 major ports are
Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Port Blair, Tuticorin, Ennore, Kandla, Mangalore, Mormugao,
Paradip, Visakhapatnam, and Kochi.
Odisha’s Strategy to mitigate Human-Elephant Conflict
The Forest Department of the Odisha recently submitted a Ten Pillar Strategy to mitigate
Man-Elephant conflict in the state. There are more than 2000 elephants in the state of
Odisha spread across the Bhitarkanika National Park, Similipal Tiger Reserve, Debrigarh
Sancturay, and Satkosia Tiger Reserve. Today elephants are facing serious threats due to
poaching, poisoning, electrocution, and road and train kill. Seldom have they indulged in
human conflict due to loss of habitat. To bring in a solution and put an end to the human-
elephant conflict, the Odisha Government has brought in a ten-point strategy.
Strategy
Zone-based approach to be adopted
Three separate strategies for the following:
Protection
Prosecution
Enforcement
Strategy to improve elephant corridor
Strategy to replenish elephant habitats

People’s participation in spreading awareness
Habitat management that will consider increasing the forest productivity
Planting elephant food plants, bamboo plants
Replenish water sources
Solar fencing under Jana Surakya Gaja Rakhya Scheme
Control and prevention of forest fire
What is Zone based Approach?
The approach was adopted from the state of Karnataka. Under the approach, the elephant
habitats are to be divided into four broad zones. They are as follows:
Zone 1: Elephant Conservation Zone
Zone 2: Elephant-Human Coexistence Zone
Zone 3: Conflict Mitigation Zone
Zone 4: Elephant Removal Zone
Decline in Number of birds in Kole Wetlands
Kole wetlands are located in Kerala. The Asian Water Bird Census recently reported that
the number of birds in the wetland has reduced significantly. The number of water birds
in the wetland has decreased from 15,959 in 2022 to 9,904. This is huge and the survey
accuses unscientific construction in the region of the decline.
What does the census say?
The 2023 census was the 23rd AWC. Kole wetlands are of major concern due to the huge
water bird population decline. The population decline was mainly due to habitat loss in the
region. This occurs because of unscientific construction and waste dumping.
Rare birds in the Wetland
In the 2023 census, the ornithologists spotted some rare birds. And therefore are more
concerned about the expropriation of their home. Some of the rare birds spotted in the
region are Amur Falcon, Wood Sandpiper, and Cattle Egret. Rare migratory birds were also
spotted in the region such as Painted Storks, Whiskered Tern, Garganey, and Ibis.
About Asian Water Bird Census
The census identifies and counts water birds and predominantly focuses on the declining
population of the birds in wetlands. It is a part of the International Waterbird Census.
These censuses are conducted by Wetland International. The census is conducted in
different parts of the world such as Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Neotropics.
Neotropics includes South America and Central America.
Asian Water Bird Census in India
In India, the census was first conducted in 1987. The Bombay Natural History Society
assists Wetlands International in conducting the survey in the country.
Significance
The survey aids to get an outlook on the bird population. Has the bird population
declined? Are more birds becoming endangered? Causes of bird population decline. Also,
it helps in better implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Convention
on Migratory Species
South Africa announces Joint Naval Drills with Russia, China
In the path of strengthening multilateral ties, South Africa, Russia, and China are to hold
naval drills in the Indian Ocean. It is to be held in the month of February 2023. During the
exercise, the countries will exchange knowledge and operational skills. Relationships
among the countries have been prosperous and the exercise will improve them further.
Where exactly?
The Naval drills are to be conducted in the Durban port city in Richards Bay. The city is
very important to South Africa as it generates 60% of its revenue. The port is one of the
largest Southern hemisphere container ports. Jakarta of Indonesia is the first largest
container port in the southern hemisphere followed by Surabaya (Indonesia) and Santos
of Brazil. Fourth is Durban port.
About the Naval drills
350 South African servicemen will participate in the naval drill. Russia is expected to send
two of its warships to the exercise. Prior to this, this trilateral exercise was held in 2019 in
Cape Town.
Shows independence of BRICS
The exercise shows the diplomatic independence of South Africa. Being a part of BRICS
association along with Brazil, Russia, India, and China, South Africa has the independence
to hold the exercise. Meaning, none of the BRICS members will interfere when others are
holding such exercises.
Take on Ukraine War
The US has been trying to isolate Russia citing the Ukraine war. However, the exercise
comes as a counter-move to its actions. In fact, the countries are to hold the exercise
during the anniversary of the Ukraine invasion. The US has disapproved of the move of
South Africa. On the other hand, South Africa had held several defense exercises with the
US and other NATO members in the past.
US launches Welcome Corps Scheme

The United States Government recently launched a scheme called “Welcome Corps” to
allow its citizens to offer sanctuaries to refugees. The scheme is aimed at expanding the
capacity of the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and will help the public cover the
costs of refugees arriving in the US.
About the Welcome Corps Scheme
The Welcome Corps scheme is a new initiative from the US government to provide
support for refugees arriving in the country under the USRAP. Initially, the scheme will
only be open to those refugees who have been approved by the US government and the
goal is to get at least 1000 Americans to sponsor the refugees. The model is similar to the
one used in Canada, known as the “Refugee Cap” program.
Refugee Cap
President Joe Biden has capped the number of refugees that can be admitted to the US at
125,000. However, so far only 6,750 refugees have arrived in the country. This level was set
by President Biden in an effort to counter the historically low numbers set by former
President Trump. Biden promised to reverse the harsh immigration policies of the Trump
Administration and increasing the number of refugees admitted to the US is a part of that
effort.
Background
The Biden Administration has faced criticism from activists for expanding Title 42, a law
that allows the USJOIN
government to take emergency
@thehindu444 actions in the interest of public health
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and safety. The law has been used very rarely in the past, but was invoked by President
Trump in 2020. The Biden Administration had intended to lift Title 42, but was unable to do
so. The decision to send asylum seekers from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, and Nicaragua back
to Mexico under the expansion of Title 42 has also been met with criticism from activists.
The Welcome Corps scheme is seen as an effort by the Biden Administration to address
these criticisms and provide support to refugees in a more direct way. By allowing
American citizens to sponsor refugees, the government hopes to expand the capacity of
the USRAP and provide more opportunities for refugees to start new lives in the United
States.
January 21, 2023
Performance Assessment Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH)
The Government of India recently launched PARAKH to assess the performance of
secondary and higher secondary students. Different states in the country are following
different assessment procedures to evaluate their students. Because of the variations,
students are facing difficulties during their college admissions. PARAKH will bring
uniformity to the analysis procedures.
PARAKH – A Part of National Education Policy, 2020
The National Education Policy, of 2020 brought in several changes to the education system
of the country. Major changes were at the school level. The concept was PARAKH was one
among them. The policy aims to achieve inclusion and excellence. PARAKH will help in
achieving inclusion. How so? Difference in evaluation patterns seldom affects the college
admissions of students. For instance, the state board students face more difficulties to
compete with the CBSE school students. This is because of differences in syllabus, exam
pattern, and above all the differences in evaluation.
PARAKH – A part of NCERT
PARAKH is to function under NCERT. NCERT is the National Council of Education Research
and Training. In fact, PARAKH was launched by NCERT.
What will PARAKH do?
PARAKH will release guidelines to the state and central boards
It will remove the disparities in scoring school students from different states
PARAKH Will provide new assessment patterns to the state boards
Functions of PARAKH
PARAKH is to function in three major areas namely examination reforms, school-
based assessments, and large scale assessments

It will work with international organizations and education boards
PARAKH will conduct National Achievement Survey
Chris Hipkins – New Zealand’s Next Prime Minister
Chris Kipkins of New Zealand is to succeed Jacinda Ardern as PM. He belongs to the
Labour Party of NZ. He is to take charge by February 2023. Currently, Chris serves as the
Education minister of the country. He played a big role as Health Minister during the
pandemic. JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Why is New Zealand electing a new PM?
Jacinda Ardern recently announced that she is to step down as PM. After her
announcement, the labor party unanimously voted for Chris. Many believe that his role as
health minister during COVID earned him the ranking.
Role of Chris Hipkins
Chris was designated as the health minister during COVID in addition to other portfolios
such as education and public service. He also acted as the Leader of the House during that
time. Chris is also looking after the police services in the country and tackling crime rates.
Background
Chris did his graduation from Victoria University. His major works were in politics and
criminology. Before entering the Parliament in 2008, Chris worked as the senior advisor to
the education ministers.
Why did Jacinda retire?
Jacinda is one of the most popular Prime Ministers of New Zealand. She still has nine more
months left for the term. She cited professional burnout as the reason for her resignation.
She was the youngest PM of New Zealand who took over the office at the age of 37.
Endorsement Guidelines for Celebs and Social Media Influencers
Lately, the advertising media is using celebrities from different fields like cinema and
sports to endorse their products. With the digital bloom after the pandemic, social media
influencers are playing a major role in the field. In fact, their role has increased as
compared to that of actors and sportspersons! The Consumer Affairs Department working
under the Consumer Affairs ministry believes that these endorsements are misleading the
public. To avoid this, the department has launched the “Endorsement Guidelines” or
“Endorsement Know-How”. These guidelines work under Consumer Protection Act.
What do the guidelines say?
The endorsements should carry disclosures. And such disclosures should be clear.
Today the disclosures are easy to miss. Some platforms run the disclosures at 2X or
3X speed. Customers hardly understand them
The influencer or the celebrity should disclose his connection with the advertiser.
This includes the monetary benefits he is receiving to advertise the product,
incentives, hotel stays included in the shoot, awards, gifts, free products he is
receiving from the advertiser, and other personal relations
The language used in the endorsement should be simple
Terms such as paid promotion, advertisement, or sponsor should be clearly visible

and reachable to the consumers. Font size and audio of such terms should be clear
and loud
Background
These guidelines were launched in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act of 2019.
The main objective of GoI to legislate the act is consumer protection. According to the
Indian Government, the advertisements are misleading the consumers and the use of
unfair trade practices
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increased among the
orbusinessmen in the country. The act will
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protect the consumers from these two issues.
January 22, 2023
BharOS: Indigenous Mobile Operating System
The BharOS is an operating system used in mobile phones. It was developed by JandK
Operations Private Limited. IIT Madras was the pioneer in developing the app. And IIT
Madras developed it through its JandK organization. Basically, JandK is a non-profit private
organization. The IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies launched this private organization
along with others. It is funded by the Science and Technology department of the
Government of India.
What is BharOS?
The main objective of BharOS operating system is security. The OS is unique as it allows
only safe and trusted applications to be installed on the OS. BharOS screens the
applications before installation begins. If the app is not safe, then the OS doesn’t provide
access.
Key Features of BharOS
There are No Default Apps in the OS. Default apps are those applications that come
with OS. The user cannot uninstall them. For instance, Gmaps, GMAIL, and other
Google Applications are the default apps of Android OS. You cannot uninstall them
even if you are not using them. The drawback of default apps is memory
consumption. If the user is not using these apps, they drain out user data, memory,
and power
It provides strict security features and therefore is apt for 5G networks. Users willing
to use cloud services will be benefited the most from the app
The OS provides more control to the users. Applications get installed on the OS only
after taking user permission. This does not happen in Android and iOS.
Access to PASS
With BharOS, users get free access to PASS. PASS means Private App Store Service. PASS
has a list of curated apps. Meaning the apps in PASS are of high standard and secure. They
are already screened for malware, hacking issues, password protection, and other security
features.
Launched under NMICPS
JandK launched the app under NMICPS, that is, National Mission on Interdisciplinary
Cyber-Physical Systems. It operates under the DST of the Science and Technology ministry.
NMICPS aims to provide training in cyber technologies and prepare youth to face
challenges in the field.
India International Science Festival, 2023
The eighth India International Science Festival is to be held in Bhopal. The Union Minister
Jitendra Singh inaugurated the festival. According to the Government of India, the festival
is a step in moving towards “AMRIT KAAL”.
The theme of India International Science Festival, 2023
Marching TowardsJOIN AMRIT @thehindu444
KAAL with Science and orTechnology
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Significance of the theme
The theme aligns with and signifies the following:
Self-Reliant India
G20 vision of India in 2023 (India is hosting the 2023 G20 meet)
One Earth One Family One Future
Events at IISF
This year IISF features 14 events. They are related to student science, Guinness world
records, how to develop science through games and toys, scientist conclave, innovation
festivals, technology shows, etc.
Key features
Students from more than 2500 schools are to participate. Also, startups from the Biotech
and agricultural fields will also participate in the festival
What is AMRIT KAAL in the festival?
The IISF is to focus on AMRIT KAAL. During the 75th Independence Day celebrations held in
2021, PM Modi unveiled a new road map for India. This road map is for 25 years. It talks
about how to make India a developed country, how to reduce the differences between
rural and urban areas, and more. All these are to be achieved using science and
technology. These 25 years were referred to by the Prime Minister as AMRIT KAAL. And the
term was frequently used by the finance minister during Budget presentations. The IISF is
striving forward in this context.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi – Chief Guest of Republic Day

Every republic day and independence day celebration, India invites chief guests from
different countries. Earlier, that is, between the 1950s and 1970s, India invited chief guests
from the Eastern Blocs and NAM. However, the trend has now changed. We are now
inviting our close trade partners and allies to the celebrations. This year, in 2023, India
invited the Egyptian President.
Why the Egyptian President?
Recently, the ties between India and Egypt have been growing strongly. The following
events prove the point:
5th India – Egypt Joint Trade Committee meeting held in late 2022. Trade between
India and Egypt increased by 75% in the past year
Egypt in 2020-21 became one of the largest investment destinations of India. The
Indian investments in the country amount to 3 billion USD
Defense ties between the countries are growing stronger. Defence Minister Rajnath
Singh visited the country in 2022 and signed an MoU
Cyclone I military exercise was recently conducted between India and Egypt
Egypt agreed to import wheat from India in 2022
Previous Chief Guests and Analysis
US President Barack Obama was the chief guest in 2015
In 2018, India invited many such as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
JOIN @thehindu444 or Vietnam, and South Africa. Around this
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period, India was actively implementing the Look East Policy. India strived hard to
use the North East region as a pathway to increase its trade with South Asian
countries. And thus, these countries were invited to the celebrations that year.
2019: South Africa
2020: Brazil
2021, 2022: None due to COVID
New Initiatives launched at WEF
The World Economic Forum met at Davos, Switzerland. During their meeting, the world
leaders launched more than fifty initiatives focusing to build a resilient and sustainable
world. Most of the initiatives addressed the food crisis issues and economic energy issues.
The event is of great significance as economists are expecting an economic crisis due to
geopolitical tensions. Also, recessionary risks have been forecasted. Pressure on food,
inflation, and energy is expected to increase in 2023. The Ukraine war and US–China
relations are to cause income-related crises and global economic runoff. The initiatives
were launched considering the impacts of these issues.
Giving to Amplify Earth Action
The initiative will raise 3 trillion USD for climate and nature. That is, it will ensure that 3
trillion USD is available for the climate and nature-related actions of WEF. HCL
Technologies of India is supporting the initiative along with 45 other stakeholders. What
will they do? They will help WEF raise 3 trillion USD in funds.
The main objective of GAEA
To achieve net – zero
Restore biodiversity by 2050
Stop deforestation and reduce environmental destruction
Make sure the 1.5 degrees target is in tight track
Maharashtra signed agreement
The Maharashtra State Government signed an agreement with World Economic Forum to
get technical advice and strategies for Urban transformation.
Telangana signed agreement
Telangana Government signed an agreement to get a life science center and a health care
center
FireAld initiative
It aims to manage wildfires using Artificial Intelligence. Under the initiative, scientists will
use data and maps to determine the intensity of wildfires in different parts of the world.
Based on the determined levels, the scientists will plan the logistics essential to manage
the wildfire. WEF has already tested the initiative in Turkey and succeeded.
Global Collaboration Village Mission
The main objective of this initiative is to create a space for discussion. The mission will
bring in all stakeholders together to discuss on the economic development of the world. It
aims to bring global development.
Cyber Resilience in Oil and Gas Initiative
The oil and gas industry is becoming more prone to cyber-attacks. This initiative will work
to find cyber solutions to protect oil and gas pipelines. In 2021, the US faced a major
pipeline attack called the “Colonial Pipeline Attack”.
IAF to hold Exercise Pralay
The Indian Airforce is to conduct a massive military exercise near the Line of Actual
Control. The Government of India conducts such military exercises on the border to
control the infiltrations. Infiltrations are common in the Line of Control, India – Pakistan
border, and Line of Actual Control, India – China border. During these military exercises,
there is a huge movement of artilleries and soldiers to the border. Squadrons move and
surround the region during the exercises. This helps to keep a check on the trouble-
causing elements at the border. The PRALAY is to be conducted on the North Eastern
border where Chinese infiltrations are rising these days.
About PRALAY Exercise
With PRALAY exercise the Government of India has decided to exhibit its Air Force power
in the region. Therefore, PRALAY will be conducted by IAF. It is to be noted that India
recently deployed S – 400 missiles in the region. PRALAY will see the participation of
India’s leading fighter jets such as the Rafale and Su-30.
Drones in the Exercise
Indian Air Force has moved its drone squadron to the Siliguri corridor to participate in the
exercise. This time the drones from other bases are being brought to the venue. This
means the plan is big. India is planning to monitor activities in the Siliguri corridor as well
for its geopolitical significance.
Why IAF and not the military?
LAC is located in hilly terrain. India lost the 1962 war with China because of this reason.
The Indian side of the Himalayas is steeper than the Chinese side. And Indian Air Force
was not as powerful as that the Chinese in the 1960s. After the 1960s, India started
building its Air Force. Indian Air Force is now one of the top ten strongest and most
powerful air forces in the world.
India’s Stand on Implementation of 13A in Sri Lanka
In 1987, India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement to implement the 13th amendment of
the Sri Lankan constitution. According to the agreement, the Sri Lankan Government will
provide powers to the Tamil community in the country. Recently, External Affairs Minister
Jai Shankar declared that India ponders the implementation of 13A “CRITICAL”. According
to India, 13A is essential for the Sri Lankan Government to reconcile with the Tamil
community in the country.
What is 13A?
13A is the 13th amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution. It will give more power to the
Tamil people in the country. Tamilians are the minority in the country of Sri Lanka. The
Tamil community in the country is demanding a separate state. In 1987, with the Indian
Union Government’s efforts, the Sri Lankan Government agreed to increase the powers of
Tamilians in the country
JOIN through 13A. However,or
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was not implemented.
Why 13A?
The root cause of the issue dates back to British rule. During the British period, the
Tamilians were powerful in the country. Tamilians constituted only 11% of the Sri Lankan
population and the Sinhalese constituted 11.2%. After the British left the island in 1948,
the pattern started changing. More Sinhalese were coming to power. Upcoming Sinhalese
started disenfranchising the Tamilians. This led to the formation of the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam, that is, LTTE in 1976. Fights between LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government
reached their peak in 1983. This is when India started interfering. And in 2009, the war
ended with the Sri Lankan Army killing the LTTE leader. Though the war ended, the
condition of Tamilians in the country has meagerly improved. They are still facing
discrimination. This is why India is making statements yet again.
January 23, 2023
EXIM Data: Trade Deficit narrows by 10 billion USD
The Government of India recently revised its import bill. With this revision, the country’s
foreign trade between April 2022 and November 2022 differs from the estimates made by
the Ministry of Commerce. Import bill has been increased or decreased in each of these
months by at least 2 billion USD. According to the revision, the total merchandise exports
made by India during these eight months amount to 298 billion USD. Earlier it was 276
billion USD. This is 12 billion USD higher than the estimates produced. The trade deficit
was 10 billion USD lower than the estimates made previously.
Revisions
Apart from the above revisions, the trade deficit was also revised. Accordingly, India
faced the highest trade deficit in September and not in July.
Total merchandise exports were higher by 12 billion USD
The trade deficit was 10 billion USD lower
What is an import bill?
The import bill is the total import made by a country. It includes all the goods and services
imported. Say India bought Palm oil from Malaysia. To this Malaysia sent a bill of 2 million
USD. Now, this 2 million USD is an import bill for India.
What are merchandise exports?
The goods that are exported from India are merchandise exports. This includes raw
materials produced in the country. Also, the value-added products, like an assembled
engine. And also finished goods.
Mega Infrastructure Project on Great Nicobar Islands

The Government of India is planning to develop the Nicobar Islands in terms of defense,
commerce, logistics, and industries. This is called the Mega Infrastructure Project. It is also
referred to as the Great Nicobar Plan. The plan is to be implemented in the southernmost
tip of India, that is, in the Great Nicobar Islands.
Concerns raised
Recently, a team of retired civil servants has written to the President of India raising
concerns against the project. According to them, the proposed infrastructure project will
displace the Shompen tribe. These tribes are extremely vulnerable.
What is the project about?
There are four major components in the project. They are a transshipment terminal for
containers, an airport, cities, and a solar power plant. The size of all four projects is big.
The transshipment terminal shall handle 14.2 million TEU of cargo.
The solar plant is to be built on 16,000 hectares of land.
Two new cities are to be built in coastal regions
International airport to support peak hour traffic of 4,000 passengers
About the Project
Developing authority: NITI Aayog is the developing authority of the project.
To be implemented by: ANIIDCO – Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated
Development Corporation
Project Worth: Rs 75,000 crores
Concerns against marine life
The Galathea Bay in the region is one of the important marine turtle habitats of India. In
all 400 concerns were raised by environmentalists against the project. However, the
Environmental ministry cleared the project based on the feasibility report submitted by
AECOM Private Limited. Hyderabad Vimta Labs was contracted for the EIA report.
Border Security Force (BSF) starts ‘Ops alert’ exercise
India is to celebrate its 74th republic day on January 26, 2023. Several anti–national
elements try to cause trouble in the country during such nationwide celebrations. To put
them under control and to increase security at the border, the BSF is conducting a seven-
day long exercise called the “OPS ALERT”. During the exercise, the security personnel will
hold drills in the India – Pakistan border that extends between Rann of Kutch and Sir
Creek and also in the Barmer district of Rajasthan. The border is highly vulnerable in these
regions.
About OPS ALERT exercise
The BSF will conduct reconciliation programs with the Indian residents in the border
Various verifications and validities will be held
Regions such as Harami Nala and Entire creek will be focused
Why Sir Creek?
Sir Creek is a disputed maritime boundary. The creek is a narrow waterway. It is a
marshland along the shore.
Significance of Sir Creek

India and Pakistan fought over Sir Creek in 1965. The creek is one of the largest fishing
grounds in the world. Also, there is a possible occurrence of oil and gas reserves in the
region. It is home to migratory birds and flamingos with good tourism potential.
India follows the THALWEG principle in the dispute
In the THALWEG principle, if there is a water body between two countries, then the center
of the water body should be taken as the border. Thalweg principle is an International
Maritime Law.
Prime Minister’s National Award for Children
The Prime Minister National Award for Children is also known as the Pradhan Mantri
Rashtriya Bal Puraskar. It is conferred by the President of India. In 2023, the president will
present this award to 11 children (six boys and five girls) from 11 different states and
union territories.
About the Award
The award is presented to children belonging to the age group 5 to 18 years
Categories in the award: Innovation, art and culture, sports, social service, bravery,
and scholastic
Award recipients will receive a certificate, a medal, and a cash prize of one lakh
rupees
Where is the award presented?
The president presents the award in the Durbar Hall of his residence, that is, the
Rashtrapati Bhavan. At the Durbar Hall to be precise.
Categories in the award
Bal Kalyan Puraskar: Children of age less than 18 years are awarded in this category
Bal Shakti Puraskar: Children of age between 5 years and 18 years are awarded in
this category
Previous Names
The Bal Kalyan Puraskar was earlier known by the name National Child Welfare
Awards. It was presented by the Women and Child Development Ministry.

The Bal Shakti Puraskar was earlier known as the National Child Award and it was
presented to the Non-Governmental Organizations working for child welfare.
Role of Prime Minister
Though the award is named after the Prime Minister of the country, he has no special role
here. However, the prime minister meets the recipients on the day.
INS Vagir Commissioned into Navy
The Indian Naval Ship Vagir is a Kalvari-class submarine. It was manufactured by the MDL
of Mumbai. The diesel-electric attack submarine was recently commissioned into the
Indian Navy. The Indian Navy placed an order for the submarine in 2005. The submarine is
named after a Vela Class submarine (diesel driven). The Vela class Vagir submarine
operated between 1973 and 2001. Vagir is a sandfish. The INS Vagir diesel-electric
submarine was completely made in India and is seen as a step in making India self-reliant
in the defense sector. It will also help the Indian Government achieve its defense exports
target of Rs 25,000 crores by 2025. The INS Vagir is the fifth Scorpene class submarine.
Scorpene Class submarine
Is INS Vagir a Kalvari class or Scorpene class? Kalvari is the Indian name for Scorpene.
Scorpene submarines were first developed by the French Naval Group. There are three
different types of scorpene class submarines namely diesel-electric submarines, coastal
submarines, and air-independent propulsion submarines. The air-independent scorpene
class submarines JOIN
are the@thehindu444
most advanced of all
ortheThenewsmaster
three. In this type, the engine uses
ethanol and oxygen as fuel. These submarines are highly expensive as they can stay
underwater for more than 21 days.
INS Vagir – Fifth Scorpene-Class
India launched Project 75 to construct six scorpene class submarines. Four have already
been commissioned. They are as follows:
INS Kalvari
INS Khanderi
INS Karanj
INS Vela
The INS Vagir was just delivered and INS Vagsheer is to be delivered soon.
Future Plans
All six submarines will be fitted with the Air Independent Propulsion system when the
submarines come for an upgrade in 2025.
Parakram Diwas – Netaji Jayanti
Every year India celebrates the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on
January 23. Netaji founded the Azad Hind movement and led Azad Hind Fouj (Indian
National Army). Netaji was born in Odisha and studied in Bengal, yet his presence was in
several other states as well. States such as Tripura, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, and
Assam adhere to an official holiday. There were several issues around celebrating
Parakram Diwas. The Forward Block demanded to celebrate his birth anniversary as
“Deshprem Divas”, meaning Day of Patriotism. The West Bengal Chief Minister wanted to
declare it a national holiday and celebrate the day as the Desh Nayak Divas, meaning the
Day of National Hero. However, the Government of India, in 2021 decided to celebrate the
day as Parakram Diwas.
Important Facts about Netaji
Netaji introduced “Desh Bandhu”, meaning Nationalist politics
During Non – cooperation movement, Gandhiji put Netaji in the forefront of Bengal
The newspaper started by Netaji: Swaraj
Netaji served as the president of the Indian National Congress in 1938. During his
term, he wanted the INC to work on two objectives:
To win freedom
To set up the socialistic region
He proposed violence
Netaji framed an industrialization policy and wanted to make India self–sufficient

under it
What is Forward Block?
Netaji resigned as a President of INC and started the Forward Block in 1939. This left–wing
political party was started in Bengal.
Republic Day Tableau to reflect Nari Shakti
India is to celebrate its 74th republic day this year. On this day, the Constitution Head, the
President of India,JOIN
Smt Draupadi Murmu will or
@thehindu444 hoistThenewsmaster
the National Flag at Raj Path. During
the event, different models and scenes from history are depicted. On this republic day, the
tableau will reflect Nari Shakti, meaning women’s power. Seventeen states and union
territories are to participate in the tableau. They will depict the scenes from Ramanyana
and Mahabharata. This is the first republic day celebration after the Rajpath was renamed
the Kartavya Path.
How are the Tableaus selected?
The Defence Ministry set up a group and is solely responsible for the tableaus. The group
comprises of eminent persons from music, painting, art, architecture, etc. The committee
scrutinizes the tableaus based on different factors like theme, colors, simplicity, etc. A
common man should understand the expressions of the tableau easily. The participants
then create a 3D model for final approval.
Issues
The West Bengal Tableau was rejected. Bengal CM has written to Prime Minister Modi
demanding the reasons for the rejection
Requirements
The Defence Ministry provides a trailer and tractor. Rest expenses are borne by the state
building the tableau.
Conditions
No two states should have similar tableaus as the aim is to promote “Unity in
Diversity”
The tractor and trailer used should be covered in theme. The vehicle should have
taken a transformation
Only eco-friendly products shall be used
Different states in the Tableau
UP: The state won the first prize in the past two years. This year the theme of its
Tableau is Ayodhya Deepotsav
Tripura: Participation of women in sustainable living
Israeli Astro Physics Mission: ULTRASAT
NASA and Israel will soon sign an agreement on a space mission. Under the agreement,
the United States will help Israel in its upcoming Astrophysics Mission called ULTRASAT.
The mission is currently being developed by Israel Space Agency and Germany. ULTRASAT
will operate in Geo Stationary orbit. It is to carry a UV telescope. The main objective of
ULTRASAT is to look for UV signatures in space. Precisely it will look for UV emissions from
mergers (collision of neutron stars) and supernova explosions.

About ULTRASAT
The weight of the satellite is 1,100 kg
To be launched in2026
Operational time: three years
Purpose: To look for gravitational waves
Total Cost: 110 million USD
Why is the US entering the project?
The objectives of ULTRASAT match with the Astro 2020 survey of NASA. Under this, the US
is looking for gravitational wave emissions from stellar and galactic clouds. UV is also a
gravitational wave. The Astro 2020 is a decadal survey. It will track the course of
Astronomy in the US and the world in 10 years. The mission will identify earth-like planets
and is often called the successor of the Hubble Space Telescope. It has a Large UV – IR
surveyor. It also looks for habitable zones in the outer space.
JUICE Space Mission of Europe
The European Union is to launch the JUICE Spacecraft in April 2023. The spacecraft is to
explore the moons of Jupiter. Specifically, the mission is to study the three major moons of
Jupiter namely Ganymede, Europe, and Callisto. Out of the 80 moons of the planet, these
three were selected for their large oceans. The satellite is to be launched from French
Guiana. Ariane 5 will carry the satellite. JUICE is the first satellite from the earth to enter
the orbit of Ganymede.
About JUICE
JUICE stands for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer. The satellite was developed by Germany
and tested by France.
The main objective of the mission is to study the microbial life on the icy moons of
the planet
It will also study the polar regions and the magnetosphere of the planet
JUICE will enter the orbit of Ganymede to study its composition
If launched in April 2023, the satellite is expected to enter Jupiter orbit by 2034
It will be deorbited in 2035
Cost of the mission: 1.5 billion Euros
Europa Clipper Mission: NASA Mission of Jupiter
NASA is to launch this mission in 2024. And the satellite will enter the giant planet orbit by
2030.
Significance
Scientists are curious to study Jupiter as the planet has one of the largest moon systems in
the universe.
Power Outage in Pakistan
More than 220 million Pakistanis were affected because of a huge power outage in the
country. The country usually faces fuel shortages during winter. This mishap occurred as
the National Grid went down for unknown reasons. The frequency of the power
transmission system plunged down causing havoc. Pakistan uses 50 HZ alternating

current just like India.
Reasons for the power crisis in Pakistan
Unreasonable and heavy reliance on foreign countries for fuel oil and using oil for
power generation
Availability of hydropower is reducing due to climate changes, reduced rainfall
Indigenous resources are depleting at a faster rate. No actions are taken for
alternate fuels like solar
JOIN or wind
Electricity in Pakistan
In 2022, the Economic Survey of Pakistan said that the installed electric power generation
of the country is 41 GW. Total demand from industries alone is 31 GW. Power distribution
stalled during transmission is 22 GW!
Steps Taken
The Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sherif is trying to reduce the power consumption
in the country. He aims to achieve a 30% reduction. For this, his government is planning to
close the markets by 8:30 PM and the restaurants by 10 PM. However, these steps are not
helping to solve the power shortage issues in the country.
What is Immune Imprinting?
Immune imprinting is a phenomenon occurring in the human body. Scientists recently
found that this phenomenon may make the COVID boosters less effective. Bivalent, Mono
Valent, boosters, and variant-specific boosters are to go powerless due to the immune
imprinting phenomenon. Immune imprinting is the human body replicating its immune
system. During immune imprinting, rather than producing new and more powerful
antibodies (cells that fight viruses), the immune system creates “cross-reactive”
antibodies. These cross-reactive antibodies are not effective.
What is the issue around Immune Imprinting?
Scientists say that immune imprinting is to become a hinder to the performance of
Booster doses of COVID. Today the world is taking measures to control the variants of
COVID as we have become immune to the virus. Also, we are taking boosters to empower
our immune system once in four to six months. Study says that these boosters will lose
their importance because of the phenomenon called immune imprinting.
Why are the boosters ineffective?
When we take a vaccine for the first time, our body produces strong antibodies. Let us
name them X. Now say a variant GGG has entered. Now our immune system should create
a new and stronger antibody to kill the variant. But due to immune imprinting, this does
not happen. The human body uses the memory cells of X to form new antibodies rather
than creating new antibodies. These antibodies formed from X, that is, from the memory
are called cross-reactive antibodies. What is the issue here? Take two people. Person 1
was infected with normal COVID and Person 2 was infected with the GGG variant. Person 1
has taken his vaccine doses but person 2 has not. To counter GGG we give vaccine doses
to both persons. Booster doses are provided to person 1 and the normal doses to person
2. Because this is the first time for person 2. Net result: Immunity built-in Person 2 is high.
Because person 1 uses memory cells to counter GGG. Whereas person 2 will build new
antibodies against GGG.
Business 20 (B20) Inception Meeting
The B20 Inception Meeting was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on the sidelines of G20. The
meeting was attended by G20 Sherpa, business delegates, CEO, railway minister Ashwini
Vaishnaw, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, etc. The meeting was headed by
Mr Chandrasekaran,
JOINHead of TATA sons. During
@thehindu444 or the meeting, the bigshots formed two
Thenewsmaster
action groups and seven task forces. These groups will work and discuss on digital
transformation, climate change, financial inclusion, and sustainability. For the first time,
Africa will receive a special task force.
Who is G20 Sherpa?
Amitabh Kant. Sherpa is the representative at an international summit. Prior to G7 and
G20 summits, multiple Sherpa meets are held.
What are the functions of Sherpa?
The Sherpas meet prior to the summit and prepare agendas. They report about the
negotiations being made among countries and other happenings to their country head.
What does the word Sherpa Mean?
Sherpa is a Nepalese word. Sherpas are an ethnic group in Nepal. They serve as porters in
the Himalayan regions. The representatives will clear the way for the countries to
participate in the meet just like the Sherpas showing the way to the people traveling
across the Himalayas.
How did a Nepalese word enter the western world?
It was the European Union that used the word in 2005 in its official document. The chief
negotiator of countries attending the Inter-Governmental Conferences was named the
Sherpas.
January 24, 2023
National Girl Child Day: January 24

Every year India celebrates National Girl Child Day on January 24. The main objective of
the celebrations is to create awareness about education for girls and provide them with
good health and nutrition. Also, the day aims to eliminate gender biases in the country.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development leads the celebration activities. India is
celebrating the day since 2008. The government of India launched several initiatives to
raise the status of girl children in the country such as Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, and Beti
Bachao Beti Padao. The National Girl Child Day celebration focuses on raising awareness
about such schemes as well.
The theme of National Girl Child Day
The Government of India has not announced any themes for this year’s celebrations.
However, earlier the Government had planned to celebrate the day on “Digital
Generation, Our Generation, Our Time is Now, Our rights and Our Future”
International Girl Child Day

It is celebrated on October 11 by the United Nations and several other international
organizations. The first International Girl Child Day was celebrated in 2012.
Child Marriage in India
This is one of the major concerns and hindrances in uplifting girl status in the country.
Indian law says that the marriage age for girls is 21. However, many girls in rural India are
forced into marriages before 21. This affects their education and future. Jharkhand has the
highest girl-child marriages in the country.
Ministry of Ayush signs MoU to promote medical travel value
Ayush ministry and ITDC signed an agreement to promote medical value travel. ITDC is
India Tourism Development Corporation. The entities plan to increase the value of
Ayurveda. The government of India has been pushing traditional medicines for more than
a decade. However, citizens started to look at their benefits only after COVID. The
Pandemic increased the importance of traditional medicines. By the MoU, the entities will
train ITDC officials on the value of Ayurveda and other traditional medicines. Along with
this, the officials will also learn about the historic importance of the heritage sites in the
country. With this, the Government plans to promote tourism along with Indian
medicines. People coming for treatment in India will get an opportunity to learn about its
cultural significance as well. Our ancestors followed the practice of “Food is Medicine”,
meaning their diet was chosen carefully to lead a healthy life. Ingredients used in
traditional medicines were staple foods of our ancestors. For this reason, their life
expectancy was higher. Indian Government is now trying to adapt to those older lifestyles.
Significance
It is expected that traditional medicines like Ayurveda, Unani, Yoga, and Sidha are
expected to raise a revenue of 70 billion USD by 2025. MoU will aid India in reaching its
potential in the field.
Medical Travel Value
The MVT has been increasing in the country recently. Kerala is the most popular and
leading state for MVT in the country. While attending the Health Working Group Meet of
G20 at Trivandrum, Kerala stressed on promoting MVT and suggested several plans to
achieve this.
Democracy Summit: ECI hosts conference
Rajiv Kumar, the Chief Election Commissioner of India recently inaugurated an
international conference. The conference was held under the theme “Use of Technology
and Elections Integrity”. More than 16 countries participated in the conference. ECI has
planned to conduct three conferences prior to the Democracy Summit which is to be held
in March 2023. This is the second conference in the series. The first conference was held
on the theme “Role, Framework and Capacity of Election Management Bodies”. Only 11
countries participated in the first conference. All the conferences were held in Delhi.
The focus of the conference
The attendees discussed the “Fake Narratives” during the conference. The fake narrative
is making people believe what is not true. Voters perceive and make false beliefs based on
untrue facts and propaganda. This misleads them and they end up choosing the wrong
candidate. Fake narratives have increased mainly because of social media and Artificial
Intelligence. In the digital world, it is easy to create fake news.
Summit for Democracy
The Summit for Democracy is hosted by the USA. It was proposed by President Joe Biden.
The first summit was held in December 2021. The summit aims to build the capacity of
Election Management
JOINBodies from all over the world
@thehindu444 and increase their potential.
or Thenewsmaster
Smart City Conference held at Panaji
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs recently conducted a two-day Smart city CEO
conference at Panaji, Goa. The conference was co-hosted by a private firm Imagine Panaji
Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL). CEOs and Municipal commissioners of more
than 100 smart cities participated in the conference. The main objective of the conference
was an idea exchange. In this context, the CEOs of different smart cities presented their
business plans for developing their cities and making them smart. Many of the attendees
agreed on the fact that today smart city ideas such as electric buses, transport
technologies, water management techniques, rain harvesting, and integrated command
and control centers have huge revenue generation capabilities. The ministry will announce
the ICCC Awards during the closing ceremony of the conference.
Why Panaji?
The IPSCDL is the nodal agency implementing the Smart City program in Goa. And is one
of the most successful implementations in the country. 47 projects were undertaken at Rs
950 crores. Of these, 32 are under implementation. 7 have reached 90% completion, and
12 have reached 50% completion. According to Smart Cities’ mission, this is rapid.
Smart City Mission
It was launched by PM Modi in 2015. It aims to rejuvenate urban areas in the country. The
mission will benefit more than 40% of the Indian population. As of Jan 19, 2023, GOI has
spent Rs 181,268 crores on the mission.
SCO Film Festival in Mumbai

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is to host a film festival in Mumbai. National Film
Development Corporation is the Indian representative in organizing the festival along with
SCO. Indian cinema is gaining international applause and attraction as Bollywood is
producing diverse films in different genres. Cinema is always a cultural agent binding
people of different cultures. The Indian entertainment industry is one of the largest in the
world. The total revenue of the industry is more than 90 billion rupees today. India
produces more than 2000 films per year and is the largest film producer in the world
followed by the USA in second position and China in third place.
Significance
The festival will build cultural bonding among the SCO countries. Being a Eurasian
organization, it is diverse in culture. Though the origin of the organization purposed
defense and military, today the working of the organization has shifted largely towards
economic and business benefits.

SCO
It was formed in 1996 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Other
members joined SCO at later stages. Today, the members of SCO are India, Uzbekistan,
and Pakistan apart from the above five. Discussions at SCO are primarily focused on
security matters. RATS is an anti-terrorism squad of SCO. RATS means Regional Anti-
Terrorist Structure.
SEBI launches
JOIN Information Database
@thehindu444 on municipal bonds
or Thenewsmaster
SEBI is the Security and Exchange Board of India. It is a regulatory body that was
established under the SEBI Act of 1992. To develop the bond markets, SEBI recently
introduced a database and a repository for municipal bonds. Today the municipalities in
India are focusing to increase revenue-generating assets and green projects. The SEBI-
launched repository and database will aid the municipalities to achieve their objectives.
Also, it will aid the municipalities in addressing their major concerns such as lack of
investors, absence of regulatory frameworks, and slow-growing markets.
What are Municipal Bonds?
It is a debt security. In general, it shall be issued by the central government, state
government, municipalities, etc. But in India, the local government issues these bonds.
These bonds aid the entities to finance their development projects such as building
schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure. There are two types of Municipal bonds. They
are General Obligation bonds and Investor assistance bonds.
General Obligation Bonds
They are not backed by the revenue generated by a project. For instance, there are some
government bonds that are backed by property taxes. Meaning, if the owner of a property
is paying tax for his asset, the value of his bond increases.
Revenue Municipal Bonds
These bonds secure the interest earned from fuel, sales, and other taxes. Meaning is
backed by the revenue generated by the assets.
Jammu and Kashmir launches New Food Processing Project

The Jammu and Kashmir government recently launched a food processing project of Rs
879.75 crores. The main objective of the project is to revolutionize the food processing
sector. What will the project do? It will increase farmer income, reduce losses incurred
during harvest, improve the quality of food products, and ultimately make the food
products competitive in the world market. In the next five years, the project will build
storage infrastructures, food packaging infrastructures, and food processing
infrastructures in the region. Also, the project will increase market infrastructure,
branding, and transportation & Logistics facilities.
What is the Project Plan?
The project will increase the competitiveness of 7 products.
Develop the food processing sector in 17 districts
Generate 7,030 jobs
Establish 34 enterprises and they will generate an income of Rs 1,436 crores

Seven Products
The following seven products will be focused and their competitiveness will be increased
Milk in Pulwama and Jammu
Walnuts in Kishtwar and Kupwara
Basmati in RS Pura
Organic mushrooms and vegetables in districts of Doda, Samba, Budgam
Meat and Poultry
JOIN in Kathua and Srinagar
Trout in Ganderbal and Ananthnag
Cherry in Baramulla and Ganderbal
Background
The project was recommended by the Level Apex Committee of the J&K Union Territory.
The committee was formed under Dr. Angamuthu to frame a suitable Agricultural Policy
for the region. The policy shall aim to increase the agricultural exports of the UT from 190
crores to 3000 crores.
Need for the project
Farmers in the region are facing 15% to 20% harvest losses and 20% of wastage especially
in fruits. And the reason for these losses is the lack of processing facilities and packaging
facilities. And the project is to cover these lackings.
Uttar Pradesh celebrates Foundation Day
The Uttar Pradesh state was formed on January 24, 1950. Under the order called United
Provinces (Alteration of Name) Order 1950, the provinces in the region were grouped
together to form the state of Uttar Pradesh. As India hadn’t become a republic then, the
order was passed by the Governor General of India. India became independent in 1947.
However, the country took two years to frame its constitution and become a republic. So
between 1947 and 1950, India still followed British Principles. And therefore, there was a
governor-general. Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari acted as the Governor General during
this period. For this reason, UP was made a state under his order.
History
In 1937, the British Government create a United Province regime in the region. This region
was renamed UP in 1950 and several other provinces joined to it. In 2000, a part of UP in
the north was made a separate state called Uttarakhand. It was the 27th state of India.
Significance of the state in Indian History
Indian Rebellion of 1857 happened here in UP. Several freedom fighters such as Chandra
Shekar Azad, Motilal Nehru, and Mangal Pandey were from UP. Prime Minister Modi’s
constituency Varanasi is in UP. Amethi constituency is also in UP.
Assam Initiative against Child Marriage
The Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa recently held a cabinet meeting. During the
meeting, State Government decided to launch a massive drive against child marriages in
the state. The Gram Panchayat Secretary was appointed as the Child Marriage Prevention
Officer. The drive will encourage the public to lodge complaints at the nearby police
stations. Child marriage is illegal under the POSCO and Prevention of Child Marriage Act.
However, the general public in Assam is hesitant to lodge complaints against child
marriages due to fear. The initiative will aid in removing this hurdle. Along with child
marriage, the drive will also focus on reducing the Maternal Mortality Rate and Infant
Mortality Rates in Assam. A similar initiative was launched by the Karnataka state
government earlier. Assam Government is launching this initiative by taking inspiration
from the Karnataka Government. Karnataka is still running this initiative.
Need for the initiativeJOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
The national average of underage pregnant mothers is 6.8%. In Assam, it is 11.7%.
Underage pregnant mothers mean girls who are under the age of 21 years and are
pregnant.
What is the plan?
The marriage age of girls in India is 21. The cases of child marriage are alarmingly high in
the state. So the state government is to first target men marrying girls of age 14 years and
less.
Rajasthan to rent out drones to farmers
The Rajasthan Government is to provide drones to the farmers in the state to spray
fertilizers and insecticides. The drones are to be provided to low-income group farmers
and on rent. Around 1500 drones will be made available to the farmers to achieve this
plan. The State Government is launching this initiative to save water. Most of Rajasthan is
desert and using drones will save 80% of water.
What is the plan?
Drones will be used to spray insecticides and fertilizers
They will determine the nutrient deficiencies in crops
They will monitor the health of the crops, and irrigation requirements.
Drones will also help the farmers in controlling locusts by spraying chemicals
They will perform pest analysis
Need for the plan
Usually, Rajasthan farmers use tractors and other conventional sprayers to apply
fertilizers and insecticides to their crops. In these methods, the chemicals are mixed with
water and then sprayed manually. During the process, lots of water is wasted. The drone
sprayers use very less water. Also, the consumption of fertilizers and pesticides decreases
with drones.
What is a Low Income Group in India?
Households with annual income between 3 lakh rupees and 6 lakh rupees are Low-Income
Groups.
International Craft Summit
Jaipur District Administration is hosting a three-day international summit on crafts. The
main objective of the summit is to promote Odisha crafts in Rajasthan! Four United
Nations Agencies and five UNESCO agencies are helping the administration in organizing
the summit. The Odisha Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the summit via
video conferencing. Arts and crafts enthusiasts and craftsmen attended the summit.
Jaipur was chosen, as the city is famous for its historical places.
Odisha initiatives to improve crafts
Odisha is supporting its craftsmen by promoting them at tourist spots. The state is
organizing heritage walks and opening art galleries. Also, it is joining its craftsmen in
technical textile industries and apparel industries to boost their income.
Why Jaipur?
Jaipur has good potential to become a tourist hub. The Rajasthan Government recently
launched “Invest Rajasthan”, a tourism conclave, and several other measures to boost its
revenue from the tourism sector. Also, the Rajasthan Government recently started
restoring its hotels and palaces to their former glory. Due to a lack of funds, many palaces
in the state were converted to hotels earlier. With these initiatives, many investors are
turning towards the state and putting their money into its tourism sector. For this reason,
Odisha chose the state capital Jaipur to launch its International Craft Summit. The summit
will also have craftsmen from different parts of the world primarily focusing on crafts of
Odisha.
Tri Services Amphibious Exercise, AMPHEX 2023
All three defense forces of India, the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force participated in
AMPHEX recently. AMPHEX is a tri-service exercise and was held in Kakinada, Andhra
Pradesh. Also, it is an amphibious exercise, meaning both land and sea forces will act
together simultaneously. The 2023 AMPHEX is the largest of all the AMPHEX exercises held
so far. The government of India is increasing its defense power and is keen on exhibiting
its strength to the world. This way it can pass indirect messages to troublemakers. Also,
through the exercise, the GoI strives to earn the trust of its citizens. The public shall feel
safe and secure when they learn about the capabilities of their defense forces. PRALAY To
be held along the Line of Actual Control is just similar AMPHEX and will keep Chinese
infiltrations under control. The government is planning to hold PRALAY on a massive scale.
About AMPHEX 2023
Several Amphibious ships participated in the exercise. INS Jalashwa. INS Airavat, INS
Shardul, and INS Gharial are some of the amphibious ships of the Indian Navy.
Amphibious ships do not mean they can run on land and water. Amphibious ships
are those ships that aid the land forces during an operation
More than 900 troops participated in the exercise. This included artillery forces,
special forces, and armored vehicles
National Voters Day: January 25
th
India is to celebrate its 13 National Voters Day on January 25. The first NVD was
celebrated in 2011. The Election Commission of India will host the celebrations. ECI has
released a logo marking the theme of the celebrations. On NVD, the President of India is
to present the National Awards in the category of Electoral Practices.
The theme of National Voters Day, 2023
Nothing Like Voting. I Vote for Sure

The theme conveys the aspirations of the citizens to vote in the elections conducted in the
country. ECI has designed a logo marking the theme. The logo has Ashok Chakra, a tick
mark, and the wordings of the theme.
How does India celebrate NVD?
The main objective of celebrating NVD is to create awareness of voting among the
citizens. On NVD, ECI presents EPICs to the new voters. EPIC is Elector Photo Identity Card.
National Awards
President will present this award to different categories. They are state level, central level,
district level, etc. The officers are to be awarded for their performances in different
spheres such as Security Management, IT initiatives, accessible election, etc.
ECI Publication to be released
President will present the first copy of “Electing the First President” to the ECI
Commissioner Mr. Rajiv Kumar. The book was written by ECI. It speaks about presidential
elections in the country. Also, it speaks about the nuances in conducting Presidential
elections in the past 16 years.
Song of ECI
The ECI will screen the song “MAIN HOON BHARAT” on NVD, 2023. It was composed in
association with Subhash Ghai Foundation. Song speaks about the power of voting.
Low Carbon Cruise on Mahabahu Brahmaputra
The Government of India is to conduct the India Energy Week, 2023 in February. The event
is to be held in Bengaluru, Karnataka. On the sidelines of the celebrations, a methanol-
blended diesel-powered ship was launched. The methanol to be used to power the ship
engine is to come from the Mahabahu Brahmaputra project being implemented in Assam.
About the Low Carbon Cruise
It was launched by the petroleum minister Shri Hardeep S Puri. The Minister currently
holds the portfolio of Housing and Urban Affairs as well. The name of the methanol-
blended diesel-powered engine was MD15. It is called MD 15 because the fuel of the ship
contains 15% methanol. It is to run on an Inland Water Vessel called “SB Gangadhar”. A
test run was conducted and was a success.
Methanol used in the project
It comes from ash coal and agricultural residues. The fuel is less expensive than other
marine fuels. It can be easily stored on shore sides.
Why is GoI focusing on Methanol?
The cost involved in converting the current inland ships to run on methanol is very less.
Also, with this, the country can reduce its crude oil imports by 15%. GHG emissions will
reduce by 20%.
Mahabahu Brahmaputra Project
The project was launched by PM Modi in 2021. Under the project, Assam is now producing
100 TPD of methanol.
Benefits
The Low Carbon Cruise will aid in achieving the objective of the METHANOL ECONOMY
PROGRAMME. It was launched to reduce the energy bills of the country and to convert
coal reserves into methanol.
January 25, 2023
Aero – India 2023
The Defence Ministry has been organizing the Aero – India Show since 1996. Other
organizations such as DRDO, the Indian Air Force, Civil Aviation, and the Department of
Space join the ministry
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organize the show. The
or show is one of the largest air shows in
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Asia. Service providers of Indian aerospace and other manufacturers exhibit their
products. Buyers from different countries participate in the show. It is to be held at the
Yelahanka Air Force Base near Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Theme
The Runway to a Billion Opportunities
About Aero India 2023
In 2023, big shots of the aviation sector will participate. This includes Boeing or the USA,
Airbus of Europe, and other missile manufacturers from Europe.
The show is a biennial event. Means, it is held once in two years.
Significance
India aims to boost its defense exports using the show as an opportunity. The show will
help the country expand its defense manufacturing units.
History
The first edition of the show was held in 1996.
Second edition was in 1998 at the Yelahanka Air Force Base.
The third edition was held in 2001 at the Yelahanka Air Force Base.
Fourth edition: 2003: Yelahanka Base
Fifth edition: 2005: Yelahanka base
Sixth: 2007: Yelahanka
Seventh: 2009: Yelahanka
Eighth: 2011: Yelahanka

Ninth: 2013: Yelhanka
Tenth: 2015: Yelahanka
Eleventh: 2017: Yelahanka
Twelfth: 2019: Yelahanka
13th: 2021: Yelahanka
DRACO: Nuclear Fission powered Spacecraft of NASA
DARPA of the USA is working on nuclear fission-powered spacecraft along with NASA
called the DRACO. DARPA is Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency. And DARPA is
the research and development wing of the US military. Just like the DRDO of India. DARPA
is to launch the DRACO Spacecraft. DRACO stands for Demonstration Rocket for Agile
Cislunar Operations. DRACO is to run on nuclear fission reaction. This is considered a big
leap in the space industry as no nuclear rockets have been launched till 2021. The USA
began testing the technology in 1955. Due to a lack of funds, the project was stalled.
Nuclear Thermal Rocket
The rocket that uses a nuclear fission reactor to fly is called a nuclear thermal rocket. No
country on earth has succeeded in this technology. China, Russia, and USA are space
racing on the technology. India has not yet started working on the technology.
Significance
The nuclear thermal rocket is faster than the conventional rockets being used today. With
the world expanding
JOINits space exploration, the
@thehindu444 orneed has come for faster space travel.
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Rockets take more time traveling to another planet. For instance, the JUICE spacecraft of
Europe to be launched in 2023 will reach Jupiter in 2034. Almost, 11 years. More time is
wasted on traveling. Nuclear fission-powered rockets will help scientists reduce traveling
time greatly.
Uganda’s First Oil Drilling Program
Uganda has one of the largest oil reserves in the Saharan desert according to the
International Monetary Fund. Oil was discovered in Uganda twenty years back. But the
production was delayed due to a lack of funds and infrastructure. With the assistance of
China, Uganda is now launching its first oil field in Lake Albert. Extraction is to be done in
four phases and the first phase has been launched.
About the Program
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation is to launch the drilling in the lake along with
the Uganda National Oil Company. China is investing 10 billion USD in the project. Along
with the project, Uganda is also launching a controversial pipeline. The pipeline will
connect the oil fields in Lake Albert to the Tanzanian coast for easy transport.
What is the plan?
Under the program, Uganda is planning to produce 230,000 barrels of oil per day.
Oil Resources of Uganda
Uganda has 6.5 billion barrels of oil. Of this 1.4 billion is recoverable.
Issues
The drilling project is being launched in Lake Albert, the lake that separates Uganda from
Congo. According to environmentalists, the lake supports millions of flora and fauna.
There are more than 55 different fish species in the lake. Fishermen in the region depend
on the lake for their living. Also, the tribes in the region will be affected due to the project.
In all more than thousands of people will be affected. The lake belongs to the river system
of the Nile, the longest river in the world. The Lake ecosystem is fragile and drilling
projects may affect the lake ecosystem.
China-US Stand Off
So far the USA was the major exploiter of the oil resources of Uganda. Apart from the USA,
France also benefited from the oil resources of the country. However, USA’s share was
50% while France’s share was just 10%. Kenya too has a minimal role here. Now, China is
entering Uganda with huge plans to counter the US on Uganda’s soil.
First India Stack Developer Conference

After the COVID pandemic, India emerged as one of the pioneers in digital technologies.
To develop them further, the Ministry of Electronics and IT recently conducted the India
Stack Developer Conference. This is the first time India is hosting such a conference. It
was held in New Delhi. The main objective of the conference was to increase the adoption
of Indian digital goods within the country and also at the global level.
What is India Stack?
India stack is a moniker, meaning a nameor
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Application Programming Interface. When you make a money transfer online by logging
into your bank account, you are using an API. The Government of India has launched
several such Stacks. Some of them are UPI, Digi Locker, GSTN, Co-Win, Arogya Sethu,
UMANG, m-Parivahan, and many more.
Significance
The conference will help Indian Digital Goods gain an international reputation. The
conference is seen as a rehearsal for India which is to attend the World Government
Summit. The summit is held in UAE. In 2023, “Stack” is the main area of focus and
discussion at the summit. More than 150 countries participate in the summit and gain the
maximum out of it. The summit is a major knowledge exchange hub between the private
sector and the governments.
10th Infrastructure Committee Meet held
The Infrastructure Committee was formed in 2009. The main objective of the committee
formation is to speed up the government’s decision on infrastructure projects. The tenth
meeting of the committee was recently chaired by the Union Minister of Road Transport
Shri Nitin Gadkari. During the meeting, the committee discussed upon issues related to
pending environmental clearances, land approvals, fund releases, etc.
Significance
Environmental clearances stall infrastructural projects. This is because every infrastructure
project to be implemented in an environmentally fragile zone has to submit an
Environmental Impact Assessment. Will the project implementation affect the ecosystem?
Will it damage the trees in the region? Will it destruct the habitation? Will the project
affect the flora and fauna? If yes, then an alternate has to be arranged. Say dam
construction. Constructing a dam will submerge thousands of hectares of land. So the
tribes in the region should be relocated. The endangered species in the region should be
relocated.
Apart from environmental concerns, land allocation is also an issue. Finding the right land
to implement the project is always a hindrance. India is the seventh biggest country in the
world in terms of land area and is also heavily populated. Therefore, there are issues
around land allocation.
PM Modi hold talks with the Egyptian President
The Egyptian President Sisi has arrived in India. He is the Chief Guest of the 2023 Republic
Day celebrations. The President met PM Modi and the leaders discussed bilateral trade
and the global interests of the countries. President Sisi will also meet the Indian business
communities. As a part of his visit to India, the countries will sign six agreements.
However, the agreements are to be signed at diplomatic levels. This is Sisi’s third visit to
India as a President. Earlier he visited India in 2015 to attend the India-Africa forum. His
second visit was in 2016 and it was a state visit, meaning during his second visit India and
Egypt held one on one discussions.
Significance
Abdel Fattah El Sisi, the Egyptian
JOIN President is toor
@thehindu444 attend the 75th republic day celebrations of
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India. His visit is of historic importance to both countries. On the sidelines of the visit, the
countries are to take their trade relations to next level. Currently, India-Egypt trade stands
at 7.26 billion USD (as of 2021-22).
What is India’s plan in inviting Sisi?
India has maritime interests in the Gulf region and Egypt. According to GoI, moving close
with Egypt and Gulf countries will help India deal with the maritime tensions in the Gulf
region. With the demolition of the Babur Mosque and the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya
may bring Islamic hatred to India. To ease these tensions, it is essential we develop good
relations with these Gulf countries. Gulf region has an affinity towards Pakistan. This is yet
another reason for India to focus on Gulf countries and Egypt. Also, the Gulf is the oil hub.
So any hurdles with these countries will affect India’s oil trade.
SCO Meet: India invites Pakistan, China
The Shanghai Cooperation Meet is to be held in August 2023 under India’s chairmanship.
2023 is India’s year as the country is hosting two major international meets the SCO and
the G-20. The Global South looks up to these meetings. SCO members rotate the
chairmanship amongst themselves. And in 2023, the rotating chair has come to India. As a
responsible chairperson, India has invited Pakistan and China as they are also members of
SCO along with Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Theme
SCO meet is to be held under the theme “FOR A SECURE SCO”. Here SECURE includes the
following concept:
S: Security for citizens
E: Economic Development
C: Connectivity
U: Unity
R: Respect
E: Environmental Protection
The theme of G-20, as India says is “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, meaning “World is one
family”. On the G-20 website, the Government of India puts the theme as “One Earth –
One Family – One Future”
Challenges
India is expected to grow 60% greater than China and many times more than US and
Japan in 2023. India has attained the fifth position in foreign exchange. The country is
doing good in terms of FDI. India recently surpassed China in terms of remittances.
Though India is striding rapidly, there are strong economic challenges. However, the
domestic demand is strong and inflation still persists the biggest challenge for the
country. Apart from the Asian challenges, India is also facing challenges from the Gulf.
Inviting the Egyptian President as the chief guest of republic day celebrations is one of
India’s moves to counter the tensions from the Gulf.
Mass Mortality of Olive Ridley Turtles in Andhra
The villagers in the coastal
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@thehindu444 Pradesh reported that hundreds of Olive
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Ridley turtles were washed ashore. This is the annual breeding season of Olive Ridley
turtles, that is, between February and March. During this time, the females come to the
shore to lay eggs. Unfortunately, their population is declining due to several reasons such
as fishing nets, plastics, etc.
Olive Ridley Turtles
They are also known as the Pacific Ridley Turtles. The IUCN categorizes these turtles as
“Vulnerable”. CITES put them under “APPENDIX I”. They are found in the Indian Ocean,
Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.
The Olive Ridley Turtles in India
In India, the turtles nest in the Gahirmatha beach. The beach is one of the largest nesting
sites of the Olive Ridley Turtles in the world.
Initiatives to protect the turtles
The Government of India and the Government of Odisha have launched several initiatives
to protect the turtles. Operation Olivia was launched by the Indian Coast Guard to protect
the species. Odisha Government provided Turtle Excluder Devices to the trawls to avoid
accidental killing of the turtles. Odisha Government takes active measures to protect the
turtle as 50% of the world’s Olive Ridley turtles can be seen in the state.
Purse Seine Fishing
Purse Seine is a wide and long wall of the net. The technique of purse seine fishing is used
on the western and eastern coasts of India. In 2022, at the request of the Central
Government, Supreme Court banned purse seine fishing. Because the net used is a big
disadvantage to the endangered species in the sea. Recently, the apex court lifted the ban.
This is a big relief to coastal states like Tamil Nadu. They were insisting on removing the
ban as it affected the lives of fishermen.
About Purse Seine Fishing
It is considered the most efficient and also the most aggressive fishing method. When
implemented at the right spot, the method gives a huge catch to the fishermen. It is most
aggressive because it takes in everything in its way. The fishing boat drags the net. The
fish can enter the net but cannot move out. They get stuck.
Concerns of the states
The fishermen in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu do not use sophisticated vessels for
fishing. Ordinary motor-powered boats are used. The method of purse seine fishing
benefits them at large because they can drag their catch to the coast. They leave the fish
in the water inside the net. And drag them to the coast. So they need not carry storage or
preservation equipment to bring their catch. The cost invested is very less. Ban on the
method affected the livelihood of several fishermen.
Benefits of Purse Seine Fishing
The net used in this type of fishing has no sea contact with the sea bed. Therefore, it is
easy to target dense schools of fish such as Mackerel and Tuna.
Why did SC ban purse seine fishing?
The net captures everything around it. This includes sea turtles and other vulnerable
species. Therefore, there is a fear that the endangered species may go extinct with purse
seine fishing.
Statehood Day of Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh was the 18th state formed in the Indian Union. The government of India
passed the State of Himachal Pradesh Act in 1970 to make it a state. And Himachal
Pradesh was made a state on January 25, 1971. Some are demanding to return parts of
Himachal Pradesh in the name of Greater Nepal. According to them, the British East India
Company annexed these regions. The motion is silent as there is very little support to it.
History
Himachal Pradesh was made the PART C state when India became a republic, that is, on
January 26, 1950. In 1954, Bilaspur (a Chief Commissioner Province just like HP) was
merged with HP. In 1956, HP was made a UT. Later in 1966, hilly areas of Punjab were
merged. In 1970, the State of HP Act was passed and it was made a state in 1971.
Why was Himachal Pradesh made a Part C state?
HP was made a Part C state as it was a Chief Commissioners Province. In 1950, when India
became Republic, the new constitution identified three main types of states and one class
of Union Territories as follows:
PART A States: Former Governor Provinces were brought under this category. They
were Madeas, Punjab, Orissa, UP, MP, Assam, Bihar, Bombay, and West Bengal.
PART B States: The former Princely States were brought under this category. They
were J&K, Travancore – Cochin, Saurashtra, Rajasthan, Eastern Punjab, Patiala,

Mysore, Madhya Bharat, Mysore, and Hyderabad.
PART C States: Former Chief Commissioners’ provinces were categorized as Part C
states. They were HP, Ajmer, Cutch, Bhopa, Coorg, Bilaspur, Manipur, Vindhya
Pradesh, and Tripura
PART D States: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
National Tourism Day: January 25
The Government of India is celebrating this year National Tourism Day at Pochampally of
Telangana. In 2021, the United Nations World Tourism Organization selected the village as
one of the Best Tourism Villages in the world, and therefore, the Indian Government is
launching its national-level celebrations of the day from this village. The village is famous
for its IKAT saris. They are unique and hand woven. In 2021, India earned 9 billion USD of
foreign exchange earnings from the tourism sector.
National Tourism Day

The first National Tourism Day was celebrated in 1948. In 1948, India formed its first
tourism promotion committee called the Tourist Traffic Committee. In 1958, a separate
department was created for tourism under transport. Today we have a separate minister
for the tourism sector.
World Tourism Day
The United Nations and other international organizations celebrate World Tourism Day on
September 27. UNJOIN
celebrates the day to spreador
@thehindu444 awareness of tourism. Also aims to create
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awareness about its role in social, financial, and political fields. World Agri tourism Day is
celebrated on May 15 by the UN.
Recent Development
Recently India introduced E – tourist Visa. With this, citizens from 40 countries can apply
for Visa to India online. They need not go to the Indian Embassy in their country to apply
for the visa.
What are foreign exchange earnings?
These are earnings a country earns by selling its goods and services. Or the earnings
earned by exchanging the currency. Let us understand this with an example. Assume
American wishes to come to India. He has his earnings in USD. He now has to get Indian
Rupees to spend in India. Now the dollars he gives to India for exchange are referred to as
Foreign Exchange Earnings.
Jal Jeevan Mission achieves 11 crore tap water connections
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently applauded the Jal Jeevan Mission for achieving 11
crore tap water connections. The mission was announced by the PM in 2019. The main
objective of the mission is to provide tap water connections to every household in India.
And the target is to be achieved by 2024. For this mission, GoI allocated Rs 3.5 trillion. It is
being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Funds for the mission
The Central and State governments are sharing the funds for the project. The ratio of their
fund sharing is 50:50. In the northeastern states, it is 90:10. The North East state share
10% of the funds.
Reforms planned under the mission
Under the mission, GoI will shift its focus from “Habitations to Households”. That is,
rather than looking at the size of the land, the government will take steps based on
the size of the population
Service delivery will be the focus
50% of the members of the Village Water and Sanitation Committee will be women
Community ownership to be encouraged’
Focus on public utility
Potable drinking water will be delivered to localities with contaminated groundwater.
Technology will be used to implement the scheme and therefore there are no issues
of transparency and accountability
Nagaland Orange Festival

Nagaland is celebrating the Orange Festival for two days. Nagaland Fruit Festival is being
organized in the state to praise the hard work of orange growers. Revenue from oranges
in the state almost doubled recently. Fruit festivals are famous all over the world. The
most popular fruit festivals in the world are the Pineapple Festival of Thailand, the
Pumpkin Festival in Germany, the Mango Festival of India, the Cranberry festival in
Canada, the Marino Grape Festival of Italy, the Orange Festival of Amsterdam, etc.
International FruitJOIN
Day is celebrated on July 1. or Thenewsmaster
@thehindu444
Nagaland Fruit Festival
The festival is to be celebrated in Rusoma village near Kohima. The 2023 Nagaland Fruit
festival is the third edition. The Nagaland Fruit festival was organized by the Rusoma
Village council. Council joined hands with the horticultural department in conducting the
festival.
Why Horticulture and not agriculture?
Cultivation of fruits, vegetables, ornamental plants, flowering plants, medicinal, and
aromatic plants are grouped under horticulture. It is a subset of agriculture. So you can
term orange cultivation under agriculture as well. But you cannot term paddy, wheat, and
other crop cultivation under horticulture!
Significance
Orange earns four crores to five crores of revenue for the state. Currently, there are
78,000 Orange trees in Nagaland. The festival will set a good example for the rest of the
Nagas. The Nagas in Nagaland and in other northeastern states are demanding separate
land. Looking at the efforts put by the Indian Government through these festivals and
learning about the economic development activities in the region, they will start putting
their trust in the government. The festival will also aid in India’s Look East Policy. India is
to use the North Eastern states to increase its trade in East and South East Asia under this
policy.
Other Fruit Festivals in India
The Banana Festival: Kerala
Pineapple Festival: Manipur
Mango Festival: Delhi and different parts of India
Jack Fruit Festival: Kerala
International Orange Festival: Nagpur
Konkan Fruit Festival: Goa
Strawberries Fruit Festival: Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra
FAO: India elected the Vice Chair
The Inter-Governmental Technical Working Group reviews the technical issues at the Food
and Agriculture Organization and also advises the organizations on key decisions. India
will hold the position of Vice Chairperson at the 12th session of the group. The ITWG is to
meet at Rome in January 2023 and discuss animal genetic resources. USA is the Chair of
the session. Along with India, other countries will also hold the Vice Chair position. They
are Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tonga, and Brazil. India will also hold the position of
Rapporteur along with the Vice Chair post. Rapporteur means the reporting officer. Mr.
Bhupendra Nath Tripathi is to represent India and hold these positions.
ITWG
The group will discuss Animal Genetic Resources. The discussions will be held based on
the inputs from the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS). The DAD-IS
has national data JOIN
for all countries. It includes the
@thehindu444 or breed types, adaptations, classification,
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cost–efficient methodologies adopted, technical support received, diversity, and many
more. The ITWG will make decisions and provide recommendations after analyzing the
reports submitted based on the information from DAD-IS. The action plan suggested will
target the implementation of SDG 2.4 and SDG2.5
SDG 2.4: Sustainable Food Production
SDG 2.5: Maintain Genetic Diversity
SDG 2: Zero Hunger
January 26, 2023
Maiden Tranche of Sovereign Green Bonds
The Government of India issues bonds to support environmental projects. These bonds
that bring in resources to implement such climate-related projects are called Sovereign
Green Bonds. They are similar to government securities. The first tranche, meaning the
first part or portion of the Sovereign Green Bonds, was recently launched. The net worth
of the Green Bonds launched is Rs 8,000 crores. The Sovereign Green Bonds were
launched by the Reserve Bank of India.
Coupon Rates of the Bonds
Two different types of bonds have been launched. The Bond maturing in 2028 and the
ones maturing in 2033. The 2028 bonds coupon rate is 7.10 and the 2033 coupon rate will
be 7.29%.
What is Coupon Rate?
The yield paid by security is called the coupon rate. Let us understand this in simple terms.
The bonds are very much similar to government securities. Say John buys sovereign green
bonds. Assume he buys the 2028 maturing bond. John can now buy loans by placing these
bonds in banks. With this loan amount, John will now start an environmental project, say a
solar water heater business or a rainwater harvesting business. But what are coupon
rates? John will pay interest to the Government for using the bond as collateral. This
interest is called the coupon rate.
Revamped Monument Mitra Scheme
The scheme will bring more than a thousand monuments under the private sector. The
private sector will revamp the monuments. They will do this as a part of their Corporate
Social Responsibility. Revamping means improving a structure or changing its
appearance. The scheme is to be implemented by the Ministry of Culture. A thousand
monuments selected under the scheme are now under the maintenance of the
Archaeological Survey of India.
Objective
Under the scheme, the Ministry of Culture will sign at least 500 agreements with private
sectors before August 15, 2023. The ministry aims to accomplish half the goal before Azad
Ka Amrit completes it in 2023.
What is the plan?
The monuments will be revamped
JOIN in terms ofor
@thehindu444 amenities. The monuments will get sound
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and lighting systems. More shops will be opened. Steps to develop tourism will be
implemented.
G20
The Ministry of Culture is working hard to replenish the historical places in the country.
During the G20 summit, the ministry is to showcase a digital museum to the leaders
attending the meet. The digital museum will exhibit different historical places in the
country.
Tableau
Ministry of Culture tableau has been built on the theme “Shakti Rupen Sanshita”. That is,
worshipping goddesses. This signifies the need for women’s empowerment in the
country. A group of dancers will perform on the theme of Nari Shakti.
CERVAVAC: Cervical Cancer Vaccine
The cervix is the lowermost part of the uterus. Tumour in the cervix is generally referred
to as cervical cancer. A vaccine to cure cervical cancer was recently launched by the Serum
Institute of India. The name of the vaccine is CERVAVAC. This is the first time India is
producing a vaccine for cervical cancer. The vaccine was launched during National Girl
Child Day. India celebrates National Girl Child Day on January 24.
About CERVAVAC
Department of Biotechnology assisted SII in developing the vaccine. First, the vaccine
is to be provided to girls between the age of nine to fourteen years.
The price of the Vaccine is between Rs 200 and Rs 400 per dose
So Far: HPV Vaccine
India used the HPV vaccine so far to cure cervical vaccines. It was imported and the
vaccine is very expensive. One dose of the HPV vaccine costs Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000. With the
low-cost indigenously developed CERVAVAC, India can reduce the intensity of the disease
to a great extent.
Need for the Vaccine
Almost, one–fourth of cancer deaths occur due to cervical cancer. Cancer among
women commonly occurs in the lungs, rectum, breast, and cervix. Of all cancer in
women, breast cancer is the most common followed by lung cancer in the second
position. Colorectal cancer is the third most popular cancer in the world. And cervical
cancer is the fourth most common.
More than 1.25 lakh women suffer from cervical cancer all over the world
More than 75,000 Indian women die due to the disease

WHO on Cervical Cancer in India
According to the International Classification of Diseases WHO, more than 65,978 Indian
women suffered from cervical cancer in 2015. The number increased to 75,209 in 2017. In
2025, it is expected to touch 85,241
Kantar India Union Budget Survey 2023
Kantar is a New Zealand company. The company conducts surveys and presents analytical
insights. The company
JOIN recently held a survey inor
@thehindu444 India about the Indian Union Budget to be
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presented in 2023. And the results of the survey are not so good. The survey says that one
in four Indians are insecure about their job! Inflation is to be the biggest hurdle for India.
While India is marching forward in defense, space, exports, food processing, and energy,
the development may not be inclusive! The High – Income Group alone contributes to the
economic development of the country at large. The Low–Income Group and the Below
Poverty Line people are still suffering.
What does the survey say?
55% of Indians want the government to focus on healthcare. Increase the fund
allocation to the health sector
55% believe that Sensex is to remain at 70,000
50% believe that the Indian economy will expand, but only at the macroeconomic
level
31% believe that the Indian economy is slowing down
Urban Indians approved the 2022 Budget
60% want an increase in tax rebate on investments
Inflation is to affect household incomes. Therefore, people want rebates on health
insurance
Many are expecting the budget will allocate more funds for electric vehicles as fuel
prices are increasing
Competition (Amendment) Bill

The Competition Act aims to promote healthy competition in India. The main intention of
the act is to avoid monopoly. Take Facebook for instance. Some economists are of the
opinion that Facebook exhibits a monopoly. Meaning, it wants to rule the world of digital
messaging. To achieve this, Facebook bought almost every competitor that entered its
way. FB achieved this through mergers or acquisitions. FB acquired Instagram and
Whatsapp, major competitors. The competition act prevents such mergers and
acquisitions. The act was legislated in 2002. In 2022, the Government of India proposed
certain changes and additions to the act. The amendment is still pending and the GoI
recently added some more changes along with those it intended to introduce in 2022.
What additions were made in 2023?
Bill to be discussed during Budget Session of 2023
Regulatory frameworks to be fine-tuned. To be brought in line with the digital world
and the changes that occurred in the past two decades

The scope of the settlement and commitment scheme is to be expanded
What changes were introduced in 2022?
Deals with values more than Rs 2000 crores should be notified to CCI
Merger approval should be done within 150 working days. This was 210 working days
before
CCI should have at least one judicial officer as its member
She Feeds the World
JOIN @thehindu444 orProgramme
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CARE is an international organization fighting against poverty. Frito-Lay, Pepsi, and Cola
companies merged together and formed Pepsico in 1965. Today Pepsico is a food and
beverage company with leading products such as Quaker, Lays, Pepsi, Cola, etc. The
philanthropic foundation of PEPSICO and CARE joined together and launched the “She
Feeds the World” program in India. The program is to empower women in the agriculture
sector. The program will mainly focus on small-scale women producers.
What are the objectives She Feeds the World Programme?
To increase crop yield
To increase the income of women belonging to BPL families
To provide access to a healthy and balanced diet
The program will strive hard to reduce gender inequality in agriculture sector
To help agricultural families in the country get a stable income
Provide training to women on sustainable agriculture
About the Programme
Initially, the program is to be implemented in Cooch Behar district and Alipurduar district
of West Bengal.
Three dimensions in the program
The program will focus on achieving goals in economic, social, and environmental fields.
Economic plans
Enhance the cultivation processes of small-scale farmers
Diversify livelihood option

Increase yield of the farmlands
Social plans
Equitable training and knowledge access
Inclusive markets
Resources made available for all
Environmental plans
Handle soil and water biodiversity
Reduce carbon footprint
Outcomes of the program
Pepsico and CARE aim to improve the status of more than 48,000 women through this
program. More than 1.5 million people from West Bengal will be benefitted.
APEDA to use River Names for Branding
The Government of India has been trying to increase its agricultural exports by exhibiting
agricultural and processed food products in foreign countries. APEDA was a pioneer in
realizing this vision. The active role of APEDA increased agricultural exports to 25.6 billion
USD in 2021-22. This is 51% of the total agricultural exports of the country. Moving ahead,
APEDA is to use the major river names to brand Indian agricultural products.
What is the plan?
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority will use the
names of rivers such as Ganga, Brahmaputra, Cauvery, Godavari, etc. to name its
agricultural products. This will increase the reach of the products.
Benefits
After COVID, people are moving towards natural and nutritious foods. Many Indians,
especially the NRIs are looking for traditional food options. When the customer is looking
for his roots, naming a product in the same context will increase the business of the
product. GoI started promoting AYUSH medicines for the same reason. Our ancestors led
a healthy life because of their food habits. Modern youngsters are searching for such
good old food habits. Therefore, naming the food products after the rivers will aid in
promotion. Also, it will increase the value of water!
India’s Estimates of Millet Procurement
The Government of India is expecting the millet production to increase to forty to fifty lakh
tonnes in the next few years. In 2023, the millet production in the country is around six to
seven lakh tonnes. According to the Union Government, the increase in millet production
is mainly because of nine states. They are MP, UP, Haryana, TN, Gujarat, Odisha,
Uttarakhand, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. These states launched separate missions to
increase their millet production. They are also distributing cereals at subsidized rates.
Why the increase?
Lately, the Government of India has been taken several efforts to increase millet
production in the country. Also, it is looking for ways to create international markets for
Indian millet. To achieve this, India insisted United Nations declare 2023 as the
International Year of Millets and the UN agreed. We are now celebrating 2023 as the
International Year of Millets. More than 72 countries support it. The following programs
were launched to boost millet production and exports in the country:
Mapping and Exchange of Good Practices: Launched by NITI Aayog and WFP in Africa
and Asia
In 2018, millets were declared as “Nutri Cereals”
Millet Mission was launched under National Food Security Mission
Why the naming?
41% of the world’s millet grows in India. India is one of the largest millet producers in the
world. There prevails a hitch in Indian millet production. Though we are one of the largest
millet producers, our exports are just 1% of our production. To increase this, GoI is trying
its best in every way. The naming of millets after the rivers is one such initiative.
India and Egypt declare Strategic Partnership
The Egyptian President Sisi is the Chief Guest of the 2023 Republic Day celebrations of
India. During his visit, he met PM Modi, and the leaders discussed on boosting the
business ties between the countries. With the trade between the countries touching 12
billion USD in the last five years, the countries have now entered into Strategic
Partnership. When two countries sign the strategic partnership agreement, they become
close. They understand the nature of threats mutually and help each other in mitigating
the threats.
What does External Affairs
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Mutual understanding and long-term confidence are what India looks for in strategic
partnership agreements. Sometimes, India restricts this agreement to some sectors alone.
For instance, India restricts political, trade, defense, science and technology, and culture in
its strategic partnership agreement with Russia.
What does the Strategic Partnership Agreement between India and Egypt say?
With Egypt, India has signed the agreement on terrorism. The countries will work
together in resolving cross-border terrorism
Also, the agreement will focus in areas such as cyber security, Information
Technology, youth, culture, and broadcasting
Why is India interested in Egypt?
India sees Egypt as a Gateway to the European and African countries. Just like it sees the
North Eastern States as a Gateway to South East Asia and East Asia. Also, Egypt plays a
major role in the politics of Africa and the Arab world.
What is White Card in Football Match?
The referees show red and yellow cards for foul play in Football. These cards have been in
the game since the inception of the FIFA World Cup, that is, 1970. However, a white card
was recently introduced. The Referee shall use the white card to recognize fair play. The
first white card was used on January 21, 2023, in a match between Sporting Lisbon and
Benfica (Football teams in Portuguese) in the city of Lisbon.
What is White Card?
The concept of the white card was started by Portugal. The country aims to increase the
ethical value in sports by introducing the white card. As the card encourages fair and just
play, players will be motivated to play ethically.
Yellow card in Football
The yellow card is a caution given to the players on the field. The referee notes the nature
of foul, time, and other details in his handbook. It is called booking. Based on his notes, he
issues a caution to the players using his yellow card.
Red Card in Football
When a Referee shows a red card, a player should leave the pitch. The referee shows a red
card when the players break the rules.
What about India?
If a white card is to be introduced in India, then the All India Football Federation should
recognize it. However, if the Indian team is playing at FIFA and FIFA agreed to a white
card, then AIFF will also agree to it.
Sweden International Information Campaign
The Sweden Government recently launched an international campaign to reduce the
number of migrants to the country. The campaign is called International Information
Campaign. The campaign will spread information about the migration policy of Sweden.
About the campaign
During the campaign, the Sweden Government will create contact points in foreign
countries. It will meet the respective foreign authorities at these contact points and will
share its migration policy here.
Why is Sweden launching the campaign?
According to the Sweden Government, in 2019, 76% of the refugees who arrived in the
Nordic countries ended up in Sweden. Sweden is planning on decreasing this number by
adopting this campaign. Nordic countries are Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, and
Sweden. Apart from these countries, it also includes an autonomous region of Aland and
the autonomous region of the Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Future Plan – To reduce Refugee Quota
This future plan is related to the United Nations’ plan for refugees. This is often referred
to as the REFUGEE QUOTA. What is Refugee Quota? The UNHCR, United Nations Refugee
Agency chooses a country for the refugees that fled their homes due to war, natural
calamities, and other unavoidable reasons. Sweden is now planning on reducing this
number from 5,000 to 900. Sweden has been welcoming refugees and resettling them
since 1950. However, the numbers have increased in the recent past.
U-WIN Platform
Several healthcare authorities are finding it difficult to keep track of the next dose of the
COVID vaccine and also facing missing vaccination cards, especially among pregnant
women and children. To solve this problem, the Universal Immunisation Programme of
India launched the U-WIN platform. The platform will register details of vaccination doses
provided to pregnant women in the country. Post-pregnancy, the platform will administer
birth doses.
About U-WIN Platform
It is a replica of Co-WIN. Co-Win has been the backbone of India in administering COVID
vaccine to the citizens. The platform allows users to register for vaccination slots. It holds
every detail about the user being vaccinated. It also has information about the next
vaccination due. GoI launched the U – WIN platform based on the huge success of the
Co–Win platform.
Features of U – WIN
To register the details of the pregnant women being vaccinated
Records the delivery outcomes. That is, holds post-delivery information such as if the
baby is safe, or is the mother safe. Or a mishap occurred and one of them died.
It will also hold information about antigen coverage. The antigen is a foreign
substance to the human body. COVID virus has antigenic components.

UN World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023 Report
Ukraine – Russia war is creating energy crises, increasing inflation, and causing debt
issues all over the world. Amidst these conditions and climate emergencies, the United
Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs launched the “World Economic
Situation and Prospects” report or simply the World Economy Report. The report says that
the economic growth of the world is slowing down. It is to reach 1.9% in 2023 from 3% in
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Increasing inflation is to affect the private-sector investments
Global Inflation is to remain at 6.5% in 2023
Banks are to increase the interest rates and therefore, the overall economic growth
of countries will be at stake
Countries will face recession as they enter 2024
The countries are to face heavy challenges in achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals
Poverty levels are to increase
People will face unemployment. Those who are already in the job will encounter job
insecurity
Losses in women’s employment
More than 350 million are to face food insecurity
Recommendations
Governments should avoid fiscal austerity. Fiscal austerity is economic measures that
contain spending cuts, and tax increases. It is used by governments to decrease the
deficits they face in fund allocation
Governments should change their public spending policy in accordance with the
changing global economy
Social protection systems should be strengthened
Temporary subsidies shall be provided

Discounts on utility bills
Report advice: Invest in digital infrastructure, climate change, and new technologies
Predictions made
India’s economic growth rate as predicted by the report is 5.8% in 2023 and 6.7% in
2024
USA: 1.9% in 2023 and 2.7% in 2024
Japan: 0.4% in 2023 and 1.6% in 2024
UK: -0.8% in 2023 and 1% in 2024
EU: 0.2% in 2023 and 1.6% in 2024
Five to Seven Countries Sign Up for adopting India Stack
India Stack is the collection of Application Peripheral Interfaces launched by the
Government of India. This includes BHIM, Digilocker, UPI, and several other applications.
According to a recent report from the IT Ministry around seven countries are to join India
Stack. Meaning they will sign agreements with the Indian Government to use these
applications. India is to announce the names of these countries at the World Government
Summit that is to be held in Dubai in February.
About India Stack
India is planning to export its digital products. Today the digital infrastructure market has
huge potential. Several APIs of the Indian Government such as BHIM, Co-WIN, and Aadhar
has been a huge success. Recently, the GOI launched
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success of the Co-WIN. BHIM is being used in Bhutan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia,
South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Cambodia, and Japan. Nepal was the first to implement
UPI.
Future Plans
The government of India is currently looking for certified Stack Developers. The plan is to
hire them just as the big giants like Microsoft and Google hire certified analysts. The Stack
developers will be integrated into the system and will help GoI in taking them to other
countries.
India Stack Developer Conference
India recently hosted a conference to increase the adoption of its digital goods on foreign
soil. The countries signing up for the stack are those that attended the conference.
January 27, 2023
Conferment of 106 Padma Awards
Padma Awards is a presented to honor people from different fields such as social work,
education, literature, public affairs, education, etc. It is one of the highest civilian awards
presented in the country. The award is presented in three categories namely Padma
Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Shri. Padma Awards are presented by the
President of India.
The following will be honored with the awards
Padma Vibhushan:
Mulayam Singh Yadav (Posthumous): Former Defence Minister of India; her served
as the CM of UP for three years, founder of the Samajwadi Party
SM Krishna (Posthumous): Served as the External Affairs Minister of India between
2009 and 2012; was part of BJP, from Karnataka
Zakir Hussain: Musician, table player
Balkrishna Doshi (Posthumous): An Architect. Played huge roles in the evolution of
architectural discourse in India
Dillip Mahalanabis (posthumous): Indian pediatrician, known for effective use of Oral
Rehydration Therapy in treating Diarrhoea
Srinivas Vardhan: From USA in the field of Science and Engineering. He is a
mathematician
Padma Bhushan:
Bhyrappa: Novelist
Kumar Mangalam Birla: Businessman
Deepak Dhar: Physicist
Vani Jayaram: Singer
Chinna Jeeyar: Religious Guru and ascetic
Suman Kalyanpur: Playback Singer
Kapil Kapoor: Former VC of JNU
Sudha Murthy: Wife of
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Kamlesh D Patel: In the field of Spiritualism; written several books on yoga
Ghazal Singers of Rajasthan: Mohammad Hussain and Ahmed Hussain
In all, the GoI is to present 106 Padma Awards. Raveena Tandon, the Bollywood actress
will be conferred with Padma Shri. Posthumous means the awardees are no more
Ukraine’s Odesa designated as World Heritage in Danger site
The UNESCO of the United Nations presents the tag of World Heritage in Danger. World
Heritage Sites face several problems such as development in tourism, war, natural
disasters, poaching, urbanization, and pollution. To protect the sites from catastrophic
damages, UNESCO designates them as World Heritage in Danger sites. Today, the list has
55 such sites. Recently, the ODESA of Ukraine was added to the list.
What is the plan?
Russian forces are conducting frequent air strikes in Ukraine. For this reason, the world
heritage site Odesa is in danger. Now that UNESCO has made it a World Heritage Site in
Danger, United Nations will now allocate funds to protect the site.
ODESA of Ukraine
The site is located near the Black sea and is 500 km from the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv.
Empress Catherine founded ODESA. She took away the region from the Ottoman Empire
in 1794. The name ODESA is Greek. Catherine gave religious freedom to the people in
ODESA and also offered them lands. She also gave Porto Franco, meaning a free port. No
taxes were imposed on the port. This expanded the trade in Odesa attracting several
foreign merchants.
Attractions in Odesa
The city has a giant stairway. There are 200 steps down the staircase. It was built in
1837. The staircase is the entrance point to Odesa
Vorontsovskyi Palace is a beautiful Turkish Castle in Odesa
Stressed Assets Securitisation Framework
The Non – Performing assets, written–off assets, and restructured loans are grouped
together as Stressed Assets. In simple words, there is no profitable revenue from these
assets. Liquidating stressed assets are highly challenging. To make the sale process of
these stressed assets easier and faster, the Reserve Bank of India has introduced a
Securitisation Framework.
What does the Framework say?
The bad loans are usually sold under the SARFESI Act. Now under the Stressed Asses
Securitisation Framework, RBI proposes a special entity approach to selling bad loans. A
servicing entity appointed by this Special Entity will manage the stressed assets. They will
operate under a fee structure. The fee is an incentive for their hard work. It will boost their
performance and increase recoveries.
The next aspect that the framework focuses on, is the nature of the asset. The RBI is yet to
finalize its opinion in this area. The apex bank is asking for suggestions from the
stakeholders to fix this. RBI is asking what should be the value of the asset. That is, the
value of the asset JOIN
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small and pertain only to small businesses or be extended to corporates.
Tax – Paid Green Bond Issuance
The Government of India issues green bonds to develop the clean energy sector in the
country. The bonds act as security for a loan. Usually, the bonds are tax-free. Taxes are
exempted to increase the number of green projects in the country. The Power Ministry
recently proposed the tax – paid bonds.
Should I pay tax on bonds?
The investor raising his capital through bonds should file ITR – 2. It means Income Tax
Return. ITR-w includes taxes on income that comes from sources other than profession or
business. Usually, green bonds are exempted from taxes. This is done to increase projects
and businesses in green energy.
What is Power Ministry proposing?
The ministry wants to tax green bonds. Also, it wants Power Finance Corporation to act as
the nodal agency of climate financing. PFC is a public sector unit and is the backbone of
the power sector.
Background
The Government of India is looking for ways to increase investments in renewable energy.
The country is striving hard to achieve its objective of reaching 500 GW of non–fossil fuel
by 2030. Also, India believes that increasing the use of clean energy will help the country
achieve its goal of becoming a zero-carbon-emitting country by 2070.
T+1 Settlement Cycle

When an investor is buying or selling shares he uses Depository organizations. There are
two depository organizations in India. They are NSDL and CDSL. The investors shall buy or
sell their shares through these organizations. A bank acts as an intermediate between the
investor and these organizations. Say an investor sells 1000 Jio shares on January 27, 2023.
It may take one or two days for the money to be credited to his account. In the T+1
settlement cycle, this time is one day. NDSL is National Depository Securities Limited. CDSL
is Central Depository Service Limited.
About T+1 Settlement Cycle
India is the second biggest economy to move towards a T+1 settlement cycle after China.
Here, the T refers to Trading Day. What is settlement? During a settlement, the funds are
transferred to the seller’s account and securities are transferred to the buyer’s account.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Quick fund remittances, improved operational efficiency, and easy delivery of
shares
Cons: Time Zone differences, foreign exchange problems, and information flow
processes
Earlier
Till 2001, the stock markets used weekly settlements. Then T+3 was introduced. In 2003,
T+2 was introduced.
What is SEBI saying about T+1?
According to SEBI, the T+1 settlement cycle will free up capital. This will increase the
availability of funds to collateralize the risks.
Veer Gatha 2.0 Contest
The Government of India presents Gallantry Awards to honor the brave acts of the army
personnel in the Armed Forces. The awards are presented twice a year. These awards are
announced on republic day celebrations and Independence Day celebrations. Param Vir
Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Kirthi Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, and Shaurya Chakra are some of the
gallantry awards. The President of India presents the Gallantry awards. Under the Veer
Gatha Project, the school students are encouraged to do projects on the gallantry award
winners. This is done to inculcate patriotism among them.
Veer Gatha 2.0 Contest
Recently, Defence Minister Raj Nath Singh distributed prizes to the winners of the Veer
Gatha 2.0 contest. The minister awarded the winners with a medal, certificate, and Rs
10,000 cash prize. During the felicitation, education minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan,
and CDS Staff General Anil Chauhan were also present. Also, the Chief of Navy, Chief of
Army, and the Chief of Air Force were also present.
Background
The contest is jointly conducted by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education.
It is in line with National Education Policy, 2020. The project develops patriotism among
Indian students. Also, it develops an interest to join the Indian Army. Today, Veer Gatha is
gaining popularity and more students are exhibiting interest to participate in the
program.
Krishi Mahotsav – Exhibition and Training Programme
The literacy rate in rural India is around 73.5%. Most Indian farmers lag knowledge about
modern farming methods, organic farming, and effective principles of animal husbandry.
To train them in these fields, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare recently
conducted the Krishi Mahotsav. During the event, the ministry conducted exhibitions and
gave training to farmers. The event was held in Kota, Rajasthan.
About Krishi Mahotsav
More than 5,000 farmers participated in the program
The farmers were trained in the following program
Horticulture
Agriculture
Animal Husbandry
Organic Farming
A special workshop was held on Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
The training was also given on how to use drones and other technologies in
agriculture
Private companies displayed their agricultural products
Ministry had put on stalls that explained agricultural practices
Significance JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Indian farmers are still using old agricultural practices. And most of the farmers in India
are marginal farmers who cannot afford to hire laborers to work on their farms. According
to the Reserve Bank of India, farmers with a Land area of less than one hectare are
marginal farmers. And farmers with a land area between one hectare and two hectares
are small farmers. The Krishi Mahotsav will be of great help to these farmers. Learning to
use technology will help them largely.
Name of the Event: Krishi – Mahotsav: Pradarshani Evam Prashikshan; held for two days
G – 20 Startup Engagement Group
India is to host the G-20 summit to be held in 2023. To make the summit a success, several
engagement groups are being formed. The group comprises representatives from Non –
Government organizations. There are different engagement groups such as Business 20,
Labour 20, Civil 20, Parliament 20, Science 20, Think 20, Urban 20, Startup 20, and SAI 20.
As the name suggests the startup 20 Engagement group has representatives from leading
startups in the G-20 countries.
About G – 20 Start-Up Engagement Group
Recently, the Startup Engagement Group of G – 20 held its inception meeting in
Hyderabad.
Startup 20 focuses on innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration
During the meeting, the representatives made recommendations on innovation and
entrepreneurship
Apart from the G20 members, nine special invitees also attended the meet
Discussions were made on how to support startups and fill in the gaps between the
startups and corporates
The representatives also discussed inculcating innovative methodologies in startups
G-20 members are planning to set up a Global Innovation Centre to help startups
from different countries form collaborations
The objective of the Startup Engagement Group
It will aim to bridge the gaps between the startups of the G-20 members and the other
emerging economies in the world. Also, it will support government organizations willing
to work with startups and support them.
Punjab Aam Aadmi Clinics
The World Health Organization says that more than 65% of Indians are making out-of-
pocket health expenditures. This means, they are paying for their health expenditures
from their own pockets. Also, only 17% of the citizens have health insurance. To solve
these two problems, health insurance, and expenditure, the Aam Aadmi Party launched
the Mohalla Clinics in 2015 when they formed the Government in Delhi. The clinic provides
free medicines and diagnostics. The initiative has been a huge success. Now the party is
planning to open 400 such clinics in Punjab.
What is the plan?
The Mohalla Clinic also called the Aam Aadmi Clinics is to be set up in the state of Punjab.
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318 are to be established in rural areas of Punjab. With this, the
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number of Mohalla clinics in Punjab is to increase to 500.
Background
The Aam Aadmi Party won the Punjab General Assembly Election in 2022. Bhagwant Mann
is the current Chief Minister of Punjab. The party is trying to bring in similar changes as
that of Delhi. With the huge success of Mohalla Clinics, the Aam Aadmi Party is launching it
in Punjab. 97% of the people taking treatment at the Mohalla Clinics in Delhi report that
the treatment is far better than other facilities in the territory.
Out-of-pocket expenses are those expenses that will not be reimbursed by the
government or by any other health insurance company.
Aditya – L1 Solar Mission
The Indian Space Research Organization is working on a space project that will study the
sun. The name of the project is Aditya L1. Recently, the ISRO chairman announced that the
spacecraft is to be launched in June or July this year. The Aditya spacecraft will study solar
magnetic storms and the impact of the solar atmosphere on the earth.
About Aditya L1
The spacecraft is to study the following:
Solar Winds: These winds are created due to the expansion of the sun’s plasma
Photosphere and Chromosphere of the sun
Corona of the sun
Energetic particles of the sun
Aditya will study corona heating
Coronal Heating: Scientists are yet to find the solution to the million-dollar question. Why
the temperature of the sun’s corona is a million kelvins, but the temperature of its core is
only thousands of kelvin? This is generally called the corona heating problem. The
spacecraft will help Indian space scientists find solutions to the coronal heating problem.
Aditya will study coronal magnetometry
The outermost layer of the sun is called Corona. The corona has ionized plasma. These
ions carry magnetic fields around them. This makes the corona magnetic. The study of the
magnetic field in the corona of the sun is called coronal magnetometry.
Chhattisgarh Unemployment Allowance
The Election Commission of India has planned to conduct the assembly elections of
Chhattisgarh in November 2023. Ahead of the elections, the current CM of the state
Bhupesh Baghel announced that his government is to provide unemployment allowance
to the Chhattisgarh people in the 2023-24 financial year. He made his announcement
during his republic day speech.
Why the promise?
During the 2018 election campaign, the Baghel party that is, Congress had made the
unemployment allowance promise. This promise helped the party come to power in the
state after 15 years.
Other announcements
Along with the unemployment allowance, the CM also made the following
announcements:
Framing rural industry policy: Mainly focusing on the cotton industry
Property tax to be exempted for factories in industrial areas
CM also announced a housing scheme for laborers and a scheme for women
entrepreneurs
Increase the facilities for air travelers
Develop aero city near the Raipur Airport
To provide a grant of Rs 50,000 to the construction workers who are members of the
Chhattisgarh Building and Other Construction Welfare Board for more than three
years
Rs 10,000 to be provided to Gram Panchayats to organize tribal festivals
Chhattisgarh State Innovation Commission is to be constituted
National Child Science Congress
The National Council for Science and Technology operating under the Department of
Science and Technology recently organized the National Child Science Congress, 2023. The
congress was hosted by the Gujarat Council of Science City. It was held in Ahmedabad,
Gujarat. The theme of the congress was “Understanding Eco System for Health and
Wellbeing”. More than 1400 delegates attended the conference.
About the Congress
The National Child Science Congress is being held in the country since 1993
Children of age group 1 to 17 years attend the congress

During the congress, children exhibit their innovation
The focus of the congress is to cultivate problem-solving skills in students. During
the congress, the participants will frame solutions to societal problems
Significance
India is one of the leading countries in the world where students choose science as their
stream. This includes STEM subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics. According to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD), India contributes 29.2% of science students in the world. EU accounts for 9.5%,
the US: 6%, and China: 26%. The National Child Congress and similar programs are the
primary reasons for India to perform well in this area.
January 28, 2023
MEITY Grievance Appellate Committees
The IT Rules of 2021 say that Social Media Companies such as Facebook should
compulsorily appoint Grievance officers. These officers should be from India. They will
oversee the complaints made by social media users. Now the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology is forming a committee to which these officers will report to. The
committee will take “content moderation” decisions.
What is content moderation?
It is the process of reviewing content created by the users. During content moderation,
inappropriate content
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content.
Powers of the committee
The committee will oversee the grievance redressal mechanism
It will check on the complaints filed by the users
A special grievance officer will be appointed to overlook the entire process
If the user is not satisfied with the actions taken by this grievance officer, he can file
complaints to the Grievance Appellate Committee
Role of the officer
The officer reporting to the committee should take action within a stipulated time period.
72 hours of time frame for complaints related to copyright issues, and other issues that
pose threat to the integrity of India. Earlier, the time period was 15 days. Now it has been
changed to 72 hours with the formation of the committee.
Indus Water Treaty (IWT): India sends notice for modification
The Indus Water Treaty was signed between the Government of India and the
Government of Pakistan in 1960. World Bank negotiated the treaty. According to the
treaty, the waters of Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej are controlled by India, and the waters of Indus,
Jhelum, and Chenab are controlled by Pakistan. All these rivers form the Indus Water
system. India has 20% access to the water system and Pakistan has 80% access. According
to India, Pakistan has been “INTRANSIGENCE” over the treaty. Meaning refusing to agree
upon the treaty. For this reason, India has sent a notice to Pakistan to modify the treaty.
What is the issue?
India cites the issues of the Rattle hydroelectric project and Kishenganga disputes as the
reason for sending the notice.
What is the Kishen Ganga Dispute?
In 2007, India started the Kishen Ganga Project. The project is related to power
generation. It aims to divert the waters of Kishen Ganga for power generation. To this
Pakistan objected and the project was stalled in 2011. Why did Pakistan Object? According
to Pakistan, Kishen Ganga is a tributary of Jhelum. Jhelum waters belong to Pakistan under
Indus Water Treaty. Then, is the Indian project violating the treaty? No. The Indus Water
Treaty allows India to use the waters of all the rivers for non – consumptive uses such as
hydroelectric power generation. And India was using this clause to use the Kishen Ganga
Water (Jhelum) to generate power.
What is the Rattle Hydroelectric dispute?
The Rattle power project is located in the Chenab river. In 2013, the then PM Manmohan
Singh laid the foundation stone. The project started in 2018 after World Bank allowed
India to move ahead with the project despite Pakistan raising concerns. Again India’s
intentions are to use Chenab water for nonconsumptive purposes.
Shipping Ministry Marine Logistics Portal
The Government of India launched the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to increase
the execution time of infrastructure projects in India. To achieve this in the shipping
industry, the ministry
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all the stakeholders in the shipping industry together. It aims to reduce the cost of
logistics. Though launched by the shipping ministry, the platform covers all modes of
transport such as roadways, waterways, and airways.
About the portal
The portal is called National Logistics Portal – Marine.
It will allow multiple service providers in the exports and imports business to come
together under one platform
Stakeholders in logistics are those people involved in the transport of goods and
services. NLP – M will focus on four main stakeholders such as banking, cargo,
carrier, and finance
It will replace the existing Port Community System
The portal was developed by Potal Info Systems
It will help India in achieving its goal of PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The
project aims to create infrastructure projects of worth Rs 100 lakh crores before the
75th independence day.
Benefits
This is a big step in digitizing trade. It will eliminate the obstacles in logistics. Also, it will
increase efficiency and transparency.
Jharkhand’s First Survey of Migrants
Around 8.5 lakh migrants returned to their home state, Jharkhand, during the COVID
crisis. To help these migrants with a good livelihood, the State Government of Jharkhand
started the State and Responsible Migration Initiative in 2021. Creating a robust database
of the migrants in the state is a part of this initiative. To achieve this, the Jharkhand
Government recently launched the first survey of Migrants. Jharkhand is not the only state
to launch such states. Several other states like Tamil Nadu and Punjab had already
launched such surveys.
About the Survey
The survey is to be conducted in 24 districts. Officers will knock on the doors of
11,000 households to take the survey
The survey outputs will be used to create a state-level policy
The survey will also help the State in identifying the cause of migration. Why the
Jharkhand people are leaving the state?
The survey will find out the factors influencing migration in the state
During the survey, the officers will talk to community leaders to get a greater insight
into the problem
The survey has blocks of questions to understand and decipher the issue. They are
household characteristics, incoming migrants, outgoing migrants, quality of life of
migrants, understanding the mindset of migrants, etc.
The survey will also collect details on the nature of work the migrants are expecting
and what is the role of women in the household and in the earnings.
Phase
JOIN 1 of Bihar caste – based
@thehindu444 or survey completed
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The Government of Bihar planned to create a record of castes and communities residing
in the state. For this, the Chief Minister of the State Nitish Kumar launched a survey on
January 7, 2023. Recently, the state government completed the first phase of the survey.
The entire survey is to be completed by May 2023.
What was done during Phase I?
The officers counted and recorded the number of households in the state. Teachers,
government servants, and agricultural coordinators collected the information. They
surveyed more than 2.58 crores of households. The first phase of the survey was
conducted in both rural and urban areas. It covered more than 12.7 crore population of
the state.
Future plans
The second phase of the survey is to start in April 2023. During the second phase, the
officers will gather information on socio – the economic profile of the members of the
household. Also, they will collect information about the caste and their exposure to
government schemes.
Why is the survey conducted?
The State Government aims to provide better services to the socially backward classes.
The current ruling government is mainly supported by the socially backward classes and
therefore this decision. By learning the status of the backward classes and the weaker
sections, the Government will launch welfare schemes. The current CM Nitish Kumar
belongs to the Janata Dal political party.

Hinderburg Research Report on Adani Group
The Hinderburg is a research company conducting financial research in different parts of
the world. Hinderburg recently released its research report on the world’s third richest
man and his business firm the Adani Group. According to the report, Adani was involved in
fraud schemes and stock manipulation. The exact word used by the report is “BRAZEN”
Stock Manipulation. Brazen means without shame.
The company did two years of rigorous investigation on Adani and his family
members
According to the report, the Adani Group manipulated 218 billion USD in the stocks.
The net worth of Adani is 120 billion USD. He accumulated 100 billion USD in the last
three years alone! Most of the accumulated wealth comes from stock price
appreciation
Seven of the Adani company prices spiked 819% during the last three years
The reality is that all these seven companies that brought in stock hikes are actually
in debt and liquidity pressure
Adani Family members
Rajesh Adani, the younger brother of Gautam Adani was arrested twice. He created
shell companies abroad and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence accused him in
2004-05 of JOIN
importing and exporting or
@thehindu444 diamonds fraudulently using the shell
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companies
Shell companies of ADani in UAE, Maldives, Caribbean Islands have earned them a
profit of 17 billion USD. They used tax-haven jurisdictions in these countries to fake
their turnover
Vinod Adani, elder brother of Gautham Adani is said to own and operate entities in
Singapore, UAE. But investigations of Hindenburg Research say that there are no
operations in these entities.
Draft National Electricity Policy
The Standing Committee constituted to work on Electricity issues in India made
recommendations to create a new Electricity Policy. Based on the recommendations, the
Ministry of Power constituted an expert committee under the chairmanship of Gireesh
Pradhan to create the policy. The panel submitted the draft policy in October 2021. Now,
the ministry has finalized the policy and is circulating it to the states and the CEA (Central
Electricity Authority) seeking comments.
About the Draft Policy
The policy was framed invoking Electricity Act, 2003
Private parties shall be invited for distributing power
Quality power supply in rural areas
Reduce dependence on coal
Increase hydrogen storage and hydro storage
Increase investments on mini-grids

Make metering completely smart
Encourage and increase the use of domestic power equipment
Background
India launched its first National Electricity Policy in 2005. Even after 16 years since the
launch, no efforts were initiated to update the policy. Despite of peak energy shortages,
no efforts were launched to change the policy. Our distribution infrastructure is showing
very slow development. However, there has been a substantial increase in the distribution
infrastructure. Today there are more than 6 lakh crores of distribution companies in the
country. India is moving towards clean energy and has set a goal of achieving net zero by
2070. The new policy will aid India to achieve its objectives.
Ministry of Corporate Affairs Facility for e – Adjudication
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs launched the MCA21 to speed the access to the services
of the ministry. Recently, the ministry added some key features to MCA21. They are e –
adjudication, compliance management, and e-consultation. Adjudication means a
judgment on a dispute. E-adjudication is an online dispute-solving platform. It will reduce
the number of cases going to the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal). Also, the E –
Adjudication will increase the ease of doing business.
About the E – Adjudication facility
The facility will try and reduce the crimes listed under the Companies Act
It will try andJOIN
reduce @thehindu444
the compliance burdens
or Thenewsmaster
Physical meetings have been relaxed to increase the success rate of the facility. All
discussions shall be made through video conferencing
Other recent activities of MCA
Apart from these measures, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs will also set up a center
that will speed up the processes involved in the exit of a corporate.
MCA21 has been linked with CBDT, PAN, and TAN
The number of new companies is increasing. In 2015, the number of new companies
in the country was 64,300. In 2022, the number has increased to 167,000
The ministry of to complete the entire process of corporate revamping by March
2023
First Made in India Helmet to meet Europe ECE 22.06 standard
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe set the ECE standards for helmets.
The standard is being used in several countries. For the last 20 years, the ECE 22.05
standard was used. ECE 22.06 was introduced in 2020. ECE 22.06 includes a low-speed
crash test, impact resistance test, and lots more. The new Ignyte IGN – 7 helmets of
Steelbird has become the first helmet in India to meet the ECE 22.06 standard.
About IGN – 7
The helmet has a NACA airflow system. The NACA vent system was developed by the
US. NACA means National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The NACA sucks the
air from the outside and keeps the user ventilated
It is tested for different speeds 6, 7, and 8 miles per second

ECE 22.06
Low-speed impact testing was the major addition in ECE 22.06. Usually, helmets
protect the riders during high-speed impact. However, several studies conducted
from different parts of the world say that low-speed impacts cause severe brain
damage as compared to high-speed impacts.
The ECE 22.06 standard also includes tests for a spin-on-impact test
ECE 22.06 also includes tests on retention mechanism and shell sizes
In India, IS:4151 was the first helmet standard. It was released by ISI in 1993.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2023
Holocaust means destruction on a large scale. International Holocaust Day is marked to
commemorate the Jewish people killed or massacred by Hitler and his army. More than six
million Jews were killed during this period. The day is marked on January 27. The United
Nations passed a resolution in 2004 to mark this day.

The theme of the 2023 International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Home and Belonging
Significance
The day reminds the world about the killing of more than two – thirds the Jewish
population
Hitler considered them inferior and wanted to eradicate the Jewish race from planet
earth JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster
Human Rights activists and supporters consider the day a condemnation of religious
harassment, intolerance, violence, and unreasonable incitement.
Why did Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader hate Jews?
Many are of the misconception that Hitler invented hatred for Jews. No. Hatred of Jews
prevailed since the middle ages. According to his book Mein Kampf, Hitler was prejudiced
against Jews. Many of the German nationalists during the Hitler period were anti-jews. But
their ideologies were not as cruel as that of Hitler’s.
Most Germans believe that Hitler developed a hatred for Jews because of the first world
war. Germany lost the first world war. The Jews, communists, and democrats were
considered responsible for the defeat of the country in the world war. And for this reason,
Hitler started hating Jews vehemently.
US-EU AI Agreement
To increase the use of Artificial Intelligence in health care, agriculture, emergency
response, electric grid, and weather forecasting, the United States and the European
Union signed an agreement. The agreement will aid the government increase the use of
Artificial Intelligence in their projects and collaborations. The application of the agreement
is believed to be wide.
About the agreement
AI modeling is to be jointly used by the entities to increase the speed and efficiency
of their governance. AI modeling includes mostly machine learning algorithms. That
is, machines will be trained to do a certain process

Under the agreement, the entities are to focus on data management as well.
Entities will develop data-rich artificial intelligence models
Emergency responses and Grid management are the key target areas
In the electricity sector, the aim is to collect data and store them safely. The data
here includes where the electricity is generated. How is the generated electricity
used? How to balance the grid load?
Aim
The project will collect all the data and put them into a common pool. Several European
countries have their own electricity generation and usage data. All such individual
collections will be clubbed together.
Currently, only European Commission and the USA are included in the talks. In the future,
the entities are planning to invite other countries as well.
Sale of 30 LMT of wheat under Open Market Sale Scheme

Under the Open Market Sale Scheme, the Food Corporation of India sells surplus rice and
wheat stocks. The prices of the food grains are pre-determined. Recently, the Government
of India issued orders to the FCI to sell 30 LMT of wheat under the open market sale
scheme. The Union Government has taken this step to reduce the consistent price rise of
wheat in the country.
What is the plan?
Apart from the Open
JOINMarket Sale, the Government
@thehindu444 of India is to take the following
or Thenewsmaster
measures:
E-Auction will be conducted and 3000 MT of wheat will be sold per bulk buyer or flour
miller
Without auctions, the union government will distribute wheat to the state
governments and the union territories. They will then circulate the wheat to the
public through the Public Distribution Systems (Ration Shops)
Also, the Government will sell wheat at a concession to the cooperative societies,
public sector units, NAFED, etc. No E–Auction will be conducted for them. They can
then sell this wheat to the public at a reduced price. The GoI has fixed this price as Rs
29.50
Reasons for the increase in wheat prices
Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Export Deal
GoI did not launch the Open Market Sale Scheme on time
Rise in international fuel cost
Huge demand for Indian wheat in the International market. So more wheat was
exported bringing a shortage inside the country
January 29, 2023
Mandatory Minimum Sentences
The concept of mandatory minimum sentences is common in American and Canadian
legal systems. Recently, the Canadian Apex court announced that it is to stop pronouncing
mandatory minimum sentences. Mandatory minimum sentences are judgments that do

not leave discretion to the court. Meaning the punishment cannot be reduced in the
future.
What are Mandatory Minimum Sentences?
In simple terms, the judgments in which the level of punishment cannot be reduced in the
future are called mandatory minimum sentences. Say, a Supreme Court judge
pronounced five years of punishment to a convict. Usually, the convict may appeal to the
court for a reduction in punishment after a year or after six months of imprisonment. The
court checks if his conduct has changed and based on his realization, it agrees to reduce
his punishment. This is called a mandatory minimum sentence.
Mandatory Minimum Sentence in India
The Chief Justice of India recently challenged a petition related to mandatory minimum
sentences. The petition requested the Supreme Court to reduce the punishment of the
convicts arrested in a gang rape (of a minor girl of 12 years of age).

2016 ruling of SC of India
In 2016, Mohd Hasim vs State of UP case of Supreme Court defined mandatory minimum
as a sentence that does not leave any discretion to the court.
Indian Laws related to MMS
MMS applies to all the offenses booked under the POCSO Act, that is, Prevention of
Children from Sexual Offences Act except sexual harassment.
India’s 74th Republic Day Parade – Highlights
JOIN
th
India celebrated its 74 republic day on January 26, 2023. The President of India Draupadi
Murmu hoisted the flag during the celebrations. This is the first republic day parade after
the Raj Path was renamed as Kartavya Path. Egyptian President Sisi was the chief guest. A
contingent of the Egyptian Army also participated in the parade.
Key Highlights
144 personnel of the Egyptian contingent marched on the Kartavya Path
Vintage Artillery: 21 – Gunshot salute with 105 mm field guns
Six Contingents marched the path” Maratha Light Infantry regiment, Mechanised
Infantry Regiment, Dogra Regiment, Bihar Regiment, Punjab Regiment, and Gorkha
Brigade
Camel Riders (Feamle) of the BSF Camel Regiment: India is the only country to hold a
camel regiment in the world
Motor Cycle Riders: Dare Devils
Tableau of Indian Navy: All women crew displaying Indian Navy’s “Make in India”
initiatives
Tableau of Indian Air Force: Theme: IAF Power Beyond Boundaries
Tableau of DRDO: Theme: Securing Nation with Effective communication,
surveillance, and neutralizing threats
State and UT Tableaus focused on cultural blends
Assam: Land of Heroes and Spiritualism
Gujarat: Clean Energy Efficient

Uttarakhand: Tourism
The Ministries showcased the themes of the future of India
Above all the Indian Air Force presented an amazing air show. 45 aircraft participated in
the show.
iNCOVACC: First Intranasal COVID-19 Vaccine
There are different methods of vaccine administration. Oral, Intradermal, subcutaneous,
and intramuscular. But the Bharat Biotech recently launched an intranasal vaccine to treat
COVID-19. It is called iNCOVACC. Intra-nasal means the vaccine is administered through
nose. India has approved the vaccine and it is to be administered as a booster dose.
About iNCOVACC
The price of the vaccine is Rs 800 in private hospitals and Rs 325 in government
hospitals
Two doses have been advised. The doses are to be administered within a time gap of
28 days
Adeno Virus is the carrier of iNCOVACC. Meaning, the antigen from Coronavirus is
isolated and injected into the Adeno virus. This is done to increase the immunity
power of the human body. The vaccines injected into the human body teach the
immune system to fight against the virus. The carrier viruses aid in increases this
fighting levels
iNCOVACC is easy @thehindu444
JOIN to deliver. Because;
or noThenewsmaster
needles or syringes are used in
administering the vaccine
Vaccine administration requires no skilled professionals. Any common man can
administer the vaccine
Who should not take iNCOVACC?
You should not take iCONVACC if you have a fever, allergies, etc. Also, you should not take
iCONVACC if you are immune compromised, which means if you have AIDS or other
immune-related diseases.
Google Policy Change In line with CCI direction
Our smartphones come with pre–installed apps like Gmaps, Gmail, Google search engines,
etc. We cannot uninstall these apps even if we do use them. Apart from Google apps some
smartphones also come with third-party apps (supported by Google). Google uses its
dominance and influences smartphone makers to pre–install apps. This creates a nuisance
to the users and discourages competition in the market. To avoid this, the Competition
Commission of India imposed a fine of 161 million USD on Google owner Alphabet for
using its dominance to exploit Indian markets. The Supreme Court recently upheld CCI’s
direction. Following this, Google changed its policy.
What policy changes were brought in?
Users can now choose to change their default search engines on their smartphones
User choice billing is used for subscriptions and app purchases. This billing is to be
available for all apps from February 2023
Android compatibility changes were introduced.

Smartphone makers (OEM or Original Equipment Manufacturers) shall pre-install the
apps at their will
Background
The Competition Commission of India has been continuously imposing penalties on
Google. Anti – Trust orders were issued for Google’s misuse of its dominance in the
market. Following the CCI order, Alphabet (Google’s owner) approached National
Company Law Appellate Tribunal. NCLAT also upheld CCI orders. Later Alphabet
approached the Supreme court. And the apex court also turned down Google’s filings.
January 30, 2023
Fifth Khelo India Youth Games 2022
The Government of India conducts the Khelo India Youth Games every year to hunt talents
from different parts of India. The sports event is seen as the best gateway for Indian
athletes to enter international events and bring pride to the nations. The fifth edition of
the Khelo India Youth Games is to start in January end. The State Government of Madhya
Pradesh is to host the event. For the first time, Kayaking and Canoeing are introduced in
the event.
About Khelo India Youth Games 2022
To be held in eight cities namely Maheshwar, Balaghat, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain,
Indore, and Bhopal in MP
Kayaking andJOIN
Canoeing were introduced or
@thehindu444 for the first time. The Government of India
Thenewsmaster
has been pushing the Kayaking and Canoeing sports recently. A world-class Kayaking
Canoeing academy is being built by the union government in Tehri, Uttarakhand
More than 474 athletes are to participate from MP
Other major participants are Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and UP
From Tripura 13 athletes will participate and it is the smallest contributor
Abhinav Shaw and Swati Chaudhary are to participate in the event. They are
international pistol shooters
Other games to be held: Swimming, Wrestling, Boxing, Rowing, Volleyball, Canoeing,
Judo, athletics, and kayaking
At Indore, tennis, Kabaddi, table tennis, hockey, weight lifting, basketball, and
football are to be held
Gymnastics, Kalaripattaya, Badminton, and hockey are to be held in Gwalior
All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), 2020-2021
The Government of India started the AISHE in 2010-11. A task force formed from AICTE,
UGC, National Medical Council, Distance Education Council, and representatives from
leading universities conduct the survey. In 2020-21, the survey was started under the
leadership of the Ministry of Education. The survey mainly focuses on higher education in
the country.
Key Findings of AISHE
The number of students pursuing higher education increased by 7.5% as compared
to 2019-20 and increased by 21% as compared to 2014-15. The numbers were more
than 4.14 crores. This is the first time, the figures crossed the 4 crore mark
The number of females joining higher education increased by 13 lakhs as compared
to 2019-20. The numbers were more than 2 crores
The number of Scheduled Caste Students pursuing higher education increased by
28% as compared to 2014-15
The number of female Scheduled Caste students pursuing higher education
increased by 38% as compared to 2014-15
The number of ST students pursuing higher education increased by 47% as
compared to 2014-15. In the females, the increase was 63.4%
Number of OBC students: The increase was by 32% as compared to 2014-15; In
females, the increase was by 39%
Substantial improvement was seen in the Gross Enrolment Ratio
The number of students enrolled in distance education increased by 7% as compared

to 2019-20
The total number of universities in the country increased by 70 as compared to
2019-20. The number of colleges increased by 1,453
The Gender Parity Index increased to 1.05. It was 1 in 2017-18
The total number of teachers in the country increased by 47,914 as compared to
2019-20
Top States in terms ofJOIN
number @thehindu444
of enrolment or Thenewsmaster
UP, TN, Maharashtra, MP, Rajasthan, and Karnataka
North Eastern States
Total enrolment was 12.06 in 2020-21. It was 9.36 lakhs in 2014-15. The number of female
enrolments was 6.14 lakh in 2020-21. It was higher than for males! Males: 5.92 lakhs
RBI Study on GST Compensation receiving States
The Reserve Bank of India recently released its study of state finances. The report details
the financial positions of the states and also presents an analysis of states receiving GST
Compensation. Tamil Nadu is one of the five states in the country to receive GST
compensation. The other states are Karnataka, Maharashtra Gujarat, and Uttarakhand.
Key Findings
When the GST compensation ends, the most affected states and UTs will be Punjab,
Delhi, Puducherry, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and Uttarakhand
Of all the states, the northeastern states gained the maximum benefits of GST
compensation
Recommendations
The states that are to be affected by the end of GST compensation should increase their
compliance and widen their tax bases. The Union Government provided complete
compensation during the first five years of the GST launch. Compensation was presented
based on revenue growth. The annual growth of the revenue received from the GST
increased to 14% in 2023 with 2015-16 as the base year
Revenue Growth from GST
The revenue growth will be affected in the future as the world economy is to slow down in
the coming future. GST compensation cess collected was 1.2 trillion rupees in 2023. It was
1.04 trillion rupees in 2021 – 22.
Soliga ecarinata: New Wasp named after Soliga Community
The Biligri Rangana hills are located in the Western Ghats. That is, in the state of
Karnataka. A group of researchers found a new wasp species in the region. The new wasp
species has been named after the Soliga community of the region. The wasp belongs to
the family of Ichneumonidae. A subfamily of the wasp is Metopiinae.
Name Ecarinata
The name Ecarinata was given to the species as it does not have ridges in some parts of its
body. The species was colorful and distinct.
Name Soliga
Soliga is an ethnic tribal community living in the region. They are also called Sholaga,
Solega, and Sholaga. They dwell in the southern Karnataka region. The language of the
community of Sholga. The language is Dravidian. Indian law categorizes them as
Scheduled Tribes. Soliga plays a vital role in conserving the BRT Wildlife Sanctuary. BRT is
Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary. This wildlife corridor connects the
eastern and western Ghats. The site is known for Elephant bathing, bird watching, and
forest safari. It is home to tigers, bovines, etc.
Background
The species was invented during the expedition conducted by the Ashoka Trust for
Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).
Commission for the sub-categorisation of OBCs
In 2017, the President of India constituted a Commission under Chief Justice of Delhi High
Court Justice G Rohini. The main objective of the commission was to prepare a report
examining the OBC subcategories in the country. The President formed the commission
using his powers under Article 340. The commission was to submit its report within 12
weeks. The work is still pending and the commission recently got a 14th extension.
Why sub – categorization?
Today the Other Backward Castes in the country receive 27% reservation in education and
employment. There is a need for subcategorization as most of the reserved seats are
grabbed by a few communities.
Current Scenario
In 2018, 10 OBC communities took 25% of the reserved quota on jobs and educational
seats. 97% of the total seats reserved for the OBC communities had gone to these 10
communities alone!
Why the delay?
The commission found out that the data on the OBC population in India is limited. And the
commission has to collect the complete data to sub-categorize the OBC communities.
Initially, the data collection job was not given to the committee. Upon the request made by
the committee to collect the data due to laggings, the Union Government extended its
deadline.
Twenty Point Programme (TPP) Progress Report
The Government of India launched the TPP in 1975. It has been revised twice since its
launch, once in 1982 and then in 1986. The main objective of the program is to eradicate
poverty and improve the lives of rural people using 20 points. During the 2022-23 budget,
the union government increased the budget for the program by 36%. It allocated Rs
19,000 crores. In 2021-22, the budget allocated was Rs 15,000 crores. The budget allocation
was for road construction. In recent times, the performance of the program has been
poor. The NSO report released on TPP has proved it.
Progress Report on TPP
The National Statistical Office, NSO, recently released a progress report on TPP. According
to the report, only 41% of the fixed target was completed in 2022-23. The aim was to build
125,000 km of road. But only 45,945 km has been completed.

Performance in fundraising
Apart from road construction, the TPP also works on raising funds for self-help groups.
The fundraising was also reported to be poor.
About TPP
Currently, the TPP works on more than 50 schemes. The plans and reporting of TPP are
quarterly. NSO says that the performance of TPP was poor in all schemes. In 2016, TPP
achieved only 96%JOIN
of its target. In 2019, the scheme
@thehindu444 completed only 13% of its target.
or Thenewsmaster
NSE: World’s Largest Derivatives Exchange
NSE is the National Stock Exchange of India. In 2022, the daily average turnover of the
exchange reached Rs 470 crores. With this NSE has become the largest derivatives
exchange in the world. This is the fourth consecutive time, NSE is holding this position.
Apart from the derivatives, the exchange was ranked third in equities. The positions and
data are based on the statistics presented by the World Federation of Exchanges.
WFE – World Federation Exchange
It maintains the statistics of stock exchanges in different parts of the world. It is basically a
trade association. It is based in London and was founded in 1961.
How did NSE become the largest Derivatives Exchange?
The NSE touched 18,887 points in 2022. This is its highest. Also, the liquidity of NSE
increased in different categories including equity and currency derivatives.
In equity, the daily average turnover of NSE was Rs 470 crore. This is 51% more as
compared to 2021
The Daily Average Turn Over in Sovereign Gold Bond was Rs 7 crores. This was 49%
more than the previous year
In 2021, government securities were made available amongst the equities. They too
performed well. The Daily Average Turn Over of government securities was Rs 3
crores
NSE is to begin Social Stock Exchange soon.
Noble’s Helen: New Swallowtail Butterfly from Arunachal Pradesh

The butterfly population has been increasing in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in recent
times. The state is called the nature trove and is known for its biodiversity. Recently, a new
swallowtail butterfly was spotted in the state. It is called the Noble Helen. The species
does not occur in India. Its origin is in China, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The
butterfly has been disappearing in these countries and was recently spotted in India.
Butterflies
The butterflies occur in all parts of the world except Antarctica. There are 18,500 butterfly
species in the world.
Of these 775 are Nearctic. The Nearctic includes tropical, subtropical, arctic, and
temperate regions of North America.
7,700 are neo-tropical. Neotropical regions include eight biological terrains. They are
south America, the Caribbean islands, Central America, Yucatan Peninsula, southern
North America, southern Florida, and central Florida.

1,575 are Palearctic. Palearctic includes Eurasia, North Africa, and Arabian Peninsula
3650 are Afro-tropical. This includes Madagascar, Iran, the western Indian Ocean,
and Pakistan
4800 are in Australian regions
Butterflies in India
In India, butterflies occur in Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats, and in hills in the India –
Myanmar border. JOIN
These friends of humanity are
@thehindu444 orbecoming extinct mainly because of the
Thenewsmaster
loss of habitat.
WHO Report on Global Trans – Fat Elimination 2022
Trans fats are unsaturated fats. Increased consumption of trans fats leads to heart
diseases and bad cholesterol. The World Health Organization recently released a report on
“Global Trans – Fat Elimination”. WHO started trans fat elimination in 2018. 2023 was the
set year of the target to completely eliminate trans fats.
Key findings of the report
Trans fats is found in cooking oil, baked foods, packed foods, and spreads. Trans fats
in these foods are the major cause of premature deaths
8 billion world population are currently protected against trans fats issues through
government policies and other measures
Low – Income countries have not yet adopted measures to reduce trans-fat
consumption
Nine countries in the world have coronary heart diseases death due to trans-fat
consumption. They are Pakistan, Nepal, South Korea, Austria, Ecuador, Azerbaijan,
Bhutan, Egypt, and Iran.
Recommendations made by WHO
The WHO recommends adopting two policies. They set a national limit of two grams of
trans fats in 100 grams of fat foods. And to ban the use of partially hydrogenated oils.
About Fats
There are three types of fats. They are trans fats, saturated fats, and unsaturated fats.
Increased trans fats consumption leads to diabetes and obesity.
Scientific Study on Sea Erosion in Kozhikode
The International Blue Flag tag is awarded to the beaches that are cleanest and eco-
friendly. Kappad beach in Kerala is the only beach to receive the tag. Kappad is in the
Kozhikode district of Kerala. A group of scientists will study the sea erosion at Kappad
beach. The study is to be conducted across 3.5 km starting from Thuvvappara and ending
in Valiyamangad.
Why the study?
For over 46 years, the coastline of Kozhikode has been prone to erosion. This was
concluded through satellite images. The reasons for the erosion are river sand mining,
and anthropogenic activities such as construction, and the construction of dams. The
sediments in the region are determined by the estuaries.

The erosion in Kozhikode beach increased after 2000. Artificial coastal structures were
installed. Still, the rate of erosion has been increasing. Fishing harbor construction is also
one of the main reasons for coastal erosion.
About Blue Flag Beach
The tag is presented by a group of organizations and they are as follows:
United Nations Environmental Programme
InternationalJOIN
Union for Conservation of Nature
United Nations World Tourism Organization
Foundation for Environmental Education: A NGO – foundation in Denmark
The tag is presented based on 33 parameters. Four of the major parameters are bathing
water quality, management of environmental factors, conservation of the beaches, and
environmental education.
Annual Death Penalty Report, 2022
The National Law University was established under the NLUA Act of 2007. Project 39A is a
group associated with the university and it recently released a report called the Annual
Death Penalty Report, 2022. According to the report, the number of death penalty
prisoners in India increased to 539 in 2022. It was 490 in 2021.
Key Findings of the report
3% of death rows were judged by trial courts. SC pronounced 11 death penalty
judgments and High Courts in the country pronounced 68 death sentences
Appellate courts pronounced the least number of death sentences
Of all the crimes, sexual violence received the maximum death penalty. Almost
one–third of the capital punishments were for sexual violence
In Gujarat, 51 people were sentenced to death by the Sessions court
UP Sessions Court: 32
Jharkhand sessions court: 17
No death sentences were pronounced in the courts of J&K, Delhi, Telangana, and
Manipur
Two out of every 165 death sentences were pronounced on women
India has 539 death-sentenced prisoners as of 2022. This is a 40% increase as
compared to the numbers in 2015
UP had the highest death sentences followed by Gujarat and Jharkhand.
National Anti-Leprosy Day 2023
India is fighting hard to eliminate leprosy. The country has set a target of eliminating the
disease completely by 2027. The set target is three years ahead of the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals. To aid the fight against Leprosy in the country and to
create awareness about the disease India is marking National Anti–Leprosy Day on
January 30.
The theme of National Anti–Leprosy Day 2023
Let us make Leprosy a History; Let us fight against leprosy
Leprosy and SDG

The United Nations aims to eradicate leprosy by 2030 by achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals. The international organization believes that it can eradicate the
disease by following the following goals:
Goal 1: End Poverty
Goal 3: Quality and affordable health care for all
Goal 6: Clean water for all
Goal 10: Reduce
JOINinequality
But India is to eliminate Leprosy three years ahead of UN goals.
India’s plan
The Government of India is planning to eradicate leprosy by strengthening its National
Leprosy Eradication Programme. To achieve the target, the allowance to leprosy patients
was increased from 8,000 rupees to 12,000 rupees. The allowance shall be used by the
patients for their reconstructive surgeries.
National Leprosy Eradication Programme
The program has been highly successful. It helped the Indian Government to reduce the
leprosy numbers to 0.45 per 10,000 people in 2021-22. In 2014-15, the numbers were 0.69
per ten thousand people.
Other Efforts
ABSULS: Asha – based Surveillance for Leprosy Suspects
FLC: Focused Leprosy Campaign
National Strategic Plan and Roadmap for Leprosy
National Guidelines for AMR in Leprosy
India’s First Model G – 20 Summit
The Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership is a non–profit organization. It is also called
the RMP institute as it was founded in memory of Shri Rambhau Mhalgi, an Indian
politician and former Member of Parliament. He is famous for running the Akhil Bharatiya
Vidyarthi Parishad. ABVP is the student wing of RSS. The IIDL recently conducted the
Model G – 20 Summit. The institute is known for conducting training and research. It
conducts training for leadership. The United Nations Economics and Social Council
recently granted Special Consultative Status for IIDL.
About the G – 20 Model Summit
This is the first of its kind. The Indian Sherpa of G – 20 Mr. Amitabh Kant inaugurated the
summit. It was conducted at the Mumbai campus of IIDL. The G – 20 summit is highly
important for India and other members as the group constitutes 85% of the world GDP.
India is hosting the summit in 2023. While developing countries are hesitating to hold
international summits, India has come forward amidst the economic crisis, climate change
issues, COVID issues, food crisis, energy crisis, and other global turmoil.
Why the model summit?
The IIDL conducts model summits targeting the youth in the country. Such model
summits are conducted prior to any international summits. This is done to give exposure
to the youths and spread awareness about the importance of such summits among them.
Also, such events aid to develop leadership qualities in them at a young age.
Air India’s New Software for Real – Time Reporting of In – flight Incidents
Coruson is cloud software developed by a UK-based company called Ideagen. Air India is
to use this software to increase its safety management. Coruson will help Air India in
reporting in–flight incidents. And this is to be done on a real-time basis.
What is the plan?
Air India is to provide
JOINthe crew members with iPads.
@thehindu444 The Coruson will be installed on those
or Thenewsmaster
devices as well.
Why?
Recently, there were many criticisms of delayed reporting. This includes the Urination
incident as well. Following the incident, the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation)
imposed a fine on Air India.
What is a Urination incident?
During a flight from New York to Delhi, a man on an Air India flight urinated on a co-
passenger. The incident was reported very late. The issue had exploded by the time the
crew landed.
Benefits
The Coruson will help Air India get complete visibility of the entire operation of its flights.
This includes customer boarding, food served, rules followed, cabin crew activities, and all
other sorts of activities that happen during the flight. With this, Air India can find where it
is lagging and also solve issues quickly. The main objective is to keep the passengers safe
and comfortable during the flight. This will help to boost the revenue of Air India.
Background
Air India was disinvested to the TATA Group. The TATA Group has been introducing
several changes to Air India which was facing heavy losses. It was joined with Vistara
airlines. VISTARA is joint collaboration of Air India and Singapore Airlines. Also, the in –
Flight alcohol service policy was modified.
Atal Pension Yojana crosses landmark 5 crore Enrolments

The Atal Pension Yojana was launched in 2015. The main objective of the scheme is to
provide income security to Indian citizens. The performance of the scheme was
outstanding in 2022. It gained 1.25 crores of new subscribers in 2022. It is higher as
compared to 2021. In 2021, the number was only 92 lakhs.
Current Scenario
The Government of India sets yearly targets for the banks under the Atal Pension Yojana.
In 2022, 29 banks achieved the target. This includes SBI, Indian Bank, and other Public
sector banks. In the Regional Rural Bank category, more than twenty-one banks achieved
the target.
Best Performing States
UP, Bihar, WB, MP, Jharkhand, Assam, and Tripura achieved the set targets. The State Level
Banker Committee set the Atal Pension Yojana annual targets for the State Government.
Role of SLBC
SLBC works to increase the reach of the program. This is achieved by creating links with
State Rural Livelihood Mission, National Rural Livelihood Mission, digital initiatives, etc.
Through these links, the SLBC conducts physical programs. It also launches chatbots and
podcasts to increase the reach of the program.
Background
The Atal Pension Yojana guarantees one thousand rupees to five thousand rupees as a
pension. This is applicable to all beneficiaries of age 60 years.
China’s Baidu may launch ChatGPT – style AI Bot
The BAIDU is a Chinese-based technology company. It offers a popular search engine in
China called BAIDU. (Major search engines like Google are banned in China) The company
works on artificial intelligence and internet-related products. The headquarters of the
company is in Beijing. The company is one of the largest AI companies in the world. The
TECH giant is now planning to develop a chatbot similar to that of ChatGPT.
What is Baidu’s plan?
The Beln Crypto report recently said that BAIDU is to launch a ChatGPT-like chatbot. Beln
Crypto is one of the most popular and largest cryptocurrency news platforms in the world.
BAIDU’s chat platform will have conversation-style interfaces just like ChatGPT.
Background
BAIDU has been investing millions and millions of dollars in this AI platform. With this, the
company is planning on shifting into a complete technology company and stopping all its
online marketing services.
Features
BAIDU’s chatbot is to be built on the Ernie system. ERNIE stands for Electronic Random
Number Indicator Equipment. It is a hardware random number generator. It was invented
to be used in lotteries and casinos.
ChatGPT
It is a Microsoft product. Today it is at the peak of its success. Apart from BAIDU, other
Chinese investors are also looking for ways to develop an AI chatbot just like ChatGPT.
Beating Retreat Ceremony 2023
The United Kingdom used the Beating Retreat Ceremony to call their patrolling units to
the castle. India uses this ceremony to end its republic day celebrations. In India, Beating
Retreat Ceremony is held on January 29th. All three wings of the Indian Military participate
in the ceremony. The bands of the three forces, that is, Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force
are the primary participants.
Key Highlights of Beating Retreat Ceremony 2023
The ceremony is held on the Raisina hills. The Raisina Hills house the most important
buildings of the Government of India such as the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Residence of
the President), the Prime Minister’s office, and other important buildings. The north
and south blocks of Raisina hills were illuminated during the ceremony.
The band services of the Indian Air Force, Indian Army, and Indian Navy conducted
the Beating Retreat Ceremony.

The President of India participates in the Beating Retreat Ceremony
Beating Retreat Ceremony in England
Initially, the ceremony was called watch setting. It was performed during sunset. A single
gunshot was fired during the ceremony. The patrolling units return to the castle after
hearing the gunshot. It was first practiced during the seventeenth century. Later, James
VII of Scotland introduced the drumbeat as an order for the patrolling troops to return.
Beating Retreat Ceremony
JOIN in India
The ceremony started in India in 1955.
In 2016, the Central Armed Police Forces participated in the retreat for the first time
January 31, 2023
Survey: 60% households expect dip in earning
An online platform called the Local Circles recently conducted a survey. The survey was
conducted to learn about the mindset of the household consumers and also about their
conditions. And it was conducted online. The online platform conducted the survey in 309
districts. According to the survey, 60% of the households in the country believe that their
income is to decline in the coming days. The bottom line, citizens are facing income
insecurity.
Key Findings of the survey
The households are to face 25% of the decline in their income
52% of the participants believe that global economic uncertainty is to prevail for
more than six to twelve months
56% of the participants believe that their annual savings are reduce
Why are Indian citizens insecure about their income?
In the recent past, commodity prices increased globally. An increase in shipping and
logistics costs is the main reason for the shoot-up in prices. Families are not able to
increase their income level to the pace of the increasing inflation. Unlike Government
Employees, the private sector people do not get Dearness Allowance or other relief
measures to survive inflation. This has been affecting consumer spending. And thus the
insecurity.
Defence Ministry is top buyer of MSME Goods in 2022
The Government e–Marketplace was launched in 2016. It is an online platform used for
procuring goods and services online. The main aim of GeM is to increase transparency,
promote Aatma Nirbhar Bharat, and support small and local sellers. Recently, the GeM
tweeted that in 2022, Defence Ministry made the highest procurement from the MSME
sellers.
Defence Ministry: Top Buyer
In 2022, the Defence Ministry procured Rs 16,747 crores worth of goods and services from
the MSME sector. This was 250% higher than that of the procurement made in 2021. Of all
the states UP made the highest procurement. UP bought Rs 9,642 crores of goods and
services through GeM.
GeM in 2022
In 2022, the turnover of GeM was Rs 106,647 crores. This is expected to double in 2023. As
compared to 2016, when GeM was first launched, its turnover had increased by 17 times.
Major challenges faced by GeM
GeM faces difficulty to comply with General Financial Rules (Rule 149). Rule 149 says that
all common goods and services should be compulsorily procured on the platform.
Apart from GeM, there are other government portals. The increase in traders in those
portals affects theJOIN
efforts @thehindu444
of GeM. The government of India should integrate them under
or Thenewsmaster
one roof. Or make separate portals for individual commodities.
Ernakulam: First District to register 10,000 new MSMEs
The Kerala Government launched the Enterprises Campaign during its 2022-23 budget.
Also, the state government declared the financial year 2022-23 as the Year of Enterprises.
This was done to boost the development of the MSME sector in the state. The campaign
was held in different parts of the state under the tagline “My Enterprises, Nations Pride”.
Because of the campaign the number of MSME companies in the state increased. Today
Ernakulam has become the first district in the state to register more than ten thousand
new MSMEs. The other districts such as Thrissur and Malappuram are also moving close to
the number.
How did Ernakulum achieve this?
The connectivity and the communication network in the state of Kerala are high. Also,
because of the high literacy rate availability of qualified and skilled people are adequate.
Industrial infrastructure facilities are also easily available. The Ernakulum district used all
these facilities to increase its MSME numbers.
What factors helped the MSME of Ernakulum achieve this?
Increased access to loans
Promotion in infrastructure-based development
Progress in technology
Industrialization
Steps were taken to revive the artisans in remote areas

The MSME sector provides opportunities for its dependents to evolve on their own. Boost
in the MSME sector increases job opportunities and diversifies the GDP of the country.
IMF: India’s Inflation will fall to 5% in 2023, 4% in 2024
The International Monetary Forum recently released the World Economic Outlook.
According to the report, the Inflation in India is to reduce to 6.8% in March 2023. Further
by the end of 2023, the inflation will reduce to 5%. In 2024, Indian Inflation will be 4%. The
report also said that global inflation is to reduce to 6.6% in 2023. It was 8.8% in 2022.
Key Highlights of the report
The Consumer Price Index is to decrease in more than 84% of the world’s countries
Global inflation will fall down to 6.6% in 2023. In 2024, it will further reduce to 4.3%
In developed economies like the US, France, and Russia the average inflation is to
reduce to 4.6% in 2023. Further, it will reduce to 2.6% in 2024. It was 7.3% in 2022.
In developing economies like East Asian and South Asian countries, the inflation is to
reduce to 8.1% in 2023. Further, it will reduce to 5.5% in 2024. In 2022, the inflation in
these economies was 9.9%
In Low – Income countries the inflation is to reduce to 8.6% in 2024. In 2022, the
inflation here was 14.2%
Observations made
Currently, the world is facing disinflation. This is because of decreasing fuel prices and a
decrease in commodity
JOINprices. Another main reason
@thehindu444 for inflation to decline globally is the
or Thenewsmaster
decrease in global demand.
Hindenburg Research – Adani Group Row
The Hindenburg financial research company recently released a research report on the
Adani Group. According to the report, the group was involved in stock manipulation.
Gautham Adani, his brother, and other family members used tax havens and established
shell companies. While the shell companies were not operating in reality, the company
fraudulently posed itself as blooming in business. This increased the stock prices of the
group by 815% in a few months. After the research report released by the Hinderburg
financial research enterprises, the investors of Adani have lost more than one lakh crore
rupees.
Current Scenario
Adani Group released a 413-page reply to the Hindenburg report. Adani accuses the
research company to be unethical and the report as baseless. To this Hindenburg
responded that it has released only 30 pages of its evidence. The remaining 330 pages of
court records have not yet been released. According to Hindenburg, the finance
researcher holds evidence against irrelevant initiatives of Adani, misuse of female
entrepreneurship benefits, etc.
Adani in Stock Market
Adani and its group of companies lost four lakh crores of rupees in just two days. The
issue has entered politics as well. The Congress Party is now questioning the close
association of the ruling government with the Adani group.

Advisory on Obligation of Public Service Broadcasting
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has been in constant discussions with
private satellite television channel broadcasters. Based on the inputs provided by these TV
channels, the ministry released an advisory on the Obligation of Public Service
Broadcasting. According to the advisory, private satellite television channels should
telecast public service broadcasting at least for 30 minutes.
About the 30 minutes broadcast
The 30 minutes public service broadcast can be anything starting from education,
agriculture, health and family welfare, environmental protection, national
integration, programs related to the uplift of weaker sections of Indian society,
science and technology, women empowerment, cultural heritage, and the spread of
literacy. However, the content should be related to social relevance and should be of
national importance.
Commercial breaks are not to be counted in the 30 minutes.
The broadcasters are allowed to repeat the program
How will the private channels achieve this?
The Government of India has asked the private TV satellite channels to plan these 30
minutes at their will. However, they shall not broadcast the program between 12
midnight and 6 AM. Also, the government allows the channels to implement this
through voluntary
JOIN compliance. However,
@thehindu444 ortheThenewsmaster
Government has asked the private
satellite TV channels to submit a report by February 7.
Foreign channels that are downlinking in India are exempted. For instance, Discovery
Tamil is a foreign channel and is downlinking in India in Tamil. Discovery Malayalam
is downlinking in Malayalam. And so on. Such foreign channels are exempted from
the obligation.
The issued guidelines are to come into effect from March 1, 2023.
First Employment Working Group Meeting
On the sidelines of hosting the 2023 G – 20 summit, the Government of India has been
organizing various group meetings like Business20, Think20, etc. Now the GoI is to
conduct the Employment Working Group Meet of G20. This is to be held in Jodhpur,
Rajasthan. The Employment Working Group will discuss three things namely Global Skill
gaps, sustainable financing to achieve social security, Social Protection, and Gig and
Platform Economy.
What is the plan of the group?
The Employment Working Group of G20 is planning to work on the following areas:
The group will prioritize labor employment
Job-rich inclusive growth
Social issues
Employment
Sustainable jobs
More than 73 delegates are to attend the meeting. The delegates are expected from
European Union, nineteen member countries, and nine guest countries. Spain,
Netherlands, and Singapore are some of the guest countries to participate in the meeting.
Outcomes of the meet
The members are planning to launch an international skill gap mapping portal. Also, they
will discuss and assess the skill demands in the member countries. Based on the
assessment, they are planning to launch a framework with common taxonomies. The
framework will focus on skills and qualification harmonization. Common taxonomy means
a set of financial rules that are feasible to all the member countries.
Budget Session of Parliament
The President of India Smt Draupadi Murmu initiated the Budget Session of 2023 in the
Parliament House. Murmu addressed a joint session of the parliament. The Finance
Ministry will present its Economic survey ahead of the Union Budget. Every year, the
finance ministry presents the economic survey on January 31 and the finance minister
presents the budget on February 1.
Key Highlights of President’s Address
India is to find solutions to world problems as the President of G-20 in 2023
Indian Railways to become the world’s largest Electric Railway Network
India is improving its new identity “Pharmacy of the World” and on the other hand,
the country is adopting Ayurveda and Yoga
According toJOIN
India, Nature and Progressor
@thehindu444 cannot walk together. Therefore, the GoI
Thenewsmaster
adopted Green Growth
India is becoming a major space power and also developing historic heritages
Vibrant Village Programs aims to develop border villages
Raj Path renamed as Kartavya Path: Sign that GoI is trying to remove every sign of
slavery
Defense exports increased six times
On one hand, the development of Ayodhya Dham, and on the other hand, India is
building a modern Parliament building
Quoted Lord Basaveshwar (from Karnataka) words
Applauded reforms like the removal of fake beneficiaries in the Jan Dhan scheme,
achievements of the Jal Jeevan Mission, etc.
What is Economic survey 2023?
The report detailing the financial status of the country is called Economic Survey. The
survey is released by the Finance Ministry and submitted by the Finance Minister to the
Parliament. The finance minister submits the survey report after the President’s address.
Every Union Budget session begins with the address of the President.
About Economic Survey
The report explains the performance of India in the previous financial year.
It talks about the inflation rate
Trends in major sectors of the country such as agriculture, infrastructure, and
foreign exchange reserves

Lists the economic challenges in front of the Government
Suggests recommendations to overcome the challenges
GDP growth is projected
Facilitates allocation of funds in the Budget
Prepared by
The Department of Economic Affairs prepares the Economic survey. The department
operates under the Ministry of Finance. The Chief Economic Advisor of India supervises
the economic survey preparations. The current Chief Economic Advisor of India is Mr
Anantha Nageswaran.
Why is an economic survey important?
The survey presents statistical data on the Indian Economy. The data is crucial for
policymakers. They use the data to identify where exactly the Government policies are
lagging and what can be done to improve things and boost economic growth.
History of Economic survey
The first economic survey was released in 1950-51. Initially, it was presented along with
the Union Budget. It was separated from the budget in 1964. There are two parts to the
economic survey. Part A and Part B. Part A speaks gives a complete overview of the
economic conditions in the country. Part B focuses on individual issues.
UK to be country Partner for BioAsia 2023
Hyderabad is theJOIN
Cybercity of India. The Genome
@thehindu444 Valley, the first world-class Biotech
or Thenewsmaster
cluster in India was established in the cyber city. Today, the State Government of
Telangana, along with the Union Government, and several other international
organizations organize the BIO ASIA forum in the Genome Valley. The forum is one of the
largest international biotech forums in the world. And several leading biotech companies
look forward to it. In 2023, India joins hands with the UK government in hosting the
forum. This year, the forum is to focus on the MSME sector.
What is Bio Asia?
It is a forum that connects biotech industry stakeholders. The forum is an opportunistic
platform for biotech leaders to learn about the latest technological advancements in the
field. Different biotech companies participate in the forum and exhibit their research and
innovations in the field. Experts and researchers attend the forum and present their
research findings.
In short Bio Asia is the Life Science and Health care Forum.
The theme of the 2023 Bio Asia Forum
Shaping the Next Generation: Advancing for ONE
‘O’ in ONE stands for One Health. It aims to integrate different ecosystems with the
aim of safeguarding the future
‘N’ in ONE stands for Next Generation Health. Under this, the forum will aim to use
disruptive technologies in the biotech field. The disruptive technologies are Artificial
Intelligence, Block Chain, and data science
‘E’ in ONE stands for Equity: Here, the aim is to provide quality health care for all
IMF 4.7 billion USD support program for Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Government has been facing several macroeconomic issues. The country
holds a huge current account deficit. The value of the Taka, the currency of Bangladesh
has been declining. Foreign Exchange reserves of the country have been decreasing. To
help Bangladesh recover from these economic stresses, the International Monetary Fund
recently sanctioned a 4.7 billion USD loan to the country.
About the IMF loan to Bangladesh
The IMF has released 3.3 billion USD of funds under its extended credit facility. Under its
Resilience and Sustainability Facility for Climate Investments, IMF released 1.4 billion USD
to Bangladesh. This is the first time IMF is releasing funds under this since its inception.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka did not receive IMF funds
In 2022, three Asian countries applied for loans from the International Monetary Fund.
They were Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. IMF released the funds to Bangladesh
first. The rest two couldn’t get final approval from the financial organization despite the
fact that they are doing worse than Bangladesh.
Current Scenario of Bangladesh
The current Account Deficit of Bangladesh is 18.7 billion USD.
Power prices hiked by 5% in the country
Due to the energy crisis, the garment exports of the country declined
Why is Bangladesh in an economic crisis?
COVID Pandemic related economic issues
Ukraine – Russia war
Recent Wave of Tech Layoffs
Layoff means removing employees from jobs. Dismissing due to a decrease in profits.
When the profit of a company is not sufficient to pay all its employees, it Lays OFF.
Recently, IBM (International Business Corporation), one of the largest tech companies in
the world laid off its 3,500 employees. This is the largest layoff since 2022. MID LIFE CRISIS
is the main reason for the layoff. Apart from IBM, several other tech giants such as
Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are also reducing their employees.
Reason for the recent Tech Layoff
The United States Federal Reserve has increased the interest rates rapidly to control
inflation in the country. During inflation, the apex banks increase the interest rates to
encourage people to save and invest. Consumer demands decrease and people start
saving. This decreases liquidity in the country. During such times, the companies are
affected as loans become expensive. This leads to lay off.
How is this affecting Indian Professionals?
Out of the total layoffs made, 30% to 40% of them are Indian IT professionals. They are on
L1 and H – 1B visas in the US. H – 1B visa allows American companies to hire foreign
companies.
What is MID LIFE CRISIS?
Midlife in the economy means the period during which a company or a country faces
financial challenges.
Economic Survey 2022-23: Highlights
Economic Survey is presented a day before the Budget session. Finance Ministry prepares
the survey. The survey says that in 2024, India’s GDP will be in the range of 6% to 6.8%.
Public digital platforms played a major role in increasing economic growth in 2022. The
performance of the Indian Rupee was better compared to the other developing
economies.
Key Highlights
In November 2022, the retail inflation returned to the target set by RBI
The government of India is focusing on recovery and putting the economy back on
the pre-pandemic path
Direct Tax collections between April 2022 and November 2022 were buoyant. Tax
buoyancy means the revenue rate increases without an increase in the tax rate
The urban unemployment rate is decreasing
The Gross Non – Performing Assets ratio of the Scheduled Commercial Banks have
reduced to 5. This is the lowest in the past seven years.
Health expenditure of Central and State Government in Fiscal Year 2023: 2.1% of
GDP. It was 2.2% in 2022 and 1.6% in 2021.
220 crores ofJOIN
COVID vaccines were administered
@thehindu444 in FY23
or Thenewsmaster
From the UNDP’s Multi-dimensional Poverty Index: 41.5 crore people out of poverty
between 2005 and 2019
Achieve net zero emissions by 2070
National Green Hydrogen Mission: to make India energy independent by 2047
Agricultural investments from the private sector: Increased by 9.3% in 2020-21
National Food Security Act: 81.4 crores benefitted
PM KISAN: 11.3 crores of farmers benefitted between April and July in 2022-23
International Year of Millets: 2023; UN announced upon India’s insistence. India to
push millets production
Merchandise Exports: 332.8 billion USD between April and December 2022
Remittances in 2022: 100 billion USD; largest in the world
UPI-based transactions: Increased by 121% between 2019 and 2022
The focus of Government Reforms
The Economic Survey of 2022-23 says that the Government of India is to focus on the
following reforms:
Ease of living for the public
Deliver governance efficiently and gain the trust of the citizens
Develop partnerships with the private sector to develop the economy
Increase the production from the agricultural sector
Economic Survey: Health Expenditure at 2.1% of GDP in FY23

Health Expenditure has been a major concern for the government since the COVID
pandemic. As the pandemic started reducing, the governments were burdened heavily to
focus on the lost track of other disease elimination programs. For instance, the cases of
malaria, AIDS, hepatitis, etc in India and several other countries increased exponentially.
These diseases increased because the governments were forced to pay less attention. The
entire attention and complete focus were on the COVID pandemic. Health expenditure
was not sufficient to focus on all diseases. In the fiscal year 2022-23, central and state
governments spent 2.1% of their GDP in 2023. In 2022, it was 2.2% and in 2021, it was 1.6%.
What did the Economic Survey say about Health Expenditure?
Health expenditures made on social services increased to 26% in the fiscal year 2023.
It was 21% in the fiscal year 2018-19.
The government’s share in the total expenditure of the country increased to 40.6% in
the fiscal year 2018-19. It was 28.6% in 2013-14

Out of Pocket Expenditure decreased to 48.2% in the fiscal year 2018-19. It was 64.2%
in 2013-14
Social security expenditure in the health sector increased to 9.6% in the fiscal year
2018-19. It was 6% in 2013-14. The social security expenditure on health includes the
following
Medical reimbursements the central government makes to the government
employees
Social Health Insurance Programmes
Health insurance schemes financed by the government
Current Affairs [PDF] - February 1-15, 2023
from this link.

Current Affairs [PDF] - February 1-15, 2023
Contents
......................... ....... _ _ ......... ......... .....................................................
News Headlines ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
February 1, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................... 3
February 2, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................... 3
February 3, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 4
February 4, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 5
February 5, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 6
February 6, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 7
February 7, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 8
February 8, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 8
February 9, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 9
February 10, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................... 10
February 11, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 11
February 12, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 11
February 13, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................... 12
February 14, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................... 13
February 15, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................... 14
February 1, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 15
Hibbertopterus lamsdelli: New species of Giant Sea Scorpion .......................................................... 15
Har Ghar Dhyan Campaign ...................................................................................................................... 15
Delhi ‘Real Time Source Apportionment Supersite’ ............................................................................ 16
Air Marshal A.P. Singh-New Vice Chief of Indian Air Force ............................................................ 16
Visit India Year 2023 Campaign .............................................................................................................. 17
GST Collection in January ......................................................................................................................... 17
US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies ............................................................... 18
Union Budget 2023-24 Highlights .......................................................................................................... 18
Agriculture Accelerator Fund .................................................................................................................. 20
PM-PRANAM Scheme ............................................................................................................................... 21
MISHTI Scheme for Mangrove plantations .......................................................................................... 22
Atmanirbhar Horticulture Clean Plant Programme ............................................................................ 22
Amrit Dharohar Scheme ........................................................................................................................... 23
National Data Governance Policy ............................................................................................................ 23
PM PVTG Development Mission ............................................................................................................ 24
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 ............................................................................................ 25
Mission to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047 ............................................................................. 25
February 2, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 26
Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (Mahila Samman Bachat Patra) ............................................. 26
Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman: PM - VIKAS ....................................................... 27
HC: Foreigners can invoke Domestic Violence Act before Indian courts ...................................... 27
Punjab Policy on Groundwater Usage ................................................................................................... 28
Amendments in enhance business at GIFT City .................................................................................. 28
Advisory to air ‘National Interest Content’ ........................................................................................... 29
Income Tax Slab Revamp ......................................................................................................................... 29
E – Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2023 .......................................................................... 30
PAN to be used as common identifier ................................................................................................... 30
National Digital Library .............................................................................................................................. 31
NAMASTE (National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme ..................... 31
Study on Veterinary Antimicrobial use ................................................................................................... 32
World Wetlands Day, 2023 ...................................................................................................................... 32
ISRO Report on SSLV Mission Failure ................................................................................................... 33
Liquid Windows ........................................................................................................................................... 33
February 3, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 34
Manmohan Singh conferred Lifetime Achievement Honour in UK ................................................ 34
Reserve Bank of India-Digital Payments Index ..................................................................................... 35
Jharkhand Domicile Bill-Update .............................................................................................................. 35
What is Angel Tax? .................................................................................................................................... 36
Assam G20 meeting .................................................................................................................................. 36
Doctrine of Necessity Principle ................................................................................................................ 37
US-Philippines Deal on Military access .................................................................................................. 37
Allocation Doubled under FAME-2 scheme ......................................................................................... 38
Delhi’s Child Rights Body’s WhatsApp chatbot ................................................................................... 38
PACS to function as CSC ......................................................................................................................... 39
Indian Military Joint Training Exercise Trishakti Prahar ................................................................... 40
Prasar Bharati Revamp .............................................................................................................................. 40
RBI,SEBI,and NSE Actions after Adani Row ......................................................................................... 41
UAE-Federal Personal Status Laws .......................................................................................................... 41
Australia removes British Monarchy from Bank notes ...................................................................... 42
February 4, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 42
India to be theme country at 2025 Madrid International Book Fair .............................................. 42
Parli-Vajnath-Vikarabad Electrification Project ..................................................................................... 43
VIHANGAM Drone Technology and Safety Equipment ................................................................... 43
Digital India Mobile Van ........................................................................................................................... 44
Enhancing Circularity and Sustainability Project .................................................................................. 45
NASA-ISRO Joint Satellite – NISAR ...................................................................................................... 45
1,200 year old idols found in Nalanda ................................................................................................... 46
FAO Food Price Index - January 2023 .................................................................................................. 46
Update in India Broadband Definition ................................................................................................... 47
Surajkund Mela 2023 ................................................................................................................................ 47
Global Leader Approval Ratings ............................................................................................................. 48
Deoghar Mart: Online Marketplace for Jharkhand Local Artisans ................................................. 49
Kerala Budget announces Green Hydrogen Hubs .............................................................................. 49
G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill .................................................................................................. 49
Supreme Court notice on BBC Documentary ban ............................................................................. 50
February 5, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................. 51
Bihar: MV Ganga Vihar Floating Restaurant ......................................................................................... 51
CITES Database on red sanders smuggling .......................................................................................... 51
Saudi Arabia to host 2027 Asian Cup Football Tournament ........................................................... 52
February 6, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 52
China Spy Balloon Update ........................................................................................................................ 52
Grammy Award Winners 2023 ............................................................................................................... 53
US, Brazil to join India led Biofuels Alliance ......................................................................................... 53
India’s largest chopper manufacturing unit in Karnataka .................................................................. 54
India Energy Week 2023 .......................................................................................................................... 54
Medium-Density Amorphous Ice-MDA Ice ......................................................................................... 55
EU bans Russian oil .................................................................................................................................... 56
What are E20 fuels? ................................................................................................................................... 56
What are voice deepfakes? ....................................................................................................................... 57
India-France-UAE Trilateral Cooperation Initiative ............................................................................ 57
Yaya Tso to be Ladakh’s First Biodiversity Heritage Site .................................................................. 58
Kerala Police Operation AAG .................................................................................................................. 58
Supreme Court Strength rises to 32 ...................................................................................................... 59
Indian Railways WhatsApp Food Delivery Facility .............................................................................. 59
February 7, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 60
IEA Report on India LiFE Initiative ......................................................................................................... 60
Mukhyamantri Tirth-Darshan Yojana ................................................................................................... 60
What is Hybrid Warfare? ........................................................................................................................... 61
Global Climate Resilience Fund-50 million USD for women ............................................................ 61
Jupiter becomes planet with most moons ............................................................................................. 62
NASA Webb Telescope bags Prestigious Space Foundation ............................................................ 62
UN Report on North Korea Crypto Theft ............................................................................................ 63
Major Earthquake struck Turkey and Syria ......................................................................................... 63
Committee to examine competition law for digital companies ........................................................ 64
India’s First Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) powered truck ........................... 64
SEBI releases Operational Guidelines on Green Bonds ...................................................................... 65
Telangana Budget 2023-Highlights ....................................................................................................... 66
National Level Digital Extension Platform ............................................................................................. 67
Yuva Sangam Registration Portal ............................................................................................................ 67
February 8, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 67
Where is ‘Gaziantep Castle’? .................................................................................................................... 68
Tumarkuru Industrial Township: South India’s First Industrial Corridor Project ....................... 68
Walking Pilgrimage through Buddhist Circuit ..................................................................................... 69
Framework to implement Vivad Se Vishwas-I ..................................................................................... 69
RBI Monetary Policy Updates .................................................................................................................. 69
Myanmar-Russia MoU on developing Nuclear Power ....................................................................... 70
Integrative Medicine Centres in Government Hospitals ..................................................................... 71
India MoU with Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council ............ 71
SEBI launches Mechanism to curb market abuse ............................................................................... 72
Google introduces Chat-GPT rival Bard ............................................................................................... 72
Agri Ministry plans new certification system for organic cotton, derivatives ................................ 73
Punjab New Industrial and EV Policy ..................................................................................................... 73
PhonePe launches cross-border transaction facility ............................................................................ 74
TN ‘Pudumai Penn’ Scholarship Scheme .............................................................................................. 74
February 9, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 75
What is CAR T-Cell Therapy? ................................................................................................................. 75
Joe Acaba selected as NASA’s Chief Astronaut ................................................................................... 75
Proposed Kalaignar Pen Monument ...................................................................................................... 76
Digital Payments Utsav .............................................................................................................................. 76
QR Code-based Coin Vending Machine ............................................................................................... 77
ASI Keeladi Report: Sangam Age pushed to 800 BCE ..................................................................... 77
Operation Dost ........................................................................................................................................... 78
Quad Nations launch Quad Cyber Challenge ...................................................................................... 78
SC to hear Adani-Hidenburg row .......................................................................................................... 79
World First Satellite based two way messaging system ..................................................................... 79
MMTC-PAMP launches Digital Silver ................................................................................................... 79
Report: WhatsApp is India’s most accessible app for PWDs ............................................................ 80
YouGov report on Disposable Income .................................................................................................. 80
Gaganyaan Mission: ISRO, Navy undertake trials ................................................................................ 81
February 10, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 81
RBI expands scope of TReDS platform .................................................................................................. 81
India’s first Drone Air Traffic Management System ........................................................................... 82
World Pulses Day, 2023 ............................................................................................................................ 82
Mission Antyodaya Survey 2022-23 ...................................................................................................... 83
IISc-Samsung partner for R&D in Electrostatic Discharge Protection ............................................ 83
Asia to use half of World’s electricity by 2025: IEA ........................................................................... 84
Lithium Reserves found in Jammu and Kashmir ................................................................................. 84
Journalist A.B.K. Prasad chosen for Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award ................................ 85
ISRO launches second developmental flight SSLV D2 ....................................................................... 85
Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021 ............................................................................... 86
CMFRI identifies sites for sea cage farming ......................................................................................... 86
Govt data on Pending Court Cases ........................................................................................................ 87
US Fed: Wall Street Bank Stress Test scenarios .................................................................................. 87
Khelo India Winter Games 2023 ............................................................................................................ 88
RBI Guidelines on Climate risk, sustainable finance ........................................................................... 88
Ukaguru Spiny-throated reed frog: New Silent frog species ............................................................ 89
Kala Ghoda Art Festival ............................................................................................................................ 90
February 11, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 90
Digital Forensic Laboratories ................................................................................................................... 90
National Philatelic Exhibition – AMRITPEX 2023 ............................................................................... 91
MobiKwik launches UPI Payment with RuPay Credit Card .............................................................. 91
India-EU Trade and Technology Council .............................................................................................. 91
World Unani Day 2023 ............................................................................................................................. 92
India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023 .................................................................................................. 92
Hyderabad Formula E-Championship .................................................................................................... 93
IMF calls for reforms of China’s Growth model ................................................................................. 93
Rajasthan Inflation Relief Package .......................................................................................................... 94
World Government Summit 2023 ......................................................................................................... 94
Wetland Ex-Situ Conservation Establishment (WESCE) .................................................................... 95
Border Gavaskar Trophy: India wins first test ..................................................................................... 95
Indian Rice Congress 2023 ...................................................................................................................... 96
Direct Tax Collections of FY 2022-23 .................................................................................................. 97
February 12, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 97
Project Cheetah: India gets 12 cheetahs from South Africa .............................................................. 97
HAL exports ALH Mk3 helicopters to Mauritius ................................................................................ 98
Starship Static Fire Test of SpaceX ........................................................................................................ 98
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: PM inaugurates first stretch .................................................................. 98
T20 World Cup 2023: India defeats Pakistan ..................................................................................... 99
Former SC Judge Abdul Nazeer appointed Andhra Pradesh Governor ........................................ 99
Cyclone Gabrielle hits New Zealand .................................................................................................... 100
February 13, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................ 100
Aero India 2023: 251 MoUs signed ...................................................................................................... 100
National Women’s Day 2023 .................................................................................................................. 101
International Epilepsy Day 2023 ............................................................................................................ 101
World Radio Day 2023 ............................................................................................................................ 102
Israel launches sniffing robots ................................................................................................................ 102
Italy discovers invisible Galaxy ............................................................................................................... 103
Global Investor Summit: UP received Rs 33.5 lakh crores of investment .................................... 103
US shoots four unidentified objects ...................................................................................................... 104
Six New Governors appointed ............................................................................................................... 104
Aksai Chin Railway Line .......................................................................................................................... 105
Wolf Prize Winners 2023 ........................................................................................................................ 105
Financial Literacy Week 2023 ................................................................................................................ 106
Australia: Anniversary of Stolen Generation Apology ...................................................................... 106
LTTE Chief Prabhakaran is alive ........................................................................................................... 107
Adani Row: SC to form panel ................................................................................................................ 107
Russia supplied 13 billion USD worth arms to India in last 5 years .............................................. 108
February 14, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................ 108
Demand for a Greater Tipraland .......................................................................................................... 108
What are micro LED displays? ............................................................................................................... 108
Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project - Update (February, 2023) .......................................................... 109
Smart Cities Mission – Update on Progress ....................................................................................... 109
CBRN terror response in TARKASH Exercise .................................................................................... 110
Marburg Disease Outbreak ..................................................................................................................... 110
TRIFED Aadi Mahotsav Festival .............................................................................................................. 111
Khanan Prahari Application ...................................................................................................................... 111
Saudi Arabia to send its first woman to space .................................................................................... 112
What is Pulwama Attack? ........................................................................................................................ 112
Income Tax Survey at BBC offices ........................................................................................................ 113
Who is Vivek Ramaswamy? ..................................................................................................................... 113
Bima Sugam Portal .................................................................................................................................... 114
State of Emergency in New Zealand after Cyclone Gabrielle .......................................................... 114
February 15, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 115
States’ allocation towards education – Data ........................................................................................ 115
CPI and WPI based inflation Data Updates .......................................................................................... 115
Fungal Attack in Neem Trees ................................................................................................................. 116
CBDT notifies 6 income tax return forms ........................................................................................... 116
Uttarakhand New Anti-Cheating Law .................................................................................................. 117
BIMARU States Acronym ........................................................................................................................ 117
Kerala Stipend Scheme for Junior Lawyers ......................................................................................... 118
Discovery of New Quasicrystal ............................................................................................................... 118
Hollow Hog to help Australia’s Endangered Wildlife ........................................................................ 119
Postpartum Depression ............................................................................................................................ 119
Study: Noise from Deep Sea Mining disrupts Whale Song ............................................................. 120
Marine Spatial Planning Framework .................................................................................................... 120
Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness ............................................................... 121
Black Sea Grain Deal ................................................................................................................................ 122
Israel Judicial Reform Plans ..................................................................................................................... 122
Earthquake of 6.1 magnitude hits New Zealand ................................................................................ 123
West Bengal Budget 2023-24 ................................................................................................................ 123
Draft Geo-Heritage sites and Geo-Relics Bill ..................................................................................... 124
120 MCQs ........................................................................................................................................................... 125
News Headlines
February 1, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for February 1, 2023.
INDIA
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting issues advisory to all private television
channels in the country to air ‘national interest content’ on a daily basis.
Union Tourism minister launches Visit India Year 2023 initiative and its logo.
Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais returned the domicile Bill to the state government
to review its legality.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy says the State capital would
be shifted to Visakhapatnam.
The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud,
recommended two more new judges for Supreme Court.
Raising Day of Indian Coast Guard is observed today.
ECONOMY
Indian Economy to grow 6.5% in 2023-24, says Economic Survey; India to be 5 trillion
dollar economy by 2025-26.
GST collection in India at Rs 1.55 lakh crore in January 2023, second highest-ever
collection recorded.
Adani Enterprises’ ₹20,000-crore follow-on public offer (FPO) was fully subscribed.
The government’s fiscal deficit as of end-December touched 59.8% of full-year
Budget Estimate.
WORLD
NSA Ajit Doval launches US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board approved a total of USD 4.7
billion loan for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh: National Film Awards announced; Doly Jahur and Ilias Kanchan
honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award
SPORTS
Wrestler Babita Phogat included in the Oversight Committee formed by the Union
Sports Ministry to probe allegations.
Women’s Cricket: India beat West Indies by 8 wickets in Tri-nation series in South
Africa.
February 2, 2023
INDIA
First G20 Employment Working Group meeting under India’s Presidency to
commence at Jodhpur in Rajasthan
India, US set to constitute task force to boost cooperation in semiconductor industry
First G20 Sustainable Financial Working Group meeting to begin in Guwahati
India’s first hydrogen train will come by December 2023 on heritage routes
Finance Minister announced an initiative called MISHTI ‘Mangrove Initiative for

Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes’.
Central assistance of ₹5,300 crores will be given to Upper Bhadra Project of
Karnataka, to provide micro irrigation and filling up of surface tanks for drinking
water.
ECONOMY
Budget 2023: 66 percent increase announced in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana outlay
to over Rs 79,000 crore.
Budget 2023: Highest-ever capital outlay of Rs 2.4 lakh crore allotted for Railways.
Reliance Consumer Products announces strategic partnership with Sri Lanka’s
Maliban Biscuit Manufactories.
Digital payments record 24% annual growth at end of Sept 2022: RBI data
WORLD
The biggest book fair of Bangladesh ‘Ekushey Boi Mela’ was inaugurated in Dhaka by
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Equatorial Guinea has appointed Manuela Roka Botey as first female Prime Minister.
Western Australia found tiny radioactive capsule that went missing in January.
The first seven days of February is observed as World Interfaith Harmony Week.
SPORTS
Shubman Gill scores 126 runs in 63balls; India records its largest T20I win as it
defeats New Zealand by 168 runs in third and final T20I to clinch series 2-1.
Khelo India receives more than 50 per cent of the increased allocation of ₹723.97
crore in the latest Union budget.
February 3, 2023
INDIA
First meeting of Sustainable Finance Working Group under G20 begins in Guwahati.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) sells 8.88 lakh tonne of wheat to bulk consumers on
first day of e-auction.
Indian military joint training exercise Trishakti Prahar commences in North Bengal.
Rs 600 crore has been set aside for Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network
Development (BIND) Scheme under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The government doubled its budgetary allocation for FAME-2 (faster adoption and
manufacturing of electric vehicles) scheme.
MoU signed to enable Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to provide services
offered by Common Service Centres (CSC).
ECONOMY
RBI Data: Digital Payments record 24% Annual Growth at end of September 2022
Permanent Account Number (PAN) to be used for common identifier for all digital
systems of specified government agencies.
SEBI asks stock exchanges to examine if there was any unusual activity in the stocks
belonging to Adani Group.
Samsung to manufacture its premium Galaxy S23 Smartphones in India
WORLD
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conferred Lifetime Achievement Honour in
UK.
New family laws “Federal Personal Status Laws”, for non-Muslims residing in the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) comes into force.
S. opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands to counter China’s push into the
Pacific.
Australia is removing the British monarchy from its bank notes, as per the nation’s
central bank.
United States and the Philippines announced a deal to give U.S. troops access to
another four bases in Philippines.
SPORTS
India set to host maiden E-Prix, the FIA Formula E World Championship in
Hyderabad.
India’s B. Sai Praneeth enters the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open Super 300
badminton tournament.
February 4, 2023
INDIA
Broadband definition of minimum download speed raised to 2 Mbps.
Assam begins action on child marriage; police have so far arrested over 1,800 people
from across the state.
MV Ganga Vihar floating restaurant inaugurated in Bihar; operated by the Bihar
State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC).
Deoghar Mart, an online marketplace for local artisans, has been made operational
in Jharkhand.
Supreme Court issues notice to Centre; seeks report over appeal against ban on BBC
documentary.
36th Surajkund International Crafts Mela was inaugurated by Vice-President Jagdeep
Dhankhar in Faridabad.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi named as the world’s most popular leader with an
approval rating of 78 per cent.
ASI seeks possession of 1,200-year-old idols found in Nalanda.
ECONOMY
Centre agrees to convert Vi Interest on dues into Equity; to make government
biggest shareholder with 33% stake.
Adani Row: RBI says Banking sector is resilient and stable.
FAME Scheme: Maharashtra tops list of states buying Electric Vehicles.
WORLD
World Cancer Day is marked on 4 February to raise awareness of cancer.
WHO : 300 children lost lives due to India-made cough syrups.
World food prices decline for 10th month as recorded in January- FAO Food Price
Index (FFPI).
Google invests nearly USD 400 million in ChatGPT rival Anthropic.
US announces additional security assistance of USD 425 million for Ukraine.
SPORTS
India rises to No. 3 in International Boxing Association (IBA) world boxing rankings.
India beats Bhutan by 12-0 in opening match of South Asian Football Federation
(SAFF) Under 20 Women’s Championship.
February 5, 2023
INDIA
First G-20 Energy Transition Working Group meeting begins in Bengaluru.
Indian Railways introduces Garvi Gujarat tour under Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat
Scheme to showcase heritage of Gujarat.
National Award-winning legendary playback singer Vani Jairam passed away.
Guru Ravidas Jayanti celebrated today across the country,
Sri Lanka identifies sites linked to Ramayana to promote tourism targeting India
Congo joins the India-led International Solar Alliance.
Study: Deer may serve as a reservoir for old SARS-CoV-2 variants
ECONOMY
Reliance Retail becomes the first Indian retailer to introduce Central Bank Digital
Currency (CBDC).
India’s overall coal production increases by 12.94 per cent to 89.96 Million Tonnes in
January, 2023.
Government e-Marketplace achieves a Gross Merchandise Value of 1.5 lakh crore
rupees in the current fiscal.
US emerges as India’s top destination for goods exports during April-Dec 2022
WORLD
India, France, UAE agree for trilateral cooperation initiative, in fields including
energy, defence, economy
Pervez Musharraf, former President of Pakistan, passed away.
The US shoots down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that has flown across America
last week.
Sri Lanka is celebrating 75 years of Independence under the theme Namo Namo
Matha – A step towards a century.
SPORTS
Sports Minister unveils mascot, theme song, jersey for 3rd edition of Khelo India
Winter Games
S.D. Prajwal Dev and Nathan Seateun of France clinched the doubles final of the
$15,000 ITF men’s tennis in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
February 6, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for February 6, 2023
INDIA
India’s G20 presidency: First meeting of Youth -20 engagement group to begin in
Guwahati.
IIT Madras to receive Rs 242 crore over a period of five years to undertake research
on Lab Grown Diamonds (LGD).
India’s G20 presidency: Gujarat’s Rann of Kutch to host the first Tourism Working
Group meeting.
Singapore Chief Justice Sunadresh Menon is the chief guest of the 73rd foundation
day of Supreme Court of India.
Indian Air Force (IAF) launched a revised doctrine and laid out the role of air power in
the “no war, no peace scenario” (NWNP).
Dust particles in Jamshedpur and adjoining areas in Jharkhand have a heavy
concentration of toxic metals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate India Energy and dedicate Asia’s
largest Helicopter factory at Tumakaru, Karnataka.
ECONOMY
DIPAM says the government is targeting to launch the initial public offering (IPO) of
IREDA and WAPCOS in the next fiscal.
Bangladesh GDP growth recorded at 7.10%. The country’s per capita income rose to
USD 2793 in FY 2022
The Centre is likely to increase dearness allowance (DA) for government employees
and pensioners by 4 percentage points to 42 per cent.
WORLD
The foreign ministers of France, India and the UAE have agreed to establish a formal
trilateral cooperation initiative.
Indian music composer and producer Ricky Kej becomes the only living Indian to win
Grammy award thrice.
Chile extends state of emergency as the forest fires kill 23 people in the country.
Bangladesh will start receiving electricity from power plant in Jharkhand from March.
SPORTS
Indian high jumper Tejaswin Shankar wins the top position in the New Balance
Indoor Grand Prix in Boston.
Asian Championships bronze medallist Ashu clinched the 67kg bronze medal for
India in Greco Roman category at Zagreb Open Ranking Series.
February 7, 2023
INDIA
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will recycle 100 million discarded PET bottles annually to
make eco-friendly uniforms for staff.
Reliance Industries (RIL) and Ashok Leyland unveiled India’s first Hydrogen Internal
Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) powered truck at the India Energy Week in Bengaluru.
India’s Domestic Air Traffic Reaches 86% of Pre-Covid Level in 2022: International Air
Transport Association (IATA).
Telangana presents a tax-free budget of ₹2.9 lakh crore for 2023-24 fiscal.
First-time Haj package costs reduced by around Rs 50,000 under new Haj Policy.
ECONOMY
North Korea stole more cryptocurrency assets in 2022 than in any other year: UN
Security Council Report.
Tech microsavings platform Siply acquires digital chit-fund platform myPaisaa for
$7.5 million.
The government has set up a special committee to examine the need for a separate
competition law for digital companies.
IL&FS initiates its largest pay-out to date in IL&FS Financial Services (IFIN) amounting
to ₹3,200 cr to eligible Creditors.
SEBI releases Operational guidelines on green bonds.
WORLD
China confirms that a balloon identified by Washington and Bogota flying over Latin
America is Chinese, after a similar device was shot down by the United States.
A major earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 2,600 people.
China and Australia Trade Ministers hold their first meeting since 2019.
U.K. faces biggest round of health service strikes after staff demand pay hike.
SPORTS
Australia’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch announces retirement from
International Cricket.
Titas Sadhu, Indian Women cricket player, bagged the ‘Emerging Hero’ award at
Sportstar East Sports Conclave 2023.
February 8, 2023
INDIA
Government will open Integrative Medicine Centres in all government hospitals
across the country.
The first Tourism Working Group Meeting to officially be inaugurated at Dhordo in
Gujarat
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission achieves 20 crore milestone of digitally linked
health records.
India signs MoU with Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business

Council to promote adoption of energy efficiency
Delhi High Court: Virginity test on woman accused sexist, unconstitutional.
108 Buddhist pilgrims from South Korea to walk for 1167 km on a 43-day pilgrimage.
ECONOMY
Sovereign Green Bonds amounting Rs 16,000 crore will be issued in current FY for
green infrastructure
Centre: India ranks first, contributes 24 percent of global milk production
The Centre will consider reviewing the 28% Goods and Services Tax levied on cement:
Finance Ministry.
There is no proposal to exempt foreign tourists shopping in the country from the
Goods and Services Tax (GST): Union Ministry for Tourism and Culture.
WORLD
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a reshuffle of his Cabinet; creates new
government departments.
Death toll in massive earthquakes in Turkiye, Syria has soared to nearly 8,000.
WHO: Turkey, Syria quake could affect up to 23 million people.
Myanmar and Russia sign pact on developing nuclear power
SPORTS
International Hockey Federation, FIH announces the qualification criteria for the
Paris 2024 Olympic hockey tournaments.
5th Khelo India Youth Games: Maharashtra ranks first in medal table; Madhya
Pradesh and Haryana follow.
February 9, 2023
INDIA
Centre says all contact-tracing data collected via the Aarogya Setu mobile application
has been deleted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen wearing a jacket made from recycled plastic
bottles, which was presented to him by Indian Oil Corporation at India Energy Week
in Bengaluru.
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw will
launch the Digital Payments Utsav.
Under ODOP- Districts as Export Hubs initiative, products with export potential have
been identified from all 765 districts.
ICRA: Domestic air passenger traffic saw a growth of 96% to touch 1.25 crore in
January.
ECONOMY
RBI Monetary Policy Statement: RBI Increases Repo Rate by 25 bps to 6.5%
Lendingkart, a digital lending platform for MSMEs, acquires personal loan provider
Upwards.
Microsoft to Shut Teams Free (Classic) Version from April 12.
SEBI allows 39 Entities to use e-KYC Aadhaar Authentication.
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) issues new guidelines to streamline digital
economy tax
WORLD
Death toll in earthquake in Turkiye and Syria crosses 15,000; Rescue workers warn
that the toll is likely to rise further.
India launched ‘Operation Dost’ to extend assistance to Turkey and Syria after
devastating earthquake.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in London and made a strong pitch
for British fighter jets.
SPORTS
ICC T-20 Women’s World Cup kick starts in South Africa; Opening match is between
the hosts team and Sri Lanka.
Yuki Bhambri and Saketh Myneni beat Christopher Eubanks and Marcos Giron in the
ATP tennis first round in Dallas, USA.
February 10, 2023
INDIA
Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurates
Mission Antyodaya Survey 2022-23
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on Russian President Vladimir Putin in
Moscow
India’s national accreditation system ranked 5th in the world in the Global Quality
Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021.
14th Aero India event will be held in Bengaluru between 13th and 17th of February.
Around 60 lakh cases are pending in High Courts across the country: Over 69
thousand cases are pending in the Supreme Court: Government Data
External Affairs Ministry: Two lakh 25 thousand 620 people renounced Indian
citizenship in 2022.
25 Addiction Treatment Facilities launched under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
ECONOMY
Pakistan signs deal with International Monetary Fund (IMF) over stalled bailout
package.
US Fed introduces Wall Street bank stress-test scenarios
PM Modi to inaugurate three-day UP Global Investors Summit 2023
WORLD
Australia to remove Chinese-made cameras from its offices over spying concerns
Death toll surpasses 21,000 in massive earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.
North Korea unveils ‘record’ number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles
(ICBMs).
SPORTS
The third edition of Khelo India Winter Games will begin at Gulmarg in Baramulla
district of Jammu and Kashmir.
ICC T-20 Women’s World Cup kick starts in South Africa.
February 11, 2023

INDIA
The Central government appoints two new Supreme Court judges, taking the top
court’s strength to full.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurates National Philatelic Exhibition-
AMRITPEX in New Delhi.
Wildlife enthusiasts spot 145 different species during first Sundarban bird festival
Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has withdrawn its appeal urging people to
celebrate February 14 as ‘Cow Hug Day’.
Prime Minister flags off two Vande Bharat trains in Maharashtra high-speed rail
connection.
ECONOMY
MobiKwik launches UPI payment with Rupay credit card; becomes first app to do so.
Union government signed loan agreements to borrow up to ₹13,879 crore to
strengthen health infrastructure from international agencies.
India’s industrial output growth moderated to 4.3% in December 2022 from 7.3% in
November,
IMF calls for comprehensive reforms of China’s growth model
WORLD
U.S. to resume ‘domestic visa revalidation’ for H-1B holders
11th India-Mongolia Joint Working Group Meeting was held in New Delhi
Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita stepped down from her position
SPORTS
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur flagged off the
Formula E Championship in Hyderabad.
Deaflympic champion Jerlin Anika Jayaratchagan qualifies in the general category at
the Olympics.
February 12, 2023

INDIA
President accepts resignation of Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari,
appoints Ramesh Bais as new Governor.

The country’s first lithium reserve, found in Jammu and Kashmir is of the best
quality: Officials.
DRDO asks Indian industry players to join development of indigenous fifth
generation fighter jet, Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Year-long celebrations commemorating 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi
Dayanand Saraswati commences in Delhi.
All India Radio announces to start broadcasting news in local dialect in tribal- Bastar
region of Chhattisgarh.
The 1st International Conference on Communication, Electronics and Digital
Technologies – NICE-DT 2023, lead event of G20 begins.
ECONOMY
Gross direct tax collections grew 24 per cent to Rs 15.67 trillion so far this fiscal:
Finance Ministry.
RBI directs financial institutions and NPCI to allow access to UPI to foreign nationals.
Reserve Bank of India revises market hours of government securities from 9:00 AM
to 3:30 PM to 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
WORLD
Mozambique has been hit by floods: four dead, 14,000 persons evacuated
12th World Hindi Conference to be held in Fiji from February 15 to 17; to highlight
links with Pacific Ocean region.
Scientists find a third natural source of quasicrystals.
Study: The world lost about 20% of its natural wetlands between 1700 and 2020.
Jaffna Cultural Centre (JCC), which was built with the grant assistance of the
Government of India, was dedicated to the people.
SPORTS
Border Gavaskar trophy: India register victory over Australia by an innings and 132
runs in first Test.
February 13, 2023
INDIA
Justice S Abdul Nazeer, a retired Supreme Court Judge has been appointed Governor
of Andhra Pradesh.
Digital economy working group meeting of G20 to be held in Lucknow
In Tripura, around 14,000 voters belonging to migrant and newly settled Reang tribal
people will cast votes in the upcoming assembly election.
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari inaugurates Rashtriya Sanskriti
Mahotsav 2023 in Mumbai
President’s Secretariat: India’s first Law Minister Dr. Ambedkar’s resignation letter
missing from records
ECONOMY
‘Good Financial Behaviour – Your Saviour’ is the theme of RBI’s Financial Literacy
Week
National Land Monetisation Corporation initiates process to empanel consultancy
firms.
Kotak Mahindra Bank to acquire Sonata Finance for Rs 537 crore.
WORLD
World Radio Day is being celebrated across the Globe with the theme of ‘Radio and
Peace’.
Bangladesh govt announces names of 19 individuals, 2 institutions for ‘Ekushey
Padak’, second-highest civilian award of the country.
Cyprus: Former Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides to be country’s next
president
US shot down another unidentified object over its territory, in the fourth military
operation of its kind.
Cyclone Gabrielle: State of Emergency declared in New Zealand’s Northland.
SPORTS
Women’s Cricket T20 World Cup: India beat Pakistan by 7 wickets.
UP government signs MoUs to improve grassroots sports ecosystem
February 14, 2023
INDIA
‘Bharat Rang Mahotsav’, the Annual festival of National School of Drama to start in
New Delhi.
Supreme Court of India upholds formation of J&K delimitation panel.
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose will continue to function as the Chancellor
of State universities.
Govt constitutes high-level committee for drafting revised guidelines for
operationalization of Ro-Ro/Ro-Pax ferry transportation service
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to host Defence Ministers’ Conclave in Bengaluru on
sidelines of Aero India 2023.
ECONOMY
India’s Retail inflation rises to 6.52% in January, after a two-month figure below the
6% mark.
Renault-Nissan set to invest ₹5,300 cr. in Tamil Nadu; plans to make six new car
models at its plant near Chennai.
State-run General insurance companies have total exposure of ₹348 crore in the
Adani Group of Industries.
WORLD
Turkey, Syria earthquake toll crosses 35,000.
Amazon’s self-driving vehicle unit, Zoox tests robotaxi with employees as
passengers on a public road.

World Health Organisation (WHO) confirms Marburg disease outbreak .
New Zealand declares National State of Emergency after being hit by Cyclone
Gabrielle.
SPORTS
The Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023 starts in Dubai.
Women’s Cricket T20 World Cup: India defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets.
February 15, 2023

INDIA
HAL has designed and developed a basic trainer aircraft HTT-40 to meet the primary
training requirements of Indian defence services.
Foodgrain production is estimated to be over 3,235 lakh tonnes in agricultural year
2022-23.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurates 2-day parliamentary workshop at Gujarat
assembly
Air India orders 250 Airbus, 220 Boeing planes in the biggest ever aviation deal of the
world.
The 22nd edition of Rang Bharat Mahotsav kicked off in New Delhi; presented by
National School of Drama.
Ministry of Mines releases draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics Bill.
ECONOMY
1st Digital Economy Working Group meeting concludes in Lucknow.
Corporate Affairs Ministry directs officials to form special team to address public
grievances on technical issues in MCA21 portal.
India’s wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation eased to 24-month low of 4.73 per
cent in January.
WORLD
Indian-American politician Nikki Haley announces US Presidential bid.
EAM Dr S Jaishankar along with Fijian president inaugurate World Hindi Conference
in Fiji.
Sri Lanka Cabinet approves proposal to provide immediate relief to downtrodden
Thousands of Israelis protest proposed judicial reforms introduced by Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government.
SPORTS
Royal Challengers Bangalore appoints Indian tennis legend Sania Mirza as the
mentor of its Women’s Premier League (WPL) team.
Racewalker Akshdeep Singh became the first Indian to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
February 1, 2023
Hibbertopterus lamsdelli: New species of Giant Sea Scorpion
Aquatic arthropods are invertebrates living in water with segmented bodies. They are
extinct. A new species of aquatic arthropod was found in New Mexico in unearthed fossils.
The new species is called Hibbertopterus lamsdelli. The species lives in an estuary. It lived
300 million years ago. The species found is a sea scorpion. It was giant and is extremely
rare.
About the new Sea Scorpion
They feed on large prey
They have anterior appendages. The scorpion uses these appendages to explore its
food and the substrate of its habitat.
Fossils of sea scorpions are rare. They are abundantly found in European and
American sedimentary rock deposits. However, they are hard to explore
Fossils
The sea scorpion was discovered from the fossils that were unearthed from the Atrasado
formation. The Astrosado formation is found in New Mexico. It consists of marine
limestone. Astrado formation occurred during the orogeny of the Rocky Mountains.
During this period, most of the New Mexican highlands were surrounded by marine
basins. These habitats were ideal for sea scorpions.
Sea Scorpions and their fossils belong to the Kasimovian age
The Kasimovian age is a chronostratigraphic stage. That is a rocky period. One of the
major extinctions of the earth happened during the Kasimovian age. And sea scorpions
were one of the species to become extinct during this age.
Har Ghar Dhyan Campaign
The National Mental Health Survey conducted in 2015-16 says that there are 150 million
Indians suffering from mental illness. The numbers are so high because of a lack of
awareness about mental illness symptoms. To increase awareness among the public, the
Ministry of Culture launched Har Ghar Dhyan Campaign. The campaign will spread the
importance of meditation to the public.
Who launched the campaign?
The Ministry of Culture is conducting the campaign along with the Art of Living
Foundation. The organization is a non–profit, humanitarian, and educational organization
spread across 180 countries.
About the Campaign
During the campaign, the teachers from the organization will conduct meditation classes.
The main objective is to empower the youth.
Campaign to follow Jan – Bhagidari model
Jan Bhagidari means the participation of the common public. The model means self-
governance. It aims to provide opportunities to every citizen. The campaign aims to
preach meditation practices to every youth in the country.
Why meditation for mental health?
Meditation gives peace and helps in balancing emotions. With the increase in nuclear
families and advancements in technology, people are living in isolation. Lifestyle changes
are increasing stress among the public. Modern generations are moving apart from the
roots and traditions inviting mental troubles. Meditation and yogic principles were part of
ancient India. And the campaign is trying to revive this ideology back into the social
system.
Delhi ‘Real Time Source Apportionment Supersite’
Every year, the National Capital suffers from intense air pollution from late October due to
stubble burning, seasonal factors, etc. The pollution is due to haze, Particulate Matter, and
smoke. The weather improves and the pollution levels decrease by March – April. To fight
against pollution the Chief Minister of Delhi Mr. Arvind Kejriwal launched the Real Time
Source Apportionment Supersite.
What is Real–Time Source Apportionment Supersite?
A mobile van will identify pollution hotspots in the National Capital. It will provide this
information on an hourly basis. Getting real-time information about the sources of air
pollution will help the Delhi Government tackle air pollution.
Sample of the data
The data collected by the van in a day are as follows:
At 8 AM, the pollution levels were as follows:
Pollution due to outside sources: 8%
Vehicular Pollution: 35%
Biomass burning: 29%
At 10 AM, the pollution levels were as follows:
Outside sources: 29%
Biomass burning: 0%
Vehicular Pollution: 35%
What is biomass burning pollution in Delhi?
The security personnel, drivers, and several other street workers burn the biomass during
winter to keep themselves warm. The carbon dioxide and smoke from the burning
biomass pollute the city. Though, the level of pollution caused by biomass burning looks
less, the impacts are big.
Air Marshal A.P. Singh-New Vice Chief of Indian Air Force
Air Officer AP Singh was recently appointed the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force.
Currently, Vivek Chaudhari is the Chief of the Indian Air Force. His predecessor Mr.
Sandeep Singh demitted from his office (meaning resigned). Sandeep served for 39 years.
He received a ceremonial guard of honor while he handed over the office.
About AP Singh
AP Singh is a former student of the National Defence Academy. He worked as a test pilot
for more than 4,900 hours. He has fixed a number of rotary-wing aircraft during his
service. He also served as the Commanding Officer of the MiG 27 squadron.
Air Marshal of India
Air Marshal is the second highest rank in the Indian Air Force. The officer carries three
stars. The Air vice marshals carry two stars. The Air Marshals are superior to the Air Vice
Marshals.
Chief of Indian Air Force
The Chief of the Indian Air Force is also called the Air Marshal or Air Force Chief. Before
independence, the head of the Air Force was called by the name Air Marchal
Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force. In 1948, the title was changed to“Chief of Air Staff,
Royal Indian Air Force”. The term “Royal” was removed in 1950. Later the
Commanders–in–Chief Act, of 1955 was passed. Under the act, the title was again renamed
Chief of Air Staff. The Appointments Committee chaired by the PM of India appoints the
air marshal.
Visit India Year 2023 Campaign
The revenue from the tourism industry was 250 billion USD in 2018. Due to the COVID
pandemic, the tourism industry suffered huge losses. The revenue fell to 122 billion USD in
2020 due to the pandemic. India has huge tourism potential because of its varied
topography and beautiful landscapes. It is expected that Indian tourism will grow to 512
billion USD by 2028. To revive the tourism industry and increase inbound travel, the
tourism ministry launched the Visit India Year 2023 campaign.
About Visit India Year 2023 Campaign
The campaign will showcase the Indian Tourism potential to the foreign delegates who
will attend the G-20 meeting. In 2023, India is hosting the G-20 summit. The G-20 countries
contribute to 85% of the world’s GDP. Therefore, targeting them will help India boost its
revenue from tourism.
What is the plan?
The campaign will be launched for the G-20 officials, business delegates, and government
representatives and for other members attending the summit. During the campaign, the
tourism ministry will showcase the major travel destinations in the country. More than 200
meetings are to be held in 55 locations during the G-20 summit. And one lakh foreign
delegates are to participate. This is a good opportunity for India to showcase its tourism
potential.
Objective the campaign
The campaign will showcase the monuments, festivals, tourist destinations, culture, etc.
The aim is to make each foreign delegate a cultural ambassador of India when he returns
home after the G-20 summit.
GST Collection in January
The GST collection has been increasing in recent times. The three main reasons for the
hike in GST collection are decisions made by GST Council, changes made in tax collection,
and rising inflation. The highest GST Collection was achieved in the month of April 2022.
GoI collected Rs 1.68 lakh crores GST in that month. The January 2023 GST Collection is
now the second highest. In Jan 2023, the GST collected was Rs 1.55 lakh crores. This is the
third time GST collection crossed Rs 1.5 lakh crores.

January 2023 GST Collection
CGST of Jan 2023: Rs 28,963 crores
SGST: Rs. 36,730 crores
IGST: Rs 79,599 crores
The GST from imported goods is Rs 37,118 crores. This is included in the IGST figures given
above. GST Cess collected is Rs 10,630 crores.
Observations
The revenue collected is 24% higher than that collected in January 2022
Revenue collected on imports is 29% higher than in January 2022
Domestic transactions are 22% higher than in January 2022
Why the increase?
The GST Council increased the tax bases in 2022. Also, tax compliance was increased. The
number of GST filings increased in 2022. Also, the statement of invoices GSTR-1 and the
GST returns GSTR-3B increased. This happened because of policy changes.
US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies
The Government of India has been bringing tremendous changes in the defense sector in
the recent past. The changes made the defense ministry, the largest buyer of MSME goods
in 2022 amongst all other ministries. India is also pushing startups to participate in
defense modernization. Only 293 startups in India are registered in the defense sector. To
boost the numbers and to welcome more defense startups into the sector, an innovation
bridge was formed between India and USA. It was formed under the iCET initiative.
What is iCET initiative?
iCET is the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies.
The initiative will work to connect the defense startups in India and USA
It was jointly launched by India and USA
Launched in the Washington, USA
Launched by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his counter (US Security
Advisor Jake Sullivan)
Significance
The iCET signifies the strategic and scientific partnership between India and USA.
The initiative will pave way for the emerging technologies, co-production and will
further strengthen India-US relations.
Background
The US designated India as its Major Defence Partner opening doors for Indian
procurement. India-US signed DTTI, COMCASA, BECA, and LEMOA to boost their defence
ties. Now, the iCET initiative is to add to the strong bonding created by these agreements.
Union Budget 2023-24 Highlights
The Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman presented the Union Budget 2023-24. The
budget was presented based on seven priorities namely Inclusive development,
Infrastructure and Investment, youth power, unleashing the potential, green growth,
financial sector, and reaching the last mile. It focused on inclusive development
Agriculture
Agriculture Accelerator Fund to be set up
Horticulture Clean Plan Program to be launched
Informative solutions for farmers
Rs 20 lakh crores credit targeting Dairy, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries Sector
SREE ANNA: To make India a Global Hub for millets; Support to IIMR, Hyderabad to
promote research in the field
Increase storage capacity
Health
157 new nursing colleges to be built
Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Program to be launched
New Program to increase pharmaceutical research
ICMR labs: Increase PPP-based medical research
Education and Skills
National Digital Library will be launched
Teacher training program to be revamped
Physical libraries at ward levels and panchayat levels by state governments
Reaching the Last Mile
Pradhan Mantri PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups) Development Mission
will be launched
Financial Assistance to Karnataka: For micro-irrigation in drought-prone region
Eklavya Model Residential Schools: New teachers will be recruited
Bharat SHRI will be set up. SHRI is the Shared Repository of Inscription
Infrastructure and Investment
Capital investments are to be increased to Rs 10 lakh crores.
To incentivize infrastructure investment, the fifty-year interest free loan scheme to
the state governments is to continue
Railways: Rs 2.5 lakh crores allocated
Urban infrastructure to be boosted in tier 2 and tier 3 cities through UIDF – Urban
Infrastructure Development Fund
Green Growth
PM – PRANAM to be launched: To be established under GOBAR Dhan scheme
Green Credit Programme to be launched
MISHTI: Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes to be
launched
The following will be promoted
Battery Energy Storage System
Coastal Shipping – Energy Efficient Transportation
Funds to replace old polluting government vehicles
Youth
PMKVY 4 to be launched
50 tourist spots will be developed
Unity malls to be set up (by states) to promote One District One Product
Finance
National Financial Information Registry to be established
A central Data processing center is to be created
Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSME: Rs 2 lakh crores
Mahila Samman Bachat Patra to be launched: One-time small savings scheme
Increase the maximum deposit limit of senior citizens’ savings scheme to Rs 30 lakhs.
Before it was Rs 15 lakhs
Initiatives to promote GIFT IISC
Funds allocated (in lakh crore rupees)
Defence Ministry: 5.94
Road and highways Ministry: 2.7
Railways: 2.41
Consumer Affairs and Food Public Distribution: 2.06
Home Affairs: 1.96
Chemicals and Fertilizers: 1.78
Agriculture and Farmer Welfare: 1.25
Communications: 1.23
Funds allocated for major schemes (in crore rupees)
Jal Jeevan Mission: 70,000
Pharmaceutical industry: 1,250
Eklavya Model Residential schools: 5,943
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: 79,590
FAME: 5,172
North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme: 2,491
Agriculture Accelerator Fund
There are more than two thousand agriculture startups in the country. The Government of
India is trying to increase this number to ten thousand. Agriculture is the Backbone of the
Indian Economy contributing 53.89% GVA of India. In Union Budget 2023-24, Finance
Minister allocated Rs 1.25 lakh crores for agriculture. Agriculture was one of the seven
major priorities of the budget. During the Budget presentation in the parliament, the
Finance Minister announced that GoI will set up Agriculture Accelerator Fund.
What is Agriculture Accelerator Fund?
This fund is to be setup to increase the number of agricultural startups in the rural
areas
The main aim of the fund is to provide innovative and affordable solutions
It will focus only on farmers and the challenges faced by them
More young entrepreneurs will be encouraged to begin agri startups using these
funds
Startups focusing on cost-effective solutions will be given priorities
Also, technology startups that aim to increase agricultural outputs will be given
preference
Other Agri based announcements during Budget
GoI is to launch Digital Public Infrastructure to provide farmer-centric solutions
The infrastructure will also be launched targeting crop health, crop planning, and
supporting agriculture growth in the country
As the minister announced the Agriculture Accelerator Funds in the budget, the stock
prices of fertilizers and agricultural stocks increased.
PM-PRANAM Scheme
The government has declared green growth as one of its major priorities for the 2023-24
financial year. In its effort to make India a cleaner and greener nation, the government
has allocated Rs 5,172 lakh crores for the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &)
Electric Vehicles (FAME) Scheme. The government has also launched the PM PRANAM
Scheme, which is aimed at reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and promoting
alternatives to fertilizers.
Introduction to the PM PRANAM Scheme
The PM PRANAM Scheme stands for PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness,
Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth. The main objective of the scheme is to
reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and promote the balanced use of chemicals. The
government is planning to promote alternatives to fertilizers to achieve green growth and
minimize the negative impact on the environment.
GOBAR DHAN Scheme: A Key Component of PM PRANAM
The PM PRANAM Scheme was launched under the GOBAR DHAN Scheme, which stands
for Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan. During the budget announcement, the
finance minister stated that 500 new “waste to wealth” plants will be established under
the GOBAR DHAN scheme. Of these 500, 200 will be Compressed Biogas plants (75 in
urban areas) and 300 will be cluster-based plants. The government has allocated Rs 10,000
crores for this initiative.
Benefits of the PM PRANAM Scheme
The PM PRANAM Scheme will benefit more than one crore farmers in India. The
government’s initiative to promote alternatives to fertilizers will provide farmers with cost-
effective and environmentally friendly options for maintaining soil fertility. The GOBAR
DHAN Scheme will also promote the use of Compressed Bio Gas, which will help reduce
waste and produce clean energy.
Promoting Compressed Bio Gas
The government has also stated that all natural and bio-mass marketers should include at
least 5% of Compressed Bio Gas in their products. This will help increase the demand for
Compressed Bio Gas, which will lead to the establishment of more waste to wealth plants.
The increased use of Compressed Bio Gas will help reduce waste and produce clean
energy, which will benefit both the environment and the people.
MISHTI Scheme for Mangrove plantations
The Mangroves cover 0.15% of the total Indian Geographical area. This is around 4,975
square kilometers. The state of West Bengal alone has 42.45% of India’s mangroves.
Indian mangroves are facing limitations such as an increase in salinity, lack of oxygen, and
diurnal tidal inundations. MISHTI will aim and protect the Mangrove forest along the
coastline. MISHTI in Bengal means Sweet.
What is the new MISHTI Scheme launched in Union Budget 2023?
The main aim of the scheme is to take up mangrove plantations along the coastline.
Meaning, mangrove saplings will be planted along the coastal regions of the country.
Mangrove forests are spread across AP, WB, Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar, Goa,
Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. As you can see Mangrove forests
are present in all the coastal states of India.
The main objective of the MISTHI Scheme is to “preserve Mangrove forests”
Scheme implementation
MISHTI is to be implemented by converging CAMPA Fund, MGNREGS, and other sources.
CAMPA Fund means Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning
Authority. The fund was established to increase the activities of afforestation in the
country. MGNREGS is Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. It
was launched under the MGNREGA Act of 2005.
Atmanirbhar Horticulture Clean Plant Programme
The Indian horticulture sector contributes 33% of the GVA of the country. The industry is
labor intensive and therefore, a small push will increase employment opportunities
exponentially. Today, only 10% of the Indian land is under horticultural use. But it
contributes 33% of agricultural revenue. To increase the value of horticultural crops and to
boost productivity, the GoI launched the “Atmanirbhat Horticulture Clean Plant
Programme”. The main objective of the program is to increase the availability of disease-
free plant material. This will help in improving the value of the horticultural crops. The GoI
allocated Rs 2,200 crores for this scheme.
Why is the scheme called Clean Plant?
The GoI is to use only clean horticultural plants in this program. Also, it will promote the
use of clean plants.
What are clean plants?
A clean plant means the plant has been tested for several things before planting. The
testing made before planting is as follows:
Plants are checked for viruses, bacteria, or fungi. And those plants infected with
these microorganisms are not planted
Plants that are economically important are put under the category of clean plants
Some of them shall even be maintained under controlled conditions for increased
productivity
How are clean plants made?
There is a long process involved. First, the plants are checked for pathogens. Second,
actively growing ones are identified. Then tissue samples are collected from these actively
growing plants. These tissues are fused with other plants to increase their productivity as
well.
Amrit Dharohar Scheme
India lost 30% of its wetlands in the past three decades. Of all Mumbai lost the maximum
wetlands. 71% of wetlands in Mumbai were lost between 1970 and 2014. 57% lost in
Ahmedabad, 56% in Bengaluru, 55% in Hyderabad, 38% in Delhi, and lots more in other
major cities. The loss of wetlands is mainly due to anthropogenic activities and illegal
constructions. To increase the optimal use of wetlands in the cities and to improve their
biodiversity the GoI launched the Amrit Dharohar Scheme. The scheme was announced by
the Finance Minister during her budget speech.
What is Amrit Dharohar Scheme?
The scheme will aim to conserver wetlands by promoting their optimal use
The scheme is to be implemented in the next three years
The scheme will increase eco-tourism, and carbon stock, and also will help the local
communities in their income generations
Need for the Scheme
To achieve 2030 sustainable development goals. These goals were adopted by India along
with other UN Members in 2015. The SDG aims to provide peace and prosperity. The Amrit
Dharohar scheme will help India achieve the SDG goals.
GoI towards wetland conservation
The GoI believes that wetlands are important to sustain bio-diversity. The total number of
Ramsar sites in India was only 26 in 2014. This was increased to 75. RAMSAR convention is
an international treaty to conserve wetlands. It aims to address wetland degradation,
ensure there is water supply in the wetlands in the right season (for migratory birds),
promote the wise use of wetlands, and increase the wetlands under the designation of
“Ramsar site”.
National Data Governance Policy
Data governance is managing data usage, data security, data availability, and data
integrity. During the Union Budget 2023 presentation, the finance minister Smt Nirmala
Sitaraman announced that GoI is to launch National Governance Policy. The policy will
create an Indian Data Management Office. The IDMO will operate under the IT Ministry.
The government of India is to launch a policy to increase access to anonymized data in a
safe and secure way.
What is National Data Governance Policy?
The policy will increase the availability of data that are of national importance
It will increase the awareness of citizens by increasing the availability of open safe
and authentic data
Increase the overall compliance
Enhance the participation of the public

Secure data sharing on the internet
Streamline privacy standards
Objective
The main aim of the policy is to make the data secure and make it available to startups in
the country. In the 2023 budget, almost every new government program and scheme are
focusing on startups.
Significance
The National Data Governance Policy is the first step to towards Digital Government. With
the policy, the GoI can increase its decision-making authority. Data privacy standards can
be increased. Data protection standards shall be improved.
What is Anonymised data?
The data that is sensitive and needs extra protection are called anonymized data. The data
anonymization process removes personally identifiable information. Take AADHAR for
example. GoI holds the name of the citizen, his date of birth, and his address in AADHAR.
These data should be made available only to Infosys. Because GoI hired Infosys to create
software for Aadhar implementation. If this data is anonymized, the hackers cannot
identify the right information of the citizen. And the information will be made available
only to the concerned party.
PM PVTG Development Mission
Article 336 of the constitution allows GoI to make special arrangements for certain
communities. Using this provision, the Government created the category of ST. However,
some of the tribes in the country prefer to live isolated and remain secluded. Such tribes
do not receive social benefits from the schemes launched by GoI. They are referred to as
the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group. During the 2023 Budget, the GoI launched the PM
PVTG Development Mission.
About PM PVTG Development Mission
Rs 15,000 crores was allocated for the mission
The allocated fund will be used to provide the following facilities to the PVTG:
Sanitation
Safe Housing
Access to Health
Access to education
Connectivity
Socio-Economic conditions of PVTG will be improved
Also, the mission will provide the following facilities as well:
Clean drinking water
Spread awareness of nutritious food
Sustainable livelihood
Benefits
The scheme will bring in changes and will benefit more than 3.5 lakh tribes in the country.
The 2023 budget is the last full budget before the 2024 parliament elections. Most of the
schemes, welfare measures, and education initiatives focused on tribal development. Also,
most of the schemes targeted infrastructural development in the tribal areas.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0
The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana runs under Skill Development Ministry and is
implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation. The main objective of the
program is to train the youths in areas where there are requirements for Indian
industries. Also, the program certifies the youth who are already good at a skill by
evaluating them. The complete cost involved in learning the skills is borne by the Union
Government. After completing the training, the candidates are assigned jobs. During the
Union Budget 2023, the finance minister announced the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas
Yojana 4.0.
About PMKVY 4.0
The program will train lakhs of youths in the next three years
The fourth version of PMKVY is to be implemented with industrial partnerships
Job training will be offered after course completion. The training will also be provided
under PMKVY
New industry courses are to be introduced. This includes Artificial Intelligence, soft
skills, robotics, drone technology, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, Mechatronics,
etc.
During PMKVY 4.0, the GoI will open 30 Skill India International Centres.
Stipend support to be provided to 47 lakhs
Skill India Digital platform is to be launched
The objective of PMKVY 4.0
To boost the skills of the youths
Mission to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047
Sickle Cell Anaemia affects the RBCs in the human body. When a person suffers from the
disease his RBCs (usually rod-shaped) deform. Their shapes are affected. The primary
function of RBC is to carry oxygen to different parts of the body. In a person with sickle cell
anemia, the oxygen-carrying capacity of RBCs is affected. The disease creates adverse
effects if left untreated. During the Union budget 2023, the Government of India launched
the Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission. Under the Mission, the GoI is planning to
eliminate the disease by 2047.
Mission to eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia
Objective: Eliminate completely by 2047
Create awareness about the disease
The mission will screen seven crore people
People in the age group 0 to 40 years are to be screened
Tribal areas to be targeted
Major Challenge of the mission: Consanguineous marriage
When both the boy and the girl in marriage have sickle cell traits, it is called
consanguineous marriage. In such marriages, there are 25% chance that their babies will
have sickle cell anemia. This is a challenge in India avoiding Consanguineous marriages is
very difficult.
Sickle cells are those cells that form a C – shape, just like the shape of a sickle. They
deform themselves.
February 2, 2023
Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (Mahila Samman Bachat Patra)
Mahila Samman Savings Certificate is a new small savings scheme introduced by the
Indian government in the budget 2023, aimed at empowering women and girls. The
scheme offers a deposit security of up to INR 2 lakhs for a tenure of 2 years, with an
interest rate of 7.5%.
Features of Mahila Samman Savings Certificate
Commemorating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the new savings scheme is available for a
two-year period up to March 2025.
The scheme is exclusively for women and girls and offers a deposit facility of up to
INR 2 lakhs.
The interest rate for the scheme is fixed at 7.5% for a tenure of 2 years.
The certificate may be obtained from the post office or a bank.
Benefits of Mahila Samman Savings Certificate
Fixed Returns: The interest rate for the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate is fixed
at 7.5%, offering higher returns compared to normal fixed deposits in banks.
Government Backed: The savings certificate is backed by the Indian government,
making it a secure investment option.
Tax Benefits: Some of the small savings schemes, including the Mahila Samman
Savings Certificate, offer tax-saving benefits under section 80C of the Income-tax Act,
1961.
Partial Withdrawal Option: The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate offers partial
withdrawal options, making it a flexible investment option.
Comparison with Other Savings Schemes
Interest Rates: The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate offers a 7.5% interest rate,
compared to 7% offered by the National Savings Certificate scheme and a maximum
of 7.25% offered by SBI, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank.
Tenure: The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate has a tenure of 2 years, compared
to 15 years for PPF and 5 years for the National Savings Certificate.
Eligibility: The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate is exclusively for women and girls,
while other savings schemes are open to all residents.
With its fixed returns, government backing, tax benefits, and partial withdrawal options,
the Mahila Samman Savings Certificate scheme offers a secure and flexible investment
option for women and girls. It is important to note that the interest rates for small savings
schemes are announced once every quarter by the government, and it is advisable to
compare the interest rates offered by different schemes before deciding.
Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman: PM - VIKAS

The Artisans and Craftsmen in India have been disappearing since British times. The
Government of India is trying to boost its economic status and keep the age-old arts and
traditional crafts alive by different means. The Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal
Samman is one such initiative. The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Smt
Nirmala Sitaraman during the Budget presentation.
About the PM-VIKAS
The main objective of the scheme is to improve the status of the craftsmen in the
country.
The scheme will achieve its objective:
by increasing the caliber of the artisans
by increasing the reach of their goods
The scheme is to be put into the MSME Value chain
The scheme will provide financial support to the artisans
Skills and training programs for traditional and age-old crafts will be conducted.
People will be encouraged to learn the art
The latest technology skills will be imparted during the training programs. Artisans
will be taught to use the latest technologies in their workmanship to increase
productivity and profit. This is to be done without disturbing the traditional practices
involved in the craft making
Artisans and craftsmen will be introduced to paperless payments
The entire program is to be integrated with the MSME sector
GoI will work hard to take the arts and crafts to international markets
Significance
The scheme aims to make India self-reliant. Also, it will gain India’s global reputation.
Several Indian arts and crafts have huge demand in the global market even today. For
instance, Kashmiri shawls and Rajai are famous in Turkey, Iran, etc.
According to Hinduism, Vishwakarma is the god of crafts. He makes chariots, weapons,
and palaces for gods. He built Lanka Palace for Ravan, Dwarka for Lord Krishna, and
Indraprastha for the Pandavas.
HC: Foreigners can invoke Domestic Violence Act before Indian courts
An estranged wife, a US citizen, filed a domestic violence case in the Madras High court.
She filed the complaint to a Mahila Court under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005. To
counter her case, the husband filed a petition to dismiss her case. To this, the Madras High
Court Judge pronounced that foreigners can invoke the Domestic Violence Act before the
Indian Courts and refused to strike down the wife’s case.
Pronouncement made
US citizens or any other foreign citizen have the right to invoke the Domestic
Violence Act, of 2005
The judge pronounced this judgment based on the provision under Article 21 of the
constitution. Article 21 provides the Right to Life and also the right to personal liberty
Section 27 of the Domestic Violence Act allows foreign citizens or NRIs or persons
whose families belong to the jurisdiction of the family court shall invoke the law
Domestic Violence Act
The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 provides the following
security to Indian citizens:
Protection against Domestic Violence, dowry, etc
Judges shall pass custody orders, compensation orders, etc.
Judges shall order monetary relief, medical facility
A protection officer shall be appointed by the State Government
Estrange means someone who is no longer in friendly terms with the other.
Punjab Policy on Groundwater Usage
In June 2022, the Central Ground Water Board reported the groundwater (in the first 100m
reach) of Punjab will be exhausted by 2029. In 2039, the groundwater (in 300m reach) will
be exhausted. Following this Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority notified
directions. They were called the Groundwater Extraction and Conservation Directions,
2023. According to these directions, the Punjab Government is to charge people and firms
extracting groundwater. The charges do not apply to people using groundwater for
domestic purposes, agriculture, military, and other government bodies.
What are the charges?
The groundwater has replenishing capabilities. However, replenishing takes time. Based
on the extraction and replenishing time, Punjab has been divided into three zones. They
are Green Zone, Yellow Zone, and Orange Zone.
Green Zone: The charges here are between Rs 4 and Rs 14. This means the
groundwater replenishes a bit quickly. However, continuous extraction will hinder its
replenishment and lead to dryness
Yellow Zone: Here the charges are between Rs 6 and Rs 18
Orange Zone: Charges are between Rs 8 and Rs 22
Main Objective
To increase the water balance and conserve groundwater
To prevent industries from overusing groundwater
Amendments in enhance business at GIFT City
The GIFT city, Gujarat International Finance Tech City is under construction. It is the first
greenfield smart city in India. Today, the city is one of the major international IT and
finance hubs. To boost its development, Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman
announced several measures in the Budget 2023.
What measures were introduced?
Data Embassies to be established in GIFT city for countries that are seeking digital
continuity solutions
Establish an EXIM bank subsidiary in GIFT City. Through this, the foreign banks shall
provide acquisition financing. Also, can aid in trade re-financing
Finance Minister proposed to make an amendment to the IFSCA Act. Demanded to
avoid dual regulation under the SEZ act, asked for provisions for arbitration, and
ancillary services
Powers to IFSCA under SEZ Act to set up a single window system that will facilitate
registration and approval from SEZ authorities and GST authorities, SEBI, RBI, and
IRDAI
Tax benefits extended to funds involved in the relocation of IFSC and GIFT City
Significance
The amendments would turbocharge the GIFT city.
Acquisition Financing: Funds provided by banks to a company to acquire other companies.
Through acquisition financing, a smaller company will increase in size. Also, it shall aid in
the Disinvestment policies of GoI.
Advisory to air ‘National Interest Content’
The Government of India recently issued advisory guidelines to the private satellite TV
channels in the country. According to the guidelines, private TV channels shall broadcast
programs of social relevance and national importance for 30 minutes. This does not
include the ad breaks. The program should not be broadcasted between 12 AM (midnight)
and 6 AM.
What do the Guidelines say?
The private TV satellite channels should keep a record of the telecast. The telecast
record should be submitted in 90 days. The record shall be provided to the Electronic
Media Monitoring Centre that operates under the I&B ministry
A monthly report should be submitted on the Broadcast Seva Portal
Themes of the document shall be in education, health and family welfare, rural
development, science and technology, the welfare of weaker sections, environmental
protection, heritage, culture, literacy, national integration, and welfare of women
The advisory applies to all channels including wildlife and foreign channels. However,
these advisories are not applicable to the channels streaming live telecasts as that of the
sports channel. Also, it is not applicable to religious channels; provided the religious
channel is broadcasting devotional, yoga, or spiritual content for more than 12 hours.
Income Tax Slab Revamp
During the Union Budget presentation, Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman
announced that people earning up to Rs 7 lakhs need not pay taxes. Tax surcharges of the
taxpayers in the highest tax bracket were reduced from 37% to 25%. The bottom line, the
new income tax slab benefits taxpayers in the highest and lowest tax brackets.
Changes will be made to Income Tax Act
The older tax slabs supported the Multi Linked Debenture (MLD). It had 12 month
maturity period. It was a popular investment because of its minimal tax gains. To avoid
the new tax slabs from affecting this, a new section is added to the Income Tax Act.
Section 50AA is to be added. Under this, the income from the Multi Linked Debentures will
be treated as a short-term capital gain.
What is MLD?
They are debt instruments. Debentures are bonds or loans. The only difference is that it
needs no collateral. Take a gold loan for instance. Here you place your jewels in the bank
as collateral. The bank in return gives you money. You repay the money and get back your
jewels. Also, you pay interest. In debentures, you get money. However, there are no such
things as jewels or property placed as collateral. A debenture is backed by reputation or
credit worth. Governments and private financial companies issue debentures to raise
funds. Interests are applicable to debentures. In MLDs, the debentures are linked to
multiple markets such as gold funds, government securities, the Nifty index, etc.
E – Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2023
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change released the E-Waste
Management Rules in 2022. It is expected to come into effect in 2023. CPCB was appointed
as the regulatory body to implement the rules. The rules target companies in the
consumer goods field. Recently the ministry amended some of the rules.
Amendments made
Producers should provide information on equipment constituents of the waste
discarded
Also, the producer should provide a declaration of reductions made on the
hazardous substances
The equipment constituent details and the declaration should be in sync with the
CPCB rules and regulations updated now and then
Above details should be included in the product user information
Exemptions
The amendment exempts two substances from the E-Waste Management Rules. They are
cadmium and lead. The amendment specifically says that the exemption is for cadmium
and lead used in solar cells and lead in medical devices. Lead found in other devices does
not enjoy this exemption. So does the cadmium in devices other than solar cells or solar
panels.
PAN to be used as common identifier
PAN is a Permanent Account Number issued by the Income Tax Department of India. It is
a ten-digit alphanumeric number. During the Union Budget 2023, Finance Minister Smt
Nirmala Sitaraman announced that GoI is to use PAN as a universal identifier for all digital
systems. This applies only to specific government entities as appointed. This will increase
the ease of doing business.
Objective
The initiative is being launched to increase the PAN user base and also to simplify access
to systems working under government entities. This new PAN as an identity for digital
systems will help in the following way:
To reduce duplicity in information
To reduce the compliance burden
Reduce the gestation periods of projects
Promote ease of doing business and also increase the ease of starting a business
With PAN becoming a common identifier, the multiple requirements of KYC will be
reduced
Why are the changes being made?
The income tax department uses the PAN card to track financial transactions in the
country. Tax liabilities of an individual and a company are assessed using PAN cards. PAN
helps GoI reduce tax evasions. PAN is compulsory for the sale or purchase of vehicles,
opening an account, cash payment and transactions of more than Rs 50,000, the purchase
of securities, the sale or purchase of properties, and lots more. By making PAN
compulsory, the tax norms are being made stricter.
National Digital Library
According to the National Statistical Commission, the literacy rate in India is 73%.
However, the financial literacy rate is very less, around 24%. Compared to the other
emerging economies of the world, the financial literacy rate of India is very low. To
inculcate reading habits and to increase the financial literacy of the country the GoI is to
launch National Digital Library. The announcement about the library was made by the
finance minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman during her budget presentation.
About the National Digital Library
The library will mainly focus on adolescents and children
Financial organizations will contribute age-appropriate financial materials to the
library
The main objective of the National Digital Library is to encourage the habit of
reading among children
Under this initiative, the state governments will be encouraged to create physical
libraries at ward levels and panchayats. Also, they shall provide infrastructure
facilities to access the resources of the National Digital Library
Materials will also be contributed in the regional language
Why is National Digital Library launched?
During the COVID pandemic, India faced extreme learning losses. The habit of learning
and the significance of knowledge vanished.
Significance
Experts from the education sector believe that the union budget 2023-24 mainly focuses
on making India a knowledge-driven economy. This is to be done by strengthening the
underprivileged sectors in the country.
NAMASTE (National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem) scheme
In the Union Budget 2023, the Government of India allocated Rs 100 crores for the
NAMASTE scheme. With this, the GoI aims to mechanize septic tank cleaning and sewer
cleaning in towns and cities. The scheme aims to provide an alternate livelihood to
sanitation workers. In addition, NAMASTE will strive to bring behavioral changes to them.
The objective of the scheme
To achieve zero fatalities in the sanitation sector
No sanitation worker will touch or come in direct contact with the fecal matter
The sanitation workers will be encouraged to form Self Help Groups
Ensure the workers have access to alternative livelihoods as mechanization may
bring loss of jobs to few in the industry
How will NAMSTE be implemented?
In phase 1, 500 cities are taken. GoI is planning on choosing AMRUT cities first. Also, the
first target will be cities whose population is more than one lakh. Ten cities from islands,
hilly regions, and tourist destinations will be picked. Bringing changes in tourist
destinations in the sewerage sector is very difficult. This is because the carrying capacity
of the tourist spots is high. For this reason, the numbers in the tourism sector are very
less.
Study on Veterinary Antimicrobial use
The Indian Journal of Medical Research that India is developing the highest resistance to
anti-microbial drugs in the rest of the world. In India, antimicrobial resistance is increasing
in food, animals, and humans as well. In 2020, the AMU of India was 43% more than the
global average. By 2030, this is to increase by 40%.
What is Anti Microbial Resistance?
The World Health Organization defines AMR as the drug resistance gained by bacteria,
fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms. The microorganisms that become resistant to
the antimicrobial, are referred to as Superbugs.
About the AMR in India
The resistance level is increasing at the rate of 5% to 10% every year. Today 70,000
Indian citizens are gaining resistance to AMR per year. The number is expected to
increase to ten million by 2050.
The AMR will affect economic growth. GDP will fall by 2% to 3.5%
Livestock revenues will reduce by 3% to 8%
India is the largest producer of milk in the world and also has huge potential in
poultry and animal husbandry. The AMR will affect India’s growth in these areas.
Steps taken
National Action Plan for AMR was launched
ICMR’s Antibiotic Stewardship program
Strict ban on drugs increasing AMR by DGCI now and then as required
World Wetlands Day, 2023
Wetlands support a wide range of biodiversity and help to maintain natural cycles. They
replenish water resources and protect coastlines. They account for 4.7% of the Indian
Geographical area. Today 30% of the Indian wetlands have been lost. And 35% of wetlands
have been lost at the world level. To create awareness about the importance of wetlands
and protect them from degrading, the UN and other international organizations celebrate
World Wetlands Day.
The theme of 2023 World Wetlands Day
It is Time for Wetlands Restoration
Major causes of wetland degradation
Population growth is the primary cause of wetlands degradation. The natural factors that
cause wetland degradation are erosion and land subsidence.
History of World Wetlands Day
The proposal for marking World Wetlands Day was made in 1997. However, the resolution
was passed in 2021 and the first world wetlands day was celebrated in 2021.
Five Major Types of Wetlands
Estuarine: Area where the freshwater river meets the ocean
Marine: These wetlands are on the coastlines and are the most productive and most
threatened
Lacustrine: These wetlands are found near the lakes
Palustrine: Found in a marshy environment. They are common in the mouth of rivers
and delta regions
Riverine: Found near rivers or riverbanks
ISRO Report on SSLV Mission Failure
In August 2022, the Indian Space Research Organization launched the Small Satellite
Launch Vehicle (SSLV). It carried two satellites and both satellites were rendered unusable.
The mission was declared a failure. ISRO recently released a report detailing the reasons
for the failure of the mission. ISRO investigation concluded that vibration disturbances
were the major reason for the mission failure.
What happened?
The SSLV-D1 was programmed to place the satellite in a 356 km orbit. Instead, it
placed the satellite in a 76-km orbit. This happened because of sensor failure.
The wrong orbital placing happened because of a shortfall in velocity.
During the second stage of separation, vibrational disturbances occurred. These
vibrations caused the Inertial Navigation System to malfunction and net result the
sensors became faulty.
Background
The SSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle. On the other hand, PSLV is a four-stage launch
vehicle. Also, SSLV had a new inertia navigation system that ISRO was using for the first
time. It used enough gyros (6) to monitor the rotation rates. All sic gyros experienced
measurement saturation during the flight.
About SSLV
SSLV was designed for smaller satellites. These launch vehicles were designed to carry 500
kg of payload. The main objective was to reduce the burden of PSLV.
Way Forward
ISRO is now developing another SSLV rocket. The SSLV-D2 is expected to be launched
during the first quarter of 2023.
Liquid Windows
Squids like cuttlefish change colors. Inspired by these organisms and their color-changing
mechanism Toronto University developed a fluidic system called Liquid Windows. The
main objective of the system is to reduce energy costs. It targets decreasing the energy
consumed during certain processes like lighting the buildings, heating, and cooling.
What are liquid windows?
They have basically stacked sheets used as room windows. Each layer in the stack has a
specific optic function. Meaning they allow only a particular type of wavelength to pass
through them. By controlling these stacks individually or collectively the scientists control
the following parameters:
Intensity of light
Wavelengths of light entering the room
Light scattering
The stacks are made of plastic. Between the stacks, there are thick channels. Fluids are
passed through these channels. Fluids are added or removed using pumps. Light
transmission through the system is optimized through the amount of fluid in the stacks.
Principle of Liquid Windows
The main principle is to control the natural light entering the room. Buildings consume
lots of energy for cooling, heating, and illuminating a room space. By controlling the
direction of solar rays, the type of solar rays, and the amount of solar energy entering a
room, the temperature and illumination of the room can be controlled.
February 3, 2023
Manmohan Singh conferred Lifetime Achievement Honour in UK
Every year the National Indian Students and Alumni Union presents the Lifetime
Achievement Honour. The NISAU is a UK organization. It represents Indian students in the
UK. This is the first time the NISAU is introducing the India UK achievers Honours. Over 75
highly qualified professionals will be honored with the award. Number 75 was chosen to
mark the 75th year of India’s independence.
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Dr. Manmohan Singh was born in Gah, today Pakistan. His family migrated to India during
the 1947 partition. He obtained his doctorate from Oxford in Economics. He worked for
the UN between 1966 and 1969. Between the 1970s and 1980s, Manmohan served as the
Chief Economic Advisor of the Government of India, Head of the Planning commission,
Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, etc. He faced the economic crisis of 1991 during
Mr. Narasimha Rao’s period. As a Prime Minister, Mr. Singh brought in several changes.
His ministry executed UIA, National Rural Health Mission, the Right to Information Act, etc.
Nuclear Agreement by Mr. Singh
Of all the achievements of Mr. Singh, the nuclear agreement signed with the US is seen as
historic. Under this agreement, India agreed to place its civil and military nuclear facilities
under the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). With this India received an
exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group. NSG had controlled the nuclear exports to
India following India’s first nuclear test in 1974. India faced difficulties in getting nuclear
fuels because of this. The Civil Nuclear Agreement with the US helped India remove all the
hurdles on its path to becoming a nuclear power.
Other professionals to be honored
Bollywood Actor Parineeti Chopra
Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla
Aditi Chauhan, the Indian Women’s Football Team goalkeeper
Significance
The awards signify and bolster the India – UK diaspora bridge.
Reserve Bank of India-Digital Payments Index
The RBI constructed the Digital Payments Index to learn about digital payments in the
country. The index is calculated based on five parameters namely Payment Enablers,
Consumer centricity, payment infrastructure on the demand side, and payment
infrastructure on the supply side. The index is calculated with 2018 as the base period. The
2023 DPI in India is 377.46. In 2022, it was 349.30 and in 2021 it was 304.06. With this, RBI
concluded that Digital Payments in the country increased by 24.13%.
What contributed to the increase?
UPI – the Unified Payments Interface increased by 1.3%. UPI is a multi-bank account
system. It allows money transfer 24/7, merchant payment, collections, donations,
utility bill payments, QR code-based payments, etc.
Transactions made through the National Payments Corporation of India increased by
2.6%. NPCI processed more than 6,752 crores of transactions in the fiscal year 2023.
In 2022, the platform made 7,404 crores of transactions.
The Fintech Adoption Rate in India increased to 87%. It was 64% at the global level.
India has the third largest digital transactions in the world after US and China
The transactions made through AEPS, that is, Aadhar Enabled Payments Service
increased to Rs 26,000 crores of rupees per month on an average
About DPI
The following parameters are used in calculating the DPI:
The payment enablers are the Internet, Merchants, Aashar, Mobile, Bank Accounts
The Payment Infrastructure on the Demand side are debit cards, FASTags,
Customers registered with mobile and internet banking, prepaid payment
instruments, credit cards, and debit cards
Payment Infrastructure on Supply-side are bank branches, ATMs, QR codes,
intermediaries, PoS terminals, business correspondents
Payment Performances are cash withdrawals, currency in circulation, paper clearing,
unique users
Consumer Centricity are complaints, awareness, education, declines, system
downtime
Jharkhand Domicile Bill-Update
The Jharkhand Government passed the Domicile Bill and the bill was sent to the governor
for his assent. The governor refused to sign the bill. According to the Governor, the bill
fails to provide equal employment opportunities to all the people in the state of
Jharkhand. The bill says that only local persons can be appointed in Class 3 and Class 4
state government positions.

What is Domicile Bill?
The bill defines the “Local People” in the state of Jharkhand. The definition was framed
based on 1932 land records. Also, the bill states that only the local people can be
appointed to the positions of Class 3 and Class 4 state government posts.
What is the Governor saying?
Ramesh Bais is the current governor of Jharkhand state. Bais says that Article 16
guarantees equal employment opportunities to all Indian citizens. Appointing only the
“local people” in state government posts violates the article.
Judicial citings
The Government cited apex court orders in support of his argument. The Narasimha Rao
Vs Andhra Pradesh Government case was about employment opportunities for non-
domicile persons in the state. The Andhra Pradesh Government relieved the non-domicile
persons and replaced them with locals. The SC court condemned the actions of the AP
government invoking Article 16.
In the Satyajit Kumar vs the State of Jharkhand state, the SC declared 100% reservation to
the STs as unconstitutional.
What is Angel Tax?
The Section 56 (2) (vii b) in the Income Tax Act is referred to as Angel tax. These taxes are
imposed on startups. Say a startup SSS sells one lakh shares to a person X. Selling price of
one share is Rs 5000. Now SSS gains 50 crores. Say the actual market value of the share is
Rs 2000 per share. So 20 crore rupees is the actual market value. SSS made 30 crores of
rupees profit. So SSS has to pay angel tax on the 30 crores rupees!
Why is Angel Tax in News?
During Union Budget 2023, Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sita Raman proposed to amend
the Angel tax. Now, the equity amount received by the startups will be subjected to
income taxes and not angel taxes. Meaning, the entire 50 crores of rupees, that is, the
total amount the startup received by selling the shares is subjected to income tax! Earlier,
only 30 cores were subjected to taxes.
What are startups saying about the change?
Startups are disappointed. Most of the investors of the startups, that is, the share buyers
are from foreign countries. Already startup investments have been decreasing. In 2022, it
fell by 33%. The new change in Angel Tax is to further affect the startup investment.
Assam G20 meeting
The meeting first Sustainable Finance Working Group of G20 was recently held in
Guwahati, Assam. A hundred delegates from 95 different foreign countries attended the
meeting. The G20 meeting was inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. A
traditional musical performance was presented by the Assamese at the Guwahati airport
to welcome the foreign delegates.
About the meeting
Four sessions were held
Delegates were taken on the Brahmaputra cruise

The Y20 meeting will also be held in Assam. Five different Y20 meets are to be
conducted for the Youths. The first one is being held in Assam. The themes of the
Y20 meetings are health, sports, disaster risk reduction, climate change, the future of
the work industry, peacebuilding, and reconciliation.
Arrangements made by the Assam Government
In the process of beautifying Guwahati city, the State Government created thematic gates,
digital wall paintings, flags of G20 countries, hoarding, LED cutouts, etc. The delegates
were also taken for a visit to the Sandbar of Brahmaputra, Kaziranga National Park,
Gorbhanga Reserve Forest, and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
Why Assam?
The Government of India chose Assam to establish the message that communities from
different cultures can lead sustainable life. The land of Assam is diverse in ethnicity. Still
the Assamese coexist in harmony with mother earth. This has become possible only
because of sustainable practices adopted by the state.
Doctrine of Necessity Principle
The post of Chairman of the Competition Commission of India has been vacant since the
retirement of Mr.Ashok Kumar Gupta in October 2022. Also, currently, there are only 2
members in the CCI. There are many mergers and acquisitions pending before the
commission waiting for its approval. To attend to the pending matter, the Commission is
to create a Quorum of three members using the Doctrine of Necessity Principle.
What is the Doctrine of Necessity Principle?
The extra-constitutional actions are generally referred to Doctrine of Necessity. Under
this, an administrative authority can get power to bring back stability. Take the case of CCI
for example. Though certain decisions and approvals need the consideration of the
Chairman, the CCI is using the principle to clear the pending files. Keeping the mergers
and acquisitions waiting for approval slows down the economic growth of the country.
Therefore, quick action is required here. And so, the CCI is invoking the Doctrine of
Necessity Principle.
Legal justifications for CCI actions
Section 15 of the Competition Act says that no act of CCI shall be invalid due to vacancies.
The CCI is using this legal provision to adopt the Doctrine of Necessity Principle.
US-Philippines Deal on Military access
The United States Government has built more than 750 military bases all over the world.
And more than 120 military bases in Asia alone. However, the military presence between
Australia and South Korea is very little. To counter the Chinese moves in the South China
sea and to increase its presence in the region, the US has now signed a deal with the
Philippines to gain access to four of the Philippines’ bases.
About the Deal
According to the deal sealed between the USA and the Philippines Government, the US will
now gain access to four of the military bases in the Philippines. The deal reversed the US
departure 30 years ago.

Significance of the Philippines to the US
The strategic location of the country is highly beneficial for the US and its intentions in the
region. The Philippines borders Taiwan and South China sea, the major flashpoints.
What is China saying about US-Philippines military deal?
According to China, the US actions are to increase the tensions in the region. It will disturb
the peace and stability in the South China region. China has disputes with almost every
country in the South China Sea! With the Philippines, China’s dispute is in the West
Philippine Sea. In 2016, the Philippines won the dispute at the Arbitral Tribunal and now
the West Philippine Sea is under the jurisdiction of the Philippines.
Allocation Doubled under FAME-2 scheme
FAME is the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. It was
launched in 2015 to increase the sale of electric vehicles in the country. The scheme was
launched under the National Electric Mobility Mission. During the Union Budget 2023, the
GoI allocated Rs 5,172 crores for the fiscal year 2024. This is 78% higher as compared to
the 2022 budget.
History of Allocations
In 2019, Rs 10000 crores were allocated to take the scheme step by step
In the fiscal year 2020, the allocations were increased to Rs 500 crores
In 2021, 318 crores were allocated
In 2022, it was further increased to 500 crores
In 2023, GoI allocated Rs 2,897 crores
Concerns
Despite increasing funds, FAME has not been successful as compared to other flagship
programs of the government receiving the same proportion of the budget. For the
proportion of the budget being allocated, FAME should have increased the electric vehicle
numbers in the country. However, it is not so. This is mainly because subsidies of FAME
are left unpaid. Around 12 manufacturers of electric and hybrid vehicles, that is, 90% of
the electric vehicle market holders did not receive the subsidy in 2022-23. This includes
Okinawa and Hero Electric.
Climate-related measures
Union budget allocated Rs 88,198 crores for climate-related measures. This is 2% of the
total expenditure of the budget. In 2024, it was 0.9%.
Delhi’s Child Rights Body’s WhatsApp chatbot
The Government of Delhi constituted the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights
(DCPCR) under the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005. Since its
constitution, the DCPCR launched several technological interventions to establish a good
communication link between the government and the people. Recently, the DCPCR
launched the WhatsApp chatbot called “BAL MITRA”
What is BAL MITRA Chatbot?
The chatbot will help the citizens communicate with DCPCR
Parents can discuss education-related issues like admission issues with the
commission
The chatbot tries to remove the communication gap between the public and the
government
Features of the Chatbot
Complaint registration
Tracking the status of the complaint
Acquiring information about admissions
Providing information on children’s rights
It allows people to report confidential matters
Benefits of the Chatbot
There is wide public hesitation when it comes to making a complaint against social
offenses. The chatbot helps people to register complaints without hesitation. It is highly
beneficial to citizens who are unable to contact the commission physically.
Other similar initiatives
The DCPCR recently launched the Early Warning System. The Education Department of
Delhi brought back 50,000 students to schools using the system. The main objective of the
system is to reduce dropout rates in Delhi.
PACS to function as CSC
The Government of India is to increase the number of PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit
Societies) to two lakhs in the next five years. Also, GoI will create multi-purpose PACS in
panchayats. Many storage houses are to be created along with these measures. With big
plans on PACS, an MoU was recently signed among the ministries. This includes the
Cooperation ministry, MeIT, CSC, and NABARD. Under this MoU, the services of CSC
(Common Service Centres) will be offered by the PACS as well.
What is the plan?
According to the agreement, PACS will operate as CSC providing 300 services. More than
13 crores of farmers will be directly benefitted from this. With this PACS will provide the
following services:
Services listed on the Digital Seva Portal
Banking
Insurance
Legal services
Aadhar Enrolment
Agricultural inputs like harvesters, and other farm equipment
IRCTC, PAN Card, Bus, and Air Tickets
PACS
It is the smallest cooperative credit society in India. It is regulated by the Cooperatives
Societies Act. RBI also has the power to regulate these societies. It works at village levels.
It provides loans to farmers.
Significance
The PACS are the soul of cooperatives
PACS play a huge role in the rural sector
50% of the Indian population is associated with cooperative societies.
Indian Military Joint Training Exercise Trishakti Prahar
The Indian Defense Forces conducted firepower exercises called the “TRISHAKTI PRAHAR”
to synergize the firepower assets and to orchestrate a battle. The exercise is important to
keep the forces ready for battle. The exercise was conducted by the Indian Air Force,
CAPF, and the Indian Army. It was a firepower exercise.
About Trishakti Prahar
The main objective of Trishakti Prahar was to refresh battling skills
All the latest defense equipment was used during the exercise. This includes
helicopters, infantry combat vehicles, new-generation equipment, mortars, artillery
guns, etc.
Equipment made as a part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan was also used in the
exercise
Forces moved and rehearsed across the regions of North Bengal
The Indian Army checks if the troops are in battle preparedness through these
exercises
Reviewed by Eastern Command
The eastern command officer Lt Gen RP Kaltia reviewed the exercise. The eastern
command is based in Kolkata and is one of the six commands of the Indian Army.
Where was the exercise held?
Teesta Field Firing Ranges. It is near Siliguri. The Siliguri is strategically important to India.
This narrow 20 to 30-km-wide passage touches Bangladesh in the south and Bhutan in the
north. If this passage is closed, the Indian mainland will lose its contact with the
northeastern states. For this reason, the Siliguri corridor is important to India.
Prasar Bharati Revamp
The Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development scheme was recently
launched to provide financial support to Prasar Bharati, the public broadcaster of India. It
aims to boost the infrastructure of public sector broadcasters in the country such as
Doordarshan, All India Radio, etc. A Revamp to Prasar Bharati!
About the Scheme
The scheme will increase the channels in AIR. It will ensure that AIR reaches 80% of
the Indian population
80 lakh free set-top boxes of Doordarshan will be distributed. Here the focus is on
border areas, LWE areas, and tribal areas
The scheme’s outlay is Rs 2,500 crores
Focus on developing high-quality content
Increase the capacity of DTH; as in increase the number of channels being
broadcasted
Purchase of OB vans. OB means Outside Broadcasting. This van has every facility you
will find in a broadcasting station such as vision control, cameras, antennas, etc.
Significance
The Government of India is trying to reach the public. Spread society-related awareness
among the citizens. Recently, the I&B ministry issued an advisory on public service
broadcasting. The advisory said that every private satellite channel should broadcast
programs of social relevance and national importance for at least 30 minutes a day.
RBI,SEBI,and NSE Actions after Adani Row
After the Hindenburg report, Gautham Adani who was the second richest person in the
world slipped to the 21st position according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. In the last
ten days, he lost 108 billion USD. Hindenburg alleged Adani of stock manipulation. With
global scrutiny, the stock prices of the company are to fall down further.
Current Scenario
Adani withdrew his FPO recently. FPO is Follow-On Public Offering. It is the stock a
company gives its investors after the IPO, Initial Public Offers. FPO are additional stocks
and are called secondary offerings.
RBI actions
RBI has asked for details from the banks associated with the Adani group. This includes
collateral details Mr. Adani and his cousins used to get a loan.
Actions of NSE
NSE put the Adani group under “Additional Surveillance Mechanism”. It means the stock
has seen unusual activity and is not safe to purchase the share. This was introduced in
2018. The stocks put under the ASM category are determined by SEBI. The stocks are put
under ASM based on the following factors:
High – Low Variation
Delivery PERcentage
Close-to-close price variation
Client concentration
PE
Number of Unique PANs
Market Capitalisation
Volume Variation
The main objective of the ASM mechanism is to protect investors.
SEBI actions
SEBI is now examining the issue and is preparing a report. It is also looking into the
fraudulent dealings made by the Adani Group as mentioned in the Hindenburg report.
UAE-Federal Personal Status Laws
UAE is a Muslim country conservative about its religion. The laws of the UAE are in sync
with its religion. In recent times, due to harsh punishments businessmen are turning away
from the country. The country is losing its international trade markets. For instance,
foreigners have been jailed in UAE for kissing in public. Tourists were imprisoned for years
together for using CBD products. With the decline in tourism and trade, the country is
bringing in changes in its laws. The new laws are expected to invite skilled and highly
qualified people from all over the world. The Dirham (currency of UAE) is one of the most
stable currencies in the world. The legal measures are expected to boost UAE’s economic
growth and appreciate Dirham in the world market.
What legal changes were introduced recently?
Article 4: Both men and women can file a divorce. Earlier women did not have the power
to file a divorce
Article 5: Speaks about civil marriages. Both men and women should have attained the
age of 21 years. The condition of being related to each other has been removed. Also, the
condition of getting assent from the bride’s father has been removed. Marriage should be
registered in the court. The mandatory requirement of witness has been removed
Articles 6, 7, 8: Joint or Unilateral divorce. When one of the partners wishes to end the
marriage, he or she can do it at will. The person calling for divorce need not prove the
blame. Earlier, either of the parties had to assign the blame before getting a divorce.
Article 9: The wife shall apply for alimony. If the husband fails to pay, the court shall use
its discretionary powers to provide justice
Article 10: Concept of joint custody of children introduced the first time in UAE
Australia removes British Monarchy from Bank notes
Former British colonies are deciding on their constitutional ties with Britain. For instance,
India renamed the Rajpath to Kartavya Path. Similarly, Australia is to remove the face of
the British Monarch from its currency bills. The changes are being made to the five dollar
bills of Australia. The five dollar bills are the last notes to bear the face of the British
Monarch. The coins will still hold the face of the monarch.
What is the plan?
The Central Bank of Australia recently announced that it is removing the face of the British
monarch from its five-dollar bills. Till the demise of Queen Elizabeth, the five-dollar
Australian notes had her face on them. After her death in 2022, the Australian
Government should have reprinted the notes with King Charles III. Instead, it has decided
to remove the British Monarch’s face completely from the bills.
Why British Monarch on Australian currency?
Australia is an independent country. But to date, the head of the Australian state is the
British Monarch. Currently, King Charles III is the head of Australia. However, his role is
symbolic.
Alternate plans
Instead of the face of the British Monarch, the Australian Reserve Bank is suggesting,
including the theme of culture and history of first Australians. On the other side, the bank
is planning on featuring a picture of the Australian parliament.
February 4, 2023
India to be theme country at 2025 Madrid International Book Fair
The Madrid Book Fair is being organized in Spain since 1993. More than 350 stalls are set
up by publishers from all over the world. Book signing events are also held during the fair.
The theme of the 2025 Madrid International Book Fair will be India. Spain was the theme
of the International Book Fair held in Kolkata in January 2023.
About Madrid Book Fair
It is an annual event. No e-books are sold in the fair. Amazon and other e-commerce big
giants do not have scope at the fair. However, Amazon is planning to put a stall at the fair.
Significance of theme “India”
The fair mostly sells books of Spanish speaking people. However, it promotes books of the
guest country. In 2025, Indian books will be promoted at the fair.
World Famous Book Fairs
The world’s biggest and most expected book fair is the “London Book Fair”. Next to this,
the Franfurt Book Fair held in Germany is also quite big.
Frankfurt Book Fair is held for five days. It is more of a trade fair. More wholesale dealers
participate in the fair rather than common public. On the other hand, the London Book
Fair is more of people’s fair. Participation of whole sale dealers is very less.
Parli-Vajnath-Vikarabad Electrification Project
India is to achieve 100% electrification of Railways by 2024. The target has been achieved
in five different Railway zones. The fifth zone to achieve this was the North Central
Railways. Recently, the Vikarabad – Parli – Vaijnath line was electrified. This is a 268 km
stretch. It is to benefit people in the states of Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
About the project
The Vikarabad – Vajnath – Parli line runs through the states of Maharashtra (116 km),
Karnataka (62 km), and Telangana (90km). The electrification of this line is important
because the line connects the southern parts of India and places such as Shirdi, Pune, and
Aurangabad.
Significance
The electrification of Railways helps to reduce the dependence on oil. This increases the
revenue growth of the country. Simply by cutting down oil imports, India can save 77% of
its energy expenses. India being the second most populous country, connectivity becomes
expensive. In 2020, the Indian Railways carried more than 8 billion passengers and 1400
million tonnes of freight. It is the fourth largest railway system in the world after US,
China, and Russia. Therefore, it is essential India cuts down its fuel cost spent on Railways.
VIHANGAM Drone Technology and Safety Equipment
In 2021, the Aviation Ministry permitted the CMPDI (Central Mine Planning and Design
Institute) to use drone technology in the coal fields of India. Following the order, the
Mahanadi coal fields in Odisha operating under the coal ministry recently introduced
drones in their fields. The drone system and its portal have been named VIHANGAM.
Under this, authorized persons can access drones at an internet speed of 40 Mbps.
MCL introduced Robotic Nozzle Water Sprayer
Apart from drone technology, the MCL also introduced a Robotic Nozzle Water Sprayer.
The robot is used in dust suppression and fire fighting. The robot can reach heights of 70
meters and spray water in the form of mist. It also has a rotating nozzle. Its tank capacity
of 28 kilolitres. The dust from mining activities disperses in the air and increases Particle
pollution. Long-term exposure to these particles and inhaling them continuously leads to
lung-related problems. A human can only inhale particles that are less than 10 microns in
size. The dust particles from coal fields are huge compared to the permissible size and are
visible to the naked eye. Therefore, it is essential to spray water to push the dust to the
ground. As the dust particles become wet, they become heavy and settle down to the
ground by gravity.
Role of Drones in coal fields
Drones provide information about mining conditions and information about quarry.
They aid in data collection
Aerial photography
Mine mapping
Real-time updates about mining operations
Stockpile management
Inspection, monitoring
Tailing dam management: Dams used to store by-products from the mining process
are called tailing dam
Digital India Mobile Van
The Digital India Mobile Van was launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information
Technology. The main objective of the mobile van is to spread awareness of Digital India
initiatives and also to spread the word about the G20 Digital Economy Working Group.
Lucknow was the first destination of the mobile van where the G20 DEWG’s first meet is
held.
About India Mobile Van
The van will provide insight into Digital India initiatives such as Aarogya Setu, India
Stack Global, e-Rupi, PMJDY, Aadhar, Digi locker, e-way bill, UMANG, e-aushadhi, Co-
WIN, etc.
It will feature all the digital infrastructure and digital goods India has brought on so
far
During its journey, the mobile van initiative will also teach people about using
technologies and digital products
The main purpose is “Jan Andolan”
Purpose
To inform people about digital services in the country.
To give them a chance to try on the latest technologies in the country
To communicate about G20
Significance
Rather than learning through a training session, people get a better insight by learning
through hands-on experiences. Today AI applications are highly expensive. Rural
communities are unaware of the world’s technologies and their exploding developments.
GoI aims to include remote and rural residents in its technological development path and
also in its leadership of the 2023 G20 meeting.
Enhancing Circularity and Sustainability Project
The textile industries of India account for 4% of world trade and 5% of world GDP.
However, textile waste from India accounts for 8.5% of global textile waste. Over 7800-kilo
tonnes of textiles wastes are accumulated in India annually. The numbers are big and to
reduce them India launched the enhancing circularity and sustainability project. It is a
“Waste to Wealth” scheme. It was launched in collaboration with the United Nations
Environment Programme.
About the project
The main objective of the project is to reduce the negative impacts of the textile
sector on the environment. This includes reducing the use of synthetic materials like
polyester. Polyester will not decompose.
The scheme was also launched to promote the recycling and reusing of textiles. The
project will boost circular production. The Government of India recently approved
twenty research projects. Of these 20 projects, three are in the area of textile
recycling.
Significance
After agriculture, the textile industry is the second largest employment provider in the
country. India is self-sufficient in raw materials. It is the third-largest producer of cotton in
the world. However pure cotton products are expensive. Most of the 100% pure cotton
products are exported. And the majority of the Indians cannot afford to buy expensive
pure cotton clothes. So they prefer synthetic textiles like poly cotton. This is why it is
essential that India recycles its products. This will reduce the number of non-
biodegradable materials getting added to the environment.
NASA-ISRO Joint Satellite – NISAR
NISAR is an earth-observing satellite planned to be launched in 2024. It stands for NASA-
ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar. SAR creates two-dimensional and three-dimensional
reconstructions of landscapes. NISAR is jointly developed by NASA and ISRO. Recently,
NISAR left the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA located in California to India.
Objectives of the NISAR
To map the earth
Monitor water, agriculture, and forest
Observe land and ice covers
Why is NISAR in news?
NISAR is a three-year mission. A part of the NISAR satellite is developed on US soil. This
part payload is now being transported to India’s U R Rao Satellite center in Bengaluru
from JPL in California.
Radar systems in NISAR
L – Band SAR: Designed and Created by JPL of NASA; Wavelength: 23 cm; Greater
penetration to forests
S-Band SAR: Designed and created by ISRO; Wavelength: 12 cm; Used for heavy
weather and bird detection
Studies
The NISAR will study the following:
Antarctic cryosphere: Cryosphere is the part of the earth where water is in a solid
state
Ice masses will be monitored at a frequency of four to six times a month
Measure ecosystem disturbances
Natural hazards such as volcanoes, tsunamis, landslides, earthquakes, etc.
Ice sheet collapses
1,200 year old idols found in Nalanda
Nalanda Mahavira is a World Heritage Site. It has stupas and viharas. Also, there are
remains of monastic and scholastic institutions belonging to the third century BCE. The
Archaeology Survey of India recently reported that two 1,200-year-old idols were found in
a pond near Nalanda Mahavira. The idols were found when the Jal Jeevan Hariyali project
was being implemented.
About the idols
The idols are to be kept in the Nalanda Museum. And will then be protected as per
provisions of the Treasure Trove Act of 1878. According to the act, the statues discovered
beneath the earth are usually brought to a nearby temple. However, if the worth of the
antique found is more than ten rupees (the act was legislated in the 19th century and so
‘10’ rupees!) they are handed over to a government treasury in that area. This treasurer
has the power to collect the antique on behalf of the government.
Nalanda Mahavira
It is one of the ancient sites in the Indian subcontinent. The site is in the state of Bihar. The
Nalanda Mahavira was built by Kumaragupta I, son of Chandragupta II. It was destroyed
by Bakhtiyar Khilji.
Jal Jeevan Hariyali
It works under Bihar Government. The main objective of the mission is to conserve water,
make sure there is adequate water in the state, maintain the levels of groundwater,
control water pollution, energy conservation, etc.
FAO Food Price Index - January 2023
The Food Price Index tells the “monthly” price changes in world food prices. In January
2023, the World Food Price Index was 131.2. This is 0.8% less as compared to that of the
food prices in December 2022. The major price decrease was in sugar and meat. The
prices of vegetable oil fell by 2.9%. Prices of cereals remained unchanged.
Key Findings
Wheat prices decreased for the 3rd time. They have been declining since December
2022. This is because the production of wheat in Australia, Russia, Argentina, and
Brazil has been good.
Prices of cheese increased
Why did the sugar and meat prices decrease?
Due to favorable weather conditions in Brazil and good harvest in Thailand, the sugar
prices decreased. There were concerns in sugar productivity such as decreased crop yields
in India and increasing gasoline prices in Brazil. However, the former conditions
outweighed the latter.
Why did the vegetable oil prices decrease?
Increased production of rapeseed oil and sunflower seeds.
What did the report say about India?
The report has forecasted “record planting” for India. Meaning, India is to increase its
plantings in coming days. Food prices are increasing in India.
Report about other countries
Brazil: Record Plantings – Maize
Pakistan: High planting projected
South Africa: Maize yields
Russia: May cut back in wheat production
Update in India Broadband Definition
Indian consumers have been constantly complaining about service providers giving false
promises on internet speed. Constant tussles existed among consumers, regulators, and
service providers regarding this issue. To solve the issue, the Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India has been changing regulations. Recently, the definition of broadband
was changed.
New Definition of Broadband
According to the new definition, the download speed of the internet has to be at least 2
Mbps. This is far behind the developed countries. For instance, in the US it is 25 Mbps. In
Canada, it is 50 Mbps.
Where is India lagging?
The TRAI uses several parameters to watch the service providers. This includes the
activation time of the connection or SIM card, packet loss, uptime, consumer satisfaction,
latency, etc. However, nine of these parameters are used in defining broadband.
What should TRAI do?
The TRAI should include factors that define the broadband condition with better clarity.
For instance, it should include the nature of the broadband, and the plans offered. And the
customers should be able to find out easily what and why they are making the payment.
History
In 2004, the defined download speed for a connection to become broadband was 256
Mbps. In 2013, it was 512 Kbps.
Surajkund Mela 2023
The Surajkund Mela Authority recently conducted the “Surajkund Mela” along with the
Tourism Department of Haryana and the Union tourism ministry. It was held at Surajkund,
Haryana. The mela or fair attracts millions of people from different parts of India and also
from different parts of the world. In 2023, more than 20 countries participated in the mela.
The 2023 mela was inaugurated by the Vice President of India Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar.
About the Mela
It is one of the largest international arts and crafts fairs in the world
The Surajkund Mela is popular for its diverse and rich showcase of handicrafts,
cultural fabric, handlooms, etc.
Till 2012, the fair was conducted at the national level. It was upgraded to an
international level in 2014.
Folk dances and the rhythm of drums from different parts of India and from around
the world add to the celebrations
Attractions in 2023 Mela
Unity Mall, One District One Product sales at the fair
Theme states and theme nations
Every year there is a theme nation and a theme state that participate in the fair. The
products of the theme participant are promoted. This year, the theme nations were: SCO
member countries. The theme states were: all eight northeastern states
Special features of the Mela
The mela is seldom referred to as the Custodian of heritage crafts. The meal gives
importance to the crafts that involve traditional skills, especially those that are fading
away in recent times.
Global Leader Approval Ratings
Morning Consult is a US-based tracker. According to the recent reports of the tracker on
the popular leaders of the world, our prime minister Shri Narendra Modi topped the list of
popular leaders in the world. He received 78% of the approval. In the second position was
the Mexican President with 69% of approval and the Swiss president was in the third
position.
What does the 2023 rating on global leaders say?
This is the second consecutive time PM Modi has been at the top of the list.
22 leaders were surveyed in total
18% of Indians disagree with the fact that Modi is the most popular leader in the
world
US President Joe Biden received 40% in the rating and was in the seventh position
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau received 40%. Though his rating was the same as that of
the American president, he was in the ninth position
UK Prime Minister: 30%: 13th position
Ratings of PM Modi
PM Modi’s ratings were the highest in 2020. He received 84%. In 2021, his ratings declined
to 63% while India was fighting against COVID
How are approval ratings calculated?
A seven-day average is taken. This average is calculated based on daily interviews. More
than 20,000 interviews are done on a daily bases
Deoghar Mart: Online Marketplace for Jharkhand Local Artisans

Deoghar Mart is an e-commerce website selling local arts and crafts. It was launched by
Mr Manjunath Bhanjantri. He is basically from a bamboo artisan community. His village
has more than 34 different artisan families. Manjunath has taken his community skills to
the reach of the people through DEOGHAR MART.
Deoghar Mart
The main objective of the launch of Deoghar Mart is to take the works of artisans and
craftsmen to the reach of the global market. The platform primarily targets local arts and
crafts. It sells sweets, peda, clothing, apparel, handicrafts, fine arts, organic products,
forest produce, Agarbattis, etc. The local population in the region produces all these.
About Deoghar
It is a significant city in Jharkhand. Baidyanath Temple, one of the 12 jyotirlingas is located
here. The town is usually referred to as the cultural capital of Jharkhand for its diversity.
Background of Deoghar Mart
The initiative comes up mainly to support the arts and crafts of the tribal in the region.
Khortha and Santhali are the major tribes in Deoghar. More than 65% population in
Deoghar are Khortha and 7% were Santhali. The platform is to help these tribes in a big
way.
Kerala Budget announces Green Hydrogen Hubs
During the State Budget Presentation, the Kerala Finance Minister announced that his
government is to establish “Green Hydrogen Hubs”. The State Government is allocating
Rs 200 crores for this. The hubs are to be set up in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The
project is to be implemented along with the private partner India Hydrogen Alliance.
About the Green Hydrogen Hubs
The plan is to build green hydrogen plants that can produce 60 tonnes of hydrogen
per day.
The plant will be established with a 150 MW Electrolyser and storage infrastructure
The Kerala Hydrogen hub project is considered a blueprint for India. This is the first
time such a project is initiated in India. It has already begun in other countries.
International hydrogen hubs set up in different parts of the world are referred to as
“Hydrogen Valley Projects”
Hydrogen Valley Projects
The Hydrogen Hub plan is based on the Hydrogen Valley Projects coming up in different
parts of the country. Hydrogen Valley is a basically geographical area where the
companies working on hydrogen production come together to build hydrogen plants. It
has all the facilities for hydrogen production, storage, distribution, etc. Hydrogen Valley
projects have already begun in the USA, Europe, China, Japan, and Australia.
Hydrogen produced through the electrolysis of water is called green hydrogen.
G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill
With the world becoming digital, ransomware, malware, phishing, and other cyber threats
are increasing. There is a need for world governments to take quick actions to control the
threats and strengthen the cyber security system. To bring the world governments
together and to provide a platform to work collectively, the CERT–In conducted the G20
Cyber Security Exercise and Drill. The event was held physically and virtually. More than 12
countries participated in the event.
About the Drill
Minister of MeitY Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma inaugurated the event
An operational Drill was conducted during the event
A Strategic Tabletop exercise was conducted using the CERT-In Exercise platform
The theme of the first exercise: Countering the Global Cyber crisis
The theme of the second exercise: To build cyber resilience together
Events were also conducted on Data breaches, cyber extortion, disruptions, supply
chain attacks
Significance
Cyber crimes are increasing and bringing transnational disturbance. Every hour 97 new
cybercrime victims are entering the digital world. China has the highest cyber crimes in
the world followed by Russia, India, and Brazil in the second, third and fourth places
respectively. Developed countries like the UK, France and European countries are fighting
rigidly. The US is in position ten when it comes to cyber crimes. However, for the number
of cyber threats faced by the US, the numbers are low. The US faces the largest number of
cyber threats in the world compared to any other country in the world.
Supreme Court notice on BBC Documentary ban
The issue is related to the 2002 riots that happened in Gujarat. It is also called 2002
violence. A train was burnt in Godhra and more than 58 Hindu pilgrims died. The pilgrims
were all returning from Ayodhya. This incident instigated the three-day intense riots in
Gujarat. More than 1044 people were dead and several injured. PM Modi was the then CM
of Gujarat. Mr Modi was accused of condoning the violence. A Congress party member
filed a case against him in the SC. The case was investigated by SIT and SC relieved him
from the case. in 2022. Later a documentary was released by the BBC network on the riots.
The Government of India banned the release of the documentary. A Public Interest
Litigation was filed by Mr Prashanth Bhushan and others against the ban. To this, the
Supreme Court has now issued a notice.
What is the SC notice saying?
The notice is asking for reasons for the ban. Why did GoI ban the documentary? It is
demanding for explanations to make the right decision
What is Bhushan’s and others’ point of view?
According to them, the ban is against Article 19(1). It is the Right to freedom of speech and
expression.
Judicial arguments for GoI
The GoI used Rule 16 of the IT Act to ban the documentary. What is rule 16 saying? It gives
powers t the GoI to take actions on the basis of security.
February 5, 2023
Bihar: MV Ganga Vihar Floating Restaurant
Floating restaurants are built on large steel barges. The first floating restaurant of India
was built in Sirhind of Punjab. It was built in a small canal near a village. The Bihar State
Tourism Development Corporation recently built MV Ganga Vihar, a floating restaurant at
the NI Ghat. The restaurant is on the Ganges.
Background
The State Government of Bihar has been taking initiatives to increase tourism in the state.
There are beautiful and historic heritage sites in the state with huge tourism potential.
This includes the Rajgir, Sasaram, and Bodh Gaya. Also, the state government is planning
on launching a water sports event in the state. Today most of the Biharis visit Andaman
and Nicobar and Goa to enjoy the thrill of water sports. The plan is to keep these tourists
within the state.
Significance of Floating restaurants in India
The Indian restaurant industry has more than 1.5 million outlets. The industry is
constantly increasing. Nightlife lovers, business travellers, and family travellers are
potential customers. Disposable income is increasing in India and also educated middle
class is increasing. The India Food Service Report says that the value of the Indian food
industry is Rs 5,99,782 crores. The report was prepared by NRAI National Restaurant
Authority of India.
Biggest Floating Restaurant in the world
Iconic Jumbo of Hong Kong is the biggest floating restaurant in the world. It is the south
China sea. It belongs to the Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises. It suffered more than 12.4
million USD in losses during the pandemic.
CITES Database on red sanders smuggling
The Red Sanders are endemic to Eastern Ghats of India. Today they have become
threatened and are found in very few spots of Andhra Pradesh. Red Sanders grow in red
soil and rocky fallow lands. They prefer hot and dry climate. The IUCN has categorized Red
Sanders as “ENDANGERED”. Export of Red Sanders is restricted in India. The recently
released CITES report states that 28 illegal exports of red sanders were reported in India
in 2022. The smuggling is common in Kadapa, Chittor, Kurnool, and Nellore districts of AP.
What is CITES saying?
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
states that the red sanders or the red sandalwood is illegally exported from AP, India. This
red sander growing zone is monitored by the United Nations Environment Programme.
About Red Sanders
The tree is very slow growing. It takes 40 years to attain maturity. The tree has high
demand in the international market for its handicraft values. Red sanders is found only in
South India and in very few places in Australia. The wood of the tree is highly expensive. 1
kg of Red Sandalwood costs Rs 5000. In 10 years, the tree gives 500 kg of wood!
Wildlife Protection Act
The act puts the tree in Schedule IV.
Saudi Arabia to host 2027 Asian Cup Football Tournament
The Asian Football Cup is held once in four years. It is organized by the Asian Football
Confederation. Around 23 teams participate in the tournament. Teams are carefully
chosen based on their skills and several other selection criteria. Teams are chosen by AFC.
The host of the tournament is selected through a bidding process. The 2023 host is Qatar.
This was decided long back. Recently, the 2027 host was selected and it is Saudi Arabia.
India too placed its bids
In 2019, when the AFC announced the bidding process for the 2027 cup, India too placed
its bids. FIFA’s issue in 2022 affected India’s win. What is the FIFA issue? FIFA banned the
All India Football Federation for its influence from third parties. FIFA also took away the
rights of India to hold the U-17 women’s world football cup in 2022. However, the ban was
lifted later. Besides bidding, voting is also held. Out of 45 countries that participated in the
voting, 23 countries voted for Saudi Arabia.
Other countries that placed bids
India, Iran, Qatar, and Uzbekistan
Asian Cup Football Tournament 2027
Slogan: Forward for Asia
Host cities: Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah
The 2023 Asian Football Cup
Around 24 teams are to participate in the tournament. So far, AFC has selected 13 teams.
The hosting country, that is, Qatar qualifies directly. The other countries selected so far
are Japan, Syria, South Korea, Australia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, Iraq, Oman,
Vietnam, Lebanon, Palestine, Uzbekistan, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Tajikistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Bahrain, Malaysia, Jordan, and Indonesia.
February 6, 2023
China Spy Balloon Update
The US military spotted a Chinese spy balloon near Alaska by the end of January 2023. The
balloon was flying at an altitude of 60,000 feet and posed no threat to the US public. The
balloon stopped in Montana. In the opinion of International relations expert, the stop is
significant as the Malmstrom Air Force of the US military is here. It holds one of the three
nuclear silos. The US began diplomatic talks with the Chinese officials as soon as the
balloon was spotted. However, the talks failed to bring to a conclusion. Following this, the
US military shot the balloon with its F-22 fighter jets. More than 1000 shots were fired.
About Spy Balloons
Spy balloons were used during world war II. They gave a bird’s eye view of the battlefield.
It was first used during the French wars in 18th century. Unlike satellites that watch from
higher altitudes, spy balloons can watch from lower altitudes. Also, the views of spy
balloons are more clear and longer. Satellites, on the other hand, pass on quickly and
cannot provide the visual for a longer time.
Current Scenario of the Chinese Spy balloon
The US military is now looking for the balloon in the Atlantic Ocean after shooting it down.
US-China tensions have been escalating in recent times because of the restrictions
imposed on the democratic activists in Hong Kong, and Taiwan, issues of the South China
Sea, and human rights issues in the Xinjiang region.
Grammy Award Winners 2023
The Grammy Awards are presented by the Recording Academy of the US. The awards are
presented to recognize the works of the music industry.
Grammy Award Winners 2023
Best Song of the Year: “Just Like That”, won by Bonnie Raitt Performed by Raiit
Best Pop Solo Performance: “Renaissance” won by Beyonce
Best AMusica Urban Album: “Un Verano Sin Ti” won by Bad bunny
Best Pop, group performance: “Unholy” won by Kim Petras and Sam Smith
Best R&B Song: “Cuff it”, “Blu June”, won by Andrews Performed by Beuonce
Best Pop Vocal Album: “Harrys House”, won by Harry Styles
Best Country Album: “A Beautiful Time” won by Willie Nelson
Best Country Song: “Till you cant” won by ben Stennis and Matt Rogers; performed
by Cody Johnson
Best country solo Performance: “Live Forever”, won by Willie Nelson
Best country group Performance: “Never Wanted to be That Girl”, won by Ashley Mc
Bryde and Carly Pearce
Best Latin Pop album: “Pasieros” won by Boca Livre and Ruben Blades
Best Global Music Album: “Sakura” won by Masa Takumi
Best Rap: “The Heart Part 5” won by Kendrick Lamar
The Four Popular and important categories of Grammy
Album of the Year: “Just Like That” won by the songwriter Bonnie Raitt
Record of the Year: About Damn time, by Lizzo
Song of the Year: Just like that, Bonnie Raitt
Best New Artist: Easy on Me by Adele
US, Brazil to join India led Biofuels Alliance
During the G20 meeting, India is to launch the International Biofuel Alliance just like the
International Solar Alliance. To this, the USA and Brazil have agreed to back India. India
has been taking lead in several such emission reduction initiatives. The country allocated
4.3 billion USD during the 2023-24 Budget to accomplish its net-zero targets.
The objective of the Bio-fuel alliance
To boost the production of Biofuels
Significance of Brazil and the US
The two countries are the largest biofuel markets in the world. The US ranks number one
and Brazil is in second position in Biofuels. They lead in biodiesel and ethanol production.
Together they accounted for 84% of the world’s ethanol production and 26% of the
world’s biodiesel production.
India’s Biofuel Goals
India has set a target of achieving 20% ethanol blend in gasoline by 2025. In 2018, India
launched the National Biofuel Policy. Since then India has been increasing its ethanol
blend. In 2013, ethanol blending was 0.67% in the country. In 2022, it increased to 10%.
Brazil has achieved 100% ethanol fuels. Apart from biofuels, India is also focusing on
bringing the Hydrogen hubs. The State of Kerala has allocated a major share in the
2023-24 budget to establish a hydrogen hub in Thiruvananthapuram. The state is to lead
the country in establishing such hubs.
India’s largest chopper manufacturing unit in Karnataka
PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the largest helicopter manufacturing unit in
Tumakuru, Karnataka in 2016. The unit is now ready to start its operation. The unit will
produce more than a thousand helicopters and make India self-reliant on helicopters.
Recently 15 LCH (Light combat Helicopters) were provided to the Indian Air Force and the
Indian Army. But the requirement is 160.
About the New Manufacturing Unit
The unit will be administrated by HAL. It is spread across 615 acres. The unit built in
Tumakuru of Karnataka will manufacture a thousand helicopters in 20 years. The
helicopters will weigh around three to fifteen tonnes.
The facility is to increase direct and indirect employment in the area. Also, it will
contribute to the Corporate Social Responsibilities in the area.
The main objective is to make the facility a one-stop solution for all the helicopter
requirements of India.
What is the plan?
The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force will together place an order for 187 light
helicopters. The cheetah and Chetak helicopters of the Indian military are ageing. These
helicopters are to be replaced by Light Utility Helicopters.
Initially, the facility will produce LCH and LUH. In later stages, it will produce Indian
Multirole Helicopters. Every year, the unit will manufacture 30 helicopters in the initial
stages. Later, the numbers will be increased to 60 per year and then 90 per year.
Need for the facility
The current HAL complex functioning in Bengaluru is overloaded. The requirement for
helicopters in Indian Army, Indian Navy, Air Force and paramilitary forces is huge. For
these reasons, the new facility is launched.
India Energy Week 2023
The India Energy Week was inaugurated by PM Modi in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The event is
to focus on energy security and India’s energy transition goals. This includes net-zero
emission target achievement by 2070. The major attraction of the event is the launch of
E20 fuel in more than 84 outlets in 11 states and UTs.
The focus of India energy week
PM Modi will launch solar and conventional energy hybrid cooking systems. It was
designed and created by Indian Oil. It is called the Indoor Solar Cooking System.
Launch of 20% ethanol blend petrol, E20

Launch of “UNBOTTLED” initiative by PM Modi: Aim of the initiative is to phase out
single-use plastics
Indian companies like GAIL, Adnani, HPCL, IOCL, BPCL, ONGC, and Total gas will
demonstrate new products and services
Participation of more than 650 business associates from 50 countries
GoI plans on achieving 20% ethanol blend biofuels
Discussions about the oil companies setting up 2G ethanol plants and 3G ethanol
plants
Green Mobility Rally: Focusing on green energy sources; Create public awareness on
green fuels
Significance
India Energy Week is gaining popularity all over the world because it is being launched
during a global energy crisis period. The crisis has come up due to the Ukraine-Russian
war. EU took several measures to counter Russia’s actions in Ukraine. For instance,
Russian oil imports to the EU countries were stopped.
Also, the event is covering the “need of the moment” topics such as biofuels, energy
supply chains, upstream and downstream investments, etc.
Medium-Density Amorphous Ice-MDA Ice
The fact “Water is an abundant element on the earth” is becoming history. The scarcity of
water is bringing in new research and leading to new discoveries. One such is the
“Amorphous Ice”. Researchers from the University of Cambridge recently created a new
form of water. It is called Amorphous ice. Though named ice, its molecular structure is
close to water. As it has mixed states of both water and ice, it is called Amorphous ice.
Amorphous means no clear state. It is neither water nor ice and hence amorphous ice.
What is amorphous ice?
The molecules in amorphous ice are in chaos. They are not arranged as the molecules in
ice. Rather, their molecular structure is very much similar to that of water.
How was Amorphous ice made?
BALL MILLING METHOD. Scientists used this method to create amorphous ice. Ball milling
is grinding two more substances together. The collision during the process makes the
particles finer and blends them together. The process gives a new form and gives a new
shape to the materials.
Scientists grounded crystalline ice and steel bar bearing together. The grinding jar was
cooled to -200 degrees Celsius using liquid nitrogen.
Outcomes of the Ball Milling method
After grinding the ice and steel balls together, the scientists expected to get ordinary ice.
But they got a white powdery ice form completely new to humans. They named it
Amorphous ice.
Properties of Amorphous ice
While warmed and then recrystallized, amorphous ice releases an extraordinary amount
of heat. The heat energy released is very high that it may cause ice quakes. Ice quakes are
common in planets like Saturn and Jupiter.
EU bans Russian oil
The Russia-Ukraine crisis intensified as Ukrainians wanted their government to join
European Union. Though the issue revolved around the Crimean peninsula and its
annexation by Russia, the issue exploded with Ukraine’s plan to join the EU. When Russia
invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine asked for EU candidacy. And EU approved
immediately. Since then, the tiff between the western world and Russia increased. The
tensions have been escalating since this issue. Recently, the EU banned the import of
Russian oil to into its member countries.
About the oil ban
European Union has banned Russian oil as a punishment for invading Ukraine. The G7
countries have agreed to increase the prices of oil from Russia. This includes the US, Italy,
Germany, France, Britain, Japan, and Canada. This is being done to cut down Russia’s
profits that are funding its war with Ukraine.
Will the ban affect EU members?
Russia supplied 10% of the oil needs of the EU members. Now, the EU members should
find new supplies to replace Russia. They are expected to turn to the US and the middle
east.
Other EU Candidates
Apart from Ukraine, other countries like Montenegro (applied in 2010), Serbia (2012),
Albania (2014), North Macedonia (2005), ad Turkey (1999) applied for EU candidacy.
However, they are still put on hold. However, Ukraine was immediately made a member.
What are E20 fuels?
During the India Energy Week 2023 event, PM Modi launched the E20 fuel. The fuel is
being launched in 83 locations in India spread across 11 states and UTs. E20 means the
fuel has 20% ethanol and 80% petrol.
What is E20 fuel?
The number in E20 represents the proportion of ethanol mixed with petrol. Today, the
mixing percentage of Ethanol in India is 10. Meaning, India is using E10 fuel. The world’s
largest producers of biofuels like Brazil and the United States have already achieved E100
fuels.
Why is E20 a biofuel?
Ethanol is made by fermenting sugar, a natural source. It leaves very minimal residue
while burning and therefore, keeps the air clean. India produces a lot of sugarcane and
therefore, E20 has good potential to meet the fuel demands of the country.
How will E20 benefit India?
The sale of electric vehicles in India is very low. Numbers are not increasing as planned.
Also, the production of electric vehicles is less as compared to other countries. The E20 is a
good alternative to the situation. GoI is trying to achieve net zero emissions. Both E20 and
electric vehicles are measures to become an emission-free country. Therefore,
environmentalists are welcoming the step.

What are voice deepfakes?
Deepfakes is the process of mimicking the voice of a person. Talking in their tone and
style; like a mimicry. However, here the mimicry is done using the software. Therefore, the
deep fake is the process of mimicking a person’s voice using an online tool.
What is the issue? Why is deep fakes in news?
By the end of January 2023, netizens used the features of “voice cloning” and “speech
synthesis” of Eleven Labs. Eleven Labs is an online site providing AI speech software.
Using the features in the software, the netizens created voices of popular stars Emma
Watson, Ben Shapiro, and Joe Rogan. But the messages were abusive and spread racism.
Celebrities are now raising their voices against this. And thus, the voice of deep fakes in
news.
What is Voice Deepfake?
The voice created is artificial. However, it sounds human-like. The major challenge of a
voice-deep fake is cloning a voice. It takes weeks or even months to clone a voice. Artificial
Intelligence can create copies of voices after listening to the speaker for just 3 seconds! To
create an audio file using an online tool, you just have to upload the voice of the person.
The file should be at least 3 seconds long. The person should be continuously speaking in
the audio file. After you upload this file, the software clones the voice of the speaker. You
should then give the text. The software gives you the net output where Emma Watson or
other stars (whose voice you uploaded) speak the text!
India-France-UAE Trilateral Cooperation Initiative
In recent times, India has been increasing its bilateral trade with UAE. With CEPA and the
Golden Visa program (extension) of UAE, business relations have increased exponentially.
On the other hand, India has strong defence relations with France. From fighter jets to
drones, the Indian military is using French-made goods. Extending the ties further, India is
launching Trilateral Cooperation Initiative with the countries.
What is Trilateral Cooperation Initiative?
Under the initiative, the countries will work together to design and implement “ENERGY
PROJECTS”. The projects will be around energy conservation, climate change and the
conservation of biodiversity. The main area of focus is the Indian Ocean Region.
Significance
With India hosting G20 and UAE hosting COP-28, the initiative is a great platform to work
together on global issues. The initiative will bring together agencies and stakeholders
working on sustainable projects. Also, the countries get an opportunity to line up their
technological, social, and economic policies.
Role of India’s Mission LiFE
The countries agreed to work under the aegis of this mission. The Mission LiFe project was
launched to mobilize Indians to protect the environment. It is implemented between 2022
and 2027. They will work on circular economy as well.
Way Forward
The countries will also take help from the Indian Ocean Rim Association. And invite other
countries to join the initiative.
Yaya Tso to be Ladakh’s First Biodiversity Heritage Site
Yaya Tso is a lake in Ladakh and is known as the Bird’s Paradise. The lake is at an altitude
of 4,820 kilometres. The lake is a popular breeding site for black-necked cranes. The lake
was recently announced as the “Biodiversity Heritage Site”. It is the first biodiversity
heritage site of Ladakh.
Who declared?
Biodiversity Management Committee
Panchayat of Chumathang Village
SECURE Himalaya
Together declared the lake a Biodiversity Heritage site.
Biodiversity Heritage Sites
A site shall be notified as BHS by any State Government under the Biological Diversity Act,
2002. The site should be under its jurisdiction. The BHS are sites with high endemism,
domesticated species, and rare and threatened species.
What is SECURE Himalaya?
The project mainly aims to conserve Snow leopards in the region. Also, it addresses
threatened livelihood, habitat degradation, and illegal wildlife trade. Funds for the project
comes from Global Environment Facility.
Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002
The Biodiversity Heritage sites are declared based on the provisions of Section 37 in
the act. The act says that these areas a fragile and unique. Any landform can be
tagged as a biodiversity heritage site. It can be coastal, hilly regions, marine
ecosystems, inland waters, etc.
The State Governments shall create regulations under the act
Section 3 of the act gives powers to the state government to rehabilitate
communities in the areas to be notified as Biodiversity Heritage Sites.
Kerala Police Operation AAG
The Kerala Police recently arrested 2,507 gangsters under OPERATION AAG. It was
launched throughout the state. The operation aimed on arresting the fugitives listed
under the Kerala anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA). The primary targets in the
list were those who returned to the state after being deported.
About the Operation
The operation was started at 11 PM on February 4, 2023. The Police forces raided more
than 3,501 places and registered 1,673 cases. According to the Police, they achieved
catching more than 50% of the fugitives on their list.
Why was the operation launched?
Foreign nationals from Bangladesh, Oman, Nepal, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia visit Kerala in
search of livelihood and jobs. Most of these foreign nationals enter the state through
illegal means mainly in search of jobs to support their families back home. As the state has
a high literacy rate, the cost of labour is expensive. And so Keralites hire cheap foreign
labourers to hide their original identity. The main issue is terrorists enter the country in
this way. For this reason, the Police Force of Kerala state often launches such operations
and deports illegal entries. For instance, the Love Jihad terrorist group, ISIS, etc are
popular terrorist groups in the state. Money laundering and illegal drug and weapon
activities are also high in the state as compared to other coastal states in the country.
Supreme Court Strength rises to 32
The Constitution of India says Supreme Court shall have a maximum of 34 judges
including the Chief Justice. Recently, five new judges were appointed by the President of
India. With this, the strength of judges in the apex court increased to 32. The newly
appointed judges were Panjaj Mithal (Chief Justice of Rajasthan HC), Manoj Misra (Judge of
Allahabad HC), Ahasanudin Amanullah (Judge of Bihar HC), PV Sanjay Kumar (Chief Justice
of Manipur HC) and Sanjay Karol (Chief Justice of Bihar HC). All the newly appointed judges
were serving as the High Court judges.
Appointment of SC Judges
Article 124: Judges of SC are appointed by the President of India
Article 125: Salaries of Judges
Article 126: Chief Justice of SC appointment
Article 127: speaks about the appointment of Ad Hoc judges
Article 128: Speaks about the attendance of retired judges. The Chief Justice of India
shall appoint any retired Supreme Court judge to act as a judge of the SC.
Article 129: SC shall punish for contempt of itself
Article 130: SC shall sit in the place as approved by CJI
Article 131: Jurisdiction of SC
Article 132: Appellate Jurisdiction of SC
Indian Railways WhatsApp Food Delivery Facility
The IRCTC is serving at least fifty thousand meals a day to the passengers on board.
Lately, there have been issues rising around unauthorized food delivery. To enhance its
services and to provide authorized safe food to its customers, IRCTC launched WhatsApp
Food Delivery Facility. The WHATSAPP NUMBER is +91 – 8750001323.
How does the service operate?
The service is available only to passengers reserving tickets online. Also, it is not applicable
for customers using passenger trains, metro or local trains. It involves two stages. In the
first stage, the IRCTC Whats App number sends a message to the customer booking the
ticket. The message will ask if the customer would like to avail of the e – catering services
of IRCTC. A message will further say, if he is interested, he shall visit the link
www.ecatering.irctc.co.in. The site has a list of menus. The customers shall choose the
meals and also the choice of restaurant. The link will list the restaurants available on his
route.
In the nest stage, two-way communication is established through Whats APP between the
passenger and IRCTC. An AI Chatbot will attend to the queries of the passenger.
Why is the app being launched?
To stop unauthorized food distributors in the chain of IRCTC catering services. Recently
IRCTC found 11 unauthorized catering services. They posed to be representatives from
IRCTC services. But they weren’t. IRCTC announced the names of these unauthorised food
services. They were Food in Train, Train Food, Food on Wheel, E – rail, Travel Zaika,
Railyatri, Khanna online, Khana Gadi, Travel Food, etc.
February 7, 2023
IEA Report on India LiFE Initiative
In 2021, India proposed the LiFE Initiative at COP26 held in Glasgow. The initiative was
proposed during the 50th celebrations of World Environment Day. The mission aims to
involve the common public in the conservation of the Environment. The International
Energy Agency recently launched a report on the LiFE Initiative. According to the report,
the mission can save more than 440 billion USD by 2030.
The mission will help save 5% of fuel spending
It will help in reducing energy consumption
Increase cost savings
Mitigate air pollution
Reduce inequalities
Current Energy Consumption scenario
Today, the maximum energy is consumed by North America. Followed by this region,
Russia and Central Asia are the second largest consumers of energy. Middles East is the
third largest consumer of energy. Africa consumes one-third of the world’s energy. India
consumes 35% of world energy.
Issues identified by the report
The report says that in developed economies, the emissions made by rich people are
seven times the emissions created by the poor. The rich are very few in number. Only 10%
of the population is rich. However, their emissions are too high to handle
The per-capita emissions of advanced economies are four times that of the developing
economies
The efficiency of the Indian Economy is 10% more than the global. As compared to the
major economies in India, the time taken by India to achieve half to full electrification
access was less. Today India is the third largest market for renewable energy. Electric
vehicle sales in the country increased by 5% in 2022 as compared to 2021.
Mukhyamantri Tirth-Darshan Yojana
The Scheme was launched by the Madhya Pradesh Government. Under the scheme, the
senior citizens will be taken on a spiritual tour free of cost. They will be taken to
pilgrimage sites that are located outside the state. One or two pilgrimage sites will be
visited by them. The scheme is funded by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Features of the scheme
The scheme is applicable only to senior citizens, that is, persons of age 60 years
For women, two years of age concession is provided
The scheme is to be implemented with the help of IRCTC
During the travel, the tourists will be provided with food, accommodation, bus travel
cost, drinking water, etc. Meaning all the expenses will be borne by the State
Government.
Beneficiaries
Only the MP state people shall apply for the scheme. He or she applying to the scheme
should not be an income taxpayer. Physical and mental fitness certificates are essential to
apply for the scheme. The applicants should not be suffering from diseases like TB,
obstructive respiratory diseases, mental illness, etc.
What is Hybrid Warfare?
Hybrid Warfare is a strategy used in the military. It includes the techniques of
conventional warfare, cyber warfare, and irregular warfare. Today hybrid warfare
techniques are increasing. Countries are using political influences to disrupt the
governance of their enemy state, causing cyber troubles to the enemy state, and using
other indirect measures to counter their enemies.
What is Hybrid Warfare?
It uses the following three warfare techniques
Conventional Warfare: Here conventional weapons and normal war field tactics are
used. The forces primarily target the opponent and the fight is direct, face-to-face.
Irregular Warfare: Here the war is fought for legitimacy. It has a goal. It can be
fought even within a state. Mostly, this warfare includes non-military actors
Cyber Warfare: Here the country makes cyber-attacks on enemy states. It can be on
its military system or it can be on the civilian cyber hubs of the enemy country.
Why is the term coming up now?
BALTIC SEA PIPELINE EXPLOSIONS. In October 2022, the Nord Stream Pipeline exploded
and leaked gases into the sea. The western world is blaming Russia and Russia suspects
UK’s hands in the explosion. Suspicions began when the investigating officers found burnt
explosives near the pipeline. Countries believe that the explosion might have been caused
by their enemies to disrupt the normal functioning of their state. This is one of the
techniques of hybrid warfare.
Global Climate Resilience Fund-50 million USD for women
Hillary Clinton was in Ahmedabad, Gujarat attending the 50th-anniversary celebration of
SEWA. SEWA is Self Employed Women Association. It was founded by the late activist Ela
Bhatt. During the function, Mrs Clinton announced 50 million USD for women in the
region. The fund is to be used to fight against climate change.
Global Climate Resilience Fund
The fund will be mainly used to fight heat waves in the region. Sometimes, the
temperature in the region crosses sixty degrees Celsius due to heat waves. It usually
occurs during May-June. The number of heat waves and the intensity of heat waves has
been increasing in the country lately. In 1981-90, the number of heat wave days was 413.
Between 2011 and 2020, the heat waves days in the country were 600. The number of heat
wave days is increasing due to climate change.
When is a heat wave declared?
The IMD declares heat waves when the temperature in the plain increases above 40
degrees Celsius and when the temperature in the hilly region increase by 30 degrees
Celsius.
SEWA
Self-Employed Women Association. It is a trade union promoting self-employed female
entrepreneurs and low-income female labourers. It was founded in 1972.
Jupiter becomes planet with most moons
Jupiter is the biggest planet in the sun’s family. Scientists believed that Saturn had the
maximum number of moons. 82 moons have been discovered around Saturn so far. On
the other hand, it was believed that Jupiter had 80 moons. However, the latest discovery
revealed Jupiter has 12 more moons. With this, the count of Jupiter’s moons increased to
92. Today Jupiter has the maximum number of moons.
About the new discovery
The 12 new moons around Jupiter were discovered by the Smithsonian Astrophysical
Observatory
Of the 12 moons discovered, nine are distant
These nine moons take 550 days to orbit Jupiter
Also, the nine moons discovered are relatively small
These nine moons have retrograde orbits. Meaning their orbiting direction is
opposite to that of Jupiter’s rotation
The inner moons of Jupiter have prograde orbits. Meaning, they rotate in the same
direction as that of Jupiter.
Prograde and Retrograde moons
The prograde moons are closer to the planet and the retrograde moon is away. Prograde
moons are always difficult to spot as compared to retrograde moons. This is because the
tremendous light scattered from the planet obscures the moons. The newly discovered
prograde moons are good targets for future planetary missions. The JUICE mission of the
European Space Agency is to be launched in 2024.
NASA Webb Telescope bags Prestigious Space Foundation
The James Webb Telescope is an infrared space telescope orbiting the sun. The telescope
was jointly developed by European Space Agency, NASA, and Canadian Space Agency. It is
the successor of the Hubble telescope. The James Webb Telescope has been discovering
many new facts and making extraordinary explorations since its launch. Recently, the
James Webb Telescope won the space Space Foundation Award.
About the Space Foundation Award
It is a prestigious award and it recognizes individuals and organizations that make
breakthroughs in the space field.

James Webb Telescope Greatest Inventions
The first image of the James Webb telescope was of a cluster of galaxies called
SMACS 0723
It then captured the performances of a dying star. The star was from Stephan’s
Quintet galaxy. So far no telescope has seen an image of the galaxy
It captured the “Great Red Spot” of Jupiter. The spot is in Jupiter and extremely
massive and violent storms occur here. Also, the telescope captured pictures of
Jupiter and its moons. It is always difficult to take a picture or observe the prograde
moons of Jupiter. Because they are very close to the planet and the scattering of light
from the planet obscures them. But James Webb Telescope captured clear pictures
of prograde moons using its IR cameras.
UN Report on North Korea Crypto Theft
The United Nations released a confidential report on North Korea. Confidential means it is
not for public viewing and will not be put on the UN website. According to the report,
North Korea is stealing cryptocurrencies. The country is using the stolen currency to fund
its defence companies. With tremendous technological developments, North Korea
created sophisticated cyber techniques. Using these techniques, the country is hacking
digital networks that are in the cyber finance industry.
About the Report
The report was created by United Nations Security Council
The funds stolen are used in nuclear and missile programs
The report was submitted to the North Korea Sanctions Committee. There are 15
members on the committee
The report says that in 2022, North Korean official hackers have stolen 630 million
USD. But it is believed that the stolen money is even more. A private cyber crime
agency states that North Korea stole more than 1 billion USD worth of crypto assets!
Day by day the techniques used by North Korean official hackers are becoming
sophisticated
Why is North Korea stealing?
The strict UN sanctions are forcing the country to steal crypto and fund its nuclear
program. North Korea cannot acquire nuclear fuel from foreign countries. Following UN
sanctions, the EU, China, Japan, Russia, USA, Australia, and several other countries banned
several imports and exports from North Korea. Therefore, the country is lacking funds for
its nuclear program and is implementing sanctions.
Major Earthquake struck Turkey and Syria
A 7.8 Ritcher earthquake hit Turkey – Syria. More than thousands died. The earthquake is
the biggest of the earthquakes recorded so far in the region. Five tremors were felt and
more than 60 aftershocks were recorded. The epicentre was 23 km east of Nurdagi. It is
located in the Gaziantep province. The depth of the epicentre was 24.1 km. The data was
provided by the US Geological Survey.
What are aftershocks?
Aftershocks are readjustment processes. They occur after the earthquake. Sometimes, the
aftershocks continue for days or even years. Aftershocks are small earthquakes and have
devastating and disastrous effects just like earthquakes.
Why do aftershocks occur?
Earthquakes are the result of tectonic plate movements. During earthquakes, rocks push
and pull and may even split. Such events release enormous amounts of energy. The other
nearby rocks cannot withstand this energy and break or even shatter into pieces. They
break only when they are not able to withstand the energy released during the quake. The
aftershocks occur when the nearby rocks shatter. So it can happen immediately after the
earthquake or even a year later.
What are Foreshocks?
They are similar to aftershocks. However, they occur before the earthquakes.
Committee to examine competition law for digital companies
With digital technologies blooming exponentially, the need for regulating e-commerce
and other digital competitions becomes vital. Today, the competition in the commercial
market is governed by Competition Act, of 2002. The act does not give in enough for the
digital market. The Competition Commission of India is to examine the rules and
regulations required for digital competitions in the country. It will decide upon legislating
Digital Competition Law.
Committee on Digital competition
The CCI has constituted a ten-member committee to study the requirement of the digital
competition law and give suggestions regarding competition norms.
Functions of the committee
To look into the challenges emerging from the digital economy
Study international practices regarding the digital competition regulation
Review practices being followed by the significant digital market stakeholders
To create a draft of the Digital Competition Act
List the potential harm caused to the digital markets
Committee Members
CCI Chairperson, Khaitan and Co CEO, NASSCOM co-founders, and others
CCI
It works under Corporate Affairs Ministry. The members of the CCI are appointed by the
GoI. The main objective of the committee is to remove practices that are causing harm to
healthy competition. Also, it protects the consumers.
India’s First Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) powered truck
The ICE in H2-ICE stands for Internal Combustion Engine. It was developed by Reliance in
partnership with Ashok Leyland. The H2-ICE truck is the first of its kind in India to be
powered by hydrogen. The cost of the production of the truck was high. However, the
truck emits zero carbon. It is completely clean.
Principle of Combustion
The combustion principle in H2-ICE is as follows:
2H2 + O2 → 2H2O
Two hydrogen atoms combine with one oxygen atom to form water. The heat energy
released during this reaction is used to ignite the spark plug.
Is H2-ICE completely emission-free?
Yes and No. It does not produce carbon emissions. However, it produces nitrogen oxides.
Some countries ignore nitrogen oxides as pollutants if they are released in meagre
amounts. The H2-ICE produces nitrogen oxides only if atmospheric hydrogen is used.
India includes nitrogen oxides in its pollutant list. There are no sulphur oxides, carbon
monoxide, particulate matter, or Hydro carbons emissions in H2-ICE.
Can you convert conventional engines into H2-ICE?
YES. You only need to make very few changes to convert your conventional ICE into H2-
ICE. This includes changes in valves, spark plugs, fuel injectors, etc.
History
The first H2-ICE was created by Francois Isaac de Rivaz in 1806. It ran on a hydrogen and
oxygen mixture.
SEBI releases Operational Guidelines on Green Bonds
Greenwashing is a strategy used by marketing companies to make fraudulent, misleading,
and false claims that their products are environmentally friendly. To protect consumers
from Greenwashing, the Securities and Exchange Board of India released operational
guidelines for green bonds. The guidelines include dos and don’ts related to green debt
securities.
Guidelines
No misleading labels shall be used
Tradeoffs shall not be hidden. Tradeoff means giving up one to gain another.
Pick random data to highlight research practices
Major step
From now on SEBI will check if the green debt security issuing company is making the
transition towards a greener path. The regulator will watch over the investment made by
the company or the measures taken by the company to promote a green environment.
Also, the regulator will check if the measures adopted by the company are bringing
environmental impacts. It will keep a constant eye on the contributions made by the
company is making India a sustainable economy.
Donts
The issuer cannot use the funds raised from green bonds for other purposes. Other
purposes mean investments or actions that are not related to the environment.
Challenges for SEBI in green bonds
Most of the green bond issuers are listed in offshore exchanges. This is an attractive
method as the foreign exchanges do not come under the jurisdiction of SEBI.
There is no clear definition of “what is green”
Telangana Budget 2023-Highlights

The Finance Minister of Telangana Mr Harish Rao recently presented the budget for the
state. The highlights of the budget are as follows:
The Government of Telangana allocated Rs 200 crores for the KCR Nutrition kit
Rs 3001 crores for the higher education department
Rs 1644 crores for transport
Rs 1500 crores for Telangana State Road Transport Corporation
Rs 11,372 crores for the municipal department
Rs 500 crores for Hyderabad airport
Rs 500 crores for metro connectivity
Rs 1000 crores for Information and Public Relations Department
Rs 9,500 crores for the home department
Rs 1,644 crores for the transport department
Rs 2,00 crores for village roads
3,965 crores for tribal welfare
Rs 2,200 crores for minority welfare
Rs 15,233 crores for STs in the state
Rs 12,727 crores for the power sector
Raithu Bandhu Scheme: Rs 1575 crores
Rythu Bima Scheme: Rs 1,589 crores
Urban and Rural Pragathi scheme: Rs 4834 crores
Cultivation of oil seeds: Rs 1000 crores
Funds to develop universities: Rs 500 crores
Production incentives for industries: Rs 2937 crores
Subsidies to industries for electricity: Rs 2937 crores
Loans to Food Processing plants: Rs 266 crores
Arogya Sree scheme: Rs 1463 crores
Overall fund allocations
Irrigation sector: 26,885 crores of rupees
Power sector: 12,727 crores of rupees
PDS: 3,117 crores of rupees
Pensions: 12,000 crores of rupees
Dalit Bandhu: 17,700 crores of rupees
SC: 36,750 crores of rupees
BC: 6,229 crores of rupees
Shaadi Mubaarak scheme: 3,210 crores of rupees
Journalist welfare: 100 crores of rupees
Forest department: 1471 crores of rupees
Education: 19093 crores of rupees
Medical and Health sector: 12161 crores of rupees
National Level Digital Extension Platform

The Extension workers are those people who are involved in the education programmes in
a field. In the agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, or poultry sector, the extension
workers teach farmers on new farming techniques, and strategies to increase their
income. They can be from NGOs or government appointees. To make education materials
easily available to them, the Agriculture Ministry is launching a digital library.
About the Digital Library
It is being launched under the MoU signed between the Agriculture Ministry and a private
firm called Digital Green. The library is to be created in the PPP model. It will be multi-
lingual.
Significance
The digital library will aid the Government in making the extension programmes highly
successful. GoI is taking extensive measures to develop the food processing sector and to
integrate technology into the agriculture sector. To achieve this the role of extension
services are very important. Drip irrigation has been highly successful in the country
because of these extension services. Today, India has more than two lakh extension
service workers in the country. Their livelihood are highly dependent on agriculture and
allied sectors. The National Digital Platform is expected to create innovative connections
with the farmers. Also, it will lay a strong foundation to build a Digital Agricultural
Ecosystem in the future.
Yuva Sangam Registration Portal
The development in the northeastern states has always been slow as compared to the
Indian mainland. This is mainly because the states are covered with forests and the
percentage of the tribal population is high. Also, natural factors hinder the development
of the region. For instance, Brahmaputra is called Sorrow of Assam. Frequent earthquakes
occur in the region. There are anti-socialistic groups, Naga insurgencies, etc; Chinese
interference in the border; the Inrush of Rohingyas and many more reasons that hinder
the development of North Eastern India. To fasten the development process in the region
and to link the region with the rest of the mainland, the Government of India has
launched the Yuva Sangam Registration portal
About the portal
The main objective of the portal is to connect with the youth in the northeast region. The
portal was launched under the spirit of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”. Through the Yuva
Sangam initiative, youths in the region will travel across different parts of the country and
learn about different cultures in India.
Significance
It is important to educate the youths and provide them with skills to develop the North
Eastern Region. Chinese infiltrations are increasing in the region. GoI has to earn the trust
of the locals in the region. Therefore, there is a necessity of inclusive development.
February 8, 2023
Where is ‘Gaziantep Castle’?

The recent Turkey Earthquake damaged the Gaziantep Castle. The magnitude of the
earthquake was 7.8 Ritcher and is one of the most disastrous earthquakes in the history of
Turkey. The castle is in the province of Gaziantep in western Turkey. The castle was built
during the era of the Hittite Empire. Later the Byzantine emperor expanded the castle.
About the castle
The Romans used the castle as a watch tower. Justinian I, the emperor of Byzantine
expanded the castle during his reign between the second and third centuries.
Major changes in the castle were brought by the Ayyubids and the Ottoman Empire
Castle played a huge role in the Turkish War of Independence. The Turkish
independence movement was a national wide military campaign launched after the
defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the first world war. The military campaigns were
launched against France in the southern parts, Greece in the western parts, Armenia
in the east, and British and Ottoman troops in Constantinople.
The castle has been renovated into a museum. The museum runs a documentary on
the independence movement against the French forces after the Ottoman empire
was defeated in the first world war.
Two consecutive earthquakes destroyed the castle. The railings and walls in the castle
were seriously damaged.
Tumarkuru Industrial Township: South India’s First Industrial Corridor Project
In 2021, PM Modi launched the Gati Shakti Scheme. The main objective of the scheme is to
implement an infrastructure pipeline in the country. Under this, the GoI planned on
developing 11 industrial corridors and two defence corridors. Accordingly, PM Modi
recently launched the first industrial corridor of the scheme called Tumarkuru Industrial
Township.
About the Tumarkuru Industrial Township
First industrial corridor in South India
It will generate employment for more than 88,000 people
Attract investment of Rs 7,000 crores within five to six years
Contribute inclusive growth of the country
Trigger economic growth and prosperity in the region
Spread over 8,500 acres of land
Launched in Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor
In line with the objectives of Atma Nirbhar Bharat
It will address the issues of multi-modal connectivity
Significance
It is located at a distance of 300 km from the Mangaluru port. From the Bengaluru
International Airport, it is at a distance of 115 km. It will increase the manufacturing
sector’s presence in the country. It adopts the green field industrial smart city concept.
The project aims to contribute towards Make in India initiative of the country. It is in line
with the GoI mantra “Reform, Perform, and Transform”
Target sectors
The project is to focus on food products, apparel, electronics, pharmaceuticals,
engineering, and chemicals.
Walking Pilgrimage through Buddhist Circuit
The Sangwol Society of South Korea is organizing a walking pilgrimage in India. Under
this, 108 Buddhists will walk and cover 1,100 km in India. The pilgrimage will visit places in
the states of UP and Bihar and will span for 43 days. Buddhism is the official religion of
South Korea. It reached South Korea from India. The walking pilgrimage will increase the
cultural ties between India and South Korea.
Sites visited during the Pilgrimage
During the pilgrimage, the Buddhists will visit the following sites:
Nalanda University: Nalanda University is one of the ancient universities. It was
established during the Gupta rule. It was destroyed by Khilji in 1193
Bodh Gaya: Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under a Peepal tree here
Mahaparinirvana Temple: It is in Kushin Nagar; believed to be the the death place of
Lord Buddha
Ramabhar Stupa: Built over the ashes of Lord Buddha; constructed by Malla kings
Lumbini: Birth Place of Lord Buddha
Framework to implement Vivad Se Vishwas-I
During COVID, the GoI had collected a forfeited amount. Forfeited means the loss of
something. When someone fails to pay the money he owes, forfeiture occurs. GoI
collected forfeited amounts (something like a fine) from companies that failed to oblige
their contract and also for other reasons. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman recently
(while presenting the budget) announced that these forfeited amounts are to be returned;
as they hit the MSME sector.
What is the issue?
The MSME sector runs on a small investment. The rotation of money in the hands of
MSMEs is also less. During COVID, the MSME sector faced several challenges. Their day-to-
day activities, transport, raw materials, and other activities were all affected due to the
COVID lockdown. For this reason, they couldn’t stand by their contract. The government
had collected forfeits for their failed actions. This happened because the government
couldn’t take immediate steps and address the issue quickly. With COVID pressure easing
on the government, GoI is returning the forfeited money collected.
All these actions are to be done under VIVAD SE VISHWAS – Scheme.
Significance
95% of the forfeits were related to bids placed by MSMEs. MSME has a huge role in the
economic growth of the country. They contribute 36% of the total manufacturing sector of
India.
RBI Monetary Policy Updates
The Monetary Policy Committee of RBI meets four times a year. The committee recently
held its meeting on February 8, 2023. This is the first meeting since Finance Minister
Nirmala Sitaraman presented her budget. The committee has four members. During the
meeting, the members decide on various aspects such as repo rate, interest rate, reverse
repo rate, Liquidity Adjustment Facility, Marginal Standing Facility, Bank Rate, Cash
Reserve Ratio, Statutory Liquidity Ratio, etc.
Key decisions were taken during the meet
The repo rate increased by 25 bps, that is, to 6.5%. In the last MPC Meet held in
December 2022, RBI increased the repo rate by 35 bps. Since May 2022, RBI has
increased the repo rate by 250 bps. This is being done to control the increasing
inflation in the country
Bond market timings were restored to 9 AM to 5 PM
Permits to lend and borrow Government Securities
MSF increased by 25 bps, that is, to 6.75%
SDF (Standing Deposit Facility) increased to 6.25%
Policy rates before the meet
Standing Facility Deposit Facility Rate: 6%
Marginal Standing Facility rate: 6.5%
Statutory Liquidity Ratio: 18%
Cash Reserve Ratio: 4.5%
Reverse Repo Rate: 3.35%
Bank Rate: 6.5%
Repo rate: 6.25%
What is the RBI saying?
After holding the MPC meeting, the RBI made the following announcements:
Inflation in the country is to stay above 4%
GDP Forecast: In 2024, it is to reach 6.4%. In the first quarter, the GDP is to touch
7.8% In Q2 it is to reach 6.2%. In Q3, the GDP will reach 6% and in Q4, the GDP will
reach 5.8%.
Myanmar-Russia MoU on developing Nuclear Power
Myanmar was an independent republic operating under the 2008 constitution. In 2021, the
military of the country came to power in a coup. Recently, the military-led Myanmar
government and the Russian Government signed a nuclear agreement. According to the
MoU, the countries will work together on nuclear energy.
About the MoU
It is a civil nuclear agreement, meaning the nuclear energy produced will be used for
peaceful purposes and not for producing weapons or missiles
Under the agreement, the countries will create a nuclear technology hub
Background
The talks on the nuclear agreement have been running for a long time. The proposal was
placed by Myanmar in 2015. However, the Russians were not showing big interest.
However, the sudden acknowledgement of signing the agreement makes international
relations experts doubt if the decision was made due to recent US relations with the
Philippines. In November 2022, the Vice President of the US Kamala Harris visited the
Philippines. Several key decisions were made during her visit. The recent nuclear deal and
other military agreements signed between US and the Philippines were decided during
her visit.
US-Russia relation influences
The Russian Government signing the nuclear agreement with the Myanmar military
comes within days of the US Government signing a nuclear agreement with the
Philippines. The US recently signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with the
Philippines. Also, the Philippines agreed to allow the US to utilize its military bases in the
western part of the country.
Integrative Medicine Centres in Government Hospitals
The Government of India is to inaugurate Integrative Medicine Centres. These centres will
operate at Government hospitals. The centres will mainly focus on Ayurvedic medicines
and will use modern technologies. The first Integrative Medicine Centre was inaugurated
at the Safdarjang Hospital in Delhi. The main objective of the initiative is to use the
traditional knowledge of Indians in the medicinal field.
Significance
The Government of India has been trying to push traditional medicines and yoga in the
country. AYUSH is the key player in the field. Right now Indian medicines need to
complement each other and not compete. The initiative has been launched on this basis.
Also, through the Integrative Medicine Centres, the GoI tries to reach the grass root levels.
GoI has been launching several schemes to provide inclusive health care. More than 1.5
lakh Health and Wellness Centres have been opened under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
With advancements in technology, India is losing its knowledge of traditional medicines.
The initiatives like Integrative Medicine Centre will help India protect its precious
knowledge in the medicinal field.
India MoU with Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle Joint Business Council
The Growth Triangle Joint Business Council was created by Indonesia, Thailand, and
Malaysia in 1993. The main objective of the council is to boost private investments in
MSMEs. During the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group meeting held in Bengaluru,
India signed an MoU with the Growth Triangle Joint Business Council. According to the
MoU, the countries will work together to adopt energy-efficient practices.
About the MoU
The agreement was signed during the celebrations of India Energy Week
EESL signed the agreement on behalf of India
Significance
Coal is the main source of energy in Malaysia. However, just like other developing
countries Malaysia is adopting clean energy. The potential for wind and solar energy is big
in Malaysia. Using the opportunity of Malaysia being less developed in solar energy, India
can increase its trade with Malaysia in this field. In Thailand, the contribution of renewable
energy is just 8% of the total energy. Clearly, India has good business potential in the field
of green energy with these countries.

SEBI launches Mechanism to curb market abuse
The Reserve Bank of India defines Market Abuse as misuse of information, benchmark
manipulation, and market manipulation. Today there are no regulations to monitor and
control market abuse in the country. Therefore, SEBI has stepped in and launched a
mechanism to put an end to market abuse.
About the Mechanism
The mechanism will monitor and control unauthorized trading
It will stop firms from facilitating mule accounts
The mechanism will focus on ending spoofing, pump and dump, and
disproportionate trading
The mechanism says that the brokers and trading firms should compulsorily report
to SEBI
SEBI has given a list of instances where there are increased possibilities of price
manipulation, mis-selling, front running, etc.
Terms used
Front Running: Illegal practice of buying securities
Price manipulation: Affecting the supply and demand of a company product
artificially; Purpose: To increase or decrease the price of the stock of the company
Mule: Receiving and transferring illegal money. Sometimes, persons receiving the
money are unaware that the money is illegal. Accounts used to mislead the
innocents into getting illegal money are mule accounts
Spoofing: A trader places huge orders on a share; publicly visible to the world. But
his intentions are not to keep them for long
Pump and Dump: Boosting stock prices through fraudulent misleading ways
In short, the mechanism aims to put an end to the above practices.
Google introduces Chat-GPT rival Bard
Microsoft launched Chat-GPT in November 2022. Technologists believe that Chat GPT is
well advanced and might kill Google’s business. In just five days, the number of ChatGPT
users increased to one million. To counter the chat GPT, Google recently launched
“BARD”. Working of the BARD is very much similar to Chat GPT, the conversational style.
The Chinese search engine company BAIDU is also developing products very much similar
to Chat GPT.
Google counters Microsoft with BARD
The popularity of Chat GPT is increasing tremendously. The AI tool is bringing in a new
evolution in how netizens search for information.
About BARD
It is a conversational search engine. Its working is similar to that of Chat GPT. It was
designed and created by Google two years ago. However, Google is launching now as a
countermeasure to Microsoft.
What is the controversy around BARD?
BARD was built based on LaMDA. LaMDA stands for Language Models for dialogue
applications. LaMDA could mimic voices and converse with humans. Mimicking features in
the software may cause trouble to public figures and artists. For this reason, Google
Engineer Blake Lemoine urged Google that the software may bring in trouble. He also
released documents where he mentions the potential problems caused by LaMDA.
Unfortunately, he was put on paid leave and then fired. A few days after this controversy,
comes up Chat GPT worked on the same principle as that of LaMDA. Now BARD which was
recently released also works on LaMDA.
Agri Ministry plans new certification system for organic cotton, derivatives
Several organizations in the country have been demanding an “Indian Standard for
Organic Textiles”. Without a proper standard, the textiles made of organic cotton stay
unprotected. Meaning, the exporter or the seller is unable to prove that the textile is made
from organic cotton. To solve this problem, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare
is planning on launching a certification system that will provide an organic tag to cotton
produced without using chemicals and fertilizers.
What is the plan?
The Ministry is to form a committee that will look after the concerns in certified organic
cotton. The committee will provide suggestions about the certification system. How the
system should be constituted? What issues will it address? The Ministry has requested the
committee to provide information on the coverage of organic cotton in the country. Also,
the committee will collect details of private firms and individuals involved in the organic
textiles business.
What is the status of Organic textiles in India?
Today there are no standards to organic textiles in the country. However, business circles
are using the standards like Global Organic Textiles Standards and Textiles Exchange
standards. The reach is not wide and is only used by very few in the country.
Punjab New Industrial and EV Policy
As the old Industrial Policy has come to an end, the Punjab Government is launching a
new Industrial Policy. This is the first industrial policy the ruling government is launching
since it came to power. The new Industrial policy will focus on MSME, infrastructure, and
power. Along with the Industrial Policy, the Punjab Government also launched the EV
Policy.
Industrial Policy of Punjab
To increase the ease of doing business for MSMEs
Focus areas of the policy will be skill development, innovation, startups, export
promotion logistics, grievance redressal, fiscal incentive, etc.
The Punjab Government is to build 15 industrial parks under the policy. These parks
are to be built in 20 rural areas
The policy will provide more incentives to industries manufacturing EV components,
circular economy-related activities, hand tool manufacturing, fitness equipment,
sports goods, power tools, agriculture machinery manufacturing, etc.

Punjab Electric Vehicle Policy
The EV Policy of Punjab aims at checking pollution levels in the state. It will mainly focus
on pollution caused by vehicles.
The policy will also suggest measures to create infrastructure, creation of employment
opportunities in the EV sector, research and development, create a sustainable
environment, and control carbon emissions.
PhonePe launches cross-border transaction facility
The Phone Pe app was developed based on Unified Payments Interface. It is now owned
by Flipkart (A subsidiary of a US Company called Walmart). The headquarters of Phone Pe
is in Bengaluru. The app is available in eleven Indian languages. Recently, Phone Pe
launched cross border facility. It is being launched in countries such as Mauritius, Bhutan,
Nepal, UAE, and Singapore.
What does this mean?
Indian citizens can now pay to their foreign merchants using Phone Pe. This means can
you pay in dollars using Phone Pe? Yes. You can pay in Singapore Dollars or UAE Dirhams
using Phone Pe. The main advantage is that you can pay from your bank account directly.
You hold money in rupees in your bank accounts. But when you pay foreign merchants, it
has to be in their currency. Phone Pe takes care of currency exchanges and charges. You
just have to log in and say pay! More countries will be added to the service in the future.
Challenges in cross-border transactions
The Phone Pe cross-border transactions will help consumers beat the following
challenges:
Payment fraud, high transfer cost, low transaction speed, compliance, etc. Sometimes,
cross-border transactions fail and the amount does not reach the payee on time. Such
limitations shall be overcome using Phone Pe.
TN ‘Pudumai Penn’ Scholarship Scheme
The Scheme was launched by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin in 2022. The scheme
will pay thousands of rupees to government school students. Beneficiaries of the scheme
are students studying in Class V to Class XII. Only girl students are included in the scheme.
Tamil Nadu Government allotted 698 crores of rupees for the scheme. More than six lakh
girls are to benefit from the scheme.
Background
Earlier, the Tamil Nadu Government was implementing a Marriage assistance
scheme. This marriage assistance scheme has now been converted into higher
education scheme
The marriage assistance scheme is called Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar
Marriage Scheme. The newly launched higher education scheme is Moovalur
Ramamitham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme. This scheme is being
implemented under the name “Pudhumai Penn Scheme”.
Political Aspects
The scheme was launched in the presence of Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal. The DMK
(Stalin’s party) is now ruling the state. They campaigned against BJP to come to power.
Who is Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar?
She lived between 1883 and 1962. She was a social activist and an active participant in the
Dravidian Movement (the movement of which Stalin’s father Karunanidhi was a part). She
fought against the Devadasi system in the state of Tamil Nadu.
February 9, 2023
What is CAR T-Cell Therapy?
Researchers recently found that CAR T-Cell therapy is a good cure for Ovarian cancer. The
therapy was tested on mice and found to be effective. Immuno suppressive nature of
cancer cells in the ovary was a major hurdle for scientists. The recently discovered CAR T-
Cell therapy has won this challenge. The therapy works by mutating the CD3 chain. The
therapy has already been proven to be effective in curing blood cancer in humans. It is yet
to be tested for ovarian cancer. However, it is effective in treating ovarian cancer in mice.
CAR T Cell Therapy
T cells reside in WBC (White Blood Cells). WBC is the major component of the immune
system. The body fights against diseases with WBC.
CAR stands for Chimeric Antigen Receptors. CARs are artificial T Cell receptors. They are
chimeric; meaning two genes (or proteins in the genes) are fused together. The antigen is
the disease-causing component in a virus. Here antigen is the disease-causing component
in cancer cells. CARs are capable of attracting disease-causing cancer cells.
CAR T Cell Therapy is integrating CARs with T-cells. That is, injecting CAR into T-cells. In this
process, the T-cells are modified to identify cancer cells. After injecting CAR, the T-cells
start attracting cancer cells. Once the cancer cells are identified, they can easily be
destroyed.
Destroying after identification is done in several ways like drugs or cell proliferation, etc.
Joe Acaba selected as NASA’s Chief Astronaut
In December 2022, the deputy chief of NASA Drew Feustel became the chief. However, his
services recently ended and he was succeeded by the new chief Joe Acaba. The chief of
NASA manages the resources of the organization, creates assignments, fixes deadlines,
designs crew operation concepts, etc.
About Acaba
Joe Acaba has spent more than 306 days in space. He served as a mission specialist and
flight engineer. He has also participated in spacewalks. Also, he supported the first
resupply spacecraft launched in 2012, the Dragon of SpaceX.
How is the Chief Astronaut of NASA selected?
He is appointed by the President of the United States. The US Senate advises the President
on making the appointment. The president has to get the consent of the senate before
making the appointment.
Chief of NASA Astronaut Corps
NASA’s Chief acts as the Chief of the NASA Astronaut Corps as well. The NASA Astronaut
Corps selects and trains the astronauts. As of December 2022, there were 41 active
astronauts. OF these 16 are women and 25 are men. In the history of NASA, the year 2000
had the highest number of astronauts. There were 149 NASA astronauts in 2000.
Proposed Kalaignar Pen Monument
The Tamil Nadu Government is planning to build a memorial for the late DMK leader and
former CM of TN M Karunanidhi. People of TN call him Kailaignar for his love towards
knowledge and his Tamil literature skills. The planned monument is opposed by
environmental activists. According to them, the monument will affect flora and fauna in
the region, coral reefs, Olive Ridley turtles and seagrass. However, the Tamil Nadu
Pollution Control Board performed the Environmental Impact Assessment. The clearance
has been issued based on the assessment.
What is the issue?
The monument is to be built on Mariana beach. It falls under Coastal Regulation Zone.
Therefore, it requires environmental clearance under SECTION 4 of Coastal Regulation
Zone Notification, 2011.
About the monument
The price of the monument is 81 crores. It will be built at a distance of 360 metres from
the coast. The monument will represent Tamil culture.
M Karunanidhi
He is the father of the current CM of Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin. Karunanidhi was one of the
most influential Dravidian leaders. He was the President of the DMK party between 1969
and 2018. Also, he served as the CM of Tamil Nadu for five terms between 1969 and 2011.
Digital Payments Utsav
The Digital Payments Utsav is to be launched by the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology. The main objective of the event is to create awareness of digital
payments. It is being conducted on the sidelines of the G20 meeting. For this reason, it will
try and promote the objectives of the Digital Economy Working Group of G20.
Key Highlights of Digital Payments Utsav
It is to be held in Lucknow, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru
The above cities were chosen because the Digital Economy Working Group Events
are to be held in these cities
The Utsav will focus mainly on G20 and its working
During the Utsav, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will launch
a QR code and a Coffee Table Book.
The ministry will also launch the “Digital Payment Sandesh Yatra” during the Utsav.
The main objective of the yatra is to create awareness of digital payments in the
country
Also, the ministry will present the “Digi Dhan Awards” for the top-performing banks
in the country
Significance
The intention of the ministry is to increase access to digital payment methods as India is
celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the G20 presidency. The Utsav will highlight how
digital payments empower street vendors and small merchants.
QR Code-based Coin Vending Machine
The machine was launched by the Reserve Bank of India. The apex bank finalized its
decision of launching the machine during its recently held MPC meeting. The QR code is
being introduced as fake currency notes are increasing in coin vending machines.
About the new vending machine
The machine is to be launched in 12 cities in the first phase.
These machines will use UPI-based code systems to provide coins. Earlier the
machines tendered the bank notes physically.
What is a QR code-based coin vending machine?
Here the consumer need not use currency notes. Rather he shall use his bank account
password or a pin to get coins. As he enters the pin or password, the vending machine
verifies with his bank account and issues coins from his bank account directly. Earlier, the
consumer had to drop in currency notes to get coins.
Need for the machine
To increase the accessibility of coins in the country and also to increase the
distribution of coins in the country
To address the issue: The supply of coins in the country is very high, but distribution
is not even
Where will the new vending machines be available?
These new coin vending machines are to be placed in 19 locations across 12 cities. They
are to be placed in shopping malls, railway stations, and in other public places where
people can access them easily.
ASI Keeladi Report: Sangam Age pushed to 800 BCE
Keeladi is a hamlet located near Madurai city in Tamil Nadu. It is along the banks of River
Vaigai. The ASI started its excavations in Keeladi in 2014. Evidence was found that the
civilization at Keeladi, that is, the Sangam Age civilization is older than thought before.
Earlier it was believed that Sangam Era was 300 BCE. But the excavations at Keeladi
revealed that Sangam Era was older and dated 800 BCE. Controversies arose with the new
findings. Today, the ASI has put an end to the controversies finalizing that Sangam Age
dates from 800 BCE.
What is the issue?
ASI conducts excavations in four to five phases. During the Keeladi excavations,
consecutive phases did not receive funds on time. Also, the Tamil archaeologists working
with ASI performing the excavations were transferred to Assam and other states. This
created controversies. The issue was politicized. Criticisms were made that the BJP
government is doing Hindutva politics. If the excavations proved that the Sangam era
dated 800 BCE, there is an established fact that the civilization in the south was secular
and modern. And the modernization occurred earlier than in other parts of India. The
Sangam era had excellent trade connections with the world. The women’s literacy rate of
the era was high and equal to men.
The criticism made: Hindutva politicians associated with the central government are not
liking the fact that Tamil culture was older than thought before.
Operation Dost
Turkey was hit by a 7.8 Ritcher earthquake recently. The earthquake caused severe
damage to the people and was catastrophic. To help the people of Turkey, India launched
Operation Dost. Dost in Hindi means friend. Turkey welcomed India’s moves. The C17
Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force has been deployed in the operation.
Significance
During tough times, India remembers Turkey’s help. In 2021, when India was highly
affected by COVID, Turkey sent two aircraft full of COVID medicines. It is India’s turn to
help its friend and therefore Operation Dost.
What did India send?
The aircraft is carrying medicines, relief materials, NDRF teams, etc. The aircraft started its
journey from the Hindon Air Base in India. It operates under the Western Command and is
located in Ghaziabad, UP. It is the largest air base in Asia.
The Turkey Earthquake
Turkey is located in a seismically active zone. The earthquake occurred as the Arabian
plate and the African plate moved against the Eurasian plate. Turkey is located at the tri-
junction point where all these three plates meet. Therefore, seismic activities are high.
After the earthquake, the country faced more than 60 shocks. This is strange. Usually, the
aftershocks are less in magnitude. However, during this earthquake, the aftershocks were
of the magnitude of mini earthquakes!
Quad Nations launch Quad Cyber Challenge
The QUAD Countries India, Australia, the US, and Japan recently launched the Quad Cyber
Challenge. The main objective is to improve cyber security in the four countries. It is
basically a competition. Any internet user from the Indo-Pacific region can participate in
the challenge. National Security Council will be the Indian representative at the QUAD in
implementing the challenge.
Focus of the challenge
Multi-factor authentication, routine security updates, identity checks, changing
passphrases regularly, identifying phishing, online scams, etc.
Role of QUAD in the challenge
QUAD will provide the resources for the participating professionals. Also, QUAD will
provide training to selected professionals from educational institutions and corporations
before they participate in the challenge.
Resilient Cyberspace
The main objective of the challenge is to create a resilient cyberspace. Cyberspace is the
internet platform where people share information, and engage in conversations, and
other social media activities. Ransomware attacks, malware, software vulnerabilities, AI

attacks, etc are the major challenges faced by cyberspace today. Other challenges are
clickjacking, denial of service attacks, spyware, a man-in-the-middle attack, etc.
SC to hear Adani-Hidenburg row
Advocate Vishal Tiwari recently filed a Public Interest Litigation to the Supreme court to
take up the case of the Adani-Hidenburg row. The apex court has agreed and will hear the
case on Feb 10, 2023. Vishal is a practising lawyer in the SC. The PIL requests the Chief
Justice of India to handle the case. CJI Chandrachud along with other judges of SC PS
Narasimha and JB Pardiwala will take up the case.
Hindenburg-Adani row
The Hindenburg Finance research company based in the US released an investigative
report on the Adani group. According to the report, the Adani group is manipulating
stocks holding fraudulent shell company operations. Following the report, the stock prices
of the company fell. The company lost more than 127 crores of rupees.
Why is the SC Stepping in?
The Hidenburg-Adani row which has been in the news for quite some time now is putting
India’s reputation at stake. Before the row, Gautham Adani was the second richest person
in the world.
World First Satellite based two way messaging system
Qualcomm launched the first satellite-based two-way messaging. It is called Snapdragon
Satellite. This means this you can use SMS just like WhatsApp. In two-way messaging like
Whatsapp, both participants can send or receive messages simultaneously. But in one-way
messaging apps offering SMS services, only one operation is possible.
About Snap Dragon Satellite
It was launched at the CES 2023
It is powered by a 5G Modem RF system
It can support 5G non-terrestrial networks. NTN is used in flying objects
In simple terms
X and Y are conversing. X sends “Hi”. Y receives and replies “Hello”. Now before receiving
Y’s Hello, X sends another message “How are you”. Now “Hello” from Y and “How are
you” from X have a clash. Either one has to wait. This waiting is not there in two-way
communication. Conversations occur just because you speak on phone.
Supported by the Iridium Satellite constellation
The two-way messaging system is supported by the Iridium satellite constellation. The
Iridium constellation was launched by the Iridium communication-based in the US. The
main purpose of the satellites is to provide L-band data, mostly voice data. And is being
widely used in satellite phones.
MMTC-PAMP launches Digital Silver
Digital Gold is a virtual method of buying gold. You will have gold on the paper. Just like
digital gold, now digital silver has been launched. It was launched by MMTC-PAMP. MMTC
is a Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation. It is a PSU. PAMP is Products Artistiques
Metaux Precieux. It is a company based in Switzerland. The products of the company are
gold bars and refined precious metals.
Digital Silver
Digital gold or digital silver is one of the safest ways to buy expensive metals. Storage is
easy and safe. The buyer does not possess the metal in his locker and therefore he need
not worry about its safety. He need not pay locker charges.
Benefits
When you buy physical gold, the money gets locked. No further investments can be made.
Digital gold is like shares. You put in your money on the company launching the product.
He or she uses the money to expand his business. Therefore, there are employment
opportunities and economic growth. On the other hand, buying physical gold benefits the
individual alone and adds to his savings.
Report: WhatsApp is India’s most accessible app for PWDs
The Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy is a think tank that does legal research. The organization
recently released a report on the popularity of software applications in India. The title of
the report is “Making the Digital Ecosystem Disabled Friendly”. The organization has
found that WhatsApp is the most accessible app for disabled persons.
About the report
The organization evaluated applications in different categories such as e-commerce,
online payments, transport, food delivery, etc. The report was generated based on the
web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
What is WCAG?
The WCAG was created by Web Accessibility Initiative. It was launched by W3C, World Wide
Web Consortium. The W3C is the main key to WWW (World Wide Web). The headquarters
of the org is in the USA. The main objective of W3C is to create web standards.
Other apps audited
The think tank also audited other apps such as OLA, UBER, TELEGRAM, FLIPKART,
AMAZON, ZOMATO, SWIGGY, PAYTM, PHONE PE, etc.
After auditing, the apps were categorized as “highly accessible”, “moderately accessible”,
and “less accessible”. WhatsApp was highly accessible.
YouGov report on Disposable Income
YouGov is an international data analytics firm. It is based in the UK. The org recently
released a report on disposable income. The income that remains with the citizens after
deducting taxes is called disposable income. The YouGov report says that more than one-
third of urban Indian citizens claim that their disposable income has decreased.
Disposable Income in India
In the next 12 months, urban Indians are to increase their savings. Their major
expenses are around buying health insurance (26% of income), savings (33%) and
investments for the future (21%). Most of them are making investments in pension-
related stocks and schemes.
Two out of five urban Indians need help managing their money
One-third need help in using investments

Out of the 18 markets researched, the UK has the largest decline. After the UK, it was
Italy and Poland in second and third places respectively. The org works around Asia,
Europe and Australia.
Reasons for the decrease in disposable income
The effects of COVID related economic crisis and the Ukraine-Russia war-related economic
crisis are the two major reasons for the decrease in disposable income. Job loss is another
major factor contributing to the decline. During the recession, the government revenue
decreases and a deficit is created. To handle the situation Government increase taxes.
Consequently, disposable income decreases.
Gaganyaan Mission: ISRO, Navy undertake trials
The Gaganyaan is a crewed space mission of ISRO. It is expected to be launched in 2024.
Indian astronauts received their training from Russia’s ROSCOSMOS to fly to space in the
mission. HAL designed and built the crew module. DRDO is to provide food for the
astronauts, parachutes, and a fire suppression system and will monitor the health of the
crew while they are in space. The Indian Navy and ISRO recently conducted recovery trials
along with Indian Navy. The simulation was provided by the Water Survival Test Facility of
ISRO.
About the Recovery trials
The trials were conducted at the Water Survival Test Facility, Kochi.
To conduct the trials, the test facility created a crew recovery model. The model will
simulate the centre of gravity, mass, outer dimensions, etc.
The recovery trial was conducted in a closed pool
Role of Water Survival Test Facility
The facility provided training to the astronauts to escape from a ditched aircraft. It
simulated varied conditions under which the astronauts escaped safely. It provided
simulations of different sea states, day and night conditions, and environmental
conditions.
Significance
Safe recovery is the final step in a human space flight program. The recovery has to be
done at the lapse of time. Therefore, it is essential that the recovery trials be conducted in
different scenarios. Also, extensive practice is required.
February 10, 2023
RBI expands scope of TReDS platform
The TReDS is Trade Receivables Discounting System. It facilitates finances for MSMEs. The
major drawback of the MSME platform is that they are unable to convert the trade
receivables into liquid funds. The TReDS mainly addresses this issue. Trade receivable is
the amount that the buyer or the customer owes to a company or organization or
business while buying a product.
What is RBI saying?
The Reserve Bank of India recently announced that it will expand the TReDS platform. This
is being done to increase insurance facilities in the country. Also, RBI aims to add the
factoring businesses as financiers to the TReDs. Under the TReDs businesses, financial
companies or government organizations can provide financial support to the MSMEs. Now
the factoring businesses are being added.
What are factoring businesses?
Say company A is manufacturing XXX smartphone. It sells the smartphone to 10
customers. Say, the cost of each phone is Rs 10,000. And therefore, the total sale is one
lakh rupees. The customers are paying through EMI. So it takes a while (assume the EMI
period to be 10 months) to get the entire one lakh. Meanwhile the suppliers of A, for
instance, battery suppliers, wire suppliers, etc are demanding money. Now to pay the
money to these suppliers A will go in search of factoring businesses.
A will show the invoice of its sale to 10 customers. And gets one lakh rupees; assuring to
return when the customers pay their EMIs completely. The company that gives this one
lakh to A is called the factoring company.
India’s first Drone Air Traffic Management System
Skye Air is a startup delivering drones in different parts of India. The startup recently
launched a Traffic Management System for drones. It is software and will allow drone
operators to choose their routes. Just like flight traffic management, the need for drone
traffic management is increasing. With e-commerce businesses looking for options for
drone deliveries, drone usage is to increase in the future exponentially.
Skye UTM: Drone Traffic Management System
The air traffic management system designed by Skye air is called Skye UTM. This is the
first of its kind in India. UTM stands for Unmanned Traffic Management. It will provide
BVLOS drone operations. BVLOS is Beyond Visual Line of Sight, meaning you can operate
your drones safely to far away places without even seeing them physically.
How does Skye UTM work?
It gets information from the Digital Sky Platform. It is run by GoI and has information
about all drone operators and drone flights in the country. The platform is run by DGCA,
Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Highly competitive
So far very few countries in the world have such drone traffic management systems. For
instance, the AirMap company in the US has this kind of traffic management system. And
also, the Airbus of Netherlands has designed such a system.
World Pulses Day, 2023
The United Nations and several other international organizations and countries celebrate
World Pulses Day on February 10. The main objective of the celebration is to increase
awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses. Also, the day aims to promote the
environmental benefits of pulses and how pulses can help countries in achieving their
sustainable food delivery goals.
The theme of World Pulses Day 2023
Pulses for a Sustainable future
About World Pulses Day
The UN passed the resolution of celebrating World Pulses Day in 2013. It is led by the Food
and Agriculture Organization. The fact that cultivating pulses provide employment to rural
women is also propagated on this day.
Significance
Pulses are a good source of proteins. They are rich in fibre and very low in fats. Therefore,
they are easily digested and keep you energetic. Pulses help to control sugar and also
lower cholesterol.
India
The Food Security Mission aims to increase the production of three crops in the country.
They are rice, wheat, and pulses. India gives importance to pulses as they increase the
nitrogen content in the soil. Pulses fix more than 20-40 kg of nitrogen in the soil. Major
pulses-producing states are AP, MP, UP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar,
Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh.
Mission Antyodaya Survey 2022-23
The Antyodaya mission was launched to aid people in rural areas. It aims to eliminate
poverty. The Ministry of rural development recently launched Mission Antyodaya Survey
2022-23. The survey is to be conducted in two lakh sixty-nine thousand gram panchayats
in the country. It is to be conducted using questionnaires. Around 21 areas will be
covered. 183 indicators have been chosen to cover 21 areas. The areas covered in the
survey include fisheries, agriculture, fuel and fodder, good governance, roads,
communication, etc. The questionnaires are to be prepared in 13 languages.
Mission Antyodaya
It was launched during the budget 2017-18. The main objective of the mission is to bring
optimum use of natural resources in rural areas. The purpose is to aid the panchayats in
creating their development plan. Apart from these objectives, the mission also has to fulfil
the objective of conducting the annual survey. This is done to monitor the development
processes. With the report from the survey, the mission will plan and improve its service
delivery.
The mission also encourages the gram panchayats to develop partnerships with
institutions and organizations to help them in their development. Of all the industries, the
food processing sector has a good chance to build partnerships with the gram
panchayats.
IISc-Samsung partner for R&D in Electrostatic Discharge Protection
Electrostatic Discharge Protection is protecting the equipment from electromagnetic
waves. It is the most essential part of Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). Every
electronic piece of equipment has to pass the EMC test to get certified as
electromagnetically safe. It means it is neither affected by EM waves nor emits EM waves
(that may affect other devices). Samsung has partnered with IISc to research Electrostatic
Discharge Protection.
Electrostatic Discharge
It is the sudden flow of electrons between objects. When the electrostatic discharge is
high an electrical short occurs and heavy current flows between the object. This current
damages the object. Where does this electron come from? While the circuit in the chip is
closed and the wires are insulated, the question obviously comes where the electrons
come from. These electrons are from the electromagnetic waves generated in the circuit.
The transceiver circuits and high current circuits generate electromagnetic waves. The
wave generates electrons.
What will the companies research upon?
IISc and Samsun will find out ways to protect the equipment from electrostatic discharge.
The discharge is quite high in PCBs used in electronic devices like laptops, and cell phones.
Now with nanotechnology advancing rapidly, the size of electronic components is
reducing. Therefore, there is a need to place the components close to each other. This
increases the challenges of Electrostatic discharge protection. The companies will work to
find out solutions to protect the PCBs against electrostatic discharge.
Asia to use half of World’s electricity by 2025: IEA
The International Energy Agency recently released its annual report. The other two major
reports released by the organization are the World Energy Outlook and the Net Zero by
2050 report. According to the annual report released by the Agency, the Asian continent is
to consume half the electricity produced in the world by 2025. On the other hand, Africa
will only use 3% of the world’s electricity by 2025. Africa has one-fifth of the world’s
population.
Nuclear power and wind power are to increase. World temperature rise has reached 1.1
degrees Celsius as compared to the preindustrial levels.
Electricity Consumption of China
Most of Asia’s electricity consumption is to come from China. China is to consume more
electricity compared to the combined consumption of the US, India, and the EU.
Least Consumer
Africa is to consume the least because it is not as developed as the rest of the world.
Influence of Weather on Electricity consumption
Electricity demand in the world is becoming weather dependent. Heat waves in India will
significantly increase the power consumption of the country. Also, drought in Europe will
increase its electricity consumption. Severe storms in the US are to increase and will
damage the power distribution systems causing severe damage.
Lithium Reserves found in Jammu and Kashmir
The Geological Survey of India has found lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir. They
have been found in the Reasi district. Today India is importing Lithium from countries
from Argentina and Australia. In 2021 alone, the price of lithium increased by 400% for
several reasons. One of them was an increase in digital growth and electric batteries
during COVID.
World Lithium reserves
Most of the lithium reserves are concentrated in South America; especially in countries
such as Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. These 3 countries are called the Lithium Triangle.
However, they are not the top producers of lithium in the world! China produces 75% of
the world’s lithium. Rather than production, China is doing the refining business.
Lithium-Essential for the digital world
Lithium is highly important to produce rechargeable batteries. The requirement of Lithium
is essential in electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, digital cameras and every other
electronic component we use today. They are the major storage blocks of electricity.
Way Forward
India is to e-auction the Lithium blocks soon. Lithium is used in heart pacemakers. It is a
low-density metal with a high energy-to-weight ratio. Meaning a very little quantity of
lithium can store large amounts of energy. This property of Lithium makes the metal ideal
for electricity storage.
Journalist A.B.K. Prasad chosen for Raja Ram Mohan Roy National Award
Raja Ram Mohan Roy lived in the 19th century. The reformer founded Brahmo Samaj in
1828 and played a major role in abolishing Sati. The Press Council of India presents
awards in the name of the legend every year. In 2023, the Raja Ram Mohan Roy National
Award is presented to Journalist A.B.K. Prasad for his contributions towards journalism.
About ABK Prasad
He has devoted his 75 years of life to journalism. He has worked as an editor in major
journals in AP. Also, he worked as the Chairman of the Official Language Commission
between 2004 and 2009.
Official Language Commission
It was constituted under the constitutional provisions provided in Article 344. It looks after
the progressive use of the official language in the country.
Who will present the award?
Press Council of India. It is a statutory body formed in 1966. It watches the press and their
actions in the country. It was established under the Press Council Act of 1978. Usually, a
retired Supreme court Judge is appointed as the chairman of the Press Council of India.
Anybody can file complaints against any press with the Press Council of India.
ISRO launches second developmental flight SSLV D2
The Indian Space Research Organization successfully launched the Small Satellite Launch
Vehicle (SSLV). It was launched from Sriharikota. The SSLV-D2 dropped EOS-07, Azzzadi
SAT-2, and Janus-1 satellites. The satellites were dropped at an altitude of 450 km from the
earth within 15 minutes of the launch.
About SSLV-D2 launch
SSLV can carry a payload of up to 500 kg. It is one of the low-cost space crafts of ISRO, can
carry more than one satellite, requires very less launch infrastructure, and provides very
less turnaround time.
ES-07
It was developed by ISRO. It weighs 156 kg. It carries a spectrum monitoring payload and
humidity sounder. It is an earth observation satellite.
Janus-1
The satellite was developed by the USA. The weight of the satellite was 10.2 kg. It is a
demonstration satellite developed by ANTARIS.
Azaadi SAT-2
It was developed by SpaceKidz India. Around 750 girl students participated in developing
the satellite. The satellite has voice and data transmission equipment, a selfie camera, and
also UHF and VHF transponders.
SSLV-D1
It was a failure as the rocket did not put the satellites in the right orbit. Recently ISRO
released the reasons for the failure of the mission in its analysis report.
Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021
The Global Quality Index Infrastructure was released for 184 world economies based on
the quality of their infrastructure. India was ranked fifth. The standardization ranking was
at the 9th spot and the credit goes to BIS. The metrology system was ranked 21st and NPL-
CSIR takes the credit. The overall good infrastructure quality of India is being maintained
by the Quality Council of India and therefore, the council takes pride in bringing India to
the top of the ranking.
Rankings of the other countries
Germany topped the list. It was followed by China, the US, the UK, Japan, and France in the
second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth positions respectively. The rankings are calculated
based on the standards, metrology and accreditation.
Significance
The QCI is the backbone of India’s international trade. The council receiving a good
ranking at the international level is proof that India is gaining the trust of its international
partners. QCI operates other national bodies such as NPL-CSIR, BIS, etc. They are all the
custodians of the National Accreditation System.
QCI
It was established in 1997 by DPIIT. The major boards of QCI are NABCB and NABL. NABCB
is National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies. NABL is National Accreditation
Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
CMFRI identifies sites for sea cage farming
Sea cage farming is growing fish in the sea using an enclosed net. Even if we use just 1%
of inshore water in this, we can produce 3.2 million tonnes of fish. However, India is
lagging in the method. To increase sea cage farming in the country, CMFRI identified 146
spots.
What is the plan?
The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute recently identified 146 spots for sea cage
farming. With this, India is planning to produce 2.13 million tonnes of fish per year. Of
146, four sites are from Kerala.

About the cages
Each cage to be placed in the sites can grow 3 tonnes of fish within eight months. The
expected revenue from each site is 1.5 lakhs to 2.5 lakhs per cage.
Why promote sea cage farming?
The production in sea cage farming is 50 times more than conventional shore fishing.
Expenditure and investment are very minimal. Monitoring the fish is easy. Also, feeding,
observation, and growth are simple. No special skills are required. Harvesting is also easy.
Overall labour, investment and techniques, skills and technologies required are very less.
Choosing the right site
The key to successful sea cage farming is choosing the site. Experts from CMFRI are to do
this job for the fish farmers. It is difficult because certain spots should be avoided like
sewage pipe discharge spots, harbours, navigation channels, mangroves, marine
protected areas, industrial effluent points, etc.
Govt data on Pending Court Cases
The Government of India recently shared its data on the pending court cases in the
country. Data was shared in Rajya Sabha. According to the data, the numbers have
reached 4.32 crores. Around 69,000 cases are pending in Supreme Court. 59 lakh cases are
pending in 25 High Courts in the country. The data is based on the information available at
the National Judicial Data Grid.
Pending cases in HC
More than 10 lakh cases are pending in Allahabad HC alone. The least number of pending
cases was in the Sikkim High court which is around 171.
National Judicial Data Grid
It holds information about case details, and judgements pronounced in HC, district courts,
and subordinate courts.
Reasons for the increase in pending cases
The inadequate number of judges is the main reason. The practice of seeking
adjournment is another main reason for the increase in pending cases in Indian courts.
Why do some courts perform better than others?
Availability of quality judges. Top judges in a state are reluctant to join the bench. This is
because they are of the opinion that their financial earning reduce if they join the
benches.
Way Forward
Pending vacancies should be filled in at the earliest; Remuneration of the judges should
be increased for the quality judges to join the bench; alternate dispute resolution
mechanisms shall be introduced.
US Fed: Wall Street Bank Stress Test scenarios
The Federal Reserve of the United States is to create a hypothetical scenario of economic
crisis. This is being done to check if the top-performing banks in the country shall survive
the economic crisis. There are 23 big banks in the USA. And all the banks are to be put into
a severe global recession. However, care will be taken so that they do not lose their capital
to unsafe thresholds.
What is the plan?
The Federal Reserve is to introduce economic crisis scenarios. This includes “Market
shocks” as well. The scenarios are being created based on the 2008 crisis. Corporate debt
markets will also be created during the plan. During the test scenario, unemployment in
the US is to increase by 10%.
What are the stress test scenarios for US Banks?
Interest rates, exchange rates, stock prices, and real estate prices, are some of the test
scenarios of economic crisis to the banks. Also, the US Fed introduced a stress test that
will focus on credit risk as well. The major focus is to be on the “Exploratory Market Shock”
What is Exploratory Market Shock?
Market shock is the disruption in the smooth functioning of the market. In other words, it
is the disturbance caused to the market equilibrium. It usually occurs due to changes in
supply and demand. In exploratory market shock, there are no changes in supply and
demand. Supply and Demand are smooth and functioning normally. Disruption is caused
artificially. For instance, increasing interest rates to create sudden market disruptions.
While in reality, there is no need for such as economic move.
Khelo India Winter Games 2023
The Khelo India scheme was launched to increase the sports skills of the youth in the
country and also to increase the sports infrastructure. Since the scheme’s launch, the
Khelo India committee working under the sports ministry has been organizing several
games like Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India Winter Games, etc. The Khelo India
Winter Games 2023 were recently launched in the Gulmarg of Jammu and Kashmir.
About Khelo India Winter Games 2023
This is the third edition, meaning the games have been conducted twice and this is the
third time. More than 1500 participants are to participate this year across nine different
games.
Organizers
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is organizing the Khelo India Winter Games along
with; the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council and the Winter Games Association of J&K.
Previous Khelo India Winter Games
The 2021 edition was held in Leh. And the 2020 edition was held in Gulmarg. Games held
are skiing, figure skating, snowshoe running, ice stock sports, Nordic skiing, ice hockey,
speed skating, mountaineering, snow rugby, etc.
Gulmarg
It is a hill station and one of the most popular tourist spots in the country. It is located at
the Pir Panjal Range.
RBI Guidelines on Climate risk, sustainable finance
In July 2022, the Reserve Bank of India released a discussion paper called Climate Risk and
Sustainable Finance. The discussion paper of RBI analyses an issue from different angles
and provides solutions and guidelines to solve the problem. Based on the Climate Risk and
Sustainable Finance discussion paper, the bank is to release guidelines on accepting green
deposits; a framework to deal with climate-related financial risks.
About the Guidelines
RBI says that climate change has the full potential to transform into climate-related
financial risks. The guidelines are not yet released. RBI will release it in a phased manner.
The guidelines will have all instructions related to climate risks.
What is climate-related financial risk?
The RBI discussion paper defines the term as “Potential risk arising from climate change”.
The climate-related financial risks occur in two main forms. They are physical risks and
transition risks.
According to the discussion paper, physical climate-related risks are those risks that come
directly from climatic events. This includes risks from storms, floods, wildfires, etc. The
transition risks are those risks coming from climate change-related policies, technologies,
etc.
What are Green Deposits?
The Green Deposits are Fixed Deposits. The only difference between an ordinary fixed
deposit and the green deposit is that, in green deposits, the amount deposited in the bank
will be used to implement renewable energy projects.
Ukaguru Spiny-throated reed frog: New Silent frog species
A voiceless frog was recently discovered in Tanzania. It does not croak or sing like other
frogs. It was found in the Ukaguru mountains of Tanzania and hence the name Ukaguru
spiny throated reed frog. They have spines in their throat and hence phrase spiny throat
has been added to their name.
About the Ukaguru Spiny throated reed frog
These frogs are nearing extinction. The scientists have been conducting wide and
long amphibian research in the Ukaguru mountains since 2019. They were hoping to
find Churamiti maridadi. This amphibian is rare and is nearing extinction. It has been
found only twice so far.
The Ukaguru spiny-throated reed frog had smaller eyes and unique body
proportions.
The Ukaguru lies in the Eastern Arc List and is rich in biodiversity.
A tough research
The new species was discovered during tough research being conducted in the wild.
Scientists are using satellite receivers, distributing photos of rare toads to the nearby
tribal and villagers, and a lot more techniques to document the toad species in the
mountain.
Spines in the throat
Male frogs generally croak to call upon the female during the breeding season. They
identify their species with the croaking sound. The Ukaguru spiny-throated reed frogs do
not croak. Probably they use Braille-like sign language. Scientists believe that they may
use their spines to call upon others.

Kala Ghoda Art Festival
The Kala Ghoda Art Festival is celebrated in Mumbai. Every year the celebrations begin on
the first Saturday of February and end on the second Sunday of February. The festival is
celebrated in the Kala Ghoda, meaning Black Horse, a region in Mumbai. The celebrations
began in 1999. Since then it has attracted visitors from different parts of the country and
also from different parts of the world.
About the festival
The festival is organized by the Kala Ghoda Association. It is an NGO that works to make
Mumbai an art city. The celebrations are around cinema, music, literature, and theatres.
Workshops are conducted. Stalls selling crafts and eco-friendly products line up.
Kala Ghoda
The region is in the shape of a crescent. It is the seat of popular heritage buildings of the
metropolitan city such as the National Gallery of Modern Art, Jehangir Art Gallery, etc.
There is a controversy around the name of the region Kala Ghoda. During British rule, a
stone statue of King Edward VII riding a black horse was installed in the region. Since then
the region was called Kala Ghoda. In 1965, the statue was removed and placed in Byculla
zoo. In 2017, yet another black horse was installed. But this time without a rider!
February 11, 2023
Digital Forensic Laboratories
Digital Forensic science identifies, processes, acquires and reports electronic evidence.
This includes data capturing, emails, smartphone analytics, hard disk retrieval, and other
computer analysis tools. With the GST evasions increasing in the country, DGCI has joined
hands with NFSU to launch Digital Forensic Laboratories. They have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding to establish Digital Forensic Laboratories in the country.
What are Digital Forensic Laboratories?
They perform analysis and investigations on electronic evidence. This may be bank
accounts, online transactions, mobile communication, computer files, etc.
Need for Digital Forensic Laboratories
In the past three years, tax authorities discovered Rs 62,000 crores of GST evasion. This
was done using fake invoices. GoI struggling with the deficit, it is essential to curb such
evasions. The Digital Forensic Laboratories will help DGCI fight against tax evasion in the
country.
About the MoU
The MoU to create Digital Forensics Laboratories was signed between the National
forensics Science University and the Directorate General of GST Intelligence. The DGCI
works under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, CBIC. The main role and
responsibilities of DGCI are to collect information on tax evasion and disseminate them to
CBIC. With this CBIC will take action and make necessary measures to reduce such
instances.
National Philatelic Exhibition – AMRITPEX 2023

Stamps are reflections of the heritage and achievements of a country. They give a glimpse
of important things. The India Post is organizing AMRITPEX 2023 in New Delhi. It is
National Philatelic Exhibition spread over 50,000 square feet. More than 1400 frames are
to be exhibited in AMRITPEX. The focus of the event is on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
About AMRITPEX 2023
The themes of AMRITPEX are youth, Nature, women’s power, Wildlife, the Culture of India,
etc. It will also focus on Indian biodiversity. Apart from this, the exhibition will also include
a wall of stamps, live paintings, etc.
Philately
Collection of postage stamps is philately. The Government launches stamps
commemorating special events like centenary birth anniversaries of great leaders,
achievements of schemes, sports persons, honouring military officials and their sacrifices,
promoting tourist spots and heritages, etc. The stamps remind us of the richness of the
country and its pride.
National Philately Day
It is celebrated on October 13 to encourage philately as a hobby. During the celebrations,
India Post releases stamps on national interests and social relevance. For instance, during
the 2021 celebrations, India Post released stamps on unsung war heroes of India.
MobiKwik launches UPI Payment with RuPay Credit Card
UPI allows users to use multiple bank accounts on the same platform. Till 2022, credit
cards couldn’t be used on UPI. In June 2022, the Reserve Bank of India allowed linking
credit cards with UPI. Following this, MobiKwik is the first company to launch this feature.
Now you can use RuPay credit cards issued by MobiKwik on UPI.
About the launch
MobiKwik is a Fintech company that provides digital wallet services and phone-based
payment services. The company recently added a feature to its app where customers can
use their RuPay credit cards on UPI. This is the first time this is being done in India.
UPI Payment with RuPay Credit Card
UPI is Unified Payments Interface, meaning you can use multiple bank accounts on the
same platform. With UPI, you need not provide account numbers or IFSC codes during
transactions. It was developed by the National Payment Corporation of India. Say you
downloaded the UPI app. And linked your SBI account, and Canara Bank accounts with the
app. So far, with UPI you can use internet banking (of SBI or CANARA), and debit card (of
SBI or CANARA) transactions for shopping. But cannot use credit cards. Now with RBI
changing the rules, you can use credit cards as well. After RBI changed the rue, MobiKwik
is the first fintech to launch this. Other companies are yet to launch.
India-EU Trade and Technology Council
India and European Union recently established a new Trade and Technology Council. The
council will work to provide security and prosperity. Under the council, the countries will
focus on green technologies, connectivity, and resilient supply chains. The countries have
created three working groups under the council. They are Strategic Technology, Digital
Connectivity, and Digital Governance working group; Green and Clean Energy
technologies; Trade, investment, and resilient value working group.
Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance and Digital Connectivity Working Group
This group will work on 5G, cyber security, cloud systems, semiconductors, Artificial
Intelligence, digital platforms, digital skills, etc. These areas are of mutual interest to both
India and the EU.
Green and Clean Energy Technology Working Group
This group will focus on researching investment standards, green technologies, clean
energy, waste management, circular economy, marine pollution, etc. Also, it will work to
increase the cooperation between the Indian and EU startups, and SMEs.
Trade, Investment, and Resilient Value Chains
This group will work on supply chain resilience, energy materials, raw materials, etc. The
group will identify trade barriers and will promote cooperation in different trade-related
areas. Also, the group will promote international standards. Above all, the group will
address geopolitical challenges at the world level.
World Unani Day 2023
Hakim Ajmal Khan was a famous Indian Unani scholar. World Unani Day is celebrated on
February 11 marking his birth anniversary. Unani, also called Yunani is Greek medicine. It
was mainly developed by the Arabs and Persians. World Unani Day is celebrated to spread
the findings of Hakim all over the world.
The theme of World Unani Day 2023
Unani Medicine for Public Health
History
Hakim invented the Unani Medical system. He worked hard and contributed several
advancements to the field of Unani medicine. He founded three Unani institutions such as
the Central College of Delhi, Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College, and Hindustani
Dawakhna. All these institutions played a major role in spreading awareness of Unani
medicine. In 2017, the AYUSH Ministry decided to celebrate his birth anniversary as Unani
Day. In 2017, the CRIU in Hyderabad celebrated the first Unani day.
Awards
On World Unani Day, the CRIU, the Central Research Institute of Unani presents the
CCRUM awards. CCRUM is the Central Council of Research in Unani Medicine.
In 2018, GoI launched several categories in UNANI medicine in the AYUSH awards.
India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2023
The India-ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting was recently held in New Delhi. It was held
virtually. The theme of the meeting was “Synergy towards a Sustainable Digital Future”.
The main objective of the meeting was to enhance the strength between India and ASEAN
in the field of IT. To achieve this, the ministers launched a Digital Work Plan.
About the India-Asean Digital World Plan
Under the plan, the countries will work on emerging communication technology. Mainly
they will focus on Artificial Intelligence and Cyber security. India will take the leading role
in framing the plan and also in implementing the plan. The work plan includes the
following:
To boost the applications in the fields such as the Internet of Things and Artificial
Intelligence; here the countries will mainly work on smart cities.
To focus on standards and make sure they are in compliance with international levels
Security Protection
Digital health
5G technology
Significance
India is trying to elevate its strategic partnership with India to Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership. In 2022, India celebrated ASEAN India Friendship Year. India has huge plans
for ASEAN. The country is trying to use the North Eastern parts as a gateway to increase its
trade with ASEAN. With this, the development in the northeastern regions will also
increase exponentially.
Hyderabad Formula E-Championship
Formula E is an electric car race. It is a championship of single-seater electric cars. It was
conceived in 2011 in Paris. The championship is hosted by ABB FIA. The first Formula E
championship was held in Beijing in 2014. The 2023 Formula E championship is to be held
in Hyderabad.
About the Formula-E championship 2023
This is the first time the race is held in India. The electric cars will race each other near the
Hussain Sagar Lake of Hyderabad. More than 22,000 spectators are expected at the
championship. The top companies participating in the race are Nissan, Porsche, Jaguar,
Mahindra, Maserati, McLaren, etc. The cars will reach a top speed of 320 km per hr. The
companies participating in the race are releasing their third-generation electric race cars.
During the race, the cars have to complete 32 laps. Each lap has 18 turns.
Electric Motorsport
Electric sports cars lost their significance due to the speeds achieved by oil-based cars.
However, with the invention of lithium-ion batteries, cars have regained their significance
in the 21st century. Today, electric car engine capacities are even higher than oil-based or
gas-based racing cars!
IMF calls for reforms of China’s Growth model
The International Monetary Fund says that the potential growth of China is falling. The
country is in need of comprehensive economic reforms. The international organization
has made this call because Chinese investments are diminishing. Also, the growth model
of china completely depends on State–owned enterprises. Unfortunately, the state-owned
enterprises in the country are very less in number. This makes the economic growth
over–reliant on less supportive state-owned enterprises.
What is the issue?
The Chinese GDP is falling since COVID. According to the IMF, the growth of China is to be
around 5.2% in 2023. China was on the plan of doubling its GDP. At the current pace and
with growth rates falling down, China will not be able to achieve this target. In 2005-06,
the growth rate of China was 10%. In 2021, it was 4.7%. It will drop further in four to five
years.
Why is China facing this issue?
The issue arose because the working population of China is decreasing. To control
population growth, the country introduced the One Child policy. With advancements, life
expectancy in the country increased. Now China has come to a position where the
dependent population is more. The working population is forced to feed too many
mouths. The US-China trade war is another major reason for the reduced growth rate.
China’s overall trade plunged down when the US banned Chinese on-chip supplies.
Rajasthan Inflation Relief Package
State Budget was recently presented at the Rajasthan State Assembly. During the budget
presentation, it was announced that the State Government of Rajasthan has allocated Rs
19,000 crores as an inflation relief package. This has been done to relieve the people of
Rajasthan from the burden of increasing prices. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot holds the
finance portfolio as well.
About the Relief Package
Free food packets to families below the poverty line; This is being done under
National Food Security Act. The food packets include one kilogram of sugar, one kg
of pulses, and 1 litre of edible oil. The State Government has allocated 3000 crores of
rupees for this.
LPG cylinders at subsidised rates. This is to be provided under Ujjwala Scheme. The
cylinders are to be given at 500 rupees. More than 76 lakh families are to be
benefitted from this
100 units of free electricity per month; only to domestic electricity consumers and
not to commercial. Earlier this was 50 units per month. Rs 7000 crores have been
allocated for this
Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana
The scheme was launched to provide free treatment to the people of Rajasthan. It was
launched in 2021. Now, under the new relief package, the coverage amount has been
increased to 25 lakh rupees. It was 10 lakh rupees earlier.
The next assembly elections for Rajasthan are to be held in December 2023. Congress is
the current ruling party of the state.
World Government Summit 2023
Every year the World Government Summit is held in Dubai, UAE. During the summit, world
leaders discuss policies and governmental processes. More than 4,000 foreign delegates
from at least 100 countries attend the summit. The summit acts as a knowledge exchange
hub. Policymakers and the private sectors learn about mutual interests and future
requirements.
World Government Summit 2023
The 2023 summit is to begin in February 2023. More than 20 presidents will attend this
year’s summit. This includes Abdel El Sisi of Egypt, African Union chairperson Macky Sall,
Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, etc.
The main objective of the summit in 2023
Explore new technological innovations; explore the best government practices,
sustainable development discussions and debates; Interactive sessions on Artificial
intelligence and cyber security issues
The theme of World Government Summit 2023
Shaping Future Governments
History
The first World Government Summit was held in 2013. In 2017, the first Global Dialogue for
Happiness was conducted. In 2018, the first Global Artificial Intelligence Forum was
conducted.
India at the World Government Summit
India is to announce its partners of “India Stack” at the World Government Summit. The
India Stack is a collection of APIs. Around seven countries are to join India Stack. The
names of the countries will be announced at the World Government Summit.
Wetland Ex-Situ Conservation Establishment (WESCE)
The Rajasthan State Government recently announced the WESCE plan. The French
Government is to fund this project for a period of eight years. The total cost is estimated
to be around Rs 1200 crores. The WESCE is a zoo that will be launched within the World
Heritage site, Keoladeo National Park. The zoo will display dolphins, crocodiles, water
buffaloes, and other exotic species. The major attraction will be the wetland species to be
put in the zoo.
What is the plan?
The State Government is planning to introduce several changes to the World Heritage Site.
There is a plan to breed and re-introduce extinct species on the site. For this, the species
such as black bucks, otters, and hog deer have been selected. The other proposed
changes are as follows:
AN AQUARIUM: This is being planned for Gangetic dolphins and indigenous crocs
ENCLOSURES: To display wetland species like water buffalo, swamp deer, Indian
Rhino, etc
Residential Quarters for the park workers and managers
Veterinary care centres, tourist facilities, etc.
Keoladeo National Park
The park once served as a hunting reserve for kings from Afghanistan, China,
Turkmenistan, and Siberia. It is a migrating ground for waterfowl and some of the rare
Siberian cranes. It is a major stop point in the Central Asian Flyway.
Border Gavaskar Trophy: India wins first test
The Border Gavaskar Trophy is conducted by the BCCI and Cricket Australia; and is played
via ICC. This means the performances of the players in the match will be included in the
ICC rankings. It is played between India and Australia. It is a test cricket series. India won
the first test of the series. The first test was played at Nagpur. The test series was planned
for 2022 but was postponed because of the T20 World Cup.
First Test
Four tests are to be conducted. This is the first test that was held in Nagpur India won the
innings and 132 runs.
About Border Gavaskar Trophy
The match is being held since 1996. The frequency of the trophy is not as that of “The
Ashes”. The Ashes is a test series conducted between England and Australia.
BCCI
The current BCCI President is Roger Binny. GoI has very minimal regulation over the
council. It does not receive any grants from the Sports Ministry. It was formed by state
cricket associations in 1928. However, India’s cricket is controlled by BCCI. It is one of the
richest cricket governing bodies in the world. Cricket Australia is the first richest body
followed by the Cricket Board of England. And the third richest is the BCCI!
Indian Rice Congress 2023
The second edition of the Indian Rice Congress was recently inaugurated by President
Murmu at National Rice Research Institute at Cuttack, Odisha. The 2023 congress was held
on the theme “Transforming Rice Research”. The congress focused on the global food
crisis and the recent scientific developments that will help in increasing the production
and yield of paddy crops.
Organizer of the congress
The ARRW located at ICAR-NRRI organized the congress. ARRW is the Association of Rice
Research Workers. It was founded in 1961.
Significance
Low-income groups of India depend on rice. In fact, rice is the only source of nutrition for
these groups. India is planning to bring more bio-fortified paddy crops. Recently, NRRI
launched high-protein rice.
Need for the congress
The congress will serve as a common platform for international scientists to learn about
the new advancements in the field of agriculture. In 2010, India produced 89 million
tonnes of rice. In 2022, the production increased to 130 million tonnes. Such achievements
shall be progressed and new innovations shall be adopted through the congress.
Why Cuttack?
Cuttack is called Silver city and has several heritage values. The Jagannath Temple (74 km
from Cuttack), Konark city (65 km from Cuttack), Nandan Kanan National Park, Chilika lake,
etc.
The Government of India is planning on promoting its tourism at every international
event. For instance, the tourism ministry is presenting virtual tours of the popular tourist
destinations of India to foreign delegates attending G20 meetings.
Direct Tax Collections of FY 2022-23

The CBDT operating under the Finance Ministry recently released the Revised Estimates of
the Direction of Tax collection of the country. In accordance with the report released, the
direct tax collection of India has increased by 24% in 2022-23 as compared to that of the
previous year. In 2022-23, the total direct taxes collected were Rs 15.67 lakh crores.
Direct Tax collection in 2022-23
The budget estimates of the direct tax revenues were Rs 14.2 lakh crores. However, the
collected amount is higher than this. The figures provided are up to February 10, 2023.
Why the increase?
The tax collections increased mainly because of the Corporate Income Tax collections and
Personal Incomes Tax Collections. The corporate income tax collections were 19.33%
higher than the previous year. And the Personal Income Tax collection was 29.63% higher
than the previous year.
What is a direct tax?
The taxes such as income tax are categorised as direct taxes. That is, these taxes are
imposed on the profits of a person or an organization rather than on goods and services.
GST is not a direct tax. It is an indirect tax. This is because it is imposed on goods and
services and mostly includes service taxes, value-added taxes, excise duties, purchase tax,
etc.
February 12, 2023
Project Cheetah: India gets 12 cheetahs from South Africa
India and South Africa signed an agreement on Project Cheetah in January 2023.
According to the agreement, India will get 12 Cheetahs from South Africa. These cheetahs
will be dropped at the Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. In September 2022, eight
Cheetahs were introduced in the park. These eight were brought from Namibia. Namibia
gifted them to India. This was the first inter-continental transfer of Cheetahs in the world.
What is the plan?
Cheetahs became extinct in India in 1952. Project Cheetah, also called Action plan for the
introduction of Cheetah in India was launched to reintroduce the big cats in the country.
To achieve this, India signed an agreement with South Africa. Under this agreement,
South Africa will send 12 Cheetahs every year for the next 8 to 10 years.
Stakeholders of the plan
The project is implemented by the Forestry department, South African organizations,
National Biodiversity Institute, Endangered Wildlife trust, etc. The Indian Air Force flies the
Cheetahs from South Africa.
Concerns
Initially India had planned to introduce the African Cheetahs. However, this was against
the IUCN rules of reintroduction. According to IUCN, introducing an exotic species will
replace the native ones. So India moved on with Asiatic Cheetahs. Asiatic Cheetahs existed
in India and became extinct. Therefore, Asiatic Cheetahs are not exotic species to the
country.
HAL exports ALH Mk3 helicopters to Mauritius

India signed an agreement with Mauritius in January 2022 to export the ALH Mk3
helicopters to the country. In accordance with the agreement, HAL recently delivered an
ALH Mk3 chopper. The helicopter is to be used by Mauritian Police Force. In future, HAL
will provide technical and maintenance support for the helicopters.
About ALH Mk III
It is a multi-role helicopter. The chopper had proven its roles in several life-saving
missions and also during natural calamities. To date, India had produced more than 335
such helicopters. ALH stands for Advanced Light Helicopter. It is one of the advanced
helicopters of the Indian Air Force. It has Electro optical sensors, a full glass cockpit, Shakti
engines, searchlights with high intensity, etc. In June 2022, these helicopters were
commissioned into the Indian Coast Guard operating in the Gujarat coastal areas.
Significance
The delivery will boost the ties between India and Mauritius. The country is important for
India for its geopolitical location in the Indian Ocean. Also, such delivery aids India in
achieving its defence exports target. India has set a target of 5 billion USD in exports by
2025.
Starship Static Fire Test of SpaceX
The Starship is a reusable rocket developed by SpaceX. The company has huge plans for
the rocket. NASA will use Starship rockets to land its astronauts on the moon during the
Artemis III mission. SpaceX recently completed the static fire test successfully.
What is Static Fire Test?
During the test, the engines of the rockets are fired to their fullest thrust. And launch
mount holds the launch vehicle firmly. Scientists measure the pressure, propellant flow
gradients, and temperature during the test. It is a wet dress rehearsal. Meaning, the liquid
propellants are loaded during the test.
What is special about SpaceX’s recent tests?
SpaceX fired all its 33 engines at once. Earlier the company tested only 14 engines. This
time it ignited all 33 engines to test the performance of the rocket. To carry astronauts to
the moon and to other planets and return back, the rockets should have enough fuel and
high power. This is why SpaceX tested all its 33 engines together.
Raptor engines in Starship
The Starship rockets run on raptor engines. These engines are powered by liquid oxygen
and cryogenic liquid methane. Cryogenic means the fuels require very low storage
temperatures.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: PM inaugurates first stretch
The Sohna-Dausa stretch in the Delhi-Mumbai expressway was recently inaugurated by
PM Modi. With this, the travel time between Sohna in Haryana and Dausa in Rajasthan will
be reduced to 2.5 hours. Earlier it was 5 hours. The distance between Sohna and Dausa is
246 km. This stretch is an alternate for the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway.
About the Sohna-Dausa stretch
It will pass through Gurugram, Palwal, and Nuh districtirs. The stretch will cover more
than 11 major villages of Guru gram; 47 villages in Nuh, and 7 villages in Palwal. It will be
connected with Mumbai – Delhi expressway. The connections are to be established near
the stretches between DND And Jaipur; and on the connection between Jaitpur and
Ballabhargh.
World Record
During the construction of this, a world record was achieved. The highest quality of dense
bitumen was applied to a 50-km stretch in just 100 hours!
Safe Corridors
The expressway is the first in the Asian continent to include safe corridors for the
movement of wildlife.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway
It is 1,350 km long and is under construction. It was started in 2019, Total project cost
including land acquisition is 13.1 billion USD. With this, the travel time between Delhi and
Mumbai will be reduced to 12 hours. Now the travel time between the two metropolitan
cities is 12 hours.
T20 World Cup 2023: India defeats Pakistan
The T20 Women’s Cricket World cup is being held in Cape Town, South Africa. As a part of
the world cup, the Indian and Pakistani teams played against each other. India won the
match. Pakistan won the task and chose to bat. The team set a target of 150 runs. India
won the match by reaching the target of 151 runs losing just three wickets. The Richa
Gosh and Jemimah partnership helped India win the match.
About T20 World Cup
ICC conducts the world cup. It is a biennial event, meaning held once in two years. The
2023 tournament is to be held in Bangladesh and the 2026 tournament is in England.
Australia is the most successful team at the T20 Women’s Cricket World Cup. The team has
won the cup five times. The first world cup was held in 2009 in England. India has not won
the cup yet. In 2020, India was the runner and Australia won the cup.
Former SC Judge Abdul Nazeer appointed Andhra Pradesh Governor
Abdul Nazeer is a retired Supreme Court Judge. The President of India appointed him the
Governor of the State of Andhra Pradesh under the recommendation of the Prime
Minister and his council. Nazeer has been a part of the SC benches that pronounced the
Triple Talaq verdict, privacy as a fundamental right case, the AGR case, and the Ayodhya
land case.
About Abdul Nazeer
Nazeer retired in January 2023. And his appointment comes within a few weeks of his
retirement. Justice Nazeer served as the judge of the Karnataka High Court. He was
elevated to the SC in 2017. He is a Muslim. The Collegium elevated him to include the
minority community in its recommendations. However, his appointment created
controversies as he superseded many senior judges. He was included in the Ayodhya
bench for the same reason.

During the Triple Talaq ruling, he opinioned that Talaq’s practice is legally valid.
Ayodhya ruling and appointments: An observation
The judges of the bench that heard the Ayodhya ruling are all in key posts after
retirement. The former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi headed the bench and is now
the Member of the Rajya Sabha, a nominated member. Justice Ashok Bhushan is now the
Chairperson of NCLT (National Company Law Appellate Tribunal). Now Nazeer is being
appointed as Governor!
Cyclone Gabrielle hits New Zealand
New Zealand announced red heavy rain with Cyclone Gabrielle hitting its shore. Red Heavy
rain means the downpours cause an emergency. The rain pour is greater than 30
millimetres and it occurs within one hour! In India, a red alert is issued when the pour is
greater than 20 cm within 24 hours.
About Cyclone Gabrielle
It is a tropical cyclone.
It is a Severe Tropical Cyclone and belongs to Category 3; Speed of the cyclone
ranges between 119 km/hr to 157 km/hr
State of Emergency declared in Auckland
Rainy season in Australia
The Southern Hemisphere summer falls in the months of Dec-March. Rains are common
during 70% of these months. Of all these January is the wettest.
Why and when are severe rains in Australia and New Zealand?
During summers, the Pacific waters evaporate easily. They pump up moisture in the
atmosphere. When the cool breeze touches these vapours in the evening, they condense
and rain! Australia (and New Zealand) also gets snow. June to August are the snow
seasons in the country.
Cyclone Gabrielle spins clockwise
All the cyclones in the northern hemisphere rotate anti-clockwise. And the cyclones in the
southern hemisphere rotate clockwise direction. This is because of the Coriolis force of the
earth.
February 13, 2023
Aero India 2023: 251 MoUs signed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated Aero India 2023, an air show hosted
by the Department of Defence Production operating under the Defence Ministry. It was
held in Bengaluru, Karnataka. More than 32 defence ministers participated in the show.
251 Memorandum of Understandings worth Rs 75,000 crores were signed. THEME:
RUNWAY TO BILLION OPPORTUNITIES
About Aero India 2023
More than 809 Indian and foreign companies participated in the show. This is the 14th
edition. The show is conducted once in two years. Every year the show is hosted at the
Yelanhanka Air Base located in Bengaluru. Different Government entities take
responsibility for hosting the show at different times. For instance, in 2021 the show was
hosted by DRDO.
Key Highlights of the 2023 Aero India Air Show
Tapas-BH of DRDO made its debut in the show. Tapas is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. It
fulfils the ISTAR requirements of the Indian military. ISTAR is Intelligence, Surveillance,
Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance. It can operate to 28,000 feet.
US at Aero India 2023
Lockheed Martin is a US-based company. The company too showcased its defence
capabilities at the show. This is being done to let the IAF know about the company’s most
innovative defence capabilities such as F-21 fighter aircraft, MH-60R, C-130 transport
aircraft, etc. The Indian Navy recently acquired the Sea Hawk Helicopter from the
company. Apart from the US, more than 80 countries participated in the show.
Vintage DAKOTA too performed at the show
The Indian Air Force performed a scintillating performance with their Sarang Helicopters,
Tejas, Rafale, Sukhoi-30 MKI, and Jaguar.
National Women’s Day 2023
India celebrates National Women’s Day on February 13. The celebrations commemorate
the birth anniversary of Sarojini Naidu, the Nightingale of India. She stood for women’s
empowerment. She took an active part in the Indian independence movement. She is
popular for her poems on patriotism and other literary works.
Why do we celebrate National Women’s Day?
India celebrates National women’s day to honour the achievements of women in the
country, especially in the field of politics, culture, and economy.
About Sarojini Naidu
She was a contributor to the Indian Constitution. She served as the President of the Indian
National Congress in 1925. She was imprisoned for 21 months for participating in the Quit
India Movement. She did her higher studies in London. She was born in Hyderabad and
died in Lucknow.
International Women Day
It is celebrated on March 8 by the UN and other countries of the world. The day is being
celebrated since 1975. The day is marked to honour the achievement of women in the field
of politics, culture, and economy. (The same reason for which National women’s Day is
celebrated). Also, the celebrations aim to achieve Goal 5 of the SDG, which is, Achieve
Gender Equality.
International Epilepsy Day 2023
Epilepsy is a nervous disorder. It affects brain activity. The disease is identified late among
children. Early symptoms of the disease are left unnoticed. If identified at early stages, it
can be cured easily. To increase awareness of the disease and to identify the symptoms at
early stages, International Epilepsy Day is celebrated. It is celebrated on the second
Monday of February every year.
The theme of International Epilepsy Day 2023
The celebrations are to focus on “STIGMA”. Stigma means fear or feeling negative
reactions.
About the day
The day is celebrated by the WHO of the UN and several other countries. The members of
UN spread the awareness of the disease on this day.
Need for Epilepsy Day
Around 50 million people in the world suffer from epilepsy. 80% of them are living in low
and middle-income countries. These countries are in shortage of funds to focus on the
disease and spread awareness. Four to Ten of thousand people suffer from epilepsy. In
high-income countries, 49 of 100,000 people suffer from epilepsy.
Significance of the 2023 theme
People with epilepsy suffer from stigma and discrimination. For this reason, it is essential
to spread awareness about the disease and its cure.
World Radio Day 2023
In 2023, the United Nations and other countries are celebrating the 12th edition of World
Radio Day. It is celebrated on February 13. The celebrations of World Radio Day are
launched by UNESCO on behalf of the UN. The day aims to highlight the fact that radios
are the pillars of conflict prevention and play a major role in maintaining peace in the
world.
The theme of World Radio Day
Radio and Peace
Significance of the theme
The war between countries may translate into media conflicts. This increases tensions.
Radio can fuel conflicts. On the other hand, radios can also prevent conflicts from
escalating. Therefore, radio plays a huge role in maintaining peace and making people
safe. For sustainable democracy, radio should provide news independently. It should
gather evidence impartially and let the citizens know what exactly is happening in the
country and in the world.
Why is World Radio Day celebrated?
The day is celebrated to highlight the role played by radio and other broadcasting media.
The day emphasizes the impact of news broadcasted by the radio on the public. Also,
radio is one of the least expensive mediums of communication. It can easily reach remote
areas.
Israel launches sniffing robots
The Locusts have very good smelling power. Israeli researchers have used the antennae of
the locusts to create sniffing robots. The bot is bio-hybrid and therefore its sniffing powers
are higher than the electronic sniffers. With Machine learning, the bot has been taught to
identify different smells.
How was the robot created?
The robot has four wheels. It was created by placing the antenna of locusts between the
electrodes. The electrodes send signals when the antenna grabs a nearby scent. Each
scent has a unique measurement of current. Based on the current generated, the bot
identifies the scent. The bot is calibrated previously for the scent it grabs and the
corresponding current value.
Applications
With this, Israel has taken investigative technologies to next level. The bot sniffers can be
used to detect drugs and explosives.
About the robot
The bot can detect even the tiniest particle or an organism in its surrounding. For
instance, it can even detect a mosquito!
Scientific Principle used
Every sensory organ of animals or insects generates an electric signal when they
encounter external stimuli or a smell. These electric signals are sent to their brain to be
processed and identified. The robot uses the same principle.
Italy discovers invisible Galaxy
Italian researchers have discovered a Black Galaxy or Invisible Galaxy using ALMA. ALMA is
Atacama Large Millimtre Array (Atacama Desert is in South America). The galaxy
discovered is compact. It is young and has interstellar dust. The galaxy is forming new
stars at the rate of 1000 times the Milky Way.
About Invisible Galaxy
The galaxy is termed invisible because the light emitted couldn’t be seen from the earth.
However, the presence of the galaxy has been discovered using the gravitational lensing
technique.
Gravitational Lensing Technique used
Scientists used this technique to discover the galaxy. The technique is generally used to
detect dark matter. The galaxy is located at long distances from the earth and also the
galaxy is young and compact. This makes it difficult to capture light or other wavelengths
emitted by the galaxy. In circumstances where light or its wavelength is not helpful,
gravitational lenses come in aid.
The gravitational field created by the invisible galaxy bends light from other galaxies.
These lights are studied to learn about the invisible galaxy. The technique where
gravitational waves are used to learn about the galaxy is called the gravitational lensing
technique.
Global Investor Summit: UP received Rs 33.5 lakh crores of investment
PM Modi recently inaugurated the Global Investor Summit in Lucknow. It was a three-day-
long summit. Invest UP 2.0 was launched during the summit. Also, Global Trade Show was
conducted. More than 18,605 Memorandum of Understanding were signed during the
summit. The state received Rs 33.5 lakh crores of investment. These investments are to
create 92.5 lakh employees in the state. The investments are primarily in real estate,
renewable energy, education, housing, electronic vehicle manufacturing, food processing,
and renewable energy.
UK investments in UP
During the summit, it was decided that the UK will invest in aerospace, defence, and in
medical sectors.
How did UP attract good investments?
The state of UP has been launching several investment attractive policies. Also, it has been
promoting investments in data centres, aerospace, electrical vehicles, tourism,
warehousing, etc. the state launched a medical device park. Several logistics hubs are
being developed in the Yamuna Expressway. A MEgal food park planned in Bareiily, a
Plastic park planned in Gorakhpur, and several other similar initiatives is increasing the
investments in the state.
President Murmu concluded the summit.
Region-wise investments received
The west of the state has the maximum investments. Around 45% of the investments
received were on this side. District-wise, Noida received the maximum investments
followed by Agra.
US shoots four unidentified objects
The United States Military has been shooting down unidentified objects for the last two
days. It all began with the US Military shooting down a Chinese Spy Ballon. The US Air
Force used its F-22 fighter jets to shoot a Chinese surveillance balloon near the South
Carolina coast. The next day it shot another object near Alaska Air Space. This shooting
was also done using F-22 jets. Yet another unidentified object was shot over northern
Canada. The fourth shooting was done in lake Huron.
About the objects shot
The objects were not like the spy balloon shot earlier. They were cylindrical in shape.
Canada helped the US in tracking and shooting the object. Earlier objects did not pose
threat to the public. But the recently shot object was 200 feet tall. The payload of this
object was more than 1000 pounds. Unlike the earlier objects the last one near Lake
Huron posed threat to civilians and their properties.
Why F-22?
The US military has not sold the F-22 fighter jets to any other countries. Not even the US
allies possess these jets. The jets are single seater with high power. AIM-9X missile was
launched from the F-22 to shoot the objects.
Six New Governors appointed
President Murmu recently appointed six new governors and reshuffled seven others. The
Governor of Arunachal Pradesh B D Mishra was made the LG of Ladakh. Ramesh Bais, the
Governor of Jharkhand was made the Governor of Maharashtra. In all, the president made
13 appointments. 12 were made in the states and one in the UT. Of these 13, 2 states
Nagaland and Meghalaya are election-bound.
About the new appointments
Lt General Kaiwalya Trivikram was appointed the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh
Lakshman Prasad Acharya was appointed as the Governor of Sikkim
CP Radhakrishnan was appointed the Governor of Jharkhand

Shiv Pratap Singh was appointed the Governor of HP
Chand Kataria was appointed the Governor of Assam
Retired SC Judge Abdul Nazeer was appointed the Governor of Andhra Pradesh
About the reshuffles
The Governor of AP Biswa Bhusan was appointed the Governor of Chhattisgarh
Governor of Chhattisgarh Sushri Anusuiya was appointed as the Governor of
Manipur
Governor of Manipur La Ganesh was appointed as the Governor of Nagaland
Governor of Bihar Phagu Chauhan was appointed the Governor of Meghalaya
Governor of HP Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was appointed the Governor of Bihar
Governor of Jharkhand Ramesh Bais was appointed the Governor of Maharashtra
The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh was appointed the LG of Ladakh
Aksai Chin Railway Line
The Chinese Government is planning to build a new railway line in the Aksai Chin region.
The line will run till Pangong Lake. It will run very close to the Line of Actual control. Phase
one of the railway line will be completed by 2025. During this phase, China will lay a
railway line between Xiagtse and Pakhutso. The plan is to complete the line by 2035.
About the Railway Line
China recently proposed a medium-term railway plan and a long-term railway plan for the
Tibet area. The Aksai chin railway line is a part of this plan. Under the plan, China is to
increase the Railway connections of Tibet to 4000 km. Currently, it is 1400 km. And the new
railway line is to pass through the India-Nepal border. Also, it will pass through G219 NH.
G219 NH
It is a Chinese National Highway that connects the entire southern and western borders of
the country. It is 10,000 km long. The construction of the highway commenced in 2013 and
is expected to be completed by 2030. After completion, it will be the longest NH in the
world. Before 2013, the highway connected Xinjiang and Tibet.
1962 war and the new Railway line
The 1962 war was fought between India and China because of the G219 highway. The new
planned Railway line will run through this highway!
Wolf Prize Winners 2023
The Wolf prize is presented by the Wolf Foundation of Israel. It is being awarded since
1978. The Wolf Prizes are presented to scientists and artists. It was founded by a German
Ricardo Wolf. He was an ambassador to Israel. The awards are presented in six fields
namely arts, physics, agriculture, mathematics, chemistry, and medicine. The Arts Wolf
Prize rotates between music, painting, architecture, and sculpture.
Prize Money
The winners get 100,000 USD. The award presentation ceremony is held in Knesset, the
Parliament of Israel. It is said that the award is presented annually. However, it is not so.
Between 2000 and 2010 only six Wolf Prizes were awarded and only 4 prizes were awarded
in Physics. Of all the Wolf Prizes, Physics and Chemistry are the most prestigious.
Wolf Prize Winners 2023
Medicine: Professor Daniel Drucker of Toronto University, Canada; for his research
on intestinal hormones
Agriculture: Martinus Th Rien from the Federal University of Rio De Janeiro; for his
research on water flow and contaminant transport in soils
Physics: Professor Can Genuchten; for his work in soil physics and Vadose zone; the
Vadose zone lies above the groundwater table
Chemistry: three scientists for their work on pathological dysfunctions of RNA; John T
Wilson, Hiroaki Suga, Jeffery W Kelly
Mathematics: Ingrid Daubechies of Duke University; for her work in wavelet theory
Arts: Fujiko Nakaya of Japan and Richard Long of England
Financial Literacy Week 2023
Financial Literacy Week is celebrated between February 13 and February 17. The
celebrations are organized by the Reserve Bank of India. RBI will conduct a mass media
campaign to spread financial awareness during the week. The week is celebrated by the
central bank since 2016. The main objective of the week is financial education.
Theme of Financial Literacy Week 2023
Good Financial Behaviour – Your Saviour
The theme of this year’s Financial Literacy Week aligns with the goals of the National
Strategy for Financial Education. The plan aims to build a financially resilient India. Also, it
will create financial awareness among the public. This week’s celebrations are based on
this plan. In 2023, the RBI will focus on spreading the importance of financial savings,
planning, and efficient budgeting.
Need for the Financial Literacy Week
In India, only 27% of adults are financially literate. Financial literacy is completely different
from literacy. Though the literacy levels of the country are increasing; there is no
significant increase in the financial literacy levels. Understanding financial concepts and
using the money earned efficiently is financial literacy. This includes budgeting, managing
credit, investing, etc. Many literates are unaware of the basic principles of stock markets,
equity funds or mutual funds. Such knowledge is essential to invest in the right place. This
will help in the overall economic growth of the country.
Australia: Anniversary of Stolen Generation Apology
In 2008, the then Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd formally apologized to the
indigenous people of Australia. The successive governments in Australia removed the
Islanders of Aboriginal and Torres Strait. More than 1000s families were forcibly removed
from their lands by governments and churches. He referred to the children of these
families as the Stolen Generation. In 1995, the Human Rights Commission of Australia
launched a nationwide investigation and collected more than 1000s of stolen generation
children. In 1997, “Bringing them Home” was launched. The criticalities of the status of the
children shook the world. In 2008, the issue exploded and then PM Kevin apologized for
the actions of previous governments. He offered an apology on February 13, 2008. In 2023,
the Australian Government is marking the Anniversary of Stolen Generation Apology.
Current Scenario
The present Australian Government has allocated 424 million USD for the stolen
generation. It has launched the Closing Gap Implementation Gap to help these children.
Why were they forced to leave?
Racism. The islanders of Aboriginal and Torress Strait were black. The White invaded
Australia in 1788. Australia became a British colony. They started ruling the continent. The
indigenous black was forced to leave the land. Sadly, it continued even in the late 20th
century.
LTTE Chief Prabhakaran is alive
Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The
militant organization was responsible for killing Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. LTTE wants a
separate land for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. They waged a war against Sri Lanka 25 years
ago. The Sri Lankan Army killed the LTTE chief in 2009 and the war ended. However, a
Tamil Political leader Nedumaran recently claimed that Prabhakaran is still alive and
healthy.
What is the issue?
The Tamilians arrived in Sri Lanka during the Chola period. During British rule, the
Tamilians were favoured and the Sinhalese were isolated. After the British left the island in
1948, the scenario started reversing. 11.2% of the population are Tamilians and 74.9% are
Sinhalese. As days passed by, Sinhalese started occupying key government posts. This
isolated Tamil. Thus they formed a militant organization called LTTE claiming a separate
land.
How were they associated with Rajiv Gandhi’s murder?
The suicide bomber that killed Rajiv Gandhi was from LTTE. The LTTE did not like India
sending peacekeeping forces. The force was sent to help the Sri Lankan Government in
controlling LTTE.
Adani Row: SC to form panel
The Supreme Court took up a PIL filed on the Adani-Hinderburg issue on February 10,
2023. The SC asked the Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta to bring up solutions for
protecting the investors in the country. The apex court brought this up as many investors
lost their money due to the stock manipulation of Adani and its group. Two days’ time was
given; to this Mr Tushar who represented SEBI and GoI replied that the current provisions
are enough to keep the investors safe. However, the GoI has no objections to SC forming a
committee to look into the requirements; to check if they are sufficient to protect the
investors.
Why did SC interfere?
The international reputation of India was at stake. Gautham Adani, the CEO of Adani
group was the second richest person in the world. The opposition party is of the opinion
that he is a close associate of PM Modi. With the Hinderburg revealing stock manipulation
of Adani, many investors from India and from abroad lost their money. This affected the
overall reputation of India at the world level. So SC decided to take up the PIL filed on the
issue.
Russia supplied 13 billion USD worth arms to India in last 5 years
A report recently released by the Government of Russia states that the country supplied
13 billion USD worth of arms to India in the last five years. Apart from this, India has
placed 10 billion USD worth of military equipment orders with Russia. With this, India
becomes the biggest defence buyer of Russia. India accounts for 20% of Russia’s defence
trade. During the Aero India 2023 recently held in Bengaluru, Russia showcased more than
200 of its weapon samples.
India-US
India has been maintaining its trade ties between US and Russia in a diplomatic way. With
the US, India is now planning to launch a new defence innovation roadmap. Also, India is
trying to buy F-35 fighter jets from the US. The defence trade with the US increased
recently. In 2022, the India-US defence trade stood at 21 billion USD. Though India started
its journey of defence with Russia’s help, the US is one of its major defence partners of
India today. It is essential to maintain a neutral stand with the world powers.
February 14, 2023
Demand for a Greater Tipraland
The Tipra Motha Party was founded by Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma. The core
demand of the party is “Greater Tipraland”. Tipraland is a proposed region for the
Tripuris. They are now a part of Tripura state. They demand 68% of Tripura state. Also, the
party wants to add the Tripuris living outside the region to be added.
Why is it in news now?
The ECI is to conduct Tripura state elections in February 2023. Tripuris are the major tribes
in the state. They constitute more than 50% of the Tripura state population as of the 2011
census. Therefore, the party gaining their trust has a greater chance to win the elections.
In 2019, the Tipra Motha Party leader Bikram Manikya Deb Barma was appointed as the
president of the Tripura Congress Committee. However, he resigned alleging the
Congress party is forcing him to include corrupt people.
Constitutional features
The Tripuris want to form a separate state as per articles 2 and 3 of the constitution.
Article 2 says that territories acquired or in the possession of GoI shall be converted into a
separate state. Article 3 explains the rules and procedures of forming a new state. It also
speaks about changing the boundaries of the existing state.
What are micro LED displays?
The smartphone giant APPLE is shifting towards micro LED. The micro LEDs are self-
illuminating diodes. Their colour production and illumination are brighter than organic
LEDs. Their energy consumption is less compared to normal LEDs. Apple is planning to use
micro LEDs in its future watch models.
What is a micro LED display?
It is a flat-panel display. Its pixel elements are made of microscopic LEDs.
The main advantage of micro-LED display is greater control of pixel-level light control
The lifetime of micro LEDs is greater than the OLED (Organic LED)
Higher brightness at reduced risk of screen burning
Working Principle
The micro LED uses Indium Gallium Nitride semiconductors. In micro LEDs, each pixel can
be turned ON or turned OFF. This cannot be done with conventional LEDs. Therefore, you
get perfect colour control and contrast with micro-LED displays. The life of micro LEDs is
longer. They can emit light continuously for more than 100,000 hours. That is, non-stop
use for 11 years!
Why are micro LEDs better?
The LCD displays in the market today use LED as backing light and a liquid crystal layer to
create the image. The image is created by blocking the light on the crystal wherever
required. There are no such complications with micro LEDs. Each and every LED on the
screen can be controlled. Therefore, the image resolution is high, response time is less
and power consumption is less.
Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project - Update (February, 2023)
The Rajasthan State Government (Congress) allocated Rs 13,000 crores to the Eastern
Rajasthan Canal Project. The budget was presented by the CM of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot.
He also holds the finance portfolio of the state. Gehlot Government wants the centre to
share the cost of the canal. The canal is to run through 13 districts of the state.
What is Eastern Rajasthan Canal?
The canal will bring water to the water-scarce south-eastern districts of Rajasthan. It will
fulfil the drinking and irrigation needs of the people here. It is expected that the canal will
fulfil the water demands of the region by 2051. The canal will bring water from rivers in
the southern part of Rajasthan. This includes Chambal, Parvati, Kunnu, Kalisindh, etc.
Why is the Central Government share necessary?
Rajasthan holds 10.4% of the total land area of India. However, it has only 1.16% of surface
water and 1.72% of groundwater in the country. Therefore, it is essential that the central
government provide aid to construct the canal.
Concerns
The main objective of the canal is to bring “Surplus water”. Only river Chambal in the area
has surplus water. However, water from the river cannot be brought directly as the area
near Kota barrage has been declared as a crocodile sanctuary. Therefore, the project will
require environmental clearances as well.
Smart Cities Mission – Update on Progress
The Smart Cities Mission was launched in 2015 to provide clean mobility, air, public safety,
etc. The latest update on Smart Cities Mission released by GoI says that 22 cities will
complete their missions by March 2023. Agra, Chennai, Pune, Varanasi, and Ahmedabad
are some of them. The other cities are Madurai, Thanjavur, Trichy, Amaravati, Kakinada,
Vizag, Surat, Ranchi, Erode, Udaipur, etc.

Funds
So far the GoI allocated Rs 36,447 crores for the mission. Of this Rs 32, 095 crores have
been utilized. In further stages, Rs 48,000 crores will be allocated. On average, a city
receives Rs 100 crores per year in this mission.
COVID Initiatives implemented under the mission
GPS tracking of workers associated with health care, CCTV surveillance, GIS mapping of
COVID infections, tele-counselling and tele-medicines, ambulance tracking, etc.
Other areas
The mission works in 24 areas. Of these 10 are directly and indirectly related to water.
They are smart metres, water quality monitoring, leakage identification, etc.
CBRN terror response in TARKASH Exercise
India and USA military recently conducted the TARKASHA exercise. It was held in Chennai,
Tamil Nadu. The Special Operation Forces of the US and the National Security Guard of
India participated in the exercise. Usually, military exercises focus on enhancing the skills
and weapon usage of the soldiers. In a unique way, this exercise focused on CBRN
TERROR RESPONSE. CBRN means Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear.
What are CBRN terror responses?
The training and strategies used against CBRN are called CBRN terror response. The CBRN
weapons cause mass destruction. One of the recent CBRN usages was in Syria in 2017.
Sarin gas was used to attack and the gas killed more than 100.
Why is CBRN coming up?
It is believed that the exercise was launched against the backdrop of the Ukraine war. In
2022, a chemical attack was done in the Kharkiv region, a Ukraine-Russia war-prone zone.
Both countries are blaming each other for the incident.
Need for CBRN response
CBRN war methods are increasing. When terrorists and enemy countries are unable to
fight directly, they use CBRN war tactics. For instance, chemical weapons like mustard
gases were used. There are biological weapons like Anthrax. It is believed that even COVID
virus was one such biological weapon used by China against its economic rivalries.
Marburg Disease Outbreak
The World Health Organization recently confirmed the Marburg disease outbreak in
Equatorial Guinea. Patients suffering from the disease experience diarrhoea, vomiting,
and stomach pain. Also, there is bleeding in severe cases. An e-bola-related virus is
causing the disease. The Spread of the disease is epidemic; meaning the disease is
widespread.
Marburg virus
The virus comes from bats. It spreads through close skin contact, bodily fluids, and also
through infected surfaces. It causes hemorrhagic fever. Fever affects the organs and they
start bleeding.
Symptoms of the disease
Vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhoea are the major symptoms
Incubation period: 2 days to three weeks
Severe cases face bleeding; that is, they may vomit blood; also they may find blood in
their gums, stools, nose, etc.
Incubation period: the time period between the people get exposure to the disease and
the appearance of the first symptom
Some Facts about Marburg Virus
Both Marburg and Ebola viruses belong to the Filoviridae family, that is, the Filovirus
Marburg virus was first identified in German cities in 1967
The disease is fatal. 88% of the people infected with the disease died
No approved vaccines are available for the virus
Before the outbreak of Equatorial Guinea, the Marburg outbreak occurred in Ghana
in 2022
TRIFED Aadi Mahotsav Festival
The Tribal Affairs ministry recently launched the Aadi Mahotsav festival. It is a ten-day long
festival. The festival is to be celebrated in New Delhi. PM Modi will inaugurate the festival.
More than thousands of artisans from different parts of India will take part in the festival.
The main objective of the Aadi Mahotsav festival is to promote tribal products. TRIFED is
hosting the festival on behalf of the tribal ministry.
Need for Aadi Mahotsav Festival
The middle man marketing and sales hinder the profit earned by the tribal population.
Middlemen sweep away most of the profits. Artisans’ hard work goes in vain. The Aadi
Mahotsav festival was launched to put an end to this middleman profiteering. The festival
acts as a good market for craftsmen and artisans to promote their products directly. It
provides direct access to bigger markets.
Significance of the 2023 Aadi Mahotsav Festival
Organic products produced by the artisans are to play a bigger role in the 2023 Aadi
Mahotsav Festival
More than 39 Van Dhan Vikas Kendra are to participate in the festival
Great opportunity to learn about the skills of artisans in remote places
The theme of the 2023 Aadi Mahotsav Festival
A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Crafts, Culture, Cuisine, and Commerce
Shree Anna Products at the Festival
GoI is now promoting millet in the country and also in different parts of the world. To
create awareness tribal artisans from different parts of India have been invited to display
and sell Shree Anna, millet products and cuisines.
Khanan Prahari Application
Illegal mining is increasing in India. While the illegal mining of minor minerals is common
in states like AP, Telangana, and TN; illegal mining of major minerals like coal is common
in northeastern states like Assam and Meghalaya. To curb illegal mining in the country,
the GoI recently launched a mobile application and a surveillance system. The mobile app
launched is called KHANAN PRAHARI. The surveillance system is CMSMS, that is, Coal Mine
Surveillance and Management System.
About the app and the system
Anyone can report activities of illegal mining through the app
The main objective of launching these is to encourage citizen participation in acting
against illegal mining
Significance and Way forward
Illegal mining of minor minerals is increasing exponentially compared to major minerals.
This is because the demand for minor minerals like sand and gravel is increasing.
According to United Nations Environment Programme, India ranks topmost in illegal sand
mining. Fear and hesitation are the major reasons for the increase in illegal mining.
Commoners noticing the activities of illegal mining are scared to report them. The IT
technologies and mobile advancements and applications such as the KHANAN PRAHARI
APP will help to keep the identity anonymous. Eventually, the chances of reporting will
increase with these technology-related reporting systems
Saudi Arabia to send its first woman to space
Rayyana Barnawi. The legendary woman is to make history. She will be the first Arab
woman to enter space. This is a historical moment for the country that had centuries of
restrictions against Muslim women! Rayyana is to travel to the International Space Station
along with Ali Al-Qarni, a fighter jet pilot. SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is to carry them. The
crews are to be launched from Florida.
Why is it historic?
Saudi Arabia has been very conservative about its women. However, Crown Prince
Mohammed Bin Salman brought in several changes. He allowed women to drive. Also,
permitted women to travel abroad.
First Arab Muslim to travel to space
The Royal Prince of Saudi Arabia Prince Sultan Bin Salman was the first Saudi Arabian to
travel to space in 1985. He too travelled in a US-organized space flight.
Significance
The Arab countries are relaxing their laws. They are liberalizing their restrictions on
Muslim women. The recent first woman space flight is one of the reflections of Arab
relaxation. The country is doing so to increase its trade relations. The only way to attract
investors to the country is to ensure their comfort and safety.
With the world moving towards alternate fuels, the future of oil is becoming unsure.
Therefore, the Arab world is forced to come out of its conservations. International
relations experts see this as trade-based changes!
What is Pulwama Attack?
Pulwama district is in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pulwama Attack killed more than 40 CPRF
personnel. It occurred on February 14, 2019. The Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group
claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack was conducted by a vehicle-borne suicide
bomber. The UN and several other countries condemned the attack. This includes China,
Russia, and France, the UK, the US, and Israel. In 2023, the CPRF marked the fourth
anniversary of its fellowmen.
The consequence of Pulwama Attack: Balkot Airstrikes
India launched the Balakot Airstrike in response to the Pulwama attack. During the
airstrike, The IAF dropped bombs into Balkot and blasted the training camps of Jaish-e-
Mohammed. Around 300 to 350 terrorists were killed during the operation. India
conducted the strikes crossing the Line of Control!
At the UN
India wanted the United Nations Security Council to designate the Jaish-e-Mohammed
Chief, Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. However, China blocked the resolution. If
marked as a global terrorist, all assets of Masood will be frozen. He will be banned from
travelling. Also, he cannot indulge in an arms embargo. However, after a big struggle, the
UN designated Masood as a global terrorist. However, the organization did not mention
the Pulwama attack marking him a terrorist. Meaning, he was not made a global terrorist
for the Pulwama attack; but for other reasons.
Income Tax Survey at BBC offices
The Income Tax Department operating under the Finance Ministry recently launched a
massive survey on BBC offices located in different parts of the country. The survey was
launched mainly in Delhi and Mumbai. Officials seized laptops and mobile phones.
According to the legal experts, the survey is a counter-action to the BBC document on the
2002 riots. The document links PM Modi with the riots.
What is the story?
In 2002, a train was set to fire in Godhra and the incident killed more than 58 Hindu
pilgrims. These pilgrims were returning from Ayodhya. Riots and anti-muslim activities
increased in the state of Gujarat because of the incident. It took three days to control the
riots. More than 1044 people were killed. PM Modi was the then CM of Gujarat. He was
linked with the riots. Congress party filed a petition regarding the “link”. SC took up the
case. SIT teams were established to investigate. Based on the findings of the SIT, SC
relieved him from the case.
Recent Developments
Recently, BBC created a document on the riots. The document was banned by GoI. A
month back, social activist Advocate Prashanth Bhushan and others filed a petition against
the ban in Supreme Court. The SC issued a notice asking for explanations of the ban. After
receiving the explanations from GoI, on February 10, 2023, the SC dismissed the case
claiming the petition is “misconceived”. Now with this judgement, the GoI claims that BBC
is corrupt. According to GoI, the organization is misleading the country with false
accusations and has launched the survey!
Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?
Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian American is the CEO of Anti-Woke Inc. The Republican is
planning to contest in the 2024 US elections. He is 37 years old and his worth is 500 million
USD. He has been propagating socially responsible investments and “Wokeism”. He is into
anti-ESG investments, that is, Environmental, Social and Governance investing. He has
good connections with Republican politicians, farmers and businessmen!
About Vivek Ramaswamy
Vivek was born and brought up in Ohio. His parents are from Kerala. Vivek graduated
from Harvard as a biologist. Later he went to Yale Law school in 2013. In 2014, he
founded the Roviant sciences pharmaceutical company. In 2015, his works on drug
development appeared on the front cover of Forbes.
Vivek is also an author of Woke Inc. He is a co-founder of Strive Asset Management.
Vivek is a philanthropist. He serves as the director of the Philanthropy Roundtable.
What is Wokeism?
It is the attitude of people being sensitive towards political and social injustices.
Bima Sugam Portal
The growth rate of the insurance sector in the country is very slow. Indian insurance
sector accounts for less than 1.5% of world insurance. GoI has been taking several
measures to increase investment in the sector. The FDI limit was increased to 49% from
26%. LIC was disinvested; Sampoorna Bima Gram Yojana has launched; Jeevan Jyoti Bima
Yojana; Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, etc. Despite the steps, the sector remains
stagnant. To create a common platform for insurance buyers and sellers, the GoI recently
launched the Bima Sugam Portal. Here, you can find all the insurance companies in the
market. Also, you can buy insurance schemes here.
What is Bima Sugam Portal?
It is an electronic platform to sell insurance. Policyholders can view their insurance plans
here. They can manage their plans. The portal is accessible to insurance buyers, and
sellers. Agents and intermediaries can also have access to the portal.
Benefits
The portal will mainly help startups entering the insurance sector. Also, it is an attractive
option for the insure tech and wealth tech companies as the portal holds centralized data
of the products. There are hidden details in some insurance policies. Such issues can be
avoided. Buyers get to learn about different plans and choose the right one!
State of Emergency in New Zealand after Cyclone Gabrielle
Cyclone Gabrielle hit the New Zealand coast and caused severe damage. Heavy rains,
floods, and landslides forced the New Zealand government to declare an emergency. It
was a Category 3 cyclone. PM of NZ announced a 7.3 million USD relief package. Winds
reached a speed of 140 km/hr. Auckland was badly hit. Homes were left powerless. More
than 500 flights were cancelled.
Emergency in New Zealand
During emergencies, the local bodies of the country have greater power. They get the
power of restricting travel.
How does New Zealand work during Emergencies?
The National Emergency Management Agency takes full control. It operates directly under
PM. It connects the local bodies and the PM directly.

When can the NZ Govt declare an emergency?
The NZ govt. can declare three different types of emergencies namely local emergency,
national emergency, and regional emergency. The emergency shall be declared when
there is a threat to biosecurity, or defence, during earthquakes, epidemics, wildfires, etc.
El Nino and La Nina on Australian and New Zealand Cyclones
They face more cyclones during LA NINA. During EL NINO, the region becomes dry and
there are wildfires. EL NINO and LA NINA develop during Mar-Jun. Their intensities reach a
peak during Nov-Feb. Their effects weaken during summer.
February 15, 2023
States’ allocation towards education – Data
Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman presented the Union Budget in Parliament on
February 1, 2023. Following the union budget the state governments too presented their
budget for the financial year 2023-24 in their respective legislative assemblies. Of all the
states, the State Governments of Bihar and Chhattisgarh allocated more towards
education.
Allocations by the states
Maharashtra allocated Rs 80,437 for education. UP allocated Rs 75,165 crores. West Bengal
allocated Rs 43,466 crores. Rajasthan allocated Rs 49,627 crores, and Tamil Nadu allocated
Rs 43,799 crores. The Central Government allocated Rs 44,094 crores on education, that is,
16.51% of the total budget. This is 8% higher than the previous year. In 2022-23, the union
government allocated Rs 40,828 crores.
Observation
The most literate state in India is Kerala. The literacy rate in TN is 80%. The literacy rate of
UP is 67.68%. The literacy rate of Bihar is 61.8%. The literacy rate of Chhattisgarh is 70.28%.
The literacy rate of west Bengal is 76.26%. Rajasthan: 66.11%. So the overall observation
says that TN is planning on increasing its literacy rates further though it is already higher.
CPI and WPI based inflation Data Updates
The Wholesale Price Index reduced to 4.73% and the Consumer Price Index increased to
6.52% in January 2023. The WPI was 4.95% in December 2022 and the CPI was 5.72% in
December 2022. In January 2022, the WPI was 13.68%.
What caused WPI to reduce in January 2023?
The decline comes mainly due to chemicals, mineral oils, textiles, natural gas, textiles, food
products, and crude petroleum. The overall inflation in manufactured goods was reduced.
However, in food items, it increased to 2.38% in Jan 2023 and compared to -1.25% in Dec
2022.
Inflation in fuel and power reduced to 15.15% in Jan 2023. It was 18.09% in Dec 2022. Also,
inflation of manufactured goods reduced from 3.37% in Dec 2022 to 2.99% in Jan 2023.
Another main reason for the declining inflation is the reduction of global prices.
CPI breaching RBI targets
RBI had set a target of 6% for CPI inflation. It rose to 6.52% in Jan 2023 breaching RBI
targets. If it keeps increasing, by April there will be liquidity tightening.

The Reserve Bank of India recently increased the repo rate by 25 bps to control the
increasing inflation in the country. RBI has increased the repo rate by 250 bps since May
2022.
Note: CPI gives importance to the food products and other primary products used by the
citizens. While WPI is about manufactured products.
Fungal Attack in Neem Trees
The neem trees in the state of Telangana are affected by a fungus. The fungus is invisible
to the human eye and has been identified as Phomopsis azadirachtae. The trees are not
dying. However, the fungus is disturbing the capability of the trees to produce healthy
fruit. Also, the fungus is also affecting the flowers being produced by the trees.
How deep is the issue?
Neem trees have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. They have a huge role in the
field of Ayurvedic and other traditional Indian medicines. India is the largest exporter of
neem products in the world. The fungus may affect neem exports.
About the disease
The fungus is causing a disease called Twig Blight. The disease kills the twigs, shoots,
branches, and the starting tips of the neem trees.
Solution
Spraying fungicides is the best cure. However, each tree has to be given individual
attention. The fungicide cannot be sprayed in mass. Also, the trees need to be pruned now
and then. Twigs start to die after the fungicides are sprayed. So they need to be removed.
History of Twig Blight
The disease was first reported in Dehra Dun in the 1980s. It was found in the forests of the
Himalayan regions. Later it was found in parts of Karnataka and TN around 2000. It
reached the Rayalseema region of AP from Karnataka. From here it has now come to
Telangana.
CBDT notifies 6 income tax return forms
The taxpayer should fill out the income tax return form and submit it to the Income Tax
Department. The IT dept calculates the liabilities of the taxpayer. If he or she has paid
extra taxes, then a refund is made. ITR should be filed every year. The CBDT recently
notified six different ITR forms.
What are the forms notified?
ITR-1 SAHAJ: It is for individuals whose income is less than fifty lakh rupees. The
income shall be from house properties, salaries, and other sources. His agricultural
income should be less than five thousand rupees.
ITR-2: These forms are for individuals whose profits do not come from business and
professions
ITR-3: These forms are for individuals whose profits come from business and
profession
SUGAM ITR-4: These forms are for individuals whose income is less than 50 lakh
rupees. They can be residents or LLPs

ITR-5: These forms are for persons other than HUF, individuals filling ITR-7
ITR-6: These are for companies claiming exemptions
ITR-V: These forms are for persons whose above forms are filed but not verified
electronically
Who should file ITR?
Individuals up to the age of 59 years, companies registered under the Companies Act,
2013, persons or firms claiming a refund, foreign companies, NRI earning more than 2.5
lakhs per annum in India
Uttarakhand New Anti-Cheating Law
The Governor of Uttarakhand recently issued an ordinance to control unfair recruitment in
the state. In accordance with the ordinance, the State Government can impose fines of up
to 10 crores of rupees against unfair practices in exams and in recruitment. Since 2016,
there were multiple paper leaks in the state.
Features of the law
The ordinance is applicable to all the public examinations conducted by the state
government and also to the autonomous bodies that come under the purview of the
state government
If an examinee cheats during the exam, he shall be imprisoned for 3 years and fined
a minimum of 5 lakh rupees
Other persons punishable under the law
Presses that are printing the question paper fraudulently
Service providers or contractors who conduct the exam
Management that is conducting the exam
Coaching centres
Vehicles carrying unauthorized exam materials
Organizations that hold the question paper illegally
Provision for the applicant
The applicants found cheating shall not write any competitive exam for ten years. He or
she will be non-bailable.
Need of the law
Cheating in exams compromises merit, increases corruption in the country, reduces the
overall efficiency of the youth, discourages hard work, and ultimately creates an immoral
and unethical society which is not good for the future citizens of the country. The law is
required to discourage cheating practices and to maintain the quality of academics
BIMARU States Acronym
BIMARU is an acronym for the states BI: Bihar; MA: MP, R: Rajasthan, and U: UP. The
acronym was formed by Ashish Bose, an economist from the 1980s. BIMARU (Bimar) in
Hindi means sick. The economist framed the acronym to stress the fact that the poor
economic conditions of these four states are affecting the overall GDP growth of India.
During the Investors Summit conducted in UP, PM Modi recalled the term.
Who coined “BIMARU”?
Ashish Bose. He was an economist and a demographer. Demographers are persons who
study the changes happening in the economy due to population increase or decrease. In
these four states, the population increased tremendously. According to Bose, these four
states are economically backward in terms of health care, education, and other
developmental activities mainly due to population explosion.
What is the issue?
The Total Fertility Rate in these states is 2.1. The TFR is the number of children a woman
produces in her lifetime. Yet, family planning was not as efficient as in the southern states.
Role of BIMARU states in a population explosion
India is to beat China in population very soon and will become the most populous country
in the world. These four states have a major role in making India the most populous. They
account for 41% of the total Indian population! By 2026, they will account for 43.5%.
Kerala Stipend Scheme for Junior Lawyers
The Chief Minister of Kerala recently launched the Stipend scheme for lawyers in the state.
The scheme is to be implemented by the Bar Council of the state. The council will be
joined by the Advocates Welfare Trust. Under the scheme, the junior lawyers in the state
will be paid three thousand rupees every month.
Eligibility
Only junior lawyers are eligible to receive the benefits of the scheme. Also, the lawyers
should have at least three years of practice experience. Their annual income should be
less than one lakh rupees.
Need of the scheme
Junior lawyers are law graduates who work under attorneys or legal associates. They
mostly do the documenting work in a case. They do research and prepare notes for their
seniors. He is mostly a helping hand. The payment received by the junior lawyers is very
less. Apart from this, the training they receive is also very less. After legal education, it is
essential for every lawyer to get trained under a senior to learn practical experiences.
Rather than five years of study, this training period is crucial to them. However, they
struggle financially as all the seniors do not pay enough. Thus, Kerala Government has
launched this scheme to help the junior during their struggle period.
Discovery of New Quasicrystal
A US scientist recently discovered quasicrystals. The major difference between an ordinary
crystal and a quasi-crystal is that the atomic patterns in quasi-crystals do not repeat
themselves as that of an ordinary crystal. They are rare to occur naturally. However, can
be created artificially. So far, we have discovered only two naturally occurring
quasicrystals. The recently discovered is the third naturally occurring quasicrystal and was
formed accidentally from an electric discharge. This would have happened due to
lightning strikes or power line downing.
What is a Quasicrystal?
Scientists believed that the atomic patterns in crystals repeat and are symmetrical. This
assumption changed in 1982 when Dan Shechctman found that atomic structures in
crystals are mathematically identical but may or may not repeat themselves. Schechtman
found this by passing X-rays through crystals. He received Nobel Prize for this in 2011.
Such crystals whose atomic structure does not repeat are called quasi-crystals.
What is the new discovery?
The quasi-crystals are usually laboratory made. Quasi crystals require high pressure and
temperature to form such patterns where the atomic structures do not repeat themselves.
It is very rare to occur naturally. However, scientists have discovered a naturally occurring
Quasi crystal; twice before. The first discovery was in 2009 in Russia. The second discovery
was in 2021 in Mexico from a nuclear explosion. The recent and third discovery is from a
meteorite near Nebraska. The meteorite rock that hit the earth’s surface millions of years
ago has been hit by a lightning strike and the quasi-crystal was formed.
Hollow Hog to help Australia’s Endangered Wildlife
Logging and bushfires are destroying animal habitats in Australia and endangering
wildlife. To protect them and prevent their extinction, Matt Stephens created a tool. It is
called a Hollow hog and is used to make holes in trees. Matt is a conservation biologist.
The holes created using the tool act as homes for the animals and birds in the wild.
About Hollow Hog
The tool has tungsten blades and can create holes within one hour. The holes last for
more than a hundred years and will act as a home for the animals in the wild. More than
thousands of holes have been created in Australia using the tool.
Need for the tool
A natural hollow takes at least 70 years to form. And there are more than 303 animal
species in the country that depend on the hollows. They use the hollows as shelter and
nest. Some of the animals that use hollows are Rainbow Lorikeets, Marsupials, rosellas,
etc.
Working of Hollow hog
The tool first creates a 500 mm of entry hole. It then carves out wood up to 600 mm deep
and 600 mm wide. It can also create holes of different shapes and sizes.
Benefits
The holes will act as a good breeding spot for birds and animals. After creating the hole,
the tool inserts an entry modifier to ensure that the tree doesn’t grow over in that part.
This way the holes stand longer.
Postpartum Depression
After childbirth, mothers experience mood swings, anxiety, and crying spells. They are
generally referred to as “Baby Blues” and are technically called postpartum depression. It
occurs in every mom irrespective of their income level, support system, family, friends, etc.
It may last for two to three days or even for weeks. A recent UK study says that the
intensity of postpartum depression is increasing lately and has become one of the leading
causes of suicides among new mothers.
What is postpartum depression?
It is not a weakness or character flaw. It is a side effect of giving birth! The mothers feel
sad and have an urge to cry aloud; as if something terrible has happened.
Peripartum depression
Usually, depression occurs after childbirth. However, if the depression occurs before
childbirth, that is, during pregnancy, it is called peripartum depression.
Postpartum psychosis
It is a deep mood disorder. Here the mothers face terrible mood swings and anxiety. Such
mothers face sleep disorders, are pumped with energy, are delusive, and even may
attempt to harm the baby!
Causes of postpartum depression
Hormonal changes. The estrogen and progesterone change rapidly during childbirth.
Their levels drop all of a sudden Such sudden reduction cannot be handled by some ladies
and they face severe postpartum depression
Study: Noise from Deep Sea Mining disrupts Whale Song
The Whales create sound patterns to communicate with each other. These sounds are
generally referred to as whale songs. The songs are mostly about prey and breeding
grounds. Humpback whales create such songs during mating season alone. Only the
males of the species sing and the females don’t! Some other whale species create the
songs during feeding periods. Therefore, whale songs are very essential for the survival of
the largest mammal on the earth. However, a recent study says that deep-sea mining is
disrupting the whale song. The songs are not able to fulfil the purpose of their creation.
They are stopped midway by the vibrations and disturbances from the deep sea mining.
Thus, deep-sea mining may endanger the survival of whales.
What is the issue?
The whale song frequencies range between 20 Hz and 10 KHz. The songs can be heard
even if the mammals are miles apart and the songs may run for days together. Seabed
mining of nickel and cobalt is interfering with whale communication. The sounds
produced by the digging equipment, rock blasters, and vehicles operated on the sea floor
bed are overlapping with the frequencies of whale songs. Thus, the messages sent are
disrupted. This leads to wrong message delivery or no message delivery at all.
Impacts of deep-sea mining
The mothers may separate from their calves. Mating may be affected. Communication
disruption between groups will affect the biodiversity of the species.
Marine Spatial Planning Framework
The process of allocating spaces in marine zones for human activities is called the Marine
Spatial Planning Framework (MSPF). The space is allocated for economic purposes,
ecological purposes, or social purposes. The key elements of the framework are
ecosystem-based plans, integrated plans, area-based plans, strategic plans, and adaptive
and participatory plans.
Why is it in news?
The first MSPF in India was launched in Puducherry recently. The plan is to be
implemented by India and Norway together. It is being implemented under the Indo-
Norway Ocean Initiative. The initiative was created under an MoU signed between the
countries in 2019.
Objectives of Marine Spatial Planning Framework
To bring the diverse ocean users under the same platform
To create a broad and inclusive picture of the ocean
To provide a common platform for the policy builders and decision makers to discuss
with each other
To allocate marine spaces the right way
To increase transparency
Need for Marine Spatial Planning Framework
The stresses on the ocean ecosystem are increased due to an increase in anthropogenic
activities. As humans try to develop tourism, produce renewable energy, and use coastal
waters for aquaculture, the development pressures are creating spatial conflicts. Along
with climate change these pressures are creating new threats to the marine ecosystem.
Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness
The Government of India is to launch Millet International Initiative for Research and
Awareness. It is in line with the United Nations’ plans for the International Year of Millets,
which is 2023. India brings in the concept of “SEED MONEY” in the initiative. Research
activities on millet, and increasing their productivity will be focused on the initiative.
Indian Institute of Millet Research located in Hyderabad will provide technical support to
the initiative.
Objectives of MIIRA
To coordinate the millet research programme
To involve different countries and increase the skill set of the research activities
To increase millet consumption in the world
To increase investment in millet research
What is SEED MONEY?
Every G20 member has to pay a membership fee to join the initiative. Food security is the
top priority of G20. The fees will be used in implementing the initiative in different parts of
the world.
Background
With India’s insistence, the UN declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. This will
help GoI in achieving its goal of making the country a “Global Hub for Millets”. India
produces one-fifth of the world’s millets and is to boost them in the name of “Shree
Anna”.
Why millets?
Millets require very less water to grow as compared to rice and wheat. The most common
and popular millet is jowar. It is grown in the US, Australia, China, India, Sudan, Nigeria,
and Argentina. Another popular millet is Bajra grown only in India and African countries.
As the millet production is very low in other countries, India has good opportunities to
capture the global trade of millet. Also, the world is moving towards a nutritious and
healthy diet. All these factors are in favour of India in its path of becoming the Global Hub
of millet.
Black Sea Grain Deal
Ukraine is one of the largest exporters of food grains such as rapeseed, maize, wheat, and
sunflower oil. The country has good access to the Black sea ports. Ukrainian ports in the
Black sea are the lifelines of the country’s trade with Europe and middle-east.
Unfortunately, the Ukraine-Russia war blockaded the ports. To aid Ukraine with its smooth
exports, United Nations and Turkey came forward. Under their brokering, Ukraine and
Russia signed the Black Sea Grain Deal in July 2022.
What is the Black Sea Grain Deal?
The deal was to provide a safe corridor for Ukrainian exports, especially food grains on
humanitarian concerns. The main objective of the deal was to calm markets and to reduce
increasing food inflation affecting several countries.
Features of the Deal
JCC – Joint Coordination Centre was created. All commercial ships carrying Ukrainian
exports should register with the centre. The representatives from Turkey, the UN, Ukraine,
and Russia will oversee the working of the centre. The deal was for 120 days. It was to be
renewed again.
Why is it news now?
The next renewal date has come. Russia is refusing to extend the deal. The country is
asking for the removal of its sanctions in different parts of the world in return!
Israel Judicial Reform Plans
The Knesset (Parliament of Israel) recently proposed a series of judicial reforms. Israelis
believe that the new changes will curb the power of the country’s judicial system to
question lawmakers. The reforms empower the Knesset to make judicial appointments at
will. Citizens believe that the new changes are limiting the power of the Israeli Judicial
System. Thousands are protesting against the reforms in the country.
Current Scenario
Under the current system, the Supreme Court (SC) of Israel has the power to strike down
legislation if they are in violation of the basic laws of the country. Basic laws include 13
laws related to individual liberty. So, this power of SC is essential to protect human rights.
Reforms planned
Knesset gets full power in making judicial appointments. This includes judges, bar
association members, judicial committee people, etc.
SC shall not review the laws legislated by the Knesset
Knesset gets the power to overrule SC order
Proposes to appoint legal advisors from independent authorities and not from SC or
other courts
Courts shall not hear appeals that are against government decisions
How are judges appointed in Israel?
A judicial selection committee comprising of the justice minister, SC president and other
two senior judges of the SC appoint the judges of the SC.
Earthquake of 6.1 magnitude hits New Zealand
After Cyclone Gabrielle, New Zealand faced yet another disastrous natural calamity. An
earthquake of 6.1 Ritcher shook the country. The epicentre was at a depth of 57.4 km and
50 km from Paraparaumu. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre was right
at the Cook Strait. The strait divides the two main landmasses of the country. No tsunami
warnings were issued. People felt the shaking for ten to twenty seconds.
Is this an after-effect of the Turkey Earthquake?
Possibly yes! The Turkey earthquake was caused by the pushing of African and Asian
plates against the Eurasian plate. This means there were significant movements in the
African plate. The Australian plate adjoins the African plate. So does the Indian plate.
Experts believe that the recent Sikkim earthquake and the New Zealand earthquake may
have common connections with the Turkey earthquake.
COOK STRAIT: It separates the North and South islands of New Zealand. The strait
connects the Tasman sea and the south Pacific ocean.
West Bengal Budget 2023-24
The State Finance Minister of West Bengal Chandrima Bhattacharya recently presented
the state budget for the financial year 2023-24 at the assembly hall. Mamata-led
government is to focus on start-ups, rural connectivity and the manufacturing industry in
2023-24. The finance minister presented a 3.39 lakh crore rupees of budget. Another
major highlight of the budget was fund allocation to the startups. The State Government
allocated 350 crores of rupees for the startups. Each entrepreneur will be provided with
the financial assistance of five lakh rupees to build their startup.
Key Highlights
The State Government is to construct 12,500 km of the road at a projected cost of
3,000 crores of rupees.
Agricultural tax on the tea gardens will be waived for the next two years. That is,
2023-24 and 2024-25
Dearness Allowance increased by 3%
MLA Annual allocation funds will be increased. It is increased to Rs 70 lakhs.
Currently, it is Rs 60 lakh
Matsyajeebi Bandhu Scheme: to help dead fishermen families: one-time financial
assistance of Rs 2 lakhs
Stamp duty rebates to continue till September 2023
88 crores of women to be included in Lakshmi Bandhar Project
Current Outstanding debt of West Bengal Government: Rs 5.86 lakh crores
The growth rate of West Bengal is expected to be 8.4%.
Draft Geo-Heritage sites and Geo-Relics Bill

According to the Geological Survey of India, a Geo-heritage site is a place that provides
insights into the evolution of the earth. Also, the place should be culturally significant. The
Mawmluh Cave of Meghalaya was the first geo-heritage site of India. The Ministry of
Mines recently notified a bill on geo-heritage sites of India. The bill also has features of
Geo-relics. Geo-relic means rock or sediment or mineral or meteorite.
Key Features of the Bill
Definition of Geo-heritage site: The sites with landforms, structures, caves, and rock
sculptures with geo-relic or geo-heritage phenomena. This includes the land
adjoining the site as well.
The geo-heritage sites in the country are threatened.
The bill gives full power to the central government to declare a site as the geo –
heritage site
No construction, repair, or renovation is allowed within the geo-heritage area
Fines shall be imposed for removing or destructing the site. Offenders shall be fined
RS 5 lakh and six months of imprisonment
Concerns raised against the bill
The bill gives enormous powers to the GSI. For instance, the GSI gets the power to acquire
any material such as minerals, sediments, fossils or meteorites. Also, there are land
acquisition issues. Local communities may raise voices against including the sites under
protected zones.
Current Affairs [PDF] - February 16-28, 2023
from this link.

Contents
......................... ....... _ _ ......... ......... .....................................................
News Headlines ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
February 16, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 3
February 17, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 3
February 18, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 4
February 19, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 5
February 20, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 6
February 21, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................... 6
February 22, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 7
February 23, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 8
February 25, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................ 9
February 25, 2023 ...................................................................................................................................... 10
February 26, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................... 11
February 27, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................... 11
February 28, 2023 ...................................................................................................................................... 12
February 16, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 13
What are Transfer Pricing Rules? ............................................................................................................ 13
Air India Deal with Airbus and Boeing ................................................................................................... 13
Second Advance Estimates of Production of major crops - Update (February, 2023) ............... 14
India's marine product export target by 2025 ...................................................................................... 15
Global sovereign debt roundtable ............................................................................................................ 15
India has 27K active tech startups ........................................................................................................... 16
Defence: 75% capital to be spent on domestic procurement ........................................................... 16
HARBINGER 2023: RBI announces 2nd global hackathon .............................................................. 17
EU formally bans gas, diesel car sales from 2035 ................................................................................ 17
National Tribal Festival - Aadi Mahotsav ............................................................................................... 18
Shinku La Tunnel ........................................................................................................................................ 18
Jal Jan Abhiyan ............................................................................................................................................. 19
U.N. draft resolution calls for ceasefire in Ukraine .............................................................................. 19
Study on Thwaites Glacier ....................................................................................................................... 20
Cabinet approves Vibrant Villages Programme .................................................................................... 20
IIT Kanpur develops energy-efficient system to transport minerals ................................................ 21
RBI gives licenses for 32 payment aggregators .................................................................................... 22
World Bank President Malpass to step down ....................................................................................... 22
February 17, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 23
Israel's New Law to strip Arab attackers of citizenship ..................................................................... 23
Textile Advisory Group for Manmade Fibre ........................................................................................ 23
'President's Colour' honour to the Haryana Police ............................................................................. 24
India's first waste-to-hydrogen plant to be set up in Pune ................................................................ 24
UNSC session on sea level rise ................................................................................................................. 25
US Bill on Arunachal Pradesh LAC ......................................................................................................... 25
Tripura Elections 2023: 81% Voter turn out ........................................................................................ 26
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar ..................................................................................................... 26
Govt Plans OTT Platform and Direct to Mobile TV .......................................................................... 26
Vertiplane X3 Drone delivers TB medicines ......................................................................................... 27
IAF indigenous Vayulink platform .......................................................................................................... 27
OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index-STRI .............................................................................. 28
Global Labour Resilience Index 2023 .................................................................................................... 28
Karnataka State Budget 2023-24 ........................................................................................................... 29
February 18, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 30
Dharma Guardian 2023 Exercise ............................................................................................................ 30
Spain passes Europe’s first menstrual paid leave law .......................................................................... 30
New market segment for EXPENSIVE power ...................................................................................... 31
BEL and Israel Aerospace to form JV ...................................................................................................... 31
Ethanol interest subvention scheme- Updates ...................................................................................... 32
NASSCOM Report on AI skill penetration ........................................................................................... 32
Qatar lifts temporary ban on Indian Frozen Seafood ......................................................................... 33
World Pangolin Day: Data on Pangolin poaching in India ................................................................ 33
One Year of India-UAE CEPA ................................................................................................................. 34
Supreme Court Action in Adani Case .................................................................................................... 34
Manipur hosts B20 Conference ............................................................................................................... 35
49th meeting of GST Council ................................................................................................................. 35
February 19, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 36
North India First Nuclear Plant ............................................................................................................... 36
February 20, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 37
World Day of Social Justice 2023 ........................................................................................................... 37
Madhya Pradesh Government passes New Liquor Policy ................................................................. 37
President Murmu visits Arunachal Pradesh .......................................................................................... 38
Arunachal Pradesh Statehood Day ......................................................................................................... 38
DUSTLIK 2023: India-Uzbekistan Military Exercise .......................................................................... 39
NEOM: Saudi’s Future Mega City .......................................................................................................... 39
Chandrayaan-3 lander clears key test .................................................................................................... 40
PFRDA launches T+2 settlement for NPS withdrawal ...................................................................... 40
Nepal celebrates Democracy Day ............................................................................................................ 41
Telangana’s Teja chilli ............................................................................................................................... 42
Residence by investment programmes ................................................................................................... 42
Hwasong-15: North Korea's Intercontinental ballistic missile ........................................................... 43
US President Joe Biden visits Kyiv amidst Ukraine-Russia war tensions ........................................ 43
INS Sumedha participated in IDEX and NAVDEX ............................................................................. 44
BVR Subrahmanyam appointed new CEO of NITI Aayog ............................................................... 44
February 21, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 44
International Mother Language Day 2023 ........................................................................................... 44
Cross Dependency Initiative: 9 Indian states most vulnerable to climate risks ............................. 45
EPFO new instructions .............................................................................................................................. 45
India-Singapore link Digital Payments UPI and PAYNOW ............................................................... 46
First Semiconductor plant of India ......................................................................................................... 47
IMF: India and China to contribute more than half of global growth ........................................... 47
SYL Canal come up in Haryana Budget 2023 ..................................................................................... 48
DGCA: Domestic Air Traffic increases in India .................................................................................. 48
UAE to host first I2U2 vice-ministerial meeting .................................................................................. 49
Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2023 ............................................................ 49
State of Nation Address of Russian President Vladimir Putin ........................................................... 50
Learning-Teaching Material Jadui Pitara ................................................................................................ 51
Panel to assess impact of Higher temperature on Wheat Crop ........................................................ 51
Russia suspends START, the last Nuclear Treaty ................................................................................ 52
Ladakh sets Guinness record Pangong Tso Marathon ....................................................................... 52
February 22, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 53
ISSF Shooting World Cup: Rudrankksh Patil of India wins gold ..................................................... 53
US returns looted artifacts to Yemen ..................................................................................................... 53
Khajuraho hosts first G20 Culture Working Group meet ................................................................ 54
Eknath Shinde the new Chief of Shiv Sena ........................................................................................... 55
India to setup Digital University ............................................................................................................... 55
Guru Kripa Yara with Bharat Gaurav Trains ....................................................................................... 56
Seattle-First US city to ban Caste Discrimination ................................................................................ 56
Vivek Ramaswamy launches US Presidential bid ................................................................................. 57
Moon Venus Jupiter Conjunction ............................................................................................................ 57
Delhi Mayor Election ................................................................................................................................. 58
India-Guyana Air Service Agreement .................................................................................................... 59
UBER-TATA Deal for 25000 EV ........................................................................................................... 59
Uttar Pradesh Budget 2023-24 ............................................................................................................... 59
Losar Festival in Dharamshala ................................................................................................................. 60
India and Seychelles sign agreement on Maritime Cooperation ....................................................... 61
February 23, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 61
India-China hold WMCC Meeting .......................................................................................................... 61
Namami Gange Executive Committee approves nine projects ......................................................... 62
Asia Economic dialogue 2023 ................................................................................................................. 63
Climate Smart Wheat Variety of ICAR .................................................................................................. 63
Mandatory Certification for Cotton Quality ......................................................................................... 64
Google tests blocking news content ...................................................................................................... 64
Sikhs and Jews most targeted in hate crimes in US ............................................................................ 65
Innovative Extension Approaches for Revitalising Agriculture in J&K ............................................ 65
Tajikistan Earthquake ................................................................................................................................ 66
Brazil Mad Cow Disease ........................................................................................................................... 67
China-Japan Security Dialogue ................................................................................................................ 67
NTPC ranked top independent power producer ................................................................................ 68
What are the risks of Ohio Derailment? ............................................................................................... 68
Haryana Budget 2023-24 ........................................................................................................................ 69
India defeated by Australia in Women's T20 World Cup Semi Final ............................................. 69
February 24, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 70
New World Bank President: Ajay Banga, the former Mastercard CEO ......................................... 70
Ukraine War: India-China abstain from UN Voting ........................................................................... 70
India joins Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate ...................................................................... 71
China launches Zhongxing-26 satellite ................................................................................................... 71
Indian Submarine docks in Indonesia for the first time ...................................................................... 71
SC refuses to hear PIL on menstrual leave ........................................................................................... 72
Russia launches Soyuz Space craft to bring back stranded astronauts ........................................... 72
Full Emergency declared in Thiruvananthapuram Airport ................................................................ 73
Onion Shortage threatens the world ...................................................................................................... 73
Earthquake in Indonesia of magnitude 6.2 ........................................................................................... 74
Gujarat Budget 2023-24 .......................................................................................................................... 74
Central Excise Day 2023 ........................................................................................................................... 75
Sergio Ramos retires from international football ................................................................................. 75
Odisha Budget 2023-24 ........................................................................................................................... 76
IMF Nine Point Crypto Action Plan ....................................................................................................... 76
February 25, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 77
Pakistan receives $700 million from China ......................................................................................... 77
Kerala: First State to use Robotic Manhole cleaners .......................................................................... 77
China blocks ChatGPT ............................................................................................................................. 78
FSSAI Millet Standards ............................................................................................................................. 79
Bihar Fog Alert System at $50,000 ....................................................................................................... 79
Indian Army to end Colonial Practices .................................................................................................. 80
Meta launches New LLaMA .................................................................................................................... 80
Municipal Corporation of Delhi ............................................................................................................... 81
German Chancellor Olaz Scholz visits India ......................................................................................... 81
NASA Space-X Crew-6 Mission to ISS ................................................................................................ 82
APEDA signs pact with Lulu to promote millets in GCC .................................................................. 82
Desert Flag exercise VIII ........................................................................................................................... 83
February 27, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 84
PM-KISAN Scheme: PM Modi released Rs 16800 crores ............................................................... 84
Manish Sisodia Liquor Policy Case ......................................................................................................... 84
Cobra Warrior exercise ............................................................................................................................. 85
Scientists discover fifth inner core layer of the earth .......................................................................... 85
Australia won 2023 Women T20 World Cup ..................................................................................... 86
NOKIA changes its logo ........................................................................................................................... 86
Carabao Cup 2023: Manchester United wins ...................................................................................... 87
PM Modi inaugurated Shivamogga Airport and launched Development projects in Karnataka
................................................................................................................................................................. 87
Kerala Temple introduces mechanical elephant .................................................................................. 87
Germany to ease Visa applications to Indians ...................................................................................... 88
DGCA approves Hindustan 228 aircraft of HAL ............................................................................... 88
Sant Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti .................................................................................................................... 89
Kerala inks pact with UN Women .......................................................................................................... 89
NEET PG 2023: Supreme Court dismisses Plea ................................................................................. 90
February 28, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 90
National Science Day 2023 ...................................................................................................................... 90
Bird Survey Dharoi 2023 .......................................................................................................................... 91
Karnataka to get India’s first Marina ...................................................................................................... 92
Clean Plant Program: GoI to set up 10 Clean Plant Centres ............................................................ 92
France to unveil new strategy in Africa ................................................................................................. 93
Trends in Maternal Mortality Report ..................................................................................................... 93
120 MCQs ............................................................................................................................................................ 95
News Headlines
February 16, 2023
INDIA
In Tripura, voting begins to elect a new 60-Member Legislative Assembly.
India and Spain agree to collaborate on digital infrastructure, climate action and
sustainable development
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the mega National Tribal Festival –
Aadi Mahotsav.
Cabinet approves construction of Shinku La Tunnel to provide all-weather
connectivity in Ladakh
PM Modi to virtually inaugurate Jal Jan Abhiyan in Sirohi district of Rajasthan
India earmarks 75 per cent of capital procurement budget for domestic industry
Two-day Global Tech Summit to begin in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) to provide maintenance and overhaul support for
MQ-9B drone engines in India.
ECONOMY
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announces 2nd global hackathon- HARBINGER 2023.
West Bengal state government announces its state budget for the year 2023-24;
broadens welfare schemes.
Foodgrain production is estimated to be over 3,235 lakh tonnes in agricultural year
2022-23: Second advance estimates.
WORLD
Death toll in Turkey and Syria climbs to more than 41,000 after devastating
earthquakes.
South Korea has said that a North Korean food crisis appears to be worsening.
Pakistan government introduces bill to raise Rs 170 billion in taxes
SPORTS
Women’s T20 World Cup: India beat West Indies by 6 wickets.
Akshdeep Singh and Priyanka Goswami win National Race Walking Championships.
Indian men’s cricket team tops in all three formats for the first time
February 17, 2023

INDIA
India International Seafood Show concludes in Kolkata.
The 4th edition of joint military exercise, ‘EX DHARMA GUARDIAN’, between India
and Japan begins.
Indian Railways launches Rail Post Gati Shakti Express Cargo Service to provide
logistics for services sector in country.
The Tourism Ministry will organise 1st Global Tourism Investors’ Summit from the
17th to 19th of May.

National level Hackathon ‘KAVACH-2023’ launched to advance India’s cyber-
preparedness.
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2019, 2020 and 2021 have been awarded to102
artists.
81% polling recorded in Tripura Assembly Elections amid violence.
ECONOMY
India’s overall exports during April to January record positive growth of 17.33%.
David Malpass to step down from the position of World Bank chief before his five-
year term expires.
Paytm Payments Bank enables UPI LITE to promote small value transactions
India ranks 47th in OECD’s services trade restrictiveness index
WORLD
Spain Parliament passes a new law allowing gender self-determination
India and Fiji sign MoU on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official
passports
Resolution introduced in US Senate that reaffirms Arunachal Pradesh as an integral
part of India
Google, Twitter, Meta face tougher EU online content rules.
SPORTS
Khelo India: Indian Army organises Women’s Snow Cricket tournament.
P.V. Sindhu and H.S. Prannoy won singles matches as India beat Malaysia and
entered quarterfinals of Asia mixed team badminton championships.
February 18, 2023
INDIA
Twelve cheetahs from South Africa to arrive at Kuno National Park in Madhya
Pradesh.
Supreme Court rejects government’s sealed cover suggestions in Adani case
Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the
Jharkhand High Court.
India finalises 13 activities under 3 heads for trading of carbon credits
World Pangolin Day : Over 1,000 pangolins poached and trafficked in India in past
five years
Supreme Court to set up panel on investor protection regime.
ECONOMY
The 49th meeting of the GST Council will be held in New Delhi, to be chaired by
Finance Minister.
Several irregularities found during survey at BBC: I-T department.
Government reduces reserve price of wheat under Open Market Sale Scheme to
check inflation
Manipur hosts B20 Conference for delegates from 23 nations in Imphal

WORLD
One Year of India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
commemorated at Dubai.
Qatar lifts its temporary ban on the import of frozen seafood from India.
Japan’s space agency aborts launch of next-generation H3 rocket after engines
South Africa commences joint military exercise with Russia-China.
Nepal plane crash: Human error suspected behind the mishap.
Lancet: Immunity acquired from Covid infection provides protection against most
severe outcomes of illness.
SPORTS
Asia Mixed Team Badminton Championships: India enters semifinals.
Chetan Sharma step down as Chief Selector of Indian cricket team following a TV
sting operation.
February 19, 2023

INDIA
Third phase of Sagar Parikrama aimed to resolve fishermen issues to begin in
Gujarat.
AICTE launches curriculum for technical courses in semiconductor design
Northern India’s first nuclear plant to come up in Haryana’s Gorakhpur
Vice President arrives in Gujarat and attends Rann Utsav,
‘SemiconIndia Conference’of Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain Ecosystem’
was inaugurated.
The birth centenary celebrations of freedom fighter and founder of ‘Lokmat’ Shri
Jawaharlal Ji Darda
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
GST council accepts GoM recommendation for setting up Appellate Tribunal for
dispute redressal
RBI issues draft guidelines for minimum capital requirements for market risk
GST Council decides to tax services supplied by courts and tribunals under the
reverse charge mechanism.
WORLD
UAE and India launch the UAE Chapter of the Business Council to Boost Bilateral
Trade & Investment.
The 12th World Hindi Conference concluded this morning in Nadi, Fiji.
World’s highest weather station rebuilt on Mount Everest
North Korea confirms ICBM test, warns of more powerful steps against rival’’.
More than 46,000 people have been killed in the earthquake that struck Turkey and
Syria
Study: Underwater noise emissions pose threat to marine life’
SPORTS
Indian team settle for Bronze at Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championship in Dubai
Harmanpreet Kaur surpasses Rohit Sharma to become most capped T20I player
February 20, 2023
INDIA
HAL plans for medium-lift choppers to replace ageing Mi-17s.
12 cheetahs arrived and were released into quarantine enclosures at the Kuno
National Park (KNP), Madhya Pradesh.
India Meteorological Department issued season’s first heatwave warning in the
Konkan and Kutch areas of Gujarat.
ISRO says that the ‘Chandrayaan-3’ lander has successfully underwent the key test
on functioning of satellite in space
Tata Sons owned Air India and Vistara start Integration Process
Madhya Pradesh Cabinet brings new liquor policy, orders closure all bars.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to launch India’s first virtual shopping,
recharge app for metro.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
PFRDA introduces T+2 settlement for partial withdrawal for NPS subscribers; from
the earlier T+4 settlement.
Indian economy to Grow at 6%: Former Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar.
Finance ministers and central bank chiefs of G-20 nations will meet for first time
under India’s presidency in Bengaluru.
India’s Russian oil imports surge to a record 1.4 million barrels per day in January.
WORLD
US plans new Russia export controls and sanctions on key industries.
India-Uzbekistan biennial military training Exercise DUSTLIK 2023 begins in
Uttarakhand.
Nepal celebrated Democracy Day on February 19.
North Korea confirms test of Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile
SPORTS
India retains Border Gavaskar Trophy, defeating Australia by 6 wickets in 2nd Test.
Saurashtra lifts Ranji Trophy title after defeating Bengal by 9 wickets.
February 21, 2023
INDIA
India aims to cut emission intensity of GDP by 20-25: Ministry of Environment, Forest
& Climate Change.
BEML signs MoU with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) led SPV for constructing
the Bahrain Metro Rail Project Phase-1.

Government appoints retired civil servant B.V.R. Subrahmanyam as the new chief
executive of NITI Aayog.
INS Sumedha visits Abu Dhabi to participate in IDEX and NAVDEX 2023.
International ‘Khajuraho Dance Festival-2023 begins in Madhya Pradesh.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities celebrated World Social
Justice Day
Union Agriculture Minister chairs the National Conference on Agriculture for Zaid
Campaign-2023.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Tata Motors signs MoU with Uber to supply 25,000 XPRES–T Electric Vehicles.
T-Hub and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) joined hands to support start-ups in
the aerospace and defence composite markets.
Income tax department releases a calculator to help compare savings under the new
income tax regime.
WORLD
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ wins 7 prizes including best film at UK’s BAFTAs
(British Academy Film Awards).
India to host Permanent Mission Roundtables at UN Head Quarter as Chair of G- 20.
U.S. President Joe Biden made a trip to Kyiv, promising USD 500 million in fresh arms
deliveries and support.
Union Minister of Food Processing Industry inaugurates India Pavillion at Dubai.
SPORTS
India enters semifinals of Women’s T20 World Cup beating Ireland.
Meghalaya made history by entering the semifinal of the Santosh Trophy National
Football Championship.
February 22, 2023

INDIA
First meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to be
inaugurated in Bengaluru.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was named the Shiv Sena chief leader.
Railways to launch Guru Kripa Yatra with Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina honours Dr. Mahendra Mishra with International
Mother Language Award in Dhaka.
The Government has emphasised on launching an Over-the-Top (OTT) platform for
Prasar Bharati.
The Centre approved the Quality Control Order for mandatory certification of cotton
bales.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
RBI allows UPI transactions for inbound G-20 travellers.
India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Singapore’s PayNow have been
integrated to enable faster remittances.
Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launches new guidelines for
employees to opt for higher pension.
WORLD
The 76th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA Awards, were announced in London.
Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik André Henrik Christian is on a five-day visit to
India.
Russia decides to suspend participation in New START treaty for nuclear arms control
with US.
Indo-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy announces 2024 presidential bid.
UNDP: Recent earthquakes have left 1.5 million people homeless in Turkey.
Israel’s Parliament passes controversial Bills that seek to overhaul Israel’s judiciary.
SPORTS
India enters semi-finals of Women’s T20 World Cup beating Ireland.
India’s 14-year-old Tilottama Sen wins bronze medal in women’s 10m Air Rifle at ISSF
World Cup.
February 23, 2023

INDIA
Abu Dhabi defence firm signs MOU with India’s HAL at UAE’s Defence expo.
India and Chinese commanders to meet to resolve friction points in Eastern Ladakh.
Indian Textiles Ministry makes certification mandatory for cotton quality.
IIT Madras partners with General Insurance Corporation of India to develop Urine-
based TB diagnosis.
Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister tables Budget 2023-24 in State Assembly, the biggest
budget in the history of the state.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) develops wheat variety, which can
overcome rising heat levels.
External Affairs Ministry’s annual flagship event Asia Economic Dialogue to begin in
Pune
Government approves five-year project on “Innovative Extension Approaches for
Revitalising Agriculture in J&K”
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
State Bank of India (SBI) announced a partnership with PayNo, the online payment
system of Singapore, for cross-border payments.
India and the UAE are exploring creating a virtual trade corridor to facilitate quicker
clearance of shipments.
WORLD
G7 countries’ finance ministers and central bank governors will gather in Bengaluru
under the leadership of Japan.
An earthquake of 6.8 magnitude has hit eastern Tajikistan.
Brazil halts beef export to China, after a case of mad cow disease was confirmed.
The inaugural I2U2 Business Forum was held at Abu Dhabi, UAE .
Turkiye introduces temporary wage support scheme and bans layoffs in 10 cities.
SPORTS
Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar wins gold medal in men’s individual 50m rifle
competition at ISSF World Cup at Cairo.
Young Indian shooter Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil won the gold medal in the 10m Air
Rifle individual event at ISSF Shooting World Cup at Cairo.
February 25, 2023

INDIA
CAG Girish Chandra Murmu selected as External Auditor of International Labour
Organization (ILO) in Geneva.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) specifies comprehensive group
standard for millets from September.
Chairman of EAC-PM Dr Bibek Debroy releases Foundational Literacy and Numeracy
report
President Droupadi Murmu presents Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships & Akademi
Awards in New Delhi.
Uttarakhand signs MoU to build ropeway to Yamunotri temple.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya releases working paper by Stanford
University and Institute for Competitiveness.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
GST revenues hit ₹1.59 lakh crore in January 2023, the second highest monthly
collections on record.
Gujarat government presents ₹3.01 lakh crore budget. No new taxes proposed.
NSE gets final nod from SEBI for social stock exchange.
WORLD
UNGA passes resolution calling for immediate end to hostilities between Ukraine and
Russia
US President Joe Biden nominated Mr. Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank.
After Saudi Arabia, Omanis set to allow Israeli planes through its airspace.
SPORTS
Three-day All-India Taekwondo Championship has been recently inaugurated in New
Delhi.
T-20 Women’s World Cup: Australia reaches final beating India by 5 runs in semi-
final.
February 25, 2023

INDIA
Kerala government launched robotic scavenger, Bandicoot, to clean sewages under
the Guruvayur Sewerage Project in Thrissur district.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) directed the telecom service providers
to submit service quality reports for each state and UT.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to inaugurate New Delhi World Book
Fair.
International Bio-resource Conclave & Ethno-pharmacology Congress 2023
commences in Imphal.
Prime Minister to inaugurate ‘Barisu Kannada Dim Dimava’ cultural festival at
Talkatora Stadium in Delhi.
Women 20 (W20), an official G-20 engagement group inception meeting to be held at
Aurangabad.
Centre approves renaming Aurangabad to Chatrapati Sambhajinagar & Osmnabad
to Dharashiv in Maharashtra.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
National Stock Exchange (NSE) launches India’s first municipal bond index, the India
Municipal Bond Index (IBMX).
Paytm becomes first to launch UPI LITE for small value transactions.
Report: Proportion of funding to women-led start-ups grew in 2022.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeks ideas on sovereign debt and climate
transition finance at the meeting of G-20 finance ministers and central bank
governors.
WORLD
Meta is releasing a new large language model based on artificial intelligence (AI)
aimed at the research community.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) suspended Russia’s membership over Ukraine
war.
World Bank announces $2.5 billion in additional Ukraine aid on war anniversary.
European Union member states backed a 10th package of sanctions on Russia.
SPORTS
Indian pair Anirudh Chandrasekhar and N Vijay Sundar Prashanth storm into doubles
final in Bengaluru Open ATP challenger tournament.
Women’s T20 World Cup: South Africa reaches maiden ICC final.
February 26, 2023

INDIA
Computer scientist Hari Balakrishnan has been awarded the 2023 Marconi Prize.
Indian Air Force contingent reaches in UAE to participate in Exercise Desert Flag VIII.
First G20 Finance Ministers & Central Bank Governors meeting concludes in
Bengaluru.
World’s longest river cruise ‘MV Ganga Vilas’ to culminate its journey in Dibrugarh
Ellora -Ajanta International Festival 2023 begins in Maharashtra.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India ranks 42nd among 55 leading global economies on the International IP Index
released by the U.S. Chambers of Commerce.
India asks IMF and FSB to prepare technical paper on regulating crypto assets
WORLD
Russian space agency launches Soyuz spacecraft to bring back 3 astronauts stranded
on ISS
Bangladesh government signs agreement with ISA to increase use of solar energy in
country
Researchers demonstrated in mice the underlying neural mechanism that allows
mice to feel empathy.
Earthquake reveals Earth’s core has two distinct layers made of differently structured
iron crystals.
SPORTS
Indian Greco Roman wrestler Ankit Gulia bags Bronze medal in Ibrahim Moustafa
ranking series in Egypt.
Strandja Memorial Boxing Tournament: Govind Kumar Sahani, Anamika and
Anupama storm into finals.
February 27, 2023

INDIA
Kerala inks pact with UN Women to empower women in tourism.
Karnataka to get India’s first Marina to promote coastal tourism.
Japan to invest ₹7,200 crores in Uttar Pradesh, HMI Group is developing 30 hotels in
the state.
PM Modi to inaugurate Shivamogga airport in Karnataka.
Rs 16800 to be disbursed to Farmers under Pm Kisan Today
CBI arrests Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in excise policy case.
Exercise Desert Flag VIII: LCA Tejas to take part in its maiden global air exercise.
ECONOMY
FM Nirmala Sitharaman meets heads of World Bank, IMF; discusses debt
restructuring.
Commerce Ministry: Services exports to cross USD 300 billion this fiscal
Pakistan govt raises policy interest rate by 200 bps for IMF Bailout.
Direct benefit transfers reach Rs 5.5 trillion so far in the current financial year.
WORLD
Elon Musk’s SpaceX set to launch next International Space station crew for NASA.
UAE to send its second astronaut to space on a long haul mission to ISS
Thousands of people take to streets in Portugal over cost-of-living crisis due to
inflation.
SPORTS
Tennis: Novak Djokovic breaks Steffi Graf’s record of 377 weeks at Number 1 rank.
Football: Lionel Messi scores 700th club goal; Mbappe crosses 200th goal for PSG club.
February 28, 2023

INDIA
Mizoram would export ‘Bird’s eye chilli’ of the state to the United States for the first
time.
Railways will spend Rs 32000 crore on new lines, Rs 13000 crore on customer
amenities.
Gujarat passes bill to extend period for filing applications to regularise illegal
constructions.
National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) fixed retail prices of 74 medicines
including diabetes.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has found a 1,300-year-old Buddhist stupa in
Odisha’s Jajpur.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will offer the indigenous 5G testbed free
of cost to government-recognised startups.
ECONOMY
After Singapore, India’s UPI will be likely extended to UAE, Mauritius, Indonesia.
SEBI proposes uniform expense ratio for Mutual Funds to curb mis-selling.
Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Elon Musk surpasses France’s Bernard Arnault to
regain his spot as the world’s richest person.
WORLD
Canada announced that it is banning TikTok from all government-issued mobile
devices.
World Bank report: Earthquake damage in Turkey to exceed USD 34 billion.
India and the UK will launch the Young Professionals Scheme today.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to be chief guest at 8th Raisina Dialogue
SPORTS
Argentina’s Lionel Messi bagged the Best FIFA men’s player prize for 2022 after
beating World Cup final rival, Kylian Mbappe.
Australia lift ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Trophy beating South Africa by 19 runs in
Cape Town.
February 16, 2023

What are Transfer Pricing Rules?
The Income Tax department recently conducted surveys in BBC offices located in Mumbai,
Delhi, and in different other cities in the country. According to the IT Department, the BBC
has violated “TRANSFER PRICING RULES”. Transfer Pricing is a practice where one
company charges another (in the same division). The parent company of both companies
is the same.
In Simple Terms Example
Take, two Companies Company A and Company B. Parent Company of both companies
are the same. For instance, the parent company of “BBC UK” is in London. Now assume,
Company A is “BBC India” and Company B is “BBC USA”. Now company A is selling XYZ
goods and services. Company B is selling PQR goods and services.
Say company A is selling XYZ in the international market. It is also selling to Company B.
Now, company B is requesting A to provide the goods at reduced price. With the parent
company’s (BBC UK) insistence, company A too sells its goods to B at reduced prices. With
this, the profit of company B increases because its cost of raw material decrease. But the
profit of company A decreases because it is selling its products at a reduced rate.
However, the overall profit of the parent company is the same.
What is the issue?
Say company A is located in a higher tax country as compared to company B. In such
cases, the parent company saves taxes. Government loses its revenue!
Bottom Line
The companies use transfer prices to charge above or below the market price to reduce
the tax burden. According to the IT department, BBC is misusing transfer pricing.
Air India Deal with Airbus and Boeing
The Government of India recently disinvested Air India to TATA. Since TATA took over the
airlines, many changes were brought in. Air India was merged with VISTARA Airlines. The
company introduced the Coruson software for real-time data acquisition, to learn real-
time happenings during the flight. Now, Air India has signed a deal with Airbus and
Boeing. With this, Air India will acquire 470 aircraft.
How big is the deal?
PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron attended the deal-signing function. US
president Joe Biden, and UK PM Rishi Sunak congratulated India and the company for the
deal.
Why is the deal big?
The financial terms were not disclosed. However, the deal is worth tens of billions of
dollars. Boeing is to supply 190 of its 737 Max Single–Aisle planes, 10 of its 777X, and 20 of
its Dreamliners widebodies. The total deal is around 45.9 billion USD approximately.
Airbus is a European multinational aerospace corporation. However, the major business of
the company happens through the French. Most of its manufacturing facilities are in
Europe. Boeing is an American company. Its headquarters is in Virginia. In 2019, the
company produced 390 commercial aircraft and 229 military aircraft. As you see, India is to
buy almost half of its annual production!
Second Advance Estimates of Production of major crops - Update (February, 2023)
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare recently released the second estimate of
the production of major crops. In accordance with the released date, the total food grain
production in the country in 2022-23 was 3235.54 lakh tonnes. Production was big in food
grains such as mustard, rapeseed, moong, gram, maize, rice, wheat, and sugarcane.
RICE
The total production of rice in 2022-23 was 1308.37 lakh tonnes. This is 13.65 lakh tonnes
higher than 2021-22
Wheat
The total Production of wheat in 2022-23 was 1121.82 lakh million tonnes. This is 44.40 lakh
million tonnes more than 2021-22
Maize
The total production of maize in 2022-23 was 346.13 lakh tonnes. In 2021-22, the maize
production was 337.30 lakh tonnes. Therefore, compared to the previous year, the maize
production in the country increased by 8.83 lakh tonnes.
Nutri cereals or Millet
The total production was 527.26 lakh tonnes. This was 16.25 lakh tonnes higher as
compared to 2021-22
Moong
The total production of moong is 35.45 lakh million tonnes in 2022-23 and is higher by 3.8
lakh million tonnes than the previous year
Pulses
The total production of pulses in 2022-23 was 278 lakh tonnes. It is higher by 5.08 lakh
tonnes than the previous year
Oil Seeds
Total production was 400 lakh tonnes in 2022-23. This is higher by 293.65 lakh tonnes than
the previous year
Sugar cane
Total Production in 2022-23: 4687.89 lakh tonnes; Higher by 293 lakh tonnes
Cotton
Total Production: 337.23 lakh bales
India's marine product export target by 2025

The Union Minister Smt Anupriya Patel recently inaugurated the India International
Seafood Show. While speaking at the show, the minister said that India has set a seafood
target of 14 billion USD. And the plan is to achieve the target by 2025. In 2021-22, the
seafood exports of the country were 7.76 billion USD. This was 17% of the total agricultural
goods exports.
Background
India is launching several measures to increase production in the seafood sector,
especially in the fisheries sector. Recently, the CMFRI identified sites for sea cage farming.
Fish production in sea cage farming is higher than in conventional fishing methods. More
than 146 spots were identified and with this, the overall fish production will increase by 3.2
million tonnes.
Also, the MPEDA is to organize a conference on seafood production during G20 meet. The
conference will focus on harmonizing the regulations on seafood.
Concerns
India is now exporting safe seafood to more than 100 countries. Also, India is exporting
fish under FTAs signed with different countries. However, the European markets are
recently complaining about the use of antibiotics on shrimps. This affected India’s fish
trade with the European markets. Major competitors of India in fisheries are China and
US.
Global sovereign debt roundtable
On the sidelines of the G20 meeting, Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable is to be held in
Bengaluru. The event will discuss issues that are obstructing the debt restructuring
processes. It will be co-chaired by IMF and World Bank along with India (the 2023
President). The main objective of the discussion will be on identifying the impediments in
debt restructuring processes.
G20 Finance Track
It will focus on inclusive finance and digital finance. During the meeting, G20 countries will
discuss financial issues faced by them during COVID. Also, the countries will share lessons
learnt through their fiscal policies and taxation.
Role of IMF and World Bank
Today we need more than 16.9 billion USD of loan resources and 3.1 billion USD of subsidy
resources. The loans are essential to support zero-interest lending to developing
countries. The IMF and World Bank will aid in providing funds and support poverty,
growth trust, and reduction. Also, the financial organizations will provide concessional
finances to countries that are economically vulnerable.
What is Sovereign debt?
It is the debt the government of a country owes to a financial organization. This includes
both domestic and foreign financial organizations.
Significance
Sovereign debt rating speaks about the amount of debt a country has. The higher the
debt, the greater the ratings. Investors plan their investments based on the sovereign
debt ratings of a country. Therefore, it is essential to keep these debts minimal. To reduce
sovereign debts, the debt restructuring processes were launched by World Bank and IMF.
However, countries are facing difficulties in implementing the plans. So they are to look
for the reasons why the countries are unable to implement the restructuring plans at the
Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable to be held in Bengaluru.
India has 27K active tech startups
The NASSCOM report recently said that there are more than 27,000 startups in India. Of
these, tech startups count to 1,300. The report further said that India is the third largest
tech startup holder in the world. The US is the first largest tech startup holder and China is
in second place. India also has the second-highest number of unicorns in the world. In
2022 alone, India added 23 unicorns.
Concerns raised in the report
The total funding to Indian startups decreased by 24% in 2022-23. In 2019, that is, before
the pandemic, the investments in startups were 13.1 billion USD. It decreased in 2020 and
increased largely in 2021. In 2021, the investments in startups were higher than the pre-
pandemic levels. It reached 18.2 billion USD in 2021. However, it reduced in 2022.
Why did startup funding reduce in 2022?
According to the NASSCOM report, the fear of global recession and increasing interest
rates made investors risk-averse. This slowed down the funding momentum.
Current Scenario as explained by the report
In 2022-23, the focus was on non-unicorns
More than 1,400 startups received funding in 2022. This is 18% higher than in 2021.
Seed stage investments increased to 1.2 billion USD in 2022-23
Early-stage investments increased to 5.9 billion USD in 2022-23
Late Stage investments declined by 41%
Way Forward
The tech startups are to increase their technology adoptions and innovations in the areas
related to SDG.
Defence: 75% capital to be spent on domestic procurement
Bandhan Ceremony was conducted at the AERO INDIA air show. During the ceremony, the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and technology transfer agreements were signed
by DRDO. Also, private defence companies launched their products and made key
announcements. Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh was the chief guest of the
ceremony. While addressing the ceremony, the minister said that India is to spend 75% of
its defence capital on “procurement” in 2023-24. In 2022-23, this was 68%. In this year’s
budget, the defence sector received Rs 5.94 lakh crores. This is 13.18% of the total budget.
Bandhan Ceremony
More than 266 partnerships were forged
201 MoUs signed; HAL and SAFRAN Helicopter of France MoU, BEL and IWBC MoU,
HAL and ELTA of Israel MoU, etc.
53 major announcements made

Three Technology transfer agreements signed
Nine new defence products launched
Budget and plans
In the 2023-24 budget, Rs 5.94 lakh crores were allocated to the defence sector. This
includes Rs 1.38 lakh crores of pension.
The budget allocation for defence increased by 12.9% compared to 2021-22. The
previous year’s budget allocated to the defence sector was Rs 5.25 lakh crores.
In 2022-23, 68% of the defence capital was used on indigenous sources. So far, the
defence ministry has not planned its allocation towards this for this year.
HARBINGER 2023: RBI announces 2nd global hackathon
The Reserve Bank of India recently announced the “HARBINGER-2023”. It is a hackathon.
The theme of the hackathon is “Inclusive Digital Services”. Competitors from 22 different
countries will participate in the hackathon. This includes Israel, the Philippines, Singapore,
Sweden, the USA, and the UK. RBI also received 363 proposals from Indian candidates. The
hackathon is to be conducted in four segments namely Digital Banking, regulations,
transactions, and the use of blockchain in transactions.
Significance
The central bank invited fintech to participate in the Hackathon. They will develop
solutions that will aid the differently abled to access digital financial services. Also, the
fintech will work on increasing the reach of digital currencies of the central bank.
Benefits of HACKATHON
Participants of the HACKATHON will get opportunities to interact with industrial experts.
Some of them will be mentored by them. Also, new fintech can exhibit their innovative
solutions.
Prizes
The winner of the hackathon will be awarded Rs 40 lakhs and the runner will receive Rs 20
lakhs.
History
The Global Hackathon was first started in 2021. The results of this hackathon were
announced in 2022. This is the second hackathon being conducted by RBI. The theme of
the first hackathon was “Smarter Digital Payments”.
Observation
RBI chooses the theme based on its current activities and requirements. In 2021, RBI was
promoting its BHIM app. International recognition of the app just began. And thus
“Smarter Digital Payments”. Today, RBI is focusing on its digital currency. Thus Inclusive
Digital Services!
EU formally bans gas, diesel car sales from 2035
The European Union recently planned to ban the sale of gas and diesel cars. The ban will
come into effect in 2035. The decision was made to increase the use of Electric Vehicles.
The main objective is to achieve zero emissions. To execute the plan successfully, the
European Commission will prepare a report on the progress every two years starting from
2025. Manufacturers welcome the move. Automakers like Volkswagen have already
started producing EVs only.
New Legislation
The European Union recently passed a law to reduce emissions. Under the law, the
commission will ban the sale of diesel and gas cars by 2035. Sale is to be banned only in
the EU. The manufacturers can still make the cars and sell them in other countries!
However, the cost of production is to be increased.
Why the new decision?
EU is planning on reducing the carbon dioxide emissions from cars and vans. A 100%
reduction has been planned as compared to 2021.
What is the plan?
The EU will prepare a plan and present it by 2025. The plan will assess the emissions
released by the cars and vans throughout their lifetime. The 2030 targets have been
revised.
Significance
EU had set a target of reaching “Climate Neutrality” by 2050. According to European
Union, the law will play a significant role in achieving this target.
National Tribal Festival - Aadi Mahotsav
The Tribal Ministry is conducting the Aadi Mahotsav festival to promote tribal products.
TRIFED organizes the festival on behalf of the ministry. The main objective of conducting
Aadi Mahotav is to prevent the middlemen from exploiting the tribals. Profits of the tribal
are swept away by the middlemen and their hard work goes in vain. To put an end to the
system and provide direct access to markets, TRIFED is organizing the National Tribal
Festival called the Aadi Mahotsav. The festival was conducted in New Delhi.
About National Tribal Festival 2023
PM Modi inaugurated the festival. Tribals from different parts of India participated in the
festival. They exhibited their products in more than 200 stalls.
The highlights of 2023 Aadi Mahotsav: MILLETS
The United Nations announced 2023 as the International Year of Millets on India’s
insistence. Furthermore, to boost the production of millets and increase their exports, GoI
is launching several initiatives. One such is the tag name “Shree Anna”. The Indian millets
are to be sold under the brand name Shree Anna. To promote this, millets were
showcased under the name of “Shree Anna” at the Aadi Mahotsav.
Apart from millets, the festival also focused on pottery, handloom, jewellery, handloom,
etc.
Shinku La Tunnel
The Shinku La or Shingo La is a mountain pass located on the border between HP and
Ladakh. It is at an altitude of 5,091 metres. In 2016, the Border Road Organization built a
road to the pass. However, the road couldn’t be accessed during winter and large-
wheeled vehicles couldn’t pass through. Following this, in 2020, GoI planned to build a
13.5 km tunnel in the pass. The Union Cabinet recently approved the construction of the
tunnel. With the Atal Tunnel and the completion of the Shinku La Tunnel in 2025, the
Nimmu – Padum – Darcha road shall be accessed all through the year.
Significance
The tunnel will help to boost the Zanskar valley economy. It reduces the travel time
between HP and Ladakh.
Currently, one has to travel 101 km on the Manali-Leh road and then take the Darcha
road to enter the Zanskar region. With the tunnel, you can drive to Darcha via
Padum.
The toughest hurdle is the 15-20 feet of snowfall the region received during winter.
Almost all roads are closed during this season. The Shink La Tunnel is to make the
Zanskar valley accessible 365 days.
Project Yojak
The Shinku La tunnel is a part of Project Yojak. This project is implemented by BRO. The
main objective of the project is to make sure Manali – Leh route is accessible all through
the year.
Jal Jan Abhiyan
The Jal Jan Abhiyan will be implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Brahma
Kumaris organization. The main objective of the campaign is water conservation. During
the campaign, the volunteers from the organization will conduct public awareness
campaign on preserving water. The campaign is to run for eight months. They will focus
on building new water bodies and also on preserving more than 5,000 water bodies. The
target of the campaign is to reach at least ten crore people and organize 10,000 programs.
What is the plan?
The Brahma Kumaris organization is deploying its Raja Yogis to conduct the campaign.
Raja Yogis are well-versed yoga practitioners. They will inspire people to prevent water
wastage and pull them into the concept of a sustainable world. During the campaign, the
participants will take a water pledge on using water wisely, and consume it judiciously.
Brahma Kumaris
The organization originated in Hyderabad, Sindh (today the place is in Pakistan). Today
the headquarters of the organization is located in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. The founder of
the organization was Lekhraj Kriplani. Today he is called the OM BABA. The organization is
spread across different parts of the world.
In 1980, the organization registered with the UN Department of Public Relations. In 1983,
it received “Consultative Status” from UNESCO.
U.N. draft resolution calls for ceasefire in Ukraine
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. To mark the one-year anniversary, the
European Union circulated a draft ceasefire resolution in European Union. The main
objective of the resolution is to gather international support. It calls the UN members to
refrain from the use of force against the political independence of a state.
Why is the EU involved in every Ukraine-Russia issue?
The issue started with Ukraine applying for EU candidacy. Other countries like Turkey
applied for EU candidacy and are yet to be admitted. However, the EU accepted Ukraine’s
request immediately. There are geopolitical intentions behind this. When USSR
disintegrated in 1991, the Crimean peninsula came under the control of Ukraine. The
peninsula is Russia’s major gateway to the western world and African countries. Blocking
this gateway will affect Russia’s trade. The US and Russia have been constantly fighting
since the world wars. The US and EU want to utilize Ukraine – Russia differences to win
over Russian trade in the world market. Once Ukraine becomes a member of the EU, the
western world shall have greater influence over Ukraine and eventually win over Russian
trade.
Earlier, the EU moved through France and Germany in the name of the Minsk Agreement.
It was a peace agreement. The Black Sea Grain deal was initiated by the EU. Under this,
the blockaded ports of Ukraine will be allowed to operate the food grain trade.
Study on Thwaites Glacier
The recent study on Doomsday Glacier, also called the Thwaites Glacier says that the weak
spots in the glacier are increasing. More and more warm water is seeping into the glacier.
There is a threat of massive sea rise. If the glacier melts the sea level will increase by more
than half a metre.
About the study
The study was conducted by the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration. It is one of
the biggest studies conducted on the glacier so far. More than 13 scientists participated in
the study from the UK, the US, and different other countries. They spent more than six
weeks coming to this conclusion.
Findings
Terraces in the glaciers are increasing. These openings are causing the sideways melt of
the glacier. Terraces are leading the warm water to the crevasses and increasing the
melting further.
What are Glacier Terraces?
It is a long segment of a glacier. It is formed due to the stripping of soft strata from hard
strata. In India, the glacial terraces are addressed as Karewas. They are found in Kashmir
valley.
Glacial Crevasses
They are deep cracks in glaciers. Their sizes range from a few inches to more than 40 feet.
They are formed due to shear stress. Say two big ice masses are moving. Friction develops
resulting in shear stress. This leads to breakings in the faces.
Cabinet approves Vibrant Villages Programme
The Vibrant Villages Programme focuses on developing the rural areas in the northern
border states and union territories. More than 663 villages will be developed under the
programme. It is to be implemented for two years, that is, between 2022-23 and 2025-26.
The Central Government allocated Rs 4,800 crores for the scheme. Of this Rs 2500 crores
will be used for building roads. Cabinet approved the scheme recently.
Key Features of the scheme
One – Village – One– Product concept will be adopted
Social entrepreneurship will be encouraged by opening growth centres. These
centres will work on “Hub and Spoke model”
Skill development programmes for youth and women
Heritage development and promotion of local traditional knowledge
Development of eco-agribusinesses
The NGOs, cooperatives, and Self Help Groups will be involved in the scheme
How will the scheme be implemented?
Each village panchayat will create Village Action Plan with the help of the District
administration. They should mainly focus on drinking water, 24/7 electricity, all-weather
roads, solar energy projects, wind energy projects, internet connections, tourist centres,
health and wellness centres, multi-purpose centres, etc.
Benefits and China factor
The scheme will help India retain its population in the border area. With the Chinese
infiltrations increasing at the border and China trying to increase its influence in the
disputed land areas, it is essential for India to increase its population in these fragile
zones. Recently China announced big railway plans in the disputed region. The 1962 Indo-
China war happened because of the 219 NH that connects Tibet with China. China recently
announced its plans to extend its railway line through this highway.
IIT Kanpur develops energy-efficient system to transport minerals
IIT – Kanpur has developed a compressed air-based mineral transport system. The project
was presented at the Global Investors Summit, in 2023. It received good feedback for its
less material loss, reduced air pollution, and efficiency to reduce travel time to a great
extent. The main objective of the system is to transport coal and slurry.
About the transport system
It is a hyperloop system and can reach speeds of 120 km per hour. The hyperloop
accommodates storage wagons, guiding rails, wheel assembly system, and enables
seamless mineral transportation.
Working of the system
It is a high-speed transportation system. It is designed to carry coal and other minerals.
There are three essential elements in the system. They are tubes, terminals, and pods.
Tubes in the system are sealed and controlled pressure is maintained in the tubes. Pods
carrying the goods levitate in the tubes. Levitation is achieved through magnetism.
The delivery rate of the system is 5.6 tonnes per minute per kilometre and it consumes
107 KW. The diameter of the pipe is 40 inches.
Elon Musk and Hyper Loop
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk started building the hyperloop project. However, he stopped in the
middle, as the cost of implementation increased exponentially.
RBI gives licenses for 32 payment aggregators

Payment Aggregator is a third-party payment solution provider. For instance, you use
YONO SBI to shop on Amazon. Therefore, SBI is an online payment aggregator. Recently,
RBI issued licenses to 32 payment aggregators to serve as online payment aggregators.
This includes Google, Computer Age, Amazon, NSDL, World Line, Reliance, Zomato,
Innnoviti, etc. Applications of 18 more are pending. The pending applications were from
Phone Pe, Bharti Pay, Unimoni, Adyen, etc.
How does the Payment Aggregator work?
The payment aggregator acts as an intermediary. Say you are purchasing in a shopping
mall, ABC shop. You swipe your debit card or pay using the mobile app XYZ. Now XYZ
collects money from your account and deposits it in the account of ABC shop. XYZ is the
payment aggregator.
There are two different types of payment aggregators. One is the third-party payment
aggregator and bank payment aggregator. RBI recently issued licenses to third-party
aggregators.
Is the payment aggregator the same as the payment gateway?
No. They look like they are doing the same job. However, there are many differences
between them. A payment aggregator handles funds. On the other hand, the payment
gateway provides technology.
World Bank President Malpass to step down
David Robert Malpass is an economist from the USA. He has been serving as the President
of the World Bank since 2019. He served as Economic Advisor to former US President
Donald Trump. He recently announced that he is resigning. He has not completed his term
yet. The term of the president of the world bank is five years.
Why is Malpass resigning?
He has been criticized by climate activists since September. He was asked if he agreed that
fossil fuel burnings are warming the planet. Malpass refused to answer. Being a physics
graduate and an economist, he is well aware of the fact that fossil fuel burnings warm the
planet. Yet he chose to stay silent! This is the criticism placed by climate activists.
About Malpass
He played a major role during the US financial crisis of 2007-08. He predicted the crisis and
the great recession that followed right.
Criticisms
Malpass was criticised for supporting the environmental policies of Trump. Also, he rarely
mentions climate change in his speeches and addresses. In 2021, when Joe Biden became
the President of the USA, the country prioritised the fight against climate change. He was
called a “Climate Denier”. Climate Denial is the term used to refer to concepts that are
creating unwarranted doubts about climate change. In other words, the people who
refuse the accept the fact that the “World is facing Climate Change” are called “Climate
Deniers”.
February 17, 2023

Israel's New Law to strip Arab attackers of citizenship
The Israeli Government has been making a series of changes recently. While the Judicial
reforms proposed are creating a ruckus in the country, Knesset recently approved a new
law against the Arabs involved in nationalistic attacks. According to the new law, the Israel
Government is to deport the Arabs who are convicted of attacks and receive financial
support from the Palestinian Government.
Background
The main reason for the Knesset to frame the law is age-old Israel – Palestine conflict. The
land over which Israel and Palestine are fighting was once under the Ottoman Empire.
After the First World War, it came under British control. There were very few Jews here.
During Hitler’s rule, Jews from Europe started fleeing here. According to them, their
ancestors lived here. As the Jewish population increased, they started demanding a
separate land for their community. Arabs resisted their claim.
Balfour Declaration
In 1917, the UK which was controlling the land assured that it will help the Jewish people
to establish a “National Home for the Jewish”. Arabs did not agree to this declaration. The
dispute started with Balfour’s declaration. However, the UK succeeded and created land
for Jews with the help of the League of Nations (org prior to the UN) in 1923.
Textile Advisory Group for Manmade Fibre
The Speaker of the house forms the advisory committees. One such committee was
recently formed to look into the issues of the textile sector. The committee also studied
the issues faced in the manmade fibres. The Minister of Textiles Shri Piyush Goyal recently
headed his first meeting with the advisory group.
What did the committee convey to the minister?
The imports of man-made fibres are increasing in the country. This is affecting the
local business
Of all the Man-made fibres, imports of fibres made of PTA (Poly Terephthalic Acid)
and MEG (Mono Ethylene Glycol) are the highest.
India has huge potential in man-made fibres and it remains unutilized
The committee suggested solutions to revamp the man-made fibres chain in the
country
Shortage of effluent treatment facilities
Shortage of quality processing facilities
Minister decisions after the meeting
To augment the Production Linked Incentive scheme and include man-made fibre-
dependent beneficiaries in the scheme.
A Quality Control Order is to be enforced
About the Advisory Group
The advisory group comprises of experts in the textiles sector, and associations like AEPC,
ASFI, and SIMA. SRTEPC, CPMA, etc. The group was led by the Association of man-made
fibre industry of India and the Association of the synthetic fibre industry
'President's Colour' honour to the Haryana Police
The President Color is the highest award presented to military units, federal forces, and
state police forces. The award has an emblem. The award is presented by the President of
India, the Supreme Commander of the Indian military. However, when the president is
absent or unavailable, then the award shall be presented by the Home minister or the
Prime Minister or Vice President. President Murmu is now on an official tour to the
southern states of the country. Therefore, Home Minister Shri Amit Shah presented the
President’s Colour honour. It was presented to the Haryana police.
Why to Haryana Police?
The award was presented to the Haryana Police for their bravery, dedication and courage
in the last 25 years. Owing to its proximity to the National capital, the state police force is
also patient in handling different issues. The Haryana police force has won the people’s
confidence all these years.
Technologies
The Haryana State police have been adopting several latest technologies under the Police
Technology Mission. The mission was launched by PM Modi to make technology available
for police forces all over the country. Some of them are ICJS and CCTN. ICJS is Inter
Operable Criminal Justice System. CCTN is Crime and Criminal Tracking Network.
India's first waste-to-hydrogen plant to be set up in Pune
The Government of India is to set up the first waste-to-hydrogen plant at a cost of Rs 430
crores in Pune. The plant will be built by a private company Green Billion Limited. The
company has signed an agreement with the Pune Municipal Corporation for 30 years. The
objective of the plant is to treat 350 tonnes of solid waste daily. From this, it will produce
ten tonnes of Hydrogen every day. The plant is to be built in Hadapsar Industrial Estate in
Pune. The plant is the first of its kind in the country.
About the Plant
Along with plant, the company will also construct a storage facility. It will also make
arrangements for logistics support. The company is to invest 350 crores of rupees to set
up the plant and 82 crores of rupees for logistics support and storage facilities.
Fee structure
The Pune Municipal Corporation will pay Rs 347 per tonne as fees to treat the waste.
Goal
The aim is to finish the plant construction by 2024
Technology used
The plant will use “Plasma Gasification Technology” to convert waste into hydrogen fuel.
The process of converting organic materials into hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon
dioxide is called plasma gasification. This is done at 700 degrees Celsius. Combustion is
the major process that occurs during gasification. That is the organic materials are burnt.
However, the combustion occurs in a controlled manner.
UNSC session on sea level rise

The United Nations Security Council recently warned about the high risks of sea level rise.
The council used the word “UNTHINKABLE” to stress the risks posed by sea level rise. The
impacts would be imprinted on international laws, security, and human rights. According
to the council, the sea level rise is already causing conflicts. The competition for
freshwater, land and other resources is to explode exponentially with rising sea levels.
Threats multiply
The UNSC conducted a debate on rising sea levels for the first time in its existence.
After the debate, the council said that the threats are to increase and jeopardize
access to water, health care, and food.
Saltwater intrusion is to affect agricultural economies, the tourism sector, and
fisheries.
The increase in sea level will also destroy schools, hospitals, and other important
infrastructure
Report
The UNSC quotes the World Meteorological Organization Data. According to WMO,
the sea levels increased rapidly after 1900 as compared to the last 3000 years.
Even if global warming is limited to a 1.5-degree temperature rises the world will
witness a sizeable sea level increase. With the current situation, controlling 1.5
degrees increase has become a miracle!
Devastation
Major cities that will face the impacts are New York, Mumbai, Bangkok, Lagos,
London, Buenos Aires
More than 900 million people living in the coastal areas will be affected
250-400 million people will go homeless
US Bill on Arunachal Pradesh LAC
The US senate recently passed a resolution condemning China. According to the
resolution, China is changing the status of LAC using its military force. Also, the resolution
lauded India for the country’s steps to defend itself against Chinese aggression at the
border.
About the resolution
The resolution title was long and self-explanatory. The title mentioned that Arunachal
Pradesh was an integral part of India. It also said that the actions of China in South Asia
are provocative.
Implications of the resolution
The USA is strongly supporting India and its international relations. US Congress had
passed such resolutions earlier too. For instance, in 2020, the US Congress passed a
similar resolution after the Galwan issue. However, this is the first time, the US is passing a
detailed and open resolution that is echoing the position of India in the border areas.
Political significance
The resolution had the support of both the Republican and conservative party support.
This is an additional benefit. This means the support from the US and its citizens is strong.
The increase in the number of Indian Americans in the country may be one of the major
reasons for such collective support.
Tripura Elections 2023: 81% Voter turn out
The biggest challenge of Indian elections is citizen participation. 81% of the state
population cast their votes in the recent Tripura Elections conducted by ECI. The voter
turnout was higher than in the 2018 polls. BJP is the current ruler in the state. In the 2023
assembly elections, three parties are contesting. They are the BJP, Congress, and the Tipra
Motha Party.
Tipra Motha Party
It was formed by the Tripuris, the indigenous tribe of the state. They are demanding a
separate state for their tribe. They want GoI to unite the Tripuris from other states along
with them in a separate land called Tipraland. The party is led by Pradyot Bikram Manikya
Deb Barma. Earlier he was with Congress. However, he quit saying the Congress party is
forcing him to accommodate corrupt people under him.
About Tripura Legislative Assembly
The state follows a unicameral legislature. There are 30 elected members in the assembly.
The first Tripura Legislative Assembly was formed in 1967.
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar
The award is presented by Sangeet Natak Akademi to artists in the field of dance, music,
and drama. It is presented annually to artists below the age of 40. Every year, more than
33 artists are presented with the award. The winners receive 25,000 rupees of the cash
price. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar is being presented since 2006. The awards
were presented by the Union Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar
19 artists from North East India won the award. The awards were presented for the years
2019, 2020, and 2021. 102 awardees were selected. The lists were finalised in 2022.
However, are being presented now. Categories include Sitar, Flute, Mridangam, etc.
Who is Ustad Bismillah Khan?
He was a famous Shehnai musician. He was one of the few musicians in the country to
receive Bharat Ratna. Before him, musicians M S Subbalakshmi and Ravi Shankar were
honoured with the award before him and he was the third to receive the honour.
Sangeet Natak Akademi
It was established by the Education ministry of India in 1952. The main objective of the
academy is to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the country.
Govt Plans OTT Platform and Direct to Mobile TV
The Government of India has been making several changes in the broadcasting sector.
The intention is to increase its imprint among the public and gain their trust. For instance,
the broadcasting infrastructure and network development scheme was launched to
support Prasar Bharati. Now, the GoI is planning on launching an OTT platform and a
Direct to Mobile TV.
What is the plan?
The plan is to auction the FM radio stations and then broadcast them on OTT platforms.
GoI is planning to conduct trials for DTM broadcast. Initially, this will be implemented in
Tier II and Tier III cities.
Need for the plan
There are many FM radio stations. However, they cover only 60% of the country. The
objective is to reach remote areas, tribals, and mainly the border areas.
Benefits
With this, the government can reach the people quickly and with ease. As the FM stations
will be broadcasted to mobiles of the citizens directly, the reach is fast. There are more
than one billion smartphone users in the country. Also, smartphone prices have declined
big.
The concept is simple. To bring FM radio on mobile; broadcast government-related
information and news. However, the only challenge here will be the allocation of the
spectrum.
Vertiplane X3 Drone delivers TB medicines
The Ministry of Health recently conducted a trial of delivering TB medicines in a drone. The
trials were conducted in Rishikesh. Traversing through the Himalayas, especially during
rainy seasons and winter seasons is challenging and time-consuming. Drones can deliver
medicines to hilly regions quickly even during harsh weather conditions.
Drone delivery of TB medicines
The trials of TB medicine delivery using drones were conducted by the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences under the supervision of the Health ministry. The trial was successful.
The drone delivered 2 kilograms of anti-tubercular drugs to a hospital in Tehri Garhwal
from AIIMS.
Future plans
GoI is planning on using drone technology to deliver medicines and also sputum samples
to laboratories and eliminate TB by 2025. Further, government hospitals will be
encouraged to use this technology to deliver organs for transplantation.
About the drone used in the trials
The drone can carry 4 kilograms. It can traverse 50 km. The drone was designed and built
by Tech Eagle Innovations. The drones developed by the same company were used by the
Meghalaya government to transport medicines. The Government of Meghalaya set up a
drone station in Jengjal. Drones were also used by ICMR to deliver COVID vaccines in
Manipur.
IAF indigenous Vayulink platform
The Indian Air Force has developed a solution for its fighter pilots to deal with bad
weather. The innovative solution developed is a new data link communication called
VAYULINK. It will provide uninterrupted communication even during bad weather. Above
all the communication link is jammer-proof.
About VAYULINK
It uses IRNSS to send and receive signals. IRNSS is a satellite constellation of ISRO. It is
also called NAVIC. However, the unique feature of the communication link is that its
satellite usage is rare. It means the system uses the satellite only when the signals are
low.
Significance
VAYULINK prevents Fratricide. Meaning, killing your own sister or brother. During air force
fire operations, if the signals are misinterpreted there are chances that one IAF flight may
shoot another IAF flight. Also, there are chances that our own flights may shoot our own
ground stations. Such instances are referred to as Fratricide. And VAYULINK will aid in
preventing FRATRICIDE.
How does VAYULINK prevent Fratricide?
When VAYULINK is installed in spacecraft, it provides proximity to other aircraft. With
encrypted data about IAF flights, VAYULINK identifies it separately. Also, our own ground
stations shall be identified easily with VAYULINK.
Benefits of VAYULINK
It prevents aircraft collision, aids in multiple team coordination, aids pilots to traverse hilly
regions at ease
OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index-STRI
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development recently released the
Services Trade Restrictiveness Index. India ranked 47th. Last year, India was in the 46th
position. Unfortunately, India remains among the bottom five countries in the ranking.
Russia was in the 48 th position due to its war with Ukraine. STRI speaks about the
restrictions on the development of strategic services in the world. This includes freight
transport, accounting, legal services, etc.
STRI 2023
This year STRI covered around 50 countries. Japan was ranked topmost. It was followed by
UK, Netherlands, Czech, and Chile in second, third, fourth, and fifth places respectively.
The countries in the bottommost spots were Indonesia (at the 50th spot), Thailand (49),
Russia (48), and India (47).
The report covers service trade regulations in all of its members. The members of the
OECD account to more than 80% of World trade. Very minimal or no trade barriers were
seen in Japan, UK and Netherlands. Sound recording and architecture were the most
liberal services in 2022.
Why did India jump in the ranking?
India’s position moved on by one spot. This was mainly because of the privatisation of Air
India. Also, India eliminated pricing guidelines for share transfer between non-residents
and residents. These steps eased the economic stakeholders and pushed India ahead in
the ranking.
Global Labour Resilience Index 2023
The White Shield is a policy advisory firm. The company released the Global Labour
Resilience Index during World Government Summit. The index measures the capacity of
the economy to withstand employment fluctuations and the ability to fight back. The index
is the first of its kind. White Shield ranked 136 countries based on parameters such as
technological disruptions, pandemics, green economy transition, etc.
Key Findings
Denmark was ranked first in the index followed by Switzerland, Germany,
Netherlands, Singapore, and Sweden in second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth places
respectively.
India ranked 65th. All the other countries in South Asia ranked below 80. Pakistan
secured 97th
Resilience is stalling
More than one-third of countries are facing difficulties in labour resilience after
COVID
The USA has the highest adaptive capabilities to any kind of market changes
Regional positions
North America secured the top rank in the world followed by Europe at the second
position, East Asia and Pacific in the third position, Central Asia in the fourth position, and
the Middle East and North America in the fifth position. Latin America and the Caribbean
were in the sixth position. South Asia was in the seventh position and Sub-Saharan Africa
was in the eighth position.
Developed Economies
The USA was in position 15 and Canada at 16. Japan secured 19th place. Russia was on 45.
Israel at 20
Karnataka State Budget 2023-24
The State of Karnataka is entering elections in May 2023. The Interim budget for 2023-24
was presented by the State CM Basavaraj Bommai. The interim budget is the budget
presented ahead of elections. The Government of Karnataka is to set up a startup park
near Bengaluru Airport; provide free bus passes to students, toilets in government
schools; etc. The total budget outlay was Rs 9,698 crores
Key Highlights of Karnataka Budget 2023-24
Traffic signals are to use AI
“She Toilets” are to be constructed in Bengaluru
Flood control project to be implemented at a cost of Rs 3000 crores. Assistance
received from World Bank
Bengaluru Metro Rail Project: 40.15 km to be constructed
Satellite Town Ring Road to be constructed; 30% of acquisition cost to be borne by
State Government
75 new junctions to ease Bengaluru Traffic at Rs 150 crores
Karnataka Economic Scenario
Total Tax Revenue in 2023-24 estimated to be Rs 1,64,653 crores
Total Non-Tax revenue in 2023-24 is expected to be Rs 11,000 crores
Total Expenditure for the year 2023-24 is estimated to be Rs 3,09,182 crores

For the first time after the pandemic, in 2022-23, the revenue receipt was higher than
the revenue expenditure
The CM was proud to present a REVENUE SURPLUS BUDGET!
February 18, 2023
Dharma Guardian 2023 Exercise
India and Japan recently conducted the Dharma Guardian Exercise. The exercise was held
at Camp Imazu of Shiga province in Japan. Middle Army’s Infantry Regiment and the
Garhwal Rifle regiment of the Indian Army participated in the exercise. The armies shared
tactics and their best practices with each other. The exercise will boost the friendship
between the armies.
About Dharma Guardian Exercise
Indian Army and Japanese Army participated in the exercise. It was held in the Shiga
province of Japan. The exercise held in 2023 was the fourth edition.
During the exercise, the armies conducted joint tactical drills, employed aerial assets and
surveillance grids
Other Military exercises of India and Japan
MALABAR, JIMEX, SHINYUU
Other military exercises India holds with other countries
India and Myanmar: IMBAX
India and China: Hand–in–Hand, PASSEX
India and Oman
India and Russia: INDRA
India and Sri Lanka: MITRA SHAKTI
India and Nepal: SURYA KIRAN
India and UAE: BILAT
India and Bangladesh: BONO SAGAR
GARHWAL Rifle Regiment
It was created in 1887. During British rule, it was called the Royal Garhwal Rifle regiment.
There are more than 25,000 soldiers in the regiment.
Garhwal
Garhwalis are indigenous people of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Rajputs founded
the Garhwal kingdom 1000 years ago.
Spain passes Europe’s first menstrual paid leave law
The Government of Spain recently passed a Menstrual Paid Leave Law. According to the
law, women in the country can take paid leave during their periods. Usually, employees in
the country need to submit a medical certificate to take three days long leave. This
condition is being relaxed. With this, Spain has become the first country in Europe to pass
the law. The law exists in very few countries in the world such as Zambia, Indonesia, and
Japan. In India, very few states like Kerala have passed the law. Supreme Court of India is
to hear a case related to menstrual leave on February 24.
Need for the law
According to London University researchers, the pain a woman undergoes while
menstruating is equal to the pain encountered by a person during heart attacks.
Menstrual Leave in India
Indian Parliament is yet to take the subject. No bills have been introduced yet at the
central level. However, some private companies like BYJUS, ZOMATO, ARC, MAGZTER,
GOZOOP, etc are offering menstrual leave.
New market segment for EXPENSIVE power
The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission recently approved a proposal to start a
separate market for expensive power. These expensive power markets are usually
referred to as spot power markets. What is expensive power according to the regulatory
body? Electricity derived from imported gas and imported coal and also from battery
storage has been put under the category of expensive power. Companies generating
electricity from low-cost fuel cannot operate in this market.
Role of Indian Energy Exchange
The entire implementation of the expensive power market will be done by IEX. CERC, the
regulatory body does the approval process alone.
Need for Expensive Power Market
The power demands are to increase this summer due to high temperatures. To fulfil the
demands and avoid power shortage, it is essential that GoI increases its power
generation. To achieve this, every possible pathway of power generation should be
opened. Though the power generation from imported raw materials is expensive, it aids in
fulfilling the overall power demand of the country.
What is the plan?
The CERC has fixed the price of electricity in expensive markets at Rs 50 per unit. Due to
high costs, distribution companies usually do not prefer to buy electricity from generators
using imported raw materials. The new market will help them find their buyers easily.
Background
In 2021, a cap was set on these spot power markets by CERC. The cap was set at Rs 12 per
unit. In 2022, the expensive power was sold at Rs 20 to the states and to farmers. Due to
such low rates, expensive power generation companies incurred severe losses.
BEL and Israel Aerospace to form JV
The Bharat Electronics Limited operating under the defence ministry recently signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at the Aero
India Air Show. According to the agreement, BEL and IAI will establish a joint venture. The
JV will provide support to the missile defence system of the country.
About the Joint Venture
The JV will produce advanced phased array radar, interceptors, launchers, etc. These are
all the supporting systems of a missile. The JV will mainly focus on MRSAM.
Why the focus is on MRSAM?
MRSAM is Medium Range Surface to Air Missile. It was jointly developed by DRDO and IAI.
MoU to build LORA
Apart from the JV, the countries also signed an MoU under which IAI will help BEL in
producing the LORA weapon system. LORA is Long Range Artillery System. It is a sea-to-
ground long-range ballistic missile launcher. It shall also provide support to ground-to-
ground systems. It can launch missiles of multiple ranges, that is, between 90 km and 430
km. The maintenance costs of LORA are very less.
Way Forward
IAI subsidiary will be opened in India. And ASI (Aerospace Service India) is to be opened in
New Delhi to help India achieve its Atma Nirbhar Bhrat goals.
Ethanol interest subvention scheme- Updates
The Government of India recently approved nine ethanol blending projects. These projects
are to be implemented under the Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme. The newly added
projects are expected to produce 35 crore litres of ethanol. Of these nine, three are
molasses based and five are grain based. Around Rs, 1,034 crores of investments are
expected on these projects. Also, the projects will create hundreds of employment
opportunities.
Background
The Government of India had already approved 1,481 crore litres of ethanol projects
under the Ethanol Interest Subvention Scheme. India has been promoting ethanol and
ethanol-blended fuels on a large scale in recent times. Recently, India launched ethanol-
blended petrol. And the blending ratio was increased to 20%. Brazil and USA are the
world’s leading manufacturers of ethanol fuel. Sale of the fuel in these countries is also
big. While they have reached 100% ethanol blending, India is a bit lagging compared to
them. However, compared to the development programmes of ethanol-based fuels in the
past 20 years, the growth rate has been exponential in the recent five years. Another
reason for India’s slow ethanol production is the country’s focus on green ethanol. India is
trying to generate most of its ethanol from agricultural waste, especially from sugar cane.
The natural way of producing ethanol is time-consuming.
NASSCOM Report on AI skill penetration
The National Association of Software and Services Companies, NASSCOM released a
report on “Artificial Intelligence Penetration”. The report was launched along with DRAUP
and SALESFORCE. According to the report, the AI penetration of India is 3.09. This is the
highest among all G20 countries and OECD countries. The report also says India will have
more than one million AI professionals by 2024.
AI-led core sectors of India are expected to add 500 billion USD to the economy
In 2022, the demand for AI in India was 629,000. However, the talent base stalled at
416,000
The current demand-supply gap of AI in the country is 51%. It is lower than the
developed economies like the United States
73% of the AI jobs in India are taken by five major role players. They are data
engineer, ML engineer, data architect, data scientist, data engineer, and DevOps
engineer
ML engineers and Data engineers alone constitute 46% of total AI jobs
Requirements
To achieve its complete potential in the AI field, India has to enhance its skills in the field,
launch more AI-related schemes, add AI to academics and put in other efforts.
Current Scenario of AI in India
Today there are 1,900 AI-based startups in India. Most of these startups operate in the
field of disease detection, NLP, fraud prevention, fake detection, etc. The government of
India is planning to establish three AI Centres of Excellence.
Qatar lifts temporary ban on Indian Frozen Seafood
In November 2022, Qatar detected Vibrio Cholera in Indian consignments. Following this,
the country banned seafood from India. This was done just before the FIFA world cup.
Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA and testing laboratories were occupied with FIFA-related
assignments. Due to a lack of testing laboratories, Qatar banned seafood from India.
China’s Ban on Indian seafood
Recently, China too lifted its ban on Indian sea foods. China banned seafood imports from
India in 2020. According to China, there were COVID traces on the seafood from India.
Background
India is planning to increase its seafood production and exports. The country has set a
target to achieve 14 billion USD by 2025. Also, India is promoting sea cage fishing. More
than 100 spots have been identified. It is essential for India to maintain good international
relationships to increase the export of seafood.
World Pangolin Day: Data on Pangolin poaching in India
In 2023, World Pangolin Day is celebrated on February 18. Every year the day is celebrated
on the third Saturday of February month. The main objective of the celebration is to create
awareness about the Pangolin population decline. The population of Pangolin are
decreasing rapidly in Africa and Asia. The main reason for the decline is their medicinal
value. Pangolin scales have several medicinal properties.
Pangolins in India
The World Wildlife Fund says that between 2018 and 2022, more than 1,203 pangolins
were poached and trafficked. Indian Pangolins are hunted and exported to markets in
South Asia and China.
State wise Pangolin illegal trade in India
Of all the states, Odisha had the highest seizures. More than 154 pangolins were seized in
74 encounters. Following Odisha, Maharashtra has the second-highest seizure incidents.
More than 135 pangolins were seized in Maharashtra between 2018 and 2022 according to
the WWF report. 50% of the seizures had live pangolins. 40% had pangolin scales.
Conservation
IUCN: Critically Endangered
CITES: APPENDIX I: This appendix prohibits international trade
Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Why is Pangolin highly demanded in International Market?
The scales of Pangolin have high medicinal properties. They are used to heal back pain
and treat strokes, and rheumatism.
How important is Pangolin?
Pangolins are very important to balance the ecosystem. They play a major role in the food
chain. A single Pangolin eats 70 million insects. They are natural pest controllers.
One Year of India-UAE CEPA
India and UAE signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2022. In
2023, the countries celebrated one year of signing the agreement recently. CEPA is a Free
Trade Agreement. With UAE, India signed CEPA on agriculture, taxation, customs
valuation, trade in goods, import licensing, export subsidies, non-tariff measures,
intellectual property, dispute settlement, MSME, digital trade, etc.
Background
The countries signed the agreement on February 18, 2022, during a virtual summit held
between Indian PM Modi and the UAE President Zayed Al Nahyan.
Achievements with CEPA
Due to CEPA, the trade between the countries increased to 57.8 billion USD. Before the
agreement, the trade between the countries stood at 45.3 billion USD. Trade increased by
27.5%.
Significance
The India-UAE CEPA was the first bilateral agreement India signed with middle-east or
north African region.
Imports and Exports
Between April 20222 and November 2022, Indian exports to UAE increased by 19.32%. The
agreement came into force in May 2022. The major trade sectors were food security,
energy, education, and health care.
Way Forward
India is to promote tourism in UAE. The FICCI will showcase the strengths of different
Indian states in Dubai starting in April 2023.
Supreme Court Action in Adani Case
The Supreme Court had asked the GoI to set up an expert panel and check on the safety of
the investors in situations like Adani Stock Manipulation. The Government of India
prepared suggestions on what can be done during such cases and what existing
provisions led to the issue. However, the suggestions were submitted in a sealed
envelope. Meaning, the SC or any other body cannot reveal or read the contents. SC
rejected this as the suggestions came in sealed envelopes. The Apex court is to set up its
own committee now!
What is the sealed cover procedure in India?
When a sealed cover is provided, it shall be opened only during acquittal. That is, SC can
now open the cover only when Gautham Adani is acquitted.
Background
The financial research company Hindenburg released a report on the Adani Group.
According to the report, the Adani group has fraudulently increased its stock prices in
India. Gautham Adani and his cousins showcased a rise in revenue of their shell
companies set up in several countries. While in reality, no operations were actually
happening in these shell companies. The stock manipulation put the reputation of India at
stake. So the SC stepped in accepting a Public Interest Litigation on the issue.
What did the SC do?
The SC heard the case a week ago. According to the apex court, a lot of investors lost their
money in stock manipulation fraud. What safety features do you as the Ruling
Government possess to protect the investors in such cases? was SC’s Question. Two days’
time was given. GoI replied that the existing provisions are enough and satisfactory to
protect the investors in such cases. But if SC wished it can set up a committee to look into
the matter. SC asked the central government to create a panel and provide a report on
these safeguard provisions. Now, GoI put the suggestions made by the expert panel in a
sealed cover.
Manipur hosts B20 Conference
On the sidelines of the G20 summit, the State of Manipur hosted the B20 conference. The
theme of the conference was Sustainable Growth and Development. It was in line with the
theme of the G20 summit, which is One Earth One Family One Future.
About the B20 Conference
More than 23 countries attended the conference. Union Ministers for State for Commerce,
External Affairs, etc attended the conference. B20 means Business 20. It is one of the
engagement groups of G20.
Working of B20 Engagement Groups
The B20 engagement group or any other engagement group (like a startup group or
youth group, etc) is led by the host country. In 2023, India will work with other G20
countries and frame policies.
Why Manipur?
The population of Manipur is 2.72 million. The northeastern states including Manipur are
seen as the Gateway to South East Asia. Also, India is to implement its Act East Policy
through these states. The Seven Sisters including Manipur will act as a bridge between
South East Asia and India. After the India-Myanmar Asian Highway construction
completes, it will only take 16-18 hours to cover the distance between Bangkok and
Manipur. Also, there are plans to operate cargo flights between the Manipur capital
Imphal and Mandalay, Myanmar.
49th meeting of GST Council
The GST Council makes recommendations to the Union Government and the State
Government based on the issues related to GST. There are 33 members of the council. Of
these 31 are from states and UT and 2 are from the centre. The 49th meeting of the council
was recently chaired by Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman. Outstanding GST cess
dues to the states were cleared.

Key Highlights of the 49th GST Council Meet
GST on liquid jaggery, pencil sharpeners, and tracking devices was reduced
A report of the GST Appellate Tribunal was adopted; certain modifications were
introduced
Capacity-based taxation introduced in certain sectors
To Plug the leakages in GST collections
There are leakages in the revenue collection from certain products like tobacco, Gutkha,
Pan Masala, etc. The following recommendations were made for these products
The capacity-based levy will not be prescribed for these products
Compliance measures to plug evasions
Other changes introduced
GST on rab reduced from 18% to 5%
GST on pencil sharpener reduced from 18% to 12%
Council recommended Amnesty Scheme
Late Fees for returns rationalized
Compensation Pending
GST compensation pending as of June 2022 was the highest for Maharashtra, 2102 crores;
followed by Karnataka 1934 crores, followed by Delhi, Rs 1212 crores.
What is GST Appellate Tribunal?
It will act as a quasi-judicial body. It will solve disputes between individuals, governments,
businesses, etc.
February 19, 2023
North India First Nuclear Plant
The Union Minister for Science and Technology recently announced that a new nuclear
plant is to be built in Gorakhpur, Haryana. This will be the first nuclear plant in North
India. The plant is to be built on 560 hectares of land. It will generate 2800 MW. The
foundation stone was laid in 2014. However, construction is just beginning. The first phase
is to be complete by 2025 and the second phase is by 2028. As the second phase
completes the plant will be in full operation generating 2800 MW.
Who is constructing the plant?
National Power Corporation of India Limited. This Public Sector Unit is responsible for all
the nuclear power plants in the country.
Why the delay?
Land Acquisition issues. Owners of the land, where the plant is to be built refused to
vacate. To them, the compensation provided by the GoI to vacate the land was insufficient.
Due to the delay, the GoI was facing financial losses of Rs 7 crore to Rs 8 crore per day.
Cost of the project
The project is to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 20,594 crores. This cost estimation was
done in 2014. With increasing inflation, the cost would have now increased.
Zones in India:
NORTH INDIA: HP, Punjab, UP, and Haryana

SOUTH INDIA: AP, Karnataka, TN, Kerala
EAST INDIA: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, WB
WEST INDIA: Rajasthan, Goa, Gujarat
CENTRAL INDIA: MP, Chhattisgarharh
February 20, 2023
World Day of Social Justice 2023
Social justice provides equal social, political, and economic opportunities for all. The World
Day of Social Justice is celebrated by the United Nations and several other international
organizations on February 20. The main objective of observing world social justice day is
to spread awareness of the relationship between poverty eradication and social justice.
The day also focuses on decent work for labourers. For instance, manual scavenging is not
decent work. The day insists on removing such practices. The International Labor
Organization also celebrates the day with different themes.
World Day of Social Justice 2023
In 2023, the day focuses on building trust in world governments. With COVID, the Russian-
Ukraine war, and climate change-related disasters, the normal lives of the people were
disrupted. Also, with increasing inflation, unemployment, lack of food security, and food
scarcity; people lost their trust in governments. Therefore, there is a need to strengthen
the social system that is in a fractured state today.
The theme of World Day of Social Justice 2023
Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice
Focus of 2023 World Day of Social Justice
In 2023, the UN is to focus on the workers. Today, many labourers did not receive their
pre-pandemic incomes. An increase in commodity prices has affected small businesses.
Therefore, it is essential to increase investments, especially in the green economy.
Madhya Pradesh Government passes New Liquor Policy
The State Cabinet of MP recently approved a New Liquor policy. According to the policy,
the areas for drinking alcohol will be closed. These are areas that are usually attached to
bars. The new policy is called the “NEW EXCISE POLICY”. The policy was launched after the
BJP leader Uma Bharati’s demand.
Significance
In Madhya Pradesh, there are liquor shops within 50 metres of girls’ hostels and religious
places. The policy will also make strict actions against drunk and driving cases.
Political Background
Madhya Pradesh is going in for an election by end of 2023. And the state has been having
an unstable government for quite some time. In 2020, around 22 Indian National Congress
MLAs resigned from their posts. It was during this time the current civil aviation minister
Jyotiraditya Scindia quit Congress and joined BJP. This led to the fall of the Kamal Nath
Government. Shivraj Singh Chouhan (of BJP) formed the fourth government. Like Scindia
and Kamal Nath had clashes inside the party when they were together, there are clashes
between Chouhan and Uma Bharati. Uma Bharati protesting against liquor is probably a
political strategy.
President Murmu visits Arunachal Pradesh
The President of India Droupadi Murmu has been visiting the states of UP, Odisha, and
Tamil Nadu. She is now to visit Arunachal Pradesh and will participate in the 37th Statehood
Day celebrations of Arunachal Pradesh.
President’s visit to UP
President Murmu visited UP and participated in the Global Investors Summit held in
Lucknow. She also took part in the tenth convocation of Babasaheb Bhimarao Ambedhkar
University. From there she also visited KAshi Vishwanath temple and attended Ganga
Aarathi.
President’s visit to Odisha
During her visit to Odisha, the President attended the Foundation Day celebrations of the
Jnanaprabha Mission. Also, she attended the second convocation of a university. And she
inaugurated the Indian Rice Congress at ICAR.
President’s Visit to Tamil Nadu
During her visit to Tamil Nadu, the president graced Mahashivaratri celebrations
conducted by Isha Foundation. Also, she visited the Defence Service Staff College at
Wellington.
President’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh
During her visit, the president will take part in the celebrations of the statehood day and
will also address the Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh.
Observation
The Government of India is now focusing on the developments and governance of Border
States. Also, the government is trying to increase the population in remote areas within
the borders. This is being done to reduce the Chinese and Pakistani influences here.
Arunachal Pradesh Statehood Day
The State of Arunachal Pradesh celebrated its statehood day on February 20. President
Murmu attended the state celebrations. The statehood was granted in 1987. It was the 24th
state in the country.
How was Arunachal Pradesh formed?
The Union Government provided the Statehood of Arunachal Pradesh through the State of
Arunachal Pradesh Act, 1986. In 1972, Arunachal Pradesh was made a union territory. Till
then the region was called the North East Frontier Agency.
55th Amendment of the Constitution
The amendment provided certain special privileges to the state of Arunachal Pradesh. This
was because of the sensitive location of the state. The Governor of the state has the
responsibility of law and order in the state.
Significance
The state has more than 26 major tribes. There are 750 bird species and 200
mammals. Thus, the state is highly diverse in culture and also in biodiversity.
The state is the largest of all the seven sister states in the North East
It borders Assam and Nagaland
The state is called the Land of Rising Sun
The state shares a 1,129 km border with Tibet. Also, it shares international borders
with countries Myanmar and Bhutan
Environmental importance
The National Parks in the state are Namdapha, Mouling, Dibang, Pakke Tiger Reserve, and
Sessa Orchid Sanctuary. The state also has the Dihang Dibang Biosphere Reserve. The
state bird is Hornbill and State animal is Mithun or Gayal.
DUSTLIK 2023: India-Uzbekistan Military Exercise
India and Uzbekistan conducted the fourth edition of the DUSTLIK 2023 military exercise in
Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. During the exercise, the countries trained their troops in multi-
domain operations and shared their skills. India’s GARHWAL Rifles from the Western
Command participated in the exercise. And from Uzbekistan, the North Western Military
command participated in the exercise. The exercise is biennial, meaning conducted once
in two years.
Uzbekistan Military Power
The country ranks 62 in its military power. It is a part of the Turkic world. With more than
65,000 soldiers, the Army of Uzbekistan is one of the largest in Central Asia.
Significance
The Hisar Air Base of Uzbekistan is jointly operated by Indian Air Force and Tajik Air Force.
It is also called the Gissar Air Base. India used the base extensively during the Afghan
crisis.
Why is DUSTLIK important?
Uzbekistan is important to India for connectivity to Iran and the Central Asian region.
India is trying to expand its trade in the Central Asian region. But the conflicts in
Afghanistan are a big hindrance. To counter such security issues, India needs the support
of other central Asian countries like Uzbekistan.
Observation
In recent times, Indian Army is deploying the Garhwal Rifles in military exercises. In the
recent DHARMA GUARDIAN military exercise conducted with Japan too, the Garhwal Rifles
participated.
NEOM: Saudi’s Future Mega City
Saudi Arabia recently announced that it has completed one-fifth construction of its
futuristic Mega city called the NEOM. The country is spending 500 billion USD to construct
the city. The engineering projects in the future city will be powered by clean energy. There
will be no cars in the streets. NEOM is a combination of two words NEO and M. NEO is a
Greek word meaning New. And M in the name stands for the word Mustakbal, meaning
the future. Also, the M stands for crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
Key Facts of NEOM
The proposal to construct the city was brought by crown prince Mohammed Bin
Salman
The city is located on the Red Sea Coast and is larger than Kuwait or Israel. The city is
spread around 26,500 square kilometres
There will be ten different regions in the city like the airport, bay, floating industrial
complex, etc.
OXAGON: It is a floating industrial complex. It will house a desalination plant, a
research centre, and a hydrogen plant
TROJENA: A skiing centre
Agriculture: 6,500 hectares of farmlands will be created outside the city
The 2029 Asian Winter Games will be hosted by NEOM
THE LINE: Smart city that will be housed within NEOM
Concerns
More than 20,000 people relocated. The Indigenous Howeitat tribe living in the area was
terribly affected. Local water resources will be detoured. Artifical ski slopes will cause
severe impact on the desert land. Unjust work terms with the employees in the project are
also creating a ruckus.
Chandrayaan-3 lander clears key test
The Chandrayaan 3 is the third lunar mission of India. Indian Space Research Organization
recently announced that the EMI-EMC test of the lander part was successful. The EMI-EMC
are Electromagnetic tests. During the test, the lander is checked if its operation is creating
EM interference in the nearby environment. Also, checks if its operation is affected by the
nearby EM waves.
What is the EMI-EMC test?
EMI is the Electro Magnetic Interference test and EMC is the Electro Magnetic
Compatibility test. For the successful landing and operation, it is essential that the lander
part clears the EMI and EMC tests.
Significance
If the lander did not clear the test or if tests were partially completed, the entire
Chandrayaan 3 may go in vain. It is essential for any electronic component to block
electromagnetic waves. Also, the component should not emit any electromagnetic waves.
If it emits or doesn’t block the EM waves, the energy and the signals received, sent, or
produced in the component are disrupted. Miscommunication happens and the mission
fails. Probably, the Chandrayaan 2 lander crashed onto the moon’s surface for this reason.
MISCOMMUNICATION.
About Chandrayaan 3
There are three main modules in the project. They are the Propulsion module, Rover
module, and Lander Module.
PFRDA launches T+2 settlement for NPS withdrawal
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority recently reduced the
turnaround time of the National Pension Scheme to T+2 years. Earlier, it was T+4 years.
What is T+2 or T+4? T is the date, the request was made. T+2 means, “after two days of the
request”, and T+4 means “after four days of the request”.

Partial Withdrawal
A subscriber of the National Pension Scheme can withdraw less than 25% of the funds.
However, this shall be done only after 10 years.
What is the change introduced?
Say a person subscribes to the scheme. He shall do this by depositing a minimum of Rs
1000. He can also open an NPS account by depositing Rs one lakh. When he exits from the
scheme, he gets a matured amount at an interest of 8% or 10%. You can deposit as much
ever money as you want. Money can be deposited at will. No restrictions on the timeline
or amount to be deposited. Now, the only rule is that you need to wait at least ten years
after depositing your money. You cannot withdraw in the middle. After ten years, you may
withdraw 25% of the amount.
Now say a subscriber wants to withdraw. He submits a withdrawal form to the bank in
which he opened the NPS account. With a savings account, you get the amount the same
day. But with an NPS account, you will need to wait at least 2 days to get the amount.
Earlier, the wait time was 4 days. The pension regulator has now reduced it to 2 days.
Nepal celebrates Democracy Day
Nepal recently celebrated its Democracy Day. Every year, Democracy day is celebrated on
Falgun 7. Falgun is the calendar of Nepal. Nepal celebrates Democracy Day to
commemorate the end of autocratic rule in the country. The country was under the rule of
the Rana dynasty for more than 104 years.
Nepalese Democracy Movement
The Nepalis overthrew their Rana King taking inspiration from the Indian independence
movement. In 1949, a communist party was set up and the goal of the Nepal Communist
Party was to establish democracy.
Role of India in Nepal’s Democracy
When India became the union in 1947, Nepal refused to join India. Tribhuvan of Nepal was
anti-Rana and was operating secretly. As the news reached Rana that Tribhuvan wants to
establish democracy in Nepal, his life was at risk. Thus, he fled to India in 1950. Nehru
welcomes him. With Nehru’s help, a formal agreement was signed among Tribhuvan,
Ranas, and Nepali Congress. This was called the DELHI ACCORD. According to the
agreement, all three parties agreed to create a democratic constitution in Nepal. After
this. Tribhuvan returned to Nepal. Their return after the signing is marked as Democracy
day in Nepal.
Treaty of Sugauli
This treaty is defining the border between India and Nepal to date. The treaty was signed
by the Shah dynasty. The Ranas were the core rulers of the Shah dynasty. India and Nepal
are in dispute regarding the borders defined by the treaty. The treaty says that the Kali
river will act as the international border. However, the river has changed its course with
time. This led to a boundary dispute between the countries.
Telangana’s Teja chilli

The Teja Chilli of Telangana is the most popular chilli in many countries. Despite high
international demand, the farmers of Teja Chilli are facing heavy losses. They are
struggling to recover their investment.
Background
Khammam Agriculture market is one of the biggest chilli markets in Telangana. It is the
largest producer of Teja Chilli. The Teja Chilli is the major ingredient of Oleoresin.
Oleoresin is a chilli extract used in food processing units in Asia. Demand for Oleoresin
increases the demand for Teja chilli in Asia.
About Teja Chilli
The chilli is a sub-variety of Guntur Chillies. Of all the Guntur Chilli varieties, the Teja Chilli
is the finest. Other Guntur Chilli varieties are Madhubala, Bedki, Roshni, Ankur, etc.
Export destinations of Teja Chilli
Sri Lanka, Latin America, USA, UK, South Korea, Middle East, Bangladesh
SHU Range of Teja Chilli
SHU means Scoville Heat Units. It gives the amount of Capsaicin present in a food product.
Capsaicin is a chemical compound that gives a pungent flavour. Higher the SHU, the
hotter the food product. SHU in chillies and pepper are very high. Chillies with higher SHU
have high demand in the international market.
The SHU of Teja Chilli is 60,000 to 1,10,000. VERY HOT and HIGHLY PUNGENT
Reasons for the high demand for Teja Chilli
The Teja chilli is thin and very light in weight. A small quantity is enough to make the food
hot and spicy. For this reason, the demand of the chill is high.
Residence by investment programmes
The residence by investment programmes allows a foreigner to get a permanent
residence. The foreigner shall obtain this by making an investment. He may invest in a
business or purchase a property. They are sometimes called Gold Visa Programmes but
are not the same. A recent study says that Indians choose to go abroad for work. For the
environmental conditions (unlike Delhi pollution) and also for other comforts they take up
“resident by investment” programmes and choose to stay abroad. The common countries
where Indians choose such programmes today are USA, Greece, Australia, Portugal, and
Malta.
What is Residence by Investment programmes?
Resident by investment is different from citizenship by investment. In a resident-by-
investment programme, if you invest a certain amount in a country, you will gain
residency there. You only get residency. You are not eligible to enjoy government
subsidiaries provided to the citizens of that country. For instance, you put your money into
a property in the USA. With this, the US provides you with a residence. You and your family
may stay here. You can only stay like a foreigner, not like a citizen. For example, your kids
do not get free education like other American citizens.
Are Golden Visa and Resident by Investment the same?
NO. Many are of the misconception that they are the same. Though they work the same
way, the benefits gained are different. And therefore, the programmes are different.
Hwasong-15: North Korea's Intercontinental ballistic missile
The HWASONG-15 is one of the three major ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) of
North Korea. All the ICBMs of North Korea use liquid propellants. North Korean missiles
are of big trouble and great concern to the west for this reason. The liquid fuels used in
the ICBMs of North Korean missiles can stay stable only under controlled conditions. The
solid-fueled ICBMs are difficult to detect and NK is now building them.
HWASONG-15
North Korea recently demonstrated the HWASONG-15. The missile had its maiden flight in
2017. HWASAONG has the capability to reach the mainland of the USA. It can reach
altitudes of 4,475 km and travel 950 km downrange.
Engine of HWASONG-15
There are two chambers in the engines of HWASONG-15. Earlier versions like
HWASONG-14 and HWASONG-12 had only one chamber.
Launch Vehicle
The launch vehicle of HWASONG 15 is huge. It has nine axles. The missile vehicles are
generally referred to as the Transporter Erector Launcher. These vehicles can carry
missiles and can erect them for launch.
North Korea Crisis and HWASONG
The recent 2017 North Korean crisis began when the country test-fired its first HWASONG
15 missile. The test was successful. In July 2017, North Korea conducted a series of nuclear
tests including the HWASONG 15 to display its nuclear capability. With this, the US and the
world countries concluded that North Korea is producing missiles at a faster rate than
they believe. There was a possibility of war. However, the tensions eased in 2018.
US President Joe Biden visits Kyiv amidst Ukraine-Russia war tensions
US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital. Tensions between
Ukraine and Russia are still strong with the first anniversary of the Russian Invasion fast
approaching. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Role of the US in the Ukraine-Russia war
The US provided 30 billion USD of aid to Ukraine. Ukraine disintegrated from USSR in 1991.
After the disintegration, the US established a diplomatic relationship with the US in 1991.
The US aims to develop Ukraine into a secure region and integrate the country with the
Europeans.
Observations
The US President’s next stop is Poland. After Kyiv, the president will hold discussions with
the Poland officials. The visit was not planned and is happening all of a sudden. Now the
question comes, why Poland? It is to be noted that the Yavoriv Military base is located on
the western border of Ukraine. The base is just 10 km from Poland. The base is operated
by the Ukraine-NATO Partnership for Peace program. The US and the west definitely have
influence over the operations in these bases through NATO! Also, Russia began its 2022
invasions with this base a year ago. Russia fired more than 30 rockets at the base.
INS Sumedha participated in IDEX and NAVDEX
INS Sumedha participated in the Naval Defence Exhibition called the NAVDEX and
International Defence Exhibition called the IDEX conducted in Abu Dhabi recently. The
Naval Ship showcased the indigenous ship-building skills of India at the exhibitions.
INS Sumedha
She is a SARAYU class NOPV. NOPV means Naval Offshore Patrol Vessels. The first INS
SUMEDHA was built in Goa and joined the Navy in 2011. The one that participated in the
exhibition was recently commissioned, in 2014. It was the third indigenously built INS
SUMEDHA. She can carry helicopters.
IDEX
The first IDEX was held in 1993. The exhibition is biennial and focuses mainly on defence
technologies rather than defence products. The exhibition is held in Abu Dhabi, UAE and is
one of the largest defence exhibitions in the middle east.
How big is the IDEX?
More than 4 to 5 billion USD of business happens during the exhibition. In the recent
AERO INDIA 2023 defence exhibition, the total business was around 90,000 USD.
Significance
India is trying to increase its defence exports. By 2025, India aims to achieve Rs 35,000
crores of defence exports. To reach the target, India is increasing its investment in the
defence sector. In the 2023-24 budget, the defence sector received the highest fund
allocation.
BVR Subrahmanyam appointed new CEO of NITI Aayog
The National Institution for Transforming India is a public policy think tank. It succeeded
Planning Commission in 2015. The council has all the chief ministers of the state and
Lieutenant Governors of UTs. Apart from them, there are temporary members such as
four ex-officio members, a CEO, and three part-time members. All the temporary
members including the CEO are appointed by the Prime Minister. Recently, PM Modi
appointed BVR Subrahmanyam as the new CEO of NITI Ayog.
Why a new CEO?
The previous CEO of NITI Aayog, Parameshwaran Iyer has been appointed as the
Executive Director of the World Bank. And so, Mr Subrahmanyam is moving to his place.
About BVR Subrahmanyam
He served as the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir. He was a 1987 IAS officer from
the Chhattisgarh cadre. He served as the private secretary of Mr Manmohan Singh during
his reign from 2004 to 2008.
He was kept in the loop during the entire bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir.
February 21, 2023
International Mother Language Day 2023
International Mother Language Day is celebrated on February 21. The main objective of
celebrating the day is to increase the overall literacy level of the world. More than 40% of
the world’s population is unable to receive education in their mother tongue. There is a
need to promote education in the mother tongue, especially in hilly regions where the
tribal population is very high. The day also focuses on the ethnic minority population. The
International Mother Language Day celebrated by the UN insists on this. Apart from this,
the day also focuses on diverse cultures in the world.
Significance
According to the United Nations, education in the mother tongue increases the cognitive
actions of the brain. Thinking in your own mother tongue is always easy. It aids in
inclusive development. Also, it helps to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Even
people in remote areas can be taught about the global crisis. And what they can do to help
the world survive climate change-related issues.
The theme of International Mother Language Day 2023
Multilingual Education – A Necessity to Transform Education
History of International Mother Language Day
The proposal to celebrate International Mother Language Day was initiated by UNESCO in
1999. The resolution was passed by the UNGA in 2002.
Cross Dependency Initiative: 9 Indian states most vulnerable to climate risks
The Cross Dependency Initiative is a business consultant that specializes in climate risk. It
released a report on “Gross Domestic Climate Risk”. According to the report, the top 50
provinces facing climate risks are China, the US, and India. It says nine Indian states are
most vulnerable to climate risks. They are Punjab, UP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, TN,
Gujarat, Kerala, and Assam. Mumbai has the highest risk of all. 26 provinces in China, 9 in
India, and 5 in the US are the most vulnerable of all.
Key Findings
The most vulnerable states of China are in the eastern and southern parts of the
country
Delta regions of the Yangtze river and Pearl rivers are also highly vulnerable
Other than US, China, and India, other countries that are highly vulnerable are
Pakistan, Brazil, and Indonesia
What does the report say?
The report ranks the states based on eight climate change hazards. They are coastal
inundation, riverine and surface flooding, soil movement, forest fire, extreme heat, freeze-
thaw, and extreme wind.
How was the report prepared?
The Cross Dependency Initiative created a high-emission scenario based on the data
provided by the IPCCC. It fixed the global increase in temperature to 3 degrees Celsius as
compared to the pre-industrial temperature.
EPFO new instructions
The Employee Provident Fund Organization recently issued new instructions on how
employees should apply for pensions. Earlier the amount contributed towards the scheme
was capped at Rs 15,000. Now EPFO says the employees can contribute more than this.
That is, the capping has been removed and there is no limit to the contribution.
What is the EPFO saying?
Both employer and employees contribute a certain amount (from their salary) to the EPFO
scheme on monthly basis. The interest rate of this contributed amount (a part of the
contributed amount) is 8.33%. When the person retires he gets an accumulative sum.
Earlier, a sealing was fixed to the contributed amount. Now, this limit has been removed.
What is the role of SC in the issue?
The issue was, should the amount being contributed sealed at Rs 15,000 or not. GoI
wanted to seal it at Rs 15000. But SC ruled to remove the capping.
Background
The Employment Provident Funds Act 1952 did not include any pension scheme. The
pension was added to this in 1995 through an amendment to the act. In the 1990s, the
maximum pensionable salary was Rs 5000. This was increased to Rs 6500 later. Now the
pensions scheme works like this. The Employee puts 12% of his basic salary and dearness
allowance, the employer puts 12%, and the Government outs 1.16%. Now from the 12%
contributed by the employer, 3.67% is to the EPF and 8.33% is to the EPS. What is the
difference between EPF and EPS? In EPF, both the employer and employee contribute. And
in EPS only the employer contributes. Now the issue was around the EPS, that is, the
amount whose interest is 8.33%. EPS means Employer Pension Scheme and EPF means
Employees Provident Fund.
India-Singapore link Digital Payments UPI and PAYNOW
UPI is the mobile payment method in India. Similarly, PAYNOW is a mobile payment
method in Singapore. The countries have planned to link these two mobile payment
methods. The linking was done virtually inaugurated by the RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
and the MD of the Monetary Authority of Singapore Ravi Menon.
Significance
With the linkage, the residents of both countries can transfer money at faster rates.
Migrant workers and students will be benefitted the most.
G20
The Linkage of UPI and Pay Now was a part of the G20 priorities. One of the key focuses of
the 2023 G20 summit is on cheaper, inclusive finance, and transparent cross-border
payments.
Benefits
The linkage enables person-to-person transfer and person-to-merchant transfer between
the countries. Thus, it helps in boosting trade, foreign remittance, etc. Above all the e-
commerce businesses will be benefited largely. As instant funds shall be received through
this linkage, online shopping becomes easy. Also, fund transfer from an e-wallet is also
possible.
Background
Indians contribute to 9% of Singapore’s citizens. Apart from this, there are Indian students
and businessmen living on visas. Tamil is one of the official languages of Singapore. Other
official languages are Malay, English, and Mandarin Chinese. The migration of Indians to
Singapore started thousand years back. Tamil people migrated to the island during the
Chola dynasty rule. Trade was the main reason for the Indians to travel to the country
back then.
First Semiconductor plant of India
The Vedanta group and the Foxconn of Taiwan have come together to build the first
semiconductor manufacturing unit in Dholera of Gujarat. The companies signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with the Gujarat Government. According to the
agreement, they will invest Rs 1,54,000 crores in this project.
Where?
The semiconductor plant will be built in the Dholera Special Investment Region in
Ahmedabad. It is a greenfield industrial city. The Dholera Special Investment Region
Development Authority handles the land and the projects. The project was started by PM
Modi when he was the CM of Gujarat.
Projects within Dholera Special Investment Region
Ultra Mega Solar Park: generating 4400 MW of electricity
An international airport
Freight transport railway line
Expressway to connect Ahmedabad. Dholera is 100 km from Ahmedabad
Background
The MoU to build the semiconductor plant was signed in 2022. The project is being
implemented under the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022-27. The project aims to
generate at least 2 lakh new employment opportunities.
What is a Semiconductor plant?
It manufactures ICs and semiconductor materials. The semiconductor materials are made
usable for electronic applications through a process called Doping. For instance, to create
an N-type semiconductor material, you need to add Phosphorous to Germanium. Such
doping processes are done in semiconductor plants.
Significance of Semiconductor plants
Currently, India is importing most of the semiconductor materials from China. With the
new plant, India will become self-reliant and can manufacture high-quality electronic
products rather than depending on inexpensive low-quality Chinese goods!
IMF: India and China to contribute more than half of global growth
The International Monetary Fund recently said that India and China will contribute more
than 50% of the global growth in 2023. Another 25% will be contributed by other Asian
countries. This is happening because the supply chains faded during the pandemic and
the service sectors boomed during the same period. The supply chains will take time to
recover. Things may change when they recover.
What is the IMF saying?
The Asian countries are back to their pre-pandemic growth. Especially countries like
Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are in full operation

The inflation will reach the targets set by the central banks of respective countries by
the end of 2023. In the recent MPC, RBI increased the interest rate and repo rate. RBI
has increased the repo rate by 250 points in 2022 alone. Still, the inflation is 6.25%,
which is higher than the target inflation of 6% set by RBI.
Central banks need to stay alert. As the Chinese are reopening their economy,
inflation may increase
Food and oil processes are coming to stable conditions
Growth
Asia is expected to grow by 4.7% in 2023 and by 4.5% in 2024. In 2022, the growth rate of
Asian countries was 3.8%
SYL Canal come up in Haryana Budget 2023
The Haryana Governor recently addressed the Budget session of the state. During the
address, he said that the State Government is very stubborn in implementing the SYL
Canal project.
What is SYL Canal?
It is a canal between Sutlej and Yamuna rivers. The canal is a river-sharing mechanism
between Punjab and Haryana. After completion, the states of Punjab and Haryana will
share the waters of Ravi and Beas.
Powers of Parliament
The central government has the power to make laws on water sharing between the states.
The rivers and the inter-state rivers fall under the union list.
History of the Canal
Indus Water Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan. India gained the rights of
Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. In 1966, the state of Haryana was carved out from Punjab. After the
division, Punjab refused to provide its water to the state of Haryana state. Haryana
proposed the SYL Canal.
In 1981, Punjab agreed. In 1982, the construction of the canal started. Protests and
agitations began and the issue intensified. Akali Dal was against the construction of the
canal claiming the waters belong only to Punjab by the Riparian principle.
In 1985, Rajiv Gandhi signed an accord with the Akali Dal to set up ‘ERADI TRIBUNAL”’ to
assess the water sharing between the states. In 1987, the tribunal increased the water
shares of Punjab. Haryana did not accept.
In 1996, Haryana went to the SC. SC ordered Punjab to complete its work in its territory.
Haryana had already completed 85% of the work on its land.
In 2004, Punjab passed a Termination of Agreement Act and stopped all the projects
related to the canal.
In 2016, SC took up the case again and ruled that Punjab backed out of its promise
DGCA: Domestic Air Traffic increases in India
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation releases reports on all Indian carriers on monthly
basis. According to the recently released report of January 2023, air traffic has increased
significantly. As compared to 2022, the growth of air traffic has increased by 95%. More
than 12.5 million passengers travelled in January 2023. In January 2022, the Omicron wave
affected air traffic. Only 6.4 million passengers used air transport in 202.
Current Status of the Airlines in the country
IndiGo is the largest airliner in the country. However, the market value of the airlines
has been decreasing in recent times
The Air-India was the second largest airline. It holds 9.2% of air traffic in the country.
Under the reigns of TATA, Air India has set a target to conquer 30% of the air travel
market
Vistara was the third largest airline in the country. VISTARA is a joint venture of TATA
and Singapore Airlines
AKASA is a new arrival. It started its operation in August 2022. The Airline has 2.8% of
the market share
Performance of the Airlines
INDIGO was the most punctual airline in the country. AKASA was the second most
punctual. VISTARA, AIR INDIA, AIR ASIA, and SPICE JET were the least punctual airlines.
UAE to host first I2U2 vice-ministerial meeting
I2U2 is a joint initiative of India, Israel, the USA, and the UAE. I2 stands for Israel and India.
U2 stands for USA and UAE. The main objective of the initiative is security cooperation,
technological hubs, food security, and other different energy fields. The UAE recently
hosted the vice-ministerial meeting of I2U2. It was held in Abu Dabi. It was attended by
the Economic Growth, Energy, and Environment secretary of the USA, the Prime Minister
of Israel, PM Modi, and the UAE President.
I2U2 Vice-Ministerial meeting
This is the first meeting of its kind. During the meeting, the leaders discussed regional
cooperation opportunities and investment opportunities among the countries. They also
discussed food insecurity and energy crisis issues.
Benefits for India
The grouping helps India gain political and social alliances. India can take the advantage
of Abraham Accord and deepen its relationship with Israel without affecting its ties with
UAE and the Arab world. Abraham Accord was signed by USA, Israel and UAE. The
agreement normalized the relations between the three.
Within the first two meetings, India gained 2 billion USD of investments in the states of
Gujarat and MP in the field of hybrid energy projects.
Principled Vision of I2U2
The leaders of the initiative aim to increase private sector investments in the field of clean
energy, emerging technologies, and waste treatment. The first summit of the initiative
was held in 2022.
Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards 2023
The DPIFF (Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards) was started in 2012. It is
an independent corporate film festival. It is not the same “DADASAHEB PHALKE AWARD”
presented at the National Film Awards. The DADASAHEB PHALKE AWARD is presented in a
ceremony organized by the Government of India (Directorate of Film Festivals). But the
DPIFF is completely a private ceremony organized by the family members of Dadasaheb
Phalke. 2023 was organized by his grandson. Dadasaheb is the Father of Indian Cinema.
The award presented in his name at the National Film Award ceremony is one of the most
prestigious awards in the country. It is not to be confused with DPIFF
DPIFF 2023
Film of the year: RRR
Best Film: The Kashmir Files
Best Actress: Alia Bhatt
Best Actor: Ranbir Kapoor
Critics-Best Actor: Varun Dhawan
Critics-Best Actress: Vidya Balan
Best Director: R Balki
Best Cinematographer: PS Vinod
Most Promising Actor: Rishab Shetty (for KANTARA)
Best Playback singer-Male: Sachet Tandon
Best Playback Singer-Female: Neeti Mohan
Best Web Series: RUDRA
Most versatile Actor: Anupam Kher
Television Series of the Year: Anupama
Best Actor in Television series: Zain Imam for Fanaa
Best Actress in Television Series: Tejasswi Prakash
State of Nation Address of Russian President Vladimir Putin
The State of Nation Address is the speech delivered by the Chief Executive of a country.
During the address, the chief talks about the agenda of the government and other plans
to solve troublesome situations. After Joe Biden’s surprising visit to Ukraine, the Russian
President recently delivered his State of the Nation Address in Moscow.
What did Putin say?
He openly accused the west of intensifying the war
According to Russia, the west is punishing itself with sanctions on the country
State funds announced to support soldiers fallen during the “Special Military
Operation” of Russia in Ukraine
The western countries started the war provoking Russia
Demanded the US withdraw its troops from Ukraine
Announced Russia’s withdrawal from the START treaty
Background
The Chinese diplomat Wang Yi visited Putin shortly before his address. Putin’s address
comes after Biden pledged 500 million USD of funds to Ukraine for artillery ammunition
during his visit.
Supporters of Ukraine
CANADA: Sent armed forces to Poland to help Ukraine refugees
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia: Support Ukraine; Leaders of these countries
meet Ukraine’s President now and then
Australia: Imposed sanctions on Russian goods, Russian – state-owned undertakings;
no direct participation in the war
US And UK: Direct support to Ukraine
Japan, Germany, South Korea, Canada: indirect support
Supporters of Russia
Belarus: Strong supporter; Russian troops entered Ukraine taking help from Belarus
Syria: Indirect support
UAE, Saudi Arabia: Did not condemn Russian actions
Kazakhstan: Sent military troops; but stays away from public and international
discussions on the issue
Armenia: Voted ‘against’ the proposal introduced to remove Russia from the Council
of Europe
Italian diplomat is to meet the Russian President
Learning-Teaching Material Jadui Pitara
The National Education Policy 2020 envisaged play-based learning teaching material. In
accordance with the policy, Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan recently launched
the “JADUI PITARA”. It is a play-based learning material for children between the age of 3
to 8 years. It is available in 13 different Indian languages. It was developed under the
National Curriculum Framework. The material is easy to use and can be downloaded and
printed on paper.
What is JADUI PITARA?
It s a set of playbooks, puzzles, flashcards, posters, worksheets, and storybooks. The
material intrigues the curiosity of the children. The material focuses on five major
developmental activities namely literacy development, positive learning habits, cultural
development, cognitive development, socio-emotional development, and ethical
development.
The main objective is “LEARN THROUGH PLAY”
Significance
The Government of India is in the footsteps of creating AMRIT GENERATION. The teaching
material will help India achieve this. Amrit Generation is the future generation of India.
They are patriotic, responsible, and dutiful. They take part in government activities and
contribute largely to the welfare of the country.
Panel to assess impact of Higher temperature on Wheat Crop
In 2023, the winter rains were above normal only in the Himalayan regions. The rest of the
Indian states, the major wheat-producing states received no winter rains at all! Winter
rains occurring due to western disturbances caused over the Mediterranean Sea are
essential for growing wheat crops in winter. No winter rains this year are bringing adverse
impacts on the wheat production of the country. The Government of India is setting up a
panel to address the issues.
About the panel
The panel will look into the impacts of high temperatures on wheat crops in the country.
The Agriculture Commissioner of India will lead the panel. It will have members from key
wheat-producing states.
Background
Already Indian PDS system is facing wheat shortages. In 2023, wheat prices increased by
21% due to a decrease in wheat production and increasing export demands. The
increasing temperature and lack of winter rains are affecting wheat production further.
India may face more wheat shortages. So GoI has set up a panel to bring up solutions to
the issue.
How will high temperatures affect wheat crops?
Wheat grows comfortably at 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. The wheat can germinate at a
temperature range of 3.5 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius. Reproduction, growth,
quality and quantity of wheat are affected largely due to high temperatures.
Russia suspends START, the last Nuclear Treaty
The START is a bilateral treaty signed between the US and the Soviet Union in 1991. It
came into force in 1994. Under the treaty, the countries agreed to bar 6,000 nuclear
warheads and 1m600 ICBMs. More than 80% of the nuclear warheads were removed in
2001 with this treaty. The treaty expired in 2009. THE NEW START Treaty was signed in
2010. This new treaty applies till 2026. Russia has now withdrawn from the treaty.
Why did Russia suspend START Treaty?
Russia-Ukraine war tension is one of the main reasons. The US is supporting Ukraine by
funding the country for its war ammunition. The US has funded more than 3 billion USD so
far. During his recent visit to Ukraine, Joe Biden announced 500 million USD more.
Countering US actions, Russia is suspending the START Treaty.
Background
US and Russia have been at constant war due to the differences in their ideologies. Russia
follows socialism and the US follows capitalism. The differences affect their trade interests.
They fight the cold war, the trade war, the space war, the proxy war, and every other war
sadly. Now, they are fighting against each other placing Ukraine at the centre.
Why is the UN silent about the war?
The UNSC is dominated by USA, UK, France, China and Russia. They are permanent
members. Most of the UN decisions have the influence of these countries. Now, the
countries are fighting amongst themselves. And the UN says no peace negotiations are
possible!
Ladakh sets Guinness record Pangong Tso Marathon
The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council recently launched Pangong Tso
Marathon. The marathon is the first of its kind in India. It was held on the frozen Pangong
Tso lake.
Guinness World Record
The marathon was conducted at an altitude of 4,350 metres. With this, it makes the
Guinness record for World’s Highest Frozen Lake Marathon. It is the first frozen lake
marathon in India.
About the Marathon
The marathon included a 21 km long run. It began in Luking village. The marathon was
organized by the Council of Ladakh along with the Adventure Sports Foundation of
Ladakh.
Significance
The Government of India is now trying to increase the activities in remote border areas.
Also, it is in the footsteps of increasing the population in these areas. This is being done to
reduce the Chinese and Pakistani infiltrations here. To achieve this, several development
activities are bring brought. The marathon is one such step. The 2020 tensions between
India and China were around the Pangong Tso lake. The Chinese had occupied more than
14 points in the disputed region. After the face-off in 2020, Indian Army captured several
peaks in the region.
Pangong Tso Lake
The lake has saline water and is completely frozen during winter. Researchers believe that
the lake was a part of the Indus river system in early times. Today, however, the lake lies
separated from the Indus river. It is the highest saltwater lake in the world.
February 22, 2023
ISSF Shooting World Cup: Rudrankksh Patil of India wins gold
The International Shooting Sport Federation conducts the ISSF World Shooting
Championship. It was first held in 1897. The recent 2023 ISSF Shooting World Cup was held
in Cairo. India’s Rudrankksh Patil and R Narmada Nithin won gold. This is the first time
India wins gold in the competition.
ISSF Shooting World Cup
Rudrankksh won gold in 10 metre Air Rifle. He defeated Ulbrich of Germany with a score
of 16-8. Also, the pair Varun Tomar and Rhythm Sangwan won gold in the 10m Air Pistol.
About ISSF World Cup 2023
It is a homogenous system to qualify for the Olympics. The first world cup of 2023 was
held in Jakarta. The second, that is, the current happening world cup of 2023 is held in
Cairo. The third will be held in Bhopal, India. Fourth at Lima; fifth at Baku, and sixth at Rio
de Janeiro.
The current ISSF Shooting World Cup being held in Cairo is for rifles and pistols. The
International Shooting Sport Federation also conducts the world cup for shotguns.
Rifles are used for long-range targets. Shotguns are used for short-range.
A pistol differs from a rifle in size. It is a handgun.
US returns looted artifacts to Yemen
The United States recently returned 77 artefacts to Yemen. These artefacts were illegally
imported into the US soil from Dubai. The returned artefacts include 11 Quran manuscript
pages, carved stone heads, bronze bowls, etc. They all belong to the Minean tribal culture
of Yemen and are from the 1st century BCE.
Tribes in Yemen
Tribal communities in Yemen are becoming almost extinct! 80-90% of the Yemen
population is tribal. Due to the civil war between the Yemeni government and the Houthi
forces, they are facing catastrophic disasters. Iran backs Houthi forces. Saudi Arabia
supports Yemen Government. The actions of Saudi Arabia in Yemen are backed by US and
UK.
Background
The New York State Justice Department has been worlding to return the looted artefacts.
The US returned a minimum of 700 artefacts to countries like Greece, Cambodia, Pakistan,
Italy, India, Egypt, and Italy.
To India
Under the same initiative under which Yemen Artifacts were returned, the US returned
307 artefacts to India in October 2022. They were worth 4 million USD. In 2021, the US
returned 15 million USD worth of antiques to India. In 2016, the US returned 100 million
USD worth of artefacts to India.
India received the stolen artefacts not only from the US, but also from the UK, Australia,
and several other countries. This was because the Government of India has been putting
on pressure to bring these artefacts back to the country.
Khajuraho hosts first G20 Culture Working Group meet
The UNESCO World Heritage site KHAJURAHO located in the state of Madhya Pradesh is
hosting the first Culture Working Group Meeting. More than 125 delegates from foreign
countries will attend the meeting. Pdam Shri Nek Ram also attended the meeting. He is
known as the “Millet man”.
About Khajuraho
It is a group of Hindu and Jain temples. They were built in 1000 CE during the Chandela
dynasty. There were more than 85 temples in Chandela times. Unfortunately, only 12 of
these temples survived. The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple is one of the 12 temples that
survived. This temple has various symbols and exhibits the richness of Indian art.
Significance of KHAJURAHO
The temples were built by Brahmacharis. They were built at the same time. However, after
completion were dedicated to both Hinduism and Jainism. This depicts India’s acceptance
of different religions since medieval times.
Chandela Dynasty
They ruled the Bundelkhand region. They belonged to the Rajputs clan.
KHAJURAHO Dance Festival
Khajuraho also hosted the International Dance Festival recently. The festival is a part of
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. It was conducted by the MP Government and the Department of
Culture. The first KHAJURAHO dance festival began in 1975. Several dance artists of
different dance styles like Manipuri, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, etc
participated in the festival.

Eknath Shinde the new Chief of Shiv Sena
The Shiv Sena party of Maharashtra recently elected the Maharashtra Chief Minister as its
new Chief. The decision was made during the National Executive Meeting of the party.
Shiv Sena Party
The party is a right-wing Marathi regionalist. It was founded by Balasaheb Thackeray.
Their main focus is to get preferential status to the Marathis in the state as compared to
the increasing number of migrants.
What is the issue?
Under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray (son of Balsaheb Thackeray), the party became
secular and adopted nationalism. It formed an alliance with Congress. The party is usually
more inclined towards BJP. This deviated the party from its traditional stand. And
eventually, the party split into two. One, under Shinde and the other, under Uddhav
Thackeray. Eknath Shinde wanted to bring the party back to its original ideologies.
What is Uddhav Thackeray’s next move?
He has moved to the SC regarding the faction.
Background
Shinde and the other 40 MLAs withdrew their support to CM Uddhav Thackeray. They left
for Assam creating high drama. Thackeray was supported only by 15 MLAs. And therefore,
he resigned. After the resignation of Thackeray, they returned from Assam. It was
expected that Devendra Fadnavis of BJP will become the next CM. But surprisingly Eknath
Shinde became the CM!
India to setup Digital University
The Minister of Skill Development Shri Dharmendra Pradhan recently announced that
India will soon set up Digital University. The main objective of establishing a Digital
University is to reduce the cost of higher education. Also, the university will increase
access to several skill programmes. The minister made the announcement at the SCO
virtual summit.
Background
The Government of India is trying to empower the youth in the country. To achieve this, it
has been creating several entry points in the education system. The focus is to uplift the
youth by training them in the skills that the Indian industry requires. This will help India
become self-reliant.
Significance
With Digital Universities, the youths can develop their skills at very fewer expenses. This
will help India achieves the five pillars of Atma Nirbhar Bharat namely Economy, system,
infrastructure, demand, and Vibrant Demography.
How will Digital Universities help India create Vibrant demography?
Vibrant demography means a population with high skills. Population explosion is of
course not good for the country. But what if the increasing population is of high literacy
levels? The good education system of India has increased the NRI working population and
overall remittance. While China is now launching birth-boosting plans like 30-day paid
leave to newly married, India is focusing on skilling the population! Within 10 years, the
Skilled Indian population will take the economy to a developed zone.
Guru Kripa Yara with Bharat Gaurav Trains
The Indian Railways is to launch the Guru Kripa Yatra with Bharat Gaurav Trains in April
2023. During the Yatra, the tourists will visit the holy sites of Sikhism.
About the Yatra
During the Yatra, the passengers shall board and de-board at Lucknow, Pilibhit, Sitapur,
and Bareilly. The yatra is for 11 days. Totally 678 passengers shall participate in a single
yatra. Three different types of categories are offered based on comfort. They are Standard
(sleeper class), Superior (3rd AC), and Comfort (2nd AC). This way families of all income
levels can take the yatra.
Sites included in the yatra
Sri Kesgarh Sahib Gurudwara
Virasat-e-khalsa at Anandpur Sahib
Gurudwara Sri Patalpuri Sahib at Kiratpur Sahib
Gurudwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib at Sirhind
Akal Takht Sahib
Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar
Damdama Sahib at Bathinda
Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib at Nanded
Gurudwara Sri Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib at Bidar
Gurudwara Sri Harmandarji Sahib at Patna
Five Takhts included in the package
All five major Takhts of Sikhism are included in the package. The first Takht was
established by Guru Hargobind in 1609. TAKHT means the seat of Authority. The five
Takhsts are generally referred to as the Panj Takht. Hey are the Akal Takht, Damdama
Sahib, KEshgarh, Hazur Sahib, Patna Sahib.
Takhts issue orders and regulations to the Sikhs from time to time. Of all the Takht, Akal
Takht is the supreme.
The Bharat Gaurav trains were launched under the “Deko Apna Desh” initiative. The main
objective of launching these trains was to boost tourism.
Seattle-First US city to ban Caste Discrimination
Caste discrimination does not exist in the US by law. However, the tech sector in the
country has been facing caste discrimination. A group of Dalit female engineering from
tech big giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Google passed a resolution against caste
discrimination in the country. Protests against the issue have increased in the US in recent
times. The Dalits account for 1.5% of the Indian immigrants. More than 67% of the Indian
Dalits are facing caste-based harassment at work places. To put an end to such
discrimination, the City Council of Seattle recently introduced a Ban on caste
discrimination.
Background
Caste is a social system that divides people based on their birth. Racism existed in the US
but not caste discrimination. Caste discrimination has increased in the country in the
recent past due to migrants from Asian countries, especially from India, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Myanmar, etc. According to the Equity Labs Caste Census, one in four Dalits
in the US faces caste discrimination. Caste discrimination is also increasing in universities,
especially among students pursuing higher studies.
There are many controversies arising due to the ban introduced. Why the ban when the
law already condemns caste discrimination? According to the Seattle City Council, the ban
is being introduced to let its support the students being discriminated against on the basis
of caste.
Vivek Ramaswamy launches US Presidential bid
Vivek Ramaswamy is an Indian American. He is a republican (Joe Biden and Barack Obama
are all from the Democratic Political party) and an anti-environment activist. Anti-
environmentalists are those people who believe that environmental regulation is
unnecessary. He established a company to ban environmental governance initiatives. He
is a biotech investor.
Others Contesting the US Elections 2024
Former President Donald Trump announced his candidacy already. Also, Nikki Hayley, the
Governor of South Carolina has announced her candidacy for the US elections in 2024. The
Republican party will hold primary elections to choose its nominee. The US constitution
does not provide any rule for these elections. Joe Biden, the current President of the US
will also run for the 2024 US President Election. He was the Vice President of the country
during Obama’s time. In the US, you can contest the presidential elections twice, that is,
for two terms.
2024 US President Elections
It is to be held in November. To contest in the US election, the person should have been
born in the US, should be a US citizen, and attained the age of 35 years. This is the first
election after the 2020 Census. Elections after the census are important because census-
based data are used to distribute political power.
Moon Venus Jupiter Conjunction
Skywatchers and astronomy enthusiasts have something to look forward to in February
2024. On February 22, the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter will align in the sky, creating a
stunning celestial display. This rare conjunction will be visible to the naked eye and
promises to be a breathtaking sight for all who witness it.
What is a Conjunction in Astronomy?
In astronomy, a conjunction occurs when two or more celestial objects pass close to each
other in the sky. This can happen with planets, moons, or even stars. For example, the Sun
and Moon are in conjunction during a new moon, when the Moon is between the Sun and
Earth.
Planetary conjunctions occur when two or more planets come close to each other in the
sky. These events are relatively rare and provide a unique opportunity for stargazers to
witness the planets’ alignment.
Magnitude of Venus, Jupiter, and Moon during Conjunction
During the 2024 conjunction, Venus will have a magnitude of -4.0, Jupiter will have a
magnitude of -2.1, and the Moon will have a magnitude of -9.8. Magnitude is a measure of
brightness, with lower numbers indicating brighter objects. Venus and Jupiter are the two
brightest planets in the solar system, with Jupiter being the brightest relative to its size,
and Venus being the brightest due to its reflective atmosphere.
Why is the 2024 Conjunction Special?
While conjunctions between Venus and Jupiter happen every year, the 2024 conjunction is
unique because it will be visible to the naked eye. Typically, Venus-Jupiter conjunctions
occur close to the Sun, making them difficult to observe due to the Sun’s brightness.
However, the 2024 conjunction will be visible since it will occur further from the Sun.
How to Watch the Conjunction
To watch the conjunction, simply look towards the western horizon after sunset on
February 22, 2024. The Moon will be the first object to appear, followed by Venus and then
Jupiter. Without a telescope, the planets will appear as bright stars, but their proximity to
each other will make them stand out from the other stars in the sky.
Delhi Mayor Election
The Delhi Mayor elections were postponed thrice due to the State Government – Central
Government tussle. The Municipal elections were held in January 2023. The meeting of the
Municipal house was adjourned thrice without electing a mayor. The mayor election
couldn’t happen in the house due to AAP – BJP tussles. Shelly Oberoi won the election.
What is the issue?
The BJP members wanted the Aldermen to vote in the polls. Aldermen are those persons
nominated by councillors or governors. In this case, the Governor nominated the
Aldermen. Nominated persons act as members of the municipal house. AAP party
members did not want the Aldermen to vote. So they went to the Supreme Court.
What did the SC say?
SC ruled that the nominated persons, that is, the Aldermen shall not participate in the
election by the constitution.
Municipal House procedure
After electing the Mayor, the members will elect the Deputy Mayor. The members of the
Standing Committee will also be elected on the same day. The Standing Committee is the
most powerful body in the municipality. It takes the major decisions of the city
governance.
Why did AAP-BJP fight over Aldermen?
The fight was over electing the members of the Standing committee. The standing
committee has six members. AAP has 150 votes. The total strength of the house is 274. As
AAP has a majority, it gets to appoint three members to the Standing Committee. BJP will
appoint two members. Now one is left. BJP wanted to grab this leftover seat by allowing
the alderman to vote. If BJP got three seats just like AAP, it would have got more powers in
the standing committee.
India-Guyana Air Service Agreement
The Union Cabinet recently approved the air Service Agreement that was signed between
India and Guayana. India has Air Service Agreement with more than 116 countries. The
ASA covers several aspects such as flight landing points, the number of flights operated
between the countries, seat allotments, codeshare, etc. However, no air service shall have
the option of an unlimited number of flight operations under the agreement.
Why is Air Service Agreement with Guyana important?
40% of Guyana’s population is Indians. The agreement will allow the countries to enable
provisions of air services between them. With India liberalizing air transport, the
agreement is essential to boost international connectivity. Flight schedules and details of
flights operations from and to the country are detailed in the agreement
Background
The Air Service Agreement initiations started in 2016 after India framed its National Civil
Aviation Policy.
Open Sky Agreement
This agreement is different from Air Services Agreement. It gives freedom of air to a
country. The International Civil Aviation lists nine such freedoms. If two countries sign this
agreement, they can enjoy the freedoms listed in each other skies. India has Open Sky
Agreement with the USA, Jamaica, Greece, Japan, etc.
UBER-TATA Deal for 25000 EV
TATA is one of the largest electric vehicle manufacturers in India. The UBER recently
signed a mega deal with TATA. According to the deal, TATA will produce 25,000 Electric
Vehicles for UBER. This means usage of Electric Vehicles is to increase in the country
indirectly. UBER is a transportation company. The usage of EVs in the country has been
slow despite government efforts. Manufacturing of EVs is also slow. However, with this
deal, the manufacturing and the use of EVs will increase in the country.
Other Companies that signed deals for EV
Several other companies too signed deals with TATA for electric vehicles. However, their
numbers were small like 1000s. For instance, EC Wheels signed a deal with TATA for 1000
EVs, Prakriti signed a deal for 2000 EVs, etc.
Background
The demand for EVs started showing a small increase with the launch of the XPRES-T EV
brand of TATA. It was launched in 2021 for Fleet customers. Fleet customers are those
people who buy in bulk. For instance, UBER is a fleet customer buying 25,000 cars.
Today TATA holds more than 70% of the Indian EV market.
Uttar Pradesh Budget 2023-24
The Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh Suresh Kumar Khanna recently presented the
Budget of the State in the UP legislative Assembly. The state has focused on youth in this
year’s budget. And a total of Rs 6,90,000 crores have been allocated. This is the largest in
the history of UP. The Budget aims to build a self-reliant UP and make UP a 1 trillion USD
economy. Ayodhya to be developed as model solar city.
Key Highlights of UP Budget 2023-23
Chief Minister Kanya Sumangala Yojana: Rs. 1050 crores allocated
The State Government allocated Rs 4,032 crores for destitute widows
Samuhik Vivah: Rs 600 crores allocated. This scheme is for girls of all classes and will
help in their marriage
Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme: To provide tablets and
smartphones; Rs 3600 crores allocated
Rs 21,159 crores allocated for the construction of roads and bridges
Rs 6,209 crores for maintenance of roads and bridges
Rs 3,473 crores for building agricultural marketing facilities
Rs 1,525 crores to construct rural roads
Rs 1,850 crores to construct railway overhead bridges
Rs 2,588 crores to widen the state highways
Rs 2,538 crores for widening district roads
DHARMARTH MARG: To boost religious tourism: Rs 1000 crores
Rs 150 crores allocated for the Marriage Grant Scheme. It is for daughters of OBC
families
Rs 3000 crores proposed from State Road Fund to maintain roads in the state
Investment Target set to Rs 10 lakh crores
Target: 20,000 new jobs to be created within one year
Rs 7,248 crores proposed for a Pension scheme
Rs 12,631 crores proposed for National Rural Health Mission
Losar Festival in Dharamshala
The Tibetan New Year is called the Losar. Tibetan Buddhists follow the Lunisolar calendar.
The first day of the Luni Solar calendar is celebrated as Losar. The Buddhists in Nepal
celebrate the same festival in the name of Lhochhar and celebrated eight weeks before
Tibetan Losar. Different Indian states celebrate Losar in different ways. Recently the
Tibetans in Dharamshala celebrated the festival.
Himachal Pradesh
The Tibetan Buddhists in the State of HP celebrate Losar in November. They celebrate it to
mark the arrival of winter.
Arunachal Pradesh
Here the Monpa tribes celebrate Losar in February. During Losar, they clean their house
and make a special offering to the local deities
Ladakh
The Tibetan Buddhists in the Ladakh region celebrate the Losar Festival in January. They
follow the Tibetan lunar calendar.
Southern States
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu celebrate their New Year in the month of April. In
Kerala, the festival is called “Vishu”. In TN, it is called “Puthandu”. In AP, it is “Ugadi”.
History of Losar
Losar was actually celebrated in Tibet. It was a winter festival celebrated with a Bon. The
main objective was t please the local deities. However, today Buddhists celebrate it as a
thanksgiving to the gods after harvest. Also, some other Buddhists celebrate it as the new
year.
India and Seychelles sign agreement on Maritime Cooperation
The Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region of India and the RCOC (Regional
Coordination Operations Centre) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding on
maritime cooperation. India has a military base on the Assumption Island of Seychelles. It
was built in 1990 and was extended in 2016. The country is important for India for its
geopolitical location.
About the MoU
According to the MoU, the countries will work together and improve maritime safety in the
Indian Ocean Region. The safety provisions will be based on the SAGAR initiative – Security
and Growth for All in the Region. With this, they will be able to correlate better and can
share information in a more compressed way.
IFC-IOR
The IFC-IOR hosts the ILO – International Liaison Officers meet. 12 countries participate
and are the US, UK, Singapore, Seychelles, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius,
France, Italy, Australia, and Japan.
Background
It is essential for India to sign this agreement with Seychelles to learn about the maritime
safety measures being implemented in this region. The Western Indian Ocean is governed
by the “Maritime Security architecture”. This architecture is implemented by Indian Ocean
Commission. The IOC is supported by Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre,
RCOC, and other countries like Djibouti, Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, France, Seychelles,
and Madagascar. India has no maritime agreements related to this part of the Indian
Ocean with these countries except Seychelles. Even if it does, those agreements do not
talk about sharing information! Thus, it is essential to sign the MoU with the country.
Note: India is only an observer at the Indian Ocean Commission; not a member.
February 23, 2023
India-China hold WMCC Meeting
India and China recently held the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination
meeting. This is the 26th meeting and the first since the Galwan standoff, and the 14 th
physical WMCC meeting. A virtual WMCC meeting was held during the Ladakh standoff in
2020. The countries discussed the issues along the LAC on the western border. Also, they
discussed the disengagement of troops in the remaining areas. It was a secretary-level
meeting.
Why was the meeting held?
To bring back normalcy in the bilateral relations between India and China
To restore peace along the Line of Actual Control

Future Plans
The countries have decided to conduct the Senior Commanders meeting soon. This is in
accordance with the bilateral agreements signed between India and China.
Observation
The Chinese have been causing tremendous trouble at the border in recent years.
Infringements in the Panong Tso region, Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh, and many
more. In 2021, the Chinese forces blocked the Depsang Plains and Charding Nala regions.
These are traditional patrolling spots of the Indian military. They were causing trouble in
Arunachal Pradesh even in December 2022. Then, why the sudden change? Why the
WMCC meeting? Probably because, the President of China, Xi Jing Ping is to visit India for
SCO and G20 meetings. Most of the negotiations during his visit will depend on how China
is cooperating in the LAC region.
Namami Gange Executive Committee approves nine projects
Three million litres of sewage are dumped into the holy Ganges every day. It is the fifth
most polluted river in the world. To reduce the pollution in the river, the Namami Gange
Executive Committee recently approved nine projects. These projects are to be
implemented at a cost of Rs 1,200 crores. Of these, seven projects are related to reducing
pollution and two of the projects will work on Ghat development.
About the nine projects
The National Mission for Clean Ganga will implement the project
The projects will be executed in MP, UP, and WB
Atal Ghat Manjhi in Bihar will be developed at Rs 10 crores
Development of Ngeshwar Dham Ashram Ghat in Fatehpur: Rs 2.84 crores
Pollution Abatement Projects
In West Bengal, two sewage-treating plants will be set up. One sewage plant will treat 13
million litres per day. The other plant will treat 300 Kilo litres per day. These plants are to
be set up in Chakdaha Municipal Town. They will be established at a cost of Rs 123 crores
In UP, three sewage treatment plants will be built and 13 drains will be diverted. One of
the plants will be built in Prayagraj and it will treat 43 million litres of sewage per day.
In Bihar, two plants. One with 10,91 MLD capacity and the other with 10.66 MLD capacity.
The cost of these projects is Rs 94.12 crores
In MP, two projects were approved. One in River Saraswati and the other to reduce the
pollution in river kahn. Another two projects were also sanctioned in MP. They are in Ujjain
and in River Kshipra. But have currently been put on hold for further clarification.
Rejuvenation of River Kali
This is also one of the nine projects sanctioned by the committee. The cost of this project
is Rs 95.47 crores. Also under this project, artificial wetlands will be created in 8 locations
to treat sewage water, industrial water, grey water, etc.
Special First of its kind project
The Survey, Investigation for Rejuvenation and Conservation of Shahdara drain was also
approved. This project is the first of its kind as it uses Nature based treatment, that is, the
Soil Biotechnology method. It will be implemented using modern surveys such as drones,
water quality testing, inlet drain discharge, etc.
Project PIAS approved
PIAS means Pollution, Inventorization, Assessment, and Surveillance on the Ganga Basin.
The project will be implemented at RS 114 crores to monitor industrial pollution.
Asia Economic dialogue 2023
The Ministry of External Affairs recently hosted the Asia Economic Dialogue in Pune. The
main focus of the dialogue was on Geo-economics. It was conducted under the theme
“Asia and the Emerging World Order”. The dialogue also focused on the metaverse, the
role of the global south in shaping the G20 agenda, meeting climate targets, etc. More
than 44 countries participated in the dialogue. This includes Mexico, Singapore, Maldives,
South Africa, the USA, Brazil, Switzerland, etc.
Significance of the dialogue
There are 4.7 billion people in Asia and it accounts for 60% of the world’s population.
According to the IMF, Asia is one of the fast-growing markets in recent days. The major
consumers of the world India and China are in Asia. Therefore, no country shall increase
their trade market without including Asia!
Future
The major powers in Asia are India, China, Japan, and South Korea. They will grow
exponentially in the near future. COVID recovery has been rapid here. Indonesia, Thailand,
Philippines, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka are in need of assistance.
Why is Asia the primary focus of the global market?
Very cheap labour and easy land availability make Asia attractive. The disputes across
borders are advantageous for defence trade. The region has a tropical climate and is very
rich in resources. Therefore, the availability of raw materials is easy.
Climate Smart Wheat Variety of ICAR
In recent times, India has been facing several issues with the wheat crop. Production of
wheat was affected due to high temperatures and scanty winter rainfall. Prices shot up.
People faced a shortage of wheat all over the country this season. The main reason
behind the chaos is climate change. The winter rainfall that usually occurs in January-
March is very essential for the crop. Without these rains, the temperature increases. Due
to this, the wheat seeds face difficulty in germinating, flowering, and also in growing to
their full ability. To put an end to such nuances, the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research recently introduced a climate-smart wheat variety called the HD-3385.
About HD-3385
Plant height: 95 cm
Time to heading: 100 to 110 days
Least Lodging prone
Suitable for early sowing
What is the issue?
The major wheat-producing states (producing during winter) are Rajasthan, MP, Punjab,
and Haryana. They sow in early November. States UP and Bihar, sow in late November.
They come to heading in 140-145 days (by mid-march). Heading means bearing flowers
and then producing grains eventually. During heading, the wheat crops require the right
temperature (20 to 25 degrees Celsius). High heat is damaging their grain-producing
ability. So the solution is to prepone the sowing so that the crops can reach the heading
stage in late February or early March before heat waves begin. But if you prepone and
sow in October, heading occurs within 70 days affecting the yield. If sown in early
November, premature flowering occurs. This is because the crops cannot bloom at very
low temperatures if sown early. So the solution is to reduce their blooming temperature!
SOLUTION
The HD-3385 will come to heading within 100 days and therefore shall be sown early. Also,
the new variety accumulates biomass along with grain weight.
The technique used to create HD-3385
MILD VERNALISATION REQUIREMENT.
The Vernalisation is the plant’s dependence on low temperatures to bloom. Here,
scientists have changed the wheat crop’s ability to bloom in lower temperatures.
Mandatory Certification for Cotton Quality
The Minister of Textiles Shri Piyush Goyal recently headed the Textile Advisory Group
meeting. During the meeting, the issues in the cotton value chain were discussed. After
the discussion, the minister issued a Quality Control Order. The order reads that it is
mandatory to certify cotton bales. This is being done to increase the supply of good-
quality cotton in the country.
What is the plan?
The Textiles Ministry has formed Steering Committee and Apex Committee to work on the
certification process.
Background
The TEXPROCIL and Cotton Corporation of India signed an agreement in 2022. According
to the agreement, the brand “KASTURI COTTON” was to be promoted.
Need for the order
India produces one of the healthiest cottons in the world. There are four different cotton
species in India. Indian cotton is infection free, non-allergic, durable, and breathable.
Lately, the cotton quality in the country has been reducing due to extended monsoons.
Because of delayed rains, the cotton lengths were reduced by 0.5 mm to 1 mm. To solve
this issue, GoI introduced KASTURI COTTON and has been promoting among farmers to
cultivate this brand. Now, the government wants the buyers to use high-quality cotton,
preferably KASTURI COTTON. Though the order doesn’t mention the word KASTURI
COTTON, the quality check provisions are to the standard of KASTURI COTTON.
Google tests blocking news content
The tech giant Google recently announced that it is to block news content to at least 4% of
Canadians. Google is doing this as a response to a new Canadian Law. However, Google
has announced that it will be temporary. The testing is to happen only for four to five
weeks.
What is the issue?
Canada legislated a new law called the Online News Act. According to the law, the digital
data giants Meta, Google, etc should provide compensation to the platforms that are
republishing Google’s content on their platform.
Why should Google pay for the news channels?
Say company A (Indian Express or The Hindu) is producing news on the Turkey
earthquake. The company would have sent its agent to collect information, invested in
professionals to write the news, and technocrats to publish the news. Google and other
platforms use this information to list their search pages. They collect data from news
channel websites. As Google is gaining benefits from the investments put in by the news
channel, the Canadian Government wants Google to provide a small compensation to the
news channels.
Sikhs and Jews most targeted in hate crimes in US
The FBI recently released its annual compilation of nationwide incidents. According to the
report, Sikhs and Jews are the most targeted in hate crimes. There were 1005 religion-
related hate crimes in the US in 2021. Of these, anti-Sikhs were 21.3% and Anti-Jews were
21.3%.
Key findings of the report
Anti-Muslim hate crimes were 9.5% of the total religion-based hate crimes
Anti-Catholic hate crimes were 6.1%
Anti-Eastern Orthodox, mostly against people from Greece and Russia was 6.5%
There are 7,262 hate crime incidents in the country. The crime rates have decreased and
so did the reporting agencies.
The anti-black crime rates remain the highest in the country. Of the total crimes, the anti-
black account to 63.2%.
Why are anti-Sikh crimes high in the US?
In the Sikh religion, men cannot shave or cut their hair. They use a turban and wrap their
hair. Almost every Sikh is committed to their religious belief. Unfortunately, in the US
beards and turbans are associated with terrorists! This has put the Sikh community in the
US vulnerable to hate violence and discrimination.
Innovative Extension Approaches for Revitalising Agriculture in J&K
The Government of India recently issued an order to boost sustainable agriculture in
Jammu and Kashmir. According to the order, a project called “Innovative Extension
Approaches for Revitalising Agriculture in J&K” will be implemented in the Union Territory.
The project is to be implemented in five years. The project was recommended by the UT
Apex committee.
What are the key objectives of the project?
Two thousand Kissan Khidmat Ghars will be created. They are to be created at
Panchayat levels and will act as One-stop Centre for all agriculture-related issues.
Business orientation centres are to be established in SKUSAT (Sher – E Kashmir
University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology).
Problems will be addressed through RS-GIS-driven advisories. RS-GIS is a cyber-
based problem redressal facility
ICT-based virtual contacts will be created
Strong MIS systems will be created
Transparency is to be maintained between the department for good administration
and service delivery
The project will use real-time agro-ecology information
Farm-centric planning using IoT
Funds allocated
The Government of India allocated Rs 463 crores for this project.
Need for the project
There is a wide gap between the farmers and workers in the UT. The ratio between
workers and farmers is 1:!000. Also, there is a lack of coordination.
Tajikistan Earthquake
An earthquake of 7.2 Ritcher recently hit Tajikistan. The epicentre of the earthquake was
just 82 km away from China border. The quake was felt in the western part of the Xinjiang
region. The earthquake was first reported by the Chinese.
Recent earthquakes
A severe earthquake of 7.8 Richter struck Turkey and Syria. There were 2100
aftershocks. On 20 February 2023, more than 6,000 aftershocks were recorded. It was
one of the deadliest earthquakes in the history of Turkey. More aftershocks are
expected. The earthquake in the region is highly disastrous as Turkey is located in a
seismically fragile zone. It is at the tri-junction of three plates namely the Arabian
plate, the African plate, and the Eurasian plate.
The Maluku Earthquake in Indonesia that occurred mid-Feb of 2023 was also big. It
recorded 7.6 on the Ritcher scale. Any earthquake above 6 Ritcher is big.
The earthquakes in Australia and India and other earthquakes were less than 6
Richter. They were in the range of around 4.
Why are earthquakes increasing these days?
There are no specific reasons for the increase and decrease in the frequency of
earthquakes. Earthquakes occur when the tectonic plates collide with each other.
According to the National Earthquake Information Centre of the US, around 20,000
earthquakes occur in the world every year. That is, 55 per day! Some are violent and
others are soft. In 2012, there were 23 major earthquakes. A major earthquake means
more than 7 Richter. This year has the maximum number of earthquake occurrences so
far.
The recent earthquakes are because of the movement of the African plate, Arabian plate,
and Indian plate. After the collision, they release a few aftershocks to settle down.
Brazil Mad Cow Disease

Brazil is the largest beef exporter in the world. And China is one of the largest beef
consumers in the world. Brazil recently suspended its beef exports to China due to mad
cow disease. The disease is also called Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.
What is Mad Cow Disease?
It is incurable. The disease occurs due to an infection in a protein called a prion.
The disease spreads when cows consume the meat of the cattle that are already
infected with the disease.
It is a fat neurodegenerative disease, meaning affects brain cells
Symptoms of the disease include weight loss, trouble walking, etc.
It has a long incubation period and therefore very difficult to identify. The incubation
period is the time between the infection and the occurrence of the first symptom.
The outbreak of the disease occurred in the US, China, Egypt, Hong Kong, Chile, UAE, etc.
What will China do now?
The Chinese may look for alternatives. They will probably turn to Australia, Japan or Korea.
The relations between Australia and China were not too good in recent times. Australian
government ordered the removal of all the Chinese-made cameras in public offices.
Maybe, this is an opportunity for the countries to reconcile. However, China may have to
pay the extra price as the situation is in favour of Australia!
China-Japan Security Dialogue
China and Japan held a security dialogue for the first time in four years. It was held in
Tokyo. During the meeting, the countries agreed to strengthen their security relations and
communication. They will work to gain mutual trust. Also, they agreed to bring upon a
framework of maritime and air liaison.
Why is China being nice all of a sudden?
If you notice, China recently held the WMCC meeting with India on withdrawing troops in
the borer. China is planning on holding talks with Australia.
China has been changing its tone of business in recent days, that is, 30-40 days. This is
because the economy of the country is becoming more and more fragile. And with the
dependent population increasing and the working population decreasing in the country
because of its birth control policies, China will face a big setback in its economic growth
coming days. These predictions are being repeated by the IMF and World Bank only to
remind world business investors about the Chinese state!
Right now China is facing a lack of promising jobs for the youth in the country, the
property market is declining, the growth rate has been the slowest in a decade, consumer
confidence has become zero due to cheap low-quality products, etc.
China’s policy change
China was a pro-business market for quite some time in the past. Meaning, the capitalists
were given preference. But lately, the Chinese Communist Party’s (the ruling government)
goals are prioritized over business interests. The case of Jack Ma is the best example of the
Chinese policy shift.
What are China-Japan issues?
The dispute between the countries is over the Senaku islands. The islands is being
administered by Japan since 1972. However, the legal status of the islands is still disputed.
After the world war, II Japan gave up its claims over several parts of the world. In 1951,
Japan gave up Taiwan under the Treaty of San Fransico. The Senaku islands are near
Taiwan. And according to Japan, the islands belong to the country under the US
Trusteeship treaty signed in 1971.
China did not raise any issues when Japan signed the San Fransico agreement. In 1969, oil
reserves were found in the Senaku islands. Since the discovery of oil reserves, China is
making the claim on the island.
Of all this, CHINA HAS NOW ENTERED UKRAINE WAR TALK BACKING RUSSIA!
NTPC ranked top independent power producer
The S&P Global commodity insights recently released the ranking of the top 250
independent energy producers in the world. The energy producers were ranked based on
four criteria such as return on investment, revenue generation, total assets, and profits
gained. NTPC topped the ranking.
Role of NTPC in India’s Energy Sector
Currently, NTPC produces 24% of India’s electricity. By 2050, the corporation will
contribute 50% of the total power production in the country.
The National Thermal Power Corporation offers diversified energy production such
as hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind power, thermal power, coal-based
thermal power, gas, etc.
The NTPC is now marching to achieve its set target of 50% of energy generation
using non-fossil sources. This is to be achieved by 2032. And it is to generate 130 GW
of renewable energy
NTPC has also set a target of producing 60GW of renewable energy by 2032.
NTPC is one of the pioneer partners of NITI Aayog in its Net Energy Zero Effort
What are the risks of Ohio Derailment?
On February 3, 2023, a freight train derailed in the East Palestine town of Ohio state in the
US. The train was carrying hazardous chemicals. Following the derailment, the train
company burnt the carcinogenic chemicals in the freights. This released toxic smoke in the
region. Hundreds were forced to vacate their homes. Residents complained of nausea and
severe vomiting after the incident.
How did Ohio Derailment happen?
The freight train was pulling 150 cars and was moving from Pennsylvania to Illinois. It
derailed due to a mechanical issue in the axle.
What chemical was in Ohio Train Derailment?
PVC and several other toxic chemicals. Vinyl chloride, a poisonous gas was released as the
freight cars were burnt. Following this, there was fear of an explosion in the region. Black
smoke fumes from the burning touched skies and so netizens called it “AMERICA’s
CHERNOBYL”
Risks
Vinyl chloride gas is carcinogenic and highly flammable. It causes liver cancer, lung
cancer, and leukaemia.
Ohio river was contaminated
Haryana Budget 2023-24
The Chief Minister of Haryana Lal Khattar presented the state budget for the year 2023-24.
No new taxes were introduced in the budget. The state government is to focus on rural
welfare, healthcare, environment, and education sectors in the year 2023-24. The total
funds in the budget are Rs 1.83 lakh cores. This is 11.6% higher than the previous budget
Key Highlights of Haryana Budget 2023-24
Chirayu-Ayushman Bharat Scheme extended to families with annual income between
Rs 1.8 lakhs and Rs 3 lakhs
More buses are to be added to Haryana state transport. Currently, there are 4,500
buses. The number will be increased to 5,300
800 MW of thermal power plant to be established
Private and government ambulances will be integrated
Paddy stubbles will be bought from the farmers at Rs 1000 per tonne
Every girl child taking training from the Industrial training institute will receive Rs
2,500
Rs 5,408 allocated for highways and railways
20,000 acres of land allocated for natural farming
Anganwadis to be converted into play schools;s
Cycling Velodrome to be established in Kurukshetra district
A water sports centre is to be established in Karnal
India defeated by Australia in Women's T20 World Cup Semi Final
ICC is conducting the T20 Women’s World Cup in South Africa. India entered the semi-
finals after beating Ireland. It played its semi-finals against Australia. India battled under
the captainship of Harmanpreet Kaur. The captain was suffering from a high fever and
was doubtful to play the match. Fortunately, she did participate in the match and scored
52 runs.
Australia entered the field to bat and scored 172 runs losing four wickets. The target was a
bit tough for the Indian team. The strike rate had to be at least 8.6 to win the match. In 15
overs, India had scored around 135 runs and had lost six wickets. In 19 overs, India’s score
was 157/7. At 19.5 overs, India lost another wicket and was at 163/8. And Australia won by
5 runs in the last.
The Australian women’s cricket team is a bit challenging to win. In the last year’s World
Cup, India lost the finals to the Australian team.
About Women T20 World Cup
It is a biennial championship. It was first organized in England in 2009. Australia is the
most successful champion in the world T20 world cup. The 2023 Women’s T20 world cup is
being held in South Africa. The 2024 Women’s T20 world cup will be held in 2024, in
Bangladesh. India participated in the first T20 Women’s world cup that was held in 2009.
The team was runner-up in the 2020 championship.
February 24, 2023
New World Bank President: Ajay Banga, the former Mastercard CEO
David Malpass, the former World Bank President resigned before his term was completed
due to climate-related controversies. After his resignation, US President Joe Biden recently
nominated the former Master Card CEO Ajay Banga as the new World Bank President. Ajay
has expertise in handling climate change-related economic issues.
About Ajay Banga
He is now serving as the Vice Chairman of General Atlantic, a private firm. His business
experience with the master card is more than 30 years. He is the first Indian-born
nominee to serve at the World Bank. With the recent FBI reports talking about the hate
crimes against Sikhs in the country, the US’s political decision on choosing Ajay Banga as
the head of the key organization is commendable.
Background
David Malpass was nominated by former US President Donald Trump. The duo was
criticized for their anti-environmental policies.
Is it a brain drain for India?
Ajay did his schooling and college in India. He is an IIM, Ahmedabad alumni, one of the
prestigious central government institutes. GoI puts in crores and crores of money in IITs
and IIMs offering quality education at affordable prices. Though the nomination of Ajay is
a prestigious moment for India, the sad part is the country failed to reap the benefits of its
investments made.
GoI should take more steps to identify qualified graduates in the country and provide
them with a good platform to serve the country. It is to be noted that Nambi Nayar, the
former ISRO officer faced false accusations. He rejected his NASA offer and chose to join
ISRO.
Ukraine War: India-China abstain from UN Voting
The United Nations recently voted in a resolution of peace in Ukraine. According to the
resolution, the members wanted Russia to withdraw its troops. The number of member
countries in the United Nations is 193. Of these, 141 members voted in favour of the
resolution. However, India and China abstained from voting. Despite Ukraine’s personal
call to India, “Support us” India abstained from voting. Ukraine’s Presidential office called
on the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and asked India to support Ukraine.
Observation
Just before the voting, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that “The US and NATO
should understand why India and China are still reluctant to join NATO”. In 2011, NATO
invited India to join the alliance. But India has not responded to the invite yet.
Why did India abstain from voting?
India has always been diplomatic in the issues between Russia and US. Both countries are
important for India. India’s defence trade with the US is around 21 billion USD. As
compared to the India-US defence trade, the India-Russia defence trade may increase or
decrease. BUT! Russia is still the largest exporter of defence goods for India. This means
India is still dependent on Russia as far as the overall security of the country. The US is
important from an economic point of view. With the US, the defence trade is increasing,
not national security. Most of the Military strengthening is done through Russian defence
trade even today.
India joins Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate is a joint initiative of the US. It was started
by UAE and USA. The main objective of the initiative is to address hunger and climate
change. This is to be achieved by inviting countries and other private organizations to
invest in innovative and climate-smart agricultural systems.
Key Focus of the mission: Gender Equity, Inclusion, and Equity
Objectives of the Mission
The mission will demonstrate the benefits of collective commitment. It will aim to
increase investments in smart agriculture, innovative agricultural technologies, and
food system
Frameworks will be created to promote knowledge, expertise, and technical
discussions. This is to be achieved by amplifying national and international level
investments
To create platforms and infrastructure for governments, scientists, and other
stakeholders to share information and take climate-related actions
Stakeholders
There are three major stakeholders in the mission. They are government partners,
innovation sprint partners, and knowledge partners.
China launches Zhongxing-26 satellite
China recently launched the Zhongxing-26 satellite at a cost of 333 million USD. It was
launched on Long March 3B rocket. The main objective of the satellite is to provide
broadband connectivity for aviation and ship-related operations. The satellite was
launched by the China Academy of Space Technology. The CAST is planning to make 60
more launched in 2023.
What is special about March 3B Rocket?
The rocket uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen fuel in the third stage. Liquid rocket
fuels require a controlled temperature to stay in their form.
China’s recent space plans
China is to launch more than 200 spacecraft in 60 missions.
It is to send a cargo craft, Tianzhou-6 by the end of 2023
Also, it is to send Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 to strengthen its Tiangong space
station. Both these are crewed missions
Change – 7 spacecraft is to be launched to the South pole of the moon
Indian Submarine docks in Indonesia for the first time
After traversing the Sunda Strait, the Indian submarine INS Sindhukesari docked in
Indonesia. This is the first time an Indian submarine is docking in Indonesia. With this, INS
Sindhukesari makes history in India-Indonesia relations.
Significance
The docking shows India’s increasing military outreach in the region. Also, it depicts
India’s nature of being a diplomatic role player in ASEAN. India ships visit Indonesia and
other ASEAN countries. However, this is the first time, a submarine is visiting Indonesia.
INS Sindhukesari
It is a diesel-electric submarine. It belongs to Sindhughosh class designed as a part of
Project 877. The Sindhughosh class is basically the replica of the KILO class of the Soviet
Union. It can launch missiles up to 220 km.
The China factor
India docked its submarine when the dispute over the South China sea is at its highest.
The dispute is between China and other countries in the region. China is creating artificial
military islands in the region and extending its EEZs. Now apart from INS Sindhukesari, the
biggest aircraft carrier of the US called the USS Nimitz is also docked in the region.
India recently conducted training sessions for Philippines personnel.
SC refuses to hear PIL on menstrual leave
A Public Interest Litigation was filed with the Supreme Court on Menstrual leave. The apex
court first agreed to take up the PIL and said “will hear it in a week”. However, recently the
SC refused to take the PIL. According to SC, creating laws or passing judgement on such
leaves will become a deterrent to women’s employment. Also, the Supreme Court added
that the solution is in the hands of the government. And asked the petitioner to approach
the Women and child development ministry.
Background
State Governments like Kerala and other countries have been creating laws on menstrual
leave. Spain introduced the Menstrual law recently. Many Indian companies like Swiggy
and Zomato are offering menstrual leave.
Can Supreme Court choose cases?
The power of SC to choose cases is called its jurisdiction. There are three different types of
jurisdictions. Original jurisdiction, Appellate jurisdiction, and Writ Jurisdiction. Original
jurisdiction means the cases that were directly filed in SC and not originated from other
lower courts. Under writ jurisdiction, SC can issue orders and directions. Under the
appellate jurisdiction, the apex court hears appeals that are against the lower courts.
Russia launches Soyuz Space craft to bring back stranded astronauts
Roscosmos recently launched an empty SOYUZ spacecraft to bring back the stranded
astronauts in space. Three astronauts were stranded in space as the Soyuz MS-22 capsule
started leaking coolant. The astronauts were to return to the earth in the capsule. Now,
with the leak, the astronauts will return only by September. The leak was due to a
micrometeoroid, possibly the size of a small rock hitting the satellite.
Soyuz MS-22 is one of the major life-threatening impacts that happened in space missions.
The consequences of space impacts have never been this serious.
Current Scenario
The temperature of the module is increasing due to a coolant leak. The Soyuz MS23
capsule was launched in automatic mode and it will bring back the astronomers safely.
Future plans
Russia is to leave the International Space Station in 2028. The country is to start its own
space station just like China. Tiangong is a Chinese space station.
Soyuz MS22
It was launched at the International Space Station with three cosmonauts. It was a
rotational mission.
Full Emergency declared in Thiruvananthapuram Airport
A flight was diverted to the Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram due to a hydraulic failure.
The tail of the Air India Express hit the runway during takeoff. There were 182 passengers
in the plane and it was flying from Calicut to Dammam. The flight requested an
emergency landing in Thiruvananthapuram. Following this, a full emergency was declared
at the airport. This is the second time a full emergency is being declared. Earlier, similar
emergencies were declared on February 19 after an Air India flight from Dubai requested
an emergency landing.
What is an emergency landing in the airport?
A full emergency is declared when there are chances that an approaching aircraft is a
threat or may cause an accident at the airport.
What is the definition of an emergency in aviation?
It is an urgent condition and is usually declared during mechanical failure, structural
damages, or distress such as fire. It is initiated by the pilot of the plane. However, an
emergency in the airport is not within his powers.
Difference between local stand-by and emergency
During a full emergency, the RFFS that is, the Rescue and Fire Fighting Services is in a
“ready” position. And in the local stand by the RFFS is in their normal position. The
possibility of fire is more during emergency conditions.
Onion Shortage threatens the world
Onion shortages are increasing all over the world. From Morocco to the Philippines, the
governments are protecting their onion supplies. Morocco, Turkey, and Kazakhstan have
stopped exporting onions due to their increasing demand and soaring prices in their
homeland.
Why are onion prices increasing?
Different factors contribute to the price rise and shortage of onions. First and foremost is
the war in Ukraine. Following this, the other factors that contributed to the price rise are
the Pakistan floods, Central Asia frosts that damaged the stockpiles, severe droughts in
North Africa, and poor weather in Morocco. Of all the countries, the Philippines is facing
the highest crisis. The onion prices in the Philippines have become higher than the price of
a meal. This is mainly because a series of typhoons hit the country in 2022 damaging the
crops.
India
With the prices of wheat falling in the market, it is now the turn of onions to contribute to
food inflation in the country. However, we are well equipped and stocked to face the crisis,
unlike the others according to the Food Corporation of India.
Vegetable crisis
To worsen the conditions, United Nations and the World Bank warned that the availability
of carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, and apples may be hampered.
Earthquake in Indonesia of magnitude 6.2
The National Center for Seismology said that an earthquake of magnitude 6.2 hit
Indonesia. The epicentre was at a depth of 99 km. The quake was powerful and
fortunately, no casualties were reported. No tsunami warnings were issued. Though the
quake was massive, damages were minimal as compared to other recent earthquakes in
the country. This is because the epicentre was deep under the sea bed.
National Centre for Seismology
It operates under the Ministry of Earth Science. It conducts seismological research and
provides earthquake surveillance. Various divisions operate under the centre namely
earthquake monitoring services, geophysical observation systems, and earthquake hazard
and risk assessments.
Why are earthquakes frequent in Indonesia?
Earthquakes of magnitude greater than 6 or 7 are usually referred to as major
earthquakes. And such earthquakes are very common in Indonesia. This is because the
Indonesian Archipelago is in the tri-junction of the Eurasian, Pacific, and Indo-Australian
plates.
Categories of earthquakes
<2: Micro
2-3.9: Minor
4-4.9: Light
5-5.9: Moderate
6-6.9: Strong
7-7.9: Major
8-9.9: Great
>10: Epic
Gujarat Budget 2023-24
The Finance Minister of Gujarat Kanubhai Desai presented a State Budget of Rs 3.01 lakh
crores recently in the legislative assembly. This is 23% higher than the previous year’s
budget. No new taxes were introduced, Several schemes were announced during the
budget and the schemes were part of the 2022 election promises made by the BJP. 17.76%
of the total budget allocation was made to the agriculture department. 21.36% for
education; 15.08% for Energy; 8.71% for transport; 5.49% on social services; 8.54% on
health and family welfare; 15.43% on water supply and urban; 5.89% on social welfare and
nutrition
Key Highlights
Five high-speed corridors: Rs 1,500 crores
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya – MA: Doubled to Rs 10 lakhs from Rs 5 lakhs
Rs 18,000 crores allocated for the Ahmedabad Metro train project
Rs 10,000 crores for eco-tourism and heritage
Two gas cylinders free of cost to 30 lakh families every year
Rs 905 crores for metro projects in Ahmedabad
Rs 1415 crores to build the Bhadhut reservoir
Rs 150 crores to develop Sabarmati riverfront
Rs 640 crores to develop new fishing ports
Rs 76 crores to develop GIFT city
Rs 27 crores for GIR sanctuary; Two more lion safaris will be added
Way ahead
The state government will spend Rs 5 lakh crores in the next five years
Central Excise Day 2023
Central Excise Day is celebrated to honour the works of CBIC. The day honours the CBIC
employees who work hard to collect the taxes. The main objective of celebrating the day is
to motivate the CBIC employees to deliver their duties effectively and to prevent
corruption in the country.
Why is Central Excise Day celebrated on February 24?
On February 24, 1944, the Central Excise and Salt Act was passed. Later, the Central Excise
Tariff Act was introduced in 1985. After some time, this act was integrated with the Central
Excise and Salt Act. In 1996, it was called the Central Excise Act of 1944.
Background
The tax system in India started with salt. Salt is one of the most essential ingredients in
our daily life. When the British Government imposed taxes on salt through the salt law,
the entire nation joined together against the act and raised their voices in unison.
CBIC
It operates under the Revenue Department of GoI which comes under the purview of the
finance ministry. It calculates central excise duties, IGST, and CGST, and prevents
smuggling. The other organization that operates under CBIC are Central GST
Commisionerate, Custom Houses in the country, central revenue laboratories, etc.
Sergio Ramos retires from international football
Sergio Ramos Garcia is a Spanish Football player. He is popular for his aggressive play. He
played for Real Madrid for more than sixteen seasons. He has won four UEFA
championship leagues, two UEFA European championships, and also the 2010 FIFA World
Cup. He was one of the youngest players to reach 100 caps. Cap is awarded to players
appearing in the national team. In simple terms, it is the number of times a player plays
for the national team. Till today, Ramos is the most capped player.
Real Madrid
It is a football club in Madrid, Spain that was started in 1902. The team is one of the most
internationally recognized teams in the world. It is the most valuable team in the world
and its worth is around 5.1 billion USD. The annual revenue of the team is 640.7 million
Euros and is the second-highest revenue-earning team in the world. Also, Real Madrid is
one of the founders of La Liga.
Odisha Budget 2023-24
The Odisha State Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari presented a budget of Rs 2.3 lakh crores
in the assembly. According to the minister, Odisha is one of the few states in the county to
become revenue surplus in 2023-24. The Government is to keep Rs 94,000 crores under its
control. As compared to 2022-23, the state government increased its programme
expenditure by 25%.
Key Highlights
Rs 2,000 crores for paddy procurement
Rs 1879 crores for KALIA Scheme
Rs 24,829 crores for State Agriculture
Mission Shakti: Rs 6224 crores
Disaster Risk Management: Rs 3700 crores
For piped water connection: Rs 13,215 crores
Internal Security: Rs 8,130 crores
Handloom: Rs 219 crores
Development of SC and ST: Rs 38,437 crores
Education: Rs 30,030 crores
Observation
The budget of Odisha was evenly spread. All the sectors received equal importance. On
the other hand, the budget of UP and the budget of Gujarat focused more on road
construction and infrastructural-related developments. Though the budget of Odisha was
less as compared to several BJP-ruled states, the budget was in equity. Importance was
given to the development of SC and ST, education, agriculture, and disaster management.
IMF Nine Point Crypto Action Plan
The International Monetary Fund recently unveiled a Crypto Action plan to safeguard
monetary sovereignty in the world. The action plan will help countries to frame their
crypto policies. The following are the nine points:
Details how a country should treat cryptocurrencies. That is, they should choose the
currency very carefully in providing the legal status
Establish international arrangements to increase enforcement regulations
set up methodologies to monitor the impact of cryptocurrency
Strengthen monetary frameworks
Guard against excessive capital flows
make laws on cryptocurrencies and assets;
impose taxes on organizations using crypto
Be cautious as the crypto assets may circumvent capital flow management and also
may undermine the monetary policy’s efficiency
Do not grant legal status or official status to cryptocurrency

The IMF quoted El Salvador as an example. The country lost more than 60 million USD
during its bitcoin experiment. It spent 375 million USD in implementing the experiment.
Due to this, the country faced an economic crisis and a very high deficit. The country
implemented bitcoin.
February 25, 2023
Pakistan receives $700 million from China
The foreign exchange reserves of Pakistan fell to 2.9 billion USD. It is now slowly rising to 4
billion USD. The cash injection was the need of the moment for Pakistan. And China
stepped in offering 700 million USD to help its “all-weather” friend. China Development
Bank transferred the funds to Pakistan State Bank. Pakistan was also asking for help from
the IMF. Unfortunately, the talks ended in failure. IMF is planning on sending 1.1 billion
USD but no decision has been made yet.
Why is Pakistan in Economic Crisis?
Taxes are increasing in the country; oil prices are shooting up rapidly, the rupee value of
the country is falling, etc. Pakistan is facing an economic crisis because of ill-planned tax
reforms. Another reason is the weak regulatory system.
What should Pakistan do?
The country should introduce structural reforms and economic reforms. Also, Pakistan
should try and bring in investments. When it comes to trade, the country should remove
the bias. Public finances should be strengthened; the energy sector reformation,
removing biasing non-agricultural sector and strengthening competition law.
In what areas did Pakistan fail?
Any country should give equal importance to the private sector. In the same way, the
private sector should not be prioritized. The right balance should be maintained between
the public and private sectors.
Kerala: First State to use Robotic Manhole cleaners
Kerala uses a BANDICOOT robot to clean sewage. With this, it has become the first state to
launch robotic scavengers. BANDICOOT was launched in the temple town Guruvayur.
Genrobotics developed the robot. The main objective of developing the robot is to
eliminate manual scavenging. The robot has been in use since 2018. However, this is the
first time, it is being used to clean public manholes, replacing humans. The robot fulfils its
purpose of the invention for the first time. BANDICOOT was already used in several other
states but not for scavenging purposes and not in public places.
Working of BANDICOOT
The Bandicoot has a robotic Tron unit. It is the major component of the robot and the unit
operates just like the limb of man. The Tron enters the manhole, digs and collects the
waste. The robot is waterproof and fireproof. It has cameras and sensors. Bandicoot can
detect harmful gases.
Awards for BANDICOOT
Genrobotics received the “Kerala Pride” award for building BANDICOOT. The award was
presented under Kerala Startup Mission. Also, Genrobotics received National Award for
developing the robot.
Why the name BANDICOOT?
The Bandicoots are terrestrial omnivores endemic to Australia. The animal is a digger. The
robot operates just like the animal digging the waste from the manhole and thus the
name.
About BANDICOOT
It is the first robotic scavenger in the world. It was developed under the Swachh Bharat
Abhiyan and Make in India initiative. IOCL announced that it will use BANDICOOT robots
to clean certain spots in its refineries.
China blocks ChatGPT
ChatGPT is a popular search engine that uses artificial intelligence and natural language
processing to provide mostly accurate and relevant results to users. However, the Chinese
government has decided to block this search engine in the country, citing concerns about
propaganda and censorship.
China’s Great Firewall Blocks ChatGPT
ChatGPT is not accessible to internet users in China, as it is blocked by the country’s
internet like other foreign web platforms. This is because ChatGPT does not conform to
China’s censorship laws. The Chinese government has a strict policy when it comes to
social media platforms and other internet services. Most American platforms, including
Facebook, Reddit, Google, Instagram, Wikipedia, and YouTube, are all blocked in China.
Chinese State Media Claims ChatGPT as a Potential Enabler for American Propaganda
According to Chinese state media, ChatGPT is a potential enabler for American
propaganda. Last week, a Chinese newspaper, China Daily, released a video titled “How
the US Uses AI to Spread Disinformation,” which shows ChatGPT as an American
propaganda tool. The Chinese government is afraid that ChatGPT could provide access to
information that could be used to spread anti-government sentiment or even incite social
unrest.
Chinese Tech Companies Need to Seek Permission Before Launching Chatbot Services
Not just ChatGPT, but Chinese tech companies will also need to report to regulators and
seek permission before they launch their own chatbot-like AI services. Earlier this month,
Chinese search giant Baidu revealed it was working on its own AI-powered chatbot called
“ERNIE.” Since 2019, the company has been developing the service, which it plans to
launch to the public later this month. This shows that China is also developing its own
version of ChatGPT, as there is a growing demand for Chinese search engines that can
provide accurate and reliable information in the Chinese language.
China’s Shock and Demoralization in the AI Space
Earlier reports claimed that China could become the leader in AI. Still, it seems like the
launch of ChatGPT and its popularity has shocked and demoralized China. With the rise of
AI-powered chatbots and the increasing demand for accurate and reliable information,
China cannot afford to lag behind in this field.
The Curiosity to Use Chinese Chatbot Ernie
Despite the ban on ChatGPT, users can still access alternative search engines in China.
Personally, the curiosity to use the Chinese chatbot ERNIE and see how it responds to
queries based on sensitive issues related to the United States is worth exploring. As the
world becomes more interconnected, access to information is essential, and alternative
search engines like ERNIE could play a significant role in shaping our understanding of the
world.
FSSAI Millet Standards
The Government of India has been working hard to push millet production in the country.
Upon India’s insistence, the United Nations declared 2023 as the International Millet Year.
Following this, India introduced an international brand name for millet “SHREE ANNA
during the budget. Now, taking a step further, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of
India has issued standards for millets. These standards are to be implemented from
September 2023.
Why the new standards for millet?
So far, India had only individual standards for millet. There are standards for sorghum,
bajra, and ragi. Now, FSSAI has issued standards for 15 types of millets.
Background
Millets are climate-resilient crops. They require very low fertilizers and chemicals. They are
tolerant of drought. In 2018, GoI rebranded millets as Nutri Cereals. And now again
rebranded as SHREE ANNA. Millets are being promoted for their nutritious value. Millet
crops are native to India.
Millet Production in India
India is currently growing three major millets namely Ragi, Bajra, and Jowar. The major
millet-producing states are AP, Rajasthan, TN, Gujarat, Karnataka, Haryana, and
Telangana. The production of millets was 14.52 million tonnes in 2015-16. It increased to
17.96 million tonnes in 2020-21.
Bihar Fog Alert System at $50,000
Dense fog affects visibility. Daily life disrupts due to fog and results in economic losses. To
give an early warning about fog in the country, the Bihar Government approved 50,000
USD. The funds will be used to develop the warning system. The system is to be developed
in collaboration with the US National Center for Atmospheric Research.
How is fog formed?
The presence of moisture and very low temperature are two essentials of fog formation.
The fog forms when the water vapour in the air condenses. Fogs are denser in the regions
near water bodies. Fog occurs early in the morning when the earth cools completely and
when the temperatures are very low.
Types of Fog
Radiation Fog: Forms during calm winds; localized fog
Advection fog: Larger in scale; forms in the presence of warm air; mostly the sea fog
transported to the land areas is advection fog
Valley Fog: Here the fog is trapped as the mountains do not allow the dense and
heavy air to move away
Freezing fog: Common in cloud-covered mountain tops
What is the issue?
The temperature in the winter is lower than normal level these days. The western
disturbances are now decreasing the temperature further and causing thick dense fog.
Indian Army to end Colonial Practices
On Prime Minister Modi’s directions, the Indian Army Chief recently initiated the process
to end Colonial practices such as buggies, pipe bands and functional ceremonies on
retirement. Also, the English names of some of the units are to be changed.
What is the retirement ceremony that is being ended?
During the retirement ceremony, the vehicle of the retiring officer is pulled by troops and
another officer. The ceremony is conducted during the posting of the new officer as well.
Why is Indian Army removing the practices?
PM Modi listed five pledges during his speech on red fort. They are making India a
developed country, taking pride in the heritage of the country, fulfilling the duties, and
removing traces of bondage, and unity. In accordance with the five pledges, India is
removing the practices.
Colonial Imprints in India
Though we had a printing press in 1947, our leaders chose to write the constitution just
like other British colonies such as the USA. Many laws that were created by the British
Government are still in practice.
Governors in the state are colonial imprints
Two types of colonialism that existed in India were settler colonialism and exploitation
colonialism. In settler colonialism, people arrive at a country on a large scale. Exploitation
colonialism is through trade.
Who started colonialism?
Surprisingly, it was the Portuguese who started colonialism and not the British.
Meta launches New LLaMA
In the world of artificial intelligence, chatbots have become a ubiquitous tool for
communication. Companies have been striving to create their own chatbots to cater to the
needs of their customers. After the success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, several companies have
launched their own versions of chatbots to grab a share of the market. META, which loves
to monopolize the “Internet Chat” world, has launched its new chatbot called LLaMA.
LLaMA: Large Language Model Meta AI
LLaMA is a large language model developed by META that is similar to ChatGPT. The main
objective of the model is to assist researchers in the field of AI. LLaMA is the third large
language model developed by META. The first was Glactica, and the second was Blender.
However, unlike its predecessors, LLaMA requires fewer resources and computing power.
LLaMA is yet to be released in the market, and only the research paper has been
published. However, the announcement of the launch was made in a grand Mark
Zuckerberg style, creating a buzz in the industry.

Objective of LLaMA
While LLaMA works almost like ChatGPT, its main objective is to assist researchers in their
work. LLaMA can fetch information from the research field, making it a valuable tool for
researchers. META aims to establish its top position in the world of chats by creating its
own chatbot.
META’s History of Monopolization
META is known for its tendency to absorb its competitors to establish its top position in
the market. The company has acquired several popular chat boxes such as Instagram and
WhatsApp. However, for a change, META has developed its own chatbot, the LLaMA.
Privacy and Copyright Issues
Details on how the LLaMA will handle privacy and copyright issues are yet to be revealed.
Privacy and copyright issues have been a major concern for chatbots in the past, and it
remains to be seen how META will address these concerns.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi
The Municipal Corporation is a local body. A region with a population of more than one
million is categorized as Municipality. There were three Municipal corporations in Delhi,
the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, and the North
Delhi Municipal corporation. All three were re-unified as the Municipal Corporation of
Delhi in 2022. It is one of the largest municipal bodies in the world with more than 20
million people.
Who unified the Municipal Corporation of Delhi?
The Central Government. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) bill was passed
in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to unify the corporation.
Current Scenario
During the election of the standing committee, Mayor Shelli Oberoi was attacked. BJP-AAP
members entered into the clash.
The root cause of the clash goes back to the unification of the municipal corporation.
Root Cause of the clash
The three municipal corporations were facing a financial crisis. According to the BJP, the
main objective of the unification is to reduce the funds spent on the salaries of employees
in the municipality. If unified, the number of employees can be reduced greatly. Also,
there would be a balance of resources, funds, etc. Now, this is the economic benefit. What
about the political advantages? The BJP campaigned saying it can solve the financial crisis
if voted to power again. The unification will help BJP to lift Delhi municipality from its
economic issues. Basically, the centre wants more financial and administrative power over
Delhi.
German Chancellor Olaz Scholz visits India
The Inter-Governmental Consultation mechanism was established between India and
Germany in 2011. After IGC, this is the first visit of a German Chancellor to India. Also, this
was the first visit of Olaz Scholz as a chancellor. He visited India to discuss the Ukraine
crisis and trade, China’s actions in the Indo-Pacific, the green transition, etc.
About the visit
Apart from the Ukraine war, the chancellor will also discuss trade-related matters. More
than 12 CEOs have accompanied the chancellor. This includes Siemens and SAP.
PM Modi and the Chancellor will discuss four key areas apart from those above. They are
environment, climate change, business, and mobility of Indian workers.
How will the German Chancellor’s visit benefit India?
India can get a better understanding of Germany’s intentions in the Indo-Pacific. While
China is the cause of concern, he will discuss the
Observation
The Chancellor recently asked his allies to supply Ukraine with more weapons and aid. The
MINSK Agreement was signed between Ukraine and Russia upon the initiatives of France
and Germany.
Background
Germany has allocated 1.3 billion Euros for green energy projects. It is expected that India
and Germany will sign several agreements focusing on increasing bilateral trade. The
current bilateral trade between the countries is 1.3 billion Euros.
NASA Space-X Crew-6 Mission to ISS
The Crew-6 mission is to be launched on February 27 from the Kenedy Space Centre of
NASA located in Cape Canaveral. It is a joint operation of both NASA and SpaceX. The Crew
Dragon capsule will be carried by the Falcon 9 rocket of SpaceX. The capsule is being sent
to the International Space Station.
Crew-6 mission
The mission is launching 2 US astronauts, one Russian Cosmonaut, and a UAE astronaut.
This is Crew Dragon’s fourth flight. Previous flights of Crew Dragon were as follows:
Demo-2 Crew Test flight
Crew-2 flight in 2021
Private Axiom Mission-1
The landing site of the mission is the Atlantic Ocean. It is a part of the Commercial Crew
Program of NASA. The program provides crew transportation services, that is, carrying
cargo and astronauts from and to ISS.
Crew Dragon
It is a reusable spacecraft. It supplies cargo to the International Space Station. Earlier, the
crew dragon was called the Dragon rider.
Background
The Crew-6 launch comes after Russia is preparing to send Soyuz MS-23 to replace Soyuz
MS-22. Due to a coolant leak in Soyuz MS-22, the astronauts were stranded in space.
APEDA signs pact with Lulu to promote millets in GCC
The FSSAI recently released standards for millets; GoI is to promote millets in the brand
name “Shree Anna”; millet production is to be boosted in the country, 2023 was made the
International Millets Year by UN. More and more plans are coming up in promoting millet.
One such is the recent MoU signed by APEDA with the LULU group. Under the agreement,
APEDA will promote millets in GCC.
What is the plan?
The APEDA operating under the Ministry of Commerce signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the LULU group of Dubai to promote millets in GCC countries. The
GCC countries are Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. The plan is to
promote millet products in these countries during the international millet year 2023.
APEDA is the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.
Role of APEDA
APEDA will assist the millet manufacturers to send product samples to LULU
supermarkets. The supermarket will showcase the millet of India. This includes “READY TO
EAT” and “READY TO SERVE” millets.
LULU Group
The Headquarters of LULU is in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It is an MNC with more than 232 stores
operating in GCC alone. Basically, they do a supermarket kind of business.
Desert Flag exercise VIII
The exercise Desert Flag VIII was held in the UAE air base Al Dhafra. Indian Air Force
participated in the exercise. The other countries that participated were the USA, Korea,
Spain, Morocco, Bahrain, the UK, Australia, Kuwait, France, and UAE. For the first time, LCA
Tejas of India is participating in a military exercise that was held outside the country. India
sent two C-17 transport aircraft and five Tejas to the exercise.
Why is exercise important for India?
The UAE Air Force is one of the largest air forces in the world. There are more than 4,000
personnel in the UAE Air Force. In the 1970s-80s, the UAE Air Force was not this strong. It
received training from Pakistan Air Force during those times. Even today, you can find
many of retired Pakistani Air Force officers in UAE.
UAE started building its Air Force in 2007. Some of the largest procurements began during
these days. 3.4 billion USD worth of Mirage 2000, 6.4 billion Lockheed Martin, etc. were
purchased. Missiles like AIM-120, AGM Mavericks, etc were also purchased.
Observation
If you look at the air force power of UAE (that leads the exercise), it is not as strong as
India. India has S400 and nuclear missiles. Today UAE Air Force ranks 56th in the world.
Indian Air Force ranks third. But still, why is India keen on joining the exercise? There are
political and economic intentions. Military exercises are often considered a friendly
gesture. Through the exercise, we are extending our strong partnership to the country.
Recently, the trade between India and UAE shot up exponentially. Geopolitically, UAE is
very important to India. It is located in the Persian Gulf, the major sea route in the world.
80% of India’s oil trade happens through this pathway. Also, India gets a chance to meet
its other friends.
India’s first in the Exercise
India participated in the Desert flag Exercise for the first time in 2021.
Background
UAE leads the exercise. India conducts two other exercises with UAE. They are the bilateral
naval exercise called BILAT and the Air Force Exercise called the EAGLE-II.
February 27, 2023
PM-KISAN Scheme: PM Modi released Rs 16800 crores
The Government of India launched the PM-KISAN scheme in 2019 to provide financial
support to the farmers in the country. Under the plan, Rs 6,000 is provided annually.
Recently, PM Modi released Rs 16,800 crores under the scheme. More than 80 million
farmers benefited from this. The Prime Minister released the funds from Bellavi,
Karnataka.
Background
The scheme was launched on February 24, 2019. Since then, the union government
released 12 instalments. This is the 13th. So far, Rs 2.24 lakh cores have been disbursed.
Scheme is funded by the central government entirely. State Governments have no role.
The 11th and 12 instalments were released in May 2022 and October 2022.
PM-KISAN during COVID
During COVID, agriculture was the only thriving sector in the country. Around Rs. 1.75 lakh
crores were disbursed during the COVID lockdown. This benefitted more than 30 million
women farmers. During this time, the women farmers alone received Rs 53,600 crores.
Significance
The scheme was launched to help the farmers increase their income. According to the
union government, financial aid will help in doubling farmers’ income. All land-holding
farmer households are eligible to receive the amount.
Why now?
The government is releasing the funds to aid the farmers in their Rabi harvesting ahead of
Holi.
Manish Sisodia Liquor Policy Case
Manish Sisodia is the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi holding the education portfolio. He is
from the political party AAP. The AAP party won the Punjab elections in 2022. According to
the CBI, Manish was involved in providing illegal support to the liquor companies.
Eventually, he used the benefits to win the Punjab elections in 2022. CBI arrested him
convicting him in Delhi Excise policy.
What is Delhi Liquor Policy?
With the Delhi Liquor Policy, the Government exited from selling liquor. Only private shops
were allowed to sell liquor. It was proposed in 2020. Under the policy, Delhi was divided
into 32 zones. Each zone had 27 liquor vendors. The policy aimed to increase liquor
revenue, end the black market, and improve the consumer experience. The shops were
allowed home deliver liquor till 3 AM. Shops can sell liquor on their own MRPs. Also, the
shops were allowed to provide discounts.
The government gained a 27% increase in the liquor policy. Rs 8900 crores generated.
Why was Manish Sisodia arrested?
According to the CBI, Manish provided licenses to private liquor shops for his own benefit.
He then used the money gained from the private liquor companies in the Goa elections
and Punjab elections.
Cobra Warrior exercise
The Cobra Warrior Exercise is to be held at Waddington Air Force Base in the UK in March
2023. It is a multinational exercise. Countries like Singapore, Finland, the USA, South
Africa, and Sweden will participate in the exercise. India is also participating in the
exercise. The IAF will send five Mirage 2000 fighters along with IL-78 mid-air refueller
aircraft, and two C-17 Globemaster.
Background
The Cobalt Warrior is one of the largest Royal Air Force exercises. During the exercise, the
Royal Air Force provides special training to pilots from different countries. The exercise is
being conducted for more than a decade. The exercises are considered one of the most
challenging exercises in the world. Therefore, the participating air forces gain good
exposure. During the exercise, the Royal British Air Force offers Qualified Space
Instructors Courses, surveillance, Multi-Engine Tactics, Qualified Weapons Instructors, etc.
To qualify for these war strategies the Air Force crew has to seek intense training provided
by the British Royal Air Force.
India – UK Military Exercises
The navies of the countries hold “KONKAN”. The Indian Air Force and Royal Air Force hold
a bilateral exercise called the INDRA DHANUSH. The Indian Army and the Royal British
Army hold AJEYA WARRIOR.
Aim of the exercise
To provide operational exposure to the participating Air Forces
To enhance the combat capability
Build strong friendship bonds
Scientists discover fifth inner core layer of the earth
The recent frequent earthquakes have helped scientists discover a new core. This fifth
inner core is a solid ball of nickel and iron and is the innermost layer.
What is the new discovery?
So far scientists believed that there are only four layers in the earth. They are the
outermost layer called the crust, and the middle layer called the mantle. And the
innermost layer is called the core. The core is divided into two parts namely the inner core
and the outer core. Recently, scientists discovered that there is another layer in the core.
About the new fifth layer
Unlike the inner core and outer core, this new fifth layer is solid. It may be 650 km in
diameter. Scientists believed that the inner core of the earth is 2,440 km in diameter. It is
about 70% of the moon’s size. Also, it was believed that it was the hottest and densest of
all layers. However, this new layer is denser than the other two cores.
Also, scientists discovered that the inner core slowed down its spin recently with respect to
the mantle. In a while, the inner core will reverse its direction of spinning. Because of
these changes, there will be changes in the magnetic field of the earth.
Role of the core
The interaction between the inner and outer core creates and maintains the magnetic
field of the earth. While the inner molten material solidifies, they release an immense
amount of heat. This heat energy along with the convection current generated by the
inner and outer core creates the magnetic field of the earth.
Australia won 2023 Women T20 World Cup
The 2023 T20 Women’s world cup was held in South Africa. The final battle was between
South Africa and Australia. The Australian team won the battle. The Australian woman’s
team is winning the T20 world cup for the sixth time. India quit losing to the Australian
team during the semi-finals. India was the runner-up in the previous women’s T20 world
cup.
Australia
Beth Mooney scored 74 runs and topped the match. The name of the women’s T20 cricket
team is Southern stars. The team captain is Meg Lanning.
South Africa
This is the first time South Africa is entering the T20 finals. The name of the South Africa
Women’s team is Proteas. The women’s cricket team was first formed in South Africa in
1888. However, they played their international match only in 1960.
India
The name of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team is Women in Blue or sometimes also called
Team India; the captain is Harman Preet Kaur. It was founded in 1976. The team is
governed by the BCCI, that is, the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
NOKIA changes its logo
The smartphone giant NOKIA recently changed its brand identity for the first time in 60
years. The telecom equipment maker is now focusing on growth. The iconic blue colour of
NOKIA was dropped. And a new logo has been adopted. The new logo has five different
shapes.
Why did Nokia change its logo?
With the new logo, NOKIA is sending information to the international market. The
changed logo says NOKIA has emerged as a technology company. According to NOKIA,
the world is of the assumption that the company produces only smartphones. But it is not
so. NOKIA is into the technology business and not the Smartphone business. To deliver
this to the international market, NOKIA changed its logo.
Why did Nokia fail in India?
Trends in India changed significantly in 2007. Nokia failed to adapt to the changing trends.
Competition increased aggressively and NOKIA couldn’t withstand the competition.
About NOKIA
It is a Finnish company. It is in the business of information technology, multinational
telecommunication, consumer electronics, etc. The company is spread over 100 countries.
In terms of revenue, it is the 415th largest company. In 2009, it was in the 85th position.
NOKIA grew after Pekka Lundmark became the CEO in 2020.
Nokia signed a contract with NASA to build a 4G mobile network on the moon
Flipkart-NOKIA collaboration to sell NOKIA products in India
Carabao Cup 2023: Manchester United wins
The Carabao cup is also called the EFL cup. It is a major football trophy played in England.
More than 92 clubs participate in the knockout competition. In 2023, the trophy was won
by Manchester United. Liverpool is the most successful club in the competition. The team
has won more than nine championships. (Carabao is an energy drink in Thailand).
Winning the Carabao cup is essential to enter the UEFA Champions League. Apart from
winning the Carabao cup, the team should also finish the Premier League in the top four.
Finals
The final battle was fought between Manchester United and Newcastle. Manchester
United is winning the trophy after six years. Newcastle is a Saudi Arabia-backed club.
UEFA Champions League
This championship league is conducted among top European clubs. Around 80 clubs
participate in the championship. It is organized by the Union of European Football
Association. The participating clubs receive 5 million Euros apart from winning prize
money.
PM Modi inaugurated Shivamogga Airport and launched Development projects in Karnataka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Shivmogga airport in the state of
Karnataka. The airport was built for Rs 450 crores. The Passenger Terminal of the airport’s
main building is in the form of a lotus. It can accommodate more than 300 passengers.
Apart from this, PM Modi also laid the foundation stone of two railway projects and a new
railway line Shikaripura – Ranebennur. The new railway line will be built at a cost of Rs 990
crores.
Other Development projects launched
PM Modi launched multiple road projects of Rs 215 crores were
Construction of new bypass and new bridges in NH – 169A, Teerthahalli Taluk,
Megaravalli, and Ranebennur was launched
Widening of the national highway was launched
Apart from these projects, the PM also released the 13th instalment of the PM-KISAN
scheme. The assembly elections of the state are to be held in May 2023.
Why the airport in Shivamogga?
Shivmogga or Shimoga lies on the bank of the Tunga river. It is a hilly region and is world-
renowned for Siddha and Ayurvedic medicines. Cancer, heart disease, and several other
ailments are healed naturally here. People visit the place from foreign countries as well.
GoI is to build an airport here to ease transportation.
Kerala Temple introduces mechanical elephant
For the first time in Indian history, the Shree Krishna temple in Kerala introduced a
mechanical elephant. The mechanical elephant will perform temple rituals here. It was
presented by PETA India. The name of the elephant was Raman. It weighed 800 kg in
weight and can carry 4 people. The parts of the elephant, that is, the eyes, ears, and
mouth worked on electricity.
Need for Mechanical elephant
In the last 15 years, more than 526 people died in the state of Kerala due to the man-
elephant conflict. PETA India designed the robotic elephant to reduce this.
Why are the man-elephant conflicts increasing?
Elephants sometimes turn violent when kept in captivity. For instance, the Chikkatukavu
Ramachandran is the most used elephant in Kerala. People have been using him in
festivals for more than 40 years now. He had killed 13 persons. Many temples in the state
are unable to feed their elephants properly due to a lack of funds.
PETA India
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It is a Mumbai-based NGO working to end the
abusive treatment of animals. It was launched in 2000. PETA mostly works in the areas
where the animals suffer the most like laboratories, entertainment businesses, etc.
Germany to ease Visa applications to Indians
The German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited India recently. During his visit, the chancellor
announced that Germany will ease the visa for Indians. This is being done to make
Germany an attractive spot for IT investors and software developers. Applying German
visa for work is very difficult. One needs to gain the right to be employed in German.
Germany is now relaxing these terms for India. However, a Schengen visa or a tourist visa
is easy to get.
Background
Most Germans do not speak English. And for this reason, the country did not or couldn’t
allow foreigners inside. For some time, non-German speakers were not allowed to enter
the country. You would get a visa only if you knew German. However, Germany is now
relaxing its rules.
Current Scenario
Indians shall get Schengen Visa or a tourist visa to visit Germany. Schengen visa means a
short-stay visa. With this visa, you may stay in Germany for 90 days. 27 European countries
are offering this visa.
What are Schengen countries?
Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Portugal, Poland, Norway, Netherlands, Malta,
Luxembourg, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Italy, Iceland, Hungary, Greece, Germany,
France, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Croatia, Belgium, and Austria
DGCA approves Hindustan 228 aircraft of HAL
The Director General of Civil Aviation recently granted permission to HAL to build
Hindustan 228 variant aircraft. The Hindustan-228-201W is a 19-seater. Take off weight of
the aircraft is 5695 kg. The variant requires fewer pilot requirements. Any pilot with a
commercial pilot license can fly the aircraft.
Background
In 1983s, HAL and Dornier signed an agreement to build 150 Dornier 228 planes.
According to the agreement, the joint venture will build 150 aircraft. So far these planes
were used only in the military. Also, the venture was exported to Indian Ocean countries
like Mauritius and Seychelles. Widely, the planes were used for surveying purposes,
monitoring purposes, guard duties, and saving people during disasters.
About Hindustan 228
HAL added some advanced features to the Dornier 228 like the FLIR system, satellite
communication tools, ESM technology, speech encryption equipment, enhanced ground
proximity warning system, Traffic Collision Avoidance System, etc. In 2016, HAL decided to
create a civilian version of the product and so launched Hindustan 228.
It is a civilian version of the Dornier 228. Dornier is a German-based company. The civilian
version was produced by the Aircraft division in Kanpur.
Hindustan 228 will support UDAN
The variant is being brought in to support the UDAN scheme and increase local
connectivity. The aircraft will make air travel affordable. Small towns and remote places
can be reached easily.
Sant Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti
Sevala Maharaj was a spiritual guru and a socio-religious reformer from the Banjara
community. He lived between 1739 and 1773. He was against animal sacrifices and
baptism. The culture ministry recently announced that the Government of India will
launch yearlong celebrations marking the 284th birth anniversary of the reformer. Banjara
Community is a Scheduled Tribe community.
About Santh Sevalai Maharaj
He was a disciple of Jagadamba
He fought against the Nizam ruler, the Mysuru ruler
He fought for the traditional rights and the land rights of the Banjara Community
The Britishers call him the Siva Rathod
He was born in Sevagad, near Anathpur in AP
Banjara Community
The Banjara people are also known as the Lambadi or the Labana or Gour Rajput. They
were nomadic and are believed to have come from the Mewar region of Rajasthan. There
are 17 subgroups in the community.
The language of Banjaras is Gour Boli, an Indo-Aryan language. They are ST in AP,
Telangana, and Odisha. They are categorized under SC in Delhi, Karnataka, and Punjab.
They are OBC in MP, Haryana, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra.
Kerala inks pact with UN Women
The Kerala State Government recently signed an agreement with the United Nations
women to increase the role of women in the tourist industry of the state. Under the
agreement, the Responsible Tourism Mission is to be implemented in the state. It will be a
gender-inclusive mission. The mission will promote women-friendly tourist spots.
What is the role of women in tourism?
The role of men and women in the tourism sector in India is different. Traditionally, men
in tourist spots are involved in high-paying jobs. On the other hand, women are involved
in low-skill and low-paid work. Most women in Indian tourist spots are involved in the
hospitality sector, cooking, cleaning, homestay services, shops, etc. This is mainly because
of the difference in literacy level. The situation prevails even in Kerala, the state with the
highest literacy levels.
What is UN Women saying about developing Women in tourism?
Women should be placed at the centre of labour policies
Women tourism enterprises should be targeted and their financing should be
boosted
Women tourism enterprises should be identified at the earliest and integrated with
national and international tourism chain
Data collection in tourism should be sex-disaggregated
Include women in all stages of decision making
NEET PG 2023: Supreme Court dismisses Plea
NEET is the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. The National Testing Agency conducts
the NEET-UG and the National Board of Examinations conducts the NEET-PG. NEET–UG is
for MBBS and NEET-PG is for MD. The recent issue on the NEET exam is around the
postponement of the exam. Few medical students have appealed to the SC asking for the
postponement of NEET.
What is the issue?
The NEET-PG 2023 was scheduled on March 5, 2023. The internship cutoff date in some
states was first fixed on Jan 7, then on June 30, and now it has been extended to August
11. During internships, MBBS graduates work full-time and gain practical experience.
According to them, if the NEET-PG 2023 is held on March 5, they will not have enough time
to prepare for the exam. So they are asking to postpone the exam.
The accusation made on NBE
The National Board of Examination that conducts the NEET – PG 2023 has issued notice
without consulting the State Medical Councils. Also, the NBE modified the eligibility criteria
twice.
More than 2 lakh students have applied for NEET and it will affect their preparations.
SC Judgement on NEET – PG 2023
SC dismissed the petitions to postpone NEET – PG 2023. The exam is to be held as planned
on March 5, 2023.
February 28, 2023
National Science Day 2023
India celebrates National Science Day on February 28. National Science Day is celebrated
in the country to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect. Raman discovered the Raman
Effect on February 28, 1928, and received Nobel Prize for his discovery in 1930.
History of National Science Day
The National Council for Science and Technology 1986 proposed to mark National Science
Day on February 28. The Government of India agreed to the proposal.
The objective of National Science Day
National Science Day is celebrated to spread the importance of science in day-to-day life.
On the occasion, the importance of science and achievements in the field are discussed.
New technologies are implemented.
The theme of National Science Day 2023
Global Science for Global well being
Raman Effect
The wavelength of light changes in the air as it is deflected by molecules. This is referred
to as scattering. The sky is blue in colour because of the Raman effect. Smaller
wavelengths scatter easily. The wavelength of blue is small and is scattered the maximum
as compared to all the other colours. For this reason, the sky is blue in colour.
National Council for Science and Technology Communication
It operated under the purview of the Department of Science and Technology, Government
of India. The main objectives of NCSTC are to develop and build scientific thinking, develop
scientific knowledge, conduct training, and spread awareness.
Bird Survey Dharoi 2023
The Gujarat Forest Department, BCSG (Bird Conservation Society of Gujarat), and the
Adams Nature Retreat Resort together organized the bird survey in Dharoi Gujarat. It is a
wetland and is spread over 107 square kilometres. The wetland is located in the trijunction
of the Mehsana, Banaskantha, and Sabarkantha districts. During the survey, the bird
watchers mapped and recorded the population and diversity of waterfowl in Dharoi. For
this reason, the survey was unique and the first of its kind. The first Bird Survey Dharoi
was conducted in 2022.
Key Findings of the survey
As the temperature has started increasing during winter, the population of birds in
the region has reduced. Only black ducks are left
There are more than 616 bird species in the state of Gujarat. The surveyors found
only 193
International migratory species such as European wigeons, garganeys, gadwalls,
northern shovelers, and northern pintails were also spotted
Background
The Dharoi reservoir, where the survey was held was created by constructing dams on
HArnoi and Sabarmati rivers in 1978. The purpose of the dam was irrigation.
Significance
The bird survey helped to learn about the declining population of the birds in the area.
Immediate government actions are required to conserve bird diversity and save the bird
population.
Karnataka to get India’s first Marina

Marina is a specially designed place of pleasure for small boats and yachts. The Chief
Minister of Karnataka recently announced that the first Marina of India will be constructed
in Byndoor, Udupi district, Karnataka. He announced this while addressing a function
“Seven Wonders of Karnataka” organized by the Tourism department.
Significance
The project will help in boosting coastal tourism. Marina provides active and passive
recreation. The beach in Byndoor is called Someshwara beach. The place has several
tourist attractions such as Koosalli waterfalls, Kshitija Nesara Dharma, Sri Seneshwara
Temple, butterfly camp, etc. The place has been facing poor revenue collection due to very
less developmental activities. The launch of the Marina in the place is expected to boost
tourism and increase employment and tax collection.
Background
According to the tourism ministry, India has the potential to earn 250 billion USD from
tourism. It can generate 137 million jobs. If the reach is right, tourist spots in India can
attract 25 million foreigners. To extract the complete tourism potential of India,
Government has taken several measures. During the G20 summit, models of the tourist
spots were created and exhibited to foreign delegates. The venue of the summit was
carefully chosen from major tourist spots, especially the places with high cultural heritage
value. The leaders attending the summit were toured around the cultural heritage places.
Clean Plant Program: GoI to set up 10 Clean Plant Centres
The Government of India is planning to create ten clean plant centres. These centres will
focus on increasing fruit crop production. During the Union Budget 2023-24, the finance
minister Nirmala Sitaraman announced the Atma Nirbhar Clean Plant Program. Under the
programme, the Government of India will focus on increasing fruit production in the
country.
About the Clean Plant Centres
The centres will be created based on the model centres in Israel, the Netherlands,
and the USA
Centres will focus on fruit crops such as walnut, apple, almond, pomegranate,
mango, almond, grapes, and others
GoI will invest Rs 2,200 crores in these centres by 2030
Need for the centres
The major challenge in horticulture is getting disease-free plant materials. Importing plant
materials is expensive. Also, it is difficult to store the plants in quarantine for two years.
The centres will help in reducing this period to six months.
Demand for planting material has increased in the country. Unfortunately, India is now
importing these plant materials. For instance, between 2018 and 2020, 21.44 lakh apple
plant materials were imported. In 2020, 49,57 lakh apple plant material was imported.
What will the centres do?
The centres will provide services such as disease diagnosis, therapeutics, creating baby
plants from the mother, multiplying the plants, etc.

What will the plan be?
The centres will be funded completely by the Central Government. The centres will be
implemented in the PPP model. The National Horticulture Board is the implementing
agency.
France to unveil new strategy in Africa
French President Emmanuel Macron recently unveiled a new economic and military
strategy for Africa. According to the new strategy, the French Government is to reduce its
troops in the African region. Dropping the military approach, France is to boost its
economic influence in the region. France refers to the change as the beginning of a “New
Era”. France is to bring in a new security partnership. However, France will not close its
military bases. Rather, the bases are to be utilized based on the needs of the African
partners.
Background
Africa is the new “field of competition”. The eyes of developed and developing economies
are on the African region. The region is of interest to investors for its rich oil resources,
mineral deposits, and also agricultural potential. But France is still in its age-old style of
military dominance while China and the USA have already in the race to capture African
markets.
Recent Africa-France relations
French troops left Mali and Burkina Faso.
French has been helping the Islamic extremists in the Sahel region
France is to extend its cooperation with Kenya and Ghana
French companies are increasing their investments in the African region
The French President is touring Africa to increase investments in the region
Trends in Maternal Mortality Report
The United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter–Agency Group, called the MMEIG
recently released a report on the maternal mortality rate. The report shows the maternal
mortality rates between 2000 and 2020. The MMEIG comprises of World Health
Organization, UNFPA, UNICEF, and the World Bank. The report presents data on maternal
mortality trends at the global level, regional level, and country levels.
In 2020, around 800 women died during pregnancy and childbirth. This means two
women died every two minutes. Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 aims to reduce
maternal mortality to less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. And this is
to be achieved by 2030
At the country level, the three countries namely South Sudan, Chad, and Nigeria
recorded the highest MMR. Their MMR were greater than 1000
The decline in maternal rates declined in north Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, western
Asia, and southeastern Asia
Around 46 Least Developed Countries recorded high HIV-related indirect maternal
deaths. Of these, 33 were in Africa, three were in the Pacific zone, one in the
Caribbean, and nine were in Asia
HIV infections were at their highest in 2005. Maternal mortality due to HIV infections
have decreased since 2005
Sub Saharan Region
70% of maternal deaths were reported here. Maximum HIV-related maternal deaths were
also reported here. The world average MMR in 2020 was 223. The average MMR here was
545; higher than the world’s average
Current Affairs [PDF] - March 1-15, 2023
from this link.

Current Affairs [PDF] - March 1-15, 2023
Contents
......................... _ .. _ ...... ..... . ..............................................................
News Headlines ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
March 1, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 3
March 2, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 3
March 3, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 4
March 4, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 5
March 5, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 6
March 6, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 7
March 8, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 7
March 9, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 8
March 10, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 9
March 11, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................ 10
March 13, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................ 11
March 14, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................ 11
March 15, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................ 12
March 1, 2023 ...................................................................................................................................................... 13
World Seagrass Day 2023 ......................................................................................................................... 13
Zero Discrimination Day 2023 ................................................................................................................ 14
National Health Authority Scan and Share Service ............................................................................. 14
Mizoram to export Bird’s eye chilli to the US ....................................................................................... 15
Kol Community ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Tourette Syndrome ..................................................................................................................................... 16
Lionel Messi bags Best FIFA Men’s Player Award ............................................................................... 17
e-Shram Portal ............................................................................................................................................. 18
Hindusthan Samachar ................................................................................................................................ 18
National Geospatial Policy - 2022 ........................................................................................................... 19
What is Borthekera? ................................................................................................................................... 20
Sursingar ........................................................................................................................................................ 21
ALMA Telescope - Update (March, 2023) .......................................................................................... 22
Senior Mission Leaders’ (SML) Course ................................................................................................. 22
What are Clean Plant Centres? ................................................................................................................ 23
India-UK Young Professionals Scheme .................................................................................................. 24
8th Raisina Dialogue .................................................................................................................................. 24
1,300 year-old Buddhist stupa found in Odisha ................................................................................... 25
What is 1D Wormhole Corrosion? .......................................................................................................... 25
Who are Bandi Singhs? ............................................................................................................................. 26
What was Hyneria udlezinye? .................................................................................................................. 27
Where is Atacama Desert? ....................................................................................................................... 28
March 2, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 29
Perini Natyam .............................................................................................................................................. 29
What is Karakattam? .................................................................................................................................. 29
What is Mandolin? ...................................................................................................................................... 30
Who is Thomas Sankara? .......................................................................................................................... 31
What is Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar? ..................................................................................... 32
What is Yamunotri Dham? ....................................................................................................................... 32
What is Alux? ............................................................................................................................................... 33
What are Calcutta Trams? ........................................................................................................................ 34
What is Santh Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti? .................................................................................................. 35
Exercise Desert Flag VIII ........................................................................................................................... 35
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana - Update (March, 2023) .................................. 36
CE-20 cryogenic engine ............................................................................................................................ 37
March 3, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 37
What is Dibang Multipurpose Project? .................................................................................................. 37
What is Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)? ............................. 38
World Wildlife Day 2023 .......................................................................................................................... 39
GSMA Government Leadership Award 2023 ..................................................................................... 40
UIDAI ............................................................................................................................................................ 40
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission - Update (March, 2023) ............................................................. 41
What is Windsor Framework? ................................................................................................................. 42
Garvi Gujarat Tourist Train ..................................................................................................................... 43
Civil Accounts Day - 2023 ....................................................................................................................... 44
March 4, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 45
Where is Tunel Wielki Cave? ................................................................................................................... 45
Bola Tinubu ................................................................................................................................................. 45
B2B Global Conference & Expo on Traditional Medicine ................................................................. 46
Where is Gurudongmar Lake? ................................................................................................................ 47
What is Race Across India? ...................................................................................................................... 48
What is Parliamentary Privilege? ............................................................................................................. 48
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill ......................... 49
What is S-400 Triumf? ............................................................................................................................. 50
What is HTT-40 trainer aircraft? ............................................................................................................ 51
Green Hydrogen in India .......................................................................................................................... 52
Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island Project ...................................................................... 52
New Variant of Hindustan 228-201 LW aircraft ................................................................................. 53
Methane Global Tracker report .............................................................................................................. 54
What is SMART-PDS? .............................................................................................................................. 54
World Hearing Day 2023 ......................................................................................................................... 55
Porter Prize 2023 ....................................................................................................................................... 56
March 5, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 56
8th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law .......................................................... 56
AIRS Fellowship Program ......................................................................................................................... 57
Bhojpur's Millet Festival ............................................................................................................................ 58
7th International Dharma Dhamma Conference ................................................................................ 59
Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela ........................................................................................................................... 60
Academic Freedom Index Report 2023 ................................................................................................ 60
Indian States’ Energy Transition Report ................................................................................................. 61
WMO’s ENSO Update ............................................................................................................................... 62
Where is Bakhmut? .................................................................................................................................... 63
What is Ozempic? ....................................................................................................................................... 63
What is Sea Ice? .......................................................................................................................................... 64
India Philanthropy Report 2023 .............................................................................................................. 65
VAIBHAV Fellowship Scheme ................................................................................................................. 65
WHO International Health Regulations 2005 ...................................................................................... 66
What is Arribada? ....................................................................................................................................... 67
March 6, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 68
What is Debt Forgiveness Plan? .............................................................................................................. 68
What is Tillyardembiids? ........................................................................................................................... 69
Chief Election Commissioner ................................................................................................................... 69
What is e-Bill system? ................................................................................................................................ 70
Who is a Whip? ............................................................................................................................................ 71
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome ......................................................................................... 71
5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas ............................................................................................................................ 72
CO2 Emissions in 2022 Report ............................................................................................................... 73
2023 Hunger Funding Gap Report ........................................................................................................ 74
What is Indian Bureau of Mines? ............................................................................................................ 74
Mind the Gender Gap Report .................................................................................................................. 75
What is SAMARTH scheme? .................................................................................................................. 76
What is Acute Kidney Injury? .................................................................................................................. 76
National Safety Day 2023 ........................................................................................................................ 77
What is HUID Number? ........................................................................................................................... 78
What is NPCDCS? ..................................................................................................................................... 78
What is Polystoechotes punctate? ........................................................................................................... 79
Who is Ales Bialiatski? ............................................................................................................................... 80
Bulgaria’s Liberation Day ........................................................................................................................... 81
Mental State of the World Report ........................................................................................................... 81
What is YDB-60? ....................................................................................................................................... 82
‘Dhara: An Ode to Indian Knowledge Systems’ Initiative .................................................................. 83
Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023 ...................................................................................................... 84
March 7, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 84
CBIP Award 2022 ...................................................................................................................................... 84
Jan Aushadhi Train ..................................................................................................................................... 85
What is Phyllurus fimbriatus? .................................................................................................................. 86
Great Pyramid of Giza .............................................................................................................................. 87
What is National Commission for Protection of Child Rights? ........................................................ 89
Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission .................................................. 89
March 8, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 90
Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System - Update (March, 2023) .................................................. 90
What is Structural Transformation? ........................................................................................................ 91
World Obesity Atlas 2023 ......................................................................................................................... 91
What is BrahMos Missile? ......................................................................................................................... 92
What is Bahu Balli? ..................................................................................................................................... 93
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan ................................................................................................................. 94
Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) ............................................................................. 94
What is IMX/CE-23? ................................................................................................................................. 95
What is Millets Giveaway? ........................................................................................................................ 96
Landslide Atlas of India ............................................................................................................................. 97
Where is Rijksmuseum? ............................................................................................................................ 97
Lithium .......................................................................................................................................................... 98
March 9, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 99
What is Chernobyl Exclusion Zone? ....................................................................................................... 99
What is Plasticosis? ................................................................................................................................... 100
Women, Business and the Law Index ................................................................................................... 100
What is Nexletol? ....................................................................................................................................... 101
Where is Yellowstone National Park? ................................................................................................... 102
What is Whiskey Fungus? ....................................................................................................................... 102
What is One Nation, One Challan Initiative? ...................................................................................... 103
What is Compensatory Afforestation? ................................................................................................. 104
What is SWAMIH Investment Fund? ................................................................................................... 104
What is International Big Cat Alliance? ................................................................................................ 105
What is Worm Moon? ............................................................................................................................. 106
What are Great Indian Bustards? .......................................................................................................... 106
What is Mission Har Payment Digital? ................................................................................................ 107
What is FRINJEX-23? .............................................................................................................................. 108
What are Megha-Tropiques-1? .............................................................................................................. 108
Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure .......................................................................... 109
What is Digital India Bill? ......................................................................................................................... 110
What is Hola Mohalla? .............................................................................................................................. 111
March 10, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 111
National Pharmacy Education Day 2023 .............................................................................................. 111
What is Swachhotsav? ............................................................................................................................... 112
What is Kill Web? ....................................................................................................................................... 113
5th ASEAN-India Business summit ........................................................................................................ 113
Yuva Utsav India @2047 ......................................................................................................................... 114
What is INS Vikrant? ................................................................................................................................. 115
Where is Keeladi Museum? ..................................................................................................................... 116
SEBI’s Principle-based Framework for Cloud Adoption ................................................................... 116
What is Integrated Pensioners’ Portal? .................................................................................................. 117
Arunachal Pradesh Protection of Drinking Water Catchment Areas Bill, 2023 .......................... 118
Endorsements Know-hows! Guidelines ................................................................................................ 118
IS 18149:2023 - Transportation of Dangerous Goods — Guidelines .......................................... 119
Variation of lightning-ignited wildfire patterns under climate change .......................................... 120
Who is Group Captain Shaliza Dhami? ................................................................................................ 121
Where is Sigur Plateau? ............................................................................................................................ 121
What is Pattaya Mission? ......................................................................................................................... 122
What is Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin? .......................................................................................... 123
What is Terran 1? ...................................................................................................................................... 123
Where is Chitwan National Park? ......................................................................................................... 124
What is H3 Rocket? .................................................................................................................................. 125
March 11, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 125
What are High Seas? ................................................................................................................................ 126
What is VLT Survey Telescope? ............................................................................................................ 126
International Women’s Day 2023 ......................................................................................................... 127
What is MRSAM? ..................................................................................................................................... 128
What is Holi? .............................................................................................................................................. 128
What is Yaoshang Festival? ..................................................................................................................... 129
What is Influenza Sub-type H3N2? ...................................................................................................... 130
What is Shab e-Barat? ............................................................................................................................... 131
What are e-Fuels? ...................................................................................................................................... 132
“Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures” Exhibition ................................................................................... 132
What is Moon Time Zone? ..................................................................................................................... 133
What is an Atmospheric River? .............................................................................................................. 134
What is NISAR Mission? ......................................................................................................................... 134
March 12, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................. 135
What is Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)? ......................................... 135
What is Red Tide? ..................................................................................................................................... 136
National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) ............................................................... 136
March 14, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................. 138
Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana ....................................................................................................... 138
Ram Chandra Poudel - New President of Nepal ............................................................................... 138
Who is Colonel Geeta Rana? .................................................................................................................. 139
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 programme ....................................................................................................... 140
March 15, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 141
Dick Fosbury Passes Away at the Age of 76 ...................................................................................... 141
IPCC Meet in Switzerland and Synthesis Report: Important Facts ................................................ 142
RRR’s Oscar Win: Important Facts ........................................................................................................ 143
Q+A: India’s Ban on Blood Donations by Gay and Transgender People ..................................... 143
Who is Kenzaburō Ōe? ........................................................................................................................... 144
World Consumer Rights Day: Important Facts .................................................................................. 145
"Learning Science via Standards" Initiative: Important Facts .......................................................... 146
DRDO's PTO Shaft: Important Facts ................................................................................................... 147
13th Exercise Bold Kurukshetra: Important Facts ............................................................................. 147
What is ATL Sarthi? ................................................................................................................................. 148
What is Indonesia’s Dawn School Trial? ............................................................................................. 149
Fact Sheet: Sika Deer ............................................................................................................................... 150
Rwanda’s First mRNA Vaccine Production Facility: Important Facts ............................................ 150
Sir Brian May: Important Facts about the Legendary Lead Guitarist ............................................. 151
Fact Sheet: Lake Sils and the Latest Human Endurance Record .................................................... 152
120 MCQs ........................................................................................................................................................... 153
News Headlines
March 1, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for March 1, 2023
INDIA
ISRO successfully conducts key rocket engine test for Chandrayaan-3, from ISRO
Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.
Jan Aushadhi scheme expects a turnover of over ₹1,000 crore this fiscal, with an
increase in number of pharmacies and new product launches.
February 28 is celebrated as National Science Day to commemorate the
announcement of the discovery of the “Raman Effect”.
IMD: India records hottest February in over a century, likely to experience heat
waves between March and May.
Rajesh Malhotra, a 1989-batch Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, was appointed
as the Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau.
Report: Karnataka and Gujarat are among the major states making the most
progress in transition to clean electricity.
ECONOMY
The government launched the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC), a faceless
dispute resolution mechanism, as part of IT Rules
CMIE Data: India’s unemployment rate rose to 7.45% in February from 7.14% in the
previous month.
Axis Bank completes acquisition of Citigroup’s India consumer business for an
overall consideration of ₹11,603 crore.
WORLD
UK to launch India-Britain exchange scheme and announce Indo-Pacific tech envoy.
G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) is scheduled to take place in physical format in
New Delhi under India’s presidency.
UK government reached a landmark deal ‘Windsor Framework’ with the European
Union (EU) on post-Brexit trade rules that will govern Northern Ireland.
Russian President Vladimir Putin bans use of foreign words to ‘protect’ Russian
language.
SPORTS
Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams’ goalkeepers PR Sreejesh and Savita received the
Sportstar ACES 2023 award.
Djokovic beats Tomas Machac at the Dubai Championships abd extends winning
streak to 18 matches
March 2, 2023
INDIA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship
conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy.
Cabinet approved procurement of 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft from Hindustan

Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force.
Supreme Court sets up panel to protect investor interest following large investor
losses caused by Hindenburg report.
Tamil Nadu signs MoU with UNEP for implementing urban cooling programme in the
State
Home Ministry suspends FCRA licence of the think tank- Centre for Policy Research.
Indian govt plans to procure 34.1 million tonne wheat from farmers this year.
ECONOMY
NSO Data: India’s GDP comes down to 4.4% in the 3rd quarter of the current fiscal
year, 2% down since the July-September quarter.
RBI asks banks for weekly updates on Adani loans; reviews local bank loans to Adani
firms.
Moody’s raises India’s GDP growth projection for 2023 to 5.5%.
SEBI penalises MCX for allowing Sikkim-based trades.
WORLD
Elon musk climbs to the top of the list of World’s richest, with a net worth of $187
billion dollars.
U.S. Department of Energy claims that the Covid-19 pandemic was caused by a lab
leak in China.
POTS or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome has affected around one million
Americans after pandemic.
SPORTS
Cricket: Ashwin surpasses Kapil Dev, becomes India’s third-highest wicket-taker
Just Fontaine, the French football legend who scored a record 13 goals at the 1958
World Cup, passed away.
March 3, 2023
INDIA
BJP and its allies win the assembly elections in Tripura and Nagaland; Meghalaya
shows hung verdict
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
Bureau of India (PMBI), celebrate the 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas.
India to host Quad Foreign Ministers meeting in New Delhi; Meeting will be chaired
by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry received the Porter Prize 2023 for
government’s strategy in managing COVID-19.
President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate 7th International Dharma-Dhamma
Conference at Bhopal
Telangana government moves Supreme Court as Governor delays nod to Bills.

ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s GDP growth may beat 7% this Fiscal Year: says CEA Anantha Nageswaran.
Manufacturing firms record lower sales growth of 10.6% in the December quarter:
RBI
SEBI approves NSE to launch the rupee-denominated Nymex WTI crude oil and
natural gas futures contracts.
GST collections rise 12 per cent to Rs 1.49 lakh-crore in February 2023.
WORLD
United States has approved the sale to Taiwan of $619 million in munitions for F-16
fighter jets
SpaceX launches U.S., Russia, UAE astronauts to the International Space station
18.9 million people or 23% of Germany’s population are immigrants, children of
immigrants, as of 2021
United States has imposed a new round of Iran sanctions, targeting the country’s oil
and petrochemical sales.
UAE tops the MENA region in the World Bank’s Women, Business and the Law 2023
report.
SPORTS
Govind Kumar Sahani bags silver medal at the Strandja Memorial Boxing
Tournament.
Meghalaya faces Karnataka in the final of the Santosh Trophy at the King Fahd
International Stadium in Riyadh.
March 4, 2023
INDIA
Supreme Court ruled that high-power committee consisting of Prime Minister,
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and Chief Justice of India must pick Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).
India scores 74.4 in World Bank index on the life cycle of a working woman
Conrad K.Sangma to form govt. in Meghalaya; Neiphiu Rio will lead Nagaland
Reliance Industries to invest in 10 GW solar energy capacity in Andhra Pradesh
Apple partners with environmental NGO Frank Water to support improved water,
sanitation, and hygiene in India.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing a research policy and
governance cell.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
RBI slaps Amazon Pay (India) with ₹3.06 crore penalty for violation of norms
India’s service activity expanded at its fastest pace in 12 years in February: PMI Data.
iPhone Maker Foxconn to Invest Up To USD 1 Bn in Karnataka.

WORLD
South Korea and the US to hold the ‘Freedom Shield’ and ‘Warrior Shield’ joint
exercises, the largest in 5 years.
Belarus jails Nobel-winning rights activist Ales Bialiatski for 10 years.
Quad Foreign Ministers issues statement referring to Ukraine conflict and the
situation in the South and East China Seas.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu wins the Presidential elections in Nigeria
SPORTS
First-ever Women’s Premier League to begin in Navi Mumbai
Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Anurag Thakur to launch Yuva Utsava – India@2047
Hockey India appoints South African Craig Fulton as new Chief Coach of Indian
men’s hockey team
Tennis: Daniil Medvedev stormed into the final of Dubai Open defeating Novak
Djokovic.
March 5, 2023
INDIA
Madhya Pradesh is set to launch Ladli Bahna scheme to provide Rs 1000 per month
to every woman.
Indian Railways will launch Bharat Gaurav Train to North East on March 21, to cover
Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya in 15 days.
Government approves nano liquid DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) fertiliser for
benefits of farmers.
First edition of Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2023 to begin onboard India’s first
indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.
ICMR: Rising cases of cough and fever linked to influenza subtype A H3N2.
Assam’s pyramid-like structures known as moidams have met all the technical
requirements of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Hyderabad hosts meeting on theme of Knowledge and experience exchange
Program for emerging economies of global south.
Uttar Pradesh exempts Electric Vehicles buyers in state from tax and registration
fees.
Foxconn says it was seeking cooperation in India in new areas like chips and electric
vehicles (EVs)
WORLD
St. Anthony’s feast was held at Katchchatheevu island in Sri Lanka.
European Union is setting up a humanitarian air bridge to deliver aid to conflict-hit
Democratic Republic of Congo.
US Justice Dept warns of penalties for firms that violate messaging policies
SPORTS
Karnataka beats Meghalaya 3-2 to clinch Santosh Trophy National Football
Championship after 54 years.
Daniil Medvedev won his 18th Tour-level title, and third in a row, by beating Andrey
Rublev at the Dubai Championships.
March 6, 2023
INDIA
Odisha approves 25 industrial projects with investment of ₹5,827 crores.
World’s first bamboo crash barrier has been installed on Maharashtra highway.
Tamil Nadu inaugurates Keeladi museum, a testimony to the life of ancient Tamils during
the Sangam Age.
Indian Navy test-fires anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.
Ayodhya Development Authority gives land clearances for ‘Masjid-e-Ayodhya’.
Government drafted protocols to tackle threat of spy balloons after Andaman incident
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Andhra Pradesh receives investment proposals worth ₹13 lakh crore in Advantage Andhra
Pradesh Global Investment Summit 2023.
India’s per capita income has almost doubled to ₹1.72 lakh since 2014-15.
Apple and UK-based NGO partner to improve water management in India.
Foreign investors pumped more than Rs 9,400 crore into the Indian capital markets in
March, so far.
WORLD
Australian Prime Minister to visit India from March 8-11; will participate in Australia-India
Summit in New Delhi.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis asked for forgiveness from the kin of the 57
dead in the rail disaster.
China’s government announced a hike in defence spending by 7.2% to $225 billion in 2023.
Iran claims to have unearthed 8.5 million metric tons of lithium ore deposits.
SPORTS
Formula One world champion Max Verstappen won the season-opening Bahrain Grand
Prix.
March 8, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for March 7-8, 2023
INDIA
India to send 20,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan via Chabahar: Ministry of External
Affairs
Dr Manik Saha to be sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Tripura.
Second Meeting of Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion concludes in

Hyderabad.
Final day of Jan Aushadhi Diwas celebrated as Aao Jan Aushadhi Mitra Banein.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launches Swachhotsav under Swachh Bharat
Mission Urban 2.0’.
Nagaland’s first woman Minister Salhoutuonuo Kruse assumes office on Women’s
Day eve.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
BSE & UN Women India launches a new programme ‘FinEMPOWER’, at Bombay
Stock Exchange
Adani Power has amalgamated its six subsidiaries with itself after receiving NCLT
nod.
Power Grid Corporation of India has approved two transmission projects worth
₹4,070.98 crore.
WORLD
UN: Damage from catastrophic earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria has been
estimated at over 100 billion dollars for Türkiye.
International Women’s Day is being celebrated on the theme of “DigitALL:
Innovation and technology for gender equality”.
India and Ethiopia are set to finalize stalled agreements on visa waiver and sister-city
projects.
SPORTS
Hockey India (HI) announced a new programme to unearth talent and improve the
bench strength.
India’s Ankita Raina-Prarthana Thombare enter doubles quarter-finals in ITF
Women’s Open.
Novak Djokovic withdraws from Indian Wells amid US visa row.
March 9, 2023
INDIA
Election Commission will host the 3rd International Conference on the theme
‘Inclusive Elections and Elections Integrity’.
India pavilion at ‘Middle east energy 2023’ showcases electrical equipment and other
power devices.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting inaugurated a multimedia exhibition on
the theme of ‘Women Empowerment’ on the occasion of Women’s Day.
Governor R.N. Ravi returns Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and
Regulation of Online Games Bill, that bans online gambling.
Indian Navy’s major Operational level exercise TROPEX 2023, conducted across the
expanse of IOR culminated in the Arabian Sea.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Government says that Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 will apply to trade
in cryptocurrencies or virtual assets.
Centre directs NAFED, NCCF for immediate intervention in market for purchase of
red onion.
Maharashtra economic survey reveals 6.8% growth in State; highest growth of 10.2
percent was projected in agricultural and allied sector.
SEBI: Investors must link PAN to Aadhaar by March 31
WORLD
Colombia has opened military service to women for the first time in 25 years.
Arun Subramanian becomes first Indian-American to be Judge of Manhattan Federal
District Court in New York
At least 18 people killed and over 100 people were injured in an explosion in
Bangladesh capital Dhaka
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived on a two-day visit to Gujarat.
UN: Afghanistan is world’s most repressive country for women.
SPORTS
BWF German Open: India’s Lakshya Sen, Tasnim Mir lose in first round
March 10, 2023
INDIA
Researchers spotted a Mimeusemia ceylonica, rare moth species for the first time in
India in Kalakkad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu after 127 years.
Assam sets Guinness World Records for the highest number of essays written about
a single person, on Ahom General Lachit Borphukan to mark his 400th birth
anniversary.
Union Minister Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh participated in the 19th BIMSTEC
Ministerial Meeting from Bangkok.
Ministry of Science and Technology announced an exclusive women’s portal for
research grants and funds.
Non-resident Rajasthanis (NRRs) from all over the world will participate in the
International Rajasthani Conclave, Jaipur.
India bans propylene glycol from supplier linked to Uzbek cough syrup deaths.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Union government formally outlined Digital India Act, 2023, which is a broad
overhaul of Information Technology Act, 2000.
Third session of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction to begin in New Delhi.
Jio buys U.S.-based communications equipment maker Mimosa Networks for $60
million.
CEA Anantha Nageswaran says India’s inflation rate was expected to ease in 2023-24;
monsoon-related issues would be a key risk.
WORLD
India – US Commercial Dialogue and CEO Forum to be held in New Delhi.
India and US agree to launch Strategic Trade Dialogue, which will be led by Foreign
Secretary of India and Under Secretary, Bureau of Industry and Security in US
Department of Commerce.
Nepali Congress senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel has been elected the new
President of Nepal.
SPORTS
Khelo India Dus Ka Dum Tournament is set to be opened by Youth Affairs and Sports
Minister Anurag Singh.
Ekta Bhyan qualified for the World Para athletics after claiming bronze in discus
throw in Dubai World para athletics GP.
March 11, 2023

INDIA
NITI Aayog releases Task Force report titled Production and Promotion of Organic &
Bio fertilisers with Special Focus on Improving Economic Viability of Gaushalas.
Central Railway achieves 100 % electrification of broad-gauge network.
CEC and members of ECI inaugurate Vote Fest 2023 in Bengaluru to create
awareness on election process.
Madhya Pradesh releases 2 tigers under tiger rehabilitation project in Shivpuri’s
Madhav National Park.
Government notifies rules for appointments made on compassionate grounds.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Finance Ministry amends Know your Customer (KYC) norms to include Politically
Exposed Persons, non-profit organisations and those dealing in virtual digital assets
as reporting entities.
16th-largest bank of the United States- Silicon Valley Bank was shut down by
regulators.
Central Government has released the 14th instalment of tax devolution to State
governments.
WORLD
Xi Jinping secures third term as China’s president; names Li Qiang as China’s new
Premier.
Saudi Arabia and Iran agree to restore diplomatic ties with the help of China.
India announces restoration of e-Visa services for Saudi nationals, after it was
suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bahrain’s capital Manama hosts 146th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union.
SPORTS
Hockey: India beat world champions Germany 3-2 in FIH Pro League in Odisha.
Rohit Sharma completes 17000 international runs during India- Australia Test.
March 13, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for March 12-13, 2023
INDIA
Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel inaugurates 3rd Divya Kala Mela at
Bhopal.
Oscars 2023: ‘Naatu Naatu’ wins Best Original Song; RRR is the first Indian film to win
an Oscar for best original song.
Supreme Audit Institutions-20 (SAI-20) Engagement Group delegates’ meet begins,
chaired by CAG Girish Chandra Murmu.
Navy’s guided missile frigate INS Sahyadri joined two warships of France for a
Maritime partnership exercise.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India and Australia convene the India-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission for early
conclusion of pact on market access.
U.S. takes emergency measures to protect all deposits at Silicon Valley Bank
WORLD
A high-level delegation from the Saudi Space Commission holds discussions with
ISRO.
North Korea tests submarine-launched cruise missile.
Iran has finalised a deal to buy Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia.
Oscars 2023: Actor Brendan Fraser won the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for
his performance in The Whale.
UK, USA and Australia to meet in San Diego to finalise AUKUS deal.
SPORTS
Gokulam Kerala defeated Sreenidi Deccan and finished third in the I-League, behind
champion RoundGlass Punjab FC and Sreenidi.
Cricket: Virat Kohli on Sunday registered his highest Test score of 186 against
Australia.
March 14, 2023

INDIA
Chief Justice of India refers petitions on same-sex marriage to Constitution Bench.
Naatu Naatu number from the film RRR, and the documentary short The Elephant
Whisperers won Oscar awards from India.
Uttarakhand gives approval to 10% horizontal reservation to statehood activists in
state government job.

Centre approves additional financial aid under National Disaster Response Fund for
five states
First international conference on Shared Buddhist Heritage to begin in New Delhi.
Yoga Mahotsav 2023 marks the beginning of 100 Days Countdown of 9th
International Yoga Day
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s retail inflation recorded at 6.44% in February; remained above RBI’s 6%
tolerance threshold for the second straight month.
Rs 3 lakh 61 thousand crore loan given to MSMEs under Emergency Credit Line
Guarantee Scheme.
After SVB, Signature Bank was closed by New York state financial regulators.
E-rupee worth over Rs 130 crore in circulation: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
WORLD
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ dominated the Oscars, winning seven awards.
Cyclone Freddy with powerful winds and torrential rain kills 70 people in Malawi and
Mozambique
India’s engagement with China ‘complex’, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in
its annual report
SPORTS
Cricket: Bangladesh clinches T20 series defeating World Champions England.
4th Asian Kho Kho Championship for Men and Women will be held at Baksa district in
Assam.
March 15, 2023

INDIA
Supreme Court to hear Telangana’s plea against Governor on delay in giving assent
to bills passed by legislature.
NSSO survey: There are more young men and women in South India who can code,
than in other parts of the country.
3.7 lakh Indians migrated for work to 18 countries in 2022, of which 10,654 were from
Punjab.
Pyre, the English translation of writer Perumal Murugan’s Tamil novel Pookkuzhi,
figured on longlist for International Booker Prize, 2023.
Surekha Yadav, Asia’s first woman loco pilot, becomes the first woman to operate the
newly introduced semi-high-speed Vande Bharat Express train
DRDO conducted two consecutive successful flight tests of Very Short Range Air
Defence (VSHORAD) missiles.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
RBI has permitted banks from 18 countries to open special vostro rupee accounts
(SVRAs) for settling payments in Indian rupees.
Centre forms Committee of Secretaries to fast-track infrastructure projects along
northern border areas.
Inflation based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) moderated to a two-year low of
3.85% in February from 4.73% in January.
WORLD
Australia to buy up to five U.S. nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS Deal.
U.S. recognises McMahon Line as international boundary between China and
Arunachal Pradesh
A Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black
Sea: US.
Taiwan unveiled its first portable attack drone, an unmanned aerial vehicle similar to
a U.S. model, as tensions with China rise.
SPORTS
HS Prannoy and Lakshya Sen advance to men’s singles second round of All England
Open Badminton Championships
Bangladesh defeats World Champion England, clean sweep T20 series 3-0
March 1, 2023
World Seagrass Day 2023
The seagrasses are grass-like plants that live close to the sea. They are the only flowering
plant to grow in the marine environment. There are more than 60 seagrass species in the
world. They act as the best carbon sink and provide food for marine life. The United
Nations celebrates World Seagrass Day on March 1. The resolution to celebrate the day
was passed in 2022.
Significance of seagrass
Seagrasses cover only 0.1% of the sea floor. They provide shelter and food to almost
all marine life like seahorses, fish, turtles, etc.
The seagrasses improve water quality by adding nutrients, filtering, and cycling.
They can store upto 18% of the ocean’s carbon and therefore are considered
powerful tools to tackle climate change
Seagrass buffers ocean acidification. They support the most vulnerable species in the
oceans.
During high tidal waves and tsunamis, they are the first line of protector
Need for World Seagrass Day
The seagrasses have been declining since the 1930s. IUCN categorizes nearly 21% of the
world’s seagrasses as near threatened or vulnerable or endangered. Pollution, coastal
development activities, and land-based run-offs are degrading the seagrasses.
Zero Discrimination Day 2023

Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated on March 1. The day is mainly celebrated by
organizations like UNAIDS. The main objective of the day is to promote equality. The first
Zero Discrimination Day was celebrated in 2014. It was launched by UNAIDS. The first Zero
Discrimination Day celebrations were conducted in Beijing.
The theme of Zero Discrimination Day 2023
Save Lives: Decriminalize
Zero Discrimination Day in India
In India, activists use the day to speak against discrimination faced by the LGBT
community.
Section 377 and Zero Discrimination Day
The day is used by Indian activists to raise voices to repeal section 377. The section was
legislated by the Britishers. It penalizes sexual acts that are against nature, that is,
homosexual activities. In 2018, the Supreme Court dismissed the section from the IPC.
However, Parliament has not yet taken any action on this. So internationally, the code
hasn’t been repealed in India. In other former British colonies like Singapore, the act has
been completely repealed.
History
The day first started focusing on HIV. However, it has now been extended to all forms of
discrimination.
National Health Authority Scan and Share Service
Patients have to wait in a long queue for OPD registrations in the hospitals. The hospitals
collect patient information like name, age, date of birth, and other details during the
registration. Sometimes long queues cause discomfort. Sick persons suffer from the delay
caused by the registration formalities and their treatment gets obstructed. To avoid this,
the National Health Authority introduced QR-code-based solutions called the “SCAN AND
SHARE” service.
About the Service
Under the service, QR codes are placed at important spots in the hospitals. The patients
can use their smartphones and scan the QR code to fill in the registration form.
Ayushman Bharat
There are Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission players in the market. Beneficiaries may
create their Ayushman Bharat Health account numbers taking help from these players.
What do these ABDM players do? They store the health records of the patients under an
ABDM number. Just by accessing the number, the entire medical history of the patient can
be accessed. This is done to make things easy during hospital checkups. Also, it aids to
retrieve information if the patient loses his file in situations like floods.
The “Scan and Share” service allows users to use ABDM-linked information as well. They
can fill in their demographic information using the ABDM numbers. After scanning the QR
code, the users should just enter their ABDM number. The software does the rest. All
required details are collected from the database.
Benefits
The “Scan and share” reduces waiting time. It aids to fill the right data. The patient fills in
himself. No office person is doing the job for him. So errors are minimal. The service links
health records and therefore it is easy for the hospitals to learn about patient history.
Collecting patient history is time-consuming. The “Scan and Share” service helps to cut
short the time put into collecting patient information in simple English . When the
hospitals learn patient records in medical terms directly from the report, it is easy for
them to process.
Mizoram to export Bird’s eye chilli to the US
The Birds Eye Chilli is widely used in Asian cuisines. The chilli is also called Thai chilli. It is
native to Mexico. The Spanish and Portuguese people spread the chilli all over the world.
The chilli variety has received a GI tag from GoI. The state of Mizoram is to export the chilli
variety.
Background
The production of Bird eye chillies in the region has increased. This was due to the
initiative called FOCUS. FOCUS means Fostering Climate Resilient Upland Farming System.
The project is aided by the International Fund for Agriculture Development the UN. It is
implemented in six districts.
Why are Bird’s eye Chillies cultivated using JHUM Cultivation?
Surprisingly FOCUS promotes the production of bird’s eye chillies through Jhum
cultivation. As you know, JHUM cultivation causes deforestation, loss of soil fertility, leads
to soil erosion, causes air pollution, etc. Then why is JHUM cultivation encouraged? This is
because; the farmers in this region are tribal. It is very challenging to bring the tribal out
of their traditional practices.
To change the mindset of the farmers, initially, the government goes with their traditional
ways. After providing an economic uplift, they slowly begin to improve the literacy rate of
the population. Education brings awareness. They adapt to other efficient and climate-
friendly agricultural processes only after gaining trust in those methods. For this reason,
GoI is promoting JHUM cultivation of Birds Eye Chillies here.
About Bird Eye chillies
The chillies are highly pungent. The SCU of spiciness is 50,000 to 1,00,000. The higher the
SCU, the greater their spiciness. SCU means Scoville Heat Units. SCH is a measure of
spiciness. They are widely grown in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, etc.
Observation
Chillies are mostly used in Asian cuisines. And so, exporting to the ASEAN countries would
increase its trade. India is implementing the Act East policy by using the North East as the
Gateway. Therefore, by boosting red chillies production and exports to these countries,
GoI can increase its revenue, double farmers’ income in the region, bring in economic
growth, increase employment opportunities by setting up food processing centres for bird
eye chillies, etc. Apart from the US, India is to expand its exports to ASEAN in the future.
Kol Community
Ahead of the MP elections which are to be held in November 2023, the Kol community has
taken the centre stage. The population of Kols in the state is big. Therefore, gaining the
support of these tribes will bring victory. With Scindia joining the BJP in 2022, the election
battle in the state has become fierce.
Why are the political parties after the community?
The Kol community is spread across several districts. There are 11.67 Kol tribal in the state.
In the previous election, they recorded 78% of the voting percentage. So winning the
community means, winning a dozen of seats!
Recent Steps taken by GoI for the Kol community
Kols will take the centre stage at the tribal freedom fighter museum to be built by the
central government. The GoI has allocated Rs 200 crores for the museum.
The current Chief Minister of MP, Shri Shivraj Chouhan recently announced that the Kol
community women will be granted Rs 1000 per month. This is being done to bring
improvements in their health. The money shall be used by the women in the community
to get nutritious food. The CM made the announcement during the Mata Shabri Jayanti
celebrations. Shabri mata was a great devotee of Lord Ram. Also, Kol Tribal Convention
was held,
About the KOI Community
The Kol Community is an indigenous tribal community in Chotanagpur in India’s eastern
parts. These tribal people are mostly landless. They rely on forest produce for sustenance.
These tribal people consider themselves to be the descendants of Sahara Mata, who is
known as the “Mother of the Kol”.
Spread of Kol Community in India
The Kol community is mostly concentrated in central India, especially in the northern
districts of Madhya Pradesh. Members of this community are also settled in Uttar Pradesh,
Odisha and Maharashtra.
Festivals of the Kol community
The tribal community celebrates the Jawara festival, which is organized twice a year.
Though it is an ancient tribal agricultural festival, it has certain characteristics of Hindu
festivals.
Kol during the Indian independence
The Kols are noted for their role in the 1831 uprising against the British East India
Company’s economic exploitation in the Chotanagpur region.
Tourette Syndrome
Lewis Capaldi is a Scottish singer. Recently, he faced difficulties in singing during his live
show. His fans completed the song for him while he was struggling to form tones. The
singer has been suffering from Tourette Syndrome. It is a nervous disorder. The
syndrome develops during childhood or adolescence. It causes tics, meaning multiple
repetitive movements. The common tics that develop in Tourette syndrome are coughing,
blinking, sniffing, throat clearing, and facial movements.
Classification of Tourette Syndrome
The ICD-11 of the WHO puts Tourette syndrome into the category of neurodevelopmental
disorder. It means there is some problem in the development of nerves. Now, what is
ICD-11? International Classification of Diseases. The WHO prepares a list of ICDs now and
then. The last list was created in 2019 and it came into effect in 2022. ICD categorizes
diseases based on symptoms, social circumstances, complaints, and several other factors.
Based on these parameters it generates a six-character long code. This is done to help the
policymakers, international platforms work towards their elimination.
Characteristics of Tourette Syndrome
Tics are the major characteristics of Tourette syndrome. Here, sounds or movements
unpredictably. It is not a thick mouth where people face difficulties in pronouncing certain
sounds. Rather, it is a movement disorder.
Actions produced during tics are semi-voluntary. And not involuntary. Involuntary actions
occur without the willingness of the individual. He or she is not conscious of the action.
Causes
Scientists are yet to find out the real cause of the syndrome. However, research proves
that the disease is genetic. Environmental factors have a huge role in the disease.
Mechanism
Persons suffering from Tourette syndrome have dysfunction in subcortical and cortical
regions of the brain. The cortical region means the cortex. Cortex has a huge role in brain
functions such as memory, reasoning, emotions, etc.
Patients suffer from the disease even when there are obstructions in the CSTC circuits. The
CSTC act as a link, connecting the cortex to the thalamus and basal ganglia. Thalamus
helps in sleeping and waking up. It is also important for memory and learning. Basal
Ganglia are responsible for your voluntary actions. Voluntary movement is those actions
that a person does cautiously.
Breathing, digestion, eye reflexes, etc are involuntary movements. Moving your hands and
legs, sitting, standing are involuntary movements.
Treatment
There is no cure for the disease. Also, there are no prescribed medicines for the disease.
Lionel Messi bags Best FIFA Men’s Player Award
The captain of the Argentina football team Lionel Messi recently won the Best FIFA Men’s
player award. It is one of the prestigious awards for sports personalities, especially for
those in the football game. The award is presented by FIFA.
History of the award
Earlier he was called the FIFA World Player of the Year. Later in 2010, it was combined with
Ballon d’Or and together it was called the FIFA Ballon d’Or. FIFA received 13 million
pounds to add the tag of Ballon d’Or. The award was presented in this name for six years,
that is, till 2016. All six years, it was Lionel Messi who won the award. Later in 2016, the
Ballon d’Or tag was given up. And only the FIFA tag was attached. FIFA dropped Ballon
d’Or because its relations with England Football Association were deteriorating.
Lionel Messi is an Argentine football player. Currently, he belongs to the “Paris Saint
Germain” club.
e-Shram Portal
Recently, the Central Government started matching the data from the eShram portal to
that of the Ration Card (National Food Security Act (NFSA)) data, which is under the
control of the Department of Food and Public Distribution. Matching of these two data
sets revealed that of the 28.60 crore eShram registrants, 20.63 crore individuals have
registered in the NFSA database. The eShram portal data was already matched with
PMSYM and NCS; now it is being matched with the ration card.
What is eShram portal?
eShram portal was launched in August 2021 by the Union Labour Ministry to create a
National Database for migrant or unorganized workers across India. It is India’s first
national-level database of unorganized workers- including gig workers and platform
workers.
Why was eShram portal launched?
The database in the eShram portal will help deliver a Universal Account Number (UAN) for
unorganized or migrant workers. Using this number, the workers can access social
security and other government initiatives easily. This will help in inclusive economic
growth. Beneficiaries can be easily identified. It helps in targeted growth.
What are the details provided by the eShram portal?
This will contain details like the workers’ occupation, educational qualifications, skill types,
address, etc. to aid their employment. As of February 24, 2023, over 28.60 crore workers
have been registered in this portal.
Linking with NCS
The eShram portal was already linked with the National Career Service portal. More than
ten lakh eShram registrants are on the NCS. This was done to increase international
opportunities for the youth.
Linking with PMSYM
The eShram portal was already with Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan Dhan. This scheme
was launched to provide old-age protection to unorganized workers. Because they are not
covered under any other pension schemes in the country like New Pension Scheme or the
Employment Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) or Employee State Insurance
Corporation (ESIC).
Why is eSHRAM linked with other schemes?
The eSHRAM was launched mainly for unorganized workers who are mostly illiterates.
Their awareness about other schemes in the country is very less. Therefore, it is essential
to link with other schemes so that they gain benefits from those schemes as well.
All the linking was done by the Labor and Employment ministry.
Hindusthan Samachar
The Hindustan Samachar was awarded a new contract to provide news content in 12
languages to Doordarshan and AIR for a period of 25-and-a-half months. The deal is
reportedly worth Rs 7.70 crore and includes the supply of 12 national news stories and 40
“local stories” in regional languages every day.
Contract of Hindustan Samachar
The Prasar Bharati represented the Government of India in signing the contract. There
exists a contract between Prasar Bharati and Hindustan Samachar. Under this old
contract, Prasar Bharti receives news feeds from Hindustan Samachar. The Prasar Bharati
receives 100 news feeds from HS on daily basis. Also, the HS provides 40 local news under
the contract. Now the contract is being extended to other languages.
Why Hindustan Samachar?
As compared to the PTI And UNI agencies, the contract price of Hindustan Samachar is
less expensive. The PTI was contracted at Rs 9 crores to provide a news feed to the HS and
the UNI was contracted at Rs 5 crores. The contract price of HS was Rs 2 crores. And
therefore, the contract of HS is being extended. (These are the prices of the old contracts)
What is the link between RSS and Hindustan Samachar?
Hindusthan Samachar (HS) is a news agency that was founded by Shivram Shankar Apte, a
journalist with ties to the RSS. He founded the news agency as a multi-lingual news
organization. In 1975, during the Emergency, the Indian government merged HS with
three other news agencies- PTI, United News of India (UNI) and Samachar Bharati- into a
single entity, Samachar. The Janata Party government later reversed this decision, but HS
was again targeted by the government in 1983.
Struggles in the path of Hindustan Samachar
In 1986, the HS was shut down due to a financial crisis. In 2002, the RSS renewed the HS
with the help of PM Shri Vajpayee. HS presents news from a nationalist perspective. When
RSS was under the leadership of Bal Thackeray, the founder, the party was inclined
towards the Marathis in the state. However, under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray,
the party has nationalistic views. The shift of the party from Maratha-centric principles to
more nationalistic principles was the main reason behind recent tensions in the state (the
Shinde-Thackeray clash).
National Geospatial Policy - 2022
Government of India notified the National Geospatial Policy 2022 in December last year as
a replacement for the National Map Policy, 2005. The objective of the 2022 policy is to
strengthen the location-centric industry to assist with the information economy. The policy
provides a framework for the development of a geospatial ecosystem that will facilitate
the growth of the industry.
Geo-referencing all land areas by March 2024
One of the most significant aspects of the National Geospatial Policy 2022 is the
government’s aim to geo-reference all the land areas by March 2024. This is a massive
undertaking, as only 36% of the land has been geo-referenced so far. India is only the
third country to undertake the geo-referencing of land parcels, following the United States
and the United Kingdom.
The Importance of Geo-referencing
Geo-referencing involves identifying the exact location of a land parcel, building, or other
infrastructure on the earth’s surface. This information is crucial for a wide range of
applications, including urban planning, disaster management, precision agriculture, and
natural resource management.
The National Geospatial Policy 2022 recognizes the importance of geo-referencing and
aims to accelerate the process by leveraging technology and creating a comprehensive
geospatial database. The database will include information on land use, ownership, and
other relevant details. The government hopes that this will improve the efficiency and
transparency of land management and facilitate the development of the real estate
sector.
Conference on Geospatial Policy for National Development
To ensure that the National Geospatial Policy 2022 is effectively implemented and
harnessed for the development of India, a two-day conference on “Geospatial Policy for
National Development” was organized on February 21st and 22nd this year. The
conference brought together experts on a single platform to provide suggestions on ways
to effectively implement the policy.
The conference focused on various aspects of the policy, including the use of geospatial
technology in disaster management, urban planning, and environmental management.
The experts also discussed ways to improve the quality of geospatial data and make it
more accessible to the public.
What is Borthekera?
Borthekera, also known as Garcinia pedunculata, is a medicinal plant commonly found in
Assam. The plant is related to the popular tropical fruit, mangosteen. The dried pulp of the
ripe fruit from Borthekera has been used for centuries for both medicinal and culinary
purposes. Recently, researchers at the Scientists of Institute of Advanced Study in Science
and Technology (IASST) found that this plant has heart-protective properties.
Heart Ailments and Borthekera
Heart ailments are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In recent
years, researchers have been exploring the therapeutic potential of natural products for
treating heart ailments. In a recent study, researchers at IASST found that the
administration of dried pulp of the ripe fruit from Borthekera minimized cardiac
hypertrophy indicators and oxidative stress, which are associated with heart ailments.
Therapeutic Properties of Borthekera
Borthekera has a range of therapeutic properties that have been recognized by traditional
medicine systems. The plant has been used for centuries for treating various ailments.
Some of the therapeutic properties of Borthekera are listed below:
Anti-inflammatory: The plant has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to
reduce inflammation in the body.
Anthelmintic: Borthekera has been traditionally used for treating parasitic
infections.
Antibacterial and antifungal: The plant has antibacterial and antifungal properties
that can help to fight against harmful microorganisms.
Antidiabetic: Borthekera has been shown to have antidiabetic properties that can
help to regulate blood sugar levels.
Hypolipidemic: The plant has hypolipidemic properties that can help to reduce
cholesterol levels in the body.
Nephroprotective: Borthekera has nephroprotective properties that can help to
protect the kidneys.
Neuroprotective: The plant has neuroprotective properties that can help to protect
the nervous system.
Culinary and Medicinal Use of Borthekera
Borthekera is commonly used for both culinary and medicinal purposes in Assam. The
sun-dried slices of the ripe fruit from Borthekera are used in traditional Assamese cuisine
as a souring agent. The dried pulp of the ripe fruit is also used for medicinal purposes.
However, it is important to note that traditionally, the plant’s products are never
consumed raw.
Sursingar
The Indian Prime Minister Modi highlighted this instrument in his Maan Ki Baat episode.
He also mentioned the dance forms Karakattam and Perini Natyam.
What is Sursingar?
Sursingar is an ancient stringed-musical instrument that resembles the sarod but has a
deeper sound. The instrument has a wooden body with a gourd attached and four brass
or bronze strings that are plucked with a metal pick.
The playing style of Sursingar
Sursingar can be played in various positions, either held vertically or parallel to the ground
like a sarod or at an angle like a sitar. The Sursingar is mostly used in Dhrupad, a genre of
Hindustani classical vocal music with a low pitch. The instrument is no longer widely used
due to a lack of artisans, but the famous artist Joydeep Mukherjee has helped revive it
along with the Radhika Mohanaveena.
Sursingar in India
The instrument is mostly used in the Northern parts of India. Chronologically it precedes
sarod. Notable performers of Sursingar are Jaffar Khan, Pyar Khan, Basat Khan, Bahadur
Sen Khan, etc.
History of Sursingar
The instrument entered Hindustani music in the 19th century. It is a modified Seniya
Rabab. The rabab instrument had certain limitations. The sound of rabab deteriorated due
to dampness during monsoons.
Construction
The instrument is made of wood and leather. The sounds are produced from a gourd. The
gourd in the instrument is attached to a hollow wooden handle. Strings in the instruments
are made of brass. The musician places the instrument on his left shoulder while playing.
Sursingar is mostly used in Dhrupad
Dhrupad is a Hindustani classical music style. Dhrupad is spiritual in nature. In ancient
times, the Dhrupad was sung only in temples. However, the trend has changed now. It
was created in 1100-1200 AD. Sursingar is a widely used instrument to play Dhrupad.
ALMA Telescope - Update (March, 2023)
ALMA telescope is to get a new brain. The ALMA is set to get a hardware and software
upgrade for the collection of more data and produce sharper images. The upgrades are
estimated to cost 37 million USD. These upgrades will be made over 5 years.
ALMA telescope upgrade
The correlator and the supercomputer in the ALMA telescope will be replaced. The
correlator and supercomputer in the telescope function as a single unit. The unit gets
input from the antennas and helps the astronomers in producing high-quality images.
Why was the ALMA telescope upgraded?
The correlators and the supercomputer units in the ALMA are one of the fastest
supercomputer units in the world. The units are being replaced to increase the
operational speed of ALMA. In the next 10 years, the speed is to be doubled and will be
quadrupled eventually.
What is the ALMA telescope?
The Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array is a cutting-edge radio telescope
featuring 66 high-precision antennas. It spans a distance of up to 16 km. This telescope is
situated in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It studies dim and distant galaxies and
stars using millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths that can penetrate through dust
clouds.
Who operates the ALMA telescope?
It is operated by a partnership among the USA, 16 European countries, Canada, Japan,
South Korea, Taiwan and Chile. It has been functioning since 2013. It has been
instrumental in the discovery of starburst galaxies and dust formation inside supernova
1987A among others.
Why is ALMA located in the Atacama desert?
The telescope is located at a height of 16,570 feet. It is essential to isolate the telescope
from worldly noises. This is because; the telescope observes waves that are in the range of
millimetres and sub-millimetres. These waves are highly susceptible even to the water
vapours in the earth’s atmosphere! The Atacama Desert is the driest place in the world.
And the nights are clear here.
Notable discoveries made by ALMA
The telescope provided detailed images of protoplanetary discs around HL Tauri. It is a
star in the Taurus constellation. It is 450 light years away from the earth.
In 2015, ALMA discovered a phenomenon called “Einstein Rings”. This occurs when the
light from a massive galaxy is obstructed by a massive object on its way to the earth.
Senior Mission Leaders’ (SML) Course
The Senior Mission Leaders’ (SML) course is being held in Tokyo, Japan from June 19-30
this year. The Union Home Ministry has directed all states and Union Territories to
nominate three candidates – one each from the military, police, and civilian domains – for
this course. Both men and women candidates are to be selected by the departments. All
the costs associated with the candidates’ participation in the program are to be borne by
the nominating entity (department/organisations/state/UTs).
What is the objective of SML course?
The SML course aims to prepare senior personnel for future roles and responsibilities as
mission leaders in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, enabling them to plan,
manage, and lead such missions. Participants who complete the course will be equipped
to lead UN peacekeeping missions. The course is designed to deepen the understanding
of contemporary United Nations peace operations and prepare participants for leadership
positions in peacekeeping missions.
Who conducts the SML course?
The Department of Peace Operations, DPCO working at KIPTC of the United Nations
conduct the SML course.
What is KIPTC?
It is Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre. It was established in 1998. It
is based in Ghana. The main objective of KIPTC is to provide mission training to increase
peace operations of the UN. Also, it focuses on linking the tactical peace operations. This is
usually conducted under the sponsorship provided by France. The centre empowers the
participants to survive and fight in different kinds of environment. Also, it conducts
researches. It has ties with several international peacekeeping centres including Pearson
Peacekeepin Centre of Canada.
What are Clean Plant Centres?
The Indian government plans to establish 10 Clean Plant Centres to promote domestic
production of crops like apples, almonds, grapes, avocados, and blueberries, which have
seen an increase in demand for imported planting materials. They will be set up under the
Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program. The centres will offer diagnostic, therapeutic, and plant
multiplication services, with an overall budget of Rs 2,200 crore until 2030. These are to be
established along the lines of such facilities in the USA, Israel and the Netherlands.
What are Clean Plant Centres?
The Clean Plant Centres are those places that work to improve the health of the plants. It
produces healthy and disease-free plantings.
How are Clean Plants made?
First, the harmful pathogens in the plant are removed. Virus-tested and disease-resistant
tissues are isolated and injected into healthy plants.
What is Atma Nirbhar Clean Plant Program?
The Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program was announced in the Union Budget 2023-24. It
aims to reduce the challenges of obtaining disease-free and genuine planting materials
for horticultural crops in India.
Who implements Atma Nirbhar Bharat Clean Plant Program?
The National Horticulture Board will implement the program, in partnership with research
organizations, agriculture universities, and private sector entities.
What is the need for Clean Plant Centre?
The major challenge in horticulture is creating disease-free plantings. So far, India was
importing the plantings. There was no plant centre in the country to produce healthy
plantings.
What are the benefits of Clean Plant Centres?
The clean plant centres will help India reduce its dependence on other countries. Usually,
India buys plant materials and uses them for multiple seasons by storing the material.
Now, with the plant centres, the storing period has also been reduced to just six months.
Fresh plantings shall be prepared. Harvest of trees grown from stored plantings are
always less as compared to that of fresh plantings.
India-UK Young Professionals Scheme
The UK Government recently launched the Young Professionals Scheme. Under the
scheme, Indian nationals of age 18 years to 30 years can live and work in Britain for up to
two years.
About the scheme
To avail of the benefits of the scheme, the person should be an Indian citizen, he or
should be between 18 to 30 years old, should have at least 2,350 pounds in savings
Persons entering through the scheme can set up the company. However, the
equipment used in the company should not exceed 5,000 pounds. And such people
cannot hire employees
The scheme is not for family members
People availing of the benefits of the scheme cannot work as sportspersons
Observation
The scheme says Indians can live and work in “Britain”. What does this mean? The names
UK, England, and Britain are not the same. They denote different geographical areas. The
UK is a country that comprises England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Britain or
Great Britain means England, Scotland, and Wales. It does not include Northern Ireland
When the name reads England, it does not include Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
So the scheme is not applicable to Northern Ireland. Why? There are disputes between the
UK and Northern Ireland. Issues are geopolitical, trade-related, and also related to Brexit.
8th Raisina Dialogue
The eighth edition of the Raisina Dialogue is to be held in March 2023. PM Modi will
inaugurate the dialogue. The Ministry of External Affairs is hosting the dialogue along with
Observer Research Foundation. The dialogue is to be held on geo-strategy and
geopolitics. The Chief Guest of Raisina Dialogue 2023 is the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia
Meloni.
The theme of Raisina Dialogue 2023
Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest
Pillars of Raisina Dialogue
Neo Insurgence: This means the dialogue will discuss about the new revolts and
uprisings. It will focus on geographies and ambitions
Amoral Mosaic: mosaic means a pattern. The dialogue will discuss on things that are
not moral and what shall be done to change or reduce this. The discussion will be on
things that will help in boosting cooperation
Pernicious Passports: That is, the passports used for harmful effects and will focus
on citizens and climate-related issues
Grey Rhinos: This will focus on debt traps and democracies
Chaotic codes: Under this pillar, the dialogue will discuss security, sovereignty, and
society
What is Raisina Dialogue?
It is an annual conference held on geo-economics and geo-politics. During the dialogue,
different stakeholders such as researchers, scholars, students, and journalists share their
knowledge. Dialogue mostly focuses on international relations, foreign policies, nuclear
issues, and geopolitics
1,300 year-old Buddhist stupa found in Odisha
The Archaeological Survey of India recently discovered a 1,300-year-old Buddhist stupa
near Jagannath temple located in Puri. The stupa was discovered during a mining
operation. Khondalite stone is mined here. It is a metamorphic rock and was used in the
construction of the Puri Jagannath temple.
About the Stupa
The discovered stupa is 4.5 metres tall.
It belongs to the 7th or 8th century
Located in the Prabhadi site
The stupa was discovered in the Prabhadi site of Odisha. The prabhadi site is located near
Lalitagiri, a major Buddhist complex. Lalitagiri has many stupas, Buddha images, and
monasteries.
Issues around the discovery
With this discovery, the ASI may take over the site. Already the ASI has taken over several
sites like Sukhuapada. The problem is these regions are the Khondalitte mining zones. The
Khondalite stone is used extensively in the ABADHA scheme. ABADHA is the Augmentation
of Basic Amenities and the Development of Heritage and Architecture scheme. With the
ASI taking over the sites, the ABADHA scheme implementation will be affected. The State
Government of Odisha has allocated Rs 3,208 crores for the ABADHA scheme. The
ABADHA Scheme is also implementing Matha Development Initiative, the Atharnala
heritage project, Puri Lake Development, the Jagannath Ballav pilgrim centre, etc.
What is 1D Wormhole Corrosion?
Scientists have recently discovered a new form of corrosion known as the 1D wormhole
corrosion. This type of corrosion is characterized by a wormhole-like 1D morphology that
can serve as a mass-flow pathway. The discovery of this type of corrosion is significant for
the understanding of material degradation mechanisms in molten salt environments,

particularly in relation to next-generation nuclear power plants that use molten salts as
coolants.
What is 1D Wormhole Corrosion?
The 1D wormhole corrosion is a highly localized form of penetrating corrosion that occurs
in a nickel-chromium alloy when exposed to molten fluoride salt. This type of corrosion
leads to the development of a percolating network of tunnels along grain boundaries.
These tunnels are filled with molten salt and leave voids along the grain boundaries. The
1D wormhole corrosion is characterized by a wormhole-like 1D morphology that can serve
as a mass-flow pathway.
Implications for Material Degradation Mechanisms in Molten Salt Environments
The discovery of the 1D wormhole corrosion has important implications for the
understanding of material degradation mechanisms in molten salt environments. Molten
salts are a key candidate for coolants in next-generation nuclear power plants. These
power plants are being designed to be safer, more efficient, and more sustainable than
current nuclear power plants. The use of molten salts as coolants is particularly attractive
because they have a high thermal conductivity and a high boiling point. This makes them
ideal for transferring heat away from the reactor core and for generating electricity.
However, the use of molten salts as coolants can lead to material degradation
mechanisms, such as corrosion. The discovery of the 1D wormhole corrosion provides new
insights into the types of corrosion that can occur in molten salt environments. This can
help scientists and engineers to design materials that are more resistant to corrosion in
these environments.
Significance for Next-Generation Nuclear Power Plants
The discovery of the 1D wormhole corrosion is significant for the ongoing efforts to design
next-generation nuclear power plants. These power plants are being designed to use
molten salts as coolants, and the discovery of this type of corrosion highlights the need for
materials that are more resistant to corrosion in molten salt environments. The use of
materials that are resistant to corrosion is essential for ensuring the safety and reliability
of next-generation nuclear power plants.
In addition, the discovery of the 1D wormhole corrosion can help scientists and engineers
to design better monitoring and maintenance systems for these power plants. By
understanding the types of corrosion that can occur in molten salt environments,
scientists and engineers can develop better methods for detecting and repairing corrosion
damage.
Who are Bandi Singhs?
There are protests in Punjab to release the Bandi Sikhs, who are prisoners. The Bandi
Sikhs are in jail for more than 30 years now. They have been imprisoned for various
convictions.
Who are Bandi Singhs?
Bandi Singhs is the common term given to Sikh prisoners who were convicted for being
involved in militant activities in the Indian state of Punjab. These individuals are still
incarcerated in various jails across India.
Protests related to Bandi Singhs
Activists are urging for the release of Bandi Singhs since the militancy in Punjab has been
wiped out in the 1990s and the convicted individuals have been spending over 3 decades
in jails while suffering from physical and mental ailments. Campaigns are being conducted
in Punjab to ensure the release of these prisoners.
What is the recent protest about Bandi Singhs?
The Bandi Singhs issue has remained a religiopolitical issue in the state and recently, the
Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee launched a massive signature campaign seeking
their release. The issue is popping up now for political reasons. The Shiromani Akali Dal is
allied with the SGPC and the BJP trying to woo the Punjab voters. The protest is mainly
against the AAP government.
Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee
It is an organization that manages Gurudwaras. It looks after Gurudwaras in the states of
Punjab and HP. Also, it administers the Darbar Sahib in Amritsar. It was founded by the
Akali leadership in 1920. The Akali movement launched during the 1920s led to the
introduction of the Sikh Gurudwara Bill in 1925. The bill put the Sikh temples in the
country under the control of the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee.
What do the protestors want?
According to the protestors, the prisoners have spent more than 30 years in jail. During
the punishment period, they faced several hardships. So the protestors are asking the
Government of Punjab to release those prisoners who are physically and mentally unfit.
What was Hyneria udlezinye?
Hyneria udlezinye was a prehistoric fish species that is of great interest to paleontologists
and evolutionary biologists. This species lived around 360 million years ago during the
Devonian period and was a predatory sarcopterygian. Its discovery has provided valuable
insights into the evolution of vertebrates and their transition from water to land. In this
article, we will explore the fascinating world of Hyneria udlezinye, its physical
characteristics, habitat, and significance.
Physical Characteristics of Hyneria udlezinye
Hyneria udlezinye was a large fish with a lobed fin, which was similar in structure to the
limbs of our distant ancestors with four limbs, the tetrapods. Its lobed fins allowed it to
move through the water with great efficiency and control, and also allowed it to navigate
in shallow waters. Its body length is estimated to measure between 1.8-2.7 meters,
making it one of the largest freshwater fish of its time. Its skull, lower jaw, gill cover, and
shoulder girdle have been preserved in fossils found in South Africa’s Waterloo Farm. Its
physical characteristics resembled Hyneria lindae, another species of the Hyneria genus.
Habitat and Discovery of Hyneria udlezinye
Hyneria udlezinye lived in the prehistoric oceans of South Africa. Fossils of this species
were discovered recently in South Africa’s Waterloo Farm, where most of the dermal skull,
lower jaw, gill cover, and shoulder girdle were preserved. Its remains were found in
muddy carbonaceous metashale. The discovery of this species has provided scientists with
valuable information about the ecology and evolution of ancient aquatic ecosystems.
Significance of Hyneria udlezinye
Hyneria udlezinye belonged to a successful group of tetrapodomorph fishes known as
Tristichopteridae, which existed throughout the Middle and Late Devonian epochs. The
lobed fins of this species are of particular interest to evolutionary biologists because they
represent an important step in the evolution of vertebrates from water to land. It is
believed that these fins allowed Hyneria udlezinye to move efficiently in shallow water,
which may have been an important adaptation for survival in changing aquatic
environments.
The discovery of Hyneria udlezinye has also shed light on the feeding habits of ancient
fish. Its sharp teeth and powerful jaws suggest that it was a top predator in its ecosystem,
feeding on other fish and possibly small amphibians. This species was a key player in the
aquatic food chain of its time, and its presence may have had a significant impact on the
evolution of other species in its ecosystem.
Where is Atacama Desert?
The Atacama Desert is situated in South America, spanning across a 1,600 km strip of land
on the Pacific coast. This desert plateau is situated west of the Andes Mountains. It is the
world’s driest nonpolar desert. It mostly consists of salt lakes, stony terrains, sand and
felsic lava that flows towards the Andes.
Why is the Atacama Desert in News?
The ALMA telescope located in the Atacama Desert is to be upgraded. The Collector and
supercomputer units in the telescope will be replaced with new ones. This is being done to
increase the speed of operation of the telescope.
Why is the ALMA telescope placed in the Atacama desert?
The Atacama Desert is the only hot true desert in the world to receive less precipitation
than the polar desert. It is the driest place on Earth, with the majority of nights being clear
of clouds and free from light-distorting moisture. Hence, it is used as an experimentation
site for Mars exploration missions. The ALMA telescope records waves that are in the
range of millimetres. Even the water vapour in the atmosphere could disrupt the waves.
This is why the ALMA telescope is placed in the Atacama desert which receives almost zero
rainfall.
Dark Microbiome in Atacama desert
Recently, DNA samples discovered from this desert included genetic fragments of a ‘dark
microbiome’ i.e. organisms still unknown to science. Dark biomes cannot be cultured in
laboratories. Because; the knowledge about these organisms is very minimal. Also, the
laboratories cannot provide the required growth conditions for these organisms.
Microbiomes are genetic materials of microbes. They are found in bacteria, viruses,
protozoa, and bacteria.
Why is the Atacama Desert dry?
The desert is extremely arid because of the Humboldt ocean current. The Atacama desert
is located between the mountain chains Andes and the Chilean coast Range.
March 2, 2023
Perini Natyam
Perini Natyam is an ancient dance form that originated and thrived in the southern state
of Telangana during the Kakatiya dynasty. It is a tribute to Lord Siva, the Hindu god of
destruction. Soldiers traditionally performed the dance form before going to war. Hence,
it is known as the ‘Dance of Warriors’.
What is Perini Natyam?
It is also called Perini Sivathandavam. It is most common in the state of Telangana. The
dance form originated during the rule of the Kakatiya dynasty. The dynasty ruled the
current Telangana land between the 12th and 14th centuries. Rudra Deva is the founder of
the Kakatiya dynasty. Lord Rudra is the fierce and destructive form of Lord Shiva. The
dance is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The evidence of the dance form can be found near
Garbha Gudi of Ramappa Temple located in Warangal.
How is Perini Natyam performed?
Usually, the Perini Natyam is performed by males. Hindus believe that the dance form
invokes Lord Shiva in the male. According to Hinduism, every male is Lord Shiva and every
female is Shakti. While the male performs Perini Natyam, the destructive form of Lord
Shiva gets invoked in them. For this reason, they perform this dance before going to war.
The destructive power gained from the lord helps to destroy the evil (the enemy) and win
the battle.
What is the current state of Perini Natyam in India?
Perini Natyam almost disappeared after the fall of the Kakatiya dynasty. Padmasri Dr
Nataraja Ramakrishna is famed for reviving this dance form. Perini Natyam revival helps
preserve and promote Telangana’s cultural heritage. It requires considerable dedication
and skill to master this dance form.
Why is Perini Natyam in the news?
This dance form found mentioned in the recent Maan Ki Baat episode. The PM mentioned
Raj Kumar Nayak, also known as “Perini Rajkumar”, who organized the 101-day Perini
Odissi in Telangana.
What is Karakattam?
Karakattam is an ancient folk dance of Tamil Nadu. It involves performers wearing
colourful saris and balancing a pot (karakam) on their heads while dancing. The dance is
said to invoke the goddess of rain, Mariamman. Although the dance has been around for
a long time, it gained popularity through the success of the Tamil film Karakattakkaran
(1989).
What is Karakattam?
The Karakattam dance form is a mixture of multiple dance forms in Tamil Nadu. The dance
form derives its postures and mudras from Bharatanatyam. The dance is performed for
folk Carnatic music. The music played for the dance is called Amirthavarshini.
How is the dance performed?
The performer carries a well-rounded pot in his or her head. He makes his dance moves
balancing the pot. The pot has rice grains and sprouts. It symbolizes prosperity. The
What are the different types of Karakattam?
There are two different types of Karakattam. They are as follows:
Aatta Karakam: This dance form of Karakattam symbolises joy and happiness. It is
performed mainly for entertainment
Sakthi Karakam: This dance form is performed only in temples and is dedicated to the
deity in the temple. Dancers cannot perform this dance form for recreation.
What is the current state of the Karakattam dance in India?
Some people have criticized the Karakattam for becoming low-brow and vulgar in recent
times. However, V Durga Devi, a well-known Karakattam dancer from Salem, has received
recognition for her art from the government. This recognition helps to promote and
preserve traditional art forms.
Are Karaga and Karakattam the same?
No, they are different. Karaga is performed in Karnataka and Karakattam in TN. The
Karaga is dedicated to Goddess Draupadi. The performance of Karaga is very much similar
to Karakattam. The Karaga dancers too carry a pot during their performances. However,
the pot is filled with water.
Why is Karakattam in the news?
This dance form found mentioned in the recent Maan Ki Baat episode. The famous
performer V Durga Devi was mentioned by the PM.
What is Mandolin?
Mandolin is a moderately-sized string instrument that usually has 8 strings that are
plucked with a pick like a lute. It is smaller than the Veena, Sitar, or guitar. It was
developed by Europeans in the 18 th century as an evolution of the older Mandora
(Mandola). Mandolin evolved in Italy and Germany.
What are the types of Mandolins?
There are two different types of Mandolins:
Round Backed Mandolin: It has a round bottom and hence the name. It is made of wood.
Strips of wood are glued together to form a bowl-like structure
Carved Top Mandolin: It has an arched top. It is also made of wood. They are commonly
used in American folk music
What is the modern Mandolin?
The modern form and propositions of the mandolin are influenced by the instrument’s
maker Pasquale Vinaccia of Naples (1806 – 1882). The famous compositions made using
the mandolin include a concerto by Vivaldi, the serenade in Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni,
and certain sections of Stravinsky’s ballet Agon. Sajjad Hussain and Kishore Desai are
among the famous exponents of this instrument in India.
History of Mandolin
The origin of the Mandolin is Europe. It belongs to the lute family of instruments. The lute
musical instruments have hollow cavities where the sounds produced by the strings are
echoed.
Construction of Mandolin
The mandolin has a resonator. This resonator is attached to the neck of the instrument.
Strings run between the neck and the tailpiece. Strings float over a bridge.
What is Neopolitan style Mandolin?
It is a Roman style of mandolin. As compared to the other mandolins the Neopolitan
mandolins are more narrow and curved.
Why is Mandolin in News?
Recently, the Indian Prime Minister talked of this instrument’s use in Indian cinema music.
He also mentioned the late Uppalapu Srinivas, famously known as ‘Mandolin’ Srinivas.
Who is Thomas Sankara?
Thomas Sankara, who is often called “Africa’s Che Guevara”, was famed for his
revolutionary socio-economic and political visions that rejected the Western economic and
political support in Burkina Faso. On February 23, Thomas Sankara’s exhumed remains
were reburied in the west African country’s capital Ouagadougou. This reburial was at the
very scene of his murder in 1987.
Who is Thomas Sankara?
Thomas Sankara was an anti-colonial revolutionary who briefly headed the country which
he went on to name Burkina Faso or “Land of Upright Men”. He lost his life after being
gunned down during a violent coup in 1987 at the age of 37. This coup was led by his
former ally turned foe, Blaise Compaoré. Following the death of Sankara, Burkina Faso
was ruled by Compaoré for over 30 years until he was ousted in 2014.
About Thomas Sankara
He served as the President of Burkina Faso between 1983 and 1987. He became the
president through his coup. He was a Marxist – Leninist revolutionary. He was anti-
imperialistic. He rejected aid from international financial organizations like IMF and World
Bank. However, he accepted the foreign aid that helped in increasing the domestic
revenue of his country.
What were the domestic policies of Thomas Sankara?
Land reforms, Famine Prevention, and Vaccinations against yellow fever, measles and
meningitis. He planted ten million saplings to prevent desertification.
What were human rights criticisms against Thomas Sankara?
He was strict against corrupt officials. Usually, the military leaders in any country are very
stringent in following rules and also very harsh towards those committing crimes. Thomas
was also strict. He constituted revolutionary tribunals to prosecute offenders charged with
crimes.
Where was Thomas Sankara born?
He was born in Yako, French Upper Volta. He was born in a Mossi – Fulani ethnic family.
His mother was Mossi and his Father was Fulani. Mossi and Fulani are ethnic communities
in Burkina Faso.
What is Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar?
The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar would be given annually to young performers
under the age of 40 who have shown exceptional skill. The age of the nominees would be
calculated based on their age on April 1 of that year. The Yuva Puraskar will be granted in
one of five areas, namely- music, dance, theatre, and puppetry, as well as
contribution/scholarship in performing arts. No more than 33 Yuva Puraskar awards will
be granted each year.
Who is Ustad Bismillah Khan?
Bismillah Khan was a popular Shenai musician. He lived between 1916 and 2006. He is
known for his Hindustani Classical music. The legend is credited for taking the instrument
to high status. His performances and concerts revived the forgotten Shenai and increased
its reputation. Slowly, Shenai became the music of five-star hotels and business parties.
Though Khan was a Muslim, he performed in both Hindu and Muslim functions.
The connection between Bismillah Khan and India’s independence day celebrations
The legend was selected to perform at the Red Fort when India celebrated its first
independence. Since then, his music is played on television every year.
What is Shenai?
Shenai is a musical instrument that originated in India. It is made of wood. The sound of
Shenai is believed to bring in sanctity and auspiciousness. The Shenai is very much similar
to the Nadaswaram of South India.
What is the meaning of Ustad?
USTAD is a Persian word. However, it is used in different languages like Arabic, Punjabi,
Kurdish, Turkish, Indonesian, Malay, Bengali, Marathi, Urdu, Hindi, etc. The word means
MASTER.
Persian is a subdivision of Indo-European languages.
Why is Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar in news?
Recently, the award for 2019, 2020 and 2021 was presented to 102 artists. This year, the
awardees include 19 artists from the northeast region.
What is Yamunotri Dham?
Yamunotri Dham is part of Char Dham – the four famous Hindu pilgrimages in the
Himalayas. The other famous Hindu pilgrimages in the Himalayas are Gangotri, Kedarnath
and Badrinath. Yamunotri Dham is the starting point of the annual pilgrimage that is held
from May to October. It is situated close to River Yamuna’s source.
Why is Yamunotri Dham in news recently?
The state government of Uttarakhand has inked a contract to construct a 3.38 km ropeway
from Janki Chatti in Kharsali to Yamunotri Dham. The ropeway will bring down the travel
time to just 20 minutes from the current 2 to 3 hours. It is estimated to cost Rs. 166.82
crore. This ropeway is to be built at a height of 10,797 feet, based on Mono-Cable
Detachable Gondola system technology.
Which God is in Yamunotri?
Goddess Yamuna. According to Hinduism, Goddess Yamuna is the daughter of Lord Surya,
the sun god. Also, she is the twin sister of the god of death, Lord Yama. Hindus believe
that Yamuna is holy and drinking and bathing in Yamuna water remove sins. Goddess
Yamuna is also called “KALINDI” for her associations with KALA, the lord of death (Yama).
Where is Yamunotri Dham?
Yamunotri is the source of the river Yamuna and is located in the Garhwal region. It is at
an altitude of 3,291 metres and is in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The temple is
accessible only through a 13 km trek from Hanuman Chatti.
The temple is on the foothills of Kalind Parbat. To the side of the temple stands the mighty
Bandarpoonch Parbat.
What is Brahma Kamal in Yamunotri Dham?
The flower blooms once a year from July-August. The flower represents Lord Krishna. The
reddish stalks represent the 100 Kauravas. Hinds consider the flower sacred. The flower
has a big role in the worship of the Yamuna goddess for her associations with Lord
Krishna.
Who built the Yamunotri temple?
Tejri Naresh Sudarshan Shah built the temple in 1839. Later the temple was destructed in
an earthquake. The Maharaja of Jaipur Gularaja rebuilt the temple in the 19th century.
What is Alux?
Recently, Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador controversially claimed that a
photo showed an Alux. Alux is a small, mischievous mythological creature that finds
mention in Mayan mythology. It is believed to live in forests and fields and play tricks on
people. It resembles miniature, traditionally dressed Mayan people. Its description and
mythological role are similar to that of other sprite-like mythical entities like that of the
Celtic leprechaun.
What is Mayan mythology?
It is a part of Meso-American mythology. They speak about the moral values in human
lives. The mythology follows the tradition of preaching moral values through stories. The
characters in the stories are fictitious and imaginary. They are heavenly bodies,
mountains, landscapes, rain, clouds, etc.
What is Mayan Civilization?
The Mayan civilization belongs to the period between 300 AD and 900 AD. The civilization
brought many innovations in stone architecture and farming. The people who lived during
the period had good knowledge of astronomy and mathematics.
Where did Mayan Civilisation start?
In the Yucatan peninsula located in the Gulf of Mexico. The region has several Mayan sites
like Ek Balam. The site that president AMLO recently referred to is also in Yucata. The
Mayan people are still living in some of these regions.
Traditions in worshippingAluxes
Small offerings are left for aluxes to appease them and gain good luck or protection from
thieves. Shelter-like structures are also built to attract these mythological creatures when
construction works are being undertaken. These structures are believed to ward off
hindrances and help the work proceed smoothly.
What is Maya Train line?
The Maya Train Line is 1,500 km long. It connects the Mayan civilization sites and beach
resorts. The construction of the train line raised controversies about damaging the
environment. Many were of the belief that the train line construction angered the Aluxes
that lived in the forest!
What are Calcutta Trams?
Calcutta Trams is the oldest operating tram network in India and the oldest operating
tramway in Asia. It started its operations in 1902, making it the second-oldest electric
tramway in the country after Madras electric street tramway.
Why are Calcutta Trams in news?
February 22, 2023 marks 150 years since the 1st tram was flagged off in Kolkata. To mark
the occasion, the West Bengal Transport Department organized a Tramjatra for
enthusiasts from as far away as Australia and Germany.
Who operates Calcutta Trams?
The tram system is currently being operated by West Bengal Transport Corporation
(WBTC) after Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) was dissolved. In the 1960s, the network
had around 37 lines. Over the decades, it was reduced to only 6 lines due to financial
constraints, poor maintenance, road flyovers, reduced ridership and expansion of the
Kolkata metro.
History of Calcutta Trams
The first trams in Calcutta were horse-drawn and were built in 1873. They ran for 3.9 km.
They were discontinued. In 1880, the Calcutta Tramway Company was formed. The steam
trams were introduced in 1883. Electric trams were introduced in 1902. In 1951, the West
Bengal Government signed an agreement with the Calcutta Tramway company. In 1967,
the West Bengal Government took over control of the tramway company.
Electric trams were first introduced in Chennai in 1895. In Bombay, the electrification
happened in 1907.
Decline of Tramway
The decline of the tramways in India started in the early 30s with the closure of the Kanpur
tram. Mass closure began in the mid-fifties in the cities of Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai.
However, the tram services survived in Kolkata.
Trams declined for their low speed and also due to the development of another transport
system, and advancement in technologies. According to the city dwellers, tram is unsafe
and also time consuming.
Trams in other countries
Trams still operate in countries like Austria, Estonia, Denmark, Croatia, Belgium, etc.
Trams are the colonial imprints.
What is Santh Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti?

Santh Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti is being observed at the national level for the first time. This
year marks the 284th birth anniversary of Santh Sevalal Maharaj. The celebrations are
being organized by the Union Ministry of Culture under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit
Mahotsav. It is being held at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.
Who is Santh Sevalal Maharaj?
Santh Sevalal Maharaj was a spiritual leader and a social reformer of the Banjara
community. He is known to have travelled afar to dispel and eradicate superstitious beliefs
of the tribal community and brought about social reforms in the region. He was said to be
well-versed in Ayurveda and Naturopathy.
What are the achievements of Santh Sevlal Maharaj?
Sri Sevlal fought for the rights of the Kshatriya Banjaras over the forests in the present
Karnataka-Maharashtra region. He also fought for their language and identity rights. He
fought against the Mysuru ruler and British rulers of the 18th century. He was the first
leader to provide security and hope to the Banjaras in those times.
Where did Santh Sevlal die?
He died in Ruhigarh and was buried in Poharagarh. The locations are now in Maharashtra.
He worshipped Jagadamba and therefore, his samadhi was built near her temple. The
Jagadamba temple is one of the popular destinations of Banjaras.
Flag of Banjaras
Every Banjara village in India has a saffron or white or red flag. The flag symbolizes the
victory of Santh Sevlal. He won the fight to protect the rights and identity of Banjaras.
Who are Banjaras?
The Constitution of India does not include the Banjaras as the tribes. According to the
survey conducted in 1968, there are 17 subgroups in the Banjara community. They are
Dharia, Charan, Mathuria, etc. The culture of Banjaras is a mix of Marwadi and
Brahmanical. They are mainly distributed in the states of WB, MP, TN, AP, Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha. This means the Banjaras are almost spread all
over the country except the northeast.
Exercise Desert Flag VIII
Exercise Desert Flag VIII is set to be organized from February 27 to March 17 this year. It is
a multilateral air exercise involving the participation of UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the
UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, the Republic of Korea, and the US. It aims to bring about the
interoperability of different fighter engagements and sharing of best practices of various
Air Forces. UAE is hosting the exercise.
India at the Desert Flag Exercise VIII
The India Air Force Contingent, which is taking part in this exercise, includes 110 Air
Warriors along with 5 LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. This is the first time
that LCA Tejas aircraft is included in an international flying exercise outside India. The
Indian contingent recently arrived at the Al Dhafra airbase in UAE.
What is the objective of the Desert Flag Exercise?
To provide operational exposure to the participating soldiers. And also to train them to
undertake operations in a controlled environment. The exercise provides different fighter
engagements. Countries share their best practices during the exercise.
What is a Desert flag?
It is the flag that is fitted in front of off-road vehicles. It is widely used on dusty terrains.
The flag is mounted on a pole so that it stands at a height and is visible above the sand
cloud. The desert flags are also called the sand flags.
What is the significance of the Exercise Desert Flag?
The exercise helps the participating countries to test the performances of their armed
forces. During military exercises, war-like scenarios are created. Soldiers get to brush their
fighting skills with such scenarios. Joint military exercises will create good linkages
between the countries that are participating. They will learn to safeguard their common
interests. Indian Ocean Region is the common interest of all the participating countries.
And most of the participants believe that China is the trouble causer in the region!
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana - Update (March, 2023)
The Union Health Minister recently announced that 9,082 Janaushadhi Kendras are being
operated under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). The target
is to increase the numbers to 10,000 by December 2023. The Indian government launched
PMBJP in November 2008 to provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices to
everyone. This initiative involves opening Janaushadhi Kendras across India that offer
affordable generic drugs and surgical items.
What is Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana?
PMBJP is implemented by the Pharma & Medical Bureau of India (PMBI), which was
formerly known as the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI). The program aims to raise
awareness about generic medicines and create employment opportunities by
encouraging entrepreneurs to open PMBJP Kendras. Over the years, it has helped the
economically marginalized access affordable medicines without compromising on quality.
What is the role of NABL in PMBJP?
The NABL select and approve laboratories to test the quality of medicines supplied under
the scheme. These laboratories test the safety and efficacy of the medicines before they
are sent to these Kendras. They check if the medicines are to the standards provided by
the GoI. The medicines are sent to these stores from the warehouses of BPPI.
What is the role of BPPI in PMBJP?
The BPPI is the Bureau of Pharma Public sector undertaking of India. It operates under
the Department of Pharmaceuticals. It procures and supplies the drugs to the Jan
Aushadhi Stores.
The objective of PMBJP: To reduce the health care budget of Indian citizens by
providing generic medicines
What are generic medicines?
Generic medicines are the equivalents. Say a company invented medicine A to cure
disease B. The company will patent medicine A and will earn the selling rights of A. For a
stipulated period of time, no other company shall create or sell medicine A in the market.
After a certain time period, the other companies can work on medicine A, learn its formula
and manufacture it. The same medicine A produced by other manufacturers is called
generic medicine.
CE-20 cryogenic engine
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed the flight
acceptance hot test for the CE-20 cryogenic engine, which will power the LVM3 launch
vehicle’s Cryogenic Upper Stage for the upcoming Chandrayaan-3 mission. The test was
carried out at the ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu, and all the
propulsion parameters during the test were found to be satisfactory.
What is CE-20 Cryogenic Engine?
The cryogenic rocket engine uses cryogenic rocket fuel and an oxidiser. Cryogenic means
the process or product requires very low temperatures. It will need deep freezing points
to operate. The Ce-20 cryogenic engine was produced by HAL and designed by ISRO. It is a
liquid-fuel engine.
CE-20 cryogenic engine uses a gas generator cycle
The gas generator generates gas. In the gas generator cycle, the resultant hot gas (from
the gas generator) is circulated to power the propellant pumps. Today, all the top
successful rockets in the world use the generator cycle. This includes Ariane 5, Falcon 9 of
SpaceX, the recently launched Soyuz, Long March 3B of China, etc.
What is the hot test?
This test is conducted to bring the flight unit to life for the first time. Meaning, the engine
is ignited for the first time, The test is the preliminary step in a rocket launch.
What does a propulsion complex do?
The complex provides storable liquid propellants. Activities such as assembly and testing
are conducted in the complex. The main objective of the propulsion complex is to meet
the zero defect demand of ISRO.
Way Forward
The cryogenic engine will now be integrated with the propellant tanks, stage structures,
and associated fluid lines to realize the fully integrated flight cryogenic stage. The
Chandrayaan-3 mission is slated to be launched in the latter part of 2023 to demonstrate
end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface. The CE-20 engine
was developed by ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
March 3, 2023
What is Dibang Multipurpose Project?
Dibang Hydropower Project, which was approved by the Central Government recently, is
India’s largest-ever hydropower project. This multipurpose project is being set up close to
China’s border on the Dibang River, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley District.
Notably, it is being developed in a mountainous region.
Who will implement the Dibang Multipurpose project?
This project will be developed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)
Limited. The estimated cost of this 2,880-megawatt hydropower project is 319 billion INR.
It is expected to take 9 years to be completed. It involves the construction of a 278-meter-
high Concrete Gravity Dam and various horseshoe-shaped head race tunnels, horseshoe-
shaped tailrace tunnels and an underground Power House.
What is Dibang Multipurpose Project?
The project will generate 2,880 MW of hydropower. The main purpose of the project is
flood control and also water storage. The Government of Arunachal Pradesh will receive
1346.76 MU of water after completion.
What is the need for Dibang Multipurpose Project?
Dihang, Dibang, and Lohit are the major tributaries of Brahmaputra. Together the rivers
flood the northeast region during rainy seasons. The Brahmaputra is called the Sorrow of
Assam for its floods and changing direction of flow. Controlling the water flow in Dibang is
controlling the water flow in Brahmaputra. The Brahmaputra is mighty and is very
challenging to mitigate floods caused by the Brahmaputra.
Where is the Dibang river?
The river originates on the Indo-China border, that is, near Keya pass. It flows through the
Mishmi hills. It joins River Lohit near Dibru-Saikhowa Sanctuary. The tributaries of Dibang
are Emra, Ithun, Dri, Rangon, Mathun, and Sisar.
Why is Dibang Multipurpose Project in News?
The Government of India recently approved 3.9 billion USD for the project. Also, some Rs.
241 crores is to be spent on community and social development plans and Rs. 327 lakhs on
a plan to protect the local culture and identity.
PM Manmohan Singh laid the foundation stone of the project in 2008.
What is Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD)?
The preliminary surveys conducted by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and
Research (AMD) found the presence of lithium reserves in the Madhya district of
Karnataka. They indicate the presence of some 1,600 tonnes of the resource in pegmatite
rocks. This comes after the Central Government has started taking steps to initiate
commercial exploration for the rare mineral in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
What are pegmatite rocks?
Pegmatites are rare earth minerals. They are igneous rocks. Tungsten, apatite, fluorite,
tourmaline, and aquamarine are some of the pegmatite rocks. They are very much similar
to granite. Pegmatites are found mostly in Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, and Odisha.
What is AMD?
The AMD is the oldest unit of India’s Department of Atomic Energy. It is responsible for
discovering mineral deposits needed for the country’s nuclear power program. Founded
in 1948 as the Rare Minerals Survey Unit, it was later renamed the Raw Materials Division
and the Atomic Minerals Division before taking its current name in 1998. The organization
is headquartered in Hyderabad and has seven regional centres.

What is the work of AMD?
It conducts surveys to explore raw materials required for atomic power in the country.
Though the major work of AMD is to find out Uranium resources in the country, it also
works to recover rare earth metals.
Who controls AMD?
The AMD operates under the Department of Atomic Energy. It is under the direct purview
of the Prime Minister of the country. PM looks after the Ministry of Atomic Energy. The
AMD is one of the research wings of the Atomic Energy department. AMD headquarters is
in Hyderabad, The other research wings are BARC in Mumbai, IGCAR in Kalpakkam, RRCAT
in Indore, and VECC in Kolkata.
History of AMD
The AMD started as a rare minerals survey unit in 1948. Later it was transformed into the
atomic minerals division in 1958. In 1998, it became AMD.
Offshore Investigative Wings of AMD
They are located in Vizag and Trivandrum. Apart from these two cities, there are 7 other
regional centres. They are in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, New Delhi, Nagpur,
Jamshedpur, and Shillong. However, the centres in Vizag and Trivandrum alone look after
the offshore investigations.
World Wildlife Day 2023
World Wildlife Day is celebrated on March 3 by the United Nations. The main objective of
the celebrations is to increase awareness of wild flora and fauna.
Why is World Wildlife Day celebrated on March 3?
Because the CITES – Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora was adopted on March 3, 1973. It is a multilateral treaty. The 2023 World
Wildlife Day is special because this year CITES is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The main
objective of CITES is to protect endangered plants and animals. The members of IUCN
passed a resolution to form CITES in 1963. CITES ensures the prevention of the trade of
endangered plants and animals.
What is the theme of World Wildlife Day 2023?
Partnerships for wildlife conservation. It is essential that world countries come together in
conserving wildlife. Pollution and global warming are the major threats to wildlife apart
from habitat destruction. Transboundary forests shall be protected only through
international cooperation. Water resource depletion in the forest is a major threat to
wildlife. This is happening due to a reduction in rainfall.
When was the first World Wildlife Day observed?
The CITES was formed in 1973. The CITES COP16 was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2013. It
was during this conference, the members passed the resolution to celebrate March 3 as
World Wildlife Day.
Significance of World Wildlife Day
The day creates awareness of the diverse fauna and flora in the world. The day is an
opportunity to learn about their habitats. Also, the day is essential to promote the
conservation of the world’s flora and fauna. The day reminds us that the conservation of
biodiversity is essential for the species’ survival.
What is the need for World Wildlife Day?
It is essential to mark World Wildlife Day to prevent new deserts, drought and floods. The
relations between wildlife and forest keep the ecosystem alive. Wildlife helps in
maintaining ecological balance.
GSMA Government Leadership Award 2023
India received the GSMA Government Leadership Award 2023 at the GSMA’s Mobile World
Congress (MWC) 2023. The MWC was organized in Barcelona, Spain. The GSMA is an
association that brings together mobile operators and key stakeholders in the global
mobile industry. It represents more than 750 mobile operators and 400 companies. Each
year GSMA recognises one country.
Why did India get GSMA Government Leadership Award 2023?
The award recognized the Indian Government’s efforts in the development of the telecom
sector. It also recognizes the regulatory mechanism policies targeting mobile connectivity.
India is currently on the path of achieving the goal of national-level coverage of 5G
network by the end of 2023. Currently, 387 districts across India have access to 5G
services.
What are GSMA Government Leadership Awards?
GSMA awards are presented to companies, governments, and individuals with great
innovation in the mobile field. GSMA stands for Groupe Speciale Mobile Association. It is
from the UK. The main purpose of GSMA is to represent mobile operators from all over
the world.
What is GSMA?
It is an association with more than 1200 companies as members. It was formed in 1995 to
support mobile operators in the world. The GSMA organises the Mobile World Congress.
More than 100,000 visitors attend the congress. In 2019, the congress was recognised as
the Guinness World Record for the fourth time. It was recognised for holding the largest
carbon-neutral tradeshow.
What is the job of GSMA?
The GSMA allocates the TAC – Type Allocation Code. The code is used to create the IMEI
database. IMEI is the International Mobile State Equipment Identity number. Every
wireless device has a unique IMEI number and is identified with this number.
What is Mobile World Congress?
It is an annual trade show organized by GSMA. The show is dedicated to the mobile
communication industry. It is usually conducted in Barcelona, Spain.
UIDAI
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has recently launched a new security
mechanism for Aadhaar-based fingerprint authentication. Its aim is to ensure a fast-paced
detection of spoofing attempts by making use of artificial intelligence and machine
learning capabilities. The new mechanism uses a combination of both finger minutia and
finger image to check the liveliness of the captured fingerprint. This will introduce a two-
factor/layer authentication, further boosting the system’s security.
What is UIDAI?
The UDAI is a statutory body that was established by the Indian Government in January
2009. It comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
It functions based on the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and
other Subsidies, benefits and services) Act, 2016.
What is layer authentication?
It is an information security management technique. Here the identity of the person is
verified using more than one authentication process. There are different types of layer
authentication. UIDAI is adopting 2-factor authentications. However, there is four layers of
authentication where the verification is achieved through possession, biometrics, location
and knowledge factor.
Knowledge-based: Uses a password or a security question
Biometric: Retina scanner, fingerprint scanner, etc
Location-based: detecting the presence of the individual in a specific pre-loaded
location
Possession: Card or key
What is spoofing?
It is an attempt to steal data, spread malware, get access to a system, etc. Disguising
communication is also spoofing. Spoofing is not hacking. Spoofing is like acting like the
person; creating a false identity just like the original person.
What are the objectives of UIDAI?
The UIDAI aims to provide efficient and transparent governance. It helps the central
government to develop policies for issuing Aadhaar numbers. It creates rules and
regulations in accordance with the Aadhaar Act.
What is finger minutia?
It is the discontinuities in the finger. The fingerprint scanning system verifies the identity
of the person based on the minutiae points. There are two types of minutiae points in the
finger. They are ridge endings and bifurcations.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission - Update (March, 2023)
A milestone has been achieved under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), as
over 25 crore health records have been successfully linked to the Ayushman Bharat Health
Accounts. This will help with the easy access and management of health records using any
ABDM-enabled health apps.
What is ABHA?
The Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts consist of 14-digit numbers. The number is used to
identify the persons and thread their health records across multiple stakeholders and
systems.
What is the need to link health records with ABHA?
In November 2022, one of the biggest health data breaches occurred at AIIMS New Delhi.
Data of millions of poor people and also data of high-profile bureaucrats and politicians
were compromised. Also, there was a ransomware attack at Safdarjung hospital. The
ransom attacks have increased by 51% during the COVID lockdown. India lags behind the
personal data protection bill and is also a digital health ecosystem governing body.
Therefore, it is essential to integrate health records under one common identity and keep
them safe.
Why did GoI announce ABHA?
The health ID was provided after COVID. In 2020, after the COVID lockdown, no one knew
when or where the vaccines are being administered. TV stations were closed. There was
nothing the health ministry could do to contact the citizens. This is when the central
government introduced ABHA.
What is Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission?
The ABDM was launched by the Indian Government in September 2021 to connect the
digital health solutions of various hospitals with each other. It makes use of Ayushman
Bharat Health Account or ABHA numbers. Its objective is to ensure ease of living and
simplify hospital-related processes. It prevents the loss of medical records and increases
the efficiency of healthcare services.
Way Forward
Many are still hesitant to get the ABHA. The Government of India should launch
awareness campaigns to increase the number of health records that are linked with ABHA.
What is Windsor Framework?
The ‘Windsor Framework’ introduces a green lane for goods that will stay in Northern
Ireland and a red lane system for goods that will reach the European Union. It also
introduces the ‘Stormont Brake’ that allows the lawmakers in Northern Ireland and the UK
to veto any EU regulations that may adversely impact the region. The veto requires
support from 30 members from at least 2 parties in Northern Ireland. The British
government is then allowed to veto the legislation.
Is Windsor Framework in action?
No, it has not yet been implemented. It is a post-Brexit agreement. The agreement is
launched to address the main issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol. What is the issue
with NIP? The issue is around the movement of goods between the UK and the European
Union markets.
What are the changes introduced by Windsor Framework?
To understand this, we first need to learn about certain political factors. Great Britain is
the main island and it includes England, Wales, and Scotland. The United Kingdom
includes Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Now, earlier the goods will be checked in
Northern Ireland before entering Ireland. Now with the new framework, some goods are
receiving exemptions from the checking.
What is the issue?
The two Irelands have been disputing for a long time. They settled their disputes through
the Belfast Agreement only in 1998. The agreement is also called the Good Friday
Agreement.
What is the significance of the Windsor Framework?
With the Windsor Framework, the UK is now out of the “Northern Ireland Protocol” issue.
It was a protocol issued by the Former UK PM Boris Johnson.
What is Northern Ireland Protocol?
It was a part of the Brexit agreement. According to the agreement, checks were to be
conducted between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and not between Northern
Ireland and Ireland. However, there was waste of time and resources. And also taxation
issues. So, a check-free agreement has been brought in.
Garvi Gujarat Tourist Train
Indian Railways has launched the Garvi Gujarat Tourist Train under the Ek Shreshtha
Bharat scheme. The train is a Bharat Gaurav Delux AC Train with fully air-conditioned
coaches, operated by the IRCTC, and can accommodate 156 tourists. The 8-day journey
begins from the Safdarjung station in Delhi and will cover a distance of 3,500km,
showcasing Gujarat’s rich heritage and cultural diversity. This is the 17th Bharat Gaurav
circuit, and it centers around the life of Indian freedom fighter Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.
The Route and Destinations
The Garvi Gujarat Tourist Train will cover various tourist attractions in Gujarat, starting
from Ahmedabad and then proceeding to Vadodara, Palitana, Sasan Gir, Somnath,
Dwarka, and then returning to Ahmedabad. The train will stop at the following
destinations:
Statue of Unity
The Statue of Unity, located in Kevadia, Gujarat, is the world’s tallest statue, standing at a
height of 182 meters. It is a tribute to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the first deputy Prime
Minister of India, and also known as the Iron Man of India.
Champaner Archaeological Park
Champaner Archaeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Champaner-
Pavagadh, Gujarat. It is home to the ruins of an ancient fort, a mosque, and various other
structures, including palaces and tombs.
Somnath
Somnath is a small town in Gujarat, famous for the Somnath temple, one of the twelve
Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple is a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus and is
believed to be one of the oldest temples in India.
Dwarka
Dwarka is a city located on the banks of the Gomti River in Gujarat. It is home to the
Dwarkadhish Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is believed to have been
built more than 2,000 years ago.
Nageshwar Jyotirling
Nageshwar Jyotirling is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located near Dwarka. It is
one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and is believed to be one of the most sacred
places in India.
Beyt Dwarka
Beyt Dwarka is an island located off the coast of Gujarat and is believed to be the place
where Lord Krishna lived with his family. The island is home to various temples and is a
popular pilgrimage site for Hindus.
Sabarmati Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram is located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and is one of the most important
historical sites in India. It was the home of Mahatma Gandhi and was the center of his
non-violent struggle for India’s independence.
Civil Accounts Day - 2023
The Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) celebrated its 47th Civil Accounts Day on March 1,
2023. The occasion marks the establishment of the ICAS in 1976, separating the
maintenance of accounts of the Union Government from audit. Let’s explore this day and
the significance of ICAS in detail.
Foundation of the Indian Civil Accounts Service
The ICAS was founded in 1976 after separating the maintenance of accounts of the Union
Government from audit. The President’s promulgation of Comptroller and Auditor
General’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Amendment Ordinance, 1976, and
Departmentalisation of Union Accounts (Transfer of Personnel) Ordinance, 1976 enabled
the separation. The ICAS was established to ensure an effective, credible, and responsive
system for budgeting, payment, accounting, and pension disbursements while promoting
professional integrity and competence.
Responsibilities of the Indian Civil Accounts Service
The ICAS is responsible for maintaining the accounts of the Union Government, including
managing the receipts and disbursements of public funds, authorizing payments, and
managing pensions. The organization also ensures compliance with the financial rules and
procedures and provides advice and guidance on financial matters to the Union
Government. The ICAS aims to promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency in
public financial management.
Transition to Electronic Systems
Over the years, the ICAS has transitioned from manual to electronic systems, with the
Public Financial Management System (PFMS) providing various value-added services for
the government. The PFMS has integrated daily, monthly, and annual accounting
processes, making financial management more efficient and transparent. The system has
also enabled real-time monitoring of financial transactions, helping in the timely detection
of discrepancies.
Significance of the Civil Accounts Day
The Civil Accounts Day is celebrated to recognize the contributions of the ICAS towards
maintaining the accounts of the Union Government effectively and efficiently. The day
serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency, accountability, and

professionalism in public financial management. It is also an occasion to acknowledge the
efforts of the ICAS in modernizing financial management through the use of technology.
March 4, 2023
Where is Tunel Wielki Cave?
Recently, the oldest known flint tools were discovered in Tunel Wielki cave. These tools
may have been created by the extinct species Homo heidelbergensis, the ancestors of
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis. These tools exhibit the use of the bipolar knapping
technique. This discovery sheds new light on the life of Middle Pleistocene hominids in
Central Europe, especially in harsh climatic and environmental conditions.
Where is Tunel Wielki?
Tunel Wielki, situated in Poland’s Ojców National Park, is an archaeological site located in
the karst area. It has 15 layers in 4.5-meter-deep sediments that provide evidence of early
prehistorical cultures, the Middle Ages, and the 19th century.
What is Middle Pleistocene?
The Middle pleistocenes saw many changes in glacial cycles. It occurred 1.25 to 0.7 million
years ago. In 2020, scientists confirmed that the ice age terminated due to obliquity.
Obliquity first started in the middle Pleistocene.
What is Obliquity?
The tilt of the earth’s axis is called obliquity. It is the angle between the orbital axis and
the rotational axis. The rotational axis is the line connecting the north pole and south pole.
It is an imaginary line. The orbital axis is perpendicular to the plane on which the earth is
revolving around the sun. The angle between the rotational axis and orbital axis is around
22-24 degrees. This keeps oscillating.
What is Bipolar Knapping Technique?
In the bipolar technique, the core is placed on an anvil. The core is then hit hard with a
third tool. Knapping means making something flat by striking it hard.
Homo heidelbergensis
It is an extinct species that lived during the middle Pleistocene. They used Acheulian
technology. Acheulean means manufacturing oval and pear-shaped tools. These tools are
evidence that the mind of Homo heidelbergensis was well developed and the intelligence
of the “HOMO” genus was increasing. There are several debates about Homo
heidelbergensis. Did they belong to Europe alone or lived in Asia and Africa as well? And
many more.
Bola Tinubu
Bola Tinubu recently became the president-elect of Nigeria, beating his rival, Atiku
Abubakar. The country’s current president, Muhammadu Buhari, will step down after
serving two terms.
About Tinubu
Tinubu is a Muslim from the southern Yoruba community. He is known to be a long-term
political kingmaker and one of Nigeria’s richest politicians. He helped the outgoing
President Muhammadu Buhari with two terms in office in 2015 and 2019. He served as a
Logos governor for two terms after a military rule ended in the region. His role as the
president is expected to address the issue of poverty and economic crisis in Nigeria.
Why did President Muhammadu Buhari step down?
There were widespread protests and unrest in the country as people couldn’t get access
to cash. And so they couldn’t buy food. The situation occurred as the country rolled out
new banknotes. However, the bank notes were not the only issue. There were several
issues in the country for quite some time like rising inflation, attack on civilians, etc.
What are the current challenges Bola Tinubu will face in Nigeria?
Tinubu should first reduce the insecurity among the citizens. The kidnapping for
ransom has increased in the country exponentially. The Islamist militant groups have
increased in number and so have the attacks on the people in the country.
The current inflation in the country is 21.8%. Tinubu has to address the rising cost in
the country. Around 33% of the population is unemployed. Of these 42.5% are young
adults.
What is the current status of Nigeria?
According to World Bank, four out of every 10 people in Nigeria are living in poverty. They
lack access to education, electricity, improved sanitation, clean drinking water and several
other basic amenities.
Oil in Nigeria
Nigerian petrol is generally classified as “Light and sweet”. The crude oil obtained in
Nigeria is called the Bonny light. The bilateral trade between India and Nigeria is 15 billion
USD. Nigeria is one of the major countries from where India is importing its oil.
B2B Global Conference & Expo on Traditional Medicine
The first B2B Global Conference & Expo on Traditional Medicine under the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be hosted by the Assam government to promote
traditional medicines at the global level. The event will be held in Guwahati.
About the Conference
The conference will be attended by over 150 delegates from 13 member countries, while
others will participate virtually. The conference and expo will provide a platform for
regulators, industries and business leaders in all the SCO and partner countries to discuss
various aspects of traditional medicine. This 4-day international summit is scheduled from
2nd to 5th March. India is to host SCO 2023.
India promotes traditional medicines
In recent years, India has been promoting traditional medicines. The World Health
Organization – Global Centre for Traditional Medicine was established in Jamnagar.
Through this centre, India aims to integrate technological advancements in the
production of traditional medicines. The centre will help India implement the WHO
Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-23 in the country.
Significance of the conference
According to the WHO, more than 80% of the world’s population is using traditional
medicines. The conference will help India serve as a hub for traditional medicines. Also, it
will help India make standards for traditional medicine products and practices.
What are the recent steps of India in traditional medicines?
The Ministry of AYUSH and the WHO signed the Project Collaboration Agreement in 2016.
Under the agreement, the duo will create benchmarks for Ayurveda, yoga, Panchakarma,
and Unani. Also, they will promote the safety and quality of traditional medicines.
India has signed more than 32 MoUs with the UK, the US, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Austria,
Hungary, Korea, Reunion Island, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Hungary, Ecuador, etc.
CSIR signed an agreement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to identify
opportunities for research in traditional medicines
India is now using Artificial Intelligence to map the trends in traditional medicines.
Where is Gurudongmar Lake?
Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman visited Gurudongmar
lake recently. She interacted with army personnel and offered prayers to this lake.
Where is Gurudongmar lake?
The Gurudongmar lake is situated at an altitude of approximately 17,800 feet in the
Mangan district of Sikkim. It is close to the Indo-China border. It is one of the highest lakes
in India. This lake is situated in the Great Himalayas and is considered to be sacred by
Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus. It is named after Guru Padmasambhava – the founder of
Tibetan Buddhism. Guru Padmasambhava visited this lake in the 8th century.
What was the purpose of the visit?
The finance minister inaugurated SBI ATM. NABARD officials, RBI officials, and district
administration were all present at the inaugural function. The Minister also visited the
border villages and also the Mangan district of the state.
Observation
The Government of India has been focusing on Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and other religions
lately. India is diverse in culture and religion. And the BJP-led union government has been
criticised for its Hindutva politics. This means Hindus are prioritised. This will create
insecurity in the minds of minority religions. To put an end to this criticism, the GoI is
focusing on other religions. Recently, the Sikhs, especially the Punjab Sikhs have
developed a belief that the prime minister is against them. There have been threat calls to
the PM from the Punjab Sikhs.
What are the reasons behind the minister’s visit?
Inaugurating an ATM is a small function. Today ministers can do that online. But still, the
finance minister has put an effort to go in person. Why? Despite safety concerns, the
minister is putting in the effort to gain the trust of the people in the border areas. The
Government of India has been focusing on developing the border areas. The first and
foremost step was to lay roads and construct bridges. With the BRO, GoI is doing this
extensively. Now, the higher official visit will further help in gaining the trust of the people.
GoI is trying to increase the population in these areas. People are leaving their villages (in
the border areas) and are migrating to towns and cities in search of livelihood.
What is Race Across India?

Race Across India is Asia’s longest-ever cycle race. It was accorded the Asian Ultracycling
Championship by the World Ultracycling Association. It was kicked off recently from
Srinagar in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
About Race Across India
The final destination of this first-of-its-kind race is Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, covering a
distance of 3,655 kilometres over 12 states. As many as 29 cyclists have taken part in this
race. Geeta Rao is the only female participant in this race. She is India’s first differently-
abled Super Randonneur. Earlier she received a silver medal at the Para-Cycling
Championship 2022. She lost her leg after suffering from polio at a young age.
What is ultracycling?
The ultracycling is event where the cyclists cover at least 200 km within at least six hours.
Today, ultra cycling is one of the fast growing sport in the world. Apart from ultracycling
there are three other cycling sports. They are road cycling, cyclocross, and mountain
biking.
World Ultracycling Associaion
The World Ultracycling Association is a non-profit organization. It was founded in 1980. It
is governed by the laws of State of Colorado. Though, the USA has a constitution, different
states in the country have different constitution. For instance, there are 29 articles in
Colarado constitution. There are seven articles in US constitution. There are 448 articles in
the Indian Constitution.
Other similar events
The Race Across Russia was conducted in 2013. Race Across Europe was conducted in
1997. The rules of ultracycling in mountainous regions are different. For instance, the Race
Across Alps was conducted for 540 km. Here the participants had to climb 540 km uphill!
Till date this is considered as one of the toughest races in the world.
Observation
This is the first time the race is conducted in Jammu and Kashmir. This says that the
changes being brought in the region have been successful. Three years after Article 370
has been scrapped in J&K, schools have been running without being shut due to hartals,
employment rate is increasing, long standing government vacancies in the state are being
filled slowly.
What is Parliamentary Privilege?
The parliamentary privilege allows members of the House to enjoy certain rights and
immunities that enable them to effectively and efficiently perform their parliamentary
duties without hindrances. Notably, Erksine May defines parliamentary privileges as
“Parliamentary privilege is the sum of the peculiar rights enjoyed by each House
collectively and by Members of each House individually, without which they could not
discharge their functions, and which exceed those possessed by other bodies or
individuals. Thus privilege, though part of the law of the land, is to a certain extent an
exemption from the general law.” It is a set of special rights enjoyed by each House
collectively and by members of each House individually. Indian Constitution’s Articles 105
and 194 deal with these powers, privileges and immunities.
Why is Parliamentary Privilege in News?
Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar recently directed a parliamentary committee to
investigate the alleged breach of parliamentary privilege by 12 opposition MPs for their
“disorderly conduct” that caused the frequent adjournments in the first phase of the
recent Union Budget.
Parliamentary Privilege in the UK
Freedom of Speech, Freedom from arrest, and Access to the Commons to the Crown. The
members who speak in the house cannot be defamed. Nobody shall comment on the
speech made by the members of the parliament in the UK.
Parliamentary Privilege in Canada
Freedom of speech, freedom from arrest, exemption from the jury, exemption from
appearing as a witness, freedom from interference, obstruction, molestation, and
intimidation
Parliamentary privilege in Singapore
Members of the parliament cannot be prosecuted for things that are happening on the
floor of the parliament.
Parliamentary Privilege in India
Members of Parliament are not liable for any court proceedings. He or she cannot be
questioned for the votes given by him or her.
Observation
As you can see, compared to other countries, the parliamentary privileges enjoyed by
Indian parliamentarians are very limited.
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill
The AMASR Act was initially passed in 1958 for the purpose of preserving archaeological
and historical monuments and sites, regulating excavations, and protecting sculptures,
carvings and other objects. It prohibits construction activities in an area of 100 meters
around protected monuments, which can be extended by the Central Government
whenever and wherever it is required. The proposed amendment would enable the
government to undertake public works (which is defined in the Bill) in these prohibited
zones.
Why is AMSAR Act in News?
The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) (Amendment) Bill
is expected to be reintroduced in the second half of the Budget Session by the central
government. It was first introduced in 2017, with amendments allowing the construction
of public works in prohibited areas and the approval and impact assessment of such
public works.
Key Features of the Act
The following are the important provisions included in the act
Construction in Prohibited Areas
According to the act, the prohibited areas are defined as those areas that are within 100
metres of the protected monument. The act gives powers to the central government to
extend this area
Public Works
The act introduces the term called “Public Works”. This includes the construction of
infrastructure as planned by the Government of India. The infrastructure should be in
such a way that, it is essential to public safety and security.
Impact Assessment
The National Monument Authority should do an impact assessment before executing the
public works. The authority shall conduct three types of impact assessments namely visual
impact, archaeological impact, and heritage impact.
Background
The act was amended in 2010. It was this amendment that brought in the National
Monument Authority.
Need for the amendment
The amendment to the act is being introduced because the act prohibits new construction
within the monument. This is affecting the developmental works in the national
monuments. The main objective is to amend Section 20A of the act that hinders
development activities.
What is S-400 Triumf?
The S-400 Triumf is a surface-to-air missile system that was developed in Russia in the
1990s as an upgrade to the S-300 family. It is a mobile system that was initially known as
the S-300 PMU-3. The system was first put into service on April 2007. The S-400 Triumf has
advanced features such as a long-range, high-altitude interception capability, and the
ability to track multiple targets simultaneously. It can engage enemy targets like fighter
jets, UAVs, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, etc. It has a range of up to 400 km.
Why is S-400 Triumf in News?
Deliveries of 5 regiments of S-400 Triumf are expected to be completed by the end of 2023
or early 2024. The delivery of the third regiment was completed recently. These missile
defence systems are delivered as part of the India-Russia 5.43 billion USD deal.
What countries have the S400?
Belarus, China, India, Turkey, and Russia. Belarus received S400 under the deal signed in
2022. Chin received S400 under the deal signed in 2014. And India received S400 under the
deal signed in 2018. Turkey signed the deal in 2017. However, Turkey faced US sanctions
for buying the S400 from Russia. But the US did not impose sanctions on India for buying
S400. Why?
Why didn’t the US impose sanctions on India for buying S400?
The USA brought in the CAATSA to impose sanctions on countries trading with Russia.
CAATSA means Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. The law was
enacted in 2017. It mainly targeted Russia, North Korea, and Iran. India wasn’t on the
target list. This was one reason. India is one of the biggest buyers of the USA. Being the
second most populous country in the world, Indian markets are a treat to US businesses.
Why India needs S400?
The S400 is one of the long-range surface-to-air missiles. It is capable of taking down
multiple targets. The missile has beyond visual range capabilities. It can track 160 objects
in a 600 km range. Also, it is capable of hitting more than 72 targets at a distance of 400
km.
What is HTT-40 trainer aircraft?
The HTT-40 or Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 is a trainer aircraft developed and
manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It is being manufactured at
facilities in Nashik and Bengaluru. It contains over 56 per cent of indigenous content,
which is expected to increase to over 60 per cent.
Why is the HTT-40 Trainer Aircraft in News?
The Union Cabinet recently approved the procurement of 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft
(BTA) at the cost of Rs. 6,828.36 crores. These aircraft will be supplied over a period of 6
years to address the Indian Air Force’s shortage of basic trainer aircraft for the newly
inducted pilots. This procurement is expected to provide direct jobs for over 1,500
personnel. It will also provide indirect employment opportunities for up to 3,000 people in
more than 100 MSMEs.
About HTT-40 Trainer Aircraft
The aircraft was designed and built for basic training purposes. The origin of the aircraft in
India. Neither technology transfers nor imported goods were used in the making of the
aircraft. It was designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The first successful
flight of the aircraft was done in 2016.
It can be armed with rockets, guns, and bombs.
What are the special features added to the HTT-40 trainer aircraft?
The aircraft has an air-conditioned cockpit, zero-zero ejection seats, running changeover,
hot refuelling, and several other modern avionics.
Zero-Zero Ejection Seat: Zero in the term means “Zero altitudes” and “Zero airspeeds”. It
helps the aircrew to escape from the aircraft during emergencies. Earlier, the ejection
seats required certain altitude and certain speed to eject. Only then the seats could open
the parachute. However, the modern zero-zero ejection technology comes with a mini
rocket. As soon as the occupant ejects, the rocket ignites and gains the required altitude
and speed for the ejection. Thus, the name zero-zero. No altitude and airspeed
restrictions. Seats can be ejected from any height.
Hot refuelling: It is refuelling the aircraft when its engines are running. This form is
refuelling is done as soon as the aircraft lands. It reduces response time and keeps the
aircraft always ready for a mission. Usually, it is not advisable to refuel when the engine is
ON. This is because static electricity is generated due to imbalances in the electric charges
and could develop a spark. As hot refuelling is done with the engines ON, it is not very
safe. Therefore, it requires professionals’ presence or special features added.
Green Hydrogen in India

Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced from renewable sources such as wind and
solar energy through a process called electrolysis. Green hydrogen is considered a clean
and sustainable energy source that can be used in various sectors, including
transportation and industry, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate
change. Due to its high economic potential and cost-effectiveness, it is expected to
become a widely adopted energy source in the future.
Why is Green Hydrogen in news?
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) and NTPC are planning to collaborate
to produce green hydrogen. Also, the European Investment Bank and IREDA Ltd (state-
owned entity) are exploring a partnership to finance green hydrogen projects in India.
Current Scenario of Green Hydrogen in India
India has allocated 197.44 billion USD for renewable hydrogen production. The country
has set a target of producing 5 million tonnes per year. This is to be achieved by 2030. The
major challenge in Green Hydrogen production is establishing electrolyser manufacturing.
India is planning to bring a scheme to make this process simple. Another major challenge
in setting up a hydrogen plant is the time and cost. It takes a minimum of three years to
set up a hydrogen plant.
According to the S&P report, there are more than 57 renewable hydrogen projects in India
now. India is to issue guidelines for Green Hydrogen subsidies. And also will soon issue
tenders for electrolyzer manufacturers.
What is an electrolyzer?
It separates hydrogen and oxygen molecules. It uses electricity to break the water
molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Why are electrolyzers expensive? The electrolyzers
should keep the metals in the molten state to allow free movement of the ions. This
makes them expensive.
Way Forward
India launched the National Hydrogen Mission. Under this mission, India has planned to
achieve hydrogen production of 10 million tonnes per year. Also, the mission will target
10% of global trade.
Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island Project
The Holistic Development of the Great Nicobar Island Project is being criticised for its
adverse impact on the island’s ecology and indigenous tribes. This 166.10 sq. km project
involves the construction of an airport, a township, a container transhipment terminal,
and a power plant. The project requires the diversion of 130 sq km of forest land and the
logging of 8.5 lakh trees.
Why is Great Nicobar Island Project in news?
Recently, the Home Ministry asked that an 8.45 sq. km. airport component is kept
confidential, citing strategic imperatives. The Environment Ministry has withheld all
discussions on forest clearance for the entire project recommended by the Forest Advisory
Committee (FAC). The FAC authorizes the diversion of forest land for projects, and there is
no information on when it cleared the proposal for this project.

What is Great Nicobar Island Project?
The project is to be implemented in the Great Nicobar Island at a cost of Rs 75,000 crores,
that is, 9.4 billion USD. It was prepared by NITI Aayog and to be implemented by ANIIDC
(Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation). It mainly aims on
developing coastal tourism, logistics, defence, coastal regulation zone, and commerce and
industries. There are four main components in the plan. They are Galathea Bay
International Container Transhipment Terminal, Great Nicobar International Airport, Great
Nicobar Gas and Solar Power Plant, and the two coastal cities.
What are the mitigation measures?
The island will lose 12 to 20 hectares of mangrove cover. This is to be compensated in the
Aravallis in Haryana. The corals are to be translocated to the regions around the island.
Galathea Bay has ecologically sensitive zones that are home to rare fauna such as the
Nicobar macaque, saltwater crocodile, sea turtle, etc. For this, three conservation sites
have been proposed by the Appraisal Committee of MoEFCC. They are Little Nicobar,
Meroe island, and Menchal island.
New Variant of Hindustan 228-201 LW aircraft
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been granted approval by the Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for a new variant of the Hindustan 228-201 LW aircraft. It
is a modified form of Dornier-228 which the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard have been
using for short-range maritime patrolling and surveillance. This new variant belongs to
the sub-5,700 kg aircraft category. It can accommodate 19 passengers with a maximum
takeoff weight of 5,695 kg.
Significance of Hindustan 228-201 LW Aircraft
The newly developed aircraft comes with several operational benefits. It will help minimize
training requirements for pilots and ground crew, and lower operational costs. The recent
DGCA approval will enable commercial pilots to fly the aircraft with a reduced qualification
requirement, increasing the availability of pilots for the aircraft. Additionally, the defence
PSU has approved a 6,200 kg AUW with a capacity of 19 passengers.
What are the benefits of Hindustan 228-201 LW Aircraft?
The aircraft requires reduced pilot qualification requirements. Even pilots with a
commercial pilot license can fly this aircraft. The pilot pool of the aircraft has been
increased. The operational cost of the aircraft is very less as compared to its earlier
versions. It requires very little training and very less number of ground crew assistance.
The number of aircraft maintenance engineers required is also less.
Hindustan 228-201 LW is a variant of Dornier 228
The Dornier 228 was designed by RUAG, a Swiss company. The first Dornier 228 was built
by a German company called Dornier and hence the name. Between 1981 and 1998, the
company built 245 Dornier aircraft in Germany. Later in 1983, HAL bought the
manufacturing rights from the Dornier and started manufacturing in Kanpur, UP.
The major breaking point for the Dornier Aircraft
Till 2017, HAL was producing aircraft under the license from RUAG. In 2017, the DGCA
issued a license to allow the use of Dornier in European markets. Following this, Dornier
entered its first public appearance at the Dubai Airshow in 2020.
Methane Global Tracker report
The Methane Global Tracker report is the annual report released by the International
Energy Agency. According to the latest report, fossil fuel companies released 120 million
metric tonnes of methane into the atmosphere last year. This is just a slight decline from
the unprecedented record created in 2019.
What is the report saying?
The report found that no effort has been taken by fossil fuel companies to bring down
emissions. It revealed that cheap and readily available technologies can help bring down
methane emissions from the energy sector by 75 per cent. Investments in such
technologies are estimated to cost less than 3 per cent of the net income received by the
oil and gas industry in 2022. These findings come after energy giants like BP, Shell,
ExxonMobil, etc. reported record profits in 2022, as a consequence of the Russia-Ukraine
crisis.
40% of the methane emissions are from the energy sector
260 billion cubic metres of natural gas is wasted through methane leaks every year
Fossil fuel companies are putting in very small efforts to tackle the problem
We have to reduce natural gas wastage by 75% to lower the global temperature
How is methane emission adding to climate change?
Methane is responsible for 30% of the global warming happening on the earth. It is a
greenhouse gas. The potential of methane to warm the earth’s surface is 80 times higher
than carbon dioxide. The NOAA of the US says that atmospheric levels of methane
increased to 17 parts per billion in 2021.
Methane Initiatives
Global Methane Pledge: It was announced by the US and EU. It aims to reduce methane
emissions by 30% in 2030 as compared to 2020.
MARS: MARS is Methane Alert and Response System. It integrates data related to methane
emissions. It was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme. It is a
satellite-based monitoring programme.
What is SMART-PDS?
The Union Minister Piyush Goyal urged all states and union territories to implement the
SMART-PDS to ensure the smooth operation of the public distribution system. The
Scheme for Modernization and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System
(SMART-PDS) was proposed by the Department of Food and Public Distribution.
What is SMART – PDS System?
It is a system in which smart ration card is issued to the citizens. Individuals shall carry
these cards to the ration shop. The card is screened for a code there. Upon verification,
they place their fingerprint over a fingerprint scanner to double-check their identity.
What is the main objective of Smart PDS?
The aim of the SMART-PDS is to leverage Cloud and new-age technologies to transform
the Public Distribution System’s information technology to standardize the operation and
implementation. Under this initiative, Smart Ration Cards are issued to make rations
accessible at fair-price shops. Fingerprints of the beneficiaries are also recorded to ensure
transparency in all transactions. Apart from this, the Food Corporation of India is in the
process of upgrading its grain storage godowns into 5-star facilities.
Working of the Smart PDS system
The smart PDS is a joint operation of the central and state government. However, it is the
responsibility of the state governments to issue smart cards. Funds should also be
allocated by the state governments. Because according to the National Food Security Act,
ration cards are issued by the state government.
The operational responsibility of the ration cards also lies with the state government. The
Centre will only allocate rice, wheat, kerosene, and sugar to the state government and
Union Territories under this scheme. It is the duty of the state governments to distribute
the allocated food grains among the citizens.
Way Forward
With technological advancements, it is essential that the ration shops become digitalised
for easy and quick transactions. It will also keep the entire process transparent and reduce
corruption.
World Hearing Day 2023
World Hearing Day is observed every year on March 3 to raise awareness about hearing
care. It is being observed since 2007. On this occasion, audiologists and other healthcare
professionals create awareness about the significance of hearing and timely actions
required to prevent hearing loss.
The theme of World Hearing Day 2023
The World Health Organization chose the theme “Ear and hearing care for all” for World
Hearing Day 2023. It highlights the importance of integrating ear and hearing care within
the primary healthcare ecosystem. It seeks to promote training and skill development in
this area to help countries achieve the objective of universal health coverage. The WHO
also released the ‘Primary ear and hearing care training manual’.
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness
The scheme is implemented under the National Health Mission of GoI. The main objective
of the programme is to prevent hearing loss. Also, the programme aims to identify and
treat hearing loss problems at early stages. It works to rehabilitate persons suffering from
deafness. The programme also works to develop institutional capacities in the country
related to ear care.
Need to observe the day in India
The WHO says there are more than 63 million deaf people in India. And diabetes is one of
the major reasons behind the increasing deafness in the country. According to the NSO
survey, there are 291 deaf persons per one lakh population.
Why is Diabetes a major reason for hearing loss in India?
Diabetes damages the nerves connecting the brain. The nerves and blood vessels in the
inner ear are very small. High blood sugar level in these blood vessels and nerves damage
their signal-carrying capacity. The electric potential of the nerve cells gets disrupted due to
the change in the sugar level. The nervous system acts on the electric signals generated.
Porter Prize 2023
Porter Prize 2023 was conferred recently to the Indian Government’s Union Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare. The award recognized the achievements of the ministry in the
health sector, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It recognized India’s successful
delivery of more than 2.5 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines and the role of stakeholders
like ASHA workers. The Prize is named after Michael E. Porter- an economist and
researcher.
Who organized Porter Prize 2023?
Porter Prize 2023 was announced at “The India Dialog”, which was jointly organized by the
Institute for Competitiveness (IFC) and US Asia Technology Management Center
(USATMC) at Stanford University from February 23 to 24. The theme of this conference was
“The Indian Economy 2023: Innovation, Competitiveness and Social Progress”.
Why was the Health Ministry presented with Porter Prize 2023?
The porter prize is presented based on four major pillars. And the Health Ministry has
achieved all these four pillars. They are as follows:
Dynamics: An organization should enhance its characteristics. It should identify its
position in the structural changes happening in the world. This means, it should
compete to raise to the top standards in the world
Segmenting Strategically: New positions should be perceived. Rivals or other
country strategies should be monitored continuously. Successful strategies should
be adopted or implemented in a different way. Unique values should be delivered.
Unique Activities: The health ministry has been launching new initiatives. For
instance, the ministry launched the Co-Win portal, ambulances services, food
security measures, and several other new initiatives throughout the COVID times. All
the activities were value mixed.
Tradeoff: Protecting from other competitors. For instance, India received COVAXIN
from ASTRA ZENECA, a British-Swedish multinational biotechnology company. There
was huge competition for COVID vaccines and high demand, and countries were pre-
booking orders even before the vaccine trials could be completed. The Health
Ministry managed to win over all these tradeoffs and bring the vaccine to the
citizens.
March 5, 2023
8th National Conference on Economics of Competition Law
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is holding its 8th annual National Conference
on Economics of Competition Law. This conference has been organized by CCI since 2016.
This year, a plenary session on ‘Antitrust and Regulation: Interfaces and Synergies’ and
two technical sessions on ‘Competition and the Economy’ and ‘Economics in Antitrust
Enforcement’ will be conducted.
What is the National Conference on Economics of Competition Law?
National Conference on Economics of Competition Law aims to stimulate research and
debate on contemporary issues in the field of competition law economics, particularly in
the Indian context. It also seeks to create a critical mass of antitrust economists by
bringing together scholars, practitioners, academicians, and experts on a single platform.
Competition Law in the US
The competition law of the US started with the Sherman Act of 1890. During the late 19th
century, big companies started to cooperate with rivals to control market prices. This
increased the prices of goods in the country. Thus, the anti-trust law or the Sherman Law
was brought in that laid the foundation for the modern competition law of the US. The act
also prohibited monopolies.
The Clayton Act was passed in 1914 and prohibited companies from dealing with
agreements and mergers that include stock purchases.
The Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 was passed to restrict mergers
and acquisitions. The parties should pre-notify the US Federal Trade Commission and the
US Justice Department before completing the transaction.
Competition Laws in the European Union
Germany was the first country to frame a competition law in the EU in 1923. Later it was
followed by Sweden and Norway in 1925 and 1926. With the Great Depression of 1929,
competition law disappeared from the European Union. It again entered only after the
second world war. In 1951, France, Belgium, Netherlands and others signed an agreement
with Germany that prohibited Germany from re-establishing its dominance in coal and
steel.
Today, the treaty of Lisbon prevents signing anti-competitive agreements in the European
Union
Observation
Asian countries like Russia and China are socialistic and communist. Here the government
controls everything. Therefore, the role of competition laws is very less here. The US and
very few European countries have well-defined competition laws because they are
capitalistic. India has a mix of both! And therefore, we have mediocre-level competition
laws; neither too strict nor too lenient.
AIRS Fellowship Program
The AIRS Fellowship Program is a bilateral program between India and Australia. It is led
by Australia India Institute. The funding for this program is provided by the Australian
Government Department of Education. It promotes research collaborations and student
mobility between India and Australia. It is part of the Update to the India Economic
Strategy to 2035 action plan that seeks to strengthen academic relations. It is to see
collaboration among 22 Australian universities and 37 Indian higher education institutes.
Why is AIRS Fellowship Program in News?
For the year 2023, more than 60 Australian and Indian emerging researchers have been
awarded the prestigious fellowship. Around 59 per cent of these researchers are women.
They were chosen via the Australian Researcher Cooperation Hub-India.
Where is Australia India Institute?
It operates under the University of Melbourne. The institute was established to improve
relations between the countries. It was formed in 2008. It aims to understand
contemporary India living in Australia. The institute mainly focuses on studies related to
bilateral economy, security and geopolitics, cultural diplomacy, and education.
What is India Economic Strategy for 2035?
The plan was framed by the Australian Government. It mainly focuses on injecting
Australian businesses into India’s growth. The main objective of this economic strategy is
to make India one of the top three export markets of Australia.
Is this good for India?
Yes and NO. If India can get cheap raw materials through this strategy, then India will be
benefitted. Take the case of the English East India Company for instance. The company
made India a source of raw materials. Another example is the Chinese. China has been
dumping its cheap and low-quality goods into the Indian market. The toy sector was the
most vulnerable to China’s economic strategy. With similar lessons, India should plan its
diplomatic ties with Australians very carefully.
Bhojpur's Millet Festival
The Bhojpur’s Millet Festival was organized from February 28 to March 1 in Bihar. Union
Minister of Food Processing Industries Pashupati Kumar Paras inaugurated this event. It is
part of the many Millet-related events conducted in 2023, which has been declared by the
UN as the International Year of Millets.
Key Highlights of the Bhojpur Millet Festival
The two-day event brought together stakeholders in the food processing sector to
specifically focus on millet. This event helped increase awareness about Shree Anna (the
mother of all grains) and its role in improving the health of people. It is also expected to
boost the export of millets from Bihar, which is known to produce Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and
Small Millets.
Notably, India accounts for 20% of the global millet production and 80% of Asia’s millet
output. However, millets still account for a mere 3% of the world grain trade.
Why was the festival organized in Bhojpur?
The festival was organized in Bhojpur for the following reasons:
Location
Bhojpur is located in the state of Bihar. The region has a moderately extreme climate.
Winters are cool and summers are hot. The region is quite dry and receives rains during
South West Monsoon.
Rainfall
Light showers occur during the Rabi season. Paddy is the main crop cultivated here. Apart
from paddy, the other crops grown here are chickpeas, lentils, pigeon peas, field peas,
toria, mustard, linseed, etc. As you can see the agricultural productivity is diverse here. It
falls under Agro Climatic Zone III.
Irrigation
As you can see, the potential is huge. However, 90% of the irrigation is done by tube wells
here. Lately, the tube wells are becoming dry during summer. For this reason, it is
essential that Bhojpur chooses climate-resilient crops like millets. And GoI is promoting
millets on a large scale. Thus, the festival was conducted here.
KVK Crop Diversification
Also, Krishi Vigyan Kendra has rooted deeply in these areas. They have promoted crop
diversification on a large scale here. The KVKs have introduced new varieties of oil seeds,
pulses, cereals, horticultural crops, etc. For instance, in paddy, the KVK introduced
Rajendra Sweta, Rajendra MAhsuri, etc. In lentils, K-75, HD-2463, etc were introduced.
Apart from this the KVK also established poultry units. Vermicomposting and zero tillage
are also being done here.
7th International Dharma Dhamma Conference
The 7th International Dharma Dhamma Conference will be inaugurated by President
Droupadi Murmu. This international conference will be organized from March 3 to 5 at the
Kushabhau Thakre International Auditorium in Bhopal.
Who is organizing the Conference?
The 3-day conference will be organized by Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies and
India Foundation. Its main focus is the principles of humanism in the new age i.e. on the
theme of ‘Eastern Humanism for the New Era’. It provides a platform for the world views
on Dharma Dhamma. More than 350 scholars from 15 countries (Bhutan, Mongolia, Sri
Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, South Korea, Mauritius, Russia, Spain, France,
America and Britain) are taking part in this conference.
What is Eastern Humanism?
Eastern Humanism predominantly focuses on Confucianism and Buddhism;
predominantly Buddhism. It succeeded the Chinese dynasties. It places high value on
human life and is against the concept of an afterlife, ghosts, and superstitious beliefs.
Eastern Humanism gives utmost importance to education. According to eastern
humanists, that is, the followers of Confucius and Lord Buddha, one can become noble
through education.
It is also based on Taoism. Taoism is a set of Chinese traditions and religions. It aims for
the harmony of self, universe, and society.
The major ideals of eastern humanism are respectfulness, enthusiasm for learning new
things in life, kindness, and reasonableness. There is no space for superstitious or blind
beliefs.
Evolution of Humanism
The definition of humanism has been evolving with the advancement in science. During
the Renaissance period, humanism aimed at purifying and renewing Christianity and
several other social beliefs. This was around the 14th to 15th century.
During the 20th and 21st centuries, humanism focused on Enlightenment. For this reason,
this period was referred to as the Age of Enlightenment. In the 21st century, humanism is
focusing on human well-being and progress.
What is the meaning of Dhamma Dharma?
Teachings of Lord Buddha. The Dhamma Dharma guides people in understanding their
lives. The Dhamma Dharma leads people to enlightenment.
Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela
The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar,
inaugurated the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela. The event is being organized by the Indian
Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi. This year, the event is being organized
under the theme of “Nutrition, Food and Environmental Protection with Shree Anna”.
Key Highlights of Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela
The three-day event includes a fair that features live demonstrations of various crops and
technologies, as well as stalls for input agencies and farmer counselling. Its aim is to
empower small farmers, scientists and startups by solving major issues concerning the
agriculture sector. During the event, awards were conferred to recognize progressive
dedicated farmers.
What is the need for Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela?
With the climate change impacts increasing exponentially, there is a need for resilient
agriculture. Only technologies can bring in climate-resilient agriculture. Take the recently
launched HD-3385 new wheat variety for instance. The crop is climate resilient. It helps
farmers to save their crops from high temperatures before harvest. Such agricultural
advancements should be reached the farmers as the earliest. The Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela
will help farmers learn about the advancements and use of technologies.
Why should GoI organize more such Melas?
Today, the top three countries in terms of Agricultural technologies are China, Japan, and
Netherlands. China has deployed 18 UAV agriculture zones. With this, the country saves
30% of pesticide costs and 50% of labour costs. The Netherlands creates 90,000 tonnes of
livestock feed from food waste. This aids in a sustainable production cycle. Japan uses
cloud computing to monitor plantations. India should adopt its technologies more. With a
huge population, festivals are the best way to reach many farmers within a short span.
Today India is focusing on bringing investors in food processing. It should also focus on
bringing in investors in agricultural technologies.
Academic Freedom Index Report 2023
The Academic Freedom Index report evaluates academic freedom in 179 countries by
analyzing five indicators, including the freedom to teach and research, academic exchange
and dissemination, university autonomy, campus integrity, and academic and cultural
expression. The report is based on assessments from over 2,197 experts from around the
world. The Academic freedom of India is in the bottom 30% of the 179 countries.
Academic Freedom Index Report 2023
According to the report released on February 2, 2023, India scored 0.38 on a scale of 0
(low) to 1 (high), which is lower than Pakistan’s score of 0.43 and the United States’ score
of 0.79. It performed poorly in campus integrity, institutional autonomy and academic and
cultural expression. It did slightly well in freedom to teach and research and space of
academic exchange and dissemination. China scored 0.07, putting it in the bottom 10% of
the countries. The report noted the pressure on all aspects of academic freedom in the
country.
What does the Academic Freedom Index Report say about India?
The score of India’s campus integrity was shallow. Campuses in the country are not so
free from political interference. Security infringements on Indian academic campuses are
also low. According to the report, the institutional autonomy of Indian institutions was
also very poor. Especially, the autonomy of the institutions in expressing political issues
was poor. Indian institutions did well in Freedom to research, freedom of academic
exchange, and freedom to teach.
Why is the performance of India bad?
There is a lack of legal framework. India has to bring in strict laws against attacks on
academic freedom. The consequences of declining academic freedom in the second most
populous country in the world may bring in adverse impacts globally. University leaders,
Higher education policymakers, and research funders should come together and bring an
integrated solution.
Indian States’ Energy Transition Report
The “Indian States’ Energy Transition” Report was released recently by the Institute for
Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) and EMBER. The report analysed 16
states, which make up 90% of India’s annual power requirement, and devised a scoring
system called States’ Electricity Transition (SET) to measure performance. The report
tracks 4 dimensions- decarbonization, the performance of the power system, the
readiness of the power ecosystem and policies and political commitment.
According to this report, Karnataka and Gujarat are leading the way in India’s transition to
clean electricity. Karnataka is the only state that scored well across all four dimensions of
clean electricity transition and has proactive policies for open access, solar park
development and public awareness. Meanwhile, Gujarat scored just behind Karnataka in
decarbonising its electricity sector. Other states like Haryana and Punjab are also taking
major steps in the electricity transition.
What did the Indian States Energy Transition Report say about Karnataka?
The state of Karnataka is performing well in the energy sector mainly because of its
policies. The adoption of renewable energy started early as compared to other states. The
share of renewables in the power sector is 48% and is one of the highest in the country.
The state has used only 11% of its total potential.
What did the Indian States Energy Transition Report say about Rajasthan and Gujarat?
Rajasthan was in second place after Karnataka in terms of decarbonising power. As
compared to the other states, Rajasthan had the largest renewable energy installed.
Renewable energy contributes 29% of the total power. Gujarat is a little behind Karnataka
in terms of decarbonising electricity.
What did the Indian States Energy Transition Report say about Punjab and Haryana?
These two states have been showing promising electricity transitions. Punjab has achieved
implementing one-quarter of its renewable energy potential. Of all the states in the
country, Haryana had very less coal-based power.
What did the Indian States Energy Transition Report say about Maharashtra?
The state of Maharashtra had the highest demand for power in the country. Also,
Maharashtra is facing difficulties in shutting down its old coal-based power plants.
Renewable energy adoption in the state is very slow.
Observation
The states of Punjab and Haryana have shown promising improvements in adopting
towards clean and green energy. Karnataka is leading and has pushed Gujarat behind in
decarbonising the energy sector.
WMO’s ENSO Update
The latest El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) update from the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) predicts that there is a 93% chance that one of the years until 2026
will become the hottest year on record due to an impending El Niño.
Impact of the predictions
This global phenomenon results in warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the
equatorial Pacific Ocean, weakening the trade winds above the sea surface and affecting
different regions worldwide. This is expected after 3 consecutive years of La Nina- an
unusual occurrence.
Earth to reach 1.5°C temperature rise
In its latest estimations, WMO has also reinforced the UK Met Agency’s forecast of a 50%
chance of Earth reaching 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average in the next few years,
leading to unprecedented heatwaves and climate impacts around the world.
What is the WMO saying on ENSO?
El Nino may develop in the next three years. The chances of El Nino developing between
April-June 2023 are only 15%. The chances increase to 35% by May-July. It increases to 55%
in June-august.
So far, 2016 was recorded as the hottest year on earth. WMO is expecting that 2024 or
2025 or 2026 may break this record. This means earth temperatures are to increase
further.
How will this affect India?
The monsoon performance is bad in the country during El Nino. Rainfall decreases during
the El Nino period. As 90% of Indian agriculture is dependent on monsoon rains, the
country would face agricultural losses. Farmers are hit badly during El Nino. 60% of the
draughts that happened in India in the last 130 years coincided with El Nino.
Is ENSO predictable?
No. The ENSO development depends on the strength of the ocean warming. Sometimes
they are long and long-lasting. Sometimes they are weak and brief. They are highly
unpredictable. The 20th-century variability of ENSO is higher than the previous century
ENSOs. Even in the recent predictions, WMO is only speaking about chances and is not
confirming about the ENSO occurences.
Where is Bakhmut?
Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine, previously known as Artemivsk or Artyomovsk, is the
administrative centre of Bakhmut Raion in Donetsk Oblast. Located on the Bakhmutka
River, it is situated about 89 kilometres north of Donetsk.
Why is Bakhmut in news?
The Ukrainian military is planning a strategic pull-back from Bakhmut, which was an
important stronghold for Ukraine. Russia is currently involved in a months-long offensive
to capture this city. Bakhmut, though strategically and industrially not important, its
annexation creates symbolic significance for Russia. It is a key transport hub and has
numerous supply lines running through it. This eastern city is noted for its salt mining
activity.
Key Facts about Bakhmut
Bakhmut is the capital of Slavo-Serbia. Slavo-Serbia belonged to Imperial Russia from
1753-1764. The region is located between the Bakhmutka River and the Luhan River. Also,
the river Donets flows through this region. It is under the control of Ukraine now.
What happened to Bakhmut during the Ukraine war?
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Bakhmut was burnt to ruins according to Ukraine
Government. The population of the region was reduced by 97%. As of February 2023, the
Ukraine military forces had control over the region. It was the epicentre of fierce fighting
between the countries.
A controlled fighting withdrawal
The western countries supporting Ukraine call the pullback as the “Controlled fighting
Withdrawal”. According to them, this was done to save the rest of the Ukraine forces and
redeploy.
What has Russia gained so far?
With the invasion, Russia has established a land bridge between its land and Crimea
(which was annexed in 2014). Russia wants Ukraine because the country is becoming
more westernised. Russian president Vladimir Putin wants to re-establish Russian control
in the country. The western world is trying to stop Russia by imposing sanctions and
supplying arms and weapons to Ukraine. But Russia is persistent and not stopping.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic, a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, is facing global shortages due to its
popularity on social media platforms and its potential for weight loss. This injectable drug
was developed by the Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk. It belongs to a category
called GLP-1 agonists. It is still under patent and yet to see its generic versions made.
What does Ozempic do to your body?
Ozempic is found to slow down the rate at which food leaves the stomach, thereby
reducing appetite. Peer-reviewed research found that nearly three-quarters of users lost
over 10% of their body weight after taking this drug. This property led Ozempic to become
a widely used weight-loss-inducing drug.
What happens when you stop taking Ozempic?
People start to put on weight as they stop taking the drug. This is because of the
ingredient called “SEMAGLUTIDE” in the drug. The semaglutide helps the pancreas in
releasing the right amount of insulin. The main role of the pancreas is to maintain sugar
levels in the blood. It produces insulin and other hormones. When Pancreas does not
produce the right amount of insulin in the body, diabetes occurs.
What are GLP-1 agonists?
The Ozempic is a GLP-1 agonist drug. They are a class of drugs used to treat type-2
diabetes. GLP-1 drugs have three main functions. They are stimulating insulin production,
slow down insulin absorption, and inhibit glucagon release. There are two types of drugs
namely agonist drugs and antagonist drugs. The agonist drugs bind to the receptors of
the cell and activate the target. The antagonist drugs bind to the target and stop the
actions of other substances.
What is Ozempic Controversy?
The FDA has only approved Ozempic to treat diabetes. However, people are now using it
for weight loss. But when consumed by a non-diabetic person, it may lead to side effects
such as constipation, stomach pain, and vomiting. Though the side effects are very less, in
the long term they cause serious problems.
What is Sea Ice?
Antarctica’s sea ice is rapidly shrinking due to global warming. A new report suggested
that it is likely to shrink to a record low, falling to its lowest extent in more than four
decades of satellite record keeping. The ice is likely to shrink further until March.
What is Sea ice?
Frozen sea water is called sea ice. Sea ice covers 12% of the world’s oceans and 7% of the
earth’s surface. Most of the sea ice is in the Arctic Ice Pack and Antarctic Ice Pack. The
Antarctic Sea ice is in the southern ocean. It extends to the north in the winter. During
summer, it falls back to the coastline due to the melting of the ice.
Are sea ice and icebergs the same?
No. Icebergs calve into the ocean. They are chunks of ice shelves. The major difference
between icebergs and sea ice is in their attachment to the land. Sea ice is free floating.
They freeze during summer and unfreeze during winter. The icebergs, on the other hand,
are firmly attached to the land.
What are the three types of sea ice?
Brash Ice: It is formed by ice fragments that are not two metres in length
Ice Cake: It is less than 20 metres in length
Floe: It is more than 20 metres in length. They are further divided into small,
medium, big and vast. A vast flow is 10 km in length!
How is sea ice formed?
Sea ice is formed as a result of frozen seawater. It floats on the surface of the ocean due
to its low density (compared to water). It plays a major role in keeping the climate cool.
However, the rising global temperature is causing it to melt rapidly. Once this ice melts, its
effectiveness in cooling the region declines. It enables cooling by increasing the albedo of
the sea surface.
India Philanthropy Report 2023
The India Philanthropy Report 2023 was released by non-profit Dasra and consulting firm
Bain & Company. According to this report, the contributions by ultra-high net worth
individuals (UHNIs) in India to the social sector have declined by 5% in the financial year
ending March 2022, when the donations made by Wipro founder chairman Azim Premji
are excluded.
What does the India Philanthropy Report say?
The report revealed that UHNIs’ donations decreased to INR 3,843 crore in FY22 from INR
4,041 crore in FY21. In contrast, corporate social responsibility spending increased by 5%,
amounting to INR 27,000 crore in 2021-22. Overall, India’s total social sector expenditure
has been seeing a 15% annual growth over the last 5 years. Most of this spending was
from the government’s side. The report highlights the need for private philanthropy to
play a larger role in meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
by 2030.
Inference
The philanthropy of India has increased since 2017. Family philanthropy and Corporate
Social Responsibility contributed to 86% of the private philanthropy of the country. Private
philanthropy has a good scope of building bridges between civil society, foundations,
businesses, government, and communities.
The Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNI) in India are donating less as compared to
those in the UK, US, and China. UHNI are those people whose assets are worth at least 30
million USD.
Recommendations made
India needs to strengthen its philanthropy infrastructure. Also, philanthropy in India
should be injected into digital platforms as well. The philanthropy contributions shall be
extended to other sectors as well (apart from health and education).
What did the report say about Now-Gen giving and Inter-Gen philanthropy?
The Now-Generation giving has professionals and first-generation entrepreneurs. On the
other hand, the inter-generational givers are the traditional family philanthropists.
Together, they are reshaping the “giving culture” in India. Both are focusing on
historically preferred sectors such as health care and education. 30% of them are giving to
climate actions.
VAIBHAV Fellowship Scheme
In honor of National Science Day, which is celebrated on February 28th, the Indian
Government launched the VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme. The new initiative aims to
enhance the research capability of India’s higher education institutions by promoting

academic and research collaborations with top-performing institutions from around the
world.
Fostering Academic and Research Collaborations
The VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme will facilitate academic and research collaborations
between Indian higher education institutions and leading institutions abroad. This will
help to boost India’s research capabilities, leading to innovative and impactful research in
various fields.
The scheme will promote the mobility of faculties or researchers from overseas
institutions to India, allowing them to share their knowledge and expertise with Indian
researchers. The exchange will facilitate the transfer of knowledge, skills, and technology,
helping to build a stronger and more vibrant research community in India.
Eligibility Criteria for VAIBHAV Fellowship
To be eligible for the VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme, applicants must be non-resident
Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), or Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs). They
must have obtained a Ph.D./M.D./M.S. degree from a recognized university and be
currently engaged in an overseas academic, research, or industrial organization with a
proven R&D track record.
Applicants must also plan to work for at least one month, up to a maximum of two
months, each year at an Indian research/academic institution. This commitment will allow
them to contribute their expertise to Indian research and academic institutions,
promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Benefits of the VAIBHAV Fellowship Scheme
The VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme will provide numerous benefits for both Indian and
overseas researchers. Indian researchers will benefit from access to cutting-edge research
techniques and technologies, as well as exposure to different research cultures and
methodologies. Overseas researchers, in turn, will have the opportunity to engage with
India’s rich cultural heritage and learn from its diverse population.
In addition to improving India’s research capabilities, the VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme will
also foster international collaboration and promote the exchange of ideas across borders.
This will contribute to the global advancement of science and technology, helping to
address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
WHO International Health Regulations 2005
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the limitations of the WHO International
Health Regulations 2005, which was implemented by 196 countries across the world. In
response to the challenges highlighted by the pandemic, the first round of negotiations
concerning the amendments to the regulations was recently concluded. More than 300
suggested changes were proposed for this document, which is the binding instrument of
international law that entered into force in 2007.
Purpose of the International Health Regulations
The purpose of the International Health Regulations 2005 is to prevent, protect, control,
and provide a public health response to the global spread of disease and prevent
hindrances in global traffic and trade. It requires the states to strengthen disease
surveillance and response capabilities at all levels.
Amendments in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations are in response to the
challenges highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has exposed the
limitations of the regulations and the need for better preparedness and response to
global health threats.
The proposed changes aim to improve the global response to public health emergencies,
including strengthening disease surveillance and response capabilities, improving the
sharing of information and data, and enhancing collaboration between countries and
international organizations. The changes will also address the issue of inadequate funding
and resources for global health emergencies, including the establishment of a dedicated
fund for emergency response.
Next Steps for the Amendments
The first round of negotiations has concluded, and the next meeting of the Working Group
on Amendments to the International Health Regulations is to be convened on 17-20 April.
This meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss the proposed amendments and make
further recommendations.
The amendments will need to be adopted by the World Health Assembly before they can
come into force. This process is likely to take several years, but the proposed changes
represent an important step towards strengthening global health security and improving
the global response to public health emergencies.
What is Arribada?
Olive Ridley turtles are a globally recognized species for their synchronized nesting
behavior, also known as arribadas. This endangered species is primarily found in the
warm and tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are the second-smallest
and most abundant sea turtle species in the world. However, despite their abundance,
Olive Ridley turtles are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation
of Nature (IUCN) due to the increasing threat to their habitats.
Mating and Breeding Season
The mating and breeding season for Olive Ridley turtles occurs during the winter season,
between November to May. In order to protect the turtles, fishing activities inside the
Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and 20 km off the shore are banned during this period. This
ban is enforced under the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1982 and Orissa Marine
Fishing Rules, 1983.
Arribada in February
The mass nesting of Olive Ridley turtles, also known as arribada, happened in February
this year – a month earlier than the previous year’s nesting season. Experts suggest that
suitable climatic and beach conditions such as the softness of the sand and more space on
the beach could be the reasons for the early nesting. The Odisha government imposed a
ban on fishing activities on the beach to protect the turtles during this period.
Protection Efforts
The Odisha government has taken several initiatives to protect Olive Ridley turtles. The
Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary has been established as a protected area to ensure the
conservation of the endangered species. Fishing activities are strictly prohibited in this
area, and the government has implemented measures to monitor and control illegal
fishing activities.
The Odisha Forest and Environment Department have also initiated programs to promote
awareness among local communities about the importance of protecting Olive Ridley
turtles. These programs involve educating the communities about the significance of the
turtle population and the need to conserve their habitats. The government has also set up
rescue centers to care for injured turtles and hatchlings that are washed ashore.
March 6, 2023
What is Debt Forgiveness Plan?
The Debt Forgiveness Plan was announced by the Biden Government on August 24 last
year. This plan vowed to cancel 10,000 USD of student loan debt for individuals earning
less than 125,000 USD or for households earning less than $250,000 per annum.
What is Debt Forgiveness Plan?
Under this plan, those who are receiving Federal Pell Grants will be given an additional
10,000 USD in debt forgiven. Federal Pell Grants are given to undergraduate students with
exceptional financial needs who have not earned a professional, bachelor’s, or graduate
degree. This plan covers all college students whose loans were disbursed prior to July 1,
2022.
Why is Debt Forgiveness Plan in News?
Recently, the US Supreme Court heard cases challenging the legality of this initiative that
would waive off 400 billion dollars in student loans.
Under which law was the Debt Forgiveness Plan implemented?
HEROES Act. That is, Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act, 2003. The act
empowers the state secretary to waive the regulatory provisions to protect the borrowers
affected by military operations or national emergencies or war.
Have the student’s debts been waived before?
Yes. In 2020, the Trump administration used the HEROES Act to halt loan requirements.
This was done due to the National Emergency declared in 2020.
The budget cost of the plan
More than 26 million people have applied for debt relief. Out of these, the US Government
had relieved 16 million. To continue the plan for the next three decades, the US
Government will have to spend 400 billion USD.
Observation: Can India adopt such measures?
The Reserve Bank of India says that student loans in India as of August 26, 2022, are Rs.
1,45,785 crores. Due to high-interest rates and job insecurity, students are facing
difficulties to repay loans. The annual interest on education loans in the country ranges
from 7.3% to 16%. Apart from this, there are processing fees. Given the market size and
diversity, it is difficult to implement such loan waivers in India.
What is Tillyardembiids?
Fossils of the oldest known insect and the world’s first plant pollinators called
tillyardembiids were discovered recently in Russia. They were found along the riverbank,
close to the village of Chekarda in Russia.
What are Tillyardembiids?
Tillyardembiids are earwig-like insects with flattened bodies. The specimens found in
Russia were estimated to be around 280 million years old, predating the previously-known
pollen-covered insects by about 120 million years. They are older than mosquitoes found
in Jurassic Park, which is around 200 million years old. They had clumps of pollen on their
heads, bodies and legs. These pollens were gymnosperms – a category of plants that
produce seeds without flowers. Note that while flower plants evolved 250 million to 150
million years ago, they became more common only 100 million years ago.
Tillyard embiids belong to the Palezoic era
The Palezoic era dates between 541 million years ago and 252 million years ago. During
this period, the fish diversified. Marine organisms were abundant. The Appalachian
mountains in North America were formed during the Palezoic era. The mountains were
formed due to repeated continental collisions and the retreat of seas. American and
African plates collided together to form the Appalachian mountains.
Observation
The insect discovered belongs to an era when flowering plants were just emerging.
Flowering plants were not common during this period. Flowering plants started appearing
only during the Lower Cretaceous era, that is, about 125 million years ago. And they
started diversifying only 100 million years ago. Please note that the pollens that covered
the insect were from non-flowering plants.
Insect fossils found in ancient-era rocks
The rock on which the insect fossil was found is a sedimentary rock. It was under a lagoon
about 280 million years ago. The fossil has travelled a long way to reach to 21st century!
Chief Election Commissioner
Chief Election Commissioner heads the Election Commission of India – the statutory body
responsible for the conducting of free and fair elections to the national and state
legislatures and of the President and Vice President. It is very difficult to remove the Chief
Election Commissioner after being appointed by the President. A two-thirds of the Lok
Sabha and Rajya Sabha is required to be present and vote against CEC for improper action
or disorderly conduct to remove him from office.
Why is Chief Election Commissioner in News?
A 5-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the
committee with the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and the
Chief Justice of India must pick the Chief Election Commissioner and Election
Commissioners. The court also said that this arrangement would hold until the Parliament
passes a dedicated law. The bench was hearing a petition requesting reform in the
appointment of Election Commissioners of India.
Chief Election Commissioner in the USA
Just like India, the Federal Election Commission of the USA is also an independent body. It
was created only in 1974! There are six election commissioners. They are all appointed by
the President of the USA. The term of the election commissioners is six years.
Chief Election Commissioner in the UK
The election commission was created only in 2001. There are ten election commissioners.
The commissioners are selected from the Members of the Parliament. In India, usually
experienced IAS officers or other eminent personalities are appointed as the Election
Commissioner.
Chief Election Commissioner in Russia
The Central Election Commission of Russia was created in 1993. There are 15 members of
the commission. Earlier, only people with higher education can become members of the
commission. However, this was changed in 2007 and now even people without higher
education can become election commissioners.
What is e-Bill system?
The Electronic Bill (e-Bill) processing system was launched by the Central Government on
the occasion of the 46th Civil Accounts Day in 2022. It was announced during the Union
Budget 2022-23. It is part of the various measures taken by the Indian Government to
promote ‘The Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and Digital India ecosystem.
Why is an e-bill system in News?
All central ministries and departments will be brought on board of the paperless and
faceless e-Bill system before March 2024 to eliminate corruption and ensure the timely
clearance of bills submitted by their vendors and contractors. Currently, 350 departments
are on this system. 200 more are to do the same in the next year.
What is e-bill system?
the e-bill system is transacting bills digitally. It was introduced to improve the digital
ecosystem of India and the Ease of doing business. The main objective of the system is to
increase transparency. With the e-bill system, vendors and suppliers can submit their bills
online anytime. There are no physical interferences between government officials and
suppliers.
What are the major steps involved in the e-billing process?
Creating invoices, Collecting payments from customers, and sending an invoice. The
invoice lists the products and services provided to the customers. Creating invoices
includes ensuring that the correct items are included, applying discounts, and calculating
the totals. The next step is to send the invoice to the customer. The last step is to collect
the payments and also track them.
Who developed the e-bill system?
Public Financial Management System. It operates under the finance ministry. Earlier it was
called the Central Plan Schemes Monitoring System. It was developed to track the money
issued under the government schemes in the country and also report the expenses being
made real-time. The main objective was to assist the GoI in public finance management.
Who is a Whip?
A whip, in parliamentary language, may refer to a written order to members of a
particular party in the House to abide by a certain direction. It may also refer to an official
of the party who is authorized to issue such a direction. This term has been derived from
the old British practice of “whipping in” lawmakers to follow a party line.
Why is Whip in News recently?
Supreme Court recently observed that Members of a House are bound by the whip. If any
section of MLAs belonging to a political party that is part of the ruling coalition does not
want to go with the alliance, the MLAs will be disqualified. This observation was made
orally by a 5-Judge Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India.
Whip in Australia
The whip ensures that all the senators and members are present in the chamber. There is
no official office for the whip like that of the UK.
Whip in Canada
Here, the whip is a member of the political party. He ensures party discipline. The office of
the whip prepares and distributes vote sheets. Whip assigns the speakers from his or her
party for motions and bills and also during other proceedings in the house.
Whip in India
India inherited the concept of Whip from the UK. Usually, the whips direct the members to
vote as instructed by the party. However, the whip cannot bring in such directions during
Presidential elections.
Whip in Ireland
Here, the whips meet to set the weekly agenda of the house. The members should get
permission from the whips if they are to be absent for a voting session.
Whip in the US
The State legislatures, the House of Senate, and the House of Representatives all have
whips in the US. The majority of whips here are the President Pro Tempore. President Pro
Tempore is the second highest-ranking official in the Senate. In the absence of the Vice
President, the President Pro Tempore acts as the Vice President.
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous
system characterized by a rapid rise in heart rate after standing up or lying down. It is
caused when most of the blood stays in the lower body. It is usually non-life threatening
and is more common among women.
Why POTS in news recently?
Research is being conducted to identify the relationship between POTS and COVID-19 and
the possible causes and treatments for long Covid-related POTS. Some Covid-19 long-
hauliers have reported experiencing similar symptoms as POTS patients, such as dizziness,
fainting, heart palpitations, and fatigue. They have also experienced digestive problems,
hands and feet turning purple, and blurred or tunnel vision.

What is the main cause of POTS?
Pregnancy, surgery, viral illness, and trauma. Persons with POTS find difficulties in
exercising. Physical activities cause dizziness in POTS patients. The cause of the disorder is
not known to date.
At what age do POTS go away?
It goes away after the age of 20. This is mainly because of the changes the body
undergoes during puberty. When the boy or girl attains puberty, several changes occur in
the body. Mainly there are changes in hormonal secretion. Usually, adolescents under this
stage are hyperactive, powerful, and very agitated at times. This is because of the effects
of hormones on the nervous system. They even undergo emotional mood swings. This is
also because of the hormonal influence on the nervous system. The hormones play a
crucial role in developing the nervous system during such times. For this reason, the POTS
go away during puberty.
POTS disease Life Expectancy
POTS disease do not affect the life expectancy of the patients. Life expectancy is normal in
these conditions. They go away in adults after some time. However, the time taken for
POTS to disappear in adults is longer than the adolescents.
5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas
The 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas is organized across India based on the theme “Jan Aushadhi –
Sasti bhi Acchi bhi”. It was organized from March 1 to 2 this year. It kicked off with the Jan
Aushadhi Jan Chetna Abhiyan across India. It was organized by the Union Health Ministry
in collaboration with the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India and states
and union territories.
About the 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas
The event has witnessed the organization of more than 34 Pratigya Yatras across India,
with 8 of them led by Members of Parliament on the first day. Over 5,000 citizens,
including doctors, have committed to using generic medicines on the MyGov platform. Jan
Aushadhi Pratidya Yatra, Pad Yatra was also carried out. The main objective of the divas is
to spread awareness of generic medicines and also about PMBJP.
Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana
The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana was launched in November 2008 by
the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. There is 9,082 PM
Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras as of January 31, 2023.
Objectives
The main objective of the PMBJP is to ensure that citizens have good access to quality
medicines. It aims to create awareness about generic medicines. There is an age-old
custom among doctors in India of not recommending generic medicines. The current
ruling government wanted to change this. And PMBJP was one of the initiatives that works
to change this custom. It also generates employment by opening PMBJP Kendra.
How are medicines procured in PMBJP?
Medicines are procured from private manufacturers and also from the CPSUs. After
procuring the medicines are tested in NABL-approved laboratories. After their approval,
the medicines are distributed to the Pradhan Mantri Janushadhi Kendra.
Role of Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
The scheme is implemented by this ministry. Apart from monitoring and fund allocations,
the ministry should also generate an annual report about the functioning of the scheme.
It is one of the flagship schemes of the Government of India.
CO2 Emissions in 2022 Report
According to the CO2 Emissions in 2022 Report by the International Energy Agency
released on March 2, 2023, global energy-related CO2 emissions increased by less than 1%
in 2022. This is despite many countries shifting from natural gas to coal as an energy
source. This was due to the increased use of clean energy technologies such as solar,
wind, EVs, heat pumps, and energy efficiency, which helped to limit the impacts of coal
and oil use amid the global energy crisis.
Highlights of the report
The report highlights that this rise in emissions was significantly lower than the
exceptional increase of over six per cent in 2021. It recommended stronger steps to
accelerate the clean energy transition to achieve energy and climate goals.
Emissions by the EU, US and China
According to the report, emissions in China decreased in 2022 due to the COVID lockdown.
In the European Union, emissions decreased by 2.5%. This was because, with Russia
invading Ukraine, many countries stopped importing gas and oil from Russia and moved
towards clean energy. In the US, emissions increased by 0.8%.
Emissions by fuel
The Carbon emissions from the fuel coal increased by 1.6%. The emissions from oil
increased by 2.5%. The aviation sector was the major polluter in this fuel category.
Report on the energy sector
In the energy sector, the major emissions came from electricity generators, particularly
coal-based electricity generators. Solar energy and wind energy power plants increased
throughout the world.
Other Key findings of the Report
The emissions from the global industries decreased. The main reason behind the
reduction was a 10% decrease in cement production and a 2% decrease in steel
production
The overall price of energy increased, fuel trade was disrupted, and inflation hit
peaks. For these reasons, the overall emissions decreased
Emissions due to natural gas decreased by 1.6%
Though there was significant growth in renewable energy, the power sector was the
major contributor to the emissions.
2023 Hunger Funding Gap Report

A report titled “2023 Hunger Funding Gap Report: What’s Needed to Stop the Global
Hunger Crisis” was released recently by Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian
organisation. The organization takes action against the causes and effects of hunger.
According to this report, countries witnessing the worst hunger crisis received less hunger
funding than countries with lower rates of hunger.
The number of people facing hunger crises has increased to 18 per cent at a rate faster
than the funding provided to address this issue. Though the overall funding to address
hunger has risen in 2022, the support was spread thinner. The report noted a hunger
funding gap of 53%. In 2022, only 3 per cent of hunger programme needs were fully
funded. Around 65 per cent of appeals were not fulfilled even to a halfway point.
Key findings of the Report
47% of the global hunger needs are met through UN funds. This leaves the Hunger
Funding Gap at 53%. The countries that are facing the worst hunger crisis receive the least
amount of funds. Mozambique and Kenya received 32% higher funding than Afghanistan
and Haiti. The hunger crisis in the former is less than that of the latter
Countries with Worst Hunger Crisis: Afghanistan, Haiti, Central African Republic,
Madagascar, Honduras, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Somalia, Kenya, Mozambique, Guatemala
Most of the hunger programmes are dropped halfway
What’s Needed to Stop the Global Hunger Crisis
Donor countries should prioritize their funding to the hunger programmes. More
philanthropic foundations should be established. The donor community should balance
their funds between those categories that are in need of immediate humanitarian
assistance and those that have long-term development needs.
It requires 4 billion USD to stop the hunger crisis in the world. This is approximately equal
to the cost of the 2030 Winter Olympics. Wealthy countries should contribute more to
reducing hunger levels in the world.
What is Indian Bureau of Mines?
The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) recently celebrated its 75th Foundation Day. It was
founded in 1948 as a governmental institution responsible for multiple disciplines like
conservation, scientific development of mineral resources, and the protection of the
environment in non-coal, non-petroleum and natural gas, non-atomic minerals, and minor
minerals mines. It comes under the aegis of the Department of Mines, Ministry of Mines.
Why is the Indian Bureau of Mines in the News?
IBM recently awarded 5 ratings to NMDC’s iron ore mines – Kirandul Deposit and Bacheli
Deposit. These mines were assessed based on their efforts to implement the Sustainable
Development Framework, including impact management through scientific and efficient
mining, addressing social impacts and implementing welfare initiatives.
What is the role of the Indian Bureau of Mines?
It promotes scientific development in the mining sector. Also, aims at the conservation of
minerals and protects against environmental degradation due to mining activities. The
IMB is responsible for both on-shore and off-shore mines.
How did IBM make the assessment?
Based on certain factors such as the adoption of international standards, mine enclosure,
welfare programmes, addressing the social impacts, impact management, adopting
scientific developments in mining activities, local community engagements, etc.
Above all the mines were checked if they implemented the Sustainable Development
Framework.
Sustainable Development Framework for the mining sector
It was released by the Ministry of Mines. It is basically a guiding framework. The main
objective is that the miner should leave the area in a better ecological shape. The SDF was
developed in accordance with the National Mineral Policy 2008. The SDF includes
preparing an overlay such as protected areas, scheduled areas, fragile ecosystems, dense
habitats, etc. It also includes risk criteria, periodical review, updated information with the
ministry, etc. Apart from this, the miners should identify new mining regions, conduct
periodic regional studies, facilitate zero-waste mining, etc.
Mind the Gender Gap Report
The report titled “Mind the Gender Gap” was released recently by the CFA Institute. It is
created based on the data from BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report)
disclosures. The BRSR framework was released in 2021 by SEBI as a set of sustainability
disclosure mechanisms for private companies. This replaced the previous Business
Responsibility Report requirement. The disclosures under this framework are voluntary for
FY22 and mandatory for the top 1,000 companies from FY23.
According to the Mind the Gender Gap report, women’s participation rate in finance and
related sectors are low in India. Only 21.7 per cent of women are employed in financial
services companies and only 15.9 per cent are employed in key managerial positions.
The ratio of women to men was 0.97. It drops down to 0.52 for key management
personnel and around 0.64 for directors. This means there are 0.97 women for 1 man, 0.52
women in management personnel for 1 man and so on. 69% had no women working in
their companies. More women left their jobs during COVID due to child care and elderly
care
How was the report prepared?
The Indian companies were asked to submit answers about different topics such as
workforce composition, attrition, pay, and several other factors. Disclosures made by 134
companies were analysed. This included 26 financial service companies.
Report on Sexual harassment in the workplace
Most working women face sexual harassment but do not report it. Out of the 122
companies, 71 reported no sexual harassment issues. the main challenge in the issue is to
make the victim speak about it. Despite awareness campaigns and talks, the reporting
couldn’t be increased in this issue.
Recommendations
Companies should adopt more disclosures, especially those related to median
remuneration. There is an urgent need to increase the diversity among senior
management. There is a need for career progression. Also, gender diversity in
development pipelines and career progression should be increased.
What is SAMARTH scheme?
The SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in Textiles Sector) scheme is a demand-
driven and placement-oriented umbrella skilling initiative that aims to provide incentives
and create jobs in the organized textile industry and related sectors, covering the entire
value chain of textiles, except spinning and weaving. It is implemented via Implementing
Partners like state government agencies, Textile Industry/ Industry Associations and
sectoral organizations of the textile ministry, like the Central Silk Board. It will be
implemented until March 2024.
Why is SAMARTH Scheme in News?
The Indian Government is now planning to rope in more industry partners to boost skill
development under the SAMARTH scheme. This initiative is part of the steps taken by the
government to make the textile sector worth 250 billion USD by the end of this decade
from the present 150-155 billion USD.
Recent Achievements in the scheme
Around 92,000 weavers and artisans received jobs under this scheme. The scheme has
penetrated more than 28 states and union territories. 1.5 lakh beneficiaries have been
provided training under the scheme. The target of beneficiaries is 3.47 lakh beneficiaries.
How is the scheme being implemented?
To implement the scheme the textiles ministry has partnered with more than 116 textile
industries and associations. The scheme is a part of the Broad Skilling Policy Framework
adopted by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Objective
The scheme aims to incentivise and support the efforts of the industrial sector in
generating employment opportunities in the textile sector. It also aims to increase the
productivity of the present workers in the textile sectors such as handicraft, jute, silk, and
handloom.
What are the unique features of the scheme?
The scheme is being implemented using advanced technologies such as the Aadhaar
Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), CCTV, Training of Trainers, and dedicated
call centres. 184 courses have been prepared to improve the skills of the present workers.
These courses are aligned with the National Skill Qualification Framework.
What is Acute Kidney Injury?
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) or Acute Renal Failure (ARF) is the sudden failure of the kidney’s
functioning that occurs within a few hours or a few days. It causes the accumulation of
waste products in blood, making it hard of kidneys to keep the right fluid balance in the
body.
Why is Acute Kidney Injury in the News?
An investigation led by the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention and
Gambian scientists have linked the acute kidney injury (AKI) cluster among children in The
Gambia to Indian cough syrups contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene
glycol (EG). The report states that medications contaminated with DEG or EG imported
into The Gambia caused the outbreak of AKI, which has been previously documented in
Panama, Nigeria, and Haiti. The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report reveals that
among the 78 clinically suspected AKI cases identified, 85% resulted in death.
Background
Last October, the WHO issued an alert calling for the withdrawal of cough syrups
manufactured by the Indian firm, Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd, due to diethylene and
ethylene glycol contamination. According to the report, 70 children’s deaths have been
tied to contaminated cough syrups.
What is Acute Kidney Injury?
It is an injury where the kidney stops working suddenly. There are four phases in the AKI.
They are initiation, oligo-anuria, polyuria, and restitution. Urine output decreases in AKI.
How did glycol in the syrup lead to AKI?
If the glycol levels increase by more than 0.1 ml per kg of body weight, it becomes poison.
This means if the syrup prescribed for adults is given to kids, then it becomes poison.
About Ethylene Glycol
It has very low vapour pressure. It is not absorbed by the skin. It causes irritation when
breathed in. The “OSMOLAL GAP” test is used to detect if a person is poisoned by ethylene
glycol.
National Safety Day 2023
National Safety Day is celebrated annually on March 4 across India. It aims to raise
awareness about the importance of health and safety at workplaces and create a culture
of safety among the general public.
Why is National Safety Day celebrated?
The National Safety Day commemorates the establishment of the National Safety Council
(NSC) of India – a non-profit, non-governmental organization – in 1966. The NSC,
established as a public trust under the 1950 Bombay Public Trust Act, focuses on human
health safety, road safety and environmental safety protocols. It was observed for the first
time in 1972.
The theme of National Safety Day 2023
“Our Aim – Zero Harm”. It focuses on the importance of the complete elimination of
occupational hazards. The major occupational hazards are physical hazards, chemical
hazards, biological hazards, physical safety hazards, and ergonomic risk factors.
National Safety Council
It was set by the Ministry of Labour and Employment (GoI) to develop voluntary
movement in SHE, that is, Safety. Health, and Environment. The main objective of the NSC
is to create a preventive culture to SHE issues. NSC conducts training, seminar, and
workshops. It designs SHE-related materials. The main purpose of the NSC is industrial
safety.
What other days are commemorated by the NSC?
Road Safety Week falls in January; World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5; and Fire
Service Week that is marked in October.
Directive Principles and National Safety Day
Industrial safety measures are important because of the directive principles in the
constitution. The directive principles say that it is essential to create social and economic
conditions in which the citizens can lead a good life. Based on this, the GoI has constituted
more than 13 laws on safety.
National Safety Week
It is a campaign marked along with National Safety Day. It is celebrated from March 4
every year. Campaigns are conducted to spread awareness of safety in all sectors.
What is HUID Number?
Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number is a unique 6-digit alphanumeric code
consisting of numbers and letters. It is stamped manually on a piece of jewellery at the
Assaying & Hallmarking centres. It ensures the purity and fitness of gold via third-party
assurance to the customers. Note that a BIS Hallmark has 3 components- the BIS logo, a
symbol indicating the article’s purity and fineness and the HUID.
Why is HUID Number in News?
The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution recently announced
that the sale of gold jewellery and gold artefacts without the HUID number is prohibited in
India from April 1. To date, as many as 10.56 crore pieces of gold jewellery articles have
been Hallmarked in 2022-23.
Who provides the HUID Number?
The number is stamped at the BIS-certified Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. There are
hallmarking centres located all over the country.
What is hallmarking?
Hallmarking is verifying the purity of gold. Gold is too soft. So some metals like copper are
added to the gold to make it rigid to wear. The 916 mark on the gold says that the
jewellery is made of an alloy that has 91.6% of gold.
What are the hallmarks of gold allowed in India?
There are six different gold hallmarks that are allowed in India by the BIS. They are 14
carats, 18 carats, 20 carats, 22 carats, 23 carats, and 24 carats. 24-carat gold is the purest
form. No metals are added to it. 24 carat also means the jewellery has 99.9% of pure gold.
The 916 gold is 22-carat gold and it has 91.6% of gold. The 18-carat gold has 75% of gold
and 25% of other metals like copper, zinc, etc. The 14-carat gold has 41.7% of gold. There
is 9-carat and 10-carat gold in the international market. However, India does not provide
hallmarking to those.
What is NPCDCS?
The Indian Government launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of
Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010 to prevent and
control major non-communicable diseases. It focuses on strengthening infrastructure,
human resource development, early diagnosis, health promotion and more. It seeks to
reduce premature cancer-related mortality by 25% by 2025.
Why is NPCDCS in News?
In line with the NPCDCS, a 164-bed Super-Specialty Cancer and Research Centre are being
set up in Mizoram. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Indian
Government signed a loan agreement to provide Rs.560 crore credit for this project’s
implementation. This facility will have cutting-edge medical equipment for cancer
diagnosis to ensure efficient prevention and treatment.
Need for NPCDCS
Cancer, diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular diseases are generally referred to as non-
communicable diseases. 60% of the deaths in India occur to non-communicable diseases.
Non-communicable diseases cause premature deaths and therefore, reduce the overall
productivity of the country.
There are 1.29 crores of persons affected by NCD. Of these 90,000 are suffering from
cardiovascular diseases and 13,000 people are suffering from cancers. With NPCDS, more
than 96 lakh individuals were screened for NCD and were referred to higher diagnosis
centres.
Modified Strategy of NPCDCS
The scheme was launched in 2010. In 2017, a modified strategy was adopted for the
scheme. It is now being implemented under this new strategy. Behavioural change is the
focus of the new strategy. To achieve this, outreach camps are being organised. NCD
clinics are built. Cost-effective treatment is provided. A robust surveillance system is
implemented to monitor morbidity and mortality rates.
Recent Programmes initiated under NPCDCS
Population-based screening is being implemented for the early detection of NCDs. The
scheme has been integrated with AYUSH. RNTCP has been integrated with NPCDCS.
TCCC Scheme for Cancer
Under the NPCDCS the Tertiary Care Cancer Centers scheme is being implemented. It
aims to set up 20 Cancer Institutes. The GoI has allocated Rs 120 crores per cancer
institute.
What is Polystoechotes punctate?
Polystoechotes punctate, which was thought to be extinct in the eastern United States,
was rediscovered in 2012 after more than 5 decades. The giant Jurassic-era insect was
found in Arkansas. Jurassic Era occurred some 201.4 million years ago. There is a
possibility that a population of this species can be found in remote parts of the Ozark
mountains.
What are Polystoechotes punctate?
Polystoechotes punctata is a giant lacewing belonging to the Ithonidae family. It was once
found in large numbers across North America. It was believed to have gone extinct in the
1950s. It is suspected to have gone extinct as a consequence of efforts to suppress natural

forest fires in the eastern part of North America. The species is described to be a cross
between a fly and a moth. The lacewing has mottled wings which it holds tent-like over its
body.
Where is Ozark mountain?
The Ozark Mountains are in the USA. It touches the states of Missouri, Oklahoma, and
Arkansas. Usually, mountains are formed due to the folding or faulting of the earth’s
surface. Strangely, Ozark was not formed due to either of the processes. These mountains
were formed due to erosion. The mountain was once under the sea during the Palezoic
era. It had layers of sedimentation. As days passed by, the sediments became rocks.
The Ozarks are not mountain ranges but eroded plateaus. Different rates of erosion in
different eras led to the formation of steep-sided mountains.
Natural Forest Fires in North America
Forest fire in North America is commonly referred to as wildfire or bushfire. 85% of the
forest fires here are caused by humans. Apart from this, lightning is another major source
to cause forest fires here. High dryness is the major cause of forest fires in North America.
Who is Ales Bialiatski?
Ales Bialiatski is a Nobel laureate and the co-founder of the Viasna human rights group,
which had been at the forefront of providing legal and financial aid to those who were
imprisoned during protests against the long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko. This
Belarusian received Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 for his role in promoting human rights and
democracy. He shared the award with the Russian rights group Memorial and Ukraine’s
Center for Civil Liberties.
Who is Bialiatski?
Bialiatski has been awarded 10 years of imprisonment by the Belarus Court. He was
arrested in 2021 along with two other individuals from his organization. His human rights
organization for charged with smuggling and violation of public order. He is noted for his
role in pro-democracy protests since the 1980s. This isn’t the first time he is being
arrested. He was imprisoned in the 2011-14 period for tax evasion. He was again targeted
by the authorities in 2021 for his anti-government protests.
What is the Viasna Human Rights Group?
It is a Human Rights organization located in Minsk. The organization provides financial
and legal assistance to political prisoners. It was founded in 1997. The organization played
a major role in the 2020-2021 Belarusian protest. It was one of the biggest protests in the
history of Belarus. The protests were related to the 2020 presidential elections. After the
2020 Presidential election, Alexander Lukashenk sought the sixth term as the President of
the country. The protests were nicknamed the Slipper Revolution.
Who is Alexander Lukashenko?
He has been the President of Belarus ever since the country was established in 1994. With
this, he is the longest-sitting European President. Between 1975 and 1977, Alexander
served in the Soviet Border troops. He was an instructor. In 1979, he joined the
Communist Party of the Soviet Union. After the controversial 1995 referendum, Alexander
dismissed the Supreme Soviet of Belarus (the legislature of Belarus). He is now supporting
Russia in the Ukraine war. Belarus allowed Russian troops to travel through their country
to invade Ukraine in 2022.
Bulgaria’s Liberation Day
Bulgaria celebrates its Liberation Day/ Unification Day on March 3 each year. The day
marks Bulgaria’s freedom from Ottoman rule after almost five centuries of control. The
day is observed to honour the Bulgarian volunteers who fought alongside Russian and
Romanian soldiers in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 to free their country from
Ottoman oppression. On Liberation Day, a military parade is organized in the capital city
of Sofia. The wreath-laying ceremony is held at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier.
History of Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s history can be traced back to the First Bulgarian Empire, which was formed in
681 A.D. The empire came under Ottoman rule in 1396. Two uprisings against Ottoman
control in 1875 and 1876 resulted in the signing of the Treaty of San Stefano on March 3,
1878, and the recognition of Bulgaria as an independent state.
Ottoman Empire
It existed till the first world war. Ottoman Empire was in decline when the world war
started. And it joined Germany and Austria-Hungary in the first world war. Current Turkey
and some regions around the country were once the Ottoman Empire. Earlier, the
Ottoman Empire controlled northern Africa, Southeast Europe and Western Asia. They
were very powerful. The Britishers chose the sea trade in the 16th – 17th century mainly
because of the Ottoman empire. Not even the British could pass through them.
The Ottomans conquered Constantinople and ended the Byzantine empire in 1453. Their
rule extended to the Balkans in the 14th century. Suleiman the Magnificent was one of the
powerful rulers of the Ottoman Empire. He expanded the empire largely.
How is Russo-Turkish War related to the current Ukraine war?
The Russo-Turkish war was fought between the Ottoman Empire and a coalition. The
Coalition was led by Russia. It included Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria. The war was fought
in the Balkans. Russia fought the war to get back the territories it lost during the Crimean
war. As you can see, Russia’s link with the Crimean peninsula goes back to the 18th-19th
century. The Crimean war was fought between Russia on one side and France, Ottoman
Empire, the UK, and Sardina-Piedmont on the other side. Russia lost the war and its
Crimean peninsula.
Being the most important trade route, countries have been fighting over the Crimean
peninsula since early times.
Mental State of the World Report
The third annual mental state of the world report was released recently by a non-profit
called Sapien Labs. The report is based on the survey of over 4 lakh participants across 64
countries.
According to this report, the COVID-19 pandemic has detrimental effects on mental health
and interpersonal relationships. The report’s mental health quotient found that, on a 300-
point scale, the score of mental health fell by 33 points on average over the two years of
the COVID-19 pandemic. This decline is yet to improve. It found that mental health
challenges are more likely among young adults. Individuals between ages 18 and 24 have
lower “social self”, which measures how an individual perceives themselves and their
ability to maintain a meaningful relationship. Compared to those aged 75 years and
above, young adults are less likely to have close friends. The report also noted that family
relationships are declining across the world. Those with no close friendships and poor
family relationships are 10x more likely to have poor mental health, according to the
report.
Mental Health Quotient
The report used the Mental Health Quotient to learn about the mental health of people in
different countries. The quotient was calculated based on an online survey. The
participants were randomly picked from India, Spain, France, Arab countries, North Africa,
Germany, and other western countries.
In terms of deterioration in social self, India topped the list. Social self means building
relationships with others, empathizing, and communicating. Indians have become very
bad at building social relationships after COVID. The MHQ of India was 58.8.
Performance of the world countries
Tanzania had good mental health and topped the list with an MHQ of 93.6. Panama,
Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic were in the second, third, and fourth places respectively.
The score of the USA was 67.9, Australia: 54.4, Germany: 65.9, France 74.1, UK: 46.2.
The global average MHQ was 64.
The report did not include any details about China!
What is YDB-60?
The Indian Navy has received the first fully indigenized fuze YDB-60 for the underwater
anti-submarine warfare rocket RGB-60. The fuze was manufactured by the private Indian
Industry M/s Economic Explosives Limited (EEL) which is based in Nagpur.
Significance of the procurement
This marks the first time that the Indian Navy has procured an underwater ammunition
fuze from an Indian private manufacturer. It is a major boost for the self-reliance of the
Indian defence sector. The use of simulated dynamic trial facilities during the
development and manufacturing process is also a noteworthy achievement.
Who received YDB-60?
Vice Admiral SN Ghormade, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, received the first consignment of the
fuze from the CMD of EEL, Nagpur. The technical assistance was provided by the Indian
Navy’s Directorate General of Naval Armament (DGONA) and Directorate General of Naval
Armament Inspection (DGNAI).
What is a Fuze?
It is part of the weapon or ammunition that initiates its function. In torpedoes, the
function is to explode. Fuze may have electronic or mechanical parts. There are different
types of fuze namely artillery fuze, hand grenade fuze, aerial bomb fuze, landmine fuze,
naval mine fuze, etc. Apart from this, there are time fuze, impact fuze, proximity fuze,
barometric fuze, combination fuze, etc.
Initiation of the YDB-60
The demand for grants to obtain the YDB-60 fuze was placed in the Standing Committee
on Defence 2014-15. The demand was placed for both Medium Range Chaff Rocket and
also for the RGB-60, the anti-submarine rocket. RGB-60 has received its fuze.
What is RGB-60?
It is a rocket used to hit submarines. It is 212 mm in diameter and 1830 mm in length. The
range of RGB-60 is 300m to 5,500m. It operates with a two-stage motor. It is charged with
Torpex. Torpex is a mixture of RDX, aluminium, and TNT. Torpex is mainly used in
underwater firings.
‘Dhara: An Ode to Indian Knowledge Systems’ Initiative
The Ministry of Culture’s flagship initiative, “Dhara: An Ode to Indian Knowledge
Systems,” has completed its first year. During this year, 10 successful conferences were
organized on various themes highlighting India’s civilizational achievements. The
program aims to promote and revive multiple domains of Indian knowledge systems by
creating public awareness, stakeholder participation, and a framework for their
promotion. A key execution partner for this series is the Indian Knowledge Systems
Division of the Ministry of Education. It is a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
First series of DHARA
The first series of the initiative is to be dedicated to the contributions made by our
ancestors in the field of mathematics. According to the Culture Ministry, the mathematics
field in the country has a long history starting from the invention of Zero. Some of the
texts to be highlighted in the series are SULBA SUTRAS and CHANDA SASTRA.
Bringing back lost glory
The Suba Sutra is one of the oldest texts and dates back to 800 BCE. The Pythagoras
theorem was actually invented by India as per Sulba Sutra. Pythagoras invented it very
late and took the credit. Through these events, India is trying to spread the message that
our history is deep-rooted. And we have been the best in every field since ancient times.
Chanda Sastra
It is one of the six major parts of the Vedas. This was the centre of the composition of
Vedas. Sanskrit pronunciations have mathematical calculations involved. Every syllable in
the Sanskrit hymns has a fixed rhythm. How long should the word be pronounced? And
every verse has a fixed number of syllables. Basically, the Chanda Dastra was full of maths
that dealt with the calculations in Vedic hymns. Scholars learnt Chanda Sastra first before
learning the Vedic hymns!
Way Forward
The next phase of Dhara will focus on the metallurgical, agricultural, and ancient
economic traditions of India. Each conference focuses on historicity, diversity, and
innovative methodologies to bring them to national consciousness, promoting academic
research, and empowering the youth.
Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023
The Ministry of Jal Shakti is commemorating International Women’s Day by honouring
women who have contributed to various programs of the Ministry through the Swachh
Sujal Shakti Samman 2023. The award will recognize women for their exceptional
contributions to the Swachh Bharat Mission – Grameen (SBM-G), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM),
and National Water Mission (NWM) under various categories.
What is the purpose of Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman?
The objective of Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman is to emphasise the outstanding efforts of
women in the water sector and encourage others to work towards a water-secure future.
This event will bring the accomplishments of women at the grassroots level to the
forefront and provide them with national leadership connections.
Who presented the Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman?
President of India. The President mentioned the Nobel Laureate Michael Kremer in her
address while conferring the prizes. Michael Kremer is an American economist who won
the Nobel prize in economics. According to him, India can save the lives of 1.36 lakhs of
children by providing safe drinking water. This is one of the reasons the Government of
India came up with the Jal Jeevan Mission. The mission is kind of an improvisation of the
National Water Mission.
National Water Mission in the Award Ceremony
Also during the event, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan – Catch the Rain 2023- 4th in the series- and
on the theme of ‘Source Sustainability for Drinking Water’. The SoPs on Source
Sustainability, under the National Water Mission, were also released.
National Water Mission
It was launched in 2011. The main objective of the National Water Mission is to conserve
water and reduce wastage. It aims to tackle climate change. The tagline of the National
Water Mission is “Catch the rain, where it falls and when it falls”.
March 7, 2023
CBIP Award 2022
CBIP Award 2022 was conferred recently to NTPC Limited for the ‘Outstanding
Contribution in Power Generation’. The award recognizes the role of Vindhyachal Super
Thermal Power Station – the largest power station in India – in efficiency and high-level
power generation.
When was the CBIP Award presented?
The award was conferred on the occasion of the CBIP Day, to individuals and institutions
in recognition of their outstanding contributions in the fields of water, power and
renewable energy development. The Central Board of Irrigation and Power is an Indian
government institute set up in 1927. It provides services related to the fields of power,
water resources and renewable energy sectors.
What is CBIP?
CBIP is the Central Board of Irrigation and Power. It was established in 1927. It works in
the areas of renewable energy, power, and water resources. It monitors research projects.
Some of the research projects monitored by CBIP are Research Scheme on Plasticulture
Development, Research Scheme on Flood Control, and Research Scheme Applied to River
Valley Projects. Apart from this, CBIP also publishes international journals. The most
popular CBIP journal is the Water and Energy International Journal.
Why was NTPC awarded?
In recent years, the performance of the company has shot up tremendously. The company
is the leading power generator in India. In February 2023, the S&P ranked NTPC as the
world’s Number 1 power producer. The company contributes 25% of the total power
generated in the country. The company was awarded for the following reasons:
Diversification
The company is growing fast mainly because of its diversification. NTPC has diversified its
growth through clean and green sources such as hydro, solar, and wind. It also has gas
exploration and coal mining projects.
Turnaround Capacity
NTPC takes control of the underperforming power stations in the country and converts
them into profit-making assets. For instance, after the NTPC undertaking, the Unchchar
Power Station is running successfully and is now generating 420 MW of power. The
Talcher power station is generating 460 MW of power. And the Tanda Power station is
generating 440 MW of power. These three power stations were running at loss. They
started showing improvements after NTPC took control.
Jan Aushadhi Train
The Jan Aushadhi Train was flagged off recently in New Delhi by union ministers Dr
Mansukh Mandaviya and Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. It was launched as part of the week-long
celebrations commemorating the Jan Aushadhi scheme. This is the second such train to be
flagged off to create awareness about the scheme.
What is the purpose of the Jan Aushadhi Train?
The train, Chhattisgarh Samparkranti Express, seeks to raise awareness about Jan
Aushadhi Generic medicines that are available through more than 9,000 Kendras spread
across India. It is wrapped with the branding of the Jan Aushadhi scheme. It will travel to
more than 4 states, including Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, over 2 months. It will
cover 1,278 km.
Jan Aushadhi Day
It is commemorated on March 7 every year. The main purpose of the day is to spread
awareness of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana. The scheme focuses
on increasing the usage of generic medicines.
Why should we promote generic medicines?
Generic medicines are less expensive and therefore are highly affordable to BPL families.
Unfortunately, trust in generic medicines is very less. Doctors are hesitant to recommend
generic medicines. This is because; medical experts always use techniques and products
that have proven history.
Why are doctors hesitating to prescribe generic medicines?
Say company A invents a new medicine XYZ. A will now get patent rights to manufacture
XYZ. No company is allowed to decode the formula of A for a certain period of time. Say 5
or 10 years. Now doctors start prescribing XYZ. XYZ will bring side effects as every
allopathy medicine has some side effects. To nullify the side effects, doctors start using
supplementary medicines. By trial and error, they prepare a set of medicines to nullify the
side effects caused by XYZ. This takes 2-3 years. Now, XYZ becomes well-established.
Whenever they prescribe XYZ they add the supplement medicines to it beforehand.
The patented period of 5-10 years is over. Other companies decode XYZ and launch their
own version. Say another company B launches PQR which is similar to XYZ. Now to
prescribe PQR, the doctors will have to go through the same trial and error again.
What is Phyllurus fimbriatus?
Phyllurus fimbriatus, a new species of gecko, has been discovered on an uninhabited
Queensland Island of Australia. It was found by Associate Professor Conrad Hoskin during
a four-day survey of Scawfell Island, about 50 km offshore from Mackay in north
Queensland.
What is Phyllurus fimbriatus?
The carnivorous reptile measures about 15 cm in length and has a spiny leaf-shaped tail
and a beaky face. The lizard was named the Scawfell Island leaf-tailed gecko due to the
fringe of spines around its tail. It has a V-shaped white stripe on its tail which is leaf-like.
The newly discovered gecko occupies a total area of less than 1 sq km and is found in the
wettest, rainforest-covered, rockiest pockets of Scawfell.
Why are some islands in Australia uninhabited?
As you can see, the Phyllurus fimbriatus was discovered on an uninhabited island. Around
8000 islands in Australia are uninhabited. Some of them have become private properties.
Some are undiscovered. None have been isolated for environmental reasons though!
About Queensland Island of Australia
Queensland Island is located in the North Eastern part of Australia. It is the second-largest
state and the third-most populous region in Australia. The coral sea and the Pacific Ocean
are to the east of Queensland island.
What is Gecko?
Geckos are carnivorous lizards. They are spread all over the world except Antarctica. They
are ectothermic. Ectothermic organisms have very less capacity to produce heat. They rely
on the external environment to get heat. The geckos need high temperatures for
locomotion and reproduction.
What happens after discovering a new species?
Scientists research thoroughly and establish the facts about the new species. They should
then present a paper to a scientific journal about their discovery. He should include
scientific species descriptions according to the nomenclature codes. There is the
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the International Committee on
Taxonomy of Viruses, the International Code of Nomenclature for fungi, algae, and plants,
etc. Based on these nomenclature codes, the species description and names are decided.
Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops,
is one of the most famous and awe-inspiring ancient structures in the world. Located on
the Giza plateau near the modern city of Cairo in Egypt, this massive stone monument has
fascinated people for thousands of years, and continues to inspire wonder and
amazement to this day.
History and Construction
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu, who ruled Egypt
during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Construction on the pyramid began
around 2560 BCE, and it is estimated to have taken around 20 years to complete. The
pyramid was built using over 2 million blocks of limestone, each weighing an average of
2.5 tons. The pyramid stands at a height of 147 meters (481 feet) and covers an area of
around 13 acres.
The construction of the Great Pyramid is a remarkable achievement of ancient
engineering. The blocks of limestone were quarried from nearby sites and transported to
the building site using sledges and ramps. The precise methods used to cut and shape the
stones, as well as the techniques used to lift them into place, remain a mystery to this day.
The Interior
While the exterior of the Great Pyramid is impressive, the interior is just as remarkable.
The pyramid contains three main chambers, as well as a number of smaller rooms and
passages. The first chamber, located at the base of the pyramid, is known as the
subterranean chamber. This chamber is unfinished and was likely used for the initial
burial of Khufu’s body.
The second chamber, located in the middle of the pyramid, is known as the Queen’s
Chamber. Despite its name, there is no evidence that any queens were ever buried there.
The Queen’s Chamber is notable for its ornate corbelled ceiling, which is made up of
layers of limestone blocks that gradually narrow towards the top.
The third and largest chamber is known as the King’s Chamber. This chamber is located at
the top of the pyramid and was intended as the final resting place of Khufu’s body. The
King’s Chamber is lined with red granite and contains an empty sarcophagus, which was
likely looted in ancient times.
The Significance
The Great Pyramid of Giza is significant for a number of reasons. For one, it is one of the
oldest and largest structures in the world. It is also a testament to the incredible
engineering and architectural abilities of the ancient Egyptians. The pyramid is aligned
with the cardinal directions, with its sides facing precisely north, south, east, and west.
The Great Pyramid also has important cultural and religious significance. The ancient
Egyptians believed in an afterlife and saw the pyramids as a way to ensure that the
pharaohs would have a comfortable journey to the afterlife. The pyramid was seen as a
symbol of the pharaoh’s power and his ability to transcend death. In addition, the pyramid
complex at Giza was a site of pilgrimage and religious activity for centuries after its
construction.
The Mysteries
Despite the many studies and investigations that have been conducted on the Great
Pyramid of Giza, there are still many mysteries surrounding the structure. For example,
some researchers believe that the pyramid was built using advanced techniques that were
not available to the ancient Egyptians. They point to the precision of the stone cutting and
the alignment of the pyramid with true north as evidence of a more advanced knowledge
of mathematics and astronomy than was previously believed.
There are also many theories about the purpose of the various chambers and passages
within the pyramid. Some have speculated that the pyramid was designed as a power
plant, with the King’s Chamber serving as the main energy center. Others have suggested
that the pyramid was used to store and generate cosmic energy, or that it was used for
astronomical observations.
One of the most enduring mysteries of the Great Pyramid is the question of how the
massive blocks of limestone were transported to the building site and lifted into place.
While many theories have been proposed over the years, no one has been able to
definitively answer this question. Some researchers have suggested that the blocks were
transported using boats along the Nile River, while others have proposed that they were
dragged along sledges on ramps.
Another mystery surrounding the Great Pyramid is the absence of any inscriptions or
carvings within the structure. Unlike other Egyptian tombs, which are adorned with
hieroglyphics and other decorative elements, the Great Pyramid contains no markings of
any kind. This has led some researchers to speculate that the pyramid was intentionally
left plain, perhaps to convey a sense of the pharaoh’s power and purity.
Legacy and Impact
The Great Pyramid of Giza has had a lasting impact on human history and culture. It has
inspired countless artists, writers, and thinkers over the centuries, and continues to
captivate people from all over the world. The pyramid has also served as a symbol of
Egyptian culture and heritage, and has played an important role in shaping the country’s
national identity.
In addition to its cultural significance, the Great Pyramid has also had a profound impact
on the field of archaeology. The study of the pyramid has yielded important insights into
ancient Egyptian culture, religion, and technology. It has also helped to shed light on the
lives and beliefs of the pharaohs, and has provided valuable clues about the construction
techniques and materials used by ancient civilizations.

What is National Commission for Protection of Child Rights?
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is a statutory body in
India established by the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act of 2005.
This year marks the 18th foundation day of NCPCR. It is celebrated based on the theme
“Empowering Girl Child”.
What is NCPCR?
The NCPCR functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. It
was established on March 5, 2007. Its main objective is to ensure that all policies,
programs, and administrative mechanisms are aligned with the perspective of child rights,
as stated in the Indian Constitution and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
According to the Commission’s definition, a child is a person up to the age of 18 years.
Why is NCPCR in news?
Recently, the commission raised concerns about the use of children’s pictures in
‘furtherance of political agenda’ by some political leaders. It sought Delhi Police action
against such political leaders.
What are the main functions of NCPCR?
The NCPCR was established to protect child rights. It investigates child rights and suggests
legal actions. The body studies the treaties of other countries and makes
recommendations. It undertakes research and spreads child rights literacy. The
commission promotes views of children and also the views of organizations that work
around the welfare of the children.
NCPCR runs a portal called GHAR. GHAR means Go Home and Reunite. It was developed
for the repatriation of children.
Who is the current Chairman of NCPCR?
Priyank Kanoongo. The chairman of NCPCR is appointed by the Central Government. A
Section Committee formed by the GoI makes recommendations on the appointment of
the chairman. There are three members in the committee. Apart from the chairman, the
committee also appoints six other members. They are from the fields like education, child
health, juvenile justice, child psychology, etc.
Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
The PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission was launched in October 2021
with an aim to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across India. With a budget of
Rs.64,180 crore, the mission has three aspects: strengthening public health institutions,
building an IT-enabled disease surveillance system, and expanding research on infectious
diseases.
Why is PMABHIM in news?
The World Bank has announced the extension of 2 complimentary loans of 500 million
USD each to India to support the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. One
of these loans will prioritize healthcare services in 7 states – Andhra Pradesh, Kerala,
Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The Public Health Systems for
Pandemic Preparedness Program, with $500 million, is to support the government’s

efforts to improve epidemic surveillance, ensure timely response and prevent the
emergence of novel pathogens.
Who started PMABHIM?
Union Minister of Health Dr MAnsukh Mandaviya. It was launched in Varanasi by PM Modi.
It was launched in 2021 with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crores. The aim was to make the health
infrastructure of the country more resilient.
What are the three main objectives of PMABHIM?
The first objective is to strengthen public health institutions and deliver comprehensive
primary health care. The second objective is to expand the technology-based surveillance
system and develop surveillance laboratories. The third objective is to expand the
research on infectious diseases.
Key Features of the PMABHIM
134 different types of tests will be done under the scheme. The tests will be done free of
cost at district levels. Container-based hospitals were launched with medical facilities that
were kept ready all the time. A big network of Health and Wellness Centers was created.
15 Biosafety Level 3 labs were built. Five New regional National Centre for Disease control
was established. More than 4,000 block and district-level public health units were built.
March 8, 2023
Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System - Update (March, 2023)
The Indian Army has proposed the acquisition of an indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery
Gun System (ATAGS) to fill critical capability gaps in high-altitude regions. The proposal is
expected to be approved by the Ministry of Defence, after which orders can be placed for
310 towed guns.
Who developed the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System?
The ATAGS has been designed by the Defense Research and Development Organization
(DRDO) to replace the current 155 mm artillery system in service, the Bofors towed guns.
This howitzer( i.e. artillery weapon that fires shells over relatively shorter distances) has
undergone extensive testing by the army in various terrains and has been declared fit for
induction. It’s manufactured by Bharat Forge and Tata Defence and Aerospace. Its
acquisition could significantly enhance the Indian Army’s capabilities.
What is Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System?
The ATAGS is a Towed Howitzer. The towed howitzer falls between cannon and a mortar. It
weighs 18 tonnes. It can be elevated to 75 degrees. It can fire five rounds in 60 seconds.
The firing range of ATAGS is 48.074 km. The ATAGS was first displayed at the 2017 republic
day celebrations.
Variants
So far India has produced two ATAGS variants. They are ATAGS – HMV. The DRDO
developed this. It is towed by a high-mobility vehicle. The other variant is the ATAGS–MGS.
It is pulled by an eight-wheeled HMV developed by BEML.
Observation
You can see how heavy and oversized these weapons are. And ATAGS weapons are
essential for the defence camps in the borders. For this reason, the Government of India is
building roads extensively in the border regions. Bridges and roads in the border region
have increased by 75% in the last five years. These roads are essential to transport ATAGS
like heavy weapons. The 18-tonne ATAGS is a towing weapon. It comes with an HMV to
make its transport easy.
What is Structural Transformation?
Structural transformation in economics is the shift in labour force from agriculture to
high-productivity sectors like manufacturing and modern services. It is a compositional
shift caused by the transfer of surplus labour from the farms to better-paying sectors. It is
expected to result in increased productivity and higher incomes.
Why is Structural Transformation in News?
The recently released annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) report for 2021-22
shows that the farm sector still employs a significant proportion of the labour force in
India, at 45.5%. Although this figure has decreased slightly from 46.5% in 2020-21, it is still
higher than the 2018-19 low of 42.5%. This indicates that the economic disruptions caused
by the pandemic, which led to a migration back to the farms, have not yet been fully
resolved. Notably, the structural transformation has been slowing down since 2011-12.
What is the Structural Transformation that occurred in India in 1991?
Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization. This structural transformation was brought
in under the New Economic Policy that was launched in 1991. Mr PV Narasimha Rao was
the then PM and Dr Manmohan Singh was the then Finance Minister. The main aim of this
structural transformation was to make India more market-oriented, reduce the inflation
rate, increase the growth rate of the economy, increase the flow of economic goods in the
country, etc.
What was the Structural Transformation that occurred in India during the Colonial period?
Industrialization and Urbanization. There was a movement of people. For instance, people
in present-day Jharkhand moved to work in tea plantations in Assam. During the colonial
period, industrialization in some parts of the country led to deindustrialization in other
parts. Cities like Surat and Masulipatnam declined. And cities like Bombay and Madras
grew. The Structural transformation during the colonial period brought in huge changes.
These changes were predominantly witnessed in production systems, the density of
settlements, and technology. And a major change was seen in the way of life of the
people.
World Obesity Atlas 2023
The World Obesity Federation has released a report “World Obesity Atlas 2023”. This
report predicted a significant increase in obesity rates among children and adults in Africa,
with a rise of 14% from 5% in child obesity rates and 31% from 18% in adult women by
2035. The report also warned that over half the world’s population could be overweight or
obese by 2035, with childhood obesity predicted to more than double.
What is the report saying?
The highest increases in obesity rates were found in low- and lower-middle-income
countries in Africa and Asia. The report called for urgent and coordinated action to
prevent and treat obesity and support those affected.
World Obesity Day
World Obesity Day is observed every year on March 4th. This year, the awareness-creating
event was organized on the theme of “Changing Perspectives: Let’s Talk About Obesity.”
World Obesity Federation
The organization represents national and regional institutes that are studying obesity. It
was formed in 2014. The organization received support from International Congress on
Obesity. The main objective of the federation is to reduce obesity rates in the world.
Need for actions against obesity
Adult obesity increases the medical cost of the person by $1,861. Severe obesity adds
additional costs of $3,097 per adult. According to the World Obesity Foundation, the total
cost of obesity will be 3.3% of the GDP by 2060.
Obesity in India
According to the National Family Health Survey – 4, obesity in the country doubled within
ten years.
Who are obese?
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, people with a Body Mass Index of
25 kg more than 25 kg per square metre are obese. Around 30% of the population in the
state of AP, Andaman, and Sikkim are obese. In the states of Bihar, Meghalaya, MP, West
Bengal, and Tripura, obesity has been doubling.
What is BrahMos Missile?
The BrahMos missile is a type of supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from
various platforms like submarines, ships, aeroplanes, or land. It is currently the fastest
supersonic missile in the world and was developed by a partnership between India’s
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO
Mashinostroyeniya, forming BrahMos Aerospace. The missile is named after two rivers,
the Brahmaputra in India and the Moskva in Russia.
Why is the Brahmos missile in News?
Recently, the Indian Navy successfully test-fired the ship-launched version of the BrahMos
missile. The missile test was conducted using an indigenous seeker and booster in the
Arabian Sea. Notably, its anti-ship version was jointly test-fired by the Andaman and
Nicobar Command and the Navy in April 2022.
What is a Brahmos missile?
It is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile. Ramjet engines are air-breathing
jet engines. They do not produce thrust when they are held stationary, that is, no ram air.
Ram air is the air that is forced to enter an aperture.
Cruise missiles are guided missiles. This means the path of the missile can be changed
during its flight.
Based on speed the missiles are categorised as supersonic, hypersonic, and subsonic.
Supersonic missiles are those missiles that fly at 2-3 Mach speed. Hypersonic missiles fly at
5 Mach speed and subsonic missiles fly at 0.8 Mach speed.
Role of MTCR in Brahmos development
In 2016, India joined the MTCR – Missile Technology Control Regime. With this, we
increased the operation range of Brahmos to 800 km. Before MTCR, it wasn’t possible to
increase the range of MTCR because Russia was a member of MTCR and India wasn’t.
According to MTCR, Russia cannot export missiles that are or range more than 300 km and
payload of more than 500 kg to a non-MTCR country. MTCR was established in 1987 by the
G7 countries.
What is Bahu Balli?
A major feat has been achieved towards India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative with the
installation of the world’s first 200-meter-long Bamboo Crash Barrier, named “Bahu Balli,”
on the Vani-Warora Highway in Vidarbha, Maharashtra. It has also been accredited by the
Indian Road Congress and provides an eco-friendly alternative to steel barriers with
higher recycling value. With this, India becomes the 1st country to develop an
environmentally friendly crash barrier.
How was Bahu Balli created?
The bamboo species used to build Bahu Balli is Bambusa Balcoa. The bamboo was treated
with creosote oil and coated with recycled High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE). The barrier
underwent rigorous testing at various government-run institutions and was rated Class 1
during the Fire Rating Test conducted at the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in
Roorkee.
Significance
India is the second largest cultivator of Bamboo in the world. First is China. There are
more than 136 bamboo species in India. Using bamboo in the construction of barriers will
reduce steel waste and address the concerns of clean and green infrastructure. It is
essential that we keep a balance between economic growth and environmental
degradation. The Bahu Balli will help in bringing this balance.
Won’t Bahu Balli lead to deforestation?
The Government of India has been promoting the cultivation of Bamboo in the northeast
in the name of “Green Gold”. This is being done to make different useful products like that
of Bahu Balli. North East has 66% of the bamboo in the country. And GoI is pushing the
farmers to grow more. Using the forest resources efficiently will prevent deforestation.
The forest should be given enough time to replenish itself.
What are the existing types of Crash barriers?
There are two different types of crash barriers widely used in India. They are W-beam
crash barrier and Thrie-beam crash barrier. These crash barriers have steel W-beam rail.
The Thrie beam crash barrier is thicker than the W-beam crash barrier. Usually, metals are
used to build crash barriers.
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment’s flagship program, Nasha Mukt Bharat
Abhiyaan (NMBA), aims to raise awareness about substance abuse among youth in India,
with a particular focus on higher education institutes, university campuses, schools, and
community engagement. Recently, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
and Brahma Kumaris inked a Memorandum of Understanding to make NMBA more
effective and widespread.
Substance abuse means excessive use of drugs and alcohol.
What is Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan?
The program, started in 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, was
started with a target of 272 of the most vulnerable districts. It has now reached over 9.50
crore people, including 3.10 crore young individuals, in 372 districts across the country,
and over 3 lakh educational institutions. The NMBA has conducted various activities
emphasizing the dangers of drug addiction. The program also prioritizes community
involvement to promote a sense of responsibility in tackling substance abuse and
promote a healthy, productive society.
Who are the stakeholders of NMBA?
Youth, Women, educational institutions, and master volunteers. The programme will
select 50 master volunteers from every district. They will play a major role in spreading
awareness about the NMBA. They will conduct counselling and will identify people who
need advanced counselling and will take them to the nearby addiction facility.
The Sad Truth
Despite of putting in so much effort to stop alcohol and its ill effect, no government can
stop the sale of alcohol completely. This is because the revenue from alcohol is big. In
2022-23, the excise revenue from alcohol alone was Rs 9,500 crores. Overall revenue from
alcohol sales is around Rs 2 lakh crores! So what is the GoI trying to do? Social drinking is
good. Becoming addicted to alcohol and losing control is bad. Apart from drugs, the
NMBA also focuses on alcohol addictions. Through NMBA, GoI is trying to help people who
are addicted to alcohol, and not stop alcohol completely!
Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP)
The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) has launched the Integrated Teacher
Education Programme (ITEP) in 57 Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) throughout India.
This flagship initiative is launched under NEP 2020. It was notified in 2021. It offers a 4-
year dual-major undergraduate degree program, preparing teachers for the 4 stages of
the new school structure i.e. the 5+3+3+4 structure of foundational, preparatory, middle
and secondary schooling.
What is ITEP?
The ITEP aims to provide cutting-edge pedagogy, foundational literacy and numeracy,
early childhood care and education, inclusive education, and an understanding of India’s
values, ethos, art, and traditions, among other things. Prospective teachers passing out of
this course will be equipped with 21st-century global standards to shape the future of
New India. The course will save students one year by completing it in 4 years instead of 5.
Benefits of ITEP
It will provide cutting-edge pedagogy. This means it will provide the latest technologies
used in teaching methods and teaching practices. Also, it will establish foundational
literacy and aid in Early Childhood Care and Education. (ECCE)
Background
The National Education Policy 2020 focuses on Early Childhood Care and Education. In
accordance with the NEP 2020, it is essential to achieve early childhood education so that
the kids entering Grade 1 are ready. To achieve this, there is a necessity for three years of
pre-schooling before Class 1. The major challenge in the ECCE is the lack of trained
teachers. ITEP will address this challenge.
What is Foundational Literacy and Numeracy included in the ITEP?
It is the skills and strategies that are used in speaking, reading, writing, and interpreting
thoughts. Basic numeracy skills include fundamental mathematical operations such as
subtraction, addition, multiplication, and division.
What is Inclusive Education according to NEP 2020?
All children in the country should get equal educational opportunities despite their
socioeconomic identities. How does UNICEF define inclusive education? All children in the
same classroom should get the same opportunities.
What is IMX/CE-23?
The International Maritime Exercise/Cutlass Express 2023 (IMX/CE-23) is being organized
in the Gulf region from February 26 to March 16, 2023. The exercise aims to enhance
maritime security and ensure safe sea lanes for maritime commerce, with over 50 nations
and international maritime agencies participating. It is one of the largest multinational
maritime exercises.
India at the IMX
INS Trikand, an Indian Navy ship, is participating in IMX/CE-23. This is the Indian Navy’s
first IMX participation, and its second exercise with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF),
after participating in Operation Sea Sword 2 in November 2022. Participation in exercises
like these strengthens relationships, enhances interoperability and collective maritime
capability, and enables constructive contributions to regional stability and security in the
Indian Ocean region.
Where is the International Maritime Exercise conducted?
In the East African coastal region and the West Indian Ocean. Countries from North
America, East Africa, and the West Indian Ocean countries participate in the exercise.
Sponsor of the International Maritime Exercise
US Africa Command. It is led by the US Naval Forces. The US Africa Command is also called
the US AFRICOM. The Headquarters of the US AFRICOM is in Stuttgart, Germany. It was
established in 2007. The area of responsibility of US AFRICOM is all over Africa except
Egypt.
US AFRICOM is one of the 11 Unified Combat commands of the US military. The other ten
commands, their headquarters, and their areas of deployment are as follows:

Central Command: US CENT COM: Florida, USA: Gulf and the Arab countries
European Command: US EU COM: Stuttgart, Germany: Europe
Indo-Pacific Command: US INDO PAC COM: Hawaii: Asia
Northern Command: US NORTH COM: Colorado, USA: North America
Southern Command: US SOUTH COM: Florida: South America
Space command: US SPACE COM: Colarado
Cyber Command: US CYBER COM: Maryland
Special Operations Command: US SO COM: Florida
Strategic Command: US STRAT COM: Nebraska
Transportation Command: US TRANS COM: Illinois
What is Millets Giveaway?
The Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium, a society promoted by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of the Indian government, has launched a special
marketing campaign called Millets Giveaway. The campaign is aimed at promoting direct
purchases from small and marginal farmer producer organisations (FPOs) to support their
livelihoods.
What is Millets Giveaway?
The Millets Giveaway campaign encourages citizens to purchase millets directly from FPOs
through ONDC’s My Store, a marketplace built for Indian sellers. Millets are the primary
focus of the campaign, motivating more people to adopt these grains in their diet. This is a
part of the nationwide and also the worldwide drive to promote these nutri-cereals in the
International Year of Millets 2023.
Significance of FPO in the campaign
The campaign is being held through the FPOs. The FPOs have always played big roles in
bringing changes in the lives of the farmers, especially the small and marginal farmers.
Earlier the farmers used to cultivate the crops using traditional methods. FPOs helped
them to learn new and conservative farming methods. Today, drip irrigation is a big
success mainly because of these FPOs. Through good agricultural practices, the FPO
helped farmers increase productivity by 30% to 50%. Also, the FPO played a large role in
farm mechanisation. They rented farm machinery and demonstrated the usage of many
machines.
Why Giveaway campaign?
The Government of India has been promoting millet on a large scale. During the Budget
2023-24, the finance minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman announced that millets will be
promoted under the brand name “Shree Anna”. The APEDA signed a pact with a private
firm called LULU to promote millets in the GCC. LULU is into the supermarket business.
The food processing ministry launched the Bhojpur Millet festival. The government is
promoting millet because these crops are highly nutritious and climate-resilient. Also, the
Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness was launched. The campaign
will help the government achieve its plan on promoting millet.
Landslide Atlas of India

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently released the Landslide Atlas of
India, which identifies landslide hotspots in the country. The Atlas includes a database of
landslide-prone regions of India based on events during 1998 – 2022, mainly along the
Himalayas and the Western Ghats.
What are Landslides and how are they Classified?
Landslides are natural disasters that occur mainly in mountainous areas where the soil,
rock, geology, and slope are conducive to such events. They can be triggered by heavy
rainfall, earthquakes, snowmelting, flooding, and anthropogenic activities. Landslides are
classified based on the type of materials involved, type of movement of the material, and
type of flow of the material.
India: Among the Top 5 Most Landslide-Prone Countries in the World
Notably, India is among the top 5 most landslide-prone countries in the world. For the first
time, NRSC (National Remote Sensing Centre) scientists did risk assessment on the basis
of 80,933 landslides recorded between 1988 and 2022 in 147 districts in 17 states and two
union territories to build a Landslide Atlas of India. The risk analysis was based on human
and livestock population density, which indicates the impact these landslides have on
people, and shows the most landslide vulnerable spots in the country.
Key Findings of the Landslide Atlas of India
The Atlas revealed that Rudraprayag and Tehri Garwhal districts of Uttarakhand have the
highest landslide density in the country. The western Himalayan region is the most
vulnerable to landslides. Among the 10 most landslide-prone districts, four are in flood-
prone areas of Kerala, two in Jammu and Kashmir, and two in Sikkim. After the Himalayas,
the Western Ghats has high landslide density.
The new study recorded 80,933 landslide hot spots between 2000 and 2022, with the
maximum of 12,385 in Mizoram, followed by 11,219 in Uttarakhand, 7,280 in Jammu and
Kashmir and 1,561 in Himachal Pradesh. Among the southern states, the most number of
landslide hot spots have been recorded in Kerala (6,039). Between 2010 and 2022,
Uttarakhand recorded the maximum landslides in this period. Within the state,
Rudraprayag and Tehri districts recorded the highest number of landslides.
Use of Satellite Data to Map Landslide Hotspots
The Atlas used satellite data of ISRO to map all seasonal and event-based landslides like
the Kedarnath disaster in 2013 and landslides triggered due to the Sikkim earthquake in
2011.
Environmental Degradation and Climate Change Intensifying Landslide Risk
The landslide risk has intensified over the years due to environmental degradation and
extreme weather events such as high-intensity rainfall, which have increased due to
climate change.
Where is Rijksmuseum?
The Rijksmuseum is the Netherlands’ national museum. It is dedicated to Dutch arts and
history. It is situated in Amsterdam in Museum Square, close to the Van Gogh Museum. It
was founded in The Hague on November 19, 1798. It was shifted to Amsterdam in 1808.
Why is Rijkmuseum in News?
The Night Watch at Rijksmuseum is a famous painting by Rembrandt – a Dutch Golden
Age painter. Members belonging to the climate activist group Extinction Rebellion
protested close to the famous painting in Amsterdam to oppose the Rijksmuseum’s
partnership with the airline KLM and bank ING.
Another notable development is the recent exhibition on slavery. The event involved
exhibits like the ‘tronco’ (a wooden plank brace used to restrain slaves) from the
Netherlands, collars, etc.
What is special about Rijksmuseum?
The museum is famous for its masterpieces such as The Milkmaid, Self Portrait of Van
Gogh, Rembrandt’s Night Watch, The Merry Family, etc. It means the State Museum in
English. The museum was founded in 1798. The museum displays more than 8,000 art
pieces. It has a collection of more than 1 million objects belonging to the 1200-2000
centuries.
The Rijksmuseum was inspired by the French museum the Louvre.
Rijksmuseum and the Creative Common Universal License
The museum made 125,000 images available for download. The numbers are being
increased every year. Every year, the museum is increasing its numbers. The target has
been set to one million images! These images are to be available for download under the
Creative Commons 1.0 Universe License. What does this mean? Anybody can use images
with this license. If an author has got patented rights for his painting, you cannot
download or use that painting even as wallpaper. However, the images with Creative
Commons 1.0 Universal License can be downloaded and can be used for personal
purposes.
Lithium
Lithium is a highly reactive and flammable soft, silver-white metal that belongs to the
alkali metal group of elements. It has a variety of industrial and medicinal applications,
making it a highly valuable element.
Uses of Lithium
Lithium is commonly used in rechargeable batteries for electronic devices and electric
vehicles (EVs). It is preferred over other metals because of its high energy density, low
self-discharge, and long cycle life. Lithium batteries are also lightweight, making them
ideal for portable electronic devices.
Apart from its use in batteries, lithium also has medicinal applications. It is used in the
treatment of bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. Lithium helps stabilize mood
swings and prevent manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder. In addition, it has
been found to have neuroprotective effects and is being studied for its potential in
treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Lithium has several industrial applications as well. It is used in the production of ceramics,
glass, and lubricants. It is also used in air conditioning systems, as it has a high heat
transfer coefficient and can help improve energy efficiency.

Lithium Deposits
The largest deposits of lithium are in Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and China.
Recently, Iran has claimed to have discovered a lithium deposit in the western province of
Hamedan. It is found to contain around 8.5 million metric tons of lithium ore. In India, a
possible 5.9 million tons reserve of lithium was recently reported in J&K’s Reasi district.
Lithium Extraction
Lithium is typically extracted from brines, which are naturally occurring saltwater solutions
that contain lithium. Lithium can also be extracted from hard rock ores, but this is a more
expensive and time-consuming process.
The extraction of lithium from brines involves pumping the brine into evaporation ponds
and allowing the sun and wind to evaporate the water. This concentrates the lithium and
other minerals in the brine. The concentrated brine is then treated with chemicals to
remove impurities and further concentrate the lithium. Finally, the lithium is extracted
from the brine using ion exchange or solvent extraction processes.
March 9, 2023
What is Chernobyl Exclusion Zone?
The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is a designated area around the site of the Chernobyl
nuclear reactor disaster. It was established by the Soviet Armed Forces after the 1986
disaster and was initially a 30 km radius area. The zone’s borders have been expanded
since then, covering a larger area of Ukraine, and it shares a border with the Polesie State
Radioecological Reserve in Belarus. Over the years, the site has turned into a safe haven
for wildlife, such as wolves, wild horses and bison.
Why is Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in News?
Scientists studying stray dogs living near the Chernobyl exclusion zone have found that
radiation exposure may have altered their genetic makeup. The genetic composition of
canine populations exposed to various levels of radiation was also found to differ from
each other. These dogs are believed to have descended from pets abandoned after the
nuclear disaster in 1986. Such studies into the effect of radiation on the genetic makeup of
large mammals would help re-habitation planning.
Setup of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
The zone was split into three zones. They were the black zone, the red zone, and the blue
zone. The black zone is the part where evacuees would not return. Red Zone is the part
where the evacuees may return after the radiation levels are normalised. The blue zone is
the part where the pregnant women can return. Later, in 1989, the safe living concept was
adopted with the assistance received from the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Chernobyl Exclusive Zone at Ukraine War
The zone was captured by the Russian forces during the Ukraine invasion in 2022.
According to Ukraine, the radiation levels increased after the invasion. The International
Energy Agency is currently unable to get access to the plant.
What is Chernobyl Nuclear reactor disaster?
It occurred in 1986. This nuclear reactor disaster is one of the two nuclear accidents that
are rated at 7. The other one is the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in Japan. The rating is
provided by the International Nuclear Event Scale of the International Atomic Energy
Agency. The highest level of the nuclear accident is rated 7 and the lowest is rated 0.
What is Plasticosis?
Scientists from Australia and the UK have discovered a new fibrotic disease called
“Plasticosis” in birds. This disease is caused by the consumption of plastics, which leads to
long-term inflammation and the formation of scar tissue in the digestive system of birds.
The study noted that the birds had consumed some 12.5% of their body weight in plastics.
Study on Plasticosis
The study found that plastic consumption can cause serious damage to the digestive
system of birds, making them more vulnerable to infections and parasites, and affecting
their ability to digest food and absorb some vitamins. Plasticosis can lead to the gradual
breakdown of important glands in the proventriculus, which can have severe
consequences for the health of birds.
What is plasticosis?
When birds consume plastics, tiny shards get lodged in the digestive tracts of the birds.
Slowly, the connective tissue replaces the parenchymal tissue. The rate of replacement
proliferates rapidly. This leads to tissue remodelling. Eventually permanent scaring occurs
in the tissue. According to the researchers, the number of plastics ingested by birds and
animals is higher than those ingested by humans.
Plastiscosis may lead to the breakdown of the tubular glands. Eventually, the birds will
lose their immunity to fight against the parasites.
Why the name Plasticosis?
The disease is similar to the other fibrotic diseases like silicosis and asbestosis. Silicosis
occurs in the lungs due to the long-term inhaling of silica dust. Asbestosis is also a lung
disease that is caused due to the breathing of asbestos particles. While plasticosis was
reported in birds, silicosis and asbestosis were reported in humans.
What caused Plasticosis?
It was caused because of microplastics. The microplastics are of the size of 1 mm to 5 mm.
They can enter the bloodstream easily and accumulate in organs. When they break into
nanoplastics, they can pass through the cell membranes causing havoc in their day-to-day
functions.
Women, Business and the Law Index
According to the recently released Women, Business and the Law Index by the World
Bank, although most countries have implemented laws to ensure gender equality, there is
still a significant gap between men and women in terms of legal rights and provisions. The
report revealed that the global pace of reforms towards gender equality has fallen to a 20-
year low.
What is Women, Business and the Law Index?
The Women, Business and the Law Index rates laws and regulations related to women in
190 countries. The assessment encompasses 8 areas concerning women’s economic
participation. These are mobility, workplace, pay, marriage, parenthood,
entrepreneurship, assets and pensions.
Key Findings
India scored 74.4 out of a total possible 100. Unfortunately, India’s score was less than
that of other countries such as Ghana, Zimbabwe, Nepal, and Congo. While this is higher
than the South Asian region’s average of 63.7, it is lower than Nepal’s 80.6. The index
covered a total of 190 economies. Of these only 14 scored 100. They were Sweden, Spain,
Luxembourg, Latvia, Canada, Belgium, France, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Greece,
Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, etc. As you can see they are all European countries except
for Canada.
Highest Growth
Good growth was witnessed in MENA countries. MENA countries are the Middle East and
North African countries. The MENA countries that witnessed good growth were Congo,
Nepal, Zimbabwe, and Ghana.
Report on the current status of women
Only 77% of the women in the world enjoy legal rights. Around 2.4 billion women in the
world are living in countries that do not grant equal legal rights as that men.
Report on India
According to the report, India is lagging behind in terms of gender equality due to the
laws on pay, inheritance, and property rights. India’s score was higher that the South
Asian region’s average, which was 63.7. India’s score was lower than Nepal which scored
80.6.
What is Nexletol?
New research has shown that Nexletol, a different type of cholesterol-lowering drug, may
be a viable option for people who are unable to take statins due to side effects. Nexletol,
also known as bempedoic acid, was previously prescribed to be used alongside statins.
The study is the first to show that Nexletol alone can reduce the risk of cholesterol-caused
health problems.
How does Nexletol work?
Nexletol prevents the accumulation of cholesterol in the liver. Statin does the same.
However, the difference is that statins cause muscle side effects while Nexletol doesn’t.
The patients treated with Nexletol had a 13% lower risk of cardiac problems.
What does Nexletol do?
Nexletol reduces the risk of heart attacks. Bad cholesterol leads to heart attacks blocking
the arteries. The drug does this by blocking an enzyme called Adenosine triphosphate
citrate lyase in the liver. This enzyme is the key to producing cholesterol.
What are Statins? What are the issues with taking Statins?
Too much low-density lipoprotein or LDL, commonly known as bad cholesterol, blocks up
arteries and increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Statins, such as Lipitor and
Crestor, are the preferred treatment for high cholesterol and are known to effectively
lower the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. However, up to 10% of
people who qualify for statins cannot tolerate them due to serious muscle pain.
About Nexletol
The scientific name of Nexletol is Bempedoic acid. It was first approved in the US in 2020.
It is a first-in-class medication.
Nexletol is a first-in-class medication
The drugs that use a “New and Unique Mechanism of action” are categorised as first-in-
class drugs. It is not a regulatory category. The list of these drugs is created and
maintained by FDA.
These drugs do not have safety evidence. They are mostly seen as a commercially more
attractive drug. Most of the “blockbuster drugs” are first-in-class medicines. Blockbuster
drugs are those drugs whose sales are more than 1 billion USD.
Where is Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone National Park in the US, which celebrated its 151st anniversary recently, is
considered the first national park in the world. The park, spanning over 9,000 sq km across
Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, was established by the US Congress in 1872 with the
Yellowstone National Park Protection Act.
About Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is famed for its scenic beauty and diverse wildlife, including
grizzly bears, wolves, and endangered bison and elk. The Old Faithful geyser is one of its
most notable geothermal features. However, this national park was established after the
displacement of Native American communities who had been hunting and gathering in
the area for over 11,000 years before the government took over.
Physical Features of Yellowstone National Park
The Yellow Stone National Park region was created due to tectonic activities like
earthquakes and volcanoes. It also has erosional actions like ice and water. The park has
fossil forests, obsidian mountains, lava flows, and odd unique erosion forms. Obsidian are
igneous rocks that are formed due to the rapid cooling of the lava from volcanoes.
Hydrothermal features in the Yellowstone National park
The water in the park is superheated and mineral-rich. There are steam vents, colourful
pools, fumaroles, mud caldrons, geysers, paint pots, and more. Fumaroles are like geysers
but are formed in areas where the water table is near the earth’s surface. The paint pot is
a region in the park where there are different colours of mud like red, brown, and yellow.
The different colours are due to the oxidation states of the iron in the soil.
Apart from these features, there are morning geysers. They are fountain geysers.
Fountain geysers are dormant geysers. The vents close to the fountain are larger. They
are inactive most of the time. When they erupt, they are active for around 30 minutes.
What is Whiskey Fungus?
Whiskey fungus, also known as Baudoinia compniacensis, is a black, sooty fungus that
grows in the vicinity of bakeries and distilleries around the globe. This fungus thrives on
the alcoholic vapours that evaporate from whiskey casks during maturation. Usually, a
small portion (up to 2%/ year) of the spirit evaporates into the atmosphere and this is
called the ‘angel’s share’. It is on this angel’s share that these fungi thrive. It tends to
cover outdoor surfaces, including cars, homes, and trees, which can adversely affect the
value of properties. Although research has not shown any health risks from exposure to
the fungus, it can damage trees and properties. Cleaning the fungus from affected
surfaces can be a difficult and costly task as they form thick coatings.
What is Whiskey Fungus?
It is black in colour. The fungus is common in tree barks and leaves. It does not harm
plants and usually develops on new leaves. It is common in distilleries and spirit
maturation facilities. The fungus is a sac fungus. The sac is the reproductive feature of the
fungus.
What is the connection between Whiskey Fungus and alcohol?
The fungus gains its carbon nutrition from ethanol. The ethanol accelerates the growth of
the fungus. Also, it stimulates its spore germination. The ethanol also helps the fungus to
stay protected from high heat. The fungus creates a thick wall using ethanol vapour. The
wall protects the fungus from extreme heat.
Why is Whiskey Fungus in news?
A local court in Lincoln County in Tennessee stopped the construction of a new barrel
warehouse for Jack Daniel’s – the biggest-selling brand of American whiskey in the world.
This order came after a resident sued the company due to the uncontrollable spread of
the whiskey fungus. Lincoln county is located in the North Carolina of US.
What is One Nation, One Challan Initiative?
The One Nation, One Challan initiative aims to integrate all related agencies such as traffic
police and Regional Transport Offices (RTO) on a single platform for the seamless
collection of traffic fines and data transfer.
Why is the One Nation One Challan initiative in news?
Recently, the state government of Gujarat told the HC during a PIL hearing that was
seeking the setting up of virtual traffic courts and that it is already in the process of
establishing these courts under the ‘One Nation One Challan’ initiative.
What is the One Nation One Challan initiative?
The One Nation, One Challan initiative, launched by the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways, seeks to create a system that can detect traffic violations through the CCTV
network and generate e-challans with relevant penalty amounts, which are sent to the
mobile number linked with the erring vehicle. It is to integrate data from apps like VAHAN
and SARATHI. It also seeks to create virtual traffic courts that eliminate the presence of
litigants in court.
Role of VAHAN and SARATHI Apps in the initiative
The Ministry of Road Transport is planning on bringing all the agencies such as RTO and
traffic police under one platform. This will help in easy collection of challans. The
integrated system will use applications like VAHAN and SARATHI to retrieve information.
The Vahan App was created under the National Transport Project to aid RTO in vehicle
registration, taxation, permit, and enforcement. SARATHI app was created under Digital
India. This app helps people to complete the work related to licenses digitally.
Significance
So far, the police couldn’t penalise persons from other states. Now with the integration,
the ownership of the vehicles can easily be traced. The integration was done with the help
of NIC (National Informatics Centre). NIC provides infrastructure facilities to design and
develop IT systems.
What is Compensatory Afforestation?
Compensatory afforestation is a program implemented in India to ensure that forest land
diversion for non-forest purposes, such as industrial or infrastructure development, is
accompanied by afforestation on an equal area of land. Under this program, project
developers are required to fund afforestation activities on new lands, and also pay for the
Net Present Value (NPV) of the forests being cleared. The newly afforested land may not
immediately provide the range of goods and services that the diverted forests were
providing. However, this program ensures that newer parcels of land are earmarked for
development as forests, contributing to the country’s forest cover.
Why is Compensation Afforestation in News?
According to the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority
(CAMPA), 45 per cent of funds allocated by the Central Government for compulsory
afforestation between 2017 and 2022 have not been utilized by Kerala. The state
government’s target for each year’s plantation has also not been met. Also recently, the
Environment Ministry decided to promote ACA or accredited compensatory afforestation
which is a proactive afforestation system. In this system, afforestation of non-forest land
in advance can be used to get prior approval under Section 2 of the 1980 Forest
Conservation Act.
Compensation Afforestation at the global level
According to Global Forest Watch, compensatory afforestation increased by 5.4% between
2001 and 2018. Unfortunately, the increase was due to deforestation. The concept was
initiated in China in 1999. It exists in USA, Australia, and UK as well.
India was the first country to adopt Compensation Afforestation
The concept of compensation afforestation in the world started in India. India launched
the concept through its Forest conservation act of 1980.The Supreme Court of the country
was unsatisfied with the provisions of the act. For this reason, CAMPA was created in 2002.
The major challenge in compensation afforestation is funds and land allocation. In India,
the destroyed forests are not completely compensated according to the provisions in the
CAMPA.
What is SWAMIH Investment Fund?
The SWAMIH Investment Fund is a social impact fund designed to provide debt financing
for completing stalled, brownfield, and RERA-registered residential projects. Managed by
SBICAP Ventures Ltd., a State Bank Group company, the Fund is sponsored by the Union
Ministry of Finance. It was launched in 2019.
Why is SWAMIH Investment Fund in News?
SWAMIH is regarded as the lender of last resort for distressed projects, including those
with litigation issues or troubled histories. The Fund has provided final approval to nearly
130 projects worth around Rs 12,000 crore and has raised Rs 15,530 crore to date. It has
completed 20,557 homes and aims to complete over 81,000 homes in the next three years
across 30 tier 1 and 2 cities. One of the biggest projects completed using SWAMIH is the
Rivali Park residential project in Mumbai. The Fund has contributed to the growth of
ancillary industries in the real estate and infrastructure sectors by unlocking liquidity of
over Rs. 35,000 crores.
What is SWAMIH Investment Fund?
The established developers with stalled projects and non-performing assets are identified.
The fund provides financial support to these projects. This includes projects that are facing
litigation issues and also those projects that are facing customer complaints.
How does the SWAMIH Investment Fun work?
It provides capital for the completion of a project. The financial assistance is provided in
the form of non-convertible debentures. Non-convertible debentures are instruments with
which corporates and other private entities may raise funds. The main criterion is that the
fund shall be used only by projects that are RERA registered.
RERA means Real Estate Regulatory Authority. Companies have to register in RERA before
building, advertising, selling, investing, etc. This is to ensure transparency and
accountability. This is done to help the promoter and the purchaser.
What is International Big Cat Alliance?
India has proposed the creation of a new global alliance called the International Big Cat
Alliance (IBCA) to protect seven major big cats, namely- tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard,
puma, jaguar and cheetah. The IBCA will be open to 97 countries and organizations
interested in protecting these animals.
What is India’s plan for International Big Cat Alliance?
India has committed to providing funding of 100 million USD over 5 years to support the
IBCA. After five years, the alliance will be supported by membership fees and money from
other organizations. The IBCA will share information about protecting these animals. Its
governance structure includes a General Assembly and a council. The IBCA Secretary-
General will be appointed by the General Assembly based on the recommendation of the
Council.
What are the main activities of the International Big Cat Alliance?
The alliance will create knowledge e-portal, laws, and partnerships, and will work to
improve eco-tourism and financial capacity. The main objective of the alliance is to
rehabilitate the big cats.
Why is India launching the International Big Cat Alliance?
India is the only country in the world to possess leopards, lions, tigers, snow leopards, and
cheetah in the wild. In other countries, they have become extinct in the wild. While in
some other countries, only a few, say one or two are found in the wild. So India should
take the lead. India should only bring jaguars and pumas to unite all the big cats.
Constituents of the International Big Cat Alliance
The IBCA will be led by a council of seven members. These members will be elected by the
UN General assembly and the term of the members will be five years. The council will
recommend the appointment of secretaries to the IBCA. India will support IBCA for the
first five years. Later on, the IBCA is to sustain and survive on its own through member
fees and funds from private organizations.
What is Worm Moon?
The final full moon of the winter season, called the Worm Moon, was visible on March 6
and 7. Each year, the timing varies between late February to late March. The name of this
full moon is derived from the time it appears in the year when winter subsides in the
Northern hemisphere, leading to the earthworms emerging from the ground as the soil
softens.
Association of Worm moon with weather events
Tribes named each full moon after the weather events occurring during that time. March’s
full moon is also referred to as the Sap Moon since it is when the sap of sugar maples
starts flowing, and as the crow, crust, and sugar moon.
Is Worm moon a supermoon?
No. Supermoons occur when the moon is the closest to the earth. In 2023, there will be
four supermoons. And they will occur during the months of July, August, and September.
The August Super moon will be a blue moon. When the moon appears bluish due to the
dust particles in the atmosphere, it is called a blue moon. Blue moons are rare and occur
once in two to three years. The last blue moon occurred in 2021 and was due to volcanic
eruptions. In 1950-51, a blue moon occurred due to forest fires.
Festivals associated with worm moon
In India, Holi is celebrated during the worm moon. Jews celebrate the Purim festival
during the worm moon period. The festival is celebrated to mark the salvation of the Jews
who escaped the plot of killing in Persia. In Europe, the fasting period before easter
begins on worm moon and they call it the LENTEN MOON. Buddhists in Laos, Thailand,
Cambodia, and Thailand celebrate Magha Puja on worm moons. It is celebrated to mark a
gathering of Lord Buddha and his disciples.
What are Great Indian Bustards?
The Great Indian Bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. It is native to the
Indian subcontinent. The species is critically endangered due to habitat loss, hunting, and
other human activities. Conservation efforts are underway to protect the bird and prevent
it from becoming extinct. These include habitat restoration, captive breeding, and
education campaigns to raise awareness.
Why are Great Indian Bustards in News?
The Draft Central Electricity Authority (Construction of Electric Lines in Great Indian
Bustard Area) Regulations, 2023 was issued recently by the Central Electricity Authority to
bring all-electric lines of 33 kV and below passing via the Great Indian Bustard Area
underground while those above 33 kV will be overhead lines with bird flight diverts.
However, petitioners are claiming that these regulations are in direct violation of the
Supreme Court’s order regarding this endangered species. The Court had directed that all
electricity lines passing through the species’ habitat must be underground.
How are the Great Indian Bustards affected by the Electric lines?
The Great Indian Bustards are the heaviest flying birds. They weigh around 15 kg and
grow to a height of 1.2 metres. Their body size makes it difficult to notice the electric lines.
They have frontal vision and therefore are dying due to collisions with these electric lines.
Only 150 birds are left.
Where are Great Indian Bustards in India?
Today the last remaining 150 Great Indian Bustards are in the Thar desert and the Kutch
desert. Centre is planning to develop solar projects of 39,000 MW in these regions. The
overhead lines are for this purpose. But due to the concerns raised by the
environmentalists, the SC ordered low-voltage power lines in the priority zones where the
birds are living.
Conservation status of Great Indian Bustards
IUCN: Critically threatened
CITES Appendix I
Wildlife protection Act: Schedule I
What is Mission Har Payment Digital?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a new mission called “Har Payment Digital”
as part of its efforts to make every Indian a user of digital payments. The initiative was
launched during Digital Payments Awareness Week and aims to reinforce the ease and
convenience of digital payments, while also onboarding new users. Also, the central bank
has started an initiative to adopt 75 villages and transform them into digital payment-
enabled villages. These villages are to be adopted by payment system operators.
Who are the promoters of Mission Har Payment Digital?
Banks and payment system operators will promote the Har Payment Digital campaign and
highlight the various payment channels available. The RBI’s Regional Offices will also
promote the acceptance and use of digital payments through the Jan Bhagidari activities
as part of this initiative.
When was Mission Har Payment Digital launched?
During “Digital Payments Awareness Week”. The week was celebrated by RBI between
March 6, 2023, and March 12, 2023. The main objective of the celebration is to make every
citizen in the country a user of digital payment. The theme of 2023 Digital Payment
Awareness Week was “Adopt Digital Payment and also teach others”.
What is the need for the Har Payment Digital Mission?
According to a survey conducted by the Reserve Bank of India, only 42% of Indians are
using digital payments. 35% are aware of digital payments but are not using them.
Unfortunately, 23% of Indian citizens are not even aware of the digital payment system!
Even if they are taught through rigorous campaigns, illiteracy and insecurities become
hurdles. Still, the literates in this 23% population can be covered through the mission. Also,
explaining to them the benefits of using digital payments and showing them examples of
people benefiting from it should solve insecurity issues.
What is the role of Har Payment Digital Mission in Vision 2025?
India has set Vision 2025 as “E-Payments for Everyone, Everywhere, and every time”. The
plan is to achieve 100% digital payment by 2025. The RBI’s mission will help India achieve
this target.
What is FRINJEX-23?
FRINJEX-23, the first-ever joint military exercise between Indian Army and French Army. It
was between the 7th and 8th of March 2023 at Pangode Military Station in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Both contingents consist of a Company Group. India was
represented by Indian Army troops based in Thiruvananthapuram and France was
represented by the French 6th Light Armoured Brigade.
What was the aim of FRINJEX-23?
The exercise’s objective is to enhance inter-operability, coordination, and cooperation
between both forces at the tactical level. It will involve establishing and operationalizing a
joint command post to secure an area for joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,
setting up an Internally Displaced Population (IDP) camp, and moving disaster relief
material. The exercise will strengthen India’s defence cooperation with France, which is a
crucial component of the overall Indo-France strategic partnership.
Note that the India-France bilateral naval exercise, Varuna-2023 (21st edition) was
conducted in January. This 5-day exercise was organized and commenced on the Western
Seaboard.
Significance of the FRINJEX-23
The exercise consolidated the strategic partnership between India and France. Also, the
exercise helped the countries to collaborate for peace and harmony. Defence is the key
aspect of the India-France Strategic Partnership, which was signed in 1998. According to
the partnership, the countries will work together to achieve global security. The exercise
will help the countries fulfil this objective.
How will FRINJEX-23 benefit India and France?
The exercise will boost the partnership and is a good augury for the Indo-Pacific. In 2020,
20 Indian soldiers were martyred in the Galwan valley. This was a turning point in India-
China relations. The scenario brought time-tested old partners to the fore. France is one
such partner. FRINJEX-23 and other similar exercises will bring the countries to the Indo-
Pacific front and will aid in countering the growing assertiveness of China in the region.
What are Megha-Tropiques-1?
The Indian Space Agency ISRO is conducting a controlled re-entry of a decommissioned
Indo-French satellite, Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT1), jointly developed to study tropical
weather and climate. The satellite was launched in 2011 and exceeded its intended
operational lifespan until 2021.

What is ISRO’s plan on Megha-Tropiques-1?
Rather than letting it become space debris for over 100 years, ISRO is using its remaining
on board fuel to precisely maneuver the satellite for a controlled atmospheric re-entry,
predicted to splash down in the Pacific Ocean. ISRO involved experts across multiple
domains to plan and ensure safe execution of the re-entry, given the satellite’s age and
the risks of accidental break-up in space. This is in line with ISRO’s commitments to the
UN Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee. The UN requires the de-orbiting
of end-of-life satellites.
What is Megha-Tropiques-1?
The Megha Tropiques was launched in 2011. The main objective of the satellite mission
was to study the water cycle. The satellite was developed by ISRO and CNES. During its
operation, the satellite studied the water cycle in the tropical atmosphere and how climate
change will affect the water cycle.
What was the base of Megha-Tropiques-1?
GEWEX. Global Energy and Water Exchanges project.
The Megha-Tropiques was designed based on the GEWEX. It was a research project of the
World Climate Research Programme. GEWEX did a wide analysis of aerosols in the
atmosphere. It brought results on surface radiation, global precipitation, and how water
cycle has changed in the last decade, etc. It also studied the boundary layers in the
atmosphere.
What were the payloads of Megha-Tropiques-1?
MADRAS: Microwave Analysis and Detection of Rain and Atmospheric Structures: It
was a microwave imager
SAPHIR: Sounder for Probing Vertical Profiles of Humidity: It was a sounding
instrument to study the absorption band of water vapour
SCARAB: Scanner for Radiation Budget: It was based on the Russian satellite models
of measuring longwave radiances
Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has introduced the Global Greenhouse
Gas Monitoring Infrastructure, which aims to provide standardized and real-time tracking
of greenhouse gases. The new platform integrates space-based and surface-based
observing systems to improve the measurement of planet-warming pollution and inform
policy decisions. The data provided by this platform will be faster and sharper.
What is Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure?
The Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure seeks to clarify uncertainties about
where greenhouse gas emissions end up and offer faster and more precise data on
changes in the planet’s atmosphere. The infrastructure is expected to provide essential
information and support for implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change.
What is the need for the Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure?
Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, and Methane account for 66% of global warming. With the
increasing emissions and failing targets, the world governments have to adopt new plans
and policies. For instance, the 1.5 degrees Paris Agreement targets may not be achieved
by countries. Therefore, governments have to bring upon new targets and policies and act
more quickly. The Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure will help them
achieve this.
Also there is a need to strengthen the scientific mitigation actions taken by UNFCCC.
Through this, WMO can collaborate with the world countries in weather prediction and
learn about their long-standing activities on limiting emissions.
What is the focus of Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure?
It is to bring back the long-standing auspices of the Integrated Greenhouse Gas
Information System, also called IG3IS launched by Global Atmosphere Watch. The IG3IS
was launched to provide information about the distribution of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere. It was launched by the Global Atmosphere Watch Programme. The GAW
provides information about the atmospheric composition and operates under WMO.
Does India have a Global Atmosphere Watch Station? NO.
What is Digital India Bill?
The Digital India Bill is the proposed successor to the Information Technology Act, of 2000,
which currently regulates entities on the internet in India. The government will hold a
public consultation on March 9 to present the basic guiding principles and architecture of
this proposed legislation. The Minister of State for Electronics and IT is holding a meeting
on this Bill with industry representatives, consumer groups, lawyers and intermediaries in
Bengaluru as part of the Digital India Dialogues.
What is the main objective of the Digital India Bill?
The Digital India Bill aims to ensure that the internet in India is open, free from user harm
and criminality and that there is an institutional mechanism of accountability. The
legislation will cover emerging technologies, algorithms of social media platforms,
artificial intelligence, and user risks, as well as the diversity of the internet and the
regulation of intermediaries.
Key Features of Digital India Bill
The bill aims to create a regulator for the internet.
The main challenge in data protection or regulation is the right of the individual to protect
his information and the need to use individual data for legal purposes. The bill aims to
address this challenge. A threshold will be brought in to what extent the personal data of
an individual shall be accessed for legal purposes.
Most of the features of the bill are compared with the General Data Protection Regulation
of the European Union.
What is the need for Digital India Bill?
Currently, there are more than 760 million internet users in the country and this is to
touch 1.2 billion in coming years. Though the internet is good and aids in connectivity,
there are several user harms around it. Therefore, it is essential to bring in laws that will
provide new frames on the rights and duties of the citizens and also speaks about the
obligation to collect data.The act will replace the IT Act, 2000.

What is Hola Mohalla?
Hola Mohalla is a Sikh festival celebrated for three days in March, usually a day after the
Hindu festival of Holi. The festival takes place on the second day of the lunar month of
Chett. People from all over the world participate in this festival. Its celebration was started
by the X Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
How is Hola Mohalla celebrated?
A fair is organized in Anandpur Sahib on Hola Mohalla. The Anadnpur Sahib is located in
Punjab near the Sutlej river. The last two Sikh gurus Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Tegh
Bahadur lived here. Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth here. The Anadpur
Sahib was founded by Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru.
The festival concludes with a long military-style procession near Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib,
one of the five seats of temporal authority of the Sikhs. Recently, Punjab Chief Minister
Bhagwant Mann paid obeisance at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and took part in various events
that mark the beginning of Hola Mohalla.
What type of food is consumed during Hola Mohalla?
Lacto Vegetarian. It is a vegetarian diet which includes dairy products but does not include
non-vegetarian foods and eggs. The Lacto vegetarian food is prepared by the Langar in
Anandpur Sahib. Food is served for more than a week for everyone visiting there. Langars
are community kitchens in Gurudwara. They serve meals free of cost.
Which Sikh community celebrates Hola Mohalla?
The festival is celebrated by all Sikhs. However, it is mostly considered the festival of
Nihang. Nihang are also called Akali. They are armed warriors. The Hola Mohall highlights
Nihang for a reason. Guru Gobind Singh introduced the custom of celebrating Hola
Mohalla. He used to train the soldiers for war on this day specifically.
March 10, 2023
National Pharmacy Education Day 2023
National Pharmacy Education Day was celebrated on March 6th, in honour of the birth
anniversary of Professor Mahadeva Lal Schroff, who established pharmacy education in
India. The day was designated by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) – a statutory body
under the Ministry of Health, regulating pharmacy education and practice in India.
National Pharmacy Education Day 2023
On this occasion, Union Minister of State (HFW) Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar inaugurated a
platform named Pharma Anveshan 2023, where academic research and the industry can
exchange their findings for the benefit of society. He also launched the digital job portal
called the ‘One Stop-Non Stop’. An MoU was also signed between the PCI and several
pharma bodies to bridge the gap between industry and academia, boost training (of both
faculty and students), promote entrepreneurship and boost infrastructure development.
Purposes of the initiatives launched on National Pharmacy Education Day
Pharma Anveshan 2023: It was launched to promote research, and innovation, and also
to enhance industry and academia
One Stop – Non-Stop Digital Portal: To help the students coming from towns and
villages. The portal will mainly provide information about job opportunities in the country
Who was Mahadeva Lal Schroff?
Mahadeva Lal Schroof is the Father of Indian Pharmacy Education. He was born in
Darbhanga in Bihar in 1902. He was a graduate of the Engineering College at Banaras
Hindu University. After completing his engineering he went to China, Japan and USA. He
then earned his UG degree in chemistry and PG in microbiology and chemistry from MIT
in the USA.
In 1935, he founded the United Provinces of Pharma Association. He was the editor of the
Indian Journal of Pharmacy. He founded Bhaishaj Patrika, Bheshjayan, and the Indian
Pharmaceutical Congress. He was the president of the State Pharmacist Association and
also the President of the Pharmacy Council of India.
To honour him, the IPA established the “Father of Pharmacy Award”.
What is Swachhotsav?
Swachhotsav, a 3-week women-led cleanliness campaign under the Swachh Bharat
Mission Urban 2.0, has been launched by Union Minister Shri Hardeep Singh Puri to
recognize and celebrate the shift from women in sanitation to women-led sanitation. The
campaign aims to honour women from all backgrounds who contribute to making
garbage-free cities a reality. This comes ahead of International Women’s Day.
What is WINS Challenge announced during Swachhotsav?
The WINS Challenge-2023 was also announced during the launch event, recognizing high-
impact women entrepreneurs or women-led enterprises working towards urban
swachhata. Steps are also being taken to create a network of 75,000 Garbage Free City
Influencers across India in sanitation and waste management, encouraging women to join
the mission of urban swachhata.
What is the need for Swacchotsav?
It is essential to motivate people, especially the women involved in the cleanliness field.
Being the second most populous country in the world, India generates 62 million tonnes
of municipal solid waste. The urban solid municipal waste is to increase to 165 million
tonnes by 2030. This means we will require more workforce in solid waste management.
With the women taking lead here, India will tackle the issues around garbage effortlessly.
More and more women should be encouraged to take up this job. It will help in women’s
empowerment as well.
What are the benefits of Swachhotsav?
The Seachhotsav aims to increase women’s participation in garbage collection and waste
management. Today 49% of the waste pickers are women. However, they make 33% less
money than the men in the field. Swachhotsav aims to increase women’s participation in
waste management. Also, by bringing more women into waste management, employment
generation shall be increased in the country. Today the waste management sector is
recycling and producing several innovative products. Many startups are showing interest
to establish waste management companies due to the increased support from the GoI.
Thus, increasing women’s participation in the sector will help in empowering them and
also in managing the huge waste being accumulated in the country.
What is Kill Web?
The South Korean military has introduced a concept known as the “Kill Web” in response
to the escalating nuclear threat from North Korea. This concept is a key part of Military
Innovations 4.0, which seeks to utilize the latest AI technologies to ensure the country’s
army can win a war with minimal casualties in the shortest possible time.
What is Kill Web?
It is a multi-layered system that uses advanced warfare techniques such as cyber
operations and electronic warfare.
What is the main objective of Kill Web?
The “Kill Web” strategy was announced by the South Korean Ministry in early March. It
aims to counter Pyongyang’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities even before they
are launched, by employing a multilayered integrated system that incorporates cyber
operations, electronic warfare, and other tactics. Currently, the nation uses the Kill Chain
mechanism, under its Three Axis System. Unlike the Kill Web, the Kill Chain uses a single
path and is less flexible.
How will the Kill Web work?
It will collect information using sensors, process them and aid the military to speed up or
slow down the war. The sensors will help to learn about the weapons used by the enemies
and also about their space manipulation.
What are the phases in Kill Web working?
Phase 1: To identify the area where the sensors should be placed. Weapon systems will be
moved based on the location of the sensors
Phase 2: Track the signals in the network of areas created by the sensors. Information
from the sensor is sent to the shooters. This is called “sensor fusion”.
Phase 3: This is the firing phase. Now that the target has been located, the shooter will
fire against the enemy. The current problem is the time taken by the weapons to reach the
enemy target. Sometimes, it even misses. But with “Kill Web”, accurate tracking of the
enemy becomes easy. And therefore, there are minimal chances of miss and also the
speed of the hit increases.
Phase 4: This is the finishing phase. Just because the enemy is hit, it does not mean he or
his area has been destroyed. Confirmation is important.
5th ASEAN-India Business summit
The 5th Asean-India Business Summit was held at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel in Kuala
Lumpur on March 6 this year. The summit, part of the Asean-India Year of Friendship (an
observation commemorating the 30-year-long engagement between the 10-member bloc
and India), is an essential forum for charting the future roadmap for the business and
economic engagement between the two parties. It was organized with assistance from the
Indian Government, through the External Affairs Ministry’s Economic Diplomacy Division
and Malaysian Government’s International Trade and Industry Ministry.
India-Malaysia at the 5th ASEAN-India Business Summit
A special session focusing on India-Malaysia bilateral trade and investment engagement
was held during the summit. The session focused on improving trade ties and expanding
business engagement in digital technology partnerships and fintech, among other
sectors.
What were the key highlights of the 5th ASEAN – India Business Summit?
The digital technology sectors were the key focus. IT companies are to be focused in the
coming days. The countries decided that real-time payment linkages between India and
the ASEAN countries will be increased in the future.
Background
India has been focusing on digital infrastructure, start-up ecosystems, tech advancement
and open technologies in the ASEAN region so far.
The 5th ASEAN – India Business Summit was held under the theme “Strengthening and
Moving Forward ASEAN – India Economic Relations for the strategic business partnership”
Achievements of India highlighted at the 5th ASEAN – India Business Summit
India has been making several investments in Digital Public Infrastructure in ASEAN
countries. The Unified Payment Interface of India has transformed the lives of 260 million
users. More than 8 million digital transactions are being made every day due to the
country’s efforts in developing the digital world of ASEAN. India Stack played a key role in
streamlining the digital infrastructure in the ASEAN world.
Yuva Utsav India @2047
The Youth Affairs Ministry has organized an event called ‘Yuva Utsav India @2047’ in all
districts of India. The event will be held from March to June 2023, and it will have three
levels.
What are the three different levels of the Yuva Utsav India festival?
The first level of the ‘Yuva Utsav India @2047 will be a one-day district-level programme. It
will take place in 150 districts from the 4th to 31st of March 2023. The aim of this event is
to celebrate the power of youth in India and encourage young people to actively
participate in the development of the country.
Where is Yuva Utsav India conducted?
The pan-India event is being organized in several places- Pratapgarh in UP, Dhar and
Hoshangabad in MP, Hanumangarh in Rajasthan, Saraikela in Jharkhand, Jalgaon in
Maharashtra, Karimnagar in Telangana and Palakkad in Kerala. It is organized in a 3-tier
format. The 1st phase is organized by schools and colleges.
Who is conducting the Yuva Utsav India festival?
Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan. It operates under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
It was established in 1972. The main objective of NYKS is to involve the youth in the
process of nation-building. It pulls in the youths in the rural regions towards development
processes.
Need for Yuva Utsav India
Almost three-fourths of the population in the country is youth. The future development of
the country depends on the youth. Despite the fact that India has a huge youth
population, the country also has a demographic dividend. Therefore, it is essential to
conduct more and more festivals like that of Yuva Utsav India to empower the youth in the
country.
Benefits of Yuva Utsav India
India is a developing country. Youths are the major social actors who bring revolutionary
changes in developing countries. 62% of the Indian population are youth.
With the crime rate increasing in the country, it is essential to divert the youths into
fruitful developmental activities. According to NCRB, the youth crime rate has increased by
4.7% though the overall crime rate reduced in the country. The Yuva Utsav festival will
help India in reducing crime rates by diverting the youth population towards
developmental activities.
What is INS Vikrant?
The INS Vikrant is an aircraft carrier currently in use by the Indian Navy. It is the first
carrier to be built indigenously, having been constructed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited
in Kerala. The vessel is named after India’s inaugural aircraft carrier, the INS Vikrant
(1961), and its name derives from the Sanskrit word for “courageous.” The motto of the
ship is also in Sanskrit, which roughly translates to “I defeat those who fight against me.”
Why is INS Vikrant in News?
The inaugural edition of the Naval Commanders’ Conference-2023 is being organized
aboard INS Vikrant. It provides a platform for the officers to discuss key security concerns
at the military-strategic levels and interact with senior government functionaries.
The Indian Navy is racing to have the 2 aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya,
battle-ready post-monsoon, in view of the increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
What is INS Vikrant?
The INS Vikrant is an aircraft carrier powered by four general electric engines and two gas
turbine engines. It was commissioned in 2022. It can carry 26 MIG-29K or 26 Rafale fighter
jets. In addition, the carrier can take 2 Dhruv helicopters or 4 MH-60R helicopters.
Where is INS Vikrant Deployed?
Currently, INS Vikrant is deployed at Katuppali naval base located near Chennai. After the
Rambilli Naval base is ready, it will be shifted there. The Rambilli is located near Vizag in
AP. The base is also called “Varsha”. The base will be the docking spot of the fleet of
nuclear submarines India is developing now. The main purpose of the Varsha naval base
is to de-congest the Vizag port that is being used for both military and civilian purposes.
Which country helped India in building INS Vikrant?
Russia. We bought the aviation components required to build INS Vikrant from Russia.
Russia also provided the steel required to build INS Vikrant. However, Russia stopped the
supply of steel in the middle. Our scientists created far better high-quality steel later and
completed the construction of INS Vikrant. For this reason, the project INS Vikrant got
delayed. It was launched in 2013 but the ship was commissioned only in 2022. The project
was initiated in 2009.
Where is Keeladi Museum?

The Keeladi museum was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the
Sivaganga district. This museum showcases the life of ancient Tamils during the Sangam
Age. It is built on a 2-acre land in Keeladi at a cost of ₹18.43 crore. The museum features a
variety of antiques, virtual reality experiences of the excavations, and models of the ships
of the Sangam Age.
About Keeladi Museum
The museum houses over 15,000 unique artefacts unearthed between the 4th and 8th
phases of excavations by the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology since 2018. The
excavations revealed the existence of an urban civilization in Tamil Nadu during the
Sangam Age, contemporary to the urban life recorded in the Gangetic plains. Since its
excavation started in 2015, it has emerged as a major urban habitation site in Tamil
Nadu’s history.
What is in Keeladi Museum?
The museum has the artefacts and crafts used by the urban civilization from the 6 th
century BC. This civilization thrived along the banks of the river Vaigai. There were big
controversies in fixing the time period of this civilization. First, it was said that the Keeladi
excavations belonged to 300 BCE. Later, the carbon datings confirmed that the
excavations were much older than thought before and belonged to 800 BCE. This finalised
that the Tamil Sangam era was older than thought before and dated back to 800 BCE.
The museum has artefacts that depict the history of Tamil and the heritage of Tamil Nadu.
Also, the museum has exhibits of brick structures used in 800 BCE and earthenware
structures. The museum also has animated paintings that explain the livelihood of the
people who lived in that era.
What are the special inclusions in the Keeladi Museum?
The museum has antiquities that provide the missing link between the iron age and the
early historic period. The iron age was between the 12th century BCE and the 6th century
BCE. The early historic period was between the 6th century BCE and the 4th century BCE.
SEBI’s Principle-based Framework for Cloud Adoption
SEBI’s Principle-based Framework for Cloud Adoption is a set of guidelines to ensure the
safe usage of cloud services by registered entities (REs) and cloud service providers (CSPs)
in the securities industry. REs include stock brokers through exchanges, depositories, and
mutual funds. Asset Management Companies and KYC Registration Agencies.
What is SEBI Principle-based Framework for Cloud Adoption?
It provides instructions on governance, risk, and compliance, choosing CSPs, data
ownership and localization, due diligence by REs, security controls, legal and regulatory
obligations, and vendor lock-in risks.
The registered entities must be responsible for monitoring and controlling cloud activities
and services and performing regular audits. They can only use Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology-approved CSPs. Data must remain within India’s legal boundaries
and encrypted at all times. A clear agreement that protects everyone’s interests must be
in place between the REs and CSPs.

Why was the SEBI principle-based framework for cloud adoption launched?
The main aim of the framework is to provide baseline standards for security, regulatory,
and legal compliance. It will highlight the risks and will bring in mandatory control
measures for the regulated entities in the country.
What is the need for the SEBI principle-based framework for cloud adoption?
Today the demand for cloud computing for the delivery of IT services is very high.
Companies have adopted the culture of using cloud computing instead of buying and
maintaining products and services. Say company A is provide software solutions. Now A
takes up project 123. Now it has to store programmes, codes, and explanations related to
123. Assume A is buying a storage device and putting everything in it. After completing
123, A takes up a new project 456. Now there are codes, programmes and explanations for
456. A should now buy another storage device to store the project details of 456. To cut
down such storage costs, companies are adopting cloud computing. Therefore, there is a
need for regulating cloud adoption and thus the SEBI framework is essential.
What is Integrated Pensioners’ Portal?
Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State, Personnel, announced that the Department of
Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare has decided to create a new “Integrated Pensioners’
Portal” by combining all pension portals such as Pension Disbursing Bank portals,
ANUBHAV, CPENGRAMS, CGHS, etc. at the Bankers Awareness Workshop in Bhopal,
Madhya Pradesh. This integrated portal will ensure convenience for senior citizens i.e. in
line with the ‘Integrated Approach to bring Ease of Living’ vision.
What are the benefits of the Integrated Pensioner portal?
The government has already integrated the Pension Seva Portal of SBI and Canara Bank
with the Bhavishya portal. Pensioners can access their pension slip, status of Life
Certificate submission, and Form-16 through a single platform. This is a major step
towards ensuring ease of life for pensioners.
What are the portals integrated with the new pensioners portal?
ANUBAV: It was launched for retired employees. The retiring employees can showcase
their commendable work during their service in this portal. This was launched to motivate
the new employees who joined the PSU. Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare
collected the data from the retiring employees and collated the information.
CPENGRAMS: Centralised Pensioners Grievance Redress and Monitoring System. Through
this portal, people can register their complaints and grievances.
BHAVISHYA: The main objective of this portal is to pay all the retirement dues. It is a
pension sanction and payment tracking system. The portal holds the personal particulars
of the pensioners.
Was the SANKALP portal integrated?
Please note that the SANKALP is the only pensioners portal that was not integrated with
the new Integrated Pensioner portal. Because the purpose of SANKALP is different. The
SANKALP portal aims to provide opportunities for pensioners for useful interventions in
society. Pensioners can use their acquired skills for the betterment of society and
organizations through the SANKALP portal.
Arunachal Pradesh Protection of Drinking Water Catchment Areas Bill, 2023
The Arunachal Pradesh Assembly recently passed three bills via voice vote, one of which is
the Arunachal Pradesh Protection of Drinking Water Catchment Areas Bill, 2023. The bill
was tabled by Public Health Engineering and Water Supply Minister with the aim of
preserving drinking water sources and making provisions for the same.
The Importance of Protecting Drinking Water Catchment Areas
Drinking water catchment areas are essential for preserving the quality and quantity of
drinking water sources. These areas are susceptible to contamination due to human
activities such as deforestation, mining, and agricultural practices. Protecting these areas
ensures that the water sources remain clean and safe for consumption, which is crucial for
the health of the population.
Objectives of the Bill
The Arunachal Pradesh Protection of Drinking Water Catchment Areas Bill, 2023 aims to
activate community participation in governance, thus empowering individuals at the
lowest level. The bill seeks to create a framework that enables people to protect their
drinking water sources by empowering them to participate in the decision-making
process. This will ensure that the people living in these areas are well-informed and
engaged in protecting their water sources.
Provisions of the Bill
The bill outlines several provisions to protect drinking water catchment areas, including
regulating land use activities, prohibiting construction activities, and promoting
afforestation. It also requires the development of an action plan for the protection of
drinking water sources and the establishment of a monitoring system to ensure
compliance with the provisions of the bill. The bill also proposes penalties for those who
violate the provisions, which includes imprisonment or a fine, or both.
Impact of the Bill
The passing of the Arunachal Pradesh Protection of Drinking Water Catchment Areas Bill,
2023 is a significant step towards safeguarding the drinking water sources in the state. It
will help to create awareness among the people about the importance of protecting
drinking water catchment areas and the adverse effects of contaminating these areas. The
bill’s emphasis on community participation will ensure that the people living in these
areas become active participants in the decision-making process, which is essential for
effective implementation.
Endorsements Know-hows! Guidelines
“Endorsements Know-hows!” is a set of guidelines released by the Department of
Consumer Affairs, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
The guidelines are intended for celebrities, influencers, and virtual influencers who
endorse products or services on social media platforms.
What are the objectives of Endorsements Know-How Guidelines?
The main purpose of the guidelines is to ensure that endorsers do not deceive their
audiences and comply with the Consumer Protection Act and other related rules or
guidelines. They require endorsements to be made in simple, clear language and for
endorsers to only endorse products or services that they have personally used or
experienced. They also specify how disclosures should be made, ensuring they are clear,
prominent, and difficult to miss. It prohibits them from endorsing products or services
that they haven’t personally used/ experienced or they haven’t taken due diligence.
Overall, these guidelines are essential for promoting transparency and authenticity in the
endorsement industry.
What is an endorsement?
Let us understand endorsement with an example. An employer is signing a paycheck for
his employee. Here, the signature is the endorsement. It means the check authorises or
endorses money transfer from the business account of the employer as salary.
What is the need for Endorsement Know-How guidelines?
When the actors and actresses, or the influencers are promoting a product or advertising
a product, it means they are endorsing it. For instance, in unboxing videos, the influencer
explains to the users about the pros and cons of the product. In other words, they are
providing assurance that the product is good. Ethically such endorsements are wrong as
the concerned person does this for money and he or she has not actually used the
product. This misleads the public. Thus, there is a need for guidelines.
What is the Endorsement Know-How guideline saying?
The endorsement made should be in simple language. The celebrity should disclose the
details about the payment and other perks they are receiving for endorsing the product.
Also, they should substantiate the claims that are made by them in the advertisement.
IS 18149:2023 - Transportation of Dangerous Goods — Guidelines
The ‘IS 18149:2023 – Transportation of Dangerous Goods — Guidelines’ have been
published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) with the aim of enhancing safety in the
transportation of hazardous materials. These guidelines have been formulated by BIS
under the Transport Services Sectional Committee, SSD 01.
What is the aim of the guidelines?
The newly released guidelines are expected to establish a new benchmark for the safe
handling and transportation of dangerous goods across India. Here, dangerous goods
refer to those substances that are flammable, explosive, infectious, toxic or corrosive.
They will standardize transportation practices and ensure that hazardous goods are
transported safely, reducing the risk of accidents and potential harm to people and the
environment. The guidelines provide guidance on classification, packaging, labelling and
marking, handling, documentation, training, transportation, emergency action and
provisions for the segregation of dangerous goods.
What are dangerous goods according to the guidelines?
The substance and articles that pose risk to public safety and the environment have been
classified as dangerous goods. This includes toxic, flammable, explosive, infectious and
corrosive materials. Also, the materials that require adequate safety measures for
transport have also been put under the category of dangerous goods. The transportation
may be through air, land or water. However, they will require high safety measures for
transporting.
The goods that have been included in this category are flammable solids, flammable
liquids, explosive gases, organic peroxides, oxidising substances, poisonous substances,
radioactive substances, and corrosive substances.
Why were the guidelines issued?
The guidelines were issued to reduce the risk of accidents and also to keep the people and
environment safe from the dangers of hazardous substances.
Who formulated the guidelines?
Transport Services Sectional Committee. There are different sectional committees
operating under the BIS. For instance, the SSD 2 sectional committee looks after the travel,
tourism, and hospitality services. Sectional Committee SSD 3 looks after the banking and
financial services.
Variation of lightning-ignited wildfire patterns under climate change
The research paper titled ‘Variation of lightning-ignited wildfire patterns under climate
change’ states that increasing global temperatures could result in more occurrences of
“hot lightning” strikes around the world, resulting in an elevated risk of wildfires. Hot
lightning, also known as long continuing current, is a type of lightning that lasts longer,
i.e. 40 milliseconds to nearly a third of a second. This study is the first to analyze the
correlation between rising global temperatures and hot lightning strikes, which are known
to be more likely to trigger wildfires than conventional lightning.
How was the research conducted?
The research team from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia in Spain and the
Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Germany examined satellite images of US wildfires
between 1992 and 2018 for this study. They found that almost 90% of the 5,858 selected
lightning-ignited fires could have been started by hot lightning strikes.
What did the research say about the long-continued current lightning and wildfires?
29% of the wildfires were ignited due to long continued current lightning.
What is long-continued current lightning? The lightning flashes make discharges.
During such times, electric charges flow continuously. Let us understand this in simple
terms. Say lightning stuck for 1 milli-second. Charges from this lightning flow for a period
of say 2 seconds. Now at second milli-second, the second lightning stuck for 3
milliseconds. The charges of this second lightning are assumed to be flowing for 3
seconds. And the charge flow during the time period between the second and third
second will be high because there are two flashes of lightning. And now the third lightning
stuck at the fifth milli-second for about 2 milliseconds. This process is continuous.
Therefore, there is a continuous flow of charges. This induces wildfire.
The study says that earlier the time period between two consecutive lightning was more.
Now, this has reduced and thus, the occurrence of long-continued current lightning has
increased. And they are causing wildfires as the electron discharge from such occurrences
has increased.
Who is Group Captain Shaliza Dhami?
Group Captain Shaliza Dhami has made history as the first woman officer in the Indian Air
Force (IAF) to be appointed as the leader of a frontline combat unit in the Western sector.
She will be in charge of a missile squadron, marking a significant milestone in the IAF’s
history. This achievement comes after the Indian Army recently began assigning women
officers to command roles outside the medical stream, with approximately 50 women
expected to lead units in operational areas.
About Group Captain Shaliza Dhami
Group Captain Dhami has extensive experience as a helicopter pilot and a flight
commander in the Western sector, having received commendations from the Air Officer
Commanding-in-Chief on two occasions. Her position as a Group Captain is equivalent to a
Colonel in the Indian Army. She has over 2,800 hours of flying experience. She is also the
1st woman officer to be a qualified flight instructor in the IAF.
What is the ranking of a group captain?
The ranking of group captain in the Indian Air Force is an imprint of British colonialism. It
was in practice in the British Royal Air Force and we adopted it after independence. The
group captain is the senior commissioned rank officer. The NATO rank code of group
officer is OF-5. This means, he or she ranks above the wing commander and below the air
commander. The rank of the group captain is almost similar to the rank of the Navy
captain.
What are the roles and responsibilities of group captains?
The group captains are appointed to lead the helicopter units and the command squadron
of the Indian Air Force. They also serve as the chief operating officers in air force stations.
The air advisors and the air attaches sitting in the embassies and high commissions are
mostly of the rank of group officers.
Where is Sigur Plateau?
The Sigur Plateau, situated in the Nilgiri District of Tamil Nadu, is a vast plateau covering
an area of 778.8 square kilometres (300.7 sq mi) and lies on the northern slopes of the
Nilgiri Hills. The plateau connects several protected areas, including the Nilgiri Biosphere
Reserve and is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Why is Sigur plateau in news?
A study recently warned that vultures in the Sigur plateau are at risk from poisoning
events due to the availability of harmful NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs)
near their habitats. The dependence of vultures on cattle carcasses as food sources in the
area could be a contributing factor to this. The study was conducted by the Centre for
Wildlife Studies between 2018 and 2021. It highlighted the decreasing availability of
expansive areas for vultures due to invasive plant species like Lantana camara and
Eupatorium.
Is the Sigur plateau a wildlife corridor?
Yes. It is one of the most important wildlife corridors connecting the western ghats and
the eastern ghats. The corridor is essential to sustain the genetic diversity of tigers and
elephants in the region. The elephant population in the area is one of the highest in the
country because of the Sigur plateau.
National Parks and Sanctuaries near Sigur Plateau
The Sigur plateau is enclosed by the Bandipur National Park in the northwest, the
Sathyamangalam Wildlife sanctuary in the east and the Wayanad wildlife sanctuary in the
west.
Tribals in the Sigur plateau
The Irular community tribals inhabit the Sigur plateau. They are a Dravidian ethnic group.
They are spread across the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. Meaning of the
word “Irular” means “dark people”. Their physical features and mannerisms are very
close to the Onge tribal community. Onge is the Andaman tribe.
Also, the DNA analysis of a skeleton from the Indus Valley civilization showed close
affinities with the Irular community.
What is Pattaya Mission?
The state government of Kerala is planning to establish a Pattaya Mission by the end of
April to tackle land record issues in the state. Under the leadership of MLAs in each
district, the mission will work towards providing title deeds for all individuals.
Why is the Kerala Government launching Pattaya Mission?
Despite the implementation of the Land Reforms Act five decades ago, land record
problems have not been resolved, and the proposed Pattaya Mission will expedite the
distribution of title deeds. Till now, the government has disbursed 54,535 title deeds. It
was announced by Revenue Minister K. Rajan while inaugurating a State-level Pattaya
Mela in Wayanad and laying the foundation for a smart village office in Vellamunda.
What is the need for Pattaya Mission?
The feudal system was strong in Kerala. The state was formed in 1957. However, the
subsequent chief ministers couldn’t implement land reforms in the state. It was Achutha
Menon the CM of the state in the 1970s who implemented the land reforms successfully.
He too couldn’t bring reforms in the cash crop plantations. Kerala is a mountainous region
where coffee and tea plantations are the major sources of income apart from paddy,
wheat, and maize cultivation. With the cash crop plantation placed out of the land reforms,
the majority of the lands in the state were not distributed. This is why the present Kerala
Government is launching the Pattaya mission.
The issue rose because the cash crop plantations were placed outside the purview of the
Kerala Land reforms (Amendment) Act passed in 1969.
Why the delay in Kerala?
The political society of the state was the main reason behind the delay. The culturist
framework among the Keralites ignores their material concerns. Also, the subsequent
political parties that came to power did not put in efforts to bring in material
transformation among the agrarian classes. With the literacy levels increasing in the state
and land value increasing in the country, people are now learning the importance of land
reforms.
What is Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin?
The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) is a species of humpback dolphin
that lives in the coastal waters of the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. It is
commonly known as the Chinese white dolphin in some regions. While some biologists
believe that it is a subspecies of the Indian Ocean humpback dolphin, studies using DNA
testing have confirmed that they are two separate species.
Why is the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin in News?
A group of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins was spotted recently off the coast of
Injambakkam. Over 30 to 40 of these dolphins were found 500 meters away from the
coast. Each dolphin had a unique colouration of pink and grey. These species are
threatened by pollution, fishing nets, declining fish stocks and the degradation of
mangrove habitats. The Humpback dolphins have a hump ahead of their dorsal fin.
They are commonly found in the regions of East Africa to India. Australian Humpback
dolphins were segregated as different species from the Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins
in 2014.
Reasons for the different colours of Humpback dolphins spotted: Thermoregulation
The adult humpback dolphins are pink in colour. The baby humpback dolphins are dark
grey in colour. The pinkish complexion is because of their well-developed blood vessels.
These blood vessels are overdeveloped in the dolphins for thermoregulation.
Thermoregulation is the phenomenon by which an organism keeps its body temperature
under control. Thermoconforming on the other hand means adapting to the surrounding
temperature.
This means the Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins cannot keep their body temperatures
under a control after a certain limit. They maintain thermal equilibrium with the
environment by adjusting their body temperature. If the temperature increases or
decreases beyond a threshold, they are in danger. Humans adopt the phenomenon of
“thermoregulation” and not “thermoconforming”.
Conservation
IUCN: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix I
Wildlife Protection Act. 1972: Not included. Only Gangetic dolphins and Snubfin
dolphins are included in the act
What is Terran 1?
On March 8, Relativity Space, a startup company based in California, made history with the
launch of Terran 1, the world’s first 3D-printed rocket. The launch is part of the “Good
Luck, Have Fun” (GLHF) mission. Terran 1 will be the largest 3D-printed object to attempt
an orbital flight, weighing 9,280 kilograms and standing 110 feet tall and 7.5 feet wide.
85% of the rocket was manufactured using 3D-printing technology.
About Terran 1
It is a two-stage satellite, which means the fuel burns in two different stages to give the
required escape velocity to the satellite. Terran 1 is an expendable launch system, which
means can be launched only once. Satellites like Falcon 9 are reusable and can be
launched multiple times. Terran 1 is a small lift launch vehicle, that is, it can carry loads of
up to 2000 kg.
The engine in Terran 1
Terran 1 has two stage engine. The first stage uses nine Aeon 1 engines. This engine is
powered by a mixture of methane and oxygen. The second stage is powered by the
AeonVac engine. This first launch of Terran 1 did not carry any payloads. However, it is
capable of carrying payloads up to 1,500 kg to the low earth orbit. The low earth orbit lies
at a distance of 1000 km from the earth’s surface. It was built using aluminium alloy.
NASA’s future plans for Terran 1
Although Terran 1 won’t carry any payloads on its maiden flight, NASA has already signed
a contract with the company to launch a satellite with the rocket as part of its Venture-
Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions in the future.
Future goals
The Aeon 1 engines will be replaced with Aeon R engines. The Aeon R engines have higher
thrusts. And the Aeon R engines will be capable of powering medium-lift rockets. The
medium-lift rockets are those rockets that can carry payloads between 2,000 kg and 20,000
kg.
Where is Chitwan National Park?
Chitwan National Park is the first-ever national park set up in Nepal. It was founded in
1973 as the Royal Chitwan National Park. It became a World Heritage Site in 1984. This
park encompasses a massive area of 952.63 km2 (367.81 sq mi). It is located in the
subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal. Notably, its adjacent Parsa
National Park is contiguous with Bihar’s Valmiki National Park.
Why is Chitwan National Park in News?
Threats such as illegal fishing and sand mining are causing major threats to the mugger
crocodile of the Rapti River that flows along the Chitwan National Park (CNP). A new study
has recommended a win-win conservation setup between the local community and
muggers to ensure the long-term conservation of vulnerable species.
The historical significance of the Chitwan National Park: Big Game Hunting
The Chitwan National Park used to be the favourite hunting spot of the kings of Nepal.
“Big Game Hunting” was common in the Chitwan National Park. What is “Big Game
Hunting”? In this game, hunters hunt large game animals. Game animals are those
animals that are hunted for recreation, animal products, and trophies. The big game
hunting runs for two to three months. During the big game hunting, hundreds of tigers,
rhinos, and other wild animals are hunted for furs, antlers, tusks, bones, and organs. In
Africa, the same is referred to as the “Big Five Games”. During Big Five Games, the
hunters hunt African elephants, lions, cape buffalo, rhinoceros, and African leopards.
Why was Chitwan National Park declared a World Heritage Site?
By 1960, 70% of the jungle was cleared. Thousands of people settled around the park.
Anthropogenic activities started to degrade the park. Poaching was uncontrollable. Only
95 rhinos were left.
Ethnic Tribe in the Chitwan National Park
Tharu people were the ethnic tribe in the region. They are also spread in UP, Uttarakhand
and Bihar. They call themselves the original descendants of Lord Buddha. When the
protected areas were established in the park, these ethnic tribes were forced to leave the
land without any compensation. They were left landless and they eventually fell into
poverty.
What is H3 Rocket?
The H3 rocket recently experienced an engine failure during liftoff from the JAXA
Tanegashima spaceport, prompting JAXA to send a self-destruct signal. JAXA is Japan
Space Aerospace Exploration Agency. It was carrying the ALOS-3 satellite (Advanced Land
Observation Satellite for disaster response and map making) that included an
experimental infrared sensor for detecting North Korean ballistic missile launches.
What was the purpose of the H3 rocket?
The H3’s main objective is to lift government and commercial satellites into Earth orbit,
provide supplies to the International Space Station, and eventually carry cargo to the
Gateway lunar space station. Its lower cost per launch offers a competitive advantage in
the global launch market, which is currently dominated by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
Why did the H3 lift fail?
The second stage of the rocket did not ignite due to a power system failure. The rocket
uses liquid propellants and strap-on solid rocket boosters.
H3 rocket: first to use Expander Bleed Cycle
H3 is a bipropellant rocket engine and uses the expander bleed cycle. Here, the fuel cools
the combustion chamber of the engine. The fuel picks up heat in the combustion chamber
while cooling it. The heated fuel is now used to power the engine.
Who developed the H3 rocket?
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries developed the H3 rocket along with JAXA. The rocket uses
liquid fuel engines. The H3 rocket is cheaper than the Flacon 9 because it uses very few
components as compared to the latter. The cost of the H3 rocket is 36 million USD. The
cost of Falcon 9 is 67 million USD. As you can see, the cost of just half the cost of Falcon 9.
Future Plans for H3 rocket
Japan is planning on sending satellites to explore the moon with the H3 rocket. Also, Japan
has big commercial plans with H3 rockets. JAXA has joined hands with Mitsubishi to launch
the commercial wing of the H3 rocket series. The country is planning several projects with
H-IIA, the predecessor of H3. The H-IIA has a big success rate. It has failed only once in 46
launches.
March 11, 2023
What are High Seas?

After almost a decade of negotiations, countries have reached an agreement on a treaty
to protect and sustainably use marine biodiversity beyond national boundaries on the
high seas. This breakthrough comes after 2 weeks of talks at the Intergovernmental
Conference (IGC) on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in New
York. The high seas are areas situated beyond 200 nautical miles from coastal countries’
exclusive economic zones.
What are high seas?
The United Nations define high seas as “The parts of the sea that do not include the
internal water of a state”. Internal waters are territorial waters. In other words, these
waters are used by a country. The country may use it for any purpose like fishing, oil
drilling, etc.
What is included in high seas?
The high seas are also called transboundary waters or international waters. It includes
marine ecosystems, estuaries, rivers, regional seas, groundwater systems, wetlands, etc.
No country shall profess sovereignty over the high seas.
What is Convention on the High Seas?
63 countries have signed this treaty. It draws boundaries at sea. It established the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, that is, UNCLOS. The UNCLOS creates a legal
framework for maritime activities.
Current Major issues over high seas
Arctic Ocean: The Northwest passage is claimed by Canada. EU and USA say the
passage is an international strait
Southern Ocean: Australia claims a part of Antarctic territories. Only four countries
support this. The rest of the world is against this
Okinotorishima: Japan claims this islet. Other neighbouring countries oppose this
South China Sea: China claims the WHOLE of it. Neighbouring countries consider it a
high sea
What is the need for a treaty on the high seas?
High seas are facing various threats such as overfishing, illegal fishing, mining, pollution,
habitat loss, and climate change. The new international treaty aims to increase the
percentage of protected areas on the high seas, where only 1.44% is currently protected. It
will enter into force when at least 60 countries ratify it, but concerns remain as this
process could take some time.
What is VLT Survey Telescope?
The VLT Survey Telescope (VST) is located at the Paranal Observatory in the Atacama
Desert of northern Chile and is adjacent to the four Very Large Telescope (VLT) Unit
Telescopes. It is located atop the Cerro Paranal mountain. The VST is unique as it is the
world’s largest telescope specifically designed to survey the sky in visible light. The
program is a collaboration between Italy’s OAC and the European Southern Observatory
(ESO).
Why is VLT Survey Telescope in News?
The VLT Survey Telescope has recently captured a detailed image of IC 4701, an emission
nebula found in the Sagittarius constellation. This nebula, also known as LBN 55 or NRL 18,
was discovered by astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard in August 1905.
Who built VLT Survey Telescope?
It is a cooperation between Italy and 16 other European countries. These 16 countries
formed the ESO – Earth Southern Observatory that signed the agreement with Italy to
build the VLT Survey Telescope. ESO is a research facility.
Is VLT Survey Telescope and VLT Telescope the same?
No. The VLT Survey telescope supports the VLT Telescope. The VLT Telescope is operated
by the European Southern Observatory. But VLT Survey Telescope is operated by Italy and
ESO.
Both telescopes are located in the Atacama desert. The VLT survey telescope creates maps
of the night sky. It scans and takes pictures of different parts of the sky. This data provided
by the VLT survey telescope is used by the VLT telescope team to continue the research
further.
What are the functions of the VLT Survey Telescope?
It conducts multi-colour imaging surveys and searches for rare objects in the sky. It is a
part of the Public Surveys Project. The surveys conducted under this project take five or
more years to complete and are extensive. Surveys are done on the sky.
The telescope studies solar system bodies, galactic planes, interactions happening in Milky
Way, intra-cluster planetary nebulae, and other micro-lensing events.
International Women’s Day 2023
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8th. Its origins can be traced
back to the activities of labour movements in North America and Europe at the turn of the
twentieth century. It was first observed in 1911 by a few European countries. It was
officially recognized in 1977.
The theme of International Women’s Day 2023
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Embrace Equity or
#EmbraceEquity, which aims to highlight the importance of gender equity in every society.
The difference between equity and equality is also emphasized, with equity recognizing
that each person has different circumstances and allocating resources and opportunities
accordingly to achieve an equal outcome.
Why is International Women’s Day celebrated?
The day is celebrated to create awareness of issues faced by women. These include
gender equality, violence, abuse against women, reproductive rights, etc. The concept of
celebrating International Women’s Day started over the Universal Female Suffrage
movement. “Universal Female Suffrage” means the right to vote for women.
What led to the concept of the International Women’s Day Celebration?
The fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. The accident killed more than 146 young
workers, the majority were women. They were immigrants. The Triangle Shirtwaist factory
is in New York. The fire in the factory is one of the deadliest incidents in the history of New
York. Due to the fire in the building, more than 123 girls of age 14-23 died from inhaling
the smoke. Most of them were Jewish and Italian immigrants. The factory was on the 8th,
9th, and 10th floors of the building. This accident happened in 1911.
Need for International Women’s Day
Today 118.5 million girls are out of school. The current global Maternal Mortality Rate
according to the UN is 223 deaths per 100,000 live births. Though the MMR has declined,
we have a long way to go. Of the 828 million people affected by hunger and poverty, 150
million are women.
What is MRSAM?
On March 7 this year, the Indian Navy conducted a successful test-firing of a Medium
Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) from INS Visakhapatnam, a frontline warship. The
successful test-firing validated the capability to use the weapon as an anti-ship missile,
demonstrating the Navy’s preparedness to safeguard its assets from attacks by adversary
forces.
Who built MRSAM?
The MRSAM was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO). The missile was produced at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). The MRSAM
technology is an important milestone for India’s indigenous defence industry and is
expected to enhance India’s self-reliance in defence technology. The Army and Air Force
use different variants of missiles.
What is MRSAM?
The missile can be used against any kind of airborne threat. This includes helicopters,
combat jets, cruise missiles, aircraft, etc. It was jointly developed by India and Israel. It is a
medium-range missile. Meaning, the range of the missile is between 1000 km and 3000
km. Most of the medium-range missiles developed by India including the MRSAM are
theatre ballistic missiles. Agni, Prithvi, and Shaurya are all theatre ballistic missiles.
Theatre ballistic missiles are those missiles that use projectile motion to hit a target and
their range is less than 3,500 km.
BARAK-8 is the land-based configuration of MRSAM.
Technical details of MRSAM
It is a high-response and vertically launched missile. It was mainly developed for aerial
targets. The weight of the missile is 275 kg. It uses a proximity fuse. The proximity fuse is a
type of fuse that detonates an explosive device when the target is close by. It emits radio
waves towards the target and detonates based on the waves reflected from the target. It
can be controlled through radar and also through direct commands. Meaning, it can be
operated remotely from a faraway distance and also from a ship at a close distance.
What is Holi?
Holi celebrations mark the beginning of spring and the end of winter. It is also celebrated
as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. The main day of the festival, which symbolizes the
victory of good over evil, will be celebrated on March 8 this year.
The Spiritual Aspect of Holi
The festival of Holi is based on the myth of Lord Vishnu slaying the Asura king
Hiranyakashipu. In some regions, it is celebrated as a commemoration of the divine love
between Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. In the Braj region (birthplace of Lord
Krishna), the festival is celebrated until Rang Panchmi.
Holi in Jammu and Kashmir
Here, the festival marks the beginning of the harvest of summer crops. People celebrate
Holi by dancing, singing, and spraying coloured water
Holi in Karnataka
Here, Holi is a festival for Children. Kids collect money in the week prior to Holi. They use
the money to prepare a bonfire on the night before Holi.
Also, a unique dance called “BEDRA VESHA” is performed on the night before Holi.
Tourists from different parts of India visit to watch the dance.
Holi in Maharashtra
Here, it is celebrated as Shimga. Puran Poli is cooked during holi and offered to the kids.
Maharashtrians forgive and forget rivalries that happened in the past. Celebrated for five
to six days.
Holi in Manipur
Celebrated in the name of Yaosang. The dance performed is “THABAL CHONGBA” on the
night before Holi. Celebrated for six days.
Holi in Odisha
Celebrated in the name of Dola or Pushpadola. Processions of Krishna and Radha are
held.
Holi in Punjab
Celebrated in the name of “LUHATAK”.
Other States
Tamil Nadu: PANGUNI UTHIRAM
Telangana: JAJIRI
Tripura: Pali
UP, Uttarakhand: HOLI
West Bengal: Dol Jatra
Holi marks the Unity in Diversity. Holi is celebrated all over India in different names and in
different contexts.
What is Yaoshang Festival?
Celebrated over five days during the full moon day of the Lamda month (February-March),
Yaosang is one of the key festivals in Manipur. The festival is part of the indigenous
traditions of the Meitei people. It begins just after sunset in every village with the Yaosang
Mei thaba (burning of the straw hut).
What is Yaoshang or Yaosang festival?
The Manipuris celebrate Holi as the Yaoshang festival. The festival is celebrated for five
days. It is celebrated to mark the beginning of spring. Worshippers sing hymns and
kirtans on this day.

Yaoshang Mei Thaba
It is a ritual performed during the festival. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a 15th-century
saint. He is believed to be the avatar of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. During the
Yaoshang festival, an idol of Lord Chaitanya is placed in a hut-like structure made of hay
and worshipped for six to seven days. On the night before the festival, the idol is removed
and the hut is burnt to ashes. The burning ceremony is called “YAOSHANG MEI THABA”.
The ashes are believed to be highly auspicious. These ashes are sprayed over the head
and in front of the houses in the locality.
Music and Dance of Yaoshang festival
The celebrations of the Yaosang festival were kicked off recently. They include a wide
range of activities such as the Thabal Chongba, a traditional Manipuri dance, sports
competitions like Mukna Kangjei (a combination of hockey and wrestling), and Pana
Sankirtana, a form of traditional music.
Who celebrates the Yaoshang festival?
Meiti tribes. The modern-day Manipuris are the Meitei tribes. They speak the Meitei
language. The Meiti is one of the 22 official languages of Manipur. Meitis are spread over
Myanmar and Bangladesh. In India, they live in Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura,
Meghalaya, and Nagaland. 53% of the Manipur population consists of Meiti tribes.
What is Influenza Sub-type H3N2?
Influenza sub-type H3N2, commonly called Hong Kong Flu, is causing a surge in
hospitalizations due to respiratory illness across India. H3N2 is responsible for at least 92
per cent of all severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and outpatient influenza-like
illnesses. It is causing more hospitalizations than other influenza subtypes. Recently, it
caused 2 deaths- 1 in Karnataka and another in Haryana.
What is India doing against Influenza Sub-Type H3N2?
India sees the virus as “Seasonal Influenza”. The Union Health Ministry recently included
the virus in the IDSP network to monitor and track its status. ICMR issued advisories on
precautions to be taken against preventing influenza. The GoI is expecting the cases to
decline by March.
Also, guidelines have been provided to categorise patients. Health Ministry has advised
the state governments to vaccinate the health care workers who are working with H1N1
cases.
Why is Influenza Sub-Type H3N2 called seasonal influenza?
Every year, India witnesses influenza peaks in the months of January to March due to cold
weather. As the temperature in the atmosphere reduces, the human body will not get
enough heat for its normal functioning. The digestion process slows down and eventually,
immunity levels fall down. Due to reduced immunity, the common cold and fever viruses
like Influenza can easily attack. As the Influenza Sub-type H3N2 virus is spreading due to
this reason of reduced immunity, GoI categorises it as seasonal influenza.
What are the symptoms of Influenza Sub-type H3N2?
The symptoms of H3N2 include fever, cough, breathlessness, wheezing, and clinical signs
of pneumonia. This virus was responsible for causing the 1968 pandemic that resulted in
the deaths of over a million people. This flu pandemic is known as called Hong Kong flu
pandemic of 1968. It originated in China in July of that year.
Current Scenario
10% of the H3N2 patients needed oxygen. 7% needed ICU care. 92% complained of fever.
27% complained of breathlessness. If the treatment was started early, the disease can be
easily cured. No hospitalisation is required if diagnosed early.
What is Shab e-Barat?
Shab-e-Barat, also known as the Night of Forgiveness, is a significant Islamic event
observed every year on the 15th of the Islamic month of Shaban. The term ‘Shab’ means
night and ‘Bharaat’ means forgiveness. It is celebrated throughout South Asia, Central
Asia, and Turkey.
Is Shab e-Barat a festival?
No. It is a ceremony of forgiveness. Both Shia and Sunni Sufi Muslims observe this
ceremony. There are seven significant sectors of Muslims. They are Sunni, Whabbi, Shia,
Berelvi, Deobandi, Sufi, and Salfi. Sunni is the largest branch. 85% to 90% of the Muslims
belong to this community. They are mostly in Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
Most of the Muslims in the Gaza strip and West Bank are Sunni Muslims.
What is Shab e-Barat?
Shab-e-Barat is believed to be a holy night when Allah is more forgiving, and sincere
prayers can wash away sins. The night is also used to pray for departed and ill family
members and seek mercy. Muslims prepare for the festival, create sweets, and decorate
mosques. On the night of Shab-e-Barat, worshippers pray and request forgiveness until
the next day, followed by a pre-dawn meal before the fast.
Traditions of Shab e-Barat
It is believed that Muhammad went to the graveyard to pray for the dead on this night.
Even today, Muslims visit to the graveyard at night during Shab e-Barat and recite some
verses of Kuran.
Where is Shab e-Barat celebrated?
It is celebrated in Japan, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, and Iran. In Iran, it is
celebrated in the Greater Khorasan region (early Persia) and also in the region populated
by Kurds. In Iran, the ceremony is mostly restricted to respecting the souls of the dead. In
Iraq, children are the centre of attraction for the ceremony. Children are believed to be
the form of god. Giving chocolates to them is pleasing god and taking forgiveness from
him.
In Indonesia, dhikr devotions are offered. Dhikr is a form of meditation. In India, the
ceremony is associated with fasting, charity and lighting lamps, wearing new clothes, and
making halwa.
What are e-Fuels?

E-fuels are a type of fuel that is produced by capturing carbon emissions and combining
them with hydrogen made from renewable or CO2-free electricity. Their examples include
e-kerosene, e-methane, and e-methanol.
Why are e-fuels called carbon-neutral fuels?
When e-fuels are burned in an engine, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere,
but the emissions are balanced by the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the air to
make the fuel, making it carbon-neutral.
Are Electro-fuels biofuels?
Yes. Electro fuels are fourth-generation biofuels. The third-generation and fourth-
generation biofuels use non-arable land. The non-arable lands are those lands that are
not suitable for growing agricultural crops. This can be because of rockiness, erosion
hazards, steepness, or climate activities.
The third-generation biofuels were made from (marine) algae. The second-generation
biofuels were made from grasses (cellulosic ethanol). The first-generation biofuels were
made from sugar-based crops, oil-based crops, and starch-based crops.
Why are electro fuels biofuels?
By UNEP, the definition of biofuel is those fuels that are derived from living matter. When
electro fuels are derived from carbon emissions, how are they categorised under bio-
fuels? The production of electro-fuel bypasses photosynthesis. Also, the production of
electro fuel doesn’t need solar energy. Here, the microorganisms act upon carbon dioxide
and convert it into fuel. They use electrical energy and chemical compounds like hydrogen
to do the conversion.
Why are e-fuels in news?
Germany and Italy are seeking clearer assurances from the European Union that new cars
with internal combustion engines running on CO2-neutral fuels can continue to be sold
beyond 2035. The EU is proposing to end sales of CO2-emitting cars by that year, making it
impossible to sell new fossil fuel-powered cars. The rules do not cover internal combustion
engines (ICEs).
“Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures” Exhibition
The “Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures” Exhibition, which features 26 repatriated Indian
antiquities, will be displayed in the national capital as part of efforts to raise awareness
about the prevention of illicit trafficking of antiquities. The exhibition has been set up at
the Khajuraho G20 culture group meeting.
What is Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures Exhibition?
The exhibition showcases a range of historical artefacts, including the 12th-century
Dancing Ganesha, a stone sculpture from Central India that was recovered from the U.S.
in 2021, and the Yaksha, Amin Pillar from 2nd century B.C., which was discovered in the
U.K. and repatriated in 1979-80. According to the Archaeological Survey of India, 244
stolen/ missing artefacts have been repatriated till now.
History of Repartition of Indian Antiquities
Indian is rich in cultural heritage. One of the oldest civilizations in the world started in
India. This is mainly because of India’s abundant resources and fertility. Unfortunately,
historical artefacts were stolen from India. With recent efforts by the GoI, several stolen
crafts and artefacts were returned back. The USA alone returned more than 50 million
USD worth of artefacts to India in the last five years.
Significance of “Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures” Exhibition
The exhibition is important because it shows the identity of the country. Also, the stolen
artefacts fuel illegal trade. The illegal trade of precious artefacts contributes to terrorism.
The repartition will help to reduce the demand for illegally obtained antiquities.
What are the famous arts placed in the “Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures” Exhibition?
The Dancing Ganesha: Recovered from the US in 2021 is a sculpture from the 12th century.
India got this sculpture back after a long legal battle. It is a rare piece of art that belongs
to medieval India.
Yaksh, Amin Pillar: Recovered from the UK. It is a 2nd-century sandstone sculpture.
What is Moon Time Zone?
Moon Time Zone has been proposed for establishing a universal timekeeping system that
will simplify communication and coordination among different lunar missions. The
proposal has come in response to the increasing number of lunar missions being planned
and launched by different countries and entities- with some of the upcoming missions
including Japan’s M1 lunar lander and the Nova-C lander of Houston-based Intuitive
Machines. Its creation will help in future space explorations, including the possibility of
establishing a Martian time zone.
Why is Moon Time Zone in News?
The European Space Agency (ESA) has recently proposed the need for a lunar time zone. It
has called for international coordination and consensus to establish it. One of the
questions that need to be settled is whether lunar time should be set on the moon or
synchronized with Earth.
What is Moon’s Time Zone?
Like the GMT of the earth which has 24 different time zones, a moon time zone is the need
of the moment. The earth time zone is divided into 24. The difference between the
consecutive zones of the earth is one hour and each time zone is 15 degrees wide. The
zero time zone starts at Greenwich Meridian. Similarly, based on the rotations and
revolutions of the moon, a time zone should be created for the moon. This is referred to
as Moon Time Zone.
How to establish Moon Time Zone?
The European Space Agency that initiated the Moon Time zone concept says that the
moon time zone shall be established in two ways. One is to set the time based only on the
rotations of the moon. The second way is to synchronize its timings with the earth. For
instance, if the time in London is 12 AM, then it is 5:30 AM in India. Because India is ahead
of London by five and a half hours. Similarly, if the time on the earth is X, then what will be
the time on the moon? Ahead or Behind?

What is an Atmospheric River?
An atmospheric river is a narrow and elongated region in the atmosphere that carries a
substantial amount of water vapour outside the tropics. Researchers first coined the term
‘atmospheric river’ in the 1990s. It is also known as a tropical plume, tropical connection,
moisture plume, water vapour surge, and cloud band.
Why in News?
Atmospheric rivers can be thousands of kilometres long and transport water vapour
equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. The
Pineapple Express is an example. It carries moisture from the Pacific region to USA and
Canada. California is currently bracing for the arrival of atmospheric rivers, which are
expected to bring heavy rain, flooding, and heavy snowfall.
How do scientists identify atmospheric rivers?
Scientists look for corridors that are 2,000 km long. Corridors mean the atmosphere in this
region is almost uniform in terms of colour, temperature, moisture content, and other
aspects. The ocean wind speeds right below the atmospheric rivers are different. So are
the sea ice cover and precipitation intensity.
What are the impacts of Climate change on Atmospheric rivers?
The capacity of the atmosphere to hold more and more moisture is increasing. This is
because of the increasing global temperature. As temperature increases, the air can hold
more water. So the atmospheric rivers are becoming more intense (or violent). They are
growing longer and wider.
Why are atmospheric rivers a problem?
During dry conditions, the atmospheric rivers quench the wildfire and save forests. But
during winters and rainy seasons, they add to the rainfall causing floods and landslides.
More than 40 atmospheric rivers have hit the Pacific coast. They did not cause many losses
so far. But! In recent times, the atmospheric rivers hitting the Australian coasts have been
causing severe damage.
NOTE: Atmospheric rivers do not occur in the tropics. They occur beyond the tropics.
What is NISAR Mission?
NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) Mission is a collaborative project between
NASA and ISRO aimed at building and launching an Earth observation satellite equipped
with a dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar. Notably, the satellite carries the most
advanced radar system ever to be launched in a NASA Mission. It also has the largest
radar antenna of its type. The satellite will be the first of its kind and will be used to
remotely sense natural phenomena on Earth, such as the Antarctic cryosphere. NISAR is
expected to be the most expensive Earth-imaging satellite, with a total cost of around 1.5
billion USD.
What is the objective of the NISAR Mission?
The mission will map the elevations on the earth’s surface. It will mainly focus on the ice
masses. The mapping is to be done four to six times a month. The resolution of the
mapping is to be in the range of 5m to 10m. With this, the mission will provide details
about ice sheet collapses, landslides, etc.
Operators and Manufacturers of NISAR Mission
The manufacturer is ISRO and Operator is NASA. The mission duration is 3 years. It will be
launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center by ISRO. The mission uses the principle of
radar imaging. The Imaging radars used in the NISAR mission are mesh type and are
huge. Please note the size of the mesh radar in the image.
What is the radar imaging used in NISAR Mission?
Radar imaging works just like a flash camera. It creates its own light. Based on the
reflection from the object, it creates an image of the object. The flash camera sends out
light. Radars will send out radio waves.
What is L-band SAR in NISAR Mission?
There are two radars in the satellite. They are the L-band SAR and the S-band SAR. The L-
band SAR is to be produced by NASA. And the S-band SAR will be produced by ISRO.
The L-band SAR will create 2-dimensional images based on the motion of the radar
antenna. For this reason, the images are of better resolution.
Why is NISAR Mission in News?
The US Air Force recently handed over the NISAR satellite to the Indian Space Research
Organization (ISRO). The satellite is expected to be launched from Satish Dhawan Space
Centre in Andhra Pradesh in 2024.
March 12, 2023
What is Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)?
For the first time, Oxygen-18 was detected in Earth’s mesosphere and lower
thermosphere using the data collected by the GREAT instrument on NASA’s Stratospheric
Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). This is the first time that heavy oxygen has
been detected outside a laboratory. Heavy oxygen has 10 neutrons compared to the 8
neutrons present in the more common isotope that we breathe.
What is Oxygen-18 detected by SOFIA?
It is a stable isotope of oxygen. It has eight protons and 10 neutrons. O2 has eight protons
and eight neutrons. In the Arctic and Antarctic, oxygen-18 is used to determine
temperature and at what temperature ice forms in these regions.
What is SOFIA?
The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) was a telescope mounted
on a Boeing 747 SP aircraft that used infrared light to observe the universe. The telescope
had an 8.9-foot-wide and nearly 20-ton mirror and was operated through a door in the
side of the aircraft. The project was a joint effort between NASA and the German
Aerospace Center. It was cancelled in 2022 due to its high cost and inadequate scientific
output.
What is the mission of the SOFIA telescope?
SOFIA was used to make observations of complex molecules, new solar systems, and
planets in the solar system. It was jointly developed by NASA and GAC (German Aerospace
Center). You can make observations from onboard a plane with the SOFIA telescope.
Why did NASA cancel SOFIA?
The SOFIA telescope was built to be mounted on an aeroplane. This means, it runs on
aircraft fuel, which is one of the most expensive fuels. Thus, the operating costs of SOFIA
were very high. The Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 recommended
concluding SOFIA.
Where is the SOFIA telescope now?
SOFIA telescope is to be put on display at the Prima Air and Space Museum located in
Arizona.
What is Red Tide?
Red tide has recently occurred on the coast of Florida. It generally disappears by spring. It
has been found since the 1800s in the Gulf of Mexico. Swimming in or near the red tide
waters can cause skin irritations, rashes, irritated eyes and burning.
What is Red Tide?
Red tide is an algal bloom. The ocean plants living in the sea grow uncontrollably and
cause a bloom. The bloom caused by red-coloured algae is called red tide. It is harmful to
fish, and marine mammals, and also has harmful effects on humans.
What is the cause of Red Tide?
Red tide is caused by a toxic algae species known as Karenia brevis. It occurs when the
algae multiply in large numbers and form blooms, resulting in the water turning reddish-
brown. The algae produce brevetoxins, which are fatal for aquatic life and capable of
making humans sick. It could also block out the sunlight and deplete the water’s oxygen
levels. It was responsible for the deaths of over 2,000 tonnes of marine life between 2017
and 2018.
When does red tide occur?
It occurs during summer and spring when the sunshine is apt. During this time, the water
is warm and slow-moving. Also, the water is rich in nutrients as the rivers are free from ice
and are adding more nutrients to the sea. The algal bloom is always more in the areas
where there is a mixture of brackish and marine water.
Does Algal Bloom occur in India? Why does the west coast have more algal bloom than the east coast of
India?
Yes. The west coast of India is more prone to algal bloom. Algae like diatoms,
cyanobacteria, haptophytes, and raphiphytes cause an algal bloom in India. Most of the
algal blooms occur during the retreat of southwest monsoon and also during the pre-
monsoon period. The temperature and the conditions are more favourable than that of
the east coast. East Coast is more nutritious than the west coast as it has more number of
rivers draining. But the temperature and water current are more suitable on the west
coast. So more algal blooms occur on the west coast of India.
National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)
National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) is an autonomous body
established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India to assess and accredit
institutions of higher education in the country. NAAC’s primary objective is to improve the
quality of education provided by these institutions and to ensure that they meet national
and international standards. In this article, we will explore the role of NAAC in assessing
and accrediting higher education institutions and its significance in the Indian education
system.
Establishment and Purpose of NAAC
NAAC was established in 1994 as an outcome of the National Policy on Education (NPE)
1986, which emphasized the need for quality education in the country. The council was set
up with the aim of ensuring that higher education institutions in India adhere to the
quality standards set by the UGC. NAAC was tasked with the responsibility of evaluating
and accrediting institutions of higher education in India, based on a set of predetermined
parameters.
NAAC Accreditation Process
The accreditation process of NAAC involves a comprehensive evaluation of an institution
based on a set of criteria and benchmarks. The council assesses the institution’s
performance in areas such as curriculum design, faculty quality, research output,
infrastructure, and student services. NAAC uses a four-tier grading system (A++, A+, A, and
B) to rate the institutions, with A++ being the highest grade.
The NAAC accreditation process is voluntary and open to all institutions of higher
education in India, including universities, colleges, and autonomous institutions.
Institutions seeking accreditation must first register with NAAC and provide relevant
information about their organization, programs, and infrastructure. After registration, a
peer team from NAAC visits the institution to conduct an on-site evaluation. The team then
submits a report to NAAC, which is reviewed by the council’s accreditation committee.
Based on the committee’s evaluation, the institution is assigned a grade.
The Significance of NAAC Accreditation
The NAAC accreditation process is significant for institutions of higher education in India
as it serves as a benchmark for quality education. Institutions that receive high grades
from NAAC are recognized as providing quality education and are preferred by students
and employers. NAAC accreditation also helps institutions to identify areas for
improvement and develop strategies to enhance the quality of education they offer.
The Council’s Recent Criticism
Recently, NAAC came under criticism from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India
(CAG) for its assessment processes. The CAG found “glaring discrepancies” in NAAC’s
assessment process, citing examples where institutions were awarded arbitrary grade
points. The CAG also noted that some institutions were given high points for aspects
about which they were silent in their report submissions.
In response, NAAC issued a note stating that its assessment was “done transparently and
professionally” and that its processes were “robust, transparent, ICT-driven, and
automated.” The council also stated that it would take the CAG’s observations into
consideration and improve its assessment processes.
March 14, 2023

Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana
The state government of Madhya Pradesh has launched a new scheme called
Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana to empower women financially. The program aims to
enhance the economic independence of women, improve their health and nutrition status,
and increase their influence over family decisions. In this article, we will explore the
different components of this scheme.
Eligibility Criteria
Under the Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana, women aged 23 to 60 years with an annual
family income of less than Rs.2.5 lakh or less than 5 acres of land will receive Rs.1,000 per
month. The scheme is targeted towards women from economically weaker sections of
society who face financial hardships due to lack of opportunities and resources. The
program aims to provide them with a steady source of income, which will help them
become financially independent and contribute to their families’ income.
Direct Benefit Transfer
The funds under this scheme will be distributed from June 10 this year, and they will be
directly credited to the account of the beneficiaries. This ensures that the benefits reach
the intended beneficiaries without any leakage or corruption. The direct benefit transfer
mechanism is an effective tool for delivering government subsidies and welfare benefits,
as it eliminates the need for intermediaries and reduces the chances of fraud and
misappropriation.
Expected Coverage
The scheme is expected to cover 1 crore women in Madhya Pradesh. This is a significant
number, considering that the state has a population of around 8 crore. The government’s
commitment to providing financial assistance to a large number of women demonstrates
its commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality. The scheme is expected
to have a positive impact on the lives of women, their families, and the overall economy of
the state.
Objectives of the Scheme
The Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahna Yojana aims to achieve several objectives, such as
improving the health and nutrition status of women, promoting their economic
independence, and increasing their influence over family decisions. By providing financial
assistance to women, the scheme aims to reduce their financial dependency on male
members of the family and enable them to take decisions related to their health,
education, and other aspects of their lives.
Ram Chandra Poudel - New President of Nepal
On March 8th, 2023, Ram Chandra Poudel, a veteran Nepali Congress leader and former
Deputy Prime Minister, was elected as the new President of Nepal. He secured a
comfortable victory with the vote of 214 lawmakers of Parliament and 352 provincial
assembly members. Poudel is the 3rd President of the country, succeeding Bidhya Devi
Bhandari, whose tenure ended on March 12th.
The third presidential election in Nepal
This is the third presidential election in Nepal since the country became a republic in 2008.
The President of Nepal is elected by an electoral college, which consists of Members of
Parliament and Members of the Provincial Assembly. The tenure for the post of President
is 5 years from the date of the election. An individual can be elected as the President for
only two terms.
Ram Chandra Poudel’s political career
Ram Chandra Poudel is a senior leader of the Nepali Congress party and has been active
in politics for over five decades. He has held several important positions in the party,
including the post of General Secretary, Vice President, and President. Poudel has also
served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal.
Poudel’s vision as the new President
As the new President of Nepal, Ram Chandra Poudel has vowed to work for the welfare of
the people and the country. He has emphasized the need for stability, development, and
democracy in Nepal. Poudel has stated that he will work towards strengthening Nepal’s
relations with its neighbors and the international community. He has also promised to
prioritize the issues of economic growth, social justice, and inclusivity.
The discretionary powers of the President of Nepal
The President of Nepal holds a largely ceremonial role, but the position also has certain
discretionary powers under the Constitution of Nepal. The President has the power to
appoint the Prime Minister, Chief Justice, and other constitutional officials. The President
also has the power to pardon convicted criminals and to grant amnesty. Additionally, the
President can declare a state of emergency in the country, in consultation with the Prime
Minister.
Who is Colonel Geeta Rana?
The Indian Army has made history by appointing a woman officer, Colonel Geeta Rana, to
lead an independent field workshop in a sensitive location in eastern Ladakh, near the
China border. This marks a significant milestone in the Indian Army’s efforts to bring
about gender parity and offer women officers command assignments in select branches.
In this article, we will explore the significance of this appointment and its implications for
women’s empowerment in the Indian Army.
Breaking Barriers in the Indian Army
Colonel Geeta Rana’s appointment is the first of its kind, as no woman officer had
previously been assigned to a command role outside of the medical stream. This
development comes after the Indian Army decided in February-end to assign women
officers to command roles, following the opening of command roles to women after the
army began granting them permanent commission (PC) in 2020.
The decision to appoint women officers to command roles outside of the medical stream
is a welcome step towards gender parity in the Indian Army. It will pave the way for more
women to take up leadership roles in the armed forces, thereby breaking down traditional
gender barriers in a male-dominated field.
Colonel Geeta Rana’s Background and Achievements
Colonel Geeta Rana hails from Pauri, Uttarakhand, which is also the hometown of General
Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff. She is a member of the Corps of
Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) and has previously served in various
capacities, including as a military attaché in Moscow, Russia.
Her appointment as the commander of an independent field workshop in eastern Ladakh
is a testament to her skills, experience, and leadership qualities. It is a proud moment for
women in the Indian Army, as Colonel Geeta Rana has shattered the glass ceiling and
opened doors for more women to take up command roles in the future.
Implications for Women’s Empowerment in the Indian Army
Colonel Geeta Rana’s appointment as the commander of an independent field workshop
in eastern Ladakh is a significant step towards women’s empowerment in the Indian
Army. It sends a strong message that women are capable of taking up leadership roles in
the armed forces and contributing to the country’s defence and security.
This appointment will also serve as a source of inspiration for young women who aspire to
join the Indian Army and make a difference. It will encourage more women to take up
careers in the armed forces and pursue their dreams, despite the challenges and
obstacles they may face.
Swadesh Darshan 2.0 programme
The tourism industry in India has always been a major contributor to the country’s
economy. It not only generates employment opportunities but also promotes cultural
exchange and supports local businesses. However, the rapid growth of tourism has also
led to its negative impacts, including environmental degradation, overcrowding, and
exploitation of local communities.
To address these challenges and promote sustainable tourism, the Union Ministry of
Tourism launched the Swadesh Darshan Scheme (SDS) in 2014. The SDS aimed to develop
theme-based tourist circuits across India, such as spiritual, heritage, and eco-tourism
circuits. However, the scheme was criticized for its lack of sustainability and community
involvement.
Revamped Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Programme
In response to the criticism, the Ministry of Tourism has launched the Swadesh Darshan
2.0 (SD2.0) programme, which seeks to develop sustainable and responsible tourist
destinations. The SD2.0 aims to address the negative impacts of tourism and promote
responsible tourism practices while also increasing private sector investments in the
industry.
Under the SD2.0 programme, the Central Government has shortlisted 30 cities from across
15 states to be developed as sustainable and responsible destinations. The selected cities
include Dwarka and Dholavira in Gujarat, Colva and Porvorim in Goa, and Nalanda and
Gaya in Bihar.
Shift towards Destination Management
The SD2.0 programme marks a shift away from the theme-based tourist circuits towards
destination management. Destination management involves a comprehensive approach

to tourism development that considers the environmental, social, and economic impacts
of tourism.
The SD2.0 programme aims to promote sustainable tourism practices by involving local
communities in the tourism development process. It also seeks to develop tourism
infrastructure that is sensitive to the local environment and culture.
Expected Benefits of SD2.0 Programme
The SD2.0 programme is expected to bring several benefits to the tourism industry in
India. Firstly, it will promote sustainable tourism practices, which will reduce the negative
impacts of tourism on the environment and local communities. Secondly, it will create new
employment opportunities and support local businesses. Thirdly, it will attract private
sector investments in the tourism industry, which will contribute to the economic growth
of the country.
March 15, 2023
Dick Fosbury Passes Away at the Age of 76
Dick Fosbury, the legendary American high jumper, who changed the game of high jump
forever with his unconventional technique, passed away at the age of 76. Fosbury was a
gold medalist in high jump at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he stunned the world
with his revolutionary style, known as the Fosbury Flop.
The Birth of the Fosbury Flop
The Fosbury Flop was not an overnight success; it was the result of years of
experimentation and practice. Fosbury started his athletic career using the traditional
straddle technique, but he soon realized that it wasn’t effective enough to get him the
results he wanted. During a high school meet in 1963, Fosbury decided to ditch the
straddle and try the scissor technique, which was not very popular at that time. The scissor
technique involved jumping over the bar with one leg leading and the other following.
However, Fosbury didn’t stop at the scissor technique; he added his own unique twist to it.
Instead of going forward over the bar, he leaned back and jumped backwards over the
bar, head first. It was a move that had never been seen before, and the crowd was
stunned. Fosbury scored two personal bests that day, and the Fosbury Flop was born.
The Dominance of the Fosbury Flop
It took some time for the Fosbury Flop to gain acceptance in the world of high jump.
Coaches and athletes were skeptical of the new technique, and many thought it was
dangerous. But Fosbury kept at it, and by the time he reached college, he had perfected
the technique. In 1968, Fosbury was selected for the US Olympic team and headed to
Mexico City.
The Olympics was the perfect stage for Fosbury to showcase his technique to the world.
He was up against some of the best high jumpers of the time, but he was confident that
his technique would give him an edge. Fosbury’s opponents tried to imitate his style, but
they failed miserably. Fosbury won the gold medal with a jump of 2.24 meters, which was
a new Olympic record.
The Legacy of Dick Fosbury
After the Olympics, the Fosbury Flop became the most widely used technique across the
world. It was adopted by high jumpers of all ages and skill levels, and it remains the
dominant technique to this day. Fosbury’s innovation changed the game of high jump
forever, and it earned him a place in the Olympic Hall of Fame.
Fosbury’s legacy extends beyond the world of athletics. His innovative thinking and
willingness to take risks are an inspiration to people in all walks of life. He proved that
sometimes the unconventional path is the one that leads to success.
IPCC Meet in Switzerland and Synthesis Report: Important Facts
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is set to organize meeting in
Switzerland to finalize the Synthesis Report, which will summarize the findings of the
IPCC’s previous five reports and address policy-relevant scientific questions related to
climate change. The report will emphasize meeting the 1.5-degree Celsius target as the
main global goal. The Synthesis Report is expected to provide a non-technical summary of
the previous reports, which were released during the sixth assessment cycle since 2018.
The Synthesis Report’s Release and its Importance
The Synthesis Report is aimed at policymakers around the world, and its release on March
20 this year will be followed by a ministerial-level meeting in Copenhagen to discuss ways
to implement the decisions taken at last year’s climate meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh. The
report will also be discussed at the UN 2023 Water Conference, with climate change as one
of the most important agendas. This is aimed at building the atmosphere for more
ambitious agreements at this year’s climate conference in Dubai, scheduled towards the
end of the year.
Climate Change and its Impact
Climate science is well-established, and its impacts are already visible, with extreme
weather events becoming the norm. It is predicted to be among the warmest years ever,
with February in India this year being the hottest ever, and unusually hot weather
continuing in many parts of the country. Climate impacts have already begun to hurt
population groups in several other parts of the world.
Countries’ Action on Climate Change
Despite repeated predictions of an impending catastrophe, countries have taken little to
no steps to counter climate crisis. The current level of actions is not even commensurate
with the effort required to meet the 2-degree Celsius target. There is disagreement even
on something as basic as a commitment to phase out fossil fuels, one of the main
contributors to global warming.

RRR’s Oscar Win: Important Facts
The Telugu film ‘RRR’ has gained global attention following a Best Original Song win for
‘Naatu Naatu’ at the 2023 Oscars. The film fictionally narrates the life of real-life Indian
freedom fighters Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. Both the revolutionaries led
tribal people in the present-day Andhra Pradesh to oppose the dominance of the Nizams
and the British. They lost their lives at young age during their fight against the
colonialism.
Who was Alluri Sitarama Raju?
Alluri Sitarama Raju was born in Andhra Pradesh in 1897 or 1898. He became a sanyasi at
the age of 18 and led an effective guerrilla resistance against the British, channelling the
discontent of the hill people in Ganjam, Visakhapatnam, and Godavari. Despite not being
from a tribal background, he became a revolutionary leader and gained a mystical aura
among hill and tribal people with his knowledge of astrology and medicine, and ability to
tame wild animals. He was captured and executed in May 1924.
Who was Komaram Bheem?
Komram Bheem was born in the Gond tribal community at Sankepally village in
Komarambheem District. He fought against the British and Nizams. He killed a jagirdar,
who was an informer of the Nizam, who occupied his family’s land. Bheem spread the
message of “Jal, Jangal, Zameen” (water, forest land) among tribal people, which has
become a clarion call for indigenous people’s rights to natural resources. He died at the
hands of the Nizam’s army in the Jodeghat forest.
Cultural Influence
Raju and Bheem have long been folk heroes in the region. In 1986, the Indian Postal
Department issued a stamp in honour of Raju and his contribution to India’s struggle for
Independence. The 1974 Telugu film ‘Alluri Seetarama Raju’ and the 1990 Telugu film
‘Komaram Bheem’ were both popular. In May 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
unveiled a 30-foot-tall bronze statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju at Bhimavaram in Andhra
Pradesh as the year-long celebrations of the freedom fighter’s 125th birth anniversary
began.
Q+A: India’s Ban on Blood Donations by Gay and Transgender People
In India, gay and transgender individuals face discrimination in many forms. One such
discrimination is the ban on them donating blood. After a petition was filed to challenge
this ban, the Indian government defended the exclusion by citing scientific evidence that
categorized the transgender and gay community in the “at-risk” group for HIV, Hepatitis
B, and C infections.
Why are the rules prohibiting blood donations by transgender and gay community criticised?
The ban on gay and transgender people donating blood was introduced in the 1980s
when information on detecting and transmitting HIV/AIDS was less advanced. At that
time, people were not fully aware of the modes of transmission of the virus, and there was
no reliable test to detect HIV in blood donations. The fear of HIV transmission led to the
exclusion of gay and transgender people from donating blood in many countries,
including India.
The Indian government justifies the ban on scientific grounds, stating that the community
is at a higher risk of HIV, Hepatitis B, and C infections. However, activists argue that the
ban is discriminatory and violates the fundamental right to equality. They argue that the
government’s stand is based on outdated stereotypes and is not in line with the current
medical knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention.
What is the current policy in India?
In India, the fitness of blood donors is determined by medical officers who must ensure
that they are free from diseases that are transmissible by blood transfusion and not at risk
of HIV, Hepatitis B, or C infections. The medical officers screen potential donors for their
medical history, sexual behavior, and other risk factors before accepting them as donors.
However, they exclude gay and transgender people from donating blood, regardless of
their individual risk factors.
Activists have been challenging this ban for years, arguing that it is discriminatory and
based on outdated notions of HIV transmission. In 2018, the Indian government told the
Delhi High Court that it was considering lifting the ban, but no concrete action has been
taken since then. In 2020, the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) set up a
committee to review the policy on blood donation by transgender individuals. However,
the committee’s report is still awaited.
Do other countries allow blood donations by gay and transgender people?
While many countries still have restrictions on blood donation by gay and transgender
individuals, some have proposed guidelines for easing these restrictions. For instance, the
United States lifted its lifetime ban on blood donation by gay and bisexual men in 2015
and replaced it with a one-year deferral period for men who have had sex with other men.
Similarly, the United Kingdom has a three-month deferral period for gay and bisexual
men.
However, these guidelines have been criticized by activists for being discriminatory and
based on stereotypes. They argue that the deferral periods are not based on individual
risk factors but on sexual orientation, which is not a reliable indicator of HIV transmission.
Who is Kenzaburō Ōe?
Kenzaburō Ōe, the Nobel Prize-winning Japanese author, passed away on March 10, 2023,
at the age of 88. His death marks the end of an era in Japanese literature, as Ōe was
widely regarded as one of the most important and influential writers of the post-World
War II era. His works explored complex themes of identity, memory, trauma, and the
human condition, often through the lens of Japan’s traumatic history.
Ōe’s Early Life and Career
Kenzaburō Ōe was born in 1935 in Ose, a small village on the west coast of Japan’s
Shikoku Island. He grew up in a rural environment, surrounded by nature and steeped in
the myths and traditions of his native region. His father was a teacher, and his mother
came from a family of doctors. From an early age, Ōe showed a passion for literature and
began writing poetry and stories while still in high school.

After graduating from Tokyo University, Ōe began his career as a writer, publishing his
debut novel, “Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids,” in 1958. The book, which tells the story of a
group of boys who are abandoned by their village during World War II, was a critical and
commercial success and established Ōe as a rising star in Japanese literature.
What are Ōe’s themes and style?
Throughout his career, Ōe’s works explored the themes of personal and political identity,
memory and trauma, and the human condition in the aftermath of war. His novels, short
stories, and essays often delved into the myths and traditions of Japan’s regions,
particularly Okinawa, which was under US military occupation after World War II.
Ōe’s style was characterized by its complexity and depth, with many of his works using
non-linear narratives and stream-of-consciousness techniques. He was also known for his
use of symbolism and imagery, often drawing on traditional Japanese culture and
mythology to explore his themes.
What the contributions of Ōe to the literature field?
Kenzaburō Ōe’s contributions to Japanese literature have been widely recognized both in
Japan and internationally. In addition to his Nobel Prize, he received numerous other
accolades throughout his career, including the Tanizaki Prize and the Akutagawa Prize,
two of Japan’s most prestigious literary awards.
Ōe’s works have been translated into many languages and continue to be read and
studied around the world. His exploration of Japan’s complex history and his nuanced and
complex portrayal of the human condition have earned him a place as one of the most
important and influential writers of the 20th century.
World Consumer Rights Day: Important Facts
World Consumer Rights Day 2023 was celebrated on March 15 with the theme
“Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions.” The Department of
Consumer Affairs marked this day by leveraging technology to minimize the dependence
on traditional energy sources and promote a rapid transition to clean energy solutions
that are sustainable, secure, affordable, and accessible to consumers.
World Consumer Rights Day: Understanding its History
World Consumer Rights Day has been celebrated since March 15, 1983, with the goal of
empowering and protecting consumers worldwide. It originated from US President John F.
Kennedy’s address to Congress on March 15, 1962, where he highlighted the importance
of consumer rights and was the first world leader to do so. Since then, organizations such
as Consumer International commemorate the day by hosting various activities and
campaigns to defend consumer rights.
Consumer Rights in India: Enactment of the Consumer Protection Act
The Indian Parliament passed the Consumer Protection Act on December 9, 1986, to give
customers more power and create consumer councils, forums, and appellate courts for
the resolution of consumer complaints. This Act significantly improved the rights of
consumers in India, giving them protection against unfair trade practices, access to goods
and services at competitive prices, and the right to be informed about the quality,
standard, and price of goods and services.
The Six Basic Consumer Rights Embedded in the Act
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, embedded six basic consumer rights that serve as a
guide for the Indian consumers. The first right is the right to be heard at an appropriate
forum. The second is the right to seek redressal in case of unfair trade practices. The third
right is the right to consumer education, which involves spreading awareness among
consumers about their rights and the methods to seek redressal. The fourth is the right to
goods and services at competitive prices, which protects consumers from being exploited
by unscrupulous traders. The fifth right is the right to be informed about the quality,
potency, purity, standard, and price of goods and services before purchasing them. Finally,
the sixth right is the right to be protected against wrong marketing of goods and services
that are hazardous to the life and property of consumers.
"Learning Science via Standards" Initiative: Important Facts

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has launched a new initiative called “Learning
Science via Standards” to help students in India understand the practical applications of
scientific concepts. This initiative is part of BIS’s efforts to bridge the gap between theory
and practice in science education and promote a culture of quality and standardization in
the country.
Lesson Plans on Everyday Products
The “Learning Science via Standards” initiative provides lesson plans that focus on the
practical applications of scientific concepts, principles, and laws in manufacturing,
functioning, and testing the quality characteristics of different products. These lesson
plans are aimed at helping students understand how to use scientific knowledge to solve
real-world problems.
The subjects for the lesson plans are related to products used in day-to-day life and have
been chosen based on their relevance to education as part of the course curriculum as
well as to industrial applications. These lesson plans, which can be accessed on the BIS
website, are delivered by BIS officials and resource personnel. They provide an interactive
learning experience for the students.
Complements Standards Clubs Initiative
The “Learning Science via Standards” initiative complements the “Standards Clubs”
initiative, which has already established more than 4,200 clubs in educational institutions
across India. The Standards Clubs undertake student-centric activities such as debates,
quizzes, competitions, and standards-writing competitions.
In addition, students are also taken for exposure visits to industries and laboratories to
witness the various manufacturing and testing processes, as well as BIS offices, which
have been developed as learning spaces. BIS provides financial support to these Clubs for
undertaking up to three activities in a year.
Capacity Building for Students
The “Learning Science via Standards” initiative is expected to contribute towards the
capacity building of students to engage successfully in a variety of economic sectors in the
country. It will also serve as a means for the students of schools and colleges to
appreciate the significance of quality and standards and empower them to boldly face the
real-life situations in any of their future endeavors.
DRDO's PTO Shaft: Important Facts
On March 14, 2023, the Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE)
in Chennai, which is a part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO), conducted a successful flight-test of the Power Take off (PTO) Shaft on the Light
Combat Aircraft (LCA Tejas) Limited Series Production (LSP) – 3 aircraft in Bengaluru. This
critical component is indigenously designed and developed by the CVRDE and is expected
to support the requirements of future fighter aircraft and their variants. The PTO shaft
offers a competitive cost and reduced time of availability, and its innovative patented
‘Frequency Spanning Technique’ enables it to negotiate different operating engine
speeds. The successful realization of the complex high-speed rotor technology in the PTO
shaft is a major achievement for the DRDO, and it is a step forward towards achieving
‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ or self-reliant India.
The PTO Shaft Technology
The PTO shaft is an important component in the aircraft as it connects the engine gearbox
to the Aircraft Mounted Accessory Gear Box. The PTO shaft technology was designed with
a unique innovative patented ‘Frequency Spanning Technique,’ which enables it to
negotiate different operating engine speeds. The technology allows the lightweight high-
speed PTO shaft to transmit higher power while accommodating misalignments that arise
in the drive line. This design offers a competitive cost and reduced time of availability.
Successful Realisation of Complex High-Speed Rotor Technology
With the successful test of the PTO shaft, the DRDO has achieved a greater technological
feat by realising complex high-speed rotor technology, which only a few countries have
accomplished. The technology’s success showcases the country’s research capabilities. It
will actively support the test aircraft programmes.
Collaboration and Future Prospects
The success of the PTO shaft test was a collaborative effort of the Aeronautical
Development Agency, Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, Directorate
General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The
technology has already been transferred to Godrej & Boyce, Mumbai, and Lakshmi
Technology and Engineering, Coimbatore.
13th Exercise Bold Kurukshetra: Important Facts
The 13th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra, a bilateral armour exercise between the
armies of India and Singapore, was conducted from March 6 to 13, 2023, at Jodhpur
Military Station, India. This joint exercise aimed to enhance cooperation, build a common
understanding of mechanised warfare, combat emerging threats and adapt to evolving
technologies. It also provided an opportunity for both armies to exchange ideas and best
practices in a modern combat zone.
Participation of Both Armies in a Command Post Exercise
The 2023 edition of the Exercise Bold Kurukshetra marked the first time that both armies
participated in a command post exercise. It involved Battalion and Brigade level planning
elements and computer wargaming. Soldiers from the 42nd Battalion, Singapore
Armoured Regiment, and an Armoured Brigade of the Indian Army took part in the
exercise. The joint training focused on developing interoperability through a computer
simulation-based Wargame using joint operational and tactical procedures controlled
through a joint command post.
Objectives of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra
The exercise aimed to foster a common understanding of mechanised warfare in
emerging threats and evolving technologies. It provided both contingents with an
opportunity to learn about each other’s operating drills and procedures, as well as
exchange ideas and best practices being followed in a modern combat zone.
Exercise Bold Kurukshetra was conducted under the ambit of the bilateral arrangement
for joint Army training and exercises between the Singapore Army and the Indian Army. It
underscores the strong and long-standing bilateral defence relationship between
Singapore and India and enhances cooperation between the two armies.
Importance of Bilateral Defence Relationship
The exercise highlights the importance of the bilateral defence relationship between
Singapore and India. Both countries interact regularly through high-level visits, policy
dialogues, courses, and other professional exchanges. The defence establishments of
both countries have been working together to enhance their mutual cooperation in
defence, security, and counter-terrorism.
What is ATL Sarthi?
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) – NITI Aayog, a government-led think tank in India, has
launched ATL Sarthi, a comprehensive self-monitoring framework to strengthen the
ecosystem of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) in schools. AIM has established 10,000 ATLs in India
to promote curiosity, imagination, and creativity among young students and to develop
skills such as computational thinking, physical computing, and design thinking.
The Need For ATL Sarthi
ATL Sarthi was launched to enhance the performance of ATLs and achieve the desired
objectives. It aims to provide a monitoring and evaluation framework that can help
improve the functioning of ATLs.
What are the four pillars of ATL Sarthi?
The four pillars of ATL Sarthi are:
Self-reporting dashboard: AIM has developed a self-reporting dashboard known as the
“MyATL Dashboard” to track the performance of ATLs. The dashboard is designed to
provide real-time information on the activities and achievements of each ATL. The schools
can self-report on their progress and accomplishments, which can be analyzed by the
authorities to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each ATL.

Compliance SOPs: AIM has developed a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for
schools to ensure financial and non-financial compliance. These SOPs ensure that the ATLs
comply with the rules and regulations set by AIM and the government. This step will
ensure that the funds allocated for the ATLs are spent efficiently.
Cluster-based approach: AIM has introduced a cluster-based approach to enhance the
performance of ATLs. This approach involves forming clusters of 20-30 ATLs in a particular
region. These ATLs can learn from each other through training, collaborations, events, and
best practices. The ATL Cluster aims to provide a self-sustainable model for enablement
and monitoring, wherein the ATLs and local authorities work in tandem with each other
on-ground.
Performance-enablement matrix: AIM has provided ownership to schools to analyze
their performance through a Performance-Enablement (PE) Matrix. This matrix will enable
schools to assess their performance and take corrective measures, if needed. The schools
can use this matrix to evaluate their progress and achievements and improve their
performance.
What is Indonesia’s Dawn School Trial?
The dawn school trial is a controversial experiment implemented in the city of Kupang in
Indonesia. The pilot project, implemented in 10 schools in the region, requires students of
12th grade to attend classes starting at 5:30 am in an effort to “strengthen children’s
discipline”. However, the scheme has resulted in sleep deprivation among the students,
with parents and experts raising concerns over the health hazards it might bring.
Students Face Sleep Deprivation and Health Hazards
Students who are participating in the pilot project have to wake up as early as 4 am to
make it to school on time. This has caused sleep deprivation among students, which can
lead to various health issues, including obesity, depression, anxiety, and other mental
health problems. In addition, parents have raised concerns about the safety of their
wards, who are forced to go out for school when it is still “pitch dark” and “quiet”.
Criticism of the Pilot Project
The pilot project has been criticised for the lack of correlation with the effort to improve
the quality of education. Instead, the sleep deprivation could adversely hit the students’
health in the long run and result in a shift in behavior. A research by the American
Academy of Pediatrics, which was released in 2014, recommended the classes of high-
school and middle-school students to start at 8:30 AM or later to ensure a positive
outcome.
The Indonesian Ombudsman has asked the central government to intervene in the trial
being carried out by the local government. The Women’s Empowerment and Child
Protection Ministry and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission have also called for a
review of the policy.
Local Government Extends the Experiment
Despite calls to strike down the policy, the local government is still carrying on with its
experiment. The experiment has even been extended to the local education agency,
where civil servants now start their day at 5:30 am.
Fact Sheet: Sika Deer
The Sika deer, also known as the Japanese deer or Northern spotted deer, is a species of
deer native to much of East Asia, including Japan, Taiwan, and eastern parts of China. The
species has also been introduced to various other parts of the world. It is known for
having small head and short legs. Depending on their habitat, species can be small or
medium-sized. Males have antlers with three to four points, with more dominant ones
having additional points. On the other hand, females have two black bumps on their
heads. Their coats range from yellow-brown to reddish-brown, with a dark dorsal stripe
surrounded by white spots in summer. During winter, their color changes to dark gray or
black, without spots or with very faint ones.
Sika Deer in Japan
The Sika deer is an important part of Japanese culture and is a frequent subject of art,
literature, and folklore. In Japan, the Sika deer is also considered a national treasure and is
a protected species. Their populations in Japan are estimated to be around 1 million,
making them a common sight in the country. The deer are often found in parks and
shrines and have become accustomed to humans, sometimes approaching them for food.
This has led to concerns about overpopulation and damage to forests and crops.
Genetic Uniqueness of Sika Deer near the Kasuga Taisha Shrine
A recent study conducted in Japan by Fukushima University researchers has discovered
that the Sika deer residing near the Kasuga Taisha Shrine and the Todaiji Buddhist Temple
in Nara city on the Honshu Island are genetically unique. The researchers collected
samples from 294 Sika deer living across 30 sites on the Kii Peninsula between 2000 and
2016. Through the analysis of mitochondrial DNA, the team identified three distinct
genetic groups, one of which had a unique haplotype, suggesting a restricted flow of
genes across its maternal lineage. This isolated group included the Sika deer surrounding
the Kasuga Taisha Shrine and is believed to have split off from the rest of the Kii Peninsula
around 1,400 years ago when the shrine was established.
Rwanda’s First mRNA Vaccine Production Facility: Important Facts
Rwanda has taken a significant step forward in its fight against infectious diseases by
becoming the first African country to house a facility for manufacturing messenger RNA
(mRNA) vaccines. The facility, spanning across 800 square meters of space, is capable of
conducting trials of new therapeutics to combat diseases like TB, HIV and others.
Biontainers Mobile mRNA Factories
The mRNA vaccine facility in Rwanda is made up of six mobile factories called Biontainers.
They were developed by the German pharmaceutical company BioNTech. The facility is
capable of producing a maximum of 50 million doses of vaccines per annum. The modular
system of the Biontainers consists of two modules, each made up of six containers. In the
first module, mRNA is produced and purified. In the second, it is made into a vaccine.
mRNA Vaccines and their Significance
mRNA is a type of RNA that is necessary for protein production. mRNA vaccines work by
introducing a piece that corresponds to a viral protein. The mRNA instructs cells to
produce that protein, which triggers an immune response. The body then produces
antibodies to fight off the virus if it encounters it in the future.
The significance of the mRNA vaccines is that they can be developed more quickly than
traditional vaccines. mRNA vaccines have shown high efficacy against COVID-19 and are
being widely used across the world.
Trials on Infectious Diseases
Apart from producing COVID-19 vaccines, the facility in Rwanda will also help conduct
trials on new therapeutics for infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and
cancers. This will be a significant milestone not only for Rwanda but also for Africa, which
contributes only 2 per cent of clinical trial research output, according to the health
ministry. The mRNA vaccine facility will also help to increase Africa’s contribution to global
science and pandemic preparedness.
Improved Vaccine Access
The arrival of the Biontainers in Rwanda will improve vaccine access not only in Rwanda
but also in other African Union countries. The facility will help address the vaccine scarcity
that Africa has been experiencing.
Sir Brian May: Important Facts about the Legendary Lead Guitarist
On March 14, 2023, Sir Brian Harold May was knighted by King Charles III at Buckingham
Palace, becoming the latest musician to receive the prestigious title of “Knight Bachelor.”
The honor was bestowed upon May in recognition of his significant contributions to the
world of music and his charitable efforts throughout his career.
Accomplishments of Sir Brian May
May is perhaps best known as the lead guitarist of the iconic rock band Queen. He has
written some of the group’s most memorable hits, including “We Will Rock You,” “I Want
It All,” and “The Show Must Go On.” May’s unique sound and virtuosic guitar playing have
made him a favorite among fans and earned him a spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100
Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
In addition to his accomplishments in music, May has also made significant contributions
to the world of science. He earned a PhD in astrophysics in 2007 and was appointed as a
“science team collaborator” with NASA’s New Horizons “Pluto mission.” May has also
been a vocal advocate for animal rights and environmental causes throughout his career.
The Title of Knight Bachelor
The title of Knight Bachelor is a basic rank awarded to a man who has been knighted by
the UK monarch but is not inducted as a member of one of the organized orders of
chivalry. Knights who receive this title are addressed as “sir” followed by their name, and
the honor is typically bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contributions
to their field or to society as a whole.
May joins a distinguished group of musicians who have received this honor, including
Elton John, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, and Rod Stewart. These individuals have not only
made significant contributions to the world of music, but also to various charitable causes
and social initiatives.
May’s Legacy
As a musician, scientist, and philanthropist, Brian May has left an indelible mark on the
world. His innovative guitar playing and songwriting have inspired generations of
musicians, and his contributions to the field of astrophysics have expanded our
understanding of the universe.
Throughout his career, May has used his platform to raise awareness for causes that he is
passionate about, including animal rights, environmentalism, and social justice. His
knighthood is a testament to the impact that he has had on the world and serves as an
inspiration to others to use their talents and resources to make a positive difference.
Fact Sheet: Lake Sils and the Latest Human Endurance Record
Lake Sils is a stunning natural wonder in the Upper Engadine valley of Grisons,
Switzerland. Named after the village of Sils im Engadin, the lake is a popular tourist
destination and is known for its clear waters and surrounding mountain ranges. Recently,
a Czech man achieved an unprecedented feat of human endurance by diving into this
frigid lake without a wetsuit to reach a depth of 52.1 feet.
Geography of Lake Sils
Located at an altitude of 1,797 meters above sea level, Lake Sils is situated between the
Maloja Pass and Lake Silvaplana. The lake is surrounded by several towering mountains,
including Piz Corvatsch, Piz Grevasalvas, and Piz da la Margna, all of which are over 3,000
meters in height. The lake’s drainage basin reaches its highest point at Piz Fora and
includes the Vadrec da Fedoz glacier. With a surface area of 4.1 square kilometers, Lake
Sils is the largest natural lake in the Alps situated above 1,000 meters. The lake’s
formation was the result of a prehistoric landslide dam, much like the nearby Lake
Silvaplana.
David Vencl’s Dive
David Vencl, a 40-year-old man from the Czech Republic, accomplished an incredible
human endurance feat in Lake Sils. He dived to a depth of 52.1 meters without a wetsuit
and emerged from the frigid water unharmed, completing the task in a single breath.
Vencl previously entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2021 for swimming the
entire length of a frozen lake in the Czech Republic.
The Dive Experience
Vencl’s dive was unique and challenging due to the combination of cold water, lack of
oxygen, and pressure issues. The plunge into the icy waters, with temperatures ranging
between 1 and 4 degrees Celsius, took him one minute and 54 seconds, which was a bit
slower than expected. Vencl dove through a hole in the ice and retrieved a sticker from a
depth of 50 meters to prove his achievement before resurfacing.
Current Affairs [PDF] - March 16-31, 2023
Join @thehindu444 or Search Thenewsmaster
from this link.

Contents
......................... ...... ...... ........ . .. .......................................................
News Headlines ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
March 16, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 3
March 17, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 3
March 18, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 4
March 19, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 5
March 20, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................ 6
March 21, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 6
March 22, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................ 7
March 23, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................ 8
March 24, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................ 9
March 25, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................... 10
March 26, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 10

March 27, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................... 11
March 28, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................... 12
March 29, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................... 13
March 30, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................... 13
March 31, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................... 14
March 16, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 15
Godlewski’s Bunting and the Species Boundary: Important Facts ................................................... 15
Fact Sheet: Rapunzel Bacteriophage ....................................................................................................... 16
IQAir’s Fifth World Air Quality Report: Key Findings ........................................................................ 17
India Venture Capital Report 2023: Important Findings .................................................................... 17
Q+A: Smart Cities Mission ........................................................................................................................ 18
McMahon Line and the US’ Backing: Important Facts ....................................................................... 19
Inter-services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill: Key Features ................. 20
Q+A: Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India,
2022 ....................................................................................................................................................... 21
Green National Highway Corridors Project and the World Bank Loan: Important Facts .......... 22
Fact Sheet: IBA Women's World Boxing Championships 2023 ....................................................... 22
Cyclone Freddy: Important Facts About the Deadly Tropical Cyclone .......................................... 23
SCO Summit on ‘Collaboration In Sports and Physical Fitness’: Key Outcomes ......................... 24
Meghalaya International Film Festival: Important Facts ..................................................................... 24
What is GPT-4? .......................................................................................................................................... 25
Fact Sheet: Sea Dragon 23 ....................................................................................................................... 26
Trophies in Memory of Gen. Bipin Rawat: Important Facts ............................................................ 26
Q+A: UN’s List of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Bhutan’s Graduation ....................... 27
Fact Sheet: Bathinda Fort .......................................................................................................................... 28
HAL Cheetah: Important Facts ................................................................................................................ 29
Zojila Pass and its Reopening: Important Facts .................................................................................... 29
Golconda Fort: Important Facts and Challenges It Faces .................................................................. 30
Venus’ Volcanoes: Important Facts .......................................................................................................... 31
Q+A: National Vaccination Day ............................................................................................................... 31
What is Ernie Bot? ...................................................................................................................................... 32
March 17, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 33
Global Bottled Water Industry: A Review of Impacts and Trends ................................................... 33
What is TV-D1? ........................................................................................................................................... 34
Fact Sheet: Saudi-Iran Détente ................................................................................................................ 35
MiG-29 Fighter Jet and Its Delivery to Ukraine: Important Facts ................................................... 35
What is East African Rift? ......................................................................................................................... 36
Translocation of Lions of Asiatic Lions: Important Facts .................................................................. 37
Fact Sheet: Thiania indica ......................................................................................................................... 38
Japan-South Korea Summit: Key Outcomes ........................................................................................ 39
Kodava Hockey Festival ............................................................................................................................ 40
INS Dronacharya ......................................................................................................................................... 41
Ganeshaiah's Dwarf Gecko ....................................................................................................................... 41
St. Patrick's Day .......................................................................................................................................... 42
March 18, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 43
Mustatils ........................................................................................................................................................ 43
Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme ............................................................................... 44

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture - Update (March, 2023) ........................... 45
'Governor of the Year' Award for 2023 ............................................................................................... 45
Exercise Al-Mohed-Al Hindi-23 .............................................................................................................. 46
Chandrayaan-3 Spacecraft ....................................................................................................................... 47
Urban Extension Road-2 Project (UER-II) ............................................................................................ 48
Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference .............................................................................................. 49
Matua Maha Mela ...................................................................................................................................... 50
"Geoffrey Bawa: It is Essential To be There” Exhibition ................................................................... 50
Non-Lapsable Defence Modernisation Fund ......................................................................................... 51
Heal in India ................................................................................................................................................. 52
CESTAT ........................................................................................................................................................ 53
Sagar Parikrama Phase IV ......................................................................................................................... 53
Foot and Mouth Disease ........................................................................................................................... 54
VVGNLI-ASSOCHAM Strategic Alliance .............................................................................................. 55
AuditOnline .................................................................................................................................................. 56
Railway Women’s Welfare Central Organisation ................................................................................. 57
Online Gaming in India: The Taxation Quandary ............................................................................... 57
herSTART .................................................................................................................................................... 58
Narayani River ............................................................................................................................................. 59
PM MITRA Parks ....................................................................................................................................... 60
Startup20 Engagement Group ................................................................................................................. 61
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ............................................................................................................. 62
Women and Men in India 2022 Report ................................................................................................ 63
Raccoon Dog ............................................................................................................................................... 63
Terminator Zones ...................................................................................................................................... 64
March 20, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 65
International SME Convention 2023 ...................................................................................................... 65
Generative AI ............................................................................................................................................... 65
International Criminal Court .................................................................................................................... 66
SCO Tourism Ministers’ Conference ..................................................................................................... 67
Rajasthan Advocates Protection Bill, 2023 ........................................................................................... 68
AxEMU ......................................................................................................................................................... 69
Oxford Union .............................................................................................................................................. 70
XBB1.16 ......................................................................................................................................................... 71
Foreign Exchange Reserve ......................................................................................................................... 71
Perumal Murugan ....................................................................................................................................... 72
NZIA and CRMA ........................................................................................................................................ 73
Spiranthes hachijoensis .............................................................................................................................. 74
Trichrysis poseidonia ................................................................................................................................. 75
Cyrtopodion Vindhya ................................................................................................................................. 75
Civil-20 India 2023 Inception Conference ........................................................................................... 76
YUVIKA ........................................................................................................................................................ 77
Global Conference on Digital Health - 'Taking Universal Health Coverage to the Last Citizen'
................................................................................................................................................................. 78
March 21, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 79
Background Radiation ............................................................................................................................... 79
2023 SAFF Championship ....................................................................................................................... 80

Copilot .......................................................................................................................................................... 80
Utility Bidder’s Deforestation Report ...................................................................................................... 81
World Sparrow Day - Update (March, 2023) ..................................................................................... 82
ICMR’s Ethical Guidelines for AI in Healthcare and Biomedical Research .................................... 82
Burundi: First Polio Outbreak in 30 Years ............................................................................................ 83
UBS ................................................................................................................................................................ 84
Adani’s Mundra Petrochem project ........................................................................................................ 85
“Groundwater: A Valuable but Diminishing Resource” Report ....................................................... 86
Lakkhi Mela ................................................................................................................................................. 86
“Pathways to Atmanirbhar Bharat” Report .......................................................................................... 87
Babesiosis ..................................................................................................................................................... 88
LVM3 ............................................................................................................................................................ 89
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Update (March, 2023) .......... 89
March 22, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 90
Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary ....................................................................................................... 90
Japan’s Plan for Free & Open Indo-Pacific ............................................................................................. 91
CapCut: A Video Editing Application Gaining Popularity in the US ................................................ 91
Spring Equinox 2023 ................................................................................................................................. 92
Chaitra Navratri - the Nine-Day Festival ............................................................................................... 93
Nepal-India Literature Festival ................................................................................................................. 94
Nehru Memorial Museum and Library's Digitization Project .......................................................... 94
Navroz - the Persian New Year ............................................................................................................... 95
Gudhi Padwa – The Marathi New Year ............................................................................................... 96
Chetri Chand – the Sindhi New Year .................................................................................................... 97
Sajibu Nongma Panba ............................................................................................................................... 97
World Down Syndrome Day - Update (March, 2023) ..................................................................... 98
Anti-Submarine Craft INS Androth ....................................................................................................... 99
International Day of Forests - Update (March, 2023) ..................................................................... 100
INS Sujata's Visit to Mozambique ......................................................................................................... 100
World Water Day - Update (March, 2023) ......................................................................................... 101
March 23, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 102
IMF’s $3 Billion Bailout Programme for Sri Lanka ........................................................................... 102
Padma Awards for 2023 ......................................................................................................................... 103
Additional Tier 1 Bonds and Credit Suisse's Write-Down ............................................................... 103
Euoplos dignitas: A New Species of Trapdoor Spider from Queensland .................................... 104
National Security Act, 1980 ................................................................................................................... 105
Dimethyltryptamine .................................................................................................................................. 106
UN 2023 Water Conference .................................................................................................................. 106
Indian Government’s 14 Guidelines to Address Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) .................... 107
United Nations World Water Development Report 2023 ............................................................... 108
World Meteorological Day - Update (March, 2023) ....................................................................... 109
TRAI’s Recommendations on ‘Issues related to Community Radio Stations’ ............................. 109
'Sam No Varunah' Coastal Car Rally ..................................................................................................... 110
‘AIS for Taxpayer’ Mobile App ............................................................................................................... 111
International Liquid Mirror Telescope .................................................................................................. 112
What is CBuD App? .................................................................................................................................. 112
India’s 6G Vision Document ................................................................................................................... 113

March 24, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................. 114
Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana ............................................................................................... 114
Albatross Amphibious Aircraft and HDS-AAI Deal ........................................................................... 115
Asteroid Ryugu and the Theory of Panspermia .................................................................................. 115
Siniyah Island and the Discovery of the Oldest Pearl Town ............................................................ 116
What is Nemateleotris lavandula? .......................................................................................................... 117
G20 RIIG Conference .............................................................................................................................. 118
Argentine-American Mathematician Luis Caffarelli Wins 2023 Abel Prize .................................. 118
450 MW Seti River-6 Hydropower Project ........................................................................................ 119
Exercise Cobra Warrior ........................................................................................................................... 120
Vaikom Satyagraha and its Centenary Celebrations ........................................................................... 121
National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management ...................................................................... 121
World Tuberculosis Day 2023 ............................................................................................................... 122
Guillotine Parliamentary Procedure ....................................................................................................... 123
Exercise Vayu Prahar - A Multi-Domain Exercise at LAC ............................................................... 124
Chhattisgarh Mediapersons Protection Bill 2023 ............................................................................... 125
Triple Threat Report ................................................................................................................................ 125
March 25, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 127
Technology and Innovation Report 2023 ........................................................................................... 127
Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 .............................................................................................. 128
Lake Natron - An Alkaline Lake in Tanzania ..................................................................................... 129
Claude Lorius - a Pioneer in Climate Science ..................................................................................... 130
World Happiness Report 2023 .............................................................................................................. 130
Marburg Virus: Tanzania Reports its First-Ever Outbreak ............................................................... 131
March 27, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 132
188th Raising Day of Assam Rifles ........................................................................................................ 133
Doubling of the Gooty-Pendekallu Line ............................................................................................... 133
DigiClaim Module Under PMFBY ......................................................................................................... 134
What is Sagar Manthan? .......................................................................................................................... 135
Exercise Konkan 2023 ............................................................................................................................. 136
What is Haeil Drone? ............................................................................................................................... 137
New US-Canada Border Deal ................................................................................................................ 137
Gaj Utsav 2023 - Celebrating 30 Years of Project Elephant ........................................................... 138
Chenab Bridge - World's Highest Rail Bridge .................................................................................... 139
G20 Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable ............................................................................................ 140
The State of School Feeding Worldwide 2022 .................................................................................. 140
Exostoma Dhritiae - New Species of Catfish from Arunachal Pradesh ......................................... 141
March 28, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 142
Vedic Heritage Portal ............................................................................................................................... 142
Who was Basavanna? ............................................................................................................................... 143
Who was Sir M Visvesvaraya? ............................................................................................................... 144
Indian Navy's First Training Squadron and its Visit to Madagascar ............................................. 144
President’s Standard ................................................................................................................................. 145
March 29, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 146
Aravalli Green Wall Project .................................................................................................................... 146
What is BARC B1201? ............................................................................................................................. 146
Water and Heritage Shield and Sípàapu .............................................................................................. 147

Depleted Uranium Munition .................................................................................................................. 148
"Indo + Caribbean: The creation of a culture" Exhibition ............................................................... 149
Tactical Nuclear Weapons ...................................................................................................................... 150
Daylight Savings Time ............................................................................................................................. 150
What is Mission Arikompan? .................................................................................................................. 151
Operation Interflex .................................................................................................................................... 152
Tamil Nadu Brown Moray ...................................................................................................................... 153
LVM3 M3/OneWeb India - 2 Mission ................................................................................................. 154
First Urban Climate Film Festival .......................................................................................................... 154
Maharashtra Cow Service Commission Bill ........................................................................................ 155
Release of Tigresses into Tiger Reserves in Rajasthan ...................................................................... 156
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway .................................................................................................................. 157
1st G20 Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) Meeting ............................................... 158
March 30, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 159
“How is India Adapting to Heatwaves?” Report ............................................................................... 159
What is SWAMIH Fund? ........................................................................................................................ 160
Challenger 2 Tank: An Overview .......................................................................................................... 161
10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche ............................................................................................... 161
Anji Khad Bridge ....................................................................................................................................... 162
What is Dama celiae? ............................................................................................................................... 162
India's First Cloned Desi Gir Female Calf ........................................................................................... 163
QS World University Rankings 2023 ................................................................................................... 164
Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit ............................................................................ 165
What is chow-chow? ............................................................................................................................... 166
Mahim Fort: History and Restoration .................................................................................................. 166
New Guinea Singing Dog ....................................................................................................................... 167
1st International Quantum Communication Conclave ...................................................................... 168
Spring Fiesta 2023 ................................................................................................................................... 169
INS Sumedha and the Visit to Port Algiers ......................................................................................... 170
Universal Acceptance Day ...................................................................................................................... 170
March 31, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 171
International Day of Zero Wastes .......................................................................................................... 171
Captive Employment Initiative ................................................................................................................ 172
Anchitheriomys buceei - Ancient Beaver Species .............................................................................. 173
P-270 Moskit Missile ............................................................................................................................... 174
India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave and AFINDEX-2023 .............................................................. 175
H3N8 and its Presence in China ........................................................................................................... 176
What are IMF Bailouts? ........................................................................................................................... 176
New Rules for Cattle Dehorning ........................................................................................................... 177
New India Literacy Programme - Update (March, 2023) .............................................................. 178
120 MCQs .......................................................................................................................................................... 180
News Headlines
March 16, 2023
INDIA
Over 21% of rural households do not have access to any type of toilet, according to a
government survey.
Bar Council of India (BCI) has opened up law practice in India to foreign lawyers and
law firms.
Govt introduces bill in Lok Sabha to strengthen tri-services commanders’ powers.
Business20 meeting under India’s G20 presidency to begin in Gangtok, Sikkim.
Ministry of Road Transport releases Policy guidelines for utilising eco-friendly
materials in construction of National Highways.

2.18 Crore pucca houses completed till 11th March under Pradhan Mantri Awaas
Yojana-Gramin
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India and World Bank signs loan agreement for construction of Green National
Highway Corridors Project in 4 States
India’s Exports fall 8.8% and trade deficit shrinks over 7% in February.
Ex-RBI official Deepak Mohanty has been appointed as PFRDA Chairman
WORLD
USA: An atmospheric river dumped more torrential rain on California, state of
emergency declared.
With USD 230-billion funds, South Korea to build ‘world’s largest’ chip centre.
Russia races to retrieve wreckage of a U.S. military drone that crashed over the Black
Sea
Eric Garcetti, former Los Angeles Mayor was announced as the new US ambassador
to India
SPORTS
Indian Shuttler Kidambi Srikanth entered 2nd round of All England Open Badminton
Championships.
American high jumper Dick Fosbury, who revolutionised high jump technique,
passed away.
March 17, 2023

INDIA
Two-day SCO Tourism Ministers’ meeting to begin at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
Defence acquisition proposals valued at ₹70,500 crores were cleared by Defence
Acquisition Council (DAC).
Union Ministry of Steel will sign MoUs with selected companies under the
Production-linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for speciality steel
75 trucks were flagged off with TB awareness messages at the Partnership for Action
against Tuberculosis (PAcT) event in New Delhi.
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) opened the strategic Zojila Pass in record 68 days.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das conferred with ‘Governor of the year’ Award at
Central Banking Awards 2023
RBI and Central Bank of UAE sign MoU to promote innovation in financial products
and services.
BIS grants 1,097 licences to domestic toy manufacturing units of which over 96
percent licences were granted to MSMEs.
Sri Lankan economy suffered the worst ever contraction of 7.8% in 2022 as per data
released by the Department of Census and Statistics.

WORLD
U.K. bans Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok on government phones over
security grounds
China’s Communist Party releases a plan on reforming government institutions.
Poland to be first NATO member to give MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine.
Japan and South Korea renew ties at Tokyo summit, overcoming a century of difficult
ties.
Technology Innovation Institute, Abudhabi, UAE has launched Falcon LLM, a large
language model (LLM) with 40 billion parameters
SPORTS
All England Open Badminton Championships: Indian Women’s Doubles pair of
Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand enter quarterfinals
Boxing: Nikhat Zareen, Sakshi Chaudhary, Preeti and Nupur Sheoran win opening
bouts of World Women’s Championships.
March 18, 2023
INDIA
Yuva Utsav has been organised in Mizoram on theme of ‘Panch Pran of Amrit Kaal-
India @2047’.
Rajasthan announces formation of 19 new districts and 3 new divisional
headquarters.
PM Modi with Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina to inaugurate first cross-
border energy pipeline between two countries.
Sites in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh
and U.P have been selected to set up new textile parks, under PM Mega Integrated
Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme.
Indian Army is set to host the second edition of the Africa-India field training exercise
(AFINDEX-23).
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
OECD raises India’s FY24 growth forecast by 20 basis points to 5.9% in its latest
interim outlook released titled “Fragile Recovery”.
As liquidity tightens, RBI injects Rs 1 trillion for largest infusion in 4 years; This is the
first time since 2019 that RBI has infused more than Rs 1 trillion.
India’s foreign exchange reserves fall $2.4 billion to $560 billion in the week ended
March 10.
Union Cabinet approves listing of IREDA on stock exchange through IPO route.
Centre sets accounting norm for States, Union territories and the Union government
for adjustments to past errors.
WORLD
Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav elected as Nepal’s third Vice President.

Covid found in raccoon dogs in China, strengthening the case for the natural origin
of the Covid-19 pandemic.
International Criminal Court (ICC) issues arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over
Ukraine war crimes
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) said it would back research by Rolls-Royce looking at
the use of nuclear power on the moon.
SPORTS
All England Badminton Championships: Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand to play
women’s doubles semi-final.
Hardik Singh and Savita Punia won the Balbir Singh Sr. Award for the Player of the
Year 2022 at the fifth Hockey India annual awards.
March 19, 2023

INDIA
Kochi fire: National Green Tribunal directed Kochi Municipal Corporation to pay
environmental compensation of Rs 100 crore.
West Bengal government plans to appoint 600 young ‘gajamitras’ to protect
elephants.
Uttar Pradesh to include millets in midday meals in schools and public distribution
system.
Karnataka launches Mysuru Cluster Seed Fund (MCSF), Mysuru Global Technology
Centre (MGTC) and Karnataka Accelerator Network (KAN) to promote start-ups.
Parliamentary panel has recommended analysing the feasibility of variable speed
limits on national highways in the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina
virtually inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
PM Gati Shakti programme: 156 critical infrastructure-gap projects identified.
Union Finance Ministry has initiated the process to appoint a new Reserve Bank
Deputy Governor in place of MK Jain.
Government sets up centralised facility for voluntary closure of companies.
WORLD
UN confirms extension of Black Sea grain deal for exports from Ukraine.
400,000 gallons of radioactive water leaked from US nuclear power plant.
Indian Higher Education Meet 2023 inaugurated in Dhaka.
SPORTS
Tennis: India’s Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden of Australia win Men’s Doubles
title at Indian Wells Masters in California, US.
Nikhat Zareen enters pre-quarterfinals in Women’s Boxing World Championships.
Akshdeep Singh wins gold in men’s 20km Asian Race-Walking Championship.
March 20, 2023

INDIA
Asia’s largest Tulip Garden opens for public at Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
2-day Labour20 (L20) engagement group’s inception meet, as part of India’s G20
presidency, began in Amritsar, Punjab.
The Centre issued revised guidelines for COVID-19 amid a sudden surge in cases.
4th Defence Cooperation Dialogue between India and the Maldives was held in Male.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Switzerland’s biggest bank UBS agrees to take over troubled Credit Suisse in
emergency rescue deal.
Dubai-based Emaar becomes the first overseas company to invest in Kashmir.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrives in India to explore ways to boost
bilateral ties in security, trade and high technologies.
WORLD
India and World Food Programme sign MoU during Global Millets Conference.
Governments approve a major new UN report on climate change amid conflict.
March 20 is being celebrated as the International Day of Happiness.
UK introduces smartphone emergency alert system for its citizens.
SPORTS
ISSF World Cup Shooting Championship to begin at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
Cricket: Australia defeats India by 10 wickets, level 3-match ODI series 1-1.
March 21, 2023
INDIA
India has been invited for G7 Hiroshima Summit in Japan.
Forest cover of Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai increased over period of 10
years.
Second G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group meeting to begin in Udaipur.
Supreme Court seeks Centre’s stand on plea over Telangana Governor delaying Bills.
Estimated reserve of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore found in Salal-Haimna areas of
Jammu and Kashmir.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has added 14.86 lakh net members
in January this year.
Tamil Nadu Budget announced that women heads of eligible households will be
given a monthly honorarium of ₹1,000.
Indian economy to grow at 7%; inflation set to moderate: Finance Ministry

WORLD
Bangladesh commissions its first submarine base ‘BNS Sheikh Hasina’.
Nepal-India Literature Festival concludes with adoption of 10-point Biratnagar
declaration.
IMF approves Sri Lanka’s bailout program under an Extended Fund Facility.
SPORTS
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz returns to World No. 1 in the rankings, after beating Daniil
Medvedev in the Indian Wells final.
The 2023 Swiss Open badminton tournament will start in Basel, Switzerland.
March 22, 2023
INDIA
Supreme Court seeks data on alternative method of executing prisoners other than
death by hanging.
Tamil Nadu government proposes to implement a Tamil Nadu Millet Mission for five
years.
Ugadi or Yugadi is celebrated as the beginning of the New Year in Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana and Karnataka.
Bihar Diwas 2023 will be celebrated from March 22 – 24 and has a theme of “Yuva
Shakti Bihar Ki Pragati”
ISRO to launch OneWeb India-2 mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in
Sriharikota.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Over Rs 2.41 lakh crore given to over 11 crore farmers in country under PM-KISAN
scheme
India’s Inflation Remains High, But Growth Prospects Positive: RBI Bulletin
WORLD
6.6 magnitude earthquake centred in Afghanistan rocked many parts of north India,
including the NCR.
France : Both votes fail- the controversial bill to raise the retirement age from 62 to
64 will become law.
Twenty sixth edition of ‘Elevate’ held in Dubai; Six Indian startups participated were
winners of the National Startup Awards 2022.
Japan Prime Minister Kishida visits Bucha, a town near Kyiv, in a ‘historic’ trip to
Ukraine
SPORTS
Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Nitu Ghanghas (48kg), Manisha Moun (57kg) and Jaismine
Lamboria (60kg) advance to quarterfinals of the World women’s boxing
championships.
Indian hockey player Rani Rampal became the first woman in the sport to have a
stadium named after her — in Rae Bareli.
March 23, 2023

INDIA
Bureau of Indian Standards launches first series of Lesson Plans under Learning
Science via Standards.
Vedic Heritage Portal to be inaugurated by Home Minister; hosted by the Indira
Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
Umagine Chennai 2023, Asia’s largest summit on technology and innovation, to be
organised in Chennai.
IAF participate in Exercise Cobra Warrior in U.K along with air forces of U.K., Finland,
Sweden, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and Singapore.
ISRO: Chandrayaan 3 and the first solar mission Aditya L1 likely to be launched in
mid-2023.
Supreme Court agrees to constitute Special Bench to hear Bilkis Bano’s petition.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Delhi government presents Rs. 78,800 crore annual budget for 2023-24 ;dedicated for
clean, beautiful and modern Delhi.
Income tax dept launches mobile app AIS for Taxpayers; to view information as
available in the Annual Information Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information
Summary (TIS).
G20 Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering under India’s Presidency to begin
in Assam’s Dibrugarh.
WORLD
March 22, is celebrated as World Water Day, to raise awareness of 2 billion people
currently living without access to safe water.
US Federal Reserve hikes interest rate by 25 basis point to curb inflation despite
recent bank failures.
China and Russia unveiled a broad long-term blueprint for their deepening relations.
U.S.-Argentine scholar Luis Caffarelli wins Abel Prize for mathematics.

SPORTS
India’s Sarabjot Singh clinches gold medal in men’s 10m Air Pistol event at ISSF Rifle
& Pistol World Cup.
Boxing: Lovlina Borgohain, Nitu Ghanghas, Nikhat Zareen and Saweety Boora
advanced to the semi-finals in the Women’s World Boxing Championships.
PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth and HS Prannoy advance to second round in Swiss Open
tournament.
March 24, 2023
INDIA
Tamil Nadu Assembly re-adopts Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and
Regulation of Online Games Bill.
One World TB Summit is being organised by the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare (MoHFW) and Stop TB Partnership, on World Tuberculosis Day.
One tigress each to be released to Kota’s Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve and Bundi’s
Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveiled the State Youth
Policy and a Youth Portal.
Konkan 2023, a joint maritime exercise, was conducted between the Royal Navy of
Britain and the Indian Navy, off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea.
National Institute of Urban Affairs is organising first Urban Climate Film Festival
under U20 engagement events.
The Defence Ministry signed two contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), at a
total cost of over ₹3,700 crore for ‘Arudhra’ Medium Power Radars.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Union Finance ministry asks public sector banks to share bond portfolio data.
FSIB recommends Siddhartha Mohanty for the position of chairperson of Life
Insurance Corporation (LIC).
Amazon’s accelerator programme to support 50 Indian D2C (direct-to-consumer)
startups.
Lok Sabha passes Rs 45 trillion Budget for current fiscal without debate.
WORLD
Protests intensify in France over government’s plan to raise pension age.
Islamic holy month of Ramzan begins across world; Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated at the
culmination of the fasting month of Ramzan.
UNESCO report: 26 % of world’s population does not have safe drinking water.
SPORTS
Boxing: Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain, Saweety Boora and Nitu Ghanghas have
entered the finals in the Women’s World Boxing Championships.
India won a silver and a bronze in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)
World Cup shooting championship.

India clinches both men’s and women’s titles of Asian Kho Kho Championship.
March 25, 2023
INDIA
Ujjwala Yojana: Union Cabinet extends subsidy of 200 rupees per cylinder for 12
refills annually for beneficiaries for one year.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Lok Sabha after conviction in
criminal defamation case.
Project Himshakti: Defence Ministry signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited
BEL Hyderabad for the procurement of two Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems.
Tamil Nadu releases the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Plan, 2023.
Andhra Pradesh passes resolution to provide SC status for Dalit Christians.
ICMR releases ethical guidelines for AI usage in healthcare
Karnataka scraps reservation of 4% given to Muslims and distributed it to two
dominant communities Veerashaiva-Lingayats and Vokkaligas.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Cabinet approves 4 % hike of Dearness Allowance to Central government employees.
The first meeting of the Trade and Investment Working Group, under India’s G20
Presidency, will be held in Mumbai
The government has scrapped the long-term capital gains treatment (with
indexation benefits) for income from debt mutual funds.
Government raised the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options
contracts in the stock market by 25%.
WORLD
Sri Lanka decides to divest stake in seven state-owned enterprises.
The U.S. military carried out multiple air strikes in Syria against Iran-aligned groups.
On World Tuberculosis Day, WHO called for intensified actions to eradicate the
disease in the South East Asia region.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that there will be a peace
treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan based on joint official statements.
SPORTS
India’s Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil wins bronze medal in 10m Air Rifle event of ISSF
World Cup Shooting Championship.
March 26, 2023
INDIA
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launches Aravalli Green Wall Project
in Gurugram.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launches LVM3-M3/Oneweb India-2
Mission in Sriharikota.
National Science Centre organizes Innovation Festival to promote passion and

aptitude for science and technology.
Border Roads Organisation (BRO) opens Leh-Manali Highway in a record 138 days
Parliamentary panel urges govt to frame a comprehensive national EV policy, extend
FAME-II incentives by 2 years
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
IMF sets another condition for crisis-hit Pakistan to revive loan
MGNREGS wages raised by up to 10.4% for FY24; In absolute terms, the daily wages
have been raised in the ₹7-26 range.
India and US ink MoU on semiconductor supply chain, innovation partnership.
Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill with key amendments without discussion.
WORLD
Russian President Vladimir Putin announces plan to station tactical nuclear weapons
in Belarus.
Over 26 persons were killed in a tornado in several towns of Mississippi in US.
World observes annual Earth Hour to raise awareness about climate change.
Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel and creator of Moore’s Law, dies at 94.
UAE Food Bank launches initiative to eradicate food waste and distribute 3 million
meals during Ramadan.
SPORTS
Swiss Open: Indian Men’s Doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
enter into finals.
In Women’s Premier League Cricket, Delhi Capitals will face Mumbai Indians in the
summit clash.
March 27, 2023
INDIA
Centre reduces disturbed areas under AFSPA from three North-eastern states of
Nagaland, Assam and Manipur.
Four astronauts selected for India’s first Human Space Flight Programme,
Gaganyaan completed the first semester of crew training.
Second Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting to begin at
Gandhinagar.
First Delhi-Dharamshala-Delhi Indigo Flight was flagged off; 2-phase plan for
expansion of Dharamshala airport underway.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s Net direct tax growth for 2022-23 to slow to 15%; including corporate income
tax, personal income tax and the securities transaction tax (STT).
Union government caps the maximum rate of GST compensation cess on pan
masala, cigarettes and other forms of tobacco.
WORLD
Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu fires Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, after speech to
stop proposed judicial overhaul.
People joined Hong Kong’s first authorised protest since the lifting of major COVID
norms under strict rules.
North Korea test-fires 2 more missiles as U.S. sends carrier; the launches were the
North’s seventh missile event this month.
SPORTS
Mumbai Indians lift inaugural Women’s Premier League trophy beating Delhi
Capitals.
India wins four gold medals in the Women’s World Boxing Championships in New
Delhi.
India’s men’s doubles badminton pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty
win Swiss Open Super 300 Badminton doubles title in Basel
March 28, 2023
INDIA
Supreme Court issues notice to Gujarat government and Centre in Bilkis Bano case
Second phase of Bihar’s caste-based survey set to begin from April 15; training of
field enumerators is underway.
Punjab and Haryana High Court turns to ChatGPT for view on bail in murder case
G20 Infrastructure Working Group Summit begins in Visakhapatnam; to be co-
chaired by Australia and Brazil.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Parliament approves Union Budget for 2023-24 with Lok Sabha clearing Finance Bill
as amended by Rajya Sabha.
Mahila Samman Savings Certificate to have tenure of two years and would offer an
interest rate of 7.5%.
EPFO raises interest rate to 8.15% for FY23 from 8.1% last year.
WORLD
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu announces suspension of judicial reforms after
nationwide protests.
German defence ministry announces that the first shipment of third-generation
Leopard-2 tanks has been sent to Ukraine.
Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) conferred a special literary
award on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
China’s Nio opens trial for high-speed electric-vehicle battery swapping stations.
Law banning caste-based discrimination comes into effect in US city of Seattle.
SPORTS
Badminton: Madrid Spain Masters tournament to begin; P.V. Sindhu and Saina
Nehwal will lead India’s challenge at the BWF Super 300 event.
March 29, 2023

INDIA
Centre sanctions 800 crore rupees under FAME Scheme Phase -2 for setting up 7,432
public fast charging stations.
Education Ministry selects 9000 schools for flagship Pradhan Mantri Schools for
Rising India scheme.
National Gallery of Modern Art to organise Spring Fiesta 2023 to celebrate 69 years of
Museum.
The first batch of Agniveers from INS Chilika in Odisha is all set to be inducted into
the Indian Navy.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s overall exports cross all time high of 750 billion US dollars.
Government estimates that over 341 lakh MT wheat will be procured during Rabi
Marketing Season 2023-24.
International conference on cooperation on trade finance among G20 member
countries held in Mumbai.
The last date for linking PAN and Aadhaar has been extended to 30th June, 2023.
WORLD
Pakistan government tables bill in Parliament to curb powers of Chief Justice.
World Bank: Transboundary solutions important to curb air pollution in South Asia.
Scotland’s Parliament confirmed Humza Yousaf as the new First Minister; becomes
the youngest First Minister and the first Muslim leader of a government in western
Europe.
Myanmar dissolves Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party.
SPORTS
India outplays Kyrgyzstan 2-0 and lifts the Tri-nation International Football
competition title.
Messi scores 100th international goal for Argentina.
March 30, 2023

INDIA
New India Literacy Programme launched to cover target of 5 crore non-literates in
age group of 15 years and above.
Government identifies 1275 railway stations under Amrit Bharat Station scheme for
development of Railway stations.
The first G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group meeting begins at
Gandhinagar.
IIT Madras develops pocket-friendly device to detect milk adulteration in 30 seconds.
National Gallery of Modern Art organizes Spring Fiesta 2023 to celebrate 69 years of
museum.
Ministry of Defence (MoD) signs deal to procure Automated Air Defence Control and
Reporting System ‘Project Akashteer’ for Army and Sarang Electronic Support
Measure (ESM) system for Navy.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Centre aims to borrow ₹8.88 lakh cr. for the first half of financial year 2023-24, after
consultation with RBI.
SEBI unveils norms to ensure better disclosures and boost transparency.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) says “No charge on normal UPI
payments”
WORLD
Death toll from landslip in Ecuador reaches eleven and about sixty people were still
missing.
Saudi Arabia agrees to join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a dialogue
partner.
Australia creates landmark laws that will make its biggest greenhouse gas polluters
reduce their emissions or pay for carbon credits.
East Europe governments urge tech firms to fight disinformation on their social
media platforms.
SPORTS
Nitu Ghanghas clinches Gold in 48 kg category of the IBA Womens World Boxing
Championship
Indian weightlifters Dhanush and Jyoshna win bronze medals in IWF World Youth
Championships
March 31, 2023

INDIA
Ministry of Defence signs Rs 19,600 crore contracts for acquisition of 11 Next-Gen
Offshore Patrol Vessels and six Next-Gen Missile Vessels for Indian Navy.
National Maritime Week commences as the National Maritime Day is celebrated on
April 5.
Defence Ministry signs over Rs 9100 crore contracts for Akash Weapon System and
Weapon locating Radars.
Second Sherpa Meet under India’s G20 Presidency to begin at Kumarakom, Kerala.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has introduced implementation of
Unified Tariff of Rs 73.93 rupees per MBTU.
All drugs and food imported for treatment of all rare diseases listed are now fully
exempted from basic customs duty.
Agriculture exports register over 6% rise during April 2022 to January 2023.
WORLD
Spouses of H-1B Visa holders have been allowed to work in United States.
Donald Trump has been indicted over hush money by a Manhattan grand jury;
becomes first ex-President to be charged with crime
SPORTS
Madrid Spain Masters tournament: PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth enter
quarterfinals.
March 16, 2023

Godlewski’s Bunting and the Species Boundary: Important Facts
The family Emberizidae consists of seedeaters with conical bills and is widespread
throughout the world. Godlewski’s bunting is a species in the Emberizidae family that has
an extremely large range, including China, Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia,
Myanmar, and Siberia. Ornithologists from Lanzhou University have published a recent
study that argued that the northern and southern populations of Godlewski’s bunting
should be treated as two independent species – Emberiza cia and Emberiza godlewskii.
Previous Debate on Species Boundary
The species boundary between Emberiza cia and Emberiza godlewskii has been debated
due to the interpretation of morphological variation among geographic populations.
Previously, the Godlewski’s bunting was considered conspecific to the rock bunting, which
is distributed from Central Asia and the western Himalayas through southern Europe to
northwestern Africa. However, the species boundary between Emberiza cia and Emberiza
godlewskii has been disputed due to the interpretation of morphological variation among
geographic populations.
New Research by Lanzhou University Ornithologists
The new research by Lanzhou University ornithologists reconstructed the phylogenetic
relationships of all Emberiza godlewskii subspecies across their distribution range. By
comparing the morphological measurements and plumage color from all subspecies of
the Emberiza godlewskii/Emberiza cia complex, the researchers delimitated the species
boundary based on integrative evidence.
New Classification of Godlewski’s Bunting
The results of the study show that the species Emberiza cia is the sister group of a clade
composed of the northern populations of Emberiza godlewskii. The southern populations
of Emberiza godlewskii, known as the subspecies Emberiza godlewskii yunnanensis (south
rock bunting), should be elevated to species status. Emberiza yunnanensis is between 15.1
and 16.5 cm in length, and weighs between 16 and 21 grams. It differs from Emberiza
godlewskii in having a significantly darker colored belly. The body size of the males is
slightly larger than that of the females. Emberiza yunnanensis occurs on dry and rocky
hilly slopes, karst forests, and wooded ravines in southwestern China.

Implications of the New Classification
The research provides direct evidence of cryptic species in Old World buntings and
suggests that species diversity of birds in East Asia may be underestimated. The new
classification of Godlewski’s bunting has important implications for conservation efforts
as the southern populations of Emberiza godlewskii have different ecological
requirements and may require different conservation measures than the northern
populations.
Fact Sheet: Rapunzel Bacteriophage
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are found everywhere that bacteria
exist. They are one of the most abundant and diverse groups of organisms on the planet,
and they play a significant role in controlling bacterial populations in various

environments. Among them, the P74-26 bacteriophage stands out due to its unique
structure and features. A new study has found that this bacteriophage has an extremely
long tail.
The ‘Rapunzel Bacteriophage’
The P74-26 bacteriophage is also known as the ‘Rapunzel bacteriophage’ because of its
long tail, which is about 10 times longer than that of most bacteriophages. The tail is
nearly one micrometer long, which is similar in width to some spider’s silk. This tail
structure is essential for host recognition and attachment, which are crucial for successful
infections.
Stable Phage
Not only does the P74-26 bacteriophage have an extremely long tail, but it is also the most
stable phage, allowing it to exist in and infect bacteria that live in hot springs. This makes
it unique among phages, as most cannot withstand the extreme temperatures and harsh
conditions found in these environments.
Building Blocks
The researchers used high-power imaging techniques and computer simulations to study
the structure of the P74-26 bacteriophage. They found that the phage’s tail is formed from
vertically stacked rings of molecules that make a hollow canal. P74-26 uses a ‘ball and
socket’ mechanism to stabilize itself, where the building blocks of the tail lean on each
other to maintain stability.
Lego-like Building Blocks
The building blocks of the P74-26 bacteriophage’s tail are comparable to Lego bricks.
These building blocks can change shape, or conformation, as they come together, and the
shape-changing behavior is critical in allowing the building blocks to fit together correctly.
The researchers think that some ancient virus fused its building blocks into one protein,
which is why P74-26 uses half the number of building blocks to form stacking rings that
make up the tail. This unique feature makes the P74-26 bacteriophage even more
fascinating to researchers.
IQAir’s Fifth World Air Quality Report: Key Findings

The fifth World Air Quality Report by IQAir shows that India is still facing a severe air
pollution crisis. The report revealed that 39 Indian cities were among the world’s 50 most
polluted cities based on PM2.5 levels in the air. This article will discuss the details of the
report and its implications for public health and the environment in India.
Delhi: The most polluted metropolitan city
Delhi was ranked fourth on the list of the world’s most polluted cities, and it was also the
most polluted metropolitan city in the world. The annual average PM2.5 level in Delhi was
92.6, almost 20 times the safe limit. This high level of air pollution can cause severe health
issues like lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke. The primary source of air pollution in
Delhi is vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and construction activities.
Bhiwadi: The most polluted city in India

Bhiwadi in Rajasthan was the most polluted city in India and the third most polluted city in
the world with an annual average PM2.5 level of 92.7. The high level of air pollution in
Bhiwadi is due to the presence of industries and factories that emit harmful pollutants
into the air. The residents of Bhiwadi are at risk of developing respiratory diseases, heart
diseases, and cancer.
Other polluted cities in India
Apart from Delhi and Bhiwadi, many other Indian cities dominated the list of the world’s
most polluted cities. These cities included Patna, Muzzaffarnagar, Dharbanga, Noida,
Gurgaon, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Charkhi Dadri, Jind, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Hisar. The
high levels of air pollution in these cities are primarily due to vehicular emissions,
industrial pollution, and burning of agricultural waste.
Decline in pollution levels in Delhi’s neighboring towns
According to the report, there was a slight decline in pollution levels in Delhi’s
neighboring towns of Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad. The decline ranged
from 34% in Gurugram to 21% in Faridabad. This is an encouraging sign, but more needs
to be done to reduce air pollution levels in these areas.
India’s ranking among other countries
Out of 131 countries, India ranked eighth with a population-weighted average PM2.5 level
of 53.3 μg/m3 in 2022. India was preceded by Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Burkina Faso, and Kuwait. The annual average for the country in 2022 was slightly lower
than the 58.1 μg/m3 recorded in 2021. Although the slight decline is good news, India still
has a long way to go to tackle air pollution and improve public health.
India Venture Capital Report 2023: Important Findings
Bain & Company’s annual India Venture Capital Report 2023 reveals that venture capital
investments in India saw a decrease in deal value of 33% from $38.5 billion to $25.7 billion
in 2022. The report highlights macroeconomic uncertainty and recessionary fears as the
primary drivers of the decrease in deal value.
Late-Stage Large Deals Affected the Most
Late-stage large deals were affected the most by the decrease in deal value. This could be
attributed to the cautious approach adopted by investors in light of the economic

uncertainty. As a result, investors focused on preserving their capital and were more
selective with their investments.
Early-Stage Deals Continued to See Momentum
In contrast to late-stage large deals, early-stage deals continued to see momentum in
India. This resulted in a slight expansion in deal volume. The report suggests that
investors are doubling down on early-stage deal making as they believe this is the best
way to capture India’s growth potential.
India Outpaced China in Terms of New Unicorns
For the second year in a row, India outpaced China in terms of new unicorns created. This
is a significant achievement for India, as it demonstrates its growing reputation as a hub
for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Shift to More Democratic Funding Geographically
The report highlights a shift to more democratic funding geographically in India. This
means that investors are now looking beyond the traditional hubs of Mumbai and
Bangalore and are exploring opportunities in other regions of the country.
SaaS and Fintech Continued to See Momentum in Funding
The report suggests that SaaS and Fintech continued to see momentum in funding in
2022. This is not surprising as these sectors have been growing rapidly in recent years and
are expected to continue their growth trajectory in the future.
Emergent Sectors Gained Momentum
The report also highlights the emergence of new sectors in India. Sectors such as EV,
Agritech, generative AI, space tech, and climate tech gained momentum in 2022. These
sectors are expected to play a significant role in India’s future growth story.
Resilient Ecosystem to Emerge in 2023
Despite the challenges faced in 2022, the report predicts that a more resilient ecosystem
will emerge in 2023. Investors are expected to continue doubling down on early-stage deal
making, and a wider investor base is likely to participate in India’s growth.
Q+A: Smart Cities Mission
With the deadline approaching for the Smart Cities Mission in June 2023, the Central
Government has urged the poorly performing cities to speed up their projects. These
projects were supposed to be completed within 5 years of the city’s selection.
What is Smart Cities Mission?
The Smart Cities Mission was launched in India in 2015 by the Union Housing and Urban
Affairs Ministry to improve the quality of life in urban areas. The initiative aimed to create
cities that are sustainable, efficient, and equipped with modern infrastructure. Under this
mission, cities were asked to submit proposals for projects to improve municipal services
and make their jurisdictions more liveable. After reviewing proposals, the Ministry
selected 100 cities for the mission between January 2016 and June 2018.
What kind of projects are implemented under the Smart Cities Mission?
The project proposals submitted by the cities varied widely, ranging from simple tasks like
making roads more accessible and pedestrian-friendly to capital-intensive ones like laying
water pipelines and constructing sewage treatment plants. All 100 cities have also
constructed Integrated Command and Control Centres to monitor all security, emergency,
and civic services. These centres played a crucial role in the fight against the Covid-19
pandemic, with many cities converting them into emergency response units.
What is the current status of the mission?
As of March 3, the 100 cities have issued work orders for 7,799 projects worth Rs 1.80 lakh
crore. Out of these, 5,399 projects worth Rs.1.02 lakh crore have been completed, while
the rest are ongoing. However, only around 20 cities are likely to meet the June deadline
for completion, with the others needing more time to finish their projects. Cities selected
in January and June 2018 have achieved 44% of their targets, while those selected in 2016
in the second round are not much farther ahead with 46% completion.
The government’s move to push poorly performing cities to complete their projects
With the deadline for completion fast approaching, the Indian government has urged 20
poorly performing cities to speed up their projects. Among the cities are six from the
Northeast, five Union Territories, and three state capitals. These cities have completed the
fewest projects under the Smart Cities Mission and are lagging behind others. These cities
had been instructed and offered guidance to complete the projects within the stipulated
time frame.
McMahon Line and the US’ Backing: Important Facts
Recently, two United States Senators, one Republican and one Democrat, introduced a
bipartisan resolution in Congress, reaffirming the US’s recognition of the McMahon Line
as the international boundary between China and India in Arunachal Pradesh. The
resolution also supports India’s position that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of
India and condemns China’s military aggression to change the status quo along the Line
of Actual Control.
In this article, we will explore the significance of this resolution and what it means for the
US-India strategic partnership and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative.
The McMahon Line: Background and Significance
The McMahon Line was drawn during the Simla Convention of 1914, which attempted to
settle the question of Tibet’s sovereignty and avoid further territorial disputes in the
region. The line was named after Sir Henry McMahon, who was the British Foreign
Secretary in India at the time.
The McMahon Line was drawn as a boundary between British India and Tibet, which was
then a part of the Chinese empire. However, China did not recognize the McMahon Line
and continued to claim Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory.
Today, Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian state, and China still claims the region as part of its
territory. The region has been a contentious issue between India and China for decades,
and tensions have escalated in recent years.
The US-India Strategic Partnership and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Initiative
The resolution introduced by the two US Senators reaffirms the US’s recognition of the
McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and India in Arunachal
Pradesh. This move is significant as it shows the US’s commitment to supporting India’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Moreover, the resolution aims to enhance the US-India strategic partnership and the
Quad in support of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative. The Free and Open Indo-
Pacific initiative is a strategic concept that aims to promote a rules-based order in the
Indo-Pacific region and enhance economic, diplomatic, and security ties between the US
and its partners in the region.
The resolution condemning China’s military aggression in the region is also significant.
China’s aggressive actions along the Line of Actual Control have destabilized the region
and threatened peace and security in the Indo-Pacific. By condemning China’s actions, the
US is sending a strong message that it will not tolerate any attempt to change the status
quo through force or coercion.
Inter-services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill: Key Features
The Indian government has introduced a new bill titled ‘Inter-services Organisations
(Command, Control and Discipline) Bill’ in Lok Sabha. The legislation seeks to empower
the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command of the inter-services organizations to
exercise control over all personnel serving under their command, including those
belonging to different services. This will streamline disciplinary and administrative actions
for personnel belonging to different services, ensuring expeditious disposal of cases and
greater integration and jointmanship among the Armed Forces.
Empowering Inter-Services Organizations
The proposed bill proposes the empowerment of the the Heads of Inter-services
Organizations to exercise effective command, control, and discipline over all personnel of
the regular Air Force, Army, and Navy, including those serving in or attached to an Inter-
services Organization, without amending the respective Acts.
This means that the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command of the Inter-services
Organizations will soon be able to exercise control over all personnel serving under their
command, irrespective of their service affiliation. Presently, only officers of the respective
services are empowered to exercise disciplinary powers over the service personnel under
the respective Service Acts.
Constituting Inter-Services Organizations
The bill will also empower the central government to constitute Inter-services
Organizations. Such organizations may include a joint services command comprising units
or service personnel from the Air Force, Army, and Navy, which may be placed under the
command of the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command. The power under the
bill will also be available to Inter-services Organizations constituted before the
commencement of the new law.
Disciplinary and Administrative Actions
The current system of disciplinary and administrative actions for personnel belonging to
different services is time-consuming and has financial implications related to the
movement of personnel. When the proceedings arise from the same set of facts and
circumstances but involve personnel belonging to different services, multiple sets of
proceedings under the respective Service Acts are required to be initiated, which impedes
expeditious disposal of cases, thereby affecting the standard of discipline.
However, the proposed bill will solve this problem, enabling the personnel serving in
Inter-services Organizations to be governed by the Heads of Inter-services Organizations.
The bill also provides that service personnel will continue to be governed by their
respective Service Acts for the purposes of disciplinary or administrative action, if any,
when serving in or attached to an Inter-services Organization.
Benefits of the Bill
The government says that the bill will pave the way for various tangible benefits such as
expeditious disposal of cases, saving of time and public money by avoiding multiple
proceedings, and greater integration and jointmanship among Armed Forces personnel.
The bill will streamline the command, control, and discipline of Inter-services
Organizations like the Andaman and Nicobar Command or Defence Space Agency and
joint training establishments like the National Defence Academy or National Defence
College.
Q+A: Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India,
2022
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has announced new rules for foreign lawyers and law firms
to practice law in India. The Rules for Registration and Regulation of Foreign Lawyers and
Foreign Law Firms in India, 2022 allows foreign lawyers and law firms to practice law in
India on a reciprocity basis. They can establish offices in India and practice transactional
and corporate work, such as joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property
matters, drafting of contracts, and other related matters on a reciprocal basis.
What are the restrictions provided by the new rules?
Foreign lawyers and law firms cannot appear before any courts, tribunals, or other
statutory or regulatory authorities. They can only practice in non-litigious matters. The BCI
hopes this move will address concerns over Foreign Direct Investment inflow and make
India a hub of international commercial arbitration. To be eligible to practice in India,
foreign lawyers must be entitled to practice in their home country and register with the
BCI.
What are the implications?
This move by the BCI has been a long time coming, as they had previously opposed the
idea of foreign lawyers and law firms practicing law in India. However, this change in
stance is expected to have significant implications for the Indian legal landscape. Foreign
lawyers and law firms will now have the opportunity to offer their services in India, which
will create competition and expose Indian law firms to global best practices.
However, some Indian law firms have expressed concerns about whether foreign law
firms would indirectly or in a surrogate manner practice Indian laws. This is where stricter
oversight by the BCI would be required to ensure that foreign lawyers and law firms
adhere to Indian laws and regulations.

Green National Highway Corridors Project and the World Bank Loan: Important Facts
India and the World Bank have recently signed a loan agreement to construct 781
kilometers of green highways across four states in India. The project aims to build the
Green National Highway Corridors Project in 4 Indian states. The loan assistance of 500
million dollars will be used for the construction of the highways.
The Green National Highway Corridors Project will promote the use of green technologies
and climate resilience to demonstrate safe and environmentally friendly highways. The
project aims to establish a new standard for sustainable infrastructure in India.
The Project
The Green National Highway Corridors Project is a massive undertaking that aims to
construct highways with an aggregate length of 781 km across four Indian states:
Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. The total project cost is
estimated at $1,288.24 million (Rs 7,662.47 crore), and the World Bank has agreed to
provide $500 million in loan assistance.
The Objectives of the Project
The Green National Highway Corridors Project aims to promote sustainable infrastructure
in India. It will showcase the use of clean energy technologies and promote climate
resilience for highway construction. The project will also promote the use of electric
vehicles and bring down greenhouse gas emissions.
Under this project, highways will be constructed in a way that will reduce the carbon
footprint and promote a cleaner environment. They will be designed to reduce the impact
of construction on the environment.
The project is expected to transform the highway infrastructure in the country. It will also
provide a boost to the Indian economy by generating employment and increasing trade
and commerce.
Local/Marginal Material
One of the important aspects of the project is the use of local or marginal materials, such
as lime, fly ash, waste plastic, and bio-engineering measures for slope protection. These
materials will not only reduce the cost of construction but will also minimize the
environmental impact of the project. Additionally, hydroseeding, coco/jute fiber, and other
measures will be used for slope protection, which will help to prevent soil erosion.
Fact Sheet: IBA Women's World Boxing Championships 2023
India’s Youth Affairs and Sports Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur, inaugurated the 13th IBA
Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, marking the beginning of a much-
awaited event in the world of boxing. The tournament, hosted by the Boxing Federation of
India, will take place from March 16 to 26, with a total prize fund of $2.4 million.
The IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships is one of the most prestigious events in
the world of boxing, and the fact that India is hosting it is a testament to the growing
popularity of the sport in the country.
Indian Boxers Ready for the Challenge
India has fielded a strong contingent for the tournament, with Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina
Borgohain, Saweety Boora, and Preeti all set to participate in the event. These boxers have
been in impressive form recently and will be looking to make a mark in the competition.
They will, however, face stiff competition from some of the world’s best boxers, including
several Olympic medallists.
The Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the tournament was held on March 15, with the tournament’s
brand ambassador, MC Mary Kom, and Bollywood star Farhan Akhtar in attendance. The
event was a grand affair, with dancers and musicians putting up spectacular
performances that kept the audience enthralled.
The Tournament Format

The event will see 324 boxers from 65 countries compete in 12 weight categories. The
tournament follows a knockout format, with each bout consisting of three rounds of three
minutes each. The winner of each bout will proceed to the next round, with the ultimate
aim of reaching the finals and winning the championship.
The Impact of the Event
The IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships is not just a major sporting event but also
has a significant social impact. The tournament provides a platform for women boxers
from across the globe to showcase their talent and inspire young girls to take up the
sport. It is also a great opportunity for India to showcase its sporting infrastructure and
organizational capabilities to the world.
Cyclone Freddy: Important Facts About the Deadly Tropical Cyclone
In February and March 2023, the world witnessed the remarkable persistence of a tropical
cyclone named Freddy. The storm crossed the Indian Ocean over a span of more than five
weeks, causing severe damage and destruction in its path. Freddy was classified as the
fourth named storm of the 2022-23 Australian region cyclone season and the second very
intense tropical cyclone of the 2022-23 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season. It caused
deaths of over hundreds of people. Let’s take a closer look at this deadly storm.
Formation and Intensification
Freddy emerged as a disturbance within the monsoon trough in the Australian region
cyclone basin. The storm quickly intensified into a Category 4 severe tropical cyclone,
causing significant damage and destruction in its path. As Freddy moved into the South-
West Indian Ocean basin, it intensified even further, becoming a very intense tropical
cyclone. The storm’s wind speeds reached 155 mph, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane
on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
Landfalls and Impacts
Freddy made two landfalls in Madagascar and Mozambique, respectively, before
eventually dissipating over Mozambique on 15 March. The storm’s impacts were severe,
causing catastrophic flash floods in Malawi, widespread infrastructure damage in
Mozambique, and leaving millions at risk for food insecurity. The death toll from the storm
rose to at least 307 people in Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Zimbabwe. Freddy is
believed to be one of the deadliest storms to hit the continent in the last two decades.
Climate Change and Freddy’s Intensity
Meteorologists suggest that climate change contributed to the intensity of Freddy. As the
global temperature continues to rise, warmer ocean temperatures fuel the intensity of
tropical storms and hurricanes. Warmer oceans mean more energy for storms, making
them more intense and more damaging. The increasing intensity of storms due to climate
change puts vulnerable communities at greater risk, causing catastrophic damage to
infrastructure, homes, and lives.
SCO Summit on ‘Collaboration In Sports and Physical Fitness’: Key Outcomes
The recently concluded three-day summit on “Collaboration in Sports and Physical
Fitness” brought together delegates from eight Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
nations in New Delhi. The summit aimed to explore opportunities for collaboration in the
field of sports and physical fitness and to strengthen the common commitment to sports.
Ministerial Meeting
The ministerial meeting, chaired by Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh
Thakur, was a crucial part of the summit. The Minister emphasized the importance of
collaboration between SCO nations in the field of sports to build a common platform and
strengthen a common commitment to sports. He added that using the expertise of each
member nation to build a common platform will strengthen the commitment to sports. He
also reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making sports a guiding force
behind India and making the country an evolving sporting nation.
Participants
The summit was attended by representatives of six nations, including Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan, who participated in the discussions in
person. Representatives from China and Tajikistan participated virtually.
Collaboration in Sports and Physical Fitness
The summit was organized to explore opportunities for collaboration in the field of sports
and physical fitness. The discussions revolved around a wide array of subjects, including
training and development programs, sports science, sports medicine, anti-doping
measures, and capacity building.
The delegates discussed ways to encourage sports tourism and promote sports among
women and youth. They also exchanged ideas on organizing sports events and
competitions and discussed the importance of sports diplomacy in promoting peace and
harmony between nations.
Meghalaya International Film Festival: Important Facts
The Meghalaya International Film Festival (Megh IFF) began on March 14 in Shillong, the
capital of Meghalaya, India. The five-day event is the first-ever film festival in the state and
is being held at the State Central Library.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by the Meghalaya Tourism Minister, Paul Lyngdoh,
who inaugurated the festival. Actor Adil Hussain was also present as a special guest.
State-of-the-Art Cinema Halls
During the event, the tourism minister emphasized that the government is committed to
setting up state-of-the-art cinema halls, which will further boost the film industry in the
state. The government’s support for the film industry is expected to provide opportunities
for local filmmakers and attract more filmmakers to Meghalaya.
Jointly Organized by MeFilma and the Tourism Department
The Meghalaya International Film Festival is an initiative of the Meghalaya Filmmakers’
Association (MeFilma). The MeFilma organized it in collaboration with the tourism
department of the northeastern state. The festival aims to create a film culture in
Meghalaya, especially among its youth.
Over 5,000 Viewers Expected
Around 40 films will be screened during the event across four venues. The festival is
expected to attract over 5,000 viewers from across the country and guest countries. The
festival’s closing ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 18 at the same venue.
Attracting Visitors to Meghalaya
The Meghalaya International Film Festival is expected to help attract more visitors to the
state. With its scenic beauty, unique culture, and potential for adventure tourism,
Meghalaya has a lot to offer visitors. The film festival will provide a platform for
filmmakers to showcase the beauty of Meghalaya to a wider audience.
What is GPT-4?
OpenAI has made a major announcement that has generated a lot of buzz in the artificial
intelligence (AI) community. The company has unveiled its latest creation, GPT-4, a large
multimodal model that can process both text and image inputs. This new language model
is an upgrade from its predecessor, GPT-3, which was already groundbreaking in its own
right.
Greater Accuracy and Human-level Performance
GPT-4 has been designed to solve difficult problems with greater accuracy and
demonstrate human-level performance on various professional and academic
benchmarks. The language model is so powerful that it can pass a simulated bar exam
with a score that places it around the top 10% of test-takers. Additionally, GPT-4 can
answer complex tax-related questions, schedule a meeting among three busy people, or
even learn a user’s creative writing style.
Handling Over 25,000 Words of Text
GPT-4 has an impressive capacity to handle over 25,000 words of text. This is a significant
improvement from GPT-3, which could only handle up to 2,048 words of text. This capacity
makes it ideal for processing long-form content such as research papers, books, and even
legal documents.
Understanding Languages that are Not English
One of the most exciting features of GPT-4 is its ability to understand languages that are
not English. This makes it an ideal language model for processing texts in languages such
as Chinese, Arabic, and French, among others. This feature is a significant improvement
from GPT-3, which was mainly designed to handle English texts.

Potential Applications of GPT-4
The potential applications of GPT-4 are numerous, and the technology has the potential to
transform various industries. For instance, GPT-4 can be used in the legal industry to
process legal documents and contracts, which can save time and increase efficiency.
Additionally, the language model can be used in the medical field to process medical
records and help doctors diagnose diseases accurately.
Fact Sheet: Sea Dragon 23
The Sea Dragon 23 exercise is a biennial coordinated multilateral anti-submarine warfare
(ASW) exercise for long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The exercise is hosted by
the United States Navy, and it involves the participation of other friendly navies from
Japan, Canada, South Korea, and India. The exercise aims to achieve high levels of synergy
and coordination between the participating countries based on their shared values and
commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific. It is being held from March 15 to 30 this
year. This is the third edition of the Sea Dragon Exercise, which was held for the first time
in 2015.
The Objectives of the Exercise
The exercise’s primary objective is to improve coordination among participating countries
in the multilateral anti-submarine warfare drills. The exercise will include advanced ASW
drills and simulated scenarios that will test the participating aircraft’s capabilities in
detecting and tracking underwater targets. The exercise also aims to foster mutual
expertise and knowledge sharing among the participating countries.
About P8I Aircraft
The P8I aircraft is a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft equipped with advanced
sensors, radars, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The aircraft is designed to
detect, track, and engage enemy submarines and other maritime threats. It is currently
participating in the Sea Dragon 23 exercise. During the multilateral exercise, the P8I
aircraft will participate in advanced ASW drills, including tracking simulated and live
underwater targets.
Other Participating Aircraft
Aside from the P8I aircraft, other participating aircraft in the Sea Dragon 23 exercise
include the P8A of the US Navy, P1 from the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, CP 140
from the Royal Canadian Air Force, and P3C from the Republic of Korea Navy. The
participation of these aircraft highlights the importance of international cooperation and
coordination in addressing common security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Trophies in Memory of Gen. Bipin Rawat: Important Facts
The Indian Navy has recently announced that it will honor the memory of the late General
Bipin Rawat, the India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, by introducing two awards in his
name. The Navy made the announcement on the eve of the late General’s 65th birth
anniversary. The awards will be presented to deserving individuals who demonstrate
outstanding achievements in their respective fields.
The Awards
The first award, the Gen. Bipin Rawat rolling trophy, will be presented to the ‘Women
Agniveer Trainee standing first in overall order of merit’. This award recognizes the
outstanding achievements of women in the military and is a testament to the Navy’s
commitment to promoting gender equality in the armed forces. The second award is the
Gen. Bipin Rawat’s rolling trophy for the ‘Most Spirited Officer’ undergoing the Naval
higher command course at the Naval War College in Goa. This award recognizes the
outstanding performance of officers undergoing training and is intended to motivate and
inspire them to continue striving for excellence.
Gen. Rawat’s Legacy
Gen. Rawat was a visionary leader and a military reformer, known for his professionalism,
principles, conviction, and decisiveness. His contributions to the Indian military spanned
over four decades and were remarkable in all spheres of military and national security
affairs. As India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Rawat was instrumental in introducing
path-breaking transformational initiatives and promoting civil-military synergy.
The Navy’s Tribute
The Indian Navy’s decision to institute two awards in Gen. Rawat’s honor reflects the high
regard in which he is held by the armed forces and the Indian people. The awards will
serve as a fitting tribute to a visionary leader who made significant contributions to India’s
military and national security affairs. The first trophy for the current year will be presented
by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar during the ‘Passing Out Parade’ of the
first batch of Navy Agniveers on March 28 at the Navy’s premier sailors training center INS
Chilka.
Q+A: UN’s List of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Bhutan’s Graduation
Bhutan, a landlocked country in South Asia, is set to be removed from the LDC list on
December 13, 2023, becoming the seventh country to graduate from the list. Bhutan’s
graduation was announced by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, based on its
sustainable development efforts, including poverty reduction, education, healthcare, and
gender equality. This graduation is a significant milestone for Bhutan, as it represents the
country’s progress in terms of economic and human development.
What is the LDCs List?
The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) list was established in 1971 by the United Nations
with the purpose of identifying and supporting the world’s poorest and most vulnerable
countries. The list includes 46 countries that are categorized based on their income levels,
human development indicators, and economic vulnerability. These countries face
significant challenges in terms of economic development, including low levels of
infrastructure, limited access to financial markets, and a high incidence of poverty.
What are the benefits of graduating from LDC List?
Bhutan’s graduation from the LDC list is expected to have several benefits for the country,
including increased access to international financial markets, greater foreign direct
investment, and improved trade opportunities. It is also expected to boost Bhutan’s
international image and attract more tourists to the country, which is known for its natural
beauty and unique culture. The graduation also highlights the importance of sustainable
development and good governance in achieving economic growth and reducing poverty.
What are the challenges faced by LDCs?
While Bhutan’s graduation from the LDC list is a positive development, it also highlights
the challenges faced by other countries on the list. The LDCs account for 13 percent of the
global population, but they contribute to just 1.3 percent of the global GDP and less than 1
percent of the global trade and foreign direct investment. This indicates that the LDCs are
facing significant economic and development challenges that need to be addressed.
Some of the countries on the LDC list, such as Burkina Faso, Senegal, Rwanda, Haiti, Nepal,
and Solomon Islands, are among the poorest in the world, with high levels of poverty,
limited access to education and healthcare, and inadequate infrastructure. These

countries also face challenges such as political instability, conflict, and climate change,
which further exacerbate their economic and social challenges.
Fact Sheet: Bathinda Fort
India is a land of diverse cultural heritage, where the remnants of the past still stand tall
and proud, bearing testimony to the country’s rich history. One such iconic structure is the
Bathinda Fort in Punjab, believed to be the oldest surviving fort in the country. The fort,
which dates back to over 1,600 years, is currently undergoing repairs and restoration to
preserve its legacy for future generations.
History of Bathinda Fort
The Bathinda Fort has a rich history that dates back to the Kushan era in 100 AD. The fort
is believed to have been constructed by Bhatti Rajput rulers during the 6th century. The
fort has seen many rulers and empires come and go, including the Guptas, Huns,
Mughals, and British, each of whom left their mark on the structure. The fort’s walls, made
of clay bricks, are 10 to 12 feet thick, with several bastions spread across the complex. The
fort covers an area of about 6 acres, and its main entrance is called the Delhi Gate.
Challenges Faced by the Fort
The Bathinda Fort has faced several challenges over the years. Due to its age, several
bastions have collapsed in recent years, posing a threat to the overall structure’s stability.
Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic halted repair work for two years, causing further
damage to the fort’s walls and structures.
Restoration Efforts by the Archaeological Survey of India
To preserve the fort’s legacy, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has taken up the
task of restoring and repairing the structure. A team of 30 to 40 experts is currently
working on the project, using traditional building techniques to maintain the fort’s
original character. The ASI has also ensured that the repair work does not damage the
fort’s original structure or cause any harm to the environment.
Bathinda Fort: A Popular Tourist Destination
The Bathinda Fort is a popular tourist destination, with more than 4,000 to 5,000 visitors
daily. The Gurdwara Qila Mubarak, built in the early 19th century to commemorate the
visit of Guru Gobind Singh, is also located within the fort complex, adding to its religious
and cultural importance.
Preserving India’s Rich Cultural Heritage
The restoration of the Bathinda Fort is an excellent example of how India is working to
preserve its rich cultural heritage for future generations. By investing in the repair and
restoration of iconic structures like the Bathinda Fort, India can showcase its rich history
and culture to the world. It also ensures that future generations can explore and learn
from the past, keeping the country’s cultural legacy alive for years to come.
HAL Cheetah: Important Facts
An HAL Cheetah helicopter crashed near Mandala in Arunachal Pradesh, India, with a
search operation underway for the two pilots on board. The cause of the crash is currently
unknown, but the Indian Army has launched a search operation to locate the pilots and
investigate the incident.
Designed for High Altitude and Hot Tropical Conditions
The Cheetah helicopter is a licence-built version of the French Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama
and was designed to operate in high altitude and hot tropical conditions. It was primarily
used for reconnaissance and surveillance missions by the Indian Army, but also served
other roles such as medical evacuation and transportation of personnel and supplies.
Ageing and High-Maintenance Aircraft
Despite its exceptional performance, the Cheetah has become an ageing and high-
maintenance aircraft, with its airworthiness repeatedly questioned due to incidents and a
lack of spare parts. The Indian Army has been working to keep the Cheetah operational
for years, but its age and increasing maintenance costs have made it a difficult aircraft to
maintain.
Integral to the Indian Armed Forces
Despite its limitations, the Cheetah remains integral to the Indian armed forces, which
have yet to find a better alternative. The Cheetah has been in service with the Indian Army
since the 1970s and has served in various conflicts, including the Kargil War in 1999. Its
reliability and versatility have made it a valuable asset to the Indian military, but the time
has come for a replacement.
Development of a Light Utility Helicopter
HAL, the manufacturer of the Cheetah, is currently developing a Light Utility Helicopter to
eventually replace the Cheetah. The Light Utility Helicopter is a 5.5-tonne class helicopter
that is expected to enter service in the coming years. It is designed to operate in high
altitude and hot tropical conditions and will be capable of performing a variety of roles,
including reconnaissance, surveillance, medical evacuation, and transportation of
personnel and supplies.
Zojila Pass and its Reopening: Important Facts
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has reopened the Himalayan Zojila Pass ahead of
the usual schedule. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the reopening of
the pass and its importance.
Significance of Zojila Pass
The Zojila Pass is a strategic link between Ladakh and Kashmir. It is the only road link that
connects the Ladakh region to the rest of India. The pass is critical for the Indian Armed
Forces’ operational preparedness in the region. The reopening of the pass will also help
ease the transportation of essential supplies and trade between Ladakh and Kashmir.
The Closure of Zojila Pass
The Zojila Pass was closed for the past few months due to heavy snowfall. The closure led
to the disruption of trade and supply flow between Ladakh and Kashmir. It also hampered
the Indian Armed Forces’ operational preparedness in the region.
Snow Clearance Activities
The snow clearance activities were undertaken by Project Beacon and Vijayak, situated in
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh respectively. The BRO personnel worked tirelessly to
clear the snow and debris from the road. They used advanced snow-cutting machines and
other equipment to clear the snow.
Comparative Analysis
The Zojila Pass remained closed for just 68 days this year, compared to the last year’s 73
days of closure and 160 to 180 days in yesteryears. The BRO’s efforts in clearing the snow
have helped in reducing the closure period of the pass.
Challenges Faced by BRO
The BRO personnel face several challenges while clearing the snow from the pass. The
region experiences heavy snowfall, and the temperature drops to sub-zero levels. The
personnel have to work in extreme weather conditions and difficult terrain. The lack of
communication facilities and medical facilities in the region also poses a challenge to the
BRO personnel.
Golconda Fort: Important Facts and Challenges It Faces
Golconda Fort, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana, is a historically
significant fortress that dates back to the 11th century. Built by Kakatiya ruler
Pratāparudra using mud walls, the fort was later handed over to the Bahmani Kings by
Deo Rai, Rajah of Warangal, and subsequently became the capital of the Golconda
Sultanate. Because of its proximity to diamond mines, including the Kollur Mine, the city
became a center of trade for large diamonds known as Golconda Diamonds. The fort
complex is currently in the UNESCO’s tentative list to become a World Heritage Site.
Despite its historical importance, the fort is currently abandoned and in ruins.
Golf Course Controversy
Recently, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been in a dispute with the
Hyderabad Golf Club (HGC) over the use of the Naya Qila precinct, a protected monument
within the Golconda Fort. The HGC has been accused of violating an agreement with the
ASI to expand the golf course without altering the contours or using earthmovers.
However, the HGC has reportedly violated these terms, prompting increased ASI patrolling
of the site. The ASI has also constructed an interpretation center to highlight the
importance of the chahar-bagh garden plan during the Qutb Shahi era.
Development Alters Importance of Site
The most recent expansion of the golf course has caused concerns as dumping of debris
behind the Bagh-e-Naya Qila garden is destroying the remaining archaeological value of
the national monument. This latest development could alter the significance of the site
and its potential inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
Venus’ Volcanoes: Important Facts
Venus and Earth are often compared as sister planets, having similarities in size, mass,
density, and volume. Now, a recent study has shown that Venus might share another
feature with Earth – active volcanoes. Using decades-old radar images from the Magellan
mission, researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory of the California Institute of Technology have found evidence of volcanic
activity on Venus.
Volcanic Activity on Venus
The study showed that a 2.2 square kilometre volcanic vent on Venus had changed shape
in eight months, indicating volcanic activity. A volcanic vent is a spot through which
molten rock erupts. Comparison showed that the vent almost doubled in size to a 4 sq km
blob. The vent is located in a region where volcanic activity was thought to be most likely.
This region is associated with Maat Mons, Venus’ second-highest volcano, situated in the
Atla Regio, a vast highland region near Venus’ equator. The researchers speculated that
Venus is less volcanically active than Jupiter’s moon Io, which has over 100 active spots.
However, the finding hints at the possibility of volcanic activity on Venus.
Magellan Mission
The Magellan mission was launched by the United States National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) in May 1989 and operated until October 1994. It used radar
imaging to take images of Venus’ surface from different orbits. A few locations, including
those suspected to have volcanic activity, were observed two or three times over two
years. Roughly 42 per cent of the global surface area was imaged two or more times,
according to the researchers.
Three missions are being planned to Venus, including NASA’s VERITAS and DAVINCI and
the European Space Agency’s EnVision, which are expected to observe our neighbour in
the 2030s. The Indian Space Research Organisation is also working on Shukrayaan-1 to
study Venus. These missions are expected to provide further insight into the enigmatic
world of Venus.
Implications of the Findings
The study’s finding suggests that Venus might have active volcanoes, which could have
implications for understanding the planet’s geological history and characteristics. It could
also shed light on the possibility of extraterrestrial life on Venus. Recently, a study showed
that Venus might have microbial life in its atmosphere.
Q+A: National Vaccination Day
National Vaccination Day, also known as Immunization Day or Polio Ravivar, is an annual
event celebrated in India on March 16th. The day holds significant importance in India’s
public health calendar, as it promotes vaccination campaigns and raises awareness about
the importance of vaccines in preventing infectious diseases. In this article, we will explore
the history and significance of National Vaccination Day and the ongoing efforts to ensure
full immunization in India.
When was National Vaccine Day first observed?
The first National Vaccination Day was celebrated in India in 1995 to eradicate polio from
the country. At that time, polio was a major public health concern in India, with thousands
of children being affected every year. Since then, National Vaccination Day has become an
essential event in India’s public health calendar.
Why is this day significant?
On this day, the Indian government and various organizations conduct vaccination drives
across the country to immunize children and adults against various diseases. The primary
focus is on providing vaccines to those who may have missed their scheduled
immunizations. National Vaccination Day is also an opportunity to educate people about
the benefits of vaccination and dispel any myths or misconceptions about vaccines.
Through awareness campaigns, the public is made aware of the importance of timely and
complete immunization to prevent the spread of diseases.
What is the purpose of Mission Indradhanush?
The government of India launched Mission Indradhanush in 2014 to ensure full
immunization with all available vaccines for children up to two years of age and pregnant
women. Mission Indradhanush provides vaccination against diseases such as Diphtheria,
Whooping Cough, Tetanus, Polio, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Meningitis and Pneumonia,
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B infections, Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Rotavirus,
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), and Measles-Rubella (MR). India is moving
towards the eradication of measles and rubella and has set a target of 2023 for covering
children and pregnant women. Measles kills more than 1 lakh children globally, and
Rubella causes birth defects. Both can be prevented by Vaccines.
Importance in the COVID-19 pandemic
In recent years, National Vaccination Day has gained even more significance due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The Indian government has been promoting vaccination campaigns
to protect the population from the virus and prevent the spread of the disease. Vaccines
have been shown to be effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization due to
COVID-19. The Indian government has launched a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive
and has administered millions of vaccine doses across the country.
What is Ernie Bot?
Baidu, the Chinese search giant, introduced its new chatbot, Ernie Bot, in a pre-recorded
video presentation on Thursday. This unveiling came as competition to the Microsoft-
backed ChatGPT and other similar chatbots. Ernie Bot, which stands for “Enhanced
Representation of Knowledge Integration,” is still in development but was presented due
to high demand.
Development of Ernie Bot
Baidu CEO Robin Li mentioned that the first version of Ernie Bot was developed in 2019,
and it is the result of many years of hard work. The company has invested in artificial
intelligence for over a decade and has shifted its focus to AI applications, including
autonomous driving technology. Ernie Bot is expected to be used in various applications
such as searches, AI cloud, autonomous driving, and smart devices.
Ernie Bot’s Functionality
During the demonstration, Ernie Bot was asked questions related to a Chinese science-
fiction novel, “The Three-Body Problem,” and was requested to create an image based on
prompts. According to Li, 650 companies have signed up to use Ernie Bot, and it can be
implemented in various applications.
Competition with ChatGPT and other chatbots

The launch of Ernie Bot comes a few months after OpenAI’s ChatGPT was introduced.
ChatGPT can answer questions and even write essays, demonstrating its AI-chatbot
capabilities. Many other Chinese companies are also developing similar chatbots,
indicating the competition in the market.
Baidu’s Investment in Artificial Intelligence
Baidu spent 23.3 billion yuan ($3.4 billion) on research and development, equivalent to
about a fifth of its revenue, in the 2022 fiscal year. The company is known for its search
engine in China, but it has shifted its focus to artificial intelligence, including developing
autonomous driving technology and other AI applications.
March 17, 2023
Global Bottled Water Industry: A Review of Impacts and Trends
The global bottled water industry has experienced meteoric growth in the last 50 years,
becoming a major economic sector. The United Nations University Institute of Water
Environment and Health and McMaster University have released a report titled “Global
Bottled Water Industry: A Review of Impacts and Trends: Important Findings.” According
to the report, the growth of the industry is masking a significant global problem – the
failure of public systems to provide reliable drinking water for all.
Impact of the Bottled Water Industry
The expansion of the bottled water industry hinders progress towards achieving the key
Sustainable Development Goal of providing reliable drinking water. The report notes that
the industry’s growth adversely affects investments and the role of the state in developing
and improving long-term public water supply infrastructure. Investments that could have
gone towards improving public water systems are diverted towards the bottled water
industry, resulting in limited progress in providing clean and reliable water to those who
need it most. The report suggests that half of what the world spends on bottled water
each year could provide clean water to millions of people without it.
Water Depletion
The report also highlights the industry’s high consumption of water and the depletion of
groundwater sources. The primary source of water bottled globally is groundwater, which
is a precious resource. The report cites examples of the industry extracting groundwater
in the United States and France, resulting in depletion of natural recharge. Over two
billion people worldwide rely on groundwater as their primary water source. The report
notes that in some areas, the amount of groundwater extracted exceeds the amount
naturally recharged, leading to groundwater depletion. It further states that fifteen
percent of all extracted groundwater is non-renewable. Global groundwater depletion has
varied between 56 to 362 cubic kilometers per year over the last three decades.
Bottled Water Industry in Different Regions
The Asia-Pacific region constitutes about half of the global bottled water market, and the
Global South countries together make up about 60 percent. The United States, China, and
Indonesia combined make up half of the global market, with Germany being the biggest
market in Europe, Mexico in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, and South Africa
in Africa. Singapore and Australia stand out as the leaders in both annual revenue and
volume of bottled water sold per capita, with the USA and China per capita indicators
being much smaller.
What is TV-D1?
The first test vehicle demonstration (TV-D1) under the Gaganyaan mission will be
conducted on May 2023. It aims to test the abort process mid-air, the parachute system,
and the recovery of crew members after splashdown. The demonstration involves using
single liquid propellant-based rocket stage to carry the crew module to a sub-orbital level.
This success of this demonstration will bring Gaganyaan mission an inch closer to the goal
of sending humans to space.
Additional Demonstrations and Crewed Missions
The uncrewed mission will only take place after the success of two such demonstrations.
Two more test vehicle demonstrations will follow before the second uncrewed mission,
which will carry a pressurized crew module. The first crewed mission has been scheduled
for late 2024 or early 2025, but its timeline will depend on the success of these tests.
Gaganyaan Advisory Council’s Recommendation
The Gaganyaan Advisory Council has recommended additional testing for the Crew Escape
System and deceleration systems through four abort missions using Test Vehicle (TV) and
Integrated Air Drop Tests before proceeding with crewed missions. This was in addition to
the two uncrewed missions that were originally planned.
Testing Procedures
The TV-D1 is designed to test the processes for aborting the mission mid-air, the
parachute system that will bring the crew module down to sea, and the recovery of crew
members from the module after splashdown. The demonstration will use a single liquid
propellant-based rocket stage to carry the crew module to sub-orbital level.
Importance of TV-D1
The test vehicle demonstration is an essential step in the Gaganyaan mission’s progress.
The TV-D1 aims to test the safety and reliability of the spacecraft and its systems, including
the escape mechanism, at a much higher altitude than before. The TV-D1’s success will
pave the way for further testing and the eventual crewed mission.
Fact Sheet: Saudi-Iran Détente
China’s recent announcement of the Saudi-Iran détente in West Asia has been viewed as a
strategic move aimed at securing long-term economic interests and establishing political
influence in the region. This deal is set to rival the traditional role played by the United
States in the area and has far-reaching implications for global politics.
Low-risk, high-impact opportunity for China
China sees the Saudi-Iran détente as a “low-risk, high-impact” opportunity to establish its
diplomatic and political credentials in West Asia. This is a region where China has high
economic stakes, and the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran
presents a unique chance for China to expand its influence in the area. With this move,
China hopes to establish itself as a key mediator in the region and a force to be reckoned
with in global politics.
Economic interests at stake
China’s interest in the Saudi-Iran détente is largely driven by economic considerations.
The region is home to some of the world’s largest oil reserves, and China is heavily
dependent on these reserves to fuel its growing economy. The peace between Saudi
Arabia and Iran has the potential to stabilize the oil market and ensure a steady supply of
oil to China. In addition to oil, China also has significant investments in infrastructure
projects in the region and is keen to protect these investments.
Establishing political influence
The deal presents an opportunity for China to establish its political influence in the region,
something it has been striving for in recent years. By playing a key role in the
normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, China hopes to establish itself
as a mediator in the region and a key player in global politics. This move also allows China
to challenge the traditional role played by the United States in the area and assert its
dominance in a region that has long been under the influence of Western powers.
Implications for global politics
The Saudi-Iran détente has far-reaching implications for global politics, and China’s
involvement in the deal is set to further complicate an already complex situation. The
normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran has the potential to reshape the
balance of power in the region and impact the ongoing conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq.
With China now involved in the deal, it adds another layer of complexity to an already
complicated situation.
MiG-29 Fighter Jet and Its Delivery to Ukraine: Important Facts
Poland recently announced the delivery of four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, making it
the first North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) country to do so. The move is seen as a
significant step towards military backing for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
A Brief History of MiG-29 Fighter Jets
The MiG-29 fighter jet is a single-seat twin-engine air-to-air fighter used for conducting
ground attacks. It belongs to a family of Soviet military fighter aircraft developed by a
design bureau founded by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich in 1939. The fighter jet
was first introduced in 1983.
Poland’s Delivery of Fighter Jets to Ukraine
The Polish president, Andrzej Duda, announced the delivery of the MiG-29 fighter jets,
which were inherited from East Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The MiGs are
coming to the end of their working lives after 30 years but are still in working order.
Currently, more Polish MiGs were being serviced and repaired in preparation for being
handed to Ukraine. In all, Poland has 28 MiG-29s, which are to be replaced over the next
few years by South Korean FA-50s and US F-35s.
Until now, Ukraine’s backers in NATO have only provided spare parts for its fleet of Soviet-
era warplanes, amid fears that delivering functioning planes to Ukraine would be seen by
Moscow as direct participation in the war. A year ago, Poland offered to hand over all its
MiGs to the US at its airbase in Ramstein, Germany, so they could be passed on to Ukraine,
but Washington rejected the plan.
Other NATO Members’ Response
Slovakia, Finland, and the Netherlands have all said they would consider supplying
Ukraine with warplanes. The US and UK have so far refused to supply their F-16s and
Typhoon combat aircraft respectively, on the grounds that they require too much training,
ground support, and long, smooth runways to be of any short-term help to Ukraine.
However, the UK has offered to provide air cover for any eastern European country willing
to supply Kyiv with Soviet-era jets.
Some European countries have adopted a policy of ambiguity over what they might
provide if Russia sustains its war in Ukraine over the long term. The experience of the last
12 months is that what was considered impossible, too dangerous, potentially escalatory,
useless in terms of Ukrainian needs, and so on has proven to be absolutely necessary and
urgent a few months later.
Ukraine’s Counteroffensive
Ukraine is expected to attempt to make a military breakthrough in the spring and summer
and is trying to build a well-equipped force with western-trained recruits and western-
supplied weapons. But deliveries of Leopard tanks and other equipment have been slower
than Kyiv had hoped, and its army has lost many of its experienced soldiers in the battle of
attrition under way on the eastern front. The supply of fighter jets would accelerate the
liberation of Ukrainian territory.
What is East African Rift?
The East African Rift is a geological feature that stretches for 56 kilometers. It first
emerged in Ethiopia’s desert in 2005. The Rift is predicted to create a new ocean and
divide Africa into two separate parts. Although the emergence of new coastlines may
unlock new opportunities for economic growth, there will also be consequences such as
the necessary evacuation of people, potential loss of lives, and environmental impacts.
The East African Rift: A Geological Marvel
The East African Rift is a unique geological feature that runs through East Africa from the
Red Sea to Mozambique. The Rift is caused by the divergence of three tectonic plates – the
Nubian Plate, the Somali Plate, and the Arabian Plate. These plates are pulling away from
each other, creating tension that results in the formation of the Rift. The East African Rift is
a fascinating geological marvel that has attracted the attention of scientists and geologists
from around the world
A New Ocean and Divided Africa
The emergence of a new ocean is predicted to occur due to the East African Rift. As the
plates continue to diverge, the rift valley will deepen, and the surrounding land will sink.
Eventually, the valley will fill with water, creating a new ocean that will divide Africa into
two separate parts. This will result in landlocked countries like Uganda and Zambia
gaining their own coastlines.
Potential Negative Consequences

The rifting process will affect settlements, communities, and the natural environment,
including flora and fauna. The displacement of communities and settlements will be one
of the most significant challenges. People will need to be evacuated from their homes and
relocated to new areas. This process will be disruptive and could potentially result in the
loss of lives.
Another potential negative consequence of the rifting process is the environmental
impact. The creation of a new ocean will have a significant impact on the surrounding
ecosystem. Marine life will move into the new ocean, while terrestrial life will be forced to
adapt to the changing landscape. The displacement of flora and fauna will have far-
reaching consequences for the ecosystem and could potentially lead to the extinction of
certain species.
Unlocking New Economic Opportunities
Despite the potential negative consequences, the emergence of new coastlines may
unlock new economic opportunities for the affected countries. Landlocked countries like
Uganda and Zambia will finally have their own coastlines, which will provide access to
international markets and boost trade. The creation of a new ocean could also lead to the
discovery of new natural resources, which could further boost the economy of the affected
countries.
Translocation of Lions of Asiatic Lions: Important Facts
Gujarat, known for its rich biodiversity and wildlife, is home to the Asiatic lion, one of the
rarest and most endangered big cat species in the world. The Asiatic lion population in
Gujarat is concentrated in the Gir Forest National Park, which is the only remaining habitat
of this species. To ensure the survival and protection of the lion population, the state
government is planning to move 40 Asiatic lions to the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, which is
located 100 km from the Gir Forest National Park.
What is the Aim of the Translocation Project?
The aim of this project is to safeguard the lion population from potential extinction due to
diseases or environmental threats such as natural disasters or habitat loss. The
translocation of the lions will also prepare the sanctuary for future natural dispersal,
which is essential for the long-term survival of the species. In addition, the project will also
breed herbivores in the sanctuary, which will increase the availability of prey for the lions
and thus, contribute to the growth of the lion population in the area.
The state government of Gujarat has given in-principle approval to the project, which is
expected to be completed in a phased manner. The first phase will involve the preparation
of the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, which will include the construction of new enclosures,
fencing, and the creation of water sources. Once the sanctuary is ready, the lions will be
gradually introduced to the area over a period of time.
What are the Challenges and Concerns?
Although the translocation project is a commendable effort to protect the lion population,
it is not without its challenges and concerns. A 2014 report by the Wildlife Institute of India
has raised concerns that the Barda sanctuary can only hold 26 lions, which is not enough
for the proposed translocation of 40 lions. This raises questions about the feasibility of the
project and the potential risks to the lion population in the sanctuary.
Another concern is the potential for conflict between the lions and the local communities
living in and around the sanctuary. Human-lion conflict is a major issue in Gujarat, with
incidents of lion attacks on humans and livestock being reported frequently. The
translocation of the lions to the Barda sanctuary may exacerbate this conflict, unless
effective measures are taken to mitigate the risk.
Fact Sheet: Thiania indica
A group of researchers led by from Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences,
Chennai, have discovered a new species of jumping spider, Thiania indica. The spider was
discovered during an expedition to Kulathupuzha in the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in
December 2021.
Thiania indica belongs to the Thiania C.L. Koch genus of Salticidae family. The research
findings were published in the March 2023 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Arachnology
by the British Arachnological Society.
Distinct Features of Thiania indica
The researchers have described the distinct features of the species’ male and female
spiders. Both genders of the species have reddish-brown carapace. Males have four
patches of white hairs on their grew-yellow abdomen. On the other hand, females have a
wide transverse black band anteriorly and posteriorly on their creamy yellow abdomen.
Previous Records
Only one species, Thiania bhamoensis, belonging to the Thiania C.L. Koch genus has been
previously recorded in India. The particular species has been distributed across China,
Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia.
Need for Further Exploration
The researchers pointed out that many biodiverse regions of the Western Ghats remain
either unexplored or poorly surveyed for arachnids. They called for greater focus in
hotspots such as Western Ghats and Indo-Burma regions where more hitherto
undiscovered species are expected.
The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a biodiversity hotspot and is home
to a large number of plant and animal species, many of which are endemic. The region is
also one of the eight “hottest hotspots” of biodiversity in the world.
Indo-Burma region, on the other hand, is a biodiversity hotspot that spans across parts of
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. The
region is home to a large number of species, many of which are endemic and are facing
threats due to human activities such as deforestation, poaching, and hunting.
Japan-South Korea Summit: Key Outcomes
Japan and South Korea are two of the world’s most important economies and play critical
roles in ensuring regional peace and stability. However, their relationship has been
fraught with tensions and historical grievances that date back to the colonial era. The
recent summit between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean
President Yoon Suk Yeol is being viewed as a major breakthrough in the efforts to put
aside the past and move forward towards a brighter future.
Resuming Regular Visits
During the summit, Prime Minister Kishida and President Yoon agreed to resume regular
high-level visits between the two countries, a practice that had been suspended for over
three years due to the ongoing dispute over compensation for Korean wartime forced
labor. This move is expected to improve communication and trust between the two
countries and pave the way for more meaningful discussions on a range of issues,
including trade, security, and cultural exchange.
Working towards Resolving Trade Dispute
The leaders also agreed to work towards resolving the ongoing trade dispute that has
been a major source of tension between the two countries. Japan had imposed export
controls on South Korea, which had led to a boycott of Japanese products by South Korean
consumers. However, both countries are now seeking to overcome this dispute and
establish a more stable and mutually beneficial economic relationship.
Rebuilding Security and Economic Ties
The resumption of regular visits between leaders and the efforts to resolve the trade
dispute are being seen as major steps towards rebuilding security and economic ties
between the two countries. This is particularly important given the increasing security
challenges in the region, such as North Korea’s nuclear program and China’s growing
military power.
Resuming Defense Dialogue and Strategic Talks
The leaders also agreed to resume defense dialogue and strategic talks, which had been
suspended due to the tensions between the two countries. This is expected to lead to a
better understanding of each other’s security concerns and pave the way for closer
cooperation in the areas of defense and security.
Restarting Trilateral Communication with China
In addition to improving ties between Japan and South Korea, the leaders also agreed to
restart trilateral communication with China. This move is significant given China’s growing
influence in the region and the need for regional stability and cooperation.
Kodava Hockey Festival
The Kodava hockey festival, an annual inter-family field hockey tournament held in the
Kodagu district of Karnataka, is set to return after a four-year hiatus. The festival is
organized by a different Kodava family each year and is named after them. This year’s
festival will be organized by the Appachettolanda family and will take place in Napoklu, a
small town 21 km away from district headquarters Madikeri.
Preparations for the festival
The town of Napoklu is getting ready to host the world’s largest field hockey tournament,
which is expected to attract 30,000 spectators. The town has only three mud grounds, and
workers were seen preparing the grounds for the tournament. Temporary bleachers have
been set up on all sides of the ground where 30,000 spectators can be accommodated.
Multiple galleries, lighting, speakers, and display boards have been set up on the ground.
In all, three grounds will be utilized for the hockey tournament, and they will also be used
as a backup in case it rains. An estimated ₹1.5 crore have been spent to organize the event
by the family.
No age or gender restrictions
The Kodava hockey festival has no age or gender restrictions, and the only requirement is
that all members of a team must be from the same family. This unique aspect of the
festival ensures that it remains a family-oriented event, where Kodava players from over
200 families come together to play. From every family, young boys and girls, men, women,
professionals, and former hockey players who have represented the state or country will
be part of the family team.
The Kodava community conducts this inter-family hockey tournament every year, which
has morphed into a major sporting event and festival in the country. The festival has
emerged as a platform for the community members to discuss trade and business
interests besides scouting for marital alliances.
The history of the festival
The late Pandanda Kuttappa conceived the idea of the Kodava family hockey tournament
in 1997, and it was organized by the Pandanda family first. The tournament was conceived
in a belief that tapping the inherent love among the Kodavas for hockey could help bring
the families and the community together. The first tournament saw nearly 60 teams take
part. The format of the tournament was such that every year, one of the Kodava families
had to host the event. Starting with the first tournament, the numbers have increased,
reaching a high of 281 in 2003, where this event became the world’s largest hockey
tournament.
The festival also serves as an opportunity for Kodava people living outside the district to
return home and take part in the sporting event like a festival. The festival has been held
across the district in previous years, and there is no permanent venue. Families apply to
the Kodava Hockey Academy expressing interest and are allotted the tournament after
evaluation.
Inauguration and cash prizes
The festival will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on March 18, and it
will open with an exhibition match between India Junior XI and Karnataka Men’s XI. While
the winning team of the festival this year will be given a cash prize of ₹3 lakh, the runners-
up will get ₹2 lakh, and the second runner-up will get ₹1 lakh.
INS Dronacharya
The Indian Navy’s INS Dronacharya is a prestigious gunnery school located in Kochi,
Kerala. The school has been in operation since 1975 and is responsible for training officers
and ratings in various fields such as small-arms, naval missiles, artillery, radar, and
defensive countermeasures. It recently received President’s Colour.
The President’s Colour
President’s Colour is the highest honor that the President bestows on a unit for
exceptional service to the nation. The award is given in recognition of the unit’s
outstanding performance in operational and training tasks.
Training for Excellence
INS Dronacharya has a state-of-the-art training infrastructure that includes simulators,
computer-based training systems, and live firing ranges. The school has a team of highly
qualified and experienced instructors who provide hands-on training to the trainees.
The school trains about 820 officers and 2100 ratings per year in different fields. Its
curriculum includes theory classes, practical training, and live firing exercises. The training
focuses on developing the trainees’ proficiency in operating and maintaining different
types of weapons and equipment.
Apart from Indian Navy personnel, INS Dronacharya also trains personnel from Coast
Guard, paramilitary, and police forces. The school has also trained naval personnel from
friendly countries such as Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius.
Nodal Center for Training Sagar Prahari Bal
INS Dronacharya is also the nodal center for training Sagar Prahari Bal. Sagar Prahari Bal
is a special force that was created to provide security to India’s offshore assets and the
country’s exclusive economic zone. The force is responsible for safeguarding India’s
offshore oil installations, ports, and other critical assets.
The school’s role as a nodal center for training Sagar Prahari Bal is a testament to its
commitment to excellence. The school provides specialized training to the force, which
includes swimming, diving, and other maritime-related skills.
Ganeshaiah's Dwarf Gecko
A new species of gecko, Cnemaspis ganeshaiahi, has been discovered in the Male
Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) in Chamarajanagar, Karnataka. This gecko species is
endemic to this area and has been named after KN Ganeshaiah, a renowned agricultural
scientist and Kannada writer. Researchers from the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology
and Environment (ATREE) announced the discovery of this new species.
Habitat and Characteristics of Cnemaspis ganeshaiahi
Cnemaspis ganeshaiahi is a diurnal gecko species that resides in dry deciduous and scrub
forests. These geckos are typically found in crevices of walls or boulders. This species has
a unique combination of morphological and color patterns, which is not present in other
closely related species. According to researchers, the gecko appears to be restricted to
MM Hills and surrounding areas of the Eastern Ghats.
Recognition of Ganeshaiah’s Contributions
Researchers have named this species after KN Ganeshaiah in recognition of his
contributions to ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology. Ganeshaiah has
been a professor of plant genetics and breeding at the University of Agricultural Sciences,
Bengaluru, for many years. This is the fourth species to be named after him by
researchers from various scientific institutions.
Other Species Named After KN Ganeshaiah
Previously, researchers have named a grass species, Centotheca ganeshaiahiana, at the

Saddle Peak National Park, North Andaman. They also named a small cryptic ant species,
Parasyscia ganeshaiahi, found in decaying logs or under rocks. Additionally, a cycas
species, Cycas uma-ganeshaiahi, has been named after Ganeshaiah.
Ganeshaiah’s Contributions to Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
KN Ganeshaiah is a renowned agricultural scientist, Kannada writer, and professor of
plant genetics and breeding at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. He is
known for his contributions to ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology. He
has published many research papers and books, including “Biodiversity of the Western
Ghats” and “Ecology, Evolution and Conservation of Plants.” His contributions to these
fields have earned him recognition from the scientific community, and his name is
synonymous with biodiversity research.
St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick’s Day is an annual holiday celebrated on March 17th. It is a cultural and
religious celebration that marks the death anniversary of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of
Ireland. The holiday has become a global celebration of Irish heritage and culture.
The History of St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick was a Christian missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th
century. He is known for using the shamrock, a three-leafed plant, to explain the Holy
Trinity to the Irish people. Over time, St. Patrick became the patron saint of Ireland and his
feast day, March 17th, became a holy day of obligation for Irish Catholics.
St. Patrick’s Day Traditions
The wearing of green is a prominent tradition on St. Patrick’s Day. It is believed to bring
good luck and was originally associated with the Irish independence movement in the late
18th century. Green is also associated with the lush green landscape of Ireland.
Parades are also a popular tradition on St. Patrick’s Day. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade
took place in New York City in 1762 and has since become a worldwide phenomenon. In
Ireland, the largest St. Patrick’s Day parade takes place in Dublin and attracts hundreds of
thousands of visitors every year.
Irish music and dance are an integral part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Traditional
Irish instruments such as the fiddle, bodhrán, and tin whistle are often played during
parades and festivals. Irish dancing, with its distinctive footwork and costumes, is also a
popular feature of St. Patrick’s Day events.
Food and Drink
Irish food and drink are an essential part of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Corned beef and
cabbage, a dish made from salt-cured beef and boiled cabbage, is a traditional St. Patrick’s
Day meal in the United States. In Ireland, however, it is not a traditional St. Patrick’s Day
dish, and instead, a meal of bacon and cabbage is more common.
Beer is also an important aspect of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Guinness, the famous
Irish stout, is often consumed in large quantities on this day. In Ireland, many pubs offer
live music and entertainment, and the celebration often continues late into the night.
March 18, 2023

Mustatils
Saudi Arabia is home to thousands of monumental stone structures known as mustatils.
These structures are rectangular, low-walled, and range from 20 to 600 meters in length.
Despite their prevalence in the region, a comprehensive study of the structures was not
conducted until 2017. In recent excavations in Al Ula, researchers discovered that these
structures had a ritualistic purpose. This article will discuss the recent findings about
mustatils and their significance in the region.
What are Mustatils?
Mustatils are ancient stone structures that are prevalent throughout Saudi Arabia. They
are rectangular in shape and are characterized by low walls. Mustatil is the Arabic word for
rectangle, and the plural has been anglicized to mustatils. These structures were built
around 7,000 years ago and range in size from 20 to 600 meters.
Discovery of Mustatils
Since the 1970s, thousands of mustatils have been documented across Saudi Arabia.
However, it wasn’t until 2017 that the first intensive and systematic study of these
structures was undertaken by University of Western Australia’s Professor David Kennedy.
That study was based on remote sensing data and was focused primarily on the Harrat
Khaybar and areas to the east.
Purpose of Mustatils
Due to the nature of the data-set, researchers were unable to hypothesize a precise
function for these enigmatic structures. However, subsequent studies based on ground
survey and preliminary excavation data revealed that the mustatil served a ritual purpose
during the Arabian Late Neolithic. Recent excavations in Al Ula have now determined that
these structures fulfilled a ritual purpose, with specifically selected elements of both wild
and domestic species deposited around a betyl.
Recent Excavations in Al Ula
In 2018, the Royal Commission for Al Ula, in conjunction with Oxford Archaeology,
excavated the first mustatil in Al Ula. The excavation revealed offering chambers with in
situ ritual faunal deposits. Over the course of the 2019 and 2020 excavation seasons,
researchers excavated another mustatil, which is 140 meters long and is constructed from
local sandstone.
Significance of the Recent Findings
The recent excavations in Al Ula revealed that the mustatil served as a destination for
pilgrimages and provided evidence of the domestication of cattle in the region. The
researchers’ analysis included identification of 260 fragments of animal skulls and horns,
primarily from domestic cattle, as well as from domestic goats, gazelle, and small
ruminants. Nearly all of these remains were clustered around a large upright stone
interpreted to be a betyl. Radiocarbon dating suggested that the betyl is one of the oldest
identified in the Arabian Peninsula, and the bones provide some of the earliest evidence
for domestication of cattle in the northern Arabia.
Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme

Assam, known for its premium tea production, is one of the leading tea producing states
in India. However, the tea industry in Assam has been struggling with a long-drawn
financial crisis, which has affected the tea workers’ livelihoods. To provide relief to the tea
industry, the Assam government has launched the Assam Tea Industries Special
Incentives Scheme (ATISIS). This scheme provides financial backing required for the
production of orthodox tea or speciality tea, which are mainly for the export purposes and
requires high cost of production. During the budget, the state government allocated Rs
100 crore for this scheme.
Components of ATISIS
ATISIS has four main components, which are as follows:
Interest Subvention on Working Capital: This component of ATISIS provides financial
backing required for reducing the cost of production of orthodox or specialty tea.
Production Subsidy: The government is currently under the process of increasing the
production subsidy for orthodox and specialty tea from Rs 7 to Rs 10 per kg. For the
current year of 2023-24 only, an enhanced production subsidy of Rs 12 per kg will be
extended to celebrate 200 years of Assam tea.
Fixed Capital Subsidy: This component of ATISIS provides financial assistance for capital
expenditure, such as the purchase of machinery, equipment, and other assets required for
tea production.
Agricultural Income Tax Holiday: This component provides an exemption from
agricultural income tax for a specified period to tea producers and tea gardens.
Assam Government’s Assistance For Tea Industry
The Assam government has earmarked nearly Rs 550 crore for the state’s tea industry, a
welcome move for the industry. The government has also announced that the ATISIS will
be strengthened to bring relief to tea workers.
To promote Assam Tea as a brand, road shows will be organized across the country. The
government has also emphasized the development of infrastructure in tea garden labor
lines, especially the development of roads. As a special relief, all the arrear electricity dues
of tea garden worker families living in the lines will be waived off as a one-time measure
by the government. Additionally, 10,000 houses will be constructed in the labor lines.
The Tea Association of India (TAI) has welcomed the Assam budget and lauded the
extension of the Assam Agri income tax exemption and the incentives declared under the
ATISIS.
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture - Update (March, 2023)
The horticulture sector is an essential component of the Indian agricultural economy,
providing livelihoods to millions of farmers and contributing significantly to the country’s
GDP. Recognizing the importance of this sector, the Indian government launched the
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) in 2014. This centrally
sponsored scheme aims to promote comprehensive development of horticulture in the
country, with the goal of facilitating sustainable and inclusive growth.
Financial Contributions and Objectives of MIDH

The scheme operates with a central government contribution of 60% of the total outlay for
developmental programs in all states except those in the North East and Himalayas,
where it contributes 90%. The remaining 40% is contributed by state governments. The
objectives of the scheme include improving productivity and quality of horticultural crops,
promoting sustainable production practices, enhancing post-harvest management, and
developing value chains for horticulture products.
Establishment of Centers of Excellence (CoEs)
To achieve these objectives, the government has established Centers of Excellence (CoEs)
under the MIDH mission. These CoEs act as training centers for farmers and horticulture
professionals to learn about the latest technologies, techniques, and practices in the
horticulture sector. As of now, 49 CoEs have been established in various states through
bilateral cooperation or research institutes. Recently, the government approved the
establishment of three new CoEs – CoEs for Kamlam (Dragon Fruit), Cor for Mango and
Vegetables, and CoE for Vegetables and Flowers.
Importance of CoEs
The CoEs play a crucial role in promoting the growth and development of the horticulture
sector in India. They act as centers of excellence and serve as hubs for research and
development, training and capacity building, and dissemination of knowledge and
information. The CoEs also help in the identification and dissemination of best practices
and technologies, and in the development of high-quality planting material.
The CoEs are equipped with the latest technologies and infrastructure to provide farmers
and horticulture professionals with hands-on training and practical experience in various
aspects of horticulture, including crop production, post-harvest management, marketing,
and value addition. They also undertake research and development activities in
collaboration with research institutes and universities to identify and develop new
varieties of crops, improve production practices, and address the challenges faced by the
horticulture sector.
'Governor of the Year' Award for 2023
Shaktikanta Das, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has been named
“Governor of the Year” for 2023 by Central Banking, an international economic research
journal. Das’s steady leadership during challenging periods, including the COVID-19
pandemic, the collapse of a significant non-banking company, and inflationary pressures
due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, earned him this accolade. This recognition highlights
the critical role of strong leadership in managing complex economic challenges.
Leadership During Challenging Periods
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global economies, and India has been
no exception. Das’s leadership at the RBI was critical in implementing essential reforms,
innovative payment systems, and growth-oriented measures during the pandemic. Das
skillfully navigated political and economic crises, earning honors for his efforts.
Das was also instrumental in managing the collapse of a significant non-banking
company, which caused widespread economic disruption. His leadership and swift action
helped contain the fallout from this event and prevent it from spreading to other parts of
the economy.
Additionally, the inflationary pressures due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine posed a
significant challenge for the Indian economy. However, Das’s leadership and expertise
helped manage the impact of this crisis on the Indian economy.
Das’s Role in India’s Economic Growth and Development
Das’s leadership at the RBI played a major role in the successful launch essential reforms
and growth-oriented measures. His expertise in macroeconomic management and policy-
making has been instrumental in achieving stability and promoting growth in India’s
financial markets.
Under his leadership, the RBI has implemented innovative payment systems, such as the
Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which has revolutionized the way Indians transact. This
system has enabled seamless and secure digital payments, promoting financial inclusion
and driving economic growth.
Exercise Al-Mohed-Al Hindi-23
The Indian Navy Forces and Royal Saudi Naval Forces met in Mumbai recently o finalize
preparations for the upcoming joint naval exercise, ‘Al-Mohed-Al Hindi-23’, which is set to
take place in May 2023 in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. This is the second such exercise between
the two countries, following the first in August 2021.
The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability between the two naval forces by
conducting tactical manoeuvres, search and rescue operations, and an electronic warfare
drill. It will provide a platform for the two countries to strengthen their military ties and
deepen cooperation between their navies.
India and Saudi Arabia’s Strong Relationship
The decision to hold joint naval exercises was taken during the Riyadh Summit held in
2019, which marked a turning point in India-Saudi Arabia relations. The summit was
attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman, who emphasized the need to deepen cooperation in various sectors. Over the
past five years, the relationship between the two countries have been strengthened.
India-Saudi Arabia Economic and Trade Ties
India and Saudi Arabia have been strengthening their economic ties in recent years. The
two countries are among the largest economies in the world and have significant potential
for collaboration in various sectors.
Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth-largest trading partner and a major supplier of oil. India, on
the other hand, is one of the fastest-growing markets for Saudi Arabia’s exports. In 2021,
India and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to set up a $15 billion oil refinery and
petrochemicals complex in India’s Maharashtra state, which is expected to boost
economic ties between the two countries.
Chandrayaan-3 Spacecraft
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved yet another milestone in its
space exploration journey. The space agency announced that the Chandrayaan-3
spacecraft has successfully completed crucial tests that confirm its capability to endure
the harsh acoustic and vibration conditions during its launch. This significant
accomplishment brings the mission one step closer to its scheduled launch in June 2023.
Purpose of the Chandrayaan-3 mission
Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar exploration mission, following the Chandrayaan-1 in
2008 and the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019. The primary objective of the Chandrayaan-3
mission is to demonstrate a soft landing on the lunar surface, which was not achieved in
the Chandrayaan-2 mission.
The spacecraft will include a lander, rover, and propulsion module that will act as a
communication relay satellite. The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover
configuration to the 100 km lunar orbit. Once in the lunar orbit, the lander and rover will
detach from the propulsion module and make a soft landing on the lunar surface. The
lander and rover will then carry out scientific experiments on the lunar surface.
Testing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft
The recent tests were conducted in March 2023 at the UR Rao Satellite Centre in
Bengaluru, where the spacecraft was subjected to harsh vibration and acoustic conditions,
which are prevalent during the launch. The tests were a crucial part of the spacecraft’s
qualification and acceptance process, confirming its structural integrity and survivability in
the launch environment.
The tests were challenging, given that the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is a composite of
three modules, namely the propulsion module, lander, and rover. According to ISRO, the
tests have provided sufficient confidence in the spacecraft’s ability to withstand the launch
environment, confirming the spacecraft’s readiness for the upcoming launch.
The recent tests are one of many milestones that Chandrayaan-3 has achieved in the past
few months. In February 2023, ISRO completed the flight acceptance hot-test of the CE-20
cryogenic engine that will power the cryogenic upper stage of the GSLV-Mk3 or LVM3
launch vehicle for the Chandrayaan-3 mission. The engine’s hot test was carried out for a
planned duration of 25 seconds, and all propulsion parameters during the test were found
satisfactory and closely matched with predictions.
In January 2023, the Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully underwent EMI/EMC (Electro-

Magnetic Interference/Electro-Magnetic Compatibility) tests. The tests are conducted to
ensure the functionality of the satellite subsystems in the space environment and their
compatibility with the expected electromagnetic levels.
Urban Extension Road-2 Project (UER-II)
The National Capital Territory of Delhi is one of the most congested cities in India. The city
attracts a huge quantum of traffic not only from within Delhi but also from the
surrounding regions of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. This high level of traffic has led to
heavy congestion on the existing ring roads. To address this issue and save Delhi through
decongestion, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) proposed Urban Extension Road-2
(UER-II) as the third ring road of Delhi.
What is UER-II?
The UER-II has been proposed in the Delhi Master Plan as the third Ring Road of Delhi
along the Western boundary. The six-lane access-controlled highway is being developed
by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as a component of the Delhi
Decongestion Plan, at a capital cost of Rs 7716 crore. The UER-II will connect NH-1 to
Dwarka and Bahadurgarh and form a Ring Road along the western range.
The alignment of UER-II
The total length of UER-II is 46.5 km, out of which 38.11 km is taken up as part of this
project, and a part alignment is being taken up with the alignment of the Dwarka
Expressway. The UER-II’s alignment takes off from NH 1 (23.8 km) near village Bankoli and
terminates near the junction of Sector 24 in Dwarka. The route will connect NH-1 with
NH-8 passing through Bawana Industrial Area, Rohini, Mundka Industrial Area, Najafgarh,
and Dwarka.
The current status of the project
Tenders for construction were invited by NHAI in December 2019, and construction
contracts were awarded in 2021. So far, 57 per cent of work is complete: 55 per cent on
Package 1, 40 per cent on Package 2, 90 per cent on Package 3, 68 per cent on Package 4
and 67 per cent on Package 5. While the NHAI had set a deadline of October 2023, Union
Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has promised to open the key
arterial road by December 2023 after inspecting the progress of the Urban Extension Road
Project (UER-II) in Delhi.
Why is the UER-II critical to decongesting Delhi?
The UER-II is expected to serve as a key solution for decongesting Delhi, providing an
alternative route for non-Delhi destined traffic i.e. traffic to/from North Indian states
(Punjab, Northern Haryana, J&K, Himachal Pradesh) to remaining Indian states (Rajasthan,
Southern Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra) which currently passes through Delhi. The
completion of the UER-II will reduce the load on the existing ring roads and help to reduce
traffic congestion in Delhi.
The unique features of the UER-II
The UER-II has several unique features that make it stand out. First, the road has been
constructed using almost 20 lakh tonnes of plastic garbage sourced from Ghazipur landfill
in Delhi. The waste is processed at micro plants near the construction site in Alipur and
Karala. Second, the UER-II has 27 flyovers, 26 minor bridges, 11 underpasses, and 17
pedestrian subways. Lastly, it will also be among the first national highways to be an e-
highway. E-highways are an energy-efficient option where the road provides electricity to
moving vehicles mostly through overhead power lines.
Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference
On March 18, 2023, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the Global
Millets Shree Anna Conference 2023 in the national capital. The event marks the beginning
of a two-day global conference on millets, where Modi unveiled a customised postal
stamp and commemorative currency coin to mark the International Year of Millets, being
celebrated in 2023. This event is significant, as it will help to promote millet farming and
nutrition across the globe.
International Year of Millets:
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as the International Year of
Millets (IYM), accepting India’s proposal, on March 5, 2021. The aim of this declaration is to
elevate awareness of nutri-cereals (millets) for food security and nutrition, enhance
investment in research and development, and inspire stakeholders towards improving
production, productivity, and quality of millets.
India’s approach to IYM 2023 is to make it a people’s movement for the overall benefit of
the cultivator, consumer, and climate. The country has taken a multi-stakeholder
engagement approach by involving farmers, startups, exporters, retail businesses, hotel
associations, and various arms of the government in India and abroad to achieve the
objectives of IYM 2023 and position India as the ‘Global Hub of Millets’.
Global Millets Shree Anna Conference 2023:
The two-day conference is expected to witness participation from over 100 countries, with
several stakeholders attending the event virtually from across the globe. Union
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and his counterparts from six countries were
present at the event.
The Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) was named as the global
centre of excellence. A roundtable session of agriculture ministers, as well as bilateral
meetings, will be convened later. The conference will also witness wider participation from
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)/Farmers Self-Help Groups, schools, Agri-
Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Gram Panchayats, Common Service Centres
(CSC), Cooperative Institutions, Hotel Management Schools, Indian Embassies and
Diaspora, etc.
Events at the Conference:
The conference will see the participation of several dignitaries such as Dr Jaquelene
Hughes, Director General, ICRISAT; Jong-Jin Kim, Assistant Director General & Regional
Representative for Asia and Pacific, FAO; Kapil Dev, Cricketer; Geeta Phogat, Wrestler,
Commonwealth Gold Medallist; Chef Thomas Gugler, President, World Association of
Chefs, etc., alongside an esteemed audience of Padma Awardee farmers.

An Exhibition-cum-Buyer-Seller Meet (BSM) with a focus on millets will also be held, with
the participation of more than 50 domestic and international buyers, importers, exporters,
and processors for the promotion of millets. The exhibition of more than 100 stalls will
showcase millets and millet-based ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products by millet-
based startups, exporters, and live cooking sessions by various international and national
chefs.
Matua Maha Mela
The Matua Dharma Maha Mela 2023 is scheduled to begin in West Bengal on March 19
and will run until March 25. Organized by the All India Matua Mahasangha, the event is a
highly anticipated holiday for the Matua community, a subset of lower-class AVARNA
Hindus belonging to the Namasudra Scheduled Caste group. The holiday is an opportunity
for the community members to come together, participate in religious ceremonies, and
pay homage to their spiritual leaders.
A Celebration of Matua Community’s Traditions and Way of Life
The Matua Dharma Maha Mela is a celebration of the community’s traditions and way of
life, which were established by Shree Shree Harichand Thakur and developed by
Guruchand Thakur and Boro Ma. The holiday is an important time for the community to
showcase their cultural heritage and traditions. The celebrations include various cultural
programs, such as traditional dance performances, music, and poetry readings.
Additionally, attendees can participate in religious ceremonies, including offering prayers
to Shri Shri Harichand Thakur Ji and other spiritual leaders.
A Rich History of the Matua Community
The Matua community has a significant presence in West Bengal and Bangladesh. It has a
rich history that has shaped its unique traditions and way of life. The community’s origins
can be traced back to the 19th century when Shree Shree Harichand Thakur founded the
Matua sect. The sect’s teachings focused on the importance of compassion, equality, and
social justice, which resonated with the lower-class AVARNA Hindus, especially those
belonging to the Namasudra Scheduled Caste group.
Resilience in the Face of Challenges
Over the years, the Matua community has faced various challenges, including
discrimination and marginalization. However, the community has remained resilient,
preserving its rich cultural heritage and traditions. The Matua Dharma Maha Mela is a
testament to the community’s perseverance and serves as a platform to showcase their
culture and traditions.
"Geoffrey Bawa: It is Essential To be There” Exhibition
India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, inaugurated the “Geoffrey Bawa: It is
Essential To Be There” exhibition at the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi on
Friday. Jointly organized by the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, the High
Commission of Sri Lanka in New Delhi, and the Geoffrey Bawa Trust, the exhibition
features the works of Sri Lanka’s late iconic architect, Geoffrey Bawa.
Geoffrey Bawa is one of the most significant architects in Sri Lanka and was known for his
unique style that combined modernism with traditional elements. He designed many
buildings in Sri Lanka, including the Sri Lankan Parliament, which is considered one of his
masterpieces. He designed several iconic buildings in India as well. His unique style has
had a significant impact on modern architecture in Sri Lanka and beyond, and his works
continue to inspire architects and designers worldwide.
First retrospective international exhibition of Bawa’s works since 2004
The exhibition marks the 75th anniversary of Indo-Lanka diplomatic relations and is the
first retrospective international exhibition of Bawa’s works since 2004. Earlier, his work
had been exhibited at multiple venues in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, North America,
Australia, Brazil, Singapore, and Germany.
Over 120 documents from the Bawa archives are on view, including unbuilt works and
Bawa’s own photographs from his travels. The exhibition explores relationships between
ideas, drawings, buildings, and places, and the different ways in which images were used
in Bawa’s practice.
The exhibition will run until May 7, 2023, and has been organized under the Sri Lanka-
India Cultural Exchange Program. It is expected to attract a large number of visitors,
including diplomats, senior officials of the Government of India, academics, journalists, art
lovers, and professionals.
Presence of notable dignitaries
The ceremonial opening of the exhibition was attended by a large number of invitees,
including notable dignitaries such as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda
Moragoda, Director of the National Gallery of Modern Art Temsunaro Tripati, and Trustee
of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust Sanjay Kulatunga. Minister of State for External Affairs and
Culture of India, Meenakshi Lekhi, was also present on this occasion.
Non-Lapsable Defence Modernisation Fund

The Ministry of Defence is reportedly considering the creation of a Non-Lapsable Defence
Modernisation Fund (DMF) to modernize the defence forces. The fund is expected to
supplement the regular yearly budgetary allocations and eliminate any uncertainty in
provisioning adequate funds for various defence capability development and
infrastructure projects.
The DMF, once operationalised, will ensure that the unspent budgetary allocation to the
three services can be retained even after the end of the fiscal year. This initiative has been
recommended by various parliamentary panels in the past.
The Need for Non-Lapsable Funds
In India, the defence budget is allocated on a yearly basis. At the end of each fiscal year,
any unspent funds are returned to the government’s consolidated fund. This means that
the defence services lose out on the opportunity to utilise the allocated funds for any
unforeseen circumstances or future requirements.
The creation of a Non-Lapsable Defence Modernisation Fund would provide a solution to
this problem. The unutilized funds would be transferred to this fund, ensuring that they
are available for use in the future. This would eliminate the need to surrender unutilized
funds at the end of the fiscal year, thereby creating a pool of funds that can be used to
modernize the defence forces.
The Benefits of Non-Lapsable Funds
Non-Lapsable funds have several advantages over yearly budgetary allocations. Firstly,
they provide certainty in the availability of funds for defence modernisation. This
eliminates the need for the Ministry of Defence to constantly approach the Ministry of
Finance for additional funds. It also ensures that the defence services have adequate
funds to carry out their modernisation plans without any interruptions.
Secondly, Non-Lapsable funds provide flexibility in the utilisation of funds. They can be
used for any unforeseen requirements or contingencies that may arise during the year.
This ensures that the defence services are better equipped to deal with any challenges
that may arise.
Thirdly, Non-Lapsable funds help to promote long-term planning. The defence services
can plan their modernisation projects over a longer time frame, without the fear of losing
out on unutilised funds at the end of the fiscal year. This would also help to ensure that
defence modernisation is carried out in a systematic and planned manner, rather than in a
haphazard and ad-hoc manner.
Heal in India
Heal in India is an initiative of the Indian Government aimed at promoting medical
tourism in the country. This initiative is being led by the Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare and the Ministry of Ayush. The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing
(CDAC) and Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) have been working in collaboration
with the Ministries to develop a ‘One Step’ Heal in India portal for the promotion of
Medical Value Travel.
MoU between Ministry of Ayush and India Tourism Development Corporation
The Ministry of Ayush signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India Tourism
Development Corporation (ITDC), Ministry of Tourism to work together for the promotion
of Medical Value Travel in Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. This
partnership will help in promoting traditional Indian systems of medicine and therapies
and position India as a global leader in the field of medical tourism.
Champion Service Sector Scheme for Medical Value Travel
The Ministry of Ayush developed a Central Sector Scheme called the Champion Service
Sector Scheme for Medical Value Travel. Under this scheme, financial assistance in the
form of Interest Subsidy is provided to private investors for the establishment of Super
Specialty Hospitals/ Day Care Centres of the systems recognized under The National
Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Act, 2020, or The National
Commission for Homeopathy (NCH) Act, 2020 in FY 2021-22. This will help in the
development of the infrastructure required for the promotion of Medical Value Travel in
India.
Chintan Shivir and Global Ayush Investment and Innovation Summit
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organized a couple of Chintan Shivirs to
promote Heal in India and Heal by India. The Ministry of Ayush also participated in these
Chintan Shivirs. Certain action points were identified in this shivir to promote traditional
medicine through tourism in India.
A Round Table and Plenary Session on Heal in India- Medical Value Travel were organized
during the Global Ayush Investment and Innovation summit at Gandhinagar, Gujarat to
promote India as the top destination for Medical Value Travel.
CESTAT
The Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) is all set to
commemorate its 40th year of successful journey on March 19, 2023. The event will include
the release of a souvenir marking the 40 years of CESTAT.

CESTAT’s Journey So Far
CESTAT was constituted in the year 1982 on October 11, under article 323 B of the
Constitution of India and section 129 of the Customs Act, 1962. The Principal Bench of the
Tribunal is in Delhi, and it initially had three Regional Benches in Mumbai, Chennai, and
Kolkata. Since then, five more Regional Benches have been constituted in Bangalore,
Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Chandigarh, and Hyderabad. The Tribunal has a sanctioned
strength of 16 Judicial Members and 16 Technical Members.
Working Sessions of the Commemorative Function
The commemoration function will include two working sessions:
The first session will discuss the ‘Use of Technology in Tribunals for Speedy Delivery of
Justice.’ The session will be presided over by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Judge,
Delhi High Court. This discussion is of utmost importance in today’s digital world, where
technological advancements have brought a significant change in the functioning of legal
systems worldwide.
The second session will be on ‘Experiments of Tribunals – Triumphs and Tribulations,’ and
it will be presided over by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Pankaj Mithal, Judge, Supreme Court of
India. This discussion will focus on the experiences of the tribunals and their successes
and challenges. It will be an opportunity for the attendees to learn from the experiences
of the tribunals.
Improvements in the Working of the Tribunal
Over the past four years, CESTAT has taken numerous steps to improve its working. All
orders passed by the Tribunal, whether in the nature of Final Orders or Interim Orders or
Daily Orders, are uploaded on the website of the Tribunal without any delay. This has
resulted in providing timely information about the proceedings to the parties and
avoiding sending individual notices to the parties regarding the next dates fixed by the
Tribunal. A dynamic display board is also available in the courtrooms and other prominent
places in the Tribunal.
Sagar Parikrama Phase IV
Sagar Parikrama Phase IV journey was launched on March 18. Its purpose is to resolve
issues concerning fishermen and other stakeholders and promote their economic
development through various government schemes and initiatives.
Covering the Stretches of Uttar Kannada, Udupi, and Dakshan Kannada
Phase-IV of Sagar Parikrama will cover the stretches of Uttar Kannada, Udupi, and
Dakshan Kannada. The two-day journey will be accompanied by government officials,
fishermen representatives, fish-farmers, entrepreneurs, stakeholders, professionals, and
scientists from across the country. The objective of this phase is to award certificates and
sanctions related to the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada scheme, KCC, and State Scheme
to progressive fishermen. The program aims to provide support to the fishermen to
ensure that they have the necessary resources to continue fishing sustainably.
Launching a Song on Sagar Parikrama in Kannada
As part of Phase-IV, a song on Sagar Parikrama in Kannada will be launched. The song will
help popularize the initiative among the local communities and create awareness about
the various schemes and programs. The aim is to encourage the local communities to take
advantage of the opportunities provided by the initiative and improve their lives.
Popularizing Literature on Different Schemes through Print and Electronic Media
In addition to launching the song, literature on different schemes will be popularized
through print and electronic media. The objective is to ensure that the local communities
have access to information on the various schemes and programs. This will help them
understand the benefits of the initiative and encourage them to participate.
Improving the Lives of Fisher Communities
The main objective of Sagar Parikrama is to improve the lives of fisher communities in
India. The initiative aims to ensure that the communities have access to the necessary
resources to fish sustainably. This includes upgrading and creating infrastructure,
developing fishing villages, and providing support to progressive fishermen. The
ecosystem approach ensures that the initiative is sustainable and does not harm the
environment.
Foot and Mouth Disease
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-
hoofed animals such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats. In India, FMD is a major
concern for livestock farmers as it leads to a reduction in milk yield and causes significant
economic losses. However, the Indian government has recently made significant progress
in its FMD vaccination drive, which aims to control the spread of the disease.
Nearly Universal Coverage Achieved
Under the second round of the FMD vaccination drive, around 24 crore cattle and buffalo
in India have been covered out of the targeted population of 25.8 crore cattle. This
achievement was made possible due to the relentless efforts of the Department of Animal
Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, State/ UT Governments/
administration, and most importantly the support of the livestock owners.
100% Government Funding
The FMD vaccination drive is fully funded by the Central Government, which is centrally
procuring vaccines against FMD and supplying them to the states. The government is also
providing for vaccination charges, accessories, awareness creation, cold chain
infrastructure, etc., to enable the states/UTs to undertake vaccination in campaign mode.
Livestock Owners Sensitized
Livestock owners are being sensitized and made aware of the importance of getting their
animals vaccinated through various information, education, and communication
measures. They are being requested to contact the nearest livestock health
workers/veterinarians to avail the facility.
Collaboration for Training Animal Health Workers
The DAHD is also collaborating with the Ministry of Rural Development to train more
animal health workers/paravets. This will help in the effective implementation of the
vaccination drive and in reaching remote areas.

Expected Impact
The goal of the FMD vaccination drive is to control and eventually eradicate Foot & Mouth
Disease from the country by 2030. This will lead to increased income for livestock
farmers/keepers and in boosting India’s trade in livestock products. The program aims to
increase domestic production, which will ultimately result in increased exports of livestock
products.
VVGNLI-ASSOCHAM Strategic Alliance
The V.V. Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI), an autonomous institute under the Union
Labour Ministry, has recently entered into a strategic alliance with the Associated
Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). The alliance is aimed at
promoting professional and organizational development in areas related to jobs and
labour.
Objectives of the Strategic Alliance
The primary objective of this strategic alliance is to leverage the respective expertise of
both VVGNLI and ASSOCHAM and collaborate on initiatives related to education, research,
training, and other activities that promote fair and transparent implementation of labour
reforms led by the government. The partnership aims to emanate the beneficial impact of
an increased alignment to India’s international commitment to labour laws and welfare in
the context of global policy standards and benchmark practices.
Scope of the Alliance
The scope of the alliance covers a broad range of initiatives, including capacity building
through joint training programs, seminars, webinars, meetings, and workshops on
contemporary labour policy issues. Both organizations will explore the use of massive
open online courses (MOOCS) and face-to-face learning to promote professional
development. The alliance also involves sharing case studies and national surveys related
to labour reforms and employment in India and collaborating on research, knowledge
exchange, and joint publications in areas of mutual interest.
Policy Advocacy
The partnership includes policy advocacy, with the organizations working together to
advocate for policies that promote the welfare of stakeholders engaged in labour and
employment-related issues.
AuditOnline
The AuditOnline application, developed under the e-panchayat Mission Mode Project
(MMP) as part of the Panchayat Enterprise Suite (PES), has been recognized at the WSIS
Forum 2023. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and National Informatics Centre (NIC)
received recognition for the software program under Category 7 — Action Line (AL) C7 —
ICT Applications: e-Government. The application facilitates the internal and external audit
of government departments or Panchayati Raj Institutions.
WSIS Prizes 2023
The application was submitted in the 12th edition of the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) Prizes 2023 contest at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
Geneva. The contest included a five-phase process, and AuditOnline won the WSIS Prizes
Award 2023 under the Action Line category ICT Applications: e-Government. The prize
distribution ceremony was held at the Centre International de Conférence Genève (CICG),
also known as International Conference Centre Geneva in Switzerland, on March 14, 2023.
The WSIS is an annual award event coordinated by the ITU, affiliated with the United
Nations (UN), in collaboration with UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD to promote ICTs for
achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals. This event is intended for ICT development
initiatives that support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Background
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) play a vital role in delivering various services and basic
amenities to citizens residing in vast rural landscapes of the country. It is of utmost
importance that the Panchayats are well-equipped with the necessary infrastructure and
have adequately trained manpower. Central Finance Commissions mandated Grants are
continuously provided by the Central Government to the PRIs, including Traditional Local
Bodies (TLBs), across the country. Hence, it becomes necessary that the PRIs/TLBs
performances are continuously monitored to ensure transparency in utilization of public
money for developmental activities in rural areas and to ensure accountability in their
overall functioning.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been continuously leveraging Digital Technology to
deliver good governance in rural areas and bring about transparency and accountability in
the Panchayat functioning, and to enhance end-to-end experience of delivering public
services.
AuditOnline Application
To address the critical institution reform of making available the accounts online, both
before and after audit, MoPR launched the AuditOnline application on 15th April 2020. The
application carries out online audits of accounts, further strengthening the financial
management and transparency of the Panchayats. One of the unique aspects of the
application is that it is configurable as per every States’ Audit Act / Rules.
The application has been instrumental in facilitating the internal and external audit of
government departments or Panchayati Raj Institutions. The availability of audited

accounts of the Panchayats is a matter of concern, and AuditOnline has played a
significant role in making the accounts accessible online. The AuditOnline application is a
crucial component of the e-panchayat MMP and the PES, providing transparency,
accountability, and better governance.
Railway Women’s Welfare Central Organisation
The Railway Women’s Welfare Central Organisation (RWWCO) is an apex body responsible
for the welfare of railwaymen and their families. RWWCO annually honours the services of
selected women employees of Group-C & Group-D for their outstanding services. The
purpose is to boost the morale of those women who show exemplary dedication, integrity,
and courage in the discharge of their duties and who also work quietly in any other social
field viz. Hospital, School, Sports, Blood Donation, Family Welfare Programme, Scouts &
Guides etc.
34 Outstanding Railway Women Employees Felicitated
This year, 34 outstanding railway women employees have been felicitated in a special
function held at National Rail Museum Auditorium, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi today. The
event was a celebration of the hard work and dedication of these women who have gone
above and beyond in their roles. The awards aim to recognize and honour the
contributions of these women, not only to the railways but also to the wider society.
Merit Certificates and Cash Awards Distributed by Smt. Menu Lahoti
Smt. Menu Lahoti, President/RWWCO, was the chief guest at the function and distributed
merit certificates and cash awards to the women awardees. The awards were a token of
appreciation for their exceptional services to the Indian Railways. The women who
received the awards were deeply moved and expressed their gratitude towards RWWCO
for recognizing their contributions.
Colourful Cultural Programme Presented by Central Railway Artists
The event was not just an awards ceremony but also a celebration of the rich culture and
heritage of India. A colourful cultural programme was presented by artists from Central
Railway, which showcased the diversity of India. The performances were a perfect way to
end the event on a high note, leaving the audience with a sense of pride and patriotism.
Online Gaming in India: The Taxation Quandary
The online gaming sector in India has seen significant growth in recent years, and has the
potential to contribute significantly to the country’s goal of becoming a USD 1 trillion
digital economy, generating substantial employment, and fostering innovation. However,
the industry is also facing a taxation quandary, according to a report titled ‘Online Gaming
in India: The Taxation Quandary’ by Primus Partners.
Regulation of the Online Gaming Industry
The report highlights that the regulation of online gaming in India will not only open up
economic opportunities but also address various social issues. With the growing
popularity of online gaming, there has been a call for more regulation in the sector.
Regulation will ensure that the industry operates in a safe and secure environment, with
fair and transparent practices for players.

Positive Announcements in Union Budget 2023-24
The report notes that the announcements made in Union Budget 2023-24 are positive for
the online gaming sector. One of the key announcements was the incorporation of the
offset of losses in the calculation of gains from online games for income tax. This has been
a persistent ask from the industry, and the inclusion of this in the budget is a positive
development.
Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) Mechanism
However, the report also highlights a pertinent issue relating to the implementation
mechanism proposed in the Union Budget for TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) on online
games. The issue has arisen due to amendments to section 194B under which online
gaming is currently covered from April 1, 2023, and the separate provision on online
gaming, i.e., section 194BA, coming into force from July 1, 2023, leading to an anomaly.
Streamlining the Applicability of the Amendments
The report recommends that it would be ideal to streamline the applicability of the
amendments for “online game” and establish a singular effective date of April 1, 2023.
Alternatively, the current tax regime could be continued for the period between April 1,
2023, to June 30, 2023, to eliminate any discrepancies in interpretation. This would ensure
that the taxation mechanism is simplified and more efficient, which would benefit the
industry as a whole.
Impact on Smaller and Mid-Size Gaming Companies
The report also notes that the recurrent developments in the taxation regime will lead to
higher costs for the industry, resulting in unnecessary expenses that will be difficult to
bear for several smaller and mid-size gaming companies. This highlights the need for a
streamlined and efficient taxation mechanism that takes into account the needs of all
players in the industry.
herSTART
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh recently highlighted the newly created ‘herSTART’
platform, which aims to support women-led startups and encourage women
entrepreneurs. The platform was launched in October 2022 by the Gujarat University
Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC). The platform aims to provide resources
and training modules free of cost to aspiring women entrepreneurs. It also provides a
digital community for them, and a digital publication to spread their success stories.
Boosting innovation and start-up efforts of women entrepreneurs
The ‘herSTART’ platform is expected to boost innovation and start-up efforts of women
entrepreneurs in India. It will also help them connect with various government and private
enterprises. The platform is a part of the Indian government’s commitment to creating an
enabling ecosystem for women entrepreneurship through initiatives, schemes, networks,
and communities and activating partnerships among diverse stakeholders in the Startup
ecosystem.
India’s growing startup ecosystem
India’s Startup ecosystem has gained significant attention in recent years, making it one
of the most coveted global markets. The Indian government has introduced various policy
reforms to encourage and support Startups. India has moved from the 81st position to the
40th position in the Global Innovation Index (GII) of 2022 as a result of the startup
program started across the country.
Opportunities for Startups to disrupt and innovate
Future trends show opportunities for Startups to disrupt and innovate with technologies
like blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and machine
learning, etc. With the kind of policy reforms that India is headed towards, Startups can
play a big role.
Women-led business enterprises playing a noticeable role in society

Women-led business enterprises are playing a noticeable role in society by generating
employment opportunities in the country, bringing in demographic shifts and inspiring
the next generation of women founders. At least 36 unicorns and potential unicorns in
India have at least one woman founder or a co-founder.
Building a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation
The Startup India Action Plan of the Government is a very important step for
strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. The action plan is intended
to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation in India as an engine for both
economic growth and employment generation.
India’s Commitment to Innovation
India is fast becoming a breeding ground for innovations. It is shifting to a knowledge-
based economic growth model and commits to reinvent its advantages as a labour-
intensive, capital-intensive, and manufacturing nation. Startups played a pivotal role
during the pandemic, and India is building on this momentum and aspiring to be among
the top countries globally for digital businesses and Startups.
Narayani River
Namami Gange Program is a flagship program launched by the Government of India in
2014 to clean and rejuvenate the River Ganga. The program is aimed at reducing the
pollution levels and restoring the ecological balance of the river. Under the Namami
Gange Program, the development of river front on Narayani River in the district of
Gopalganj, Bihar has been undertaken, and two Ghats have been constructed at a total
cost of Rs. 6.62 crore.
Narayani River: A Left Bank Tributary of the Ganges
The Narayani River, also known as Gandaki River, is one of the major rivers in Nepal. It is a
left bank tributary of the Ganges in India. The river’s total catchment area amounts to
46,300 km2 (17,900 sq mi), most of it in Nepal. In the Nepal Himalayas, it is notable for its
deep canyon. The basin also contains three mountains over 8,000 m (26,000 ft), namely
Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Annapurna I. Dhaulagiri is the highest point of the Gandaki
basin.
Course of Narayani River
The Kali Gandaki river source is at the border with Tibet at an elevation of 6,268 meters
(20,564 ft) at the Nhubine Himal Glacier in the Mustang region of Nepal. The river then
flows southwest through a sheer-sided, deep canyon before widening at the steel
footbridge at Chele, where part of its flow funnels through a rock tunnel. In Kagbeni, a
major tributary named Johng Khola, Kak Khola, or Krishnaa descends from Muktinath. The
river then flows southward through a steep gorge known as the Kali Gandaki Gorge, or
Andha Galchi, between the mountains Dhaulagiri and Annapurna I. If one measures the
depth of a canyon by the difference between the river height and the heights of the
highest peaks on either side, this gorge is the world’s deepest.
National Waterway-37: Gandak River

The Gandak River, also known as the Narayani and the Gandak, was declared as National
Waterway-37 from Bhaisalotan Barrage to Gandak and Ganga river confluence at Hajipur
along with 111 NWs in the country vide National Waterways Act, 2016. Based on the
findings of the study reports of Gandak River, the waterway was found feasible for the
development of shipping and navigation. However, due to non-availability of potential
cargo as well as very low navigational/vertical clearance due to the structure located
across NW-37 i.e., Rewa Ghat Bridge, developmental activities initiated on the Gandak
River (NW-37) have been kept in abeyance.
PM MITRA Parks
The Indian government recently announced the establishment of seven PM MITRA Parks
in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar
Pradesh. These parks are inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 5F vision, which
aims to boost the Indian textile industry from farm to fashion to foreign markets.
The PM MITRA scheme was announced in October 2021, and the parks are expected to be
set up by 2026-27, with a total outlay of ₹4,445 crore. The initial allocation in the 2023-24
Budget is only ₹200 crore, but the government expects the parks to attract crores of
investment and create lakhs of jobs.
Integrated Value Chain and Job Creation
The PM MITRA Parks will function as centers of opportunity, creating an integrated textiles
value chain. They will offer everything from spinning, weaving, processing, dyeing, and
printing to garment manufacturing, all at a single location. This integrated approach is
expected to enhance the competitiveness of the textiles industry by helping it achieve
economies of scale and attracting global players to manufacture in India.
Selection Process
Out of 18 proposals for PM MITRA parks from 13 states, the eligible sites were evaluated
using a transparent challenge method based on objective criteria, taking into account
factors such as connectivity, existing ecosystem, textile/industry policy, infrastructure,
utility services, and more. The PM Gati Shakti- National Master Plan for Multi-modal
Connectivity was also used for validation.
Financing and Implementation
The Ministry of Textiles will oversee the execution of these projects. An SPV owned by the
Centre and State Government will be set up for each park, which will oversee the
implementation of the project. The Ministry of Textiles will provide financial support in the
form of Development Capital Support up to ₹500 crore per park to the Park SPV.
Competitive Incentive Support up to ₹300 crore per park to the units in PM MITRA Park
shall also be provided to incentivize speedy implementation.
State governments will provide contiguous and encumbrance-free land parcel of at least
1000 acres of land and will also facilitate provision of all utilities, Reliable Power Supply
and Water availability and Waste Water Disposal system, an effective single window
clearance as well as a conducive and stable industrial/textile policy.
The parks will offer an excellent infrastructure, plug-and-play facilities, as well as training
and research facilities for the industry.
PM MITRA Parks represent a unique model where the Centre and State Governments will
work together to increase investment, promote innovation, create job opportunities, and
ultimately make India a global hub for textile manufacturing and exports. Nearly ₹70,000
crore investment and 20 lakhs employment generation is envisaged through these parks.
Startup20 Engagement Group
The second meeting of the Startup20 Engagement Group under India’s G20 Presidency
will be held on 18-19 March in Gangtok, Sikkim. This meeting will provide a unique
opportunity to promote startups in North East India. The event is set to bring delegates
from G20 member and invitee countries, representatives from multilateral organizations,
and stakeholders from the Indian startup ecosystem.
Objectives of the Startup20 Engagement Group
During the inception meeting held in Hyderabad on 28 & 29 January 2023, the objectives
and deliverables of the three taskforces were reworked to incorporate suggestions from
all the delegates. The three taskforces are:
Foundation and Alliances Taskforce
The Foundation and Alliances Taskforce will work to harmonize the global startup
ecosystem through consensus-based definitions. It will create a global knowledge hub for
startups, showcase and share best practices within G20 countries, and create bilateral and
multilateral collaborations with governments, policymakers, academic and research
institutes, industry associations, and international organizations with startups. Finally, it
will create mechanisms for global access to markets and talent for startups operating in
G20 nations.
Finance Taskforce
The finance taskforce will aim to increase access to capital for startups by providing
financing and investment platforms. It will provide ease of access towards patient capital
with timely access through non-equity based financial products and allocate a specific sum
of money to prioritized sectors. The taskforce will also harmonize tax and legal regulations
to encourage public investment in startup funding and interact with the foreign investor
ecosystem of G20 nations.

Inclusion and Sustainability Taskforce
The inclusion and sustainability taskforce will identify the specific needs of
startups/entrepreneurs led by women, PwDs, LGBTQ+, minorities, and other groups. The
taskforce will support them through access to market, financial resources, training, and
government-led support schemes. Additionally, it will promote startups working towards
making the world more inclusive on the back of technologies, such as assistive tech.
Finally, it will encourage startups to adopt sustainable business models for their long-term
profitability.
Expected Outcomes of Startup20
The expected outcomes of Startup20 are the official Policy Communique, a Startup
Handbook with a set of commonly agreed-upon definitions and terminologies, a Global

Innovation Centre to foster collaborations across borders, and promotion of Startup20 as
a Global Point of Contact for startup ecosystems worldwide.
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a lethal fungus that causes chytridiomycosis – a
deadly disease that is wiping out hundreds of amphibian species. The pathogen affects
the keratin in the skin of amphibians and is spreading across Africa, killing out or driving
to the verge of extinction hundreds of amphibian species.
The Deadly Fungus
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis was first discovered in Queensland, Australia, in the
1990s after a number of frog species were found dead. The fungus is believed to spread
through spores discharged into water from amphibian skin. In Queensland, it has been
linked to the extinction of over 200 amphibian species.
Fatal to Frogs
By infecting their skin, chytridiomycosis kills frogs by causing skin shedding and other
symptoms including ulcers. Frogs and other amphibians carry out vital ion transfer
between their skin layers and take in oxygen through their skin. According to a study
published in the journal Science, fungal infection is to blame for the global population
reduction of 39 per cent of frog species.
The Role of Climate Change
Previous studies have found that climate change may actually be beneficial for the fungus.
This is because increased cloud cover brought on by climate change may lead to cooler
daytime temperatures and warmer nighttime temperatures, which would be more
conducive to the growth of the microscopic fungus. However, climate change could also
bring about more hot, arid, and dry conditions, which could be harmful to the fungus as it
cannot thrive over 86 degrees Fahrenheit and needs moist settings to spread its spores.
Impact on Humans
Chytridiomycosis is the closest human disease resembling the Black Death outbreak of
bubonic plague in the middle of the fourteenth century that killed one-third of Europe’s
population in five years in terms of magnitude.
Women and Men in India 2022 Report

The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the Women and
Men in India 2022 report on March 16, 2023. The report revealed that India’s sex ratio, or
the number of females per 1,000 males, is expected to improve from 943 in 2011 to 952 by
2036. However, the report also highlighted the gender disparity in labor force
participation rates in the country.
Improvement in Sex Ratio
The report noted that the sex ratio at birth increased by three points to 907 in 2018-20
from 904 in 2017-19. The projected sex ratio improvement to 952 by 2036 is a positive
development, but the report also indicates that women in India are still largely excluded
from the labor force, restricting their financial independence.
Gender Disparity in Labor Force Participation Rates

The Women and Men in India 2022 report revealed that women are severely lagging
behind men in labor force participation rates. The report showed that the Labor Force
Participation Rate for those above 15 years of age has been increasing since 2017-2018.
However, the rate was 77.2% for males and only 32.8% for females in 2021-22, with no
improvement in the disparity over the years.
The low participation rates for women could be due to social factors, educational
qualifications, and gender discrimination in terms of wages and opportunities at the
workplace.
Gender Disparities in Wages
The report further highlighted the gender disparity in wages, with men in rural areas
earning more than women in urban areas. The average wage earned per day by casual
laborers in work other than public works only exacerbates this disparity.
Population Trends
The Women and Men in India 2022 report also features India’s age and sex structure. The
population growth, which has been on a downward trend since 1971, is projected to fall
further to 0.58% in 2036. The report notes that the population pyramid will undergo a
shift, with the base of the pyramid narrowing down while the middle is broadened.
Access to Healthcare
The report also highlights that gender influences people’s access to and experience with
healthcare, with women and girls facing more difficulties than men and boys due to
restrictions on mobility, lack of access to resources and decision-making power.
Improvement in Age-Specific Fertility Rate
The age-specific fertility rate has improved, with the number of live births in the 20-24
years and 25-29 years age group between 2016 and 2020 reducing from 135.4 and 166.0 to
113.6 and 139.6, respectively. This improvement is likely due to economic independence
through proper education and securing a job.
Raccoon Dog
Raccoon Dog, also known as Chinese or Asian raccoon dog is a fox-like canid endemic to
East Asia. Its face has racoon-like markings and is closely related to foxes. It has unique
traits when compared with canids (dogs, foxes and others) such as the capacity to climb
trees and hibernating during winders. A new study found evidence providing the
possibility of SARS-CoV-2 originating from racoon dogs.
The Research
Newly released genetic data collected from the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan has
suggested a link between Covid-19 and raccoon dogs, adding weight to the theory that
infected animals sold at the market started the coronavirus pandemic. The previous
conclusion that the samples contained no animal DNA has been overturned by an
international team of scientists who analyzed gene sequences posted by Chinese
researchers to the scientific database Gisaid. They found that some of the Covid-positive
samples were rich in DNA from raccoon dogs, while traces of DNA belonging to other
mammals, including civets, were also present.
The discovery does not prove that raccoon dogs or other animals infected with Covid
triggered the pandemic, but it makes that possibility more likely, according to scientists
presenting the work to an expert group at the World Health Organization (WHO). The data
was presented to the WHO’s scientific advisory group for the origins of novel pathogens
by Professor Kristian Andersen, an evolutionary biologist at Scripps Research in La Jolla,
California, who attended the meeting and is working on the data.
Raccoon Dogs and the Illegal Wildlife Trade
The latest genetic data does not prove that raccoon dogs or other mammals were infected
with Covid and spread it at the market. However, the findings do point to the possibility
that the cause was an infected animal and, ultimately, the illegal wildlife trade.
Terminator Zones
Scientists from the University of California, Irvine have conducted a study that suggests
the possibility of alien life existing in the “terminator zones” of exoplanets. These zones
are areas that are not too hot or too cold, and are therefore more likely to harbor liquid
water, a key ingredient for life as we know it.
Tidally Locked Exoplanets and Terminator Zones
Exoplanets are planets that exist outside our solar system, and many of them are tidally
locked. This means that one side of the planet always faces the star it orbits, while the
other side remains in permanent darkness.
Terminator Zones: The Sweet Spot
The terminator is the dividing line between the day side and night side of the exoplanet.
Scientists have found that there is a band around these planets, known as the “terminator
zone”, which is just the right temperature for liquid water to exist.
According to researchers, the dayside of these exoplanets can be scorching hot, while the
night side is freezing cold and potentially covered in ice. Therefore, the sweet spot for life
to exist would be in the terminator zone, where the temperature is just right.
Possibility of Liquid Water on Terminator Zones
Liquid water is essential for life as we know it, and the presence of water in the terminator
zone is a promising sign for the possibility of extraterrestrial life. However, it is important
to note that just because an exoplanet is in the terminator zone does not necessarily
mean it has liquid water. Other factors, such as the composition of the planet’s
atmosphere and the presence of greenhouse gases, can also affect whether liquid water
can exist.
Future Research and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
The discovery of terminator zones on exoplanets has opened up new possibilities for the
search for extraterrestrial life. Researchers are now able to focus their efforts on studying
exoplanets that are in the terminator zone, in the hopes of finding signs of liquid water
and potentially even life.
March 20, 2023

International SME Convention 2023
rd
The 3 edition of the International SME Convention 2023 (ISC) is organized from March 19
to 21 this year. The event is focusing on India’s major four sunrise sectors, namely
Cleantech & Green Energy, Manufacturing, Services Sector, and Agro food Processing &
Agri Implements sector. These sectors are crucial for India’s economic growth and have
immense potential for job creation and sustainable development.
ISC 2023 is a platform that brings together SMEs, policymakers, and industry experts to
discuss critical issues and explore opportunities for growth and sustainability. It is jointly
organized by the union ministries of MSME and external affairs, and India SME Forum. The
Madhya Pradesh Government is the key state partner and the Uttar Pradesh Government
is the associate state partner for this event.
Panel Discussions and Recommendations
The convention will host several panel discussions that will aim to provide actionable
insights and recommendations for building sustainable ecosystems for MSMEs and
plugging SMEs into global value chains. The discussions will cover topics such as building
strategic partnerships, leveraging digital platforms, focusing on innovation, complying
with standards and regulations, and accessing finance.
Power Business Breakfast and Networking
Apart from the conference sessions, the ISC 2023 will also feature three days of power
business breakfast and networking with like-minded, successful entrepreneurs, and
business leaders. The sessions will provide a platform for SMEs to network, share ideas,
and explore business opportunities.
International Partners and Insurance Partner
The ISC 2023 has partnered with the International Network for SMEs (INSME) and the
World Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (WUSME) as international partners. TATA
AIA is the insurance partner for the convention, which underscores the importance of risk
management for SMEs.
Generative AI
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been making headlines this year, as major tech
companies like Microsoft and Alphabet race to launch products that utilize the technology.
In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about generative AI, including
its definition, uses, concerns, and involvement of industry giants like Google and
Microsoft.
What is Generative AI?
Generative AI, like other forms of AI, learns to take actions from past data. However, it
goes beyond simply categorizing or identifying data and creates brand new content, such
as text, images, and computer code, based on that training. One famous example of
generative AI is ChatGPT, a chatbot released by Microsoft-backed OpenAI in 2022. It
utilizes a large language model to generate human-like responses based on a text
prompt. OpenAI also recently announced GPT-4, a new multimodal model that can
perceive text and images, allowing it to generate real websites from hand-drawn mock-
ups.
What is Generative AI Good For?
Generative AI has various practical applications, such as creating a first draft of marketing
copy, taking notes during virtual meetings, personalizing emails, and generating slide
presentations. For example, CarMax Inc has used a version of OpenAI’s technology to
summarize customer reviews and help shoppers decide which used car to buy.
What are the Concerns About Generative AI?
Although generative AI has many benefits, there are concerns about its potential misuse.
School systems worry that students may turn in AI-drafted essays, undermining the value
of learning. Cybersecurity researchers fear that bad actors, including governments, could
use generative AI to produce more disinformation. Additionally, the technology is prone to
making mistakes, such as factual inaccuracies and erratic responses.
Is Generative AI Only for Google and Microsoft?
While Google and Microsoft are at the forefront of research and investment in large
language models, other companies are also creating their own competing AI or packaging
technology from others. For example, Salesforce Inc and Adept AI Labs are among the
companies that have embraced generative AI.
International Criminal Court
On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s Commissioner for Child Rights, Maria Lvova-
Belova, for the alleged war crime of unlawfully deporting and transferring children from
occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. This move has been made under
articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute, which relate to the direct or
indirect transfer of an occupying power’s own civilian population into occupied territory or
the deportation or transfer of the population of the occupied territory within or outside its
territory.
Why Did the ICC Issue Arrest Warrants?
The ICC issued arrest warrants against Putin and Belova because they are allegedly
responsible for unlawfully deporting and transferring children from Russian-occupied
areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. The ICC believes that Putin bears individual
criminal responsibility for these crimes and has reasonable grounds to believe that he
committed the acts directly, jointly with others, and/or through others under article
25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute. The ICC has also accused Putin of failing to exercise control
properly over civilian and military subordinates under his effective authority, committing
or allowing the commission of such acts under article 28(b) of the Rome Statute.
What is the ICC?
The ICC is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, and was established under the 1998
treaty called the “Rome Statute.” It investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals
charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community, including
genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. Presently,
123 countries are party to the Rome Statute, including Britain, Japan, Afghanistan, and
Germany. However, the USA, India, and China have not ratified the treaty. The ICC’s
jurisdiction is limited to offences occurring after it came into effect on July 1, 2002.
Additionally, the offenses should be committed either in a country that ratified the
agreement or by a national of a ratifying country.
Does the ICC Have the Power to Prosecute Russia?
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has called the ICC’s decision “outrageous and
unacceptable” and said that Russia found the court’s decision “null and void” because
Russia is not an ICC member. However, this decision puts Putin at risk of arrest every time
he travels to a state party to the ICC. This is the first time that the ICC has issued an arrest
warrant against one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Does Ukraine Recognize the ICC’s Jurisdiction?
Although Ukraine is not a State Party to the Rome Statute, it has twice exercised its
options to accept the ICC’s jurisdiction over alleged crimes under the Rome Statute,
occurring on its territory, under Article 12(3) of the Statute. The alleged crimes, including
the deportation of children, were detailed in a report by the “Independent International
Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine,” a UN-mandated investigative body that said some
acts may amount to crimes against humanity.
What is the Independent International Commission of Inquiry Report on Ukraine?
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine’s report outlines the
body of evidence that points to Russian authorities committing a “wide range of violations
of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in many regions of
Ukraine and the Russian Federation.”
SCO Tourism Ministers’ Conference
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held a tourism ministers’ conference
recently in Varanasi, where India mooted an action plan to mark 2023 as the year of
tourism development in the region. The conference aimed at improving tourism and
developing cooperation in the tourism sector amongst member states.
SCO – A brief overview
The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation founded on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai,
China. It comprises eight “Member States” and four “Observer States,” including India,
China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
SCO’s primary aim is to address security-related concerns, with addressing regional
terrorism, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism top on its list of priorities. Apart
from security, it also promotes cooperation in the fields of economics and culture.
What does the Action Plan for ‘Year of Tourism Development in the SCO Space in 2023’?
The Action Plan for ‘Year of Tourism Development in the SCO Space in 2023′ was adopted
at the recently held tourism ministers’ meeting. The plan identifies a list of activities and
events to promote and showcase tourism products of SCO member states. Notably,
Varanasi has been declared as the first tourism and cultural capital of SCO.
The joint action plan finalised and approved at the tourism ministers’ conference aims to
promote the SCO tourism brand, share information and digital technologies in tourism,
and promote mutual cooperation in medical and health tourism. The member countries
will also undertake various activities jointly, such as SCO tourism exhibitions, SCO Food
Festivals, webinars and seminars on tourism, conferences and expert sessions on
promoting tourism in the region.
Rajasthan Advocates Protection Bill, 2023

The Rajasthan Advocates Protection Bill, 2023, was tabled by the Rajasthan government in
the state legislative assembly on March 16. The Bill aims to prevent offenses against
advocates, such as assault, grievous hurt, criminal force, and criminal intimidation, along
with damage or loss to their property. The Bill was introduced in response to the
increasing violence and false implications against advocates, which resulted in a
deterioration of law and order and delay in the justice system.
Background
The proposal for the Bill followed the stabbing of Jugraj Chauhan, a Jodhpur-based lawyer,
by two men in broad daylight on February 18. Following the incident, advocates from
several courts in the state called for a strike and an indefinite boycott of judicial work.
They demanded a law for the protection of advocates and their families. On February 28,
the Rajasthan High Court took suo-moto cognizance of the lawyers’ strike and reiterated
that any attempt made to obstruct any lawyer or litigant from entering the court and
appearing in the court to argue the matter would be viewed strictly.
Objective of the Bill
The objective of the Bill is to enact an effective law that prohibits increasing violence and
false implications against advocates in the state. It aims to make offenses against
advocates cognizable in the territory of Rajasthan, providing police protection to
advocates. The Bill defines an advocate as someone who is entered on any role under the
provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961.
Penalties
The Bill provides for a maximum of two years imprisonment, along with a fine of up to Rs
25,000 for assault or criminal force against an advocate under Section 5(1). For voluntarily
causing grievous hurt to an advocate, Section 5(2) provides for a maximum of seven years
imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 50,000. Meanwhile, Section 5(3) punishes the
voluntary commission of the offense of criminal intimidation against an advocate with a
maximum of two years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10,000.
Compensation and Damages
Section 8 of the Bill provides for compensation to advocates when a court imposes a
sentence of fine or any other sentence of which fine forms a part. Section 10 states that in
addition to the punishment specified in Section 5, the offender shall also be liable to pay
for the loss or damage caused to an advocate’s property, as may be determined by the
court. The offender will also be liable to reimburse the medical expenses incurred by an
advocate.
Prosecution of Advocates
Under Section 9 of the Bill, advocates themselves can be prosecuted if a report of
cognizable offense is received from their client or opposing client against an act done by
the advocate during the discharge of their professional duties. The complaint may be
registered only after an inquiry has been conducted by a police officer not below the rank
of Deputy Superintendent of Police within seven days.
AxEMU
For the upcoming Artemis missions, NASA’s first attempt at landing astronauts on the
moon since 1972, the spacesuit used will see a significant upgrade. The new spacesuit,
called the AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit), will be more nimble, comfortable,
and designed to fit a broader array of body types. In a recent demonstration, the suit’s
chief engineer showcased not just the increased mobility provided by the suit but also
other interesting features. Let’s explore more about the spacesuit and its advancements
in this article.
The Importance of Spacesuits in Space Exploration
Spacesuits play a crucial role in space exploration as they protect astronauts from harsh
conditions in outer space, provide a constant supply of air and optimum air pressure, and
shield them from space radiation, micrometeorites, and other particles. The suits also
protect astronauts from lunar dust, which is considered the “number one environmental
problem on the moon” by NASA experts. By allowing astronauts to survive in the harshest
conditions of space, spacesuits enable them to perform tasks, carry out experiments, and
fulfill the objectives of their mission.
The Limitations of Older Spacesuits
While the Apollo spacesuits worn in the previous moon missions were revolutionary for
their time, little has changed in the fundamentals of spacesuits used in spacewalking for
the International Space Station. These suits are rigid and uncomfortable to be in, making
it difficult for astronauts to move around freely. Even holding things is difficult due to the
gloves worn. The suits also balloon when exposed to the vacuum of space, making it
difficult for astronauts to move freely.
The Advancements in the New Spacesuit
The AxEMU is designed to address the limitations of older spacesuits. It provides
increased mobility, and its design accommodates a broader range of body types, making
it more comfortable for astronauts. The large clear bubble around the head provides a
wider range of visibility and lighting, which will be essential for studying water ice in
shadowed craters near the lunar south pole. The suit’s headpiece also has a mount for a
high-definition camera.
The new spacesuit’s increased mobility has not come at the cost of protection. It has been
specifically designed to better deal with lunar dust, which is a major problem on the
moon’s surface. Additionally, the AxEMU still uses diapers, which is an effective solution
for the astronauts’ waste management during their missions.
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly known as the Oxford Union, is a prestigious
debating society in Oxford, England, that boasts a rich tradition of hosting some of the
world’s most prominent personalities across politics, academia, and popular culture.
Founded in 1823, the Union remains one of Britain’s oldest university unions and is
distinct from the Oxford University Student Union.
The recent invitation to BJP MP Varun Gandhi to participate in a debate on the
performance of the Narendra Modi-led government was turned down, citing that such
issues should be raised within India. The Union’s debates are hosted every Thursday
evening during term time, and speakers argue in favor of or against a pre-determined
motion.
Origins and Prestige
In the early nineteenth century, student members of the University of Oxford were
restricted in the matters they could discuss. In opposition to these rules, 25 young men
established a set of rules that would govern a new society, and the United Debating
Society was born in March 1823. The Union is one of the earliest examples of debates
being allowed on a formal stage at a university. Given the prestige associated with Oxford,
the debate began to see the participation of renowned personalities from across political
ideologies, and a range of fields – sciences, arts, politics, and more.
Notable Speakers
The Union has welcomed renowned personalities like US Presidents Ronald Reagan,
Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton, civil rights leader Malcolm X, the Nobel Peace Laureates the
Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa, and scientists Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. The
speeches of these speakers have gone viral worldwide, with Shashi Tharoor’s speech in
2015 arguing for the motion on why Britain owes reparations to India going viral in India.
Format and Controversy
The Union’s debates typically involve three to four speakers on each side, who alternate to
present their case. The debate’s result is determined by the number of individuals who
depart the chamber by walking through the doors marked ‘Ayes’ or ‘Noes.’ Members can
challenge a speaker at any time during the debate by raising a “point of information.”
However, it remains at the discretion of the individual speaker whether to accept it.
In 2007, the Union invited Holocaust denier David Irving, leading to protests and sit-ins.
Nonetheless, the Union continues to maintain its reputation as one of the world’s most
prestigious debating societies.
Free Speech
The Union describes itself as the “most prestigious debating society in the world” on its
website, emphasizing its tradition of free speech. In the early days, a lack of mechanisms
for debates meant interruptions and questionable quality of debate topics. However, the
Union’s tradition of free speech has sustained it over the years, with women being
admitted in 1963 and a debate consisting of only women speakers held in 2022.
XBB1.16
A total of 76 samples of COVID-19’s XBB.1.16 variant have been found in India, which
might be the reason behind the recent surge in cases in the country, according to data
from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG). The variant has been
detected across eight states and union territories, including Karnataka, Maharashtra,
Puducherry, Delhi, Telangana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Odisha.
XBB 1.16 Variant First Detected in January
The XBB 1.16 variant was first discovered in January 2023 when two samples tested
positive for the variant. In February, a total of 59 samples were found, and in March, until
now, 15 samples of the XBB 1.16 variant have been detected.
Experts Attribute the Rise in Cases to the Variant
Some experts have attributed the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in India to the XBB 1.16
variant. Dr Randeep Guleria, former AIIMS director and leader of the national Covid task
force, said that the rise in Covid cases seems to be driven by the XBB 1.16 variant, while
the increase in influenza cases is because of H3N2. However, he also emphasized that
most of the cases are not severe, and following Covid-appropriate behaviour can help
contain the spread of the infection.
XBB.1.16 Variant Detected in 12 Countries
According to experts, the new XBB.1.16 variant has now been detected in at least 12
countries, with the highest number of cases in India, followed by the US, Brunei,
Singapore, and the UK. India has seen a 281% increase in cases and a 17% increase in
deaths over the past 14 days.
India’s Single-Day Tally of COVID-19 Cases Crosses 800 after 126 Days
India’s single-day tally of COVID-19 cases had recently crossed 800 after 126 days, while
the number of active cases climbed to 5,389. The rise in cases has led to concerns among
health experts, who are urging people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and get
vaccinated to help contain the spread of the virus.
Foreign Exchange Reserve
Foreign exchange reserves are the assets that a country’s central bank or monetary
authority holds to ensure a balance of payments in the country, maintain stability in the
financial market, and influence the foreign exchange rates of the currency. These reserves
are made up of foreign currency assets, gold, special drawing rights (SDRs), and reserves
with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
India’s Foreign Exchange Reserve Falls to 3-Month Low
According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) statistical supplement, India’s foreign
exchange reserves have declined to a three-month low as of March 10 this year. The
reserves stood at $560 billion, which is their lowest since early December. In the week to
March 3, the reserves were at $562.40 billion.
Reasons for the Decline in Foreign Exchange Reserves
The RBI has said in the past that changes in reserves also stem from valuation gains or
losses. The central bank intervenes in the spot and forwards market to prevent runaway
moves in the rupee’s exchange rate against the dollar. The decrease in India’s foreign
exchange reserves may also be attributed to the banking crisis in the United States, which
caused the rupee to fall 0.1% against the dollar last week. The currency traded in a range
of 81.6150 to 82.2975 and ended at 82.5525 on Friday.
Impacts of the Decrease in Foreign Exchange Reserves
India’s foreign exchange reserves are critical to ensuring stability in the country’s
economy. They provide a cushion to the domestic currency against volatility caused by
external economic factors, such as changes in global oil prices, international trade policies,
and geopolitical tensions. A decrease in foreign exchange reserves can cause investors to
lose confidence in the economy, leading to capital outflows and a further depreciation of
the currency.
However, the RBI has assured that India’s foreign exchange reserves remain adequate to
cover the country’s import bill and external debt payments. The central bank has also
implemented measures to ensure stability in the financial market and maintain the value
of the rupee.
Perumal Murugan
Perumal Murugan’s novel ‘Pookkuzhi’, also known as ‘Pyre’ in English, has been
nominated for the International Booker Prize 2023 longlist. The book has made history by
becoming the first Tamil novel to receive this recognition. The novel is set in rural Tamil
Nadu during the 1980s and explores caste-based violence through the elopement of a
young inter-caste couple.
Exploring Caste-Based Violence in Rural Tamil Nadu
Murugan, the author of ‘Pookkuzhi’, is a well-known novelist and professor of Tamil
literature. He has written extensively on the everyday lives of Tamil rural folk, their
traditions and social hierarchies. Through his works, Murugan has critiqued the caste
system and how it operates through oppression and violence.
In ‘Pookkuzhi’, Murugan explores the theme of caste-based violence that still exists in
many parts of rural India. The story follows a young couple from different castes who
elope to escape the wrath of their families. However, their attempts to find a peaceful life
together are met with violence and brutality from those who cannot accept the idea of
inter-caste marriage.
Backlash from Conservative Sections of Society
Murugan’s work has often invited backlash from conservative sections of society. His
novel ‘Mathorubhagan’ faced severe protests from right-wing groups like the RSS. The
protests were so intense that Murugan even posted on Facebook, “Author Perumal
Murugan is dead.”
Despite the protests, the Madras High Court dismissed all criminal cases filed against
Murugan by caste groups. In 2017, ‘One Part Woman’, another one of Murugan’s novels,
won the Sahitya Akademi’s Translation prize.
NZIA and CRMA
The European Union (EU) has recently announced two major pieces of legislation that are
part of its Green Deal Industrial Plan – the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) and Critical Raw
Materials Act (CRMA). The aim of these measures is to promote green manufacturing and
reduce the EU’s reliance on imports. In this article, we will take a closer look at these acts
and their potential impact on the global manufacturing landscape.
The Net Zero Industry Act
The Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) is a key component of the EU’s Green Deal Industrial
Plan. It seeks to promote the production of green technologies within the EU by achieving
at least 40% of the EU’s green technology needs through domestic manufacturing by
2030. This would reduce the EU’s reliance on imports, create jobs, and promote
sustainable economic growth.
The NZIA will support the development of a range of green technologies, including
renewable energy, energy-efficient buildings, and electric vehicles. It will also provide
funding for research and development in the green manufacturing sector and create
incentives for companies to adopt more sustainable practices.
The Critical Raw Materials Act
The Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) is another key component of the EU’s Green Deal
Industrial Plan. It aims to reduce the EU’s reliance on imports of critical raw materials by
setting goals for their extraction, processing, and recycling within the EU. Critical raw
materials are those that are essential for the production of high-tech products such as
batteries, electric vehicles, and wind turbines.
By reducing the EU’s reliance on imports of critical raw materials, the CRMA aims to boost
the EU’s competitiveness in the global manufacturing sector. It will also help to ensure the
security of supply of critical raw materials, which are often subject to geopolitical tensions.
Implications for Emerging Economies
The EU’s focus on green manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports could have
implications for emerging economies that depend on their manufacturing sectors. For
example, countries that export raw materials to the EU could see a reduction in demand,
which could have a negative impact on their economies.
However, the EU has stated that it is committed to working with partner countries to
promote sustainable and fair trade. It has also pledged to support the development of
green technologies in partner countries, which could create new opportunities for
cooperation and trade.

Criticism from Civil Society Groups
The EU’s preference for industrial policy over carbon pricing has led to criticism from civil
society groups. Some groups argue that the NZIA and CRMA do not go far enough in
addressing the root causes of climate change and that carbon pricing would be a more
effective tool for reducing emissions.
However, the EU argues that a combination of industrial policy and carbon pricing is
necessary to achieve the goals of the Green Deal. It has also stated that it is committed to
ensuring that the costs of the transition to a green economy are distributed fairly.
Spiranthes hachijoensis
Researchers in Japan have made an exciting discovery in the field of botany. A new species
of orchid has been identified growing in parks, gardens, and even on balconies
throughout the country. The delicate pink-and-white blooms of this orchid are reminiscent
of the common Spiranthes orchid, but it lacks the typical hairy stems and flowers a month
earlier. This new species has been named “Spiranthes hachijoensis” after its discovery
near Hachijo Island in Tokyo.
The Importance of Persistent Exploration
This discovery underscores the importance of persistent exploration, even in seemingly
ordinary settings. Researchers have traditionally focused on exotic and remote locations,
assuming that new species were unlikely to be found in more urban areas. However, the
discovery of Spiranthes hachijoensis shows that there is still much to be learned about the
natural world, even in our own backyards.
The Need for Taxonomic and Genetic Research
The discovery of Spiranthes hachijoensis also highlights the need for taxonomic and
genetic research to accurately assess species diversity. Taxonomy is the science of
identifying and classifying organisms, and it is a crucial tool for understanding the
biodiversity of our planet. Genetic research can provide further insight into the
evolutionary history and relationships of different species.
According to the lead author of the study, Professor Kenji Suetsugu, the finding of a new
species in common locales emphasizes the ongoing need for exploration and research. He
believes that there are likely many more undiscovered species out there, waiting to be
identified and studied.
Implications for Conservation
The discovery of Spiranthes hachijoensis has important implications for conservation
efforts. As more and more species are identified, it becomes increasingly clear that we are
losing biodiversity at an alarming rate. By understanding the diversity of life on our planet,
we can better appreciate its value and work to protect it.
In addition, the discovery of a new species in such a heavily populated and developed area
highlights the need for conservation efforts in urban areas. Green spaces such as parks
and gardens provide important habitats for a wide range of species, and it is essential that
we work to preserve them.
Trichrysis poseidonia
Researchers from the Shadpada Entomology Research Lab at Christ College, Irinjalakuda,
have made an exciting discovery in southern India – a new species of cuckoo wasp. The
species has been named Trichrysis poseidonia after the Greek God of the Sea, Poseidon,
due to apical abdominal teeth’s striking resemblance to his trident.
Cuckoo Wasps:
Cuckoo wasps, also known as jewel wasps, are a group of insects belonging to the family
Chrysididae. They are known for their striking metallic colors and their kleptoparasitic
behavior. These wasps do not build their own nests or collect their own food, but instead
lay their eggs in the nests of other wasps or bees. Once the cuckoo wasp’s egg hatches,
the larva feeds on the food intended for the host’s offspring.
Discovery of Trichrysis poseidonia:

The researchers from the Shadpada Entomology Research Lab discovered Trichrysis
poseidonia during their surveys of the insect fauna in the Western Ghats, a mountain
range in southern India. The wasp’s unique characteristics, such as the three sharp apical
abdominal teeth that resemble Poseidon’s trident, immediately caught their attention.
The researchers carefully studied the new species and compared it to other cuckoo wasp
species. They determined that it was a distinct species that had not been previously
described.
Importance of the Discovery:
Discovering new species is an important aspect of biodiversity research. It not only helps
us understand the complex relationships between species but also highlights the
importance of conservation efforts. Trichrysis poseidonia is a unique species that may play
a significant role in the ecosystem of the Western Ghats.
Additionally, the discovery of Trichrysis poseidonia provides an opportunity for further
research into the behavior and biology of cuckoo wasps. As kleptoparasites, cuckoo wasps
can have a significant impact on the populations of the host species. Studying Trichrysis
poseidonia and its interactions with other wasp and bee species can provide valuable
insights into the functioning of this ecosystem.
Cyrtopodion Vindhya
A team of wildlife researchers has discovered a new species of naked-toed gecko, named
Cyrtopodion Vindhya, in the Dahod and Panchmahals districts of Gujarat. This recent
discovery brings the number of endemic reptile species described in Gujarat to five in the
last 15 years. The study highlights the significance of the region’s rich and unique fauna.
The Discovery of Cyrtopodion Vindhya
The species was first observed the nocturnal species in 2017 in the hilly regions of Dahod,
Panchmahal, and Chhota Udepur districts. The new species prefers the crevices and cracks
in granite boulders as its habitat and tends to retreat at the slightest disturbance. It has
unique rupicolous habits, which means they live among rocks, but can also be found on
the ground.
The first samples of the new species were found from the Vindhya hill ranges in the
westernmost part of Gujarat. Hence, they named the species Cyrtopodion Vindhya, which
is the 24th known species of the genus Cyrtopodion.
The Significance of the Discovery
Gujarat is known for its rich and diverse fauna. However, the reptilian diversity of the
region is not as well-documented as that of other regions in India. The discovery of the
new species contributes to a better understanding of the reptilian diversity of the region.
Moreover, India has emerged as a hotspot of gecko diversity. Since 1996, the number of
geckos reported/described from India has grown from about 61 to 136 by the end of 2019.
Gujarat alone is home to more than half of the gecko species reported in the country in
the last three decades.
The Implications of the Study
The discovery of Cyrtopodion Vindhya highlights the importance of studying lesser-known

regions for understanding the biodiversity of a region. The researchers emphasized the
need for more studies to be conducted in the Vindhya ranges and other lesser-known
regions of Gujarat.
Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of conserving the habitat of the new
species. Since the species prefers the crevices and cracks in granite boulders as its habitat,
conservation efforts should focus on the preservation of the rocky outcrops.
Civil-20 India 2023 Inception Conference

The Civil-20 India 2023 Inception Conference kicked off its first plenary session in Nagpur,
Maharashtra, with the theme of “Balancing Development with Environment”. The session
covered four working groups of C20 India 2023, including Integrated Holistic Health,
Sustainable and Resilient Communities, LiFE, and Revival of Rivers and Water
Management. The session was chaired by former Chief Information Commissioner
Satyananda Mishra and included speakers from various fields who addressed the pressing
need for a sustainable and environment-centric approach to development.
Interdependence of Humans and Nature
The speakers highlighted the interdependence of humans on their surroundings and
nature, emphasizing that we are not separate from nature but a part of it. They discussed
how climate change and other environmental challenges have far-reaching impacts on
human health and well-being, particularly for vulnerable communities. To address these
challenges, they emphasized the need for an integrated and holistic approach to health
that includes mental, physical, and environmental health.
Sustainable and Resilient Communities
The working group on Sustainable and Resilient Communities addressed the urgent need
for sustainable development that balances economic growth with environmental
protection. They discussed the importance of community-driven solutions that take into
account local knowledge and practices, as well as the need for partnerships between
government, civil society, and the private sector.
LiFE: Livelihoods, Forests, and Environment
The LiFE working group emphasized the need to protect forests and biodiversity, which
are critical for sustaining livelihoods and ensuring food security. They discussed the
importance of integrating environmental considerations into policies and programs
related to agriculture, forestry, and other sectors.
Revival of Rivers and Water Management
The working group on Revival of Rivers and Water Management discussed the need for an
integrated approach to water management that takes into account the needs of all
stakeholders, including farmers, urban residents, and industries. They emphasized the
importance of sustainable water use, conservation, and management practices to ensure
water security for all.
Call to Focus on Environment-Centric Lifestyle

The session concluded with a call to focus on an environment-centric lifestyle that
prioritizes conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The speakers urged the
need for individual and collective action to address the challenges of climate change,
pollution, and environmental degradation. They emphasized that a sustainable and
resilient future is only possible if the priority is given to the environmental considerations
in all aspects of development.
YUVIKA
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has initiated the Yuva Vigyani Karyakram
(YUVIKA) program to encourage students to pursue careers in Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and develop a passion for space science. Through
this program, ISRO aims to identify and nurture talented students who have a keen
interest in science and technology and inspire them to become future space scientists.
Applications have been opened for this programme recently.
The YUVIKA Program’s Aim
The YUVIKA program is open to students in the 9th standard (or equivalent) from all over
India. The program selects three students from each state/union territory, and they are
invited to participate in a two-week residential training program at various ISRO centers
across the country. The program aims to provide an opportunity for young children to
explore the wonders of space science, space applications, and space technology.
The Curriculum of YUVIKA Program
The YUVIKA program offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers a wide range of
topics related to space science, space applications, and space technology. The program
includes lectures, interactive sessions, and hands-on training on various aspects of space
science. The curriculum is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of students and
inspire them to pursue careers in the space sector.
Creating Awareness Among Students
One of the key objectives of the YUVIKA program is to create awareness among young
children about the emerging trends in space science and technology. The program
provides a platform for students to interact with experts in the field of space science and
technology and gain insights into the latest developments and advancements in the field.
This helps students to stay updated with the latest trends in the space sector and prepare
for the future challenges.
Developing Problem-Solving Skills
The YUVIKA program is designed to help students develop a sense of curiosity, critical
thinking, and problem-solving skills. The program encourages students to think out of the
box and come up with innovative solutions to real-world problems. This approach not only
enhances their scientific temperament but also prepares them for the challenges of the
future.
Global Conference on Digital Health - 'Taking Universal Health Coverage to the Last Citizen'
India’s Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in partnership with the World Health
Organization South-East Asia Regional Office, is organizing a Global Conference on Digital

Health in New Delhi on March 20 and 21, 2023. With the theme “Taking Universal Health
Coverage to the Last Citizen,” the conference focused on exploring the potential of digital
health solutions to improve healthcare delivery and achieve universal health coverage
targets.
In his virtual address to the conference, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, India’s Union Minister
for Health and Family Welfare, emphasized the critical role of digital health in
revolutionizing healthcare systems. The conference was attended by global health
experts, policymakers, and leaders from the public and private sectors.
Building Consensus on Digital Public Goods
India aims to launch a global initiative on digital health as an institutional framework to
build consensus on the promotion of digital public goods as a key enabler in achieving
universal health coverage targets. The initiative will focus on leveraging digital
technologies to strengthen health systems, increase access to quality health services, and
reduce health inequities.
Digital health solutions, such as telemedicine, health information systems, and mHealth,
have the potential to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery and improve health outcomes. By
leveraging these technologies, healthcare providers can reach more patients, even in
remote and underserved areas, and provide them with timely and cost-effective care.
Improving Healthcare Access and Quality
Digital health solutions can also improve healthcare access and quality by enabling
remote consultations and monitoring. Patients can consult with healthcare providers from
the comfort of their homes, reducing the need for travel and minimizing the risk of
exposure to infectious diseases.
Remote monitoring technologies, such as wearables and sensors, can provide healthcare
providers with real-time data on patients’ health status, enabling early detection and
intervention for chronic conditions. This can lead to better health outcomes and reduced
healthcare costs.
Strengthening Health Systems
Digital health solutions can also strengthen health systems by improving data collection
and analysis. Digital health information systems can capture patient data in real-time,
enabling healthcare providers to make informed decisions and track progress towards
health targets.
Moreover, digital solutions can enable the sharing of health data across different
healthcare providers and systems, improving care coordination and continuity of care.
This can be particularly beneficial for patients with complex health needs who require care
from multiple providers.
March 21, 2023
Background Radiation
Background radiation refers to the radiation emitted from natural sources such as rocks
or mountains. A recent study conducted by scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research
Centre (BARC) found that certain areas in Kerala are experiencing nearly three times more
background radiation than previously assumed. The study is significant, as it sheds light
on the natural radiation levels in India, which has important implications for the country’s
nuclear energy plans.
Monazite sands and high levels of thorium
The higher radiation levels in Kollam, a district in Kerala, are attributed to the presence of
monazite sands that are high in thorium, a natural radioactive element. Thorium is a
common radioactive element that is found in small amounts in soil, rocks, and water.
Monazite sands are one of the most important sources of thorium, and India has been
using these sands as a source of nuclear fuel for many years. Southern India, which is
home to granite and basaltic volcanic rock, has higher levels of radiation from uranium
deposits.
Study findings
The study conducted by BARC scientists measured radiation levels from nearly 100,000
locations across India. The study found that the average natural background levels of
gamma radiation in India were 94 nGy/hr. However, in Kollam district, the levels were
found to be 9,562 nGy/hr, which is about three times more than the assumed levels. The
1986 survey conducted previously had mapped only 214 locations.
No elevated health risk
Although the higher radiation levels in Kollam district might seem concerning, the study’s
authors note that there is no elevated health risk associated with these higher radiation
levels. The human body is accustomed to higher doses of radiation, and there is no
evidence to suggest that the higher levels of radiation in Kollam district are causing any
adverse health effects.
IAEA safety standards
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) specifies maximum radiation exposure
levels, which have also been adopted by India’s atomic energy establishment. The IAEA
recommends that public exposure to radiation should not exceed 1 milli-Sievert every
year, and those who work in nuclear plants or are exposed to radiation by virtue of their
occupation should not be exposed to over 30 milli-Sievert every year.
2023 SAFF Championship

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced that the 2023 edition of the SAFF
Championship, South Asia’s most prestigious international football tournament, will be
held in Bengaluru from June 21 to July 3. This marks India’s fourth time hosting the
tournament, and the first time since the 2015 edition held in Thiruvananthapuram.
Participating Teams and Tournament Format
The tournament will feature all member associations of the South Asian Football
Federation (SAFF), with the 13th edition of the competition being divided into two groups.
Teams will play round-robin league matches in the group stage, with the top two teams
from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The date for the draw will be announced
later.
India’s SAFF Championship Record

India has won the tournament eight times out of the 12 previous editions, making them
the most successful team in SAFF Championship history. The Indian national football team
will be looking to defend their title, having emerged victorious in the 2021 edition after
defeating Nepal in the final.
Bengaluru’s Rich Football History
Karnataka, the state where Bengaluru is located, has produced some of the greatest
players in Indian football history, and they are also the latest winners of the National
Football Championships. The timing of the SAFF Championship being hosted in Bengaluru
is, therefore, apt.
Copilot
On 16 March, Microsoft unveiled its latest artificial intelligence (AI) integration with
Microsoft 365 Copilot. Designed to boost workplace productivity, the Copilot combines the
“power of large language models with business data and the Microsoft 365 apps to
unleash creativity, unlock productivity and uplevel skills,” according to a press statement.
How does Copilot work?
Copilot works like an assistant and has been integrated with popular everyday apps such
as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, so users can easily access it. Additionally,
Microsoft has launched Business Chat to work alongside your Microsoft 365 apps and data
such as calendar emails, chats, documents, meetings, and contacts to enhance the
experience and make it easier and faster.
With Copilot, users can use prompts such as “tell your team how you updated a product
strategy,” and it will generate an update based on the morning’s meetings, emails, and
chat threads. According to Microsoft, this will “fundamentally transform the way we work”
and will turn your words into the “most powerful productivity tool on the planet.”
How can Copilot enhance productivity?
Copilot has been built to free up space and help people focus better on the tasks at hand.
In Microsoft Word, it writes, summarises, and creates along with the user. It can give you a
draft to edit or use as a starting point. Although Microsoft acknowledges Copilot might
not always be right, it will help you save sourcing, writing, and editing time.
In PowerPoint, users can create vivid presentations with a single prompt and then add
relevant content. In Excel, Copilot will help create data visualizations in a matter of
seconds and identify trends. Additionally, clearing your inbox won’t leave you drained, as
Copilot can do that for you in minutes and help you manage it so that you can focus on
the communication part. With the Copilot in Power Platform, you can automate repetitive
tasks, create chatbots, and turn an idea into a working app in minutes.
What are the benefits of Copilot?
Copilot will give people more agency and make technology more accessible through the
most universal interface: natural language.
Copilot is currently being tested with select commercial customers. While it is still in its
testing phase, the potential for the integration is enormous, with the ability to
fundamentally transform the way we work and boost productivity in the workplace. It has
the potential to save users countless hours, allowing them to focus on what’s important
while still getting the job done quickly and efficiently. With Copilot, Microsoft is taking a
significant step towards revolutionizing the way we work with technology.
Utility Bidder’s Deforestation Report
The Deforestation Report by Utility Bidder has revealed that India has seen the highest
surge in deforestation in the past 30 years. The country lost 384,000 hectares (ha) of
forests between 1990 and 2000, but the figure rose to 668,400 ha between 2015 and 2020.
This trend makes India the second-largest country with deforestation after Brazil. The
report analyzed the deforestation trends of 98 countries using data aggregator Our World
In Data’s figures from 1990 to 2000 and 2015 to 2020. Here are some key points from the
report.
Cattle Rearing and Oil Seed Cultivation Responsible for Most Deforestation
The report highlights that cattle rearing and oil seed cultivation are the leading causes of
global deforestation. Cattle rearing alone causes an annual loss of 2,105,753 ha of forests,
followed by the cultivation of oil seeds causing a loss of 950,609 ha.
Palm Oil Cultivation Leads to Deforestation in Indonesia
Indonesia witnessed a significant loss of forests due to palm oil cultivation, leading to the
destruction of 650,000 ha of forests. It ranks third globally in terms of deforestation.
Soybean Cultivation is Another Driver of Deforestation
While palm oil has been a big driver of deforestation for many years, soybean cultivation is
also responsible for significant deforestation globally. The report states that many ha of
grassland and forests have been destroyed to make room for soybean cultivation.
Logging is the Third Highest Factor Responsible for Deforestation
Logging is the third highest factor responsible for deforestation, causing around 678,744
ha of annual deforestation globally.
India Compensates for Increase in Population at the Cost of Deforestation
The report suggests that India has had to compensate for the increase in residents due to
its status as the country with the second-largest population in the world. This has come at
the cost of deforestation, making it the country with the largest increase in deforestation
from 1990 to 2020, with a difference of 284,400 ha in forestry loss.

Brazil Loses Forests Due to Climate Change
Brazil ranks first globally in terms of deforestation, having lost 1,695,700 ha of forests
between 2015 and 2020. However, this is much lower than the 4,254,800 ha it lost between
1990 and 2000. Most of the forests were lost due to climate change.
World Sparrow Day - Update (March, 2023)
On March 20, 2023, the world once again came together to celebrate World Sparrow Day.
This special day is dedicated to raising awareness about the conservation and protection
of sparrows and other common birds whose populations have been declining globally.
With the theme “I Love Sparrows,” the goal of World Sparrow Day 2023 is to encourage
more people to appreciate the relationship between humans and sparrows.
History of World Sparrow Day

The idea for World Sparrow Day was born out of a casual conversation over tea at the
Nature Forever Society’s office. The first commemoration of the day occurred in 2010, and
it has been celebrated annually since then. The founder of The Nature Forever Society,
Mohammed Dilawar, was named a conservation hero by TIME Magazine for his efforts to
raise awareness about sparrows.
The goal of World Sparrow Day is to promote conservation efforts for the house sparrow
and other common birds, as well as to commemorate the beauty of common biodiversity
that we often take for granted.
Significance of World Sparrow Day
Sparrows are known to be an indicator of a region’s environmental health, and their
declining populations are a cause for concern. The day is celebrated in a variety of ways
around the world, including bird-watching, building birdhouses, and educational
programs.
World Sparrow Day is a celebration of the human-sparrow relationship and a call to action
to protect these beloved birds and their habitats. Sparrows have been human companions
for thousands of years, but their populations have been rapidly declining in recent years.
The goal of the day is to raise awareness of their plight and inspire people and
organizations around the world to take action to protect them.
ICMR’s Ethical Guidelines for AI in Healthcare and Biomedical Research
Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many sectors, including healthcare. With the
recognition of this potential, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently
released ethical guidelines for AI in healthcare and biomedical research. These guidelines
aim to guide the effective and safe development, deployment, and adoption of AI-based
technologies in healthcare.
Applications of AI in Healthcare
ICMR recognizes several applications of AI in healthcare, such as diagnosis and screening,
therapeutics, preventive treatments, clinical decision-making, public health surveillance,
complex data analysis, predicting disease outcomes, behavioural and mental healthcare,
and health management systems. However, since AI cannot be held accountable for its
decisions, an ethically sound policy framework is essential to guide the development and
application of AI technologies in healthcare.
Patient-Centric Ethical Principles
ICMR has outlined ten key patient-centric ethical principles for AI application in the health
sector. These principles are accountability and liability, autonomy, data privacy,
collaboration, risk minimization and safety, accessibility and equity, optimization of data
quality, non-discrimination and fairness, validity and trustworthiness.
The autonomy principle ensures human oversight of the functioning and performance of
the AI system. Before initiating any process, it is critical to obtain consent from the patient
and inform them of the physical, psychological, and social risks involved. The safety and
risk minimization principle aims to prevent unintended or deliberate misuse, anonymized
data delinked from global technology to avoid cyber attacks, and a favorable benefit-risk
assessment by an ethical committee, among other areas.
Stakeholders Involved
ICMR’s guidelines also outline a brief for relevant stakeholders, including researchers,
clinicians/hospitals/public health systems, patients, ethics committee, government
regulators, and the industry. Developing AI tools for the health sector is a multi-step
process involving all these stakeholders. Each of these steps must follow standard
practices to make the AI-based solutions technically sound, ethically justified, and
applicable to a large number of individuals with equity and fairness. All stakeholders must
adhere to these guiding principles to make the technology more useful and acceptable to
the users and beneficiaries of the technology.
Ethical Review Process
The ethical review process for AI in health falls under the domain of the ethics committee,
which assesses factors such as data source, quality, safety, anonymization, and/or data
piracy, data selection biases, participant protection, payment of compensation, possibility
of stigmatization, among others. The committee is responsible for assessing both the
scientific rigor and ethical aspects of all health research and ensuring that the proposal is
scientifically sound and weighs all potential risks and benefits for the population where
the research is being carried out.
Informed Consent and Governance
Informed consent and governance of AI tools in the health sector are other critical areas
highlighted in the guidelines. Governance of AI tools is still in preliminary stages, even in
developed countries. India has a host of frameworks that combine technological advances
with healthcare, such as the Digital Health Authority for leveraging digital health
technologies under the National Health Policy (2017), the Digital Information Security in
Healthcare Act (DISHA) 2018, and the Medical Device Rules, 2017.
Burundi: First Polio Outbreak in 30 Years
Burundi, a landlocked east-African country, has declared its first polio outbreak in 30
years. The outbreak was confirmed after a four-year-old child in the Isale district of
western Burundi, along with two other children he was in contact with, were diagnosed
with vaccine-linked polio. Additionally, poliovirus type 2 was detected in five samples from
environmental surveillance of wastewater from the region.
Poliovirus type 2: a weakened strain of the virus contained in the oral polio vaccine
Poliovirus type 2 is a weakened strain of the virus contained in the oral polio vaccine. The
virus can circulate among under-immunised populations for a long time, leading to
vaccine-linked infections. The WHO has noted that the type 2 infection can cause acute
flaccid paralysis in children, which is characterized by the acute onset of weakness or
paralysis with reduced muscle tone.
Low immunity and prevalence of poliovirus type 2 in Africa
Burundi’s last vaccination drive against polio was in 2016, and the country’s immunity
against the virus is considered to be very low. The WHO has also reported that circulating
poliovirus type 2 is the most prevalent form of polio in Africa, with more than 400 cases
reported in 14 countries in 2022.
Burundian government’s response
The Burundian government is planning a polio vaccine campaign in the coming weeks for
children up to 7 years of age, and is also collecting more samples and considering the idea
of opening more environmental surveillance sites for stronger monitoring.
Safety and efficacy concerns of the oral polio vaccine
While the four-dose vaccine is the best protection against polio, the oral vaccine can cause
the disease in about two to four children per 2 million doses. In recent years, the oral polio
vaccine has caused more cases of polio than the wild polio virus, leading to concerns
about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
The need for timely action in protecting children
There is no treatment for polio, which mostly affects children under the age of five. The
WHO has lauded the Burundian government for its effective disease surveillance, and
stressed that timely action is critical in protecting children through effective vaccination.
Vaccine-derived polio outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo
In addition to Burundi, the vaccine-linked polio virus has also been found in six children in
the Democratic Republic of Congo’s eastern Tanganyika and South Kivu provinces. The
global spread of vaccine-derived polio is still considered a high risk by the WHO, and the
organization has emphasized the need for continued efforts to eradicate the disease.
UBS
UBS, Switzerland’s biggest bank, recently agreed to purchase Credit Suisse in a move that
aims to contain the panic that ensued after two American banks collapsed earlier this
month. This unique acquisition has sent shockwaves throughout the banking industry and
has garnered attention from investors and analysts worldwide. In this article, we delve
into the history of UBS and analyze the impact of this deal on the global banking sector.
History of UBS Bank
UBS was established in 1998 when the Swiss Bank Corporation and the Union Bank of
Switzerland merged together. The Swiss Bank Corporation was founded in 1854 as the
Basel Bank Corporation by six private bankers in Basel, Switzerland. It merged with the
Zürich Bank Corporation and entered the commercial banking sector. In 1897, the bank
changed its name to Swiss Bank Corporation and acquired several other banks in
Switzerland and abroad. The Union Bank of Switzerland opened in 1912 after the merger
of Bank in Winterthur and Toggenburger Bank. Like the Swiss Bank Corporation, it also
acquired several banks in Switzerland and became one of the country’s biggest banks.
UBS Today
UBS is now one of the largest banks in the world, with a market capitalization of $63 billion
as per a 2022 report. It has around 200 branches and 4,600 client advisors in Switzerland
alone, and provides its services in 50 other countries, including India. UBS is known for
providing private banking, wealth management, asset management, and investment
banking services for private, corporate, and institutional clients.
Impact of the Acquisition

The acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS created a major impact in the banking industry.
The Swiss government and regulators brokered the deal, with UBS paying around $3.2
billion to Credit Suisse and the Swiss central bank providing $108 billion in liquidity
assistance to both banks. The Swiss government also agreed to provide more than $9
billion to backstop some losses that UBS may incur by taking over Credit Suisse. While this
deal aims to contain the global financial market panic, the impact of this acquisition on the
global banking sector is yet to be seen.
Adani’s Mundra Petrochem project
The Adani Group’s Mundra Petrochemicals project has been suspended as part of the
Group’s “comeback strategy” to regain investor confidence amidst allegations of
accounting fraud and corporate governance lapses. The project aimed to set up a
greenfield coal-to-PVC plant at Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) in Gujarat,
with a poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC) production capacity of 2,000 KTPA requiring 3.1 MTPA of
imported coal. PVC is widely used in various applications, including flooring, sewage pipes,
insulation on electrical wires, plastic bottles, and more.
What is the Mundra Petrochemicals project?
Mundra Petrochemicals Ltd was incorporated in 2021 as a wholly owned subsidiary of
Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL) to set up a greenfield coal-to-PVC plant in Kutch district,
Gujarat. The project aimed to bridge the gap between domestic production and demand
for PVC in India, turning India into a net exporter of PVC.
Why has the project been suspended?
The project’s suspension comes in the wake of allegations of accounting fraud, stock
manipulations, and other corporate governance lapses made in the damaging
Hindenburg report. The Adani Group has denied all allegations, but roughly USD 140
billion has been wiped out from Gautam Adani’s empire’s market value. To address
investor concerns, the Group has planned a “comeback strategy”.
What is the Adani Group’s “comeback strategy”?
The Adani Group’s “comeback strategy” is based on addressing investor concerns around
debt, consolidating operations, and fighting off allegations. The Group has cancelled a Rs
7,000 crore coal plant purchase, shelved plans to bid for a stake in power trader PTC,
repaid some debt, and pre-paid some finances raised by pledging promoter stake in
group companies. The Mundra Petrochemicals project’s suspension is part of the Group’s
plan to evaluate the status of growth projects in the primary industry vertical in the
coming months.
“Groundwater: A Valuable but Diminishing Resource” Report
“Groundwater: A Valuable but Diminishing Resource” Report was released by the
Standing Committee on Water Resources. It recommended that the Indian government
must take measures to reduce groundwater overexploitation, primarily driven by the wide
cultivation of water-intensive crops like paddy and sugarcane. The committee urged the
Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, along with
the Power Ministry and Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, to discourage the
use of electric pumps by introducing measures such as pre-paid cards for power supply
and restricting power supply to a few hours a day.
Curtailing Free Power Supply
The report highlights that states like Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu offer
free power to farmers, which contributes to excessive groundwater exploitation. The
committee recommends that free electricity to farmers be restricted to reduce the misuse
of groundwater. However, both the Department of Water Resources, River Development
and Ganga Rejuvenation, and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare are
reportedly unable to persuade states to reduce or stop subsidies for power given to
agriculture.
Integrated Measures to Reduce Dependence on Groundwater
The committee also asks the government to devise integrated measures to reduce
dependence on groundwater in agriculture, given that over-extraction of groundwater is
prevalent in northern states, such as Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, and in other states
such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. The main reason for overexploitation
of groundwater is the wide cultivation of water-intensive paddy and sugarcane crops,
heavily incentivized through highly subsidized pricing of water, power, and fertilizers.
Shift in Focus to Water Productivity
The committee recommends a shift in focus from ‘land productivity’ to ‘water
productivity’ and the formulation of appropriate policy decisions relating to crop
production in the country. In addition to land productivity, water productivity, i.e.,
production per cubic meter of water, should be a major criterion in decisions related to
crop production.
Lakkhi Mela
Rajasthan’s Karauli district is known for its vibrant culture and festivals, and one such
festival is the Lakkhi Mela, also known as Kaila Devi Chaitra Mela. This festival is celebrated
with great enthusiasm and devotion by people of different communities who come
together to pay their respects to Goddess Kaila Devi.
Dates and Attendance
The festival starts on the 12th day of Chaitra Badi and lasts for two weeks. This year, the
festival began on 20th March and will continue until 4th April. More than 50 lakh devotees
are expected to attend the fair, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in
Rajasthan.
Elaborate Arrangements
The district administration and the temple trust have made elaborate arrangements for
the safety and security of the devotees. Measures have been taken to ensure that the
devotees can pay their respects to the goddess without any hassle. The entire area is
under CCTV surveillance, and medical facilities have been set up to provide immediate
assistance to those in need.
Craftsmanship and Cultural Performances

The Lakkhi Mela is not just a religious gathering; it is also a platform for showcasing the
craftsmanship of numerous people. Handcrafted wood, lacquer and metal products, tribal
headgear, silver jewellery, mirror work, hand woven and embroidered textiles and much
more are displayed during the fair. Cultural performances and wrestling displays by great
pahalwans are also featured.
Significance of Kaila Devi
The goddess Kaila Devi is believed to be an incarnation of the warrior goddess Durga. The
temple is considered to be one of the most sacred shrines in Rajasthan and is a significant
pilgrimage destination for Hindus. The legend has it that the goddess Kaila Devi appeared
to the people of the region during the 14th century and blessed them with prosperity and
protection.
“Pathways to Atmanirbhar Bharat” Report
The study titled “Pathways to Atmanirbhar Bharat” was released recently by Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory and The India Energy and Climate Center (IECC). According
to this report, India has an opportunity to achieve energy independence by 2047 through
investments in clean energy technologies.
Investing in Renewable Energy and EVs
The report highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat push, which
includes a target to install 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and grow EV
sales in India to capture a significant portion of the market. Additionally, the government
aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
Decarbonizing Indian Industry
Investment in renewables, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen will help move away from
coal-based generation while reducing carbon emissions. Zero-carbon hydrogen will
decarbonize Indian industry, cutting emissions and lowering dependence on imported
fuel.
Heavy industrial production will shift primarily to green hydrogen and electrification, with
90 per cent of iron and steel, 90 per cent of cement, and 100 per cent of fertilizers
produced by 2047. The transition to electric vehicles could save crude oil imports by over
90 per cent (or USD 240 billion) by 2047, while green hydrogen-based and electrified
industrial production would reduce industrial coal imports by 95 per cent.
Clean Energy Deployment
A rapid expansion of clean energy infrastructure will be needed to support transport,
industrial electrification, and green hydrogen production. Electricity demand could
increase nearly five-fold – from 1,300 TWh/year to over 6,600 TWh/year by 2050. This
would require a massive scale-up of renewable energy deployment to 40 GW a year
through 2030, ramping up to about 100 GW a year between 2030 and 2050.
Policy Support for Clean Energy Transition
Achieving energy independence could offer environmental and public health benefits
without compromising economic growth. With an aggressive clean energy transition, over
4 million air pollution-related premature deaths could be avoided between 2023-2047. The
report suggests that the policy ecosystem needs five pillars: deployment mandates for
commercial/cost-effective clean technologies that provide economies of scale, financial
support for emerging technologies, long-term infrastructure planning,
accelerating/scaling domestic manufacturing, and planning for a just transition.
Economically Advantageous Energy Independence
The report highlights that clean energy will reduce and inflation-proof India’s energy
expenditure as renewables, EV batteries, and hydrogen infrastructure are capital assets
with rapidly falling costs. A shift to electric transportation will create USD 2.5 trillion in net
consumer savings by 2047.
Babesiosis
While Babesiosis has been a concern in some states in the US for many years, recent
research has shown a significant increase in the number of cases in the northeastern
states. In this article, we will explore what babesiosis is, what the latest research has
found, and what preventive measures can be taken to avoid the spread of the disease.
What is Babesiosis?
Babesiosis is a deadly disease that occurs due to the parasitic infection of red blood cells.
It is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks, particularly the
black-legged or deer tick. While many infected individuals may not experience any
symptoms, some can become severely ill. Common symptoms include fever, chills, sweats,
headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue. In severe cases, it can be life-
threatening, especially in people with weakened immune systems or other serious health
conditions.
The Rising Cases of Babesiosis in the US
According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the
number of babesiosis cases has significantly increased in the northeastern states of
Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Until now, the disease was considered endemic
only in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
The CDC reported that from 2011 to 2019, 16,456 cases of babesiosis were reported in 37
states, with the largest number of cases reported in New York and Massachusetts.
Preventing and Treating Babesiosis
The most common way to treat babesiosis is through a course of antibiotics, but not all
antibiotics work for everyone. According to experts, the combination of atovaquone and
azithromycin is the mainstay of the treatment, although clindamycin plus quinine can also
be used.
Prevention is the best approach when it comes to babesiosis. Experts advise using tick
repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and doing a regular tick check after spending
time outdoors. Additionally, it’s essential to check pets for ticks and remove them
immediately to prevent them from carrying the disease into your home.
LVM3
The Indian space agency, ISRO, has announced that it will launch its largest rocket, LVM3,
on March 26th for its second commercial mission. This is the shortest duration in which
ISRO has carried out two missions of the LVM3 rocket, as it aims to meet the timelines of
the customer whose satellites are being launched. This is the 6th mission to be carried out
with the rocket.
OneWeb’s Satellites and Launch Services
OneWeb, a UK-based firm backed by India’s Bharti Group, aims to offer high-speed, low-
latency internet connectivity from space via its constellation of satellites in Low Earth
Orbit. OneWeb has already flown 17 times, utilising launch services from SpaceX,
Arianespace and ISRO to place all its 1st generation constellation satellites in orbit. ISRO
will be carrying the 18th set of satellites for OneWeb.
Dedicated Commercial Mission
The upcoming mission will be carried out through ISRO’s commercial arm NSIL
(NewSpace India Limited). It will carry 36 OneWeb Gen-1 satellites with a total mass of
5,805 kg, into a 450 km circular Low Earth Orbit with an inclination of 87.4°.
LVM3 Rocket Design
LVM3 is a three-stage vehicle. It has two S200 solid motors as the first stage, L110 twin
liquid engines as the second stage and a final C25 cryogenic upper stage. This 43.5 m tall
vehicle has a lift-off mass of 643 tonnes. Its cryogenic stage is uniquely designed to orient
and re-orient in orthogonal direction to meet the customer requirements of injecting
satellites precisely and with a gap to avoid a collision.
Revenue for ISRO
OneWeb had inked an agreement with NSIL and ISRO for placing a total of 72 satellites in
orbit (in batches of 36). This deal has brought in more than Rs.1000 crore in revenue for
ISRO. It also provides an opportunity for the Indian space agency to showcase its largest
rocket’s capability and reliability. The vehicle has performed successful launches in all its
missions to date.
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Update (March, 2023)
March 21 is marked as International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This
day holds great significance as it marks the tragedy that took place in Sharpeville, South
Africa, on March 21, 1960. During a peaceful protest against apartheid “pass laws,” police
opened fire and killed 69 people. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the
Day in 1966, urging the international community to work towards eradicating all forms of
racial discrimination.
Call to End All Forms of Racial Discrimination
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is a call to action for
individuals, organizations, and all levels of government to actively work towards ending all
forms of racial discrimination, injustice, systemic racism, and hatred. The day serves as a
reminder of the need for ongoing efforts to combat the alarming rise of xenophobia,
racism, and intolerance worldwide.
#FightRacism Campaign
To support the fight against racism, the United Nations Human Rights Office has launched
the #FightRacism campaign. This campaign aims to foster a global culture of tolerance,
equality, and anti-discrimination. This year’s observance of March 21 will spotlight global
figures who are combating discrimination in sports and will partner with the EuroLeague
Basketball to promote a message of unity.
The International Decade for People of African Descent
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is also an opportunity to
draw attention to the International Decade for People of African Descent. This group
includes some of the world’s poorest and most marginalized people. The International
Decade for People of African Descent was launched by the United Nations General
Assembly and aims to promote respect, protection, and fulfilment of human rights and
fundamental freedoms for people of African descent worldwide.
March 22, 2023
Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Tamil Nadu Government has announced the notification of Thanthai Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary, making it the 18th wildlife sanctuary in the state. Spread across 80,567 hectares
in the forest areas of Anthiyur and Gobichettipalayam taluks in Erode district, the
sanctuary will include reserve forest areas in Anthiyur, Bargur, Thattakarai and
Chennampatti. The announcement was made during the state budget recently.
Wildlife and Species Found in Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at close proximity with the Malai
Mahadeshwara wildlife sanctuary, BRT Wildlife Sanctuary, Cauvery wildlife sanctuary in
Karnataka. It acts as the connecting point between Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and Cauvery
South Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is home to 21 species of mammals, 136 species of
birds and 118 species of butterflies. It hosts fauna like elephants, leopards, wild boars,
gaurs and deer.
No Restrictions on Tribal People
The notification of the new wildlife sanctuary will not hinder the works of tribal
communities in the region. The tribals living in these protected areas are not expected to
lose their rights given under the Forest Rights Act since tribal people living in six
settlements have already got titles.
Boost for Asian Elephant Conservation
The notification of the Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary will be a big boost for Asian
elephant conservation. With this new addition, the state government hopes to further its
ongoing conservation efforts and provide a better ecosystem for wildlife. The notification
will also ensure the protection of flora and fauna and help mitigate human-wildlife conflict
in the Bargur hills area. The funds allotted will aid in the appointment of more anti-
poaching watchers, strengthening wildlife protection measures and removing invasive
species from the area.
Japan’s Plan for Free & Open Indo-Pacific
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently introduced a new plan to promote a free
and open Indo-Pacific region during his visit to India. The plan is aimed at forging
stronger ties with countries in South and Southeast Asia to counter China’s growing
assertiveness in the region, particularly over the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the
East China Sea. This article will delve deeper into Japan’s new Indo-Pacific plan.
The Four Pillars of Japan’s Plan
Kishida outlined four “pillars” to Japan’s new Indo-Pacific plan, which includes maintaining
peace, dealing with new global issues in cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries, achieving
global connectivity through various platforms, and ensuring the safety of the open seas
and skies. The plan also includes a pledge of $75 billion to the region by 2030 through
private investment and yen loans and by ramping up aid through official governmental
assistance and grants.
Increasing Connectivity and Promoting Freedom of Navigation
Kishida emphasized on boosting connectivity among countries and promoting freedom of
navigation. He also highlighted the importance of increasing maritime defense and
security among like-minded countries. The new plan covers joint maritime exercises with
India and the United States, in addition to goodwill exercises with ASEAN and the Pacific
Islands.
Quad Grouping and India-Japan Partnership
The defence and strategic ties between India and Japan deepened over the years in the
face of a dominant China. As a consequence, QUAD alliance came to fruition. Japan, India,
Australia, and the United States are members of the Quad grouping, which was created to
balance China’s growing dominance. The QUAD members will take part in the annual
naval wargaming exercise Malabar, that will be held in Australia this year.
Global South Solidarity and Stance on Ukraine Conflict
Kishida called on the “Global South” to “show solidarity” to end Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine, referring to countries in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. However, India
has not imposed sanctions on Russia and has ramped up its buying of Russian oil. Kishida
emphasized that stopping the invasion by Russia is essential, and it’s important for the
international community to show solidarity.
CapCut: A Video Editing Application Gaining Popularity in the US
Video editing has become an integral part of our daily lives, especially with the rise of
social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Among these
platforms, TikTok has always been in the limelight for its huge craze among US
communities. However, a new video editing tool, owned by ByteDance Ltd, is now gaining
eyeballs in the country. It is fast becoming a major player in the world of video-editing
tools in the United States. It is TikTok’s lesser-known sibling, CapCut.
Professional Video Editing with CapCut
CapCut is an application that allows users to edit videos and make them look more
professional. Several editing features are available in the video editing tool, such as
various templates, filters, visual effects, and background music. The application was
launched in 2020 and has grown tremendously in recent times. A study by Shanghai-based
data tracker Diandian revealed that the video editing tool has over 200 million monthly
active users.
Safe Storage of Data
The app stores the data in the US and Singapore, same as TikTok, ensuring the safety of
user data. The videos edited by CapCut can be used not just for TikTok, Facebook, and
Instagram but also for YouTube, owing to the way it edits the video in a professional
fashion.
CapCut vs. TikTok
While TikTok is facing allegations of spying and is banned in several countries amid
security concerns. CapCut, on the other hand, is not facing the same fate so far.
Privacy Concerns
The CapCut’s privacy policy allows the video editing app collects photos, videos, user’s
location, gender, and date of birth. These are some of the common things that video-
editing apps use. The company needs to address the privacy concerns of users and ensure
that the data collected is used only for enhancing the user experience.
Charging for Premium Options
The app, till last year, did not come with any chargeable fees, but it started charging users
for cloud storage service and some of its premium options. The company is also recruiting
people for designing templates. CapCut along with several other Chinese apps are banned
in India.
Growing Popularity
As per Sensor Tower, CapCut’s global downloads increased to 43 percent to over 400
million last year. About 7 percent of its global downloads since last year came just from
the United States. The application was topping the app-stores charts in terms of number
of downloads in the US, standing tall alongside other popular apps like TikTok and online
fashion store Shein.
Spring Equinox 2023
After the long winter blues, it’s time to welcome the Spring Equinox 2023, which marks the
first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, the equinox falls on March 20
and brings with it a perfect balance of day and night, marking the beginning of longer
days and warmer weather.
Understanding Spring Equinox
The Spring Equinox happens due to the Earth’s tilt at an angle of 23.5 degrees on its axis.
This angle results in the uneven distribution of sunlight between the Northern and
Southern Hemispheres during different seasons. During the spring equinox, the sun
passes directly over the equator, resulting in equal daylight and darkness in most parts of
the world. However, the length of day and night may vary slightly depending on your
location.
Cultural Celebrations of Equinox
The Spring Equinox has cultural significance in many parts of the world. In Persian culture,
the Spring Equinox marks the beginning of the New Year, known as Nowruz. The festival is
celebrated with new clothes, cleaning of homes, and preparing a special dish called “sabzi
polo mahi.” In China, the Spring Equinox is celebrated with the “trying to stand egg
upright” game, where people try to balance an egg on its end. In Japan, the equinox is a
public holiday celebrated through family gatherings and visiting the graves of family
members.
Chaitra Navratri - the Nine-Day Festival
The auspicious festival of Navratri is one of the most important and joyous festivals
celebrated in India. This nine-day festival is celebrated twice a year and is dedicated to the
worship of the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The upcoming Chaitra Navratri, which falls
between April 13 to April 22, will be celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion across
the country.
The Celebration of Chaitra Navratri
The festival of Chaitra Navratri is celebrated during the months of March and April,
marking the beginning of the Hindu New Year. It is a time for people to rejoice, fast, and
worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga.
The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga
During Chaitra Navratri, people worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga – Shailputri,
Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandmata, Katyayani, Kaalratri, Mahagauri,
and Siddhidatri. Each form of the Goddess represents a different aspect of nature and
symbolizes different virtues. The nine-day festival is observed with great devotion and
respect for the Goddess.
History and Significance of Chaitra Navratri
According to Hindu mythology, Chaitra Navratri symbolizes the creation of the universe
and the beginning of the world and beings. Since Goddess Durga is tasked with creating
the world, this festival is also considered to be the beginning of the Hindu year by many.
According to the religious beliefs, during this time, Goddess Durga killed, Mahishasura, an
evil demon, as a symbol of good over evil.
The festival of Chaitra Navratri holds immense importance in the hearts of people. It is
celebrated to attain inner peace, good health, and strength to fight evil. People fast and
perform pujas to please the Goddess and seek her blessings. It is believed that by
observing the nine-day fast, one can attain the grace of Goddess Durga and receive her
blessings.
Nepal-India Literature Festival
The Nepal-India Literature Festival was a three-day literary extravaganza organized by
Biratnagar Metropolitan City and Krantidhara Literature Academy of Meerut, India. The
festival witnessed the participation of over 350 literary writers from all seven provinces of
Nepal and a majority of the states of India. The event concluded with the adoption of a 10-
point Biratnagar declaration aimed at promoting literature between Nepal and India.
10-Point Biratnagar Declaration
The Biratnagar declaration highlighted the need for mutual promotion of literature
between Nepal and India. The declaration included the following points:
1. Translation of Nepali literature into Hindi and Hindi into Nepali for mutual
promotion.
2. Further research on connecting Mahabharat-era King Birat’s palace with the
Mahabharat Circuit in coordination with the Department of Archaeology and
historians.
3. Encouraging young literary writers to explore the archaeological artefacts further.
4. Creating an online platform for literary writers of Nepal and India to share their
work.
5. Establishing literary exchange programs for students of Nepal and India.
6. Encouraging literary writers to promote tourism in both Nepal and India through
their work.
7. Recognizing the contribution of literary writers in promoting cultural ties between
Nepal and India.
8. Creating a database of literary works of Nepal and India for research purposes.
9. Encouraging literary writers to address social issues in their work.
10. Organizing the Nepal-India Literature Festival annually.
The adoption of the Biratnagar declaration is a significant step towards promoting
literature between the two neighboring countries. The declaration recognizes the
importance of literature in promoting cultural ties and encourages the exchange of ideas
and knowledge through literature.
Literary Creations on the Occasion
Over 200 litterateurs cited their literary creations on the occasion, which included poetry,
short stories, and novels. The festival provided a platform for literary writers of Nepal and
India to showcase their work and exchange ideas.
The participation of young literary writers was particularly encouraging. The festival
provided them with an opportunity to interact with established writers and gain valuable
insights into the craft of writing.
Nehru Memorial Museum and Library's Digitization Project
The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) is embarking on a significant project to
digitize its research materials. The project aims to convert the entire India House
Collection, including books, reports, periodicals, archival documents, microfilms, and
microfiches, into digital form. This article discusses the significance of the project and its
expected outcomes.
Preserving the history of the Indian independence movement
The NMML is a museum and library dedicated to preserving the history of the Indian
independence movement. It is home to a vast collection of resources, including the bulk of
Mahatma Gandhi’s writings, private papers of prominent Indian leaders, and publications
on modern and contemporary Indian history. The NMML has been a valuable resource for
scholars and historians for many years, and the digitization project aims to make these
resources more accessible to a wider audience.
Implementing the project
The project will be implemented with the help of three outsourced agencies who will work
on digitizing the India House Collection, archival papers, and microfilms and microfiches.
The project staff is working in collaboration with these agencies to ensure the safety and
authentication of scanned images. The NMML staff will also develop necessary skills for
digitization, allowing for future in-house work. The cost of the project is approximately 7
crore rupees, and it is expected to be completed in around 12 months.
Accessing digitized materials through the Open Digital Library and Archives
Once the project is complete, all the digitized materials will be accessible through the
Open Digital Library and Archives (ODLA), a state-of-the-art digital platform. The ODLA will
allow researchers on modern and contemporary India to search for documents relevant to
their research, preview them, and download them after paying service charges. The
platform will be developed by Tata Consultancy Services in collaboration with NMML and
is expected to become operational within the next six months.
Facilitating academic research and knowledge dissemination
The digitization of the NMML’s resources will greatly facilitate academic research and the
dissemination of knowledge about modern and contemporary India. It will mainly assist
scholars who depend on archival sources, newspapers, and journals, of which the NMML
is the largest repository in India. The project will also ensure the preservation of these
important resources for future generations.
Navroz - the Persian New Year
Nowruz is an ancient festival that celebrates the first day of spring in the Northern
Hemisphere. It is observed by more than 300 million people in different regions
worldwide, including the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the
Middle East. Here is what you need to know about this festivity.
What is Nowruz?
Nowruz is a festival that marks beginning of the new year. It is celebrated on the day of
the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually falls on March 21. The celebrations last for
13 days and provide an opportunity for reflection on the past and setting intentions for
the future.
Rooted in Zoroastrianism, a religion practised in ancient Persia predating Christianity and
Islam, Nowruz is a celebration of the return of spring, representing the triumph of good
over evil and joy over sorrow.

Who Celebrates Nowruz?
Given its origins, Nowruz is widely celebrated in countries with significant Persian cultural
influence, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan,
Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
How do people celebrate Nowruz?
Nowruz celebrations vary from country to country, but they share some common
traditions. One of the most important is the preparation of the Haft-Seen table, which is a
family activity. It involves placing seven items that start with the Persian letter “S” on a
table, which represent different wishes and hopes for the new year.
The seven items, also known as the seven “S”s, include Sirkeh (vinegar), Sikkeh (coin),
Seer (garlic), Seeb (apples), Sabzeh (wheat), Samanu (wheat pudding), and Sumac
(berries). The table may also include a mirror, painted eggs, a goldfish, and candles.
During Nowruz, people also engage in symbolic preparations with fire and water and
perform ritual dances, some of which involve jumping over fires, symbolically purging bad
experiences from the previous year. Before the arrival of the new year, families gather to
exchange wishes, and the eldest member distributes sweets while young children receive
coins and presents.
Gudhi Padwa – The Marathi New Year
Gudhi Padwa is a festival celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by Marathi and
Konkani Hindus. It marks the start of the month of Chaitra as per the Hindu lunisolar
calendar, which usually falls between March and April as per the Gregorian calendar.
Origins and Significance of Gudhi Padwa
The word ‘Gudhi’ means flag or banner, and ‘Padwa’ refers to the first day of the lunar
fortnight. According to legend, Lord Brahma created the universe on this day, and it is
believed that he hoisted a flag or ‘Gudhi’ to signify his victory over evil. Thus, the festival
of Gudhi Padwa commemorates this victory of good over evil and marks the beginning of
a new era of prosperity, happiness, and success.
Rituals and Traditions of Gudhi Padwa
On the day of Gudhi Padwa, people clean and decorate their houses with colourful
rangolis and flowers. The main highlight of the festival is the hoisting of the Gudhi flag,
which is made by tying a colourful silk scarf to a bamboo stick along with flowers, mango,
and neem leaves. The Gudhi flag symbolizes Lord Brahma’s victory and is hoisted outside
the house as a symbol of good luck and prosperity.
Another important ritual of Gudhi Padwa is the preparation of Saakhar gaathi, a sugar
candy garland that is offered to the gods as a symbol of sweetness and happiness.
Families also prepare special delicacies like Puran Poli, Shrikhand, and Aamras to share
with their loved ones.
The festival is also celebrated with street processions, music, and dance performances.
People dress up in traditional attire and participate in the festivities with great enthusiasm
and joy.
Gudhi Padwa Celebrations Across India
While Gudhi Padwa is primarily celebrated in Maharashtra and Goa, the festival is also
celebrated in other parts of India with different names and traditions. In Andhra Pradesh
and Telangana, the festival is known as Ugadi, while in Karnataka, it is called Yugadi. In
Sindhi, the festival is known as Cheti Chand and is celebrated as the emergence day of
Lord Jhulelal.
Chetri Chand – the Sindhi New Year
Chetri Chandra, also known as the Moon of Chaitra, is a festival celebrated by Sindhi
Hindus to mark the beginning of the Lunar Hindu New Year. This year, it falls on 23 March
2023. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the origins and traditions of this important
celebration.
Origins and Significance

Chetri Chandra falls on the first day of the Sindhi month of Chet (Chaitra) and is based on
the lunar cycle of the lunisolar Hindu calendar. The festival is celebrated in late March or
early April in the Gregorian calendar, around the same time as Gudi Padwa in
Maharashtra and Ugadi in other parts of India.
The festival has both agricultural and religious significance. It marks the arrival of spring
and the start of the harvest season. But for the Sindhi community, it also commemorates
the birth of Uderolal, who is believed to have been born in 1007 after the community
prayed to the Hindu god Varun Dev to save them from persecution by the Muslim ruler
Mirkhshah.
According to legend, Varun Dev appeared to the Sindhis in the form of a warrior and an
old man, who later became known as Jhulelal. He preached and reprimanded Mirkhshah,
stating that Muslims and Hindus deserve the same religious freedoms. Jhulelal became
the champion of the people in Sindh, from both religions. The Hindu Sindhis celebrate the
new year as Uderolal’s birthday, while among his Sufi Muslim followers, Jhulelal is known
as “Khwaja Khizir” or “Zindapir.”
Traditions and Celebrations
The tradition of Chetri Chandra likely started with Daryapanthis. During the British colonial
era, major annual fairs (melas) used to be organized in Uderolal and Zindapir (near
Hyderabad, Pakistan). In contemporary times, the Sindhi community celebrates the
festival with major fairs, feast parties, processions with jhankis (glimpse stage) of Jhulelal
(an avatar of Varun dev), other Hindu deities, and social dancing.
On this day, many Sindhis carry the Baharana Sahib, a representation of Jhulelal, to a close
by river or lake. Baharana Sahib consists of an oil lamp, crystal sugar, cardamom, fruits,
and akha. Behind it is a water jar and a coconut in it, covered with cloth, flowers, and
leaves. There is also a statue of Pujya Jhulelal Devta.
Cheti Chand is a major festival of Sindhi Hindus in India and Pakistan, and it is also
celebrated by the Hindu Sindhi diaspora around the world.
Sajibu Nongma Panba
Sajibu Nongma Panba is a lunar new year celebrated by the followers of Sanamahism in
Manipur. This year, it falls on March 22. In this article, we will discuss the origin and
observance of this auspicious festival.
The Origin of Sajibu Nongma Panba
According to the followers of Sanamahism, Sajibu Nongma Panba started during the reign
of King Maliya Fambalcha (1359 BC-1329 BC), also known as Koi-Koi. King Koi-Koi ascended
the throne at the age of 25 and introduced the dating of Meitei calendar, known as Mari-
Fam. The festival is also known as Meetei Cheiraoba or Sajibu Cheiraoba. It is celebrated
on the first day of the month of Sajibu, which usually falls during the month of April
according to the Meitei lunar calendar.
Observance of the Festival
The Meitei people celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm and rituals. The day starts
with the ritual offerings of fruits, vegetables, rice, and other uncooked food items to the
Meitei deity Lainingthou Sanamahi during the early morning. After getting blessings from
Lainingthou Sanamahi, odd numbers of dishes are prepared using the offerings.
Traditionally, the males of the house make the dishes, with the females helping in
chopping and washing the ingredients.
The prepared dishes are offered at two different traditional locations around the house.
These locations are specially cleansed and sanctified before the offering. The eldest son of
the house makes the offering to three deities – Kumsana Kumliklai (Lord of the golden
year), Lamsenba Tusenba (Guardian of the Land), and Lammaba Tumaba (Lord of the
land) at this sanctified area. The offering includes an odd number of dishes surrounding a
small mound of steamed rice, a token currency, fruits, flowers, a candle, and an incense
stick, all of them placed upon a plantain leaf. This ritual is performed in the late morning.
After this ritual, the dishes prepared for the feast are exchanged with relatives or
neighbours, and this custom is called “Mathel Laanba,” after which the feast begins. It is
believed that anything that happens on the day of the new year will happen for the rest of
the year.
Hillock Climbing: Ching Kāba
After the feast, it is tradition that family members climb a small hillock specially prepared
by the community near the locality to pay homage to the hill deity, signifying the elevation
of the spirit to reach the divine. The “Chin-nga” at Singjamei and “Cheirao Ching” at
Chingmeirong are such hillocks that are specially prepared for these hillock climbing
rituals.
World Down Syndrome Day - Update (March, 2023)
Every year on March 21st, World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is observed to raise
awareness about Down syndrome, advocate for the rights of people with Down syndrome,
and promote their inclusion and well-being. This day is significant because it marks the
uniqueness of individuals with Down syndrome and highlights the need for society to
embrace diversity.
What is Down Syndrome?
Down syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs when there is an extra copy of the 21st
chromosome, resulting in physical and intellectual disabilities. People with Down

syndrome may have a distinct facial appearance and are prone to several health
complications, including heart defects, hearing and vision problems, and thyroid
conditions. However, with proper care and support, people with Down syndrome can lead
happy and fulfilling lives.
History of World Down Syndrome Day
WDSD was first observed on March 21, 2006, and later recognized by the United Nations
General Assembly in 2011. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about Down
syndrome and promoting well-being of people with this condition.
Significance of World Down Syndrome Day
WDSD provides the opportunity to highlight the importance of providing people with
Down syndrome the right to education, employment, healthcare, and social inclusion, and
emphasis on their valuable contributions to the society. It’s a celebration of diversity and
an opportunity to break down barriers and stigmas associated with Down syndrome.
Healthcare for Down Syndrome
People with Down syndrome require a different healthcare approach, given the potential
for physical and mental health conditions that may arise. Regular medical check-ups are
critical for managing these conditions and preventing further complications. Occupational
therapy, speech therapy, and counseling can also be beneficial in addressing the unique
needs of people with Down syndrome.
Theme for World Down Syndrome Day 2023
The theme for WDSD 2023 is “With Us Not For Us.” This theme highlights the importance
of involving people with Down syndrome in decision-making and planning processes that
affect their lives. It encourages individuals with Down syndrome to speak up, be heard,
and take an active role in shaping their future.
Anti-Submarine Craft INS Androth

India recently launched the INS Androth, as part of an eight-ship series of Anti-Submarine
Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC). The ASW SWC was built by Garden Reach
Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata and is designed to conduct anti-submarine
operations in coastal waters, low intensity maritime operations and mine laying
operations.
Specifications of the INS Androth
The INS Androth is approximately 77.6 meters long, 10.5 meters wide, and requires a
draught of only 2.7 meters. It is propelled by three diesel-driven water jets, enabling it to
attain a maximum speed of 25 knots. The ship is equipped with hull mounted sonar and a
low frequency variable depth sonar, lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets and mines, a
close-in weapon system (with a 30 mm gun) and 16.7 mm stabilised remote-controlled
guns.
Coastal Surveillance and ASW Operations
The ASW SWC is capable of carrying out a full-scale sub-surface surveillance of coastal
waters and various surface platforms. It can effortlessly coordinate with aircraft in ASW
operations. Despite its small size, the ship is expected to pack a lethal punch. The INS
Androth and its fellow craft will play a vital role in securing India’s coastal waters and
combating any potential threats to the nation’s maritime security.
Combat-Ready and Future Proof Force
The development of specialized vessels helps create a combat ready and future proof
force that can tackle the current and emerging challenges in the maritime domain. INS
Androth’s launch indicates India’s commitment to strengthening its naval capabilities and
ensuring the nation’s maritime security.
International Day of Forests - Update (March, 2023)

Every year on March 21st, World Forestry Day or International Day of Forests is celebrated
to increase global awareness about the crucial role of forests in sustaining life on Earth.
The day is recognised as an effort to educate people about the numerous benefits of
forests, including providing food, purifying air, resources, and life-saving medicines.
Moreover, they play a significant role in combating climate change, poverty alleviation,
maintaining ecological balance, and more.
Protecting the Forests: Need of the Hour
Forests are vital for the well-being of current and future generations. However, the
increasing rate of deforestation, forest fires, droughts, pests, and other factors is posing a
significant threat to their survival. To conserve forests and protect their existence, people
are encouraged to contribute on local, national, and international levels. One of the
easiest and most effective ways to preserve forests is by afforestation or planting of trees.
Theme of World Forestry Day 2023
Each year, World Forestry Day is recognised under a specific theme. In 2023, the theme of
World Forestry Day is “Forests and Health.” The aim of this year’s theme is to raise
awareness about the critical link between healthy forests and healthy people.
History and Significance of World Forestry Day
In 2012, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed March 21st as World Forestry Day
to create awareness about the conservation and protection of all types of forests to
maintain ecological balance. The Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) selects the
theme of International Day of Forests annually. According to the UNGA, the United
Nations Forum on Forests and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO) are responsible for organizing events and campaigns related to the World
Forestry Day.
INS Sujata's Visit to Mozambique
INS Sujata, a Sukanya class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, based at the Southern Naval
Command in Kochi, recently visited Port Maputo, Mozambique as a part of its Overseas
Deployment from 19 to 21 March 2023. The purpose of the visit is to improve the bilateral
relations and mutual cooperation between the two navies.
High-Level Meetings and Visits
During its visit, the Commanding Officer of INS Sujata called on several military and
civilian dignitaries, including Rear Admiral Eugenio Dias Da Silva Muatuca, the
Commander of Mozambican Navy, and Mr. Eneas Da Conceicao Comiche, Mayor of
Maputo. The High Commissioner of India and other officials were also present during
these meetings.
Cross-Deck Training and Other Activities
As part of the visit, approximately 40 personnel of the Mozambican Navy visited INS Sujata
to attend the Cross deck training. This training module covered walkarounds of training
facilities, briefing on diving operations, training on VBSS and light weapons, visual
communication, and maintenance of machinery and hygiene onboard. Furthermore,
various other activities, including a combined morning yoga session and soccer match,
were organized between the personnel of both Navies. A reception was also hosted
onboard INS Sujata, which was attended by several Indian and Mozambican dignitaries
and diplomats.
Enhancing Mutual Cooperation and Bilateral Ties
The visit of INS Sujata to Port Maputo, Mozambique, further enhanced the mutual
cooperation and bilateral ties between the two Navies. Such visits not only provide
opportunities for the exchange of knowledge, skills, and expertise but also help in
strengthening diplomatic ties and building a strong relationship between the two
countries. The visit by INS Sujata highlights India’s commitment to maintaining peace and
security in the region while also fostering friendship and cooperation with other countries.
World Water Day - Update (March, 2023)
Every year, March 22 is observed as World Water Day to raise awareness about the global
water crisis and the importance of water. The day aims to inspire people to sustainably
manage freshwater resources, address water-related issues and support the achievement
of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation for All by 2030.
History of World Water Day
In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe World
Water Day on March 22 every year. The first World Water Day was observed in 1993, and
since then, the day has been celebrated globally to highlight the importance of water.
Significance of World Water Day
Water is the elixir of life, and everyone needs it to sustain their lives. However, according
to the United Nations, around two billion people worldwide lack safe drinking water.
Additionally, diseases related to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene shorten the lives of 74
million people each year, and 1.4 million people die annually due to a lack of access to
clean water. This highlights the importance of conserving water and addressing water-
related issues.
Theme of World Water Day 2023
The theme for World Water Day 2023 is “Accelerating the change to solve the water and
sanitation crisis.” It highlights the urgent need to take action to address the global water
crisis and the necessity to go beyond business as usual. The United Nations aims to unite
the world around water and kickstart the UN 2023 Water Conference from March 22 to 24
in New York, United States.
Celebration of World Water Day
World Water Day is celebrated by organisations, NGOs, and individuals to conserve water
and address issues associated with water resources. On this day, seminars, webinars, and
events are organised worldwide to raise awareness about the importance of water and
the need to address water-related challenges.
March 23, 2023
IMF’s $3 Billion Bailout Programme for Sri Lanka
On March 20, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cleared a $3 billion-Extended Fund
Facility (EFF) for Sri Lanka, aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability, safeguarding
financial stability, and unlocking the nation’s growth potential. Sri Lanka defaulted on its
foreign debt in 2020, and this nearly-$3 billion facility comes after six months of the
government’s staff-level agreement. President Ranil Wickremesinghe stated that the IMF
program would “serve as an assurance to the international community that Sri Lanka has
the capacity to service its debt.”
India, Japan, and China, Sri Lanka’s top three bilateral creditors, played a crucial role in
unlocking the IMF assistance to the island by providing financing assurances to the Fund.
In an open letter to bilateral creditors, Mr. Wickremesinghe promised that Sri Lanka would
be transparent in the debt restructuring process and ensure comparable treatment of all
external creditors.
Assessment of Sri Lanka’s Governance and Anti-Corruption Framework
Identifying corruption as a key issue, the IMF has started assessing Sri Lanka’s
governance and anti-corruption framework in its first such exercise in Asia. The IMF
“governance diagnostic mission” aims to help the country achieve debt sustainability,
increase transparency, and promote inclusive growth. The assessment will also evaluate
the effectiveness of Sri Lanka’s legal and institutional framework, as well as its anti-money
laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime.
Sri Lanka’s Fundamental Fiscal Challenges Remain
While the IMF package enables Sri Lanka to access up to $7 billion in funding from IMF
and International Financial Institutions (IFIs), Sri Lankan economists have cautioned that
securing nearly $3 billion over four years hardly guarantees swift economic recovery. The
country has a long way to go before actual recovery, as its fundamental fiscal challenges
of a huge debt burden, a persisting trade deficit, and a balance of payments problem
remain. Sri Lanka’s total outstanding public debt increased to $84 billion in December
2022, and the government must service multilateral debt totaling over $2 billion during
the first half of this year.
Protests Amidst Economic Hardships
In anticipation of the Fund’s assistance, Sri Lanka implemented a slew of policy measures
over the last year. These measures include drastically increasing banking interest rates,
floating the rupee, raising taxes, and increasing energy tariffs three-fold. The high costs of
living and soaring electricity bills have added to the burden of workers across sectors,
leading to protests against economic hardships.
Padma Awards for 2023
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma Awards at a Civil Investiture
Ceremony that was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan recently. The Padma Awards are one of the
highest civilian awards of the country, and this year, 106 individuals were recognized for
their exceptional and distinguished service in various fields.
Padma Awards Categories
The Padma Awards are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma
Bhushan, and Padma Shri. These awards recognize excellence in various disciplines and
fields of activities such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade
and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, among others.
Padma Vibhushan – Exceptional and Distinguished Service
The Padma Vibhushan, instituted on 2 January 1954, is the second-highest civilian award of
the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna. The award is given for exceptional and
distinguished service in any field, without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex.
All individuals, except government servants including those working with PSUs, are
eligible for these awards.
Padma Bhushan – Distinguished Service of a High Order
The Padma Bhushan, instituted on 2 January 1954, is the third-highest civilian award in the
Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed
by the Padma Shri. The award is given for distinguished service of a high order, without
distinction of race, occupation, position or sex. The award criteria include service in any
field, including service rendered by government servants, doctors, and scientists.
However, those working with public sector undertakings are not eligible for this award.
Padma Shri – Distinguished Contribution in Various Spheres
The Padma Shri, instituted on 2 January 1954, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the
Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan, and the Padma Bhushan.
The award recognizes distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity, including
the arts, education, industry, literature, science, acting, medicine, social service, and public
affairs.
Padma Award Recipients 2023
This year, among the 106 Padma Award recipients, six were conferred with the Padma
Vibhushan, nine with the Padma Bhushan, and 91 with the Padma Shri. The awardees
included prominent personalities such as Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Chief Minister of
Uttar Pradesh; Zakir Hussain, tabla maestro; KM Birla, industrialist; and Sudha Murty,
social worker and author.
Additional Tier 1 Bonds and Credit Suisse's Write-Down
The recent purchase of Credit Suisse, a Swiss bank, by its rival UBS, has left investors
struggling to understand the deal. One outcome that is causing significant distress is the
decision to write down around SFr16bn ($17bn) in Additional-Tier 1 (AT1) bonds issued by
Credit Suisse, which could even spell the end of the asset class. In this article, we will
explore what AT1 bonds are, their purpose, and the impact of Credit Suisse’s write-down
on the market.
What are AT1 Bonds?
AT1 securities are a type of “contingent-convertible” bonds developed after the global
financial crisis of 2007-09 to prevent the need for government-funded bailouts of
struggling banks. These instruments, also known as “cocos,” are a blend of bank equity
and debt. In good times, they behave like relatively high-yield bonds. When things go bad,
and certain trigger points are reached, such as a bank’s capital falling below certain levels
relative to assets, the bonds convert to equity, reducing the bank’s debt and absorbing
losses.
Impact of Credit Suisse’s Write-Down
The market for AT1s is worth around $275bn, and private banks in Asia have historically
been eager buyers. However, Credit Suisse’s decision to write down AT1 bonds has
infuriated investors and caused significant damage to the market. The write-down was the
largest in history, more than ten times larger than when Banco Popular failed in 2017,
taking $1.4bn of AT1 bonds with it. The real damage to the market was that it upended the
expected pecking order, placing stockholders above AT1 bondholders. This was confirmed
on March 19th, and it has already affected the price of AT1 bonds issued by other banks.
The Future of the Asset Class
The revelation that stockholders may be left with something and coco holders with
nothing is contrary to the understanding many buyers had about what they were
purchasing. The idea that coco buyers may feel burned could spell doom for the asset
class. The future of AT1 bonds is uncertain, and commentary about the future of the asset
class ranges from bleak to apocalyptic. Goldman Sachs has warned that it has become
difficult to assess the spread between yields on AT1 bonds and different forms of high-
yield credit due to a lack of clarity on future resolutions.
Euoplos dignitas: A New Species of Trapdoor Spider from Queensland
Researchers in central Queensland’s Brigalow Belt have discovered a new species of
trapdoor spider called Euoplos dignitas. This nocturnal species lives underground and is
larger and stockier than its male counterpart. The discovery of this new spider species is
an exciting development, but it also raises concerns about its future, given the impact of
land clearing in the region.
Appearance and Habits
The female Euoplos dignitas spiders are almost five centimetres in body length, while the
males are more brightly coloured. The males spend several years underground before
venturing out to find female burrows. The females, which are larger and stockier, spend
their entire lives underground. The spiders have venom apparatus in their fangs, but they
are not known to be dangerously venomous.
Threats to the Species
There are concerns that the species may be endangered due to land clearing in the
region. The spiders are found in burrows about the diameter of a 50-cent piece in the
black soil around Eidsvold and Monto, west of Bundaberg. The Brigalow Belt has been
heavily cleared for agriculture and other land uses, reducing natural woodland remnants
that the spiders are suited to. These spiders are not good at getting around the landscape
and dispersing compared to flying insects.
Future Research
More surveys need to be done in the general area where the spiders were found to
determine the size of the population and the extent of the species’ range. The protection
of the natural woodland remnants where the spiders are likely to thrive is critical for the
species’ survival. More research is needed to understand the spider’s biology and ecology
to develop conservation measures that ensure its survival.
National Security Act, 1980
The National Security Act, 1980 has been invoked in the case of Amritpal Singh, the self-
styled Sikh preacher and leader of Waris Punjab De who is currently on the run. This was
confirmed by Punjab Advocate General Vinod Ghai during a hearing at the Punjab and
Haryana High Court on a habeas corpus petition filed by the legal advisor of Waris Punjab
De. Here’s what you need to know about the NSA and the protections available under it.
What is the National Security Act, 1980?
The National Security Act, passed by the Indian Parliament in 1980, has been amended
several times since then. The Act allows the state to detain a person without a formal
charge and without trial to prevent them from acting in any manner prejudicial to the
security of the state or for the maintenance of public order. It is an administrative order
passed by the Divisional Commissioner or the District Magistrate, and not detention
ordered by police based on specific allegations or for a specific violation of the law.
Grounds for detention
The NSA can be invoked to prevent a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the
defence of India, relations of India with foreign powers or the security of India. Among
others, it can also be applied to prevent a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to
the maintenance of supply and services essential to the community. An individual can be
detained without a charge for a maximum period of 12 months. The detained person can
be held for 10 to 12 days in special circumstances without being told the charges against
them.
Protection available under the Act
The Indian Constitution allows both preventive detention and the right of protection
against arrest and detention in certain cases, enshrined under Article 22 of the
Constitution. However, Article 22(3) provides that the rights available to an arrested
person will not be applicable in case of preventive detention. One crucial procedural
safeguard under the NSA is granted under Article 22(5), where all the detained persons
have the right to make an effective representation before an independent advisory board,
which consists of three members, chaired by a member who is, or has been, a judge of a
high court.
Criticism against NSA
The Act has been criticised by human rights groups who argue that it vitiates Article 22 of
the Constitution and various provisions under the CrPC that safeguard the interest of an
arrested person, namely that the arrested person should be informed regarding the
ground of arrest and their right to consult a legal practitioner. Some human rights groups
argue that the Act is often misused by authorities to silence political opponents or those
who are critical of the government. However, there is an opposing view that the Act
protects the larger interest of the state.
What the top court says
The Supreme Court has previously held that the law of preventive detention has to be
strictly construed to prevent misuse of this potentially dangerous power, and meticulous
compliance with the procedural safeguards has to be ensured.
Dimethyltryptamine
DMT, or dimethyltryptamine, is a potent hallucinogenic drug that is found in the
Amazonian drink Ayahuasca. It is made using the flowering shrub of the Psychotria viridis
plant. Scientists have been studying the effects of DMT on the human brain for years, and
a recent study has revealed previously unreported effects of this compound.
The Study
The study was conducted by Chris Timmermann, head of the DMT research group at
Imperial College London. Twenty volunteers were recruited, and each received a 20mg
injection of DMT and a placebo on separate visits to the lab. The scientists recorded the
brain activity of the participants before, during, and after the drug took hold of their
bodies.
The Results
The results of the study were published in the journal Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences. They provide the most advanced picture yet of the human brain on
psychedelics. The recordings showed how the brain’s normal hierarchical organization
breaks down, electrical activity becomes anarchic, and connectivity between regions soars,
particularly those handling “higher level” functions such as imagination.
The recordings reveal a profound impact across the brain, particularly in areas that are
highly evolved in humans and instrumental in planning, language, memory, complex
decision-making, and imagination. The researchers believe that DMT breaks down the
basic networks of the brain, causing them to become less distinct from each other.
The participants in the study described leaving this world and breaking through into
another that is incredibly immersive and richly complex, sometimes being populated by
other beings that they feel might hold special power over them, like gods.
UN 2023 Water Conference
The UN 2023 Water Conference is being held from March 22 to 24 in New York, marking
the first summit on water in 50 years. The conference will be a watershed moment to
mobilize member states, the UN system, and stakeholders alike to take action and bring
successful solutions to a global scale.
The Paris Moment for Water
The conference could be a ‘Paris moment’ for water, as described by the special envoys
for water from the co-hosting countries, Tajikistan and the Netherlands. The conference
seeks to bring greater focus on water, which is a critical foundation for many of the 17
Sustainable Development Goals, including health, food, gender equity, education,
livelihoods, industry, climate, and the environment.
The Global Water Crisis
According to the World Meteorological Organization, around 3.6 billion people struggle to
get enough water to meet their needs for at least one month every year. Despite safe
water and sanitation being a human right, billions of people lack access to these essentials
for life, as stated by the United Nations.
The Importance of the UN 2023 Water Conference
The UN 2023 Water Conference could be a crucial step to ensure the sustainable
management of water and sanitation for all, as per UN Sustainable Development Goal 6. It
also marks the halfway point through the International Decade for Action “Water for
Sustainable Development” to raise awareness of the global water crisis and decide on
action to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals.
The Water Action Agenda
The conference is expected to adopt the Water Action Agenda, which represents voluntary
commitments of countries and stakeholders to meet global water-related goals and
targets. The Water Action Agenda aligns with the five themes that support the SDG 6
Global Acceleration Framework, including water for health, water for sustainable
development, water for climate, resilience, and environment, water for cooperation, and
the Water Action Decade.
The Growing Demand for Water
The world’s growing population, coupled with economic development and changing
consumption patterns, means that the demands on water resources are far greater than
50 years ago. The gap between water demand and supply is estimated to be 40% by 2030,
with a dramatic and unequal increase in demand between countries, as stated in the
World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023.
Indian Government’s 14 Guidelines to Address Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC)
Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is a critical issue in India, where the coexistence of humans
and wild animals is necessary. HWC is defined as the negative impact of the interaction
between humans and wildlife on either or both parties. To address this issue, the Union
Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav released 14
guidelines to facilitate a common understanding among key stakeholders on what
constitutes effective and efficient mitigation of HWC in India.
Species-specific guidelines
Ten species-specific guidelines for mitigating conflict with elephants, gaur, leopard, snake,
crocodile, rhesus macaque, wild pig, bear, blue bull, and blackbuck were released. These
guidelines will help develop site-specific HWC mitigation measures.
Cross-cutting issue guidelines
In addition, there are four guidelines on cross-cutting issues, including cooperation
between the forest and media sector, occupational health and safety, crowd management,
and addressing health emergencies.
Harmonious-coexistence approach
The guidelines aim to ensure the harmonious coexistence of humans and wild animals.
They take into consideration the existing guidelines and advisories issued by various
agencies and state forest departments, as well as good practices and experiences from
the field.
Holistic approach
The guidelines provide a framework to take a holistic approach to address HWC. This
includes addressing the drivers and pressures that lead to HWC, establishing and
managing prevention methods, and reducing the impact of conflict on both humans and
wild animals.
Participatory and inclusive approach
The development of the guidelines followed a participatory, inclusive, and integrated
approach involving key relevant stakeholders and sectors, including agriculture,
veterinary, disaster management, district administration, rural development and
Panchayati Raj Institutions, NGOs, and media. Over 1600 participants were involved in 105
events, workshops, consultations, meetings, and field missions.
Living document
The set of guidelines is not static but rather a living document that will be reviewed every
five years from 2023 onwards. Feedback from field practitioners and other wildlife experts
will be analyzed to assess specific elements and sections that need to undergo changes.
United Nations World Water Development Report 2023
According to the United Nations World Water Development Report 2023, India is expected
to be the most severely affected nation by water scarcity by 2050. This is a worrying trend,
given that water scarcity is already a significant issue in India, with millions of people
facing severe water shortages.
Asia: The Region Most Affected by Water Stress
The report highlights that approximately 80% of people living under water stress are in
Asia, specifically northeast China, India, and Pakistan. The projected global urban
population facing water scarcity is expected to increase from 933 million in 2016 to
between 1.7-2.4 billion people by 2050, with India being projected to be the most severely
affected.
Global Water Crisis: The Main Drivers
The report also highlighted that globally, two billion people do not have safe drinking
water, and 3.6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation. The increasing demand for
water due to overconsumption and overdevelopment, unsustainable water use, pollution,
and unchecked global warming are identified as the main drivers of this crisis.
Partnerships and Cooperation: Essential to Integrated Approaches to Water Management
Partnerships and cooperation are identified as essential to integrated approaches to
water management, given that water is a cross-cutting issue. The report stresses the
importance of addressing the water-energy-food nexus in a transboundary context. One
example of such cooperation highlighted in the report is the transboundary water
cooperation arrangement established by the Mahakali Treaty between India and Nepal.
The Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project: A Delayed but Beneficial Project
The report noted that although the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project is long delayed,
several beneficial impacts have been highlighted in terms of irrigation and flood control
and lessening energy shortages. The project has the potential to address some of the
water scarcity issues facing India and Nepal, provided that it is implemented in a
sustainable and equitable manner.
World Meteorological Day - Update (March, 2023)

World Meteorological Day is a significant day for meteorologists, weather enthusiasts, and
anyone interested in climate and weather patterns. The day aims to raise awareness
about the importance of meteorology and weather forecasting and the role of the World
Meteorological Organisation in promoting international cooperation in these fields. Here
is a brief overview of the history, theme, and significance of World Meteorological Day.
History of World Meteorological Day
World Meteorological Day commemorates the establishment of the World Meteorological
Organisation (WMO) on March 23, 1950. The WMO is a specialised agency of the United
Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation in the fields of meteorology,
climatology, hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.
Theme of World Meteorological Day 2023
Each year, the WMO chooses a theme for World Meteorological Day that reflects current
weather and climate issues. The theme for World Meteorological Day 2023 is “The future
of weather, climate, and water across generations.” This theme aims to highlight the
impact of changing weather patterns on the environment and future generations.
Significance of World Meteorological Day
World Meteorological Day is a crucial day for raising awareness about the role of
meteorology and weather forecasting in protecting lives, property, and the environment.
This day serves as a platform to promote international cooperation in the development of
weather forecasting, climate services, and related fields.
Additionally, the day provides an opportunity to highlight the impact of climate change
and its effects on our daily lives. The WMO and its member countries collaborate to raise
awareness and find solutions to address the challenges posed by climate change.
TRAI’s Recommendations on ‘Issues related to Community Radio Stations’
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently released its recommendations
on issues related to community radio stations (CRS). The recommendations were made to
the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, which had requested TRAI’s views on
various issues related to CRS. The recommendations aim to improve the operations and
sustainability of CRS in India. Here are some of the key recommendations made by TRAI:
Extended Permission Period for CRS
TRAI has recommended that the initial permission period for CRS should be increased
from the current five years to ten years. This change will provide more stability to CRS
operators, allowing them to plan and execute long-term programs.
Increased Advertisement Duration
The regulator has also recommended increasing the duration of advertisements per hour
of broadcast on CRS from the current eight minutes to 12 minutes. This change will help
CRS generate more revenue and improve their financial sustainability.
Restriction on Number of CRS by One Organization

TRAI has recommended that no organization should be permitted to set up more than six
CRS throughout the country. This recommendation aims to promote diversity in the
ownership of CRS and prevent the concentration of CRS ownership in the hands of a few
organizations.
Not-for-Profit Companies
TRAI has clarified that not-for-profit companies established under Section 8 of the
Companies Act 2013 are already covered in the eligibility criteria for CRS. The regulator
also reiterated that religious bodies should not be allowed to own broadcasting channels,
including CRS.
Single Window System for Approval
TRAI has recommended a single window system for approval of CRS, where all processes
for granting permission should be made online. The regulator has suggested that the
SACFA clearance should be granted within one month of application, and the grant of
WOL license should have a prescribed period, preferably within one month of application.
Support from Central and State Governments
TRAI has suggested that the I&B Ministry may actively pursue with central and state
governments to sponsor more programs on CRS to support their sustainable operations.
It has also recommended that all universities of central and state governments be
provided with budgetary support to establish and operate CRS.
'Sam No Varunah' Coastal Car Rally

India, surrounded by three seas, has a vast coastline of around 7500 Kms, making the
maritime trade a significant contributor to the nation’s economy. On the 59th Maritime
Day on 5th April 2022, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of
maritime trade and the Indian Navy’s role in protecting it.
To awaken the nation’s maritime consciousness and showcase the Navy’s contribution to
protecting the country’s maritime trade, the Indian Navy in association with the Navy
Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA) is undertaking a unique initiative, “SAM NO
VARUNAH,” a maritime awareness coastal motor car expedition that will cover the entire
Indian coastline in March 2023.

Objectives of the Expedition:
The expedition has several objectives, including celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,
conducting awareness drives about the Navy’s career opportunities, showcasing women’s
power in the Navy, instilling a sense of adventure and motivating the youth to join the
Navy, interacting with Naval Veterans/ Veer Naaris, and spreading awareness about
India’s rich maritime heritage.
Route and Activities Planned:
The expedition is planned to commence from INS Netaji Subhas in Kolkata on 26th March
2023 and terminate at Lakhpat Gujarat on 19th April 2023, covering a distance of
approximately 7500 Kms. The rally will arrive at INS Chilka on the historic occasion of
Passing Out of the first batch of Agniveers of the Indian Navy on 28th March 2023.
During the expedition, awareness campaigns will be conducted at various cities and
villages en route to provide information about employment opportunities in the Navy,
including the Agnipath Scheme. The Navy Welfare and Wellness Association will also
conduct outreach activities at various old age homes, orphanages, and schools for special
children, focusing on community development and empowerment.
Coastal cleaning will be undertaken at beaches en route to spread environmental
awareness. The expedition will also visit forts, lighthouses, and other places of maritime
importance along the rally route, highlighting India’s rich maritime heritage.
Partnerships:
The expedition is partnered with M/s Mahindra, who will provide a fleet of 12 vehicles,
along with Mastercard India and Indian Oil Corporation Ltd as fuel partners.
‘AIS for Taxpayer’ Mobile App
The Income Tax Department has launched a mobile app named ‘AIS for Taxpayer’ to help
taxpayers get a comprehensive view of their Annual Information Statement (AIS) on their
mobile phones. This move is in line with the government’s Digital India campaign, aimed
at providing citizens with access to various services through their smartphones.
What is AIS?
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) launched the Annual Information Statement a
few years ago to provide taxpayers with all available data related to the tax deducted or
collected at source, interest, dividends, and share transactions. It aims to offer all the
necessary information to taxpayers at the time of filing their returns.
About the App
The app offers taxpayers an easy way to access all information related to their AIS on their
smartphones. It is aimed at providing a comprehensive view of the AIS/TIS to the
taxpayer, displaying information collected from various sources pertaining to the
taxpayer.
How to Access the App?
The app is currently available for Android users only. To access this mobile app, taxpayers
need to register on the app by providing their PAN number, authenticate with the OTP
sent to their mobile number and email registered on the e-filing portal. They can then set
a 4-digit PIN to access the mobile app.
Benefits of the App
The app is expected to simplify the process of accessing taxpayer information by
providing all available data related to the tax deducted or collected at source, interest,
dividends, and share transactions on a single platform. The app also offers taxpayers the
option to provide feedback in case of discrepancies in the data that the tax authorities
receive from banks or registration offices.
International Liquid Mirror Telescope

Recently, India inaugurated the largest International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) in
Devasthal, Uttarakhand. This four-meter telescope is designed exclusively for

astronomical observations and is the first optical survey telescope in India. The
observatory will explore the deep celestial sky, classifying objects from asteroids to
supernovae, and space debris.
What is the International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT)?
The ILMT has a 4-meter-diameter rotating mirror made up of a thin layer of liquid
mercury, which is highly reflective and designed to survey the strip of the sky passing
overhead each night. The telescope has three components: a bowl containing reflecting
liquid mercury metal, an air bearing (or motor) on which the liquid mirror sits, and a drive
system. The mercury is protected from the wind by a scientific-grade thin transparent film
of mylar. The reflected light passes through a sophisticated multi-lens optical corrector
that produces sharp images over a wide field of view. A 4k × 4k CCD camera, located above
the mirror at the focus, records 22 arcminute wide strips of the sky.
Why is this a big moment for astronomy in India?
The Devasthal observatory is equipped with the largest aperture telescope available in
India that will use Big Data and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) algorithms
to classify objects in the sky. The data gathered by the telescope will be analyzed quickly
using AI and machine learning to catalog the objects in the sky, including variable and
transient stellar sources.
ILMT is designed to detect transient or variable celestial objects such as supernovae,
gravitational lenses, space debris, and asteroids. The data collected from the ILMT, over
an operational time of five years, will be ideally suited to perform a deep photometric and
astrometric variability survey.
What is CBuD App?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched the ‘Call Before u Dig’ (CBuD)
app, an initiative of the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
The app aims to prevent losses of about Rs 3,000 crore ($400 million) every year due to
damage to underlying assets like optical fibre cables. In this article, we explore the need
for the app and how it works.
Why is the app needed?
Uncoordinated digging and excavation can cause severe damage to underground utilities,
resulting in potential business loss and discomfort to citizens. It can also lead to disruption
in essential services, causing inconvenience to the public. The app aims to facilitate
coordination between excavation agencies and underground utility owners, thus reducing
such losses.
Moreover, unplanned digging can also result in accidents that may harm workers and
damage infrastructure. The CBuD app aims to mitigate such risks by ensuring that
excavation work is carried out in a planned and coordinated manner.
How does the app work?
The CBuD app connects excavators and asset owners through SMS/Email notifications and
click-to-call. Excavating companies can inquire about existing subsurface utilities before
starting excavation work, and utility owners can also find out about impending work at a
location. The app will provide real-time information about the location and depth of
underground utilities, enabling excavators to carry out their work without damaging
them.
The app’s interface is user-friendly and provides easy access to essential features like the
map, the call center, and the notification system. Excavating companies can log in to the
app and submit their excavation requests, which will then be forwarded to the relevant
utility owners for approval. Utility owners can review these requests and provide their
consent or suggest alternative solutions.
India’s 6G Vision Document
On March 23, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Bharat 6G Vision
Document, which outlines India’s plan to launch 6G communication services by 2030. The
document was developed by the Technology Innovation Group on 6G, a group of experts
from various ministries, research institutions, standardization bodies, telecom service
providers, and industry.
The 6G test bed was also launched, providing a platform for industry, academic
institutions, and others to test and validate emerging technologies. The government said
that the Bharat 6G vision document and 6G test bed would create an enabling
environment for innovation, capacity building, and faster technology adoption in the
country.
India’s Progress in Telecommunication
In August 2022, while addressing the Smart India Hackathon, PM Modi announced that
the government would launch 6G by the end of this decade, demonstrating India’s
confidence in its progress in the telecommunication industry. He also urged youths and
innovators to take advantage of the opportunity and come up with innovative solutions.
In October 2022, telecom service providers in India began providing high-speed 5G
services, and the Department of Telecom received bids worth Rs 1.50 lakh crore for the 5G
spectrum auction. PM Modi stated that initiatives around 6G within six months of the 5G
rollout demonstrate India’s confidence in becoming a significant exporter of
telecommunication technology.
6G Technology
The vision document highlights that 6G will provide ultra-low latency with speeds up to 1
terabit per second, which is 1,000 times faster than the top speed of 5G. While 5G
technology promises a speed of 40-1,100 Mbps with the potential to hit maximum speeds
of 10,000 Mbps, 6G will offer faster and more efficient communication services.
The TIG-6G group’s members will develop a roadmap and action plans for 6G in India,
providing a clear direction for the development and adoption of 6G technologies in the
country. India’s plan to launch 6G communication services by 2030 demonstrates its
commitment to adopting new technologies and remaining at the forefront of the
telecommunication industry.
March 24, 2023

Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana
On the occasion of World Forestry Day, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel
launched the Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana, also known as the Chief Minister
Tree Wealth Scheme. The scheme aims to promote tree plantation across the state by
providing financial assistance to farmers and landowners.
The Need for Tree Plantation in Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is known for its dense forest cover and rich biodiversity. However, the state
has been facing a massive loss of forest cover due to industrialization and other human
activities. The government has recognized the need for urgent action to counter the
effects of deforestation and promote tree plantation to conserve the environment.
The Chief Minister Tree Wealth Scheme
Under the Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana, the Chhattisgarh government will
provide full subsidy for tree plantation on up to 5 acres of land. For those who wish to
plant trees on more than 5 acres of land, the government will provide a 50 percent
financial subsidy. The scheme is expected to contribute towards increasing green cover in
the state.
Benefits of the Scheme
The Mukhyamantri Vriksh Sampada Yojana has several benefits for the people of
Chhattisgarh. It will not only help to increase the state’s green cover but also provide
employment opportunities for people in rural areas. The scheme will also help to conserve
soil and water resources, reduce the effects of climate change and air pollution, and
improve the overall quality of life for people in the state.
Implementation of the Scheme
The Chief Minister Tree Wealth Scheme will be implemented by the Chhattisgarh Forest
Department, which will coordinate with various stakeholders, including farmers,
landowners, and NGOs. The department will provide technical assistance and training to
ensure that the trees are planted in a systematic and sustainable manner. The scheme will
be implemented in phases, and the government has set a target of planting 6 crore trees
across the state in the next three years.
Albatross Amphibious Aircraft and HDS-AAI Deal

Hawking Defence Services, an Indian defence firm, has entered into a procurement cum
partnership agreement with Amphibian Aerospace Industries (AAI), an Australia-based
aircraft manufacturer, to manufacture the Albatross Amphibious Aircraft.
Features of the Albatross Amphibious Aircraft
The Albatross Amphibious Aircraft is designed to operate in a wide range of conditions,
making it an ideal aircraft for military and civilian applications. It is a 28-seater aircraft that
can land and take off from land, snow, and water, making it an incredibly versatile aircraft.
The aircraft has a range of up to 1,000 nautical miles and can travel at a maximum speed
of 300 knots. The aircraft has a payload capacity of 3,000 kg. The Albatross also has a
spacious cabin with large windows, providing passengers with a comfortable and scenic
flight experience.
Partnership between Hawking Defence Services and Amphibian Aerospace Industries
The partnership between Hawking Defence Services and AAI is a significant step forward
in the development of the Albatross Amphibious Aircraft. Under the agreement, Hawking
Defence Services will manufacture the aircraft in India, using AAI’s technology and
expertise. The partnership will enable the Indian defence firm to gain access to AAI’s
advanced technology and manufacturing capabilities, while also providing AAI with access
to India’s skilled workforce and growing aviation market.
Benefits of the Albatross Amphibious Aircraft
The Albatross Amphibious Aircraft has several benefits for military and civilian
applications. The aircraft’s ability to land and take off from land, snow, and water makes it
an ideal aircraft for search and rescue missions, emergency response, and disaster relief
operations. The aircraft can also be used for transportation of personnel and cargo to
remote locations, and for tourism and commercial purposes, such as aerial sightseeing
and transportation to island destinations.
Future of the Albatross Amphibious Aircraft
The partnership between Hawking Defence Services and AAI is expected to boost the
production and adoption of the Albatross Amphibious Aircraft in India and other
countries. The aircraft’s versatility and capabilities make it an attractive option for a wide
range of applications, and the partnership is expected to contribute to the growth of the
aviation industry in India and Australia.
Asteroid Ryugu and the Theory of Panspermia

A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery that could lend further
support to the theory of panspermia, which suggests that life on Earth may have
originated from outer space. The researchers have found building blocks of RNA in just 10
milligrams of materials from the asteroid Ryugu.
Ryugu is a C-type asteroid, meaning it contains a high amount of carbon. This makes it a
prime candidate for research into the origins of life, as carbon is a fundamental building
block of life as we know it. The asteroid was visited by the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2,
which collected samples from the asteroid’s surface and returned them to Earth for
analysis.
RNA Building Blocks Found in Ryugu Samples
The team of researchers analyzed the Ryugu samples using state-of-the-art analytical
techniques. They found that the samples contained adenine and guanine, which are two
of the four building blocks of RNA. RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a molecule that plays a
crucial role in the transfer of genetic information within cells.
The discovery of adenine and guanine in the Ryugu samples is significant, as it suggests
that these building blocks of RNA may have been delivered to Earth by asteroids or
comets. This could support the theory of panspermia, which suggests that life on Earth
may have originated from microorganisms or other forms of life that were carried to our
planet on asteroids or comets.

Implications for the Origins of Life on Earth
The discovery of RNA building blocks in the Ryugu samples could have profound
implications for our understanding of the origins of life on Earth. It supports the idea that
life may have originated in space and then been delivered to Earth on asteroids or comets,
rather than arising spontaneously on our planet.
This is not the first time that scientists have found evidence to support the theory of
panspermia. In recent years, researchers have discovered microorganisms that can
survive in space, as well as amino acids and other organic molecules in meteorites and
comets. However, the discovery of RNA building blocks in the Ryugu samples is
particularly significant, as RNA is a key molecule in the transfer of genetic information.
Siniyah Island and the Discovery of the Oldest Pearl Town
A team of archaeologists has made an incredible discovery on the Siniyah Island, situated
in the Persian Gulf. They have found what is believed to be the oldest pearling town in the
region. The discovery was made on the island located in the emirate of Umm al-Quwain,
which is situated about 50 km northeast of Dubai.
Pearling Towns of the Persian Gulf
Pearling was a vital industry in the Persian Gulf region for centuries. The pearls harvested
from the sea were highly prized and were used as currency, jewelry, and other valuable
items. The pearling industry was the main source of income for many of the coastal
communities in the region. The towns that grew up around the pearling industry were
centers of trade, culture, and architecture.
The Oldest Pearling Town in the Persian Gulf
The newly discovered pearling town on the Siniyah Island is believed to date back to the
7th century AD. This makes it the oldest known pearling town in the Persian Gulf region.
The town is thought to have been a bustling center of trade, culture, and commerce
during the time it was in operation.
The archaeological team that discovered the pearling town found evidence of houses,
shops, and other structures. They also found a large number of pearls, indicating that the
town was an important center for the pearling industry.
The Importance of the Discovery
The discovery of the oldest pearling town in the Persian Gulf is significant for several
reasons. Firstly, it sheds new light on the pearling industry and the way of life in the region
during the 7th century AD. Secondly, it highlights the importance of the region as a center
of trade and commerce during this time. Finally, the discovery is important for the
preservation of the region’s cultural heritage.
Preserving the Pearling Town
The discovery of the pearling town on the Siniyah Island has raised concerns about the
preservation of the site. The archaeological team is working to ensure that the site is
protected and preserved for future generations. This includes working with local
authorities to develop plans for the site’s protection and management.
What is Nemateleotris lavandula?

Scientists from the Australian Museum Research Institute, the University of Sydney, and
the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory have identified a new species of the
genus Nemateleotris. The lavender-blushed dartfish, or Nemateleotris lavandula, was
discovered in the western and central Pacific Ocean.
What are Dartfish?
Nemateleotris belongs to the bony fish family Gobiidae, which includes dartfish. Dartfish
are small, brightly colored, elongated, and moderately compressed fishes. They are known
for their elongated pennant-like first dorsal fin, which they repeatedly flick back and forth,
often in sync with their pelvic fins.
Dartfish are typically found near or in coral reefs, hovering close to the substrate in areas
that have sand channels and loose coral rubble. They usually measure no more than 7 cm
(2.8 inches) in length and feed primarily on plankton and other small invertebrates that
they pick out of the water column.
Meet Nemateleotris Lavandula
Nemateleotris currently includes five recognized species native to the Indian and Pacific
oceans. The lavender-blushed dartfish, Nemateleotris lavandula, is the newest addition to
this genus. The species was previously mistaken for the Helfrich’s dartfish, Nemateleotris
helfrichi. The molecular analysis revealed a difference of 1% in sequence data between
both species, in addition to differences in morphometric measurements, live, and
preserved coloration details.
Nemateleotris lavandula is small in size, measuring only 5 cm (2 inches) in length. The
species has a lavender to lilac body that becomes increasingly pale toward the caudal
peduncle. It is widespread across much of the western and central Pacific Ocean, including
Yakushima Island in southern Japan, the Caroline Islands, the Marshall Islands, and the
Mariana Islands, among others.
The lavender-blushed dartfish is usually found in seaward sand channels and rubble pans
adjacent to coral reefs at depths between 25-100 m (82-328 feet). It is most commonly
observed as single or paired individuals, with juveniles sometimes in small groups, often
mixed with other plankton feeders.
G20 RIIG Conference

The G20 RIIG (Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Innovation Group) Conference
will take place on March 23, bringing together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders
from around the world. The conference will focus on the theme of building a sustainable
and circular bio-economy, and discussions will cover various topics related to this critical
issue.
What is a Sustainable and Circular Bio-economy?
A bio-economy is an economic system that uses renewable biological resources, such as
crops, forests, and fisheries, to produce food, energy, and materials. A sustainable and
circular bio-economy is one that ensures the long-term sustainability of these resources
by minimizing waste and maximizing their value through efficient use and reuse. It
involves transitioning away from fossil fuels and non-renewable resources and towards a
more sustainable and regenerative economic model.
The Importance of a Sustainable and Circular Bio-economy
A sustainable and circular bio-economy is essential for meeting the global challenges of
climate change, food security, and resource depletion. It offers a path towards a more
sustainable and resilient future, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the
efficiency of resource use. Moreover, it creates new opportunities for economic growth,
job creation, and innovation.
Discussions at the G20 RIIG Conference
The G20 RIIG Conference provided a platform for experts, policymakers, and industry
leaders to discuss various aspects of a sustainable and circular bio-economy. Topics
covered will include:
1. Innovation and Technology: Exploring the latest technological developments and
innovations that can support a sustainable and circular bio-economy.
2. Sustainable Production and Consumption: Discussing ways to promote
sustainable and circular production and consumption patterns.
3. Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry: Examining the role of sustainable
agriculture and forestry in a circular bio-economy, including the use of agroforestry
and sustainable land management practices.
4. Waste Management and Recycling: Exploring the role of waste management and
recycling in a circular bio-economy and ways to promote more efficient and effective
waste management practices.
5. Circular Business Models: Discussing the development of circular business models
that can drive sustainable and regenerative economic growth.
Argentine-American Mathematician Luis Caffarelli Wins 2023 Abel Prize
The Abel Prize, named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel, is considered
one of the highest honors in mathematics. The prize is conferred every year by the King of
Norway and is awarded to one or more outstanding mathematicians. This year, the Abel
Prize was awarded to Argentine-American mathematician Luis Caffarelli for his
groundbreaking contributions to several areas of mathematics.
Who is Luis Caffarelli?
Luis Caffarelli is a distinguished mathematician who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
in 1948. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Buenos Aires in
1971 and his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1974. After completing his PhD,
Caffarelli went on to hold academic positions at several universities, including the
University of Texas at Austin, the University of Chicago, and the University of Minnesota.
Since 2010, he has been a professor of mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin.
Caffarelli’s Contributions to Mathematics
Caffarelli’s work has had a significant impact on several areas of mathematics, including
partial differential equations, calculus of variations, and free boundary problems. He is
best known for his work on the regularity of solutions to partial differential equations. His
research has helped to establish fundamental results on the regularity of solutions to

nonlinear elliptic and parabolic equations.
Caffarelli has also made important contributions to the study of free boundary problems.
Free boundary problems arise in a variety of contexts, including fluid mechanics, materials
science, and finance. Caffarelli’s work has led to new insights into the behavior of free
boundaries and has helped to develop new techniques for studying these problems.
The Importance of the Abel Prize
The Abel Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in mathematics and is widely
regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in mathematics. The prize is awarded to
individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of mathematics and
whose work has had a significant impact on the discipline.
The award of the Abel Prize not only recognizes the achievements of the recipient but also
serves to promote the importance of mathematics to a wider audience. The Abel Prize is
awarded by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, and the award ceremony is
held annually in Oslo, Norway.
450 MW Seti River-6 Hydropower Project
The Investment Board Nepal has granted permission to NHPC Limited, an Indian
company, to conduct a feasibility study of the proposed 450 MW Seti River-6 Hydropower
Project. The project will be built in the Doti and Achham districts of Nepal and aims to
provide the country with much-needed electricity.
NHPC’s involvement in Nepal’s Hydropower Projects
NHPC Limited is no stranger to hydropower projects in Nepal. The company was
previously tasked with carrying out the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the 750 MW West
Seti Hydroelectric Project. The estimated cost of both projects is around 300 billion
Nepalese rupees, with NHPC committing to invest Rs. 288 billion.
Benefits of the Seti River-6 Hydropower Project
The Seti River-6 Hydropower Project is a crucial development in Nepal’s efforts to increase
its power generation capacity and provide electricity to its people. The project will create
jobs and spur economic growth in the region, as well as reduce Nepal’s reliance on
imported electricity. Additionally, Nepal will receive 21.9% of the West Seti Hydropower
Project’s energy for free as per the agreement.

Entrusting NHPC with the Hydropower Projects
Following the cancellation of the agreement with a Chinese company, the Investment
Board Nepal has decided to entrust the construction of the West Seti Hydroelectric Project
with an indicative connected capacity of 750 MW and the Seti River-6 Hydroelectric Project
with an indicative connected capacity of 450 MW to NHPC Limited.
Environmental and Social Impacts
It is essential to assess the potential environmental and social impacts of the hydropower
projects carefully. The feasibility study will evaluate the technical, economic, and
environmental aspects of the projects, including an assessment of the site’s geology,
hydrology, and topography. The study will also determine any negative environmental
impacts and the potential mitigation measures.

Exercise Cobra Warrior
Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage-2000 aircraft have been participating in Exercise Cobra
Warrior in the United Kingdom over the past three weeks. This joint training exercise has
been taking place alongside six other Air Forces, including those from the United
Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Singapore.
This exercise involves high-intensity, large force, and tactical air war fighting operations.
The Mirage-2000s were drawn from all three existing squadrons, including those that took
part in the Balakot air strike in February 2019.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
Gp. Capt. Pranav Raj, CO of 7 Mirage squadron ‘Battle Axes’ based at Gwalior, and the
IAF’s Exercise Director, stated that the team has faced several challenges, including the
weather, which is quite different from that in Gwalior or Central India. More than 80% of
the team has seen snowfall for the first time. Despite these challenges, the maintenance
team has done an excellent job of keeping all five aircraft available for missions. The
exercise has been a great learning experience, as the IAF has flown with F-18s and F-16s
and participated in the entire spectrum of air operations, including offensive and
defensive counter missions.
Participating Countries
Finland, India, and Saudi Arabia joined Exercise Cobra Warrior for the first time. The initial
plan was to bring in indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, but they were busy with
another exercise, so the Mirage-2000s were deployed. The Saudi Arabian Air Force flew six
Eurofighter Typhoons from RAF Coningsby base, while the Indian team, Finnish team, and
Belgian Air Force flew six F/A-18 Super Hornets and six F-16s, respectively, from
Waddington airbase.
Exercise Cobra Warrior
Exercise Cobra Warrior is held twice a year and is the largest air exercise hosted by the
Royal Air Force. This edition saw around 70 aircraft take part and was directed by staff at
RAF Waddington airbase. The exercise invites participating nations to operate with each
other and with the United Kingdom. The fighter jets in the exercise were supported by RAF
Voyager mid-air refuelling aircraft flying from RAF Brize Norton, and the RAF’s Air Mobility
Force also participated in the exercise.
Vaikom Satyagraha and its Centenary Celebrations
Vaikom Satyagraha was a nonviolent protest that took place from 30 March 1924 to 23
November 1925 in the Kingdom of Travancore, now part of Kerala, India. The protest was
against the rigid and oppressive caste system prevalent in the region, which forbade lower
castes, or untouchables, from entering not just the Vaikom Temple but also from walking
on the surrounding roads. Led by Congress leaders T. K. Madhavan, K. Kelappan, and K. P.
Kesava Menon, the protest was notable for the active support and participation offered by
different communities and a variety of activists.
The Agitation and Mahatma Gandhi’s Intervention
The Vaikom Satyagraha was conceived by T. K. Madhavan, an Ezhava Congress leader and
a follower of Sri Narayana Guru. The protest demanded the right of the Ezhavas and
‘untouchables’ to use roads around the Vaikom Temple. Mahatma Gandhi himself visited
Vaikom in March 1925, and the Travancore government eventually constructed new roads
near the temple for the use of lower castes. However, the roads kept the lower castes
adequately away from the near environs of the Vaikom Temple, and the temple remained
closed to them.
The Compromise and Criticism
After the intervention of Mahatma Gandhi, the agitation was given up, and a compromise
was reached with Regent Sethu Lakshmi Bayi. She released all those arrested and opened
the north, south, and west public roads leading to Vaikom Mahadeva Temple to all castes.
However, she refused to open the eastern road. The compromise was criticized by E. V.
Ramasamy “Periyar” and some others. Only in 1936, after the Temple Entry Proclamation,
was access to the eastern road and entry into the temple allowed to the lower castes.
Vaikom Satyagraha markedly brought the method of nonviolent public protest to Kerala.
Centenary Celebrations of Vaikom Satyagraha
The 603-day-long Vaikom Satyagraha played a crucial role in announcing modernism in
the state and as a testing ground for non-violent protests in Kerala. On April 1, 2023, the
centenary celebrations of Vaikom Satyagraha will begin, and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will inaugurate the event in Kottayam.
The Father of the Dravidian Movement, Periyar, participated in the Vaikom Satyagraha and
was at the forefront of the struggle in all its phases till its very end. Acknowledging his
contributions, he also came to be known as ‘Vaikom Veerar,’ the hero of Vaikom.
National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management
The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) was established in
2011 as a research institute to support the conservation, protection, restoration, and
management of Indian coasts. Its vision is to promote sustainable coasts through
increased partnerships, conservation practices, scientific research, and knowledge
management for the benefit and well-being of current and future generations. Recently,
the first General Body Meeting of NCSCM was held to review its progress and plan for the
future.
NCSCM’s Mission and Objectives
NCSCM’s mission is to provide integrated coastal zone management solutions to address
the challenges faced by coastal ecosystems, habitats, and communities. The NCSCM
collaborates with national and international organizations to develop and implement
research-based solutions that promote sustainable coastal management practices.
One of the primary objectives of NCSCM is to develop and implement a national
framework for sustainable coastal management. This framework will guide the
development of policies, strategies, and programs that promote sustainable coastal
management practices. It will also provide a basis for monitoring and evaluating the
effectiveness of these practices.
NCSCM’s Role in Coastal Ecosystem Management

Coastal ecosystems are vital for the health and well-being of people and the environment.
They provide essential services, such as food, water, and climate regulation. However, they
are under threat from a variety of human activities, including coastal development,
pollution, and overfishing. NCSCM plays a crucial role in the management of coastal
ecosystems through its research, monitoring, and assessment activities. It works with
government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and local communities to develop
and implement management strategies that promote the sustainable use of coastal
resources.
NCSCM’s Role in Mangrove Conservation
Mangroves are an essential coastal ecosystem that provides a range of ecosystem
services, such as carbon sequestration, erosion control, and habitat for a variety of
species. However, mangroves are under threat from a variety of human activities, such as
coastal development, overexploitation, and climate change. NCSCM plays a crucial role in
mangrove conservation through its research, monitoring, and assessment activities. It
works with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and local
communities to develop and implement management strategies that promote the
sustainable use of mangrove resources.
World Tuberculosis Day 2023
World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on March 24 to raise awareness about the
global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and the efforts made to eliminate it. It provides
recognition to health professionals, researchers, policymakers, and advocates in the fight
against TB. In this article, we will discuss the history and significance of World
Tuberculosis Day, the theme for 2023, and India’s contribution to the global fight against
TB.
History and Significance of World Tuberculosis Day
World Tuberculosis Day commemorates the day when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the
tuberculosis-causing bacteria in 1882. The CDC estimates that TB has been in existence for
over three million years, and it has had several names throughout history depending on
where it was found. The theme for World TB Day 2023 is “Yes! We can end TB!” and aims
to highlight the importance of increased funding, quick action, multisectoral cooperation,

rapid adoption of new WHO guidelines, and innovative adoption in eradicating TB.
One World TB Summit
During the ‘One World TB Summit’, which was held during the World TB Day 2023, the
Prime Minister Narendra Modil highlighted India’s ideology of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam,”
which means one world, one family, and how this philosophy is providing the world with
comprehensive solutions. India has chosen the theme of ‘One Family, One World, One
Future’ during its G20 presidency, based on these beliefs.
Modi also mentioned India’s resolution to eliminate TB by 2025, five years before the
global target of 2030. He highlighted India’s efforts towards public participation, special
campaigns for nutrition, new treatment strategies, intensive use of technology, and
promoting good health through campaigns like Khelo India and Yoga. Modi further
mentioned the ‘Ni-kshay Mitra’ campaign, which urges people to join the campaign of TB-
free India, and more than 10 lakh TB patients have been adopted by citizens. Indian
children as young as 10-12 years old are also taking the fight against TB forward by
becoming Ni-kshay Mitra. Since 2018, approximately Rs 2,000 crore has been sent directly
to the bank accounts of tuberculosis patients, and about 75 lakh patients have benefited
from it.
Guillotine Parliamentary Procedure
With the ongoing verbal battle and sloganeering between the ruling party and the
opposition in the Indian Parliament, the Budget session is facing a potential washout. As a
result, the Speaker is expected to use the guillotine procedure to ensure the passage of
financial bills. In this article, we will explore the Guillotine Parliamentary Procedure and its
significance in the Indian Parliament.
What is the Guillotine Parliamentary Procedure?
The Guillotine Parliamentary Procedure is a process used in Parliament or state
assemblies to group together and expedite the passage of financial business. During the
Budget session, the procedure is used to save time when all the clauses of a measure
cannot be discussed in the allotted time.
How does the procedure work?
Each Bill is allotted a specific amount of time for consideration in Parliament. A Bill is
usually composed of several clauses. Once the allotted time to discuss the clauses of the
Bill is over, the Speaker of the House rolls out guillotine closure. The undiscussed clauses
of a bill or resolution are placed for vote alongside the discussed portions.
What happens after the guillotine closure?
Once the Speaker of the House applies the guillotine, all the outstanding demands for
grants, whether discussed or not, are put to vote at once. The Appropriations Bill is
formally introduced by the government, which gives them permission to seek funds out of
the Consolidated Fund of India. After being enacted, this Bill becomes the Appropriation
Act. The Finance Bill is then brought up for discussion following the vote on the
Appropriations Bill. The sections and changes of the Finance Bill are only discussed in
relation to the tax measures. The Finance Act becomes part of the law after this bill is
passed, and the final budget is approved.
What are the implications of voting against a money bill?
Voting on these bills is viewed as a vote of no confidence in the government if the
outcome is negative. Hence, if a money bill is voted against, a government may possibly
fall.
The current state of the Indian Parliament
The ongoing deadlock between the ruling party and the opposition has been a major
hindrance to the functioning of the Parliament. The opposition is demanding a Joint
Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani issue, while the government is
demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi for his alleged anti-India remarks.
The stalemate has led to adjournments and a significant loss of valuable time. In light of
this, the Speaker is expected to use the guillotine procedure to ensure the passage of
crucial financial bills.
Exercise Vayu Prahar - A Multi-Domain Exercise at LAC
In the midst of the ongoing stand-off between India and China at the Line of Actual
Control (LAC), the Indian Army and Air Force have conducted a 96-hour multi-domain air
and land exercise, called ‘Vayu Prahar’, in the eastern sector. The exercise was conducted
in the second week of March with the main objective of formulating plans that can lead to
synergy in multi-domain operations.
What are Multi-Domain Operations?
Multi-domain operations are used to coordinate activities across different branches of the
military to achieve converging results. Essentially, it is a mechanism to ensure that all
branches of the armed forces work together seamlessly to achieve a common goal.
Vayu Prahar Exercise
The main aim of the Vayu Prahar exercise was to enable coordination and rehearsal
among various agencies for quick mobilisation, transportation and deployment of forces
within a theatre, which can be executed across theatres. The scope of the joint exercise
included the rapid mobilisation of a rapid reaction force from the hinterland, which was
then tasked with air-land operations in a nominated advance landing ground (ALG).
Advance Landing Ground (ALG)
An ALG is usually a single landing strip for an aircraft, which in India is predominantly
operated by the military forces. After landing at the ALG, the rapid action force was
responsible for carrying out “contingency tasks” in challenging high-altitude terrain.
Location of the Exercise
Though exact location of the exercise and the ALG is unknown, there are seven to eight
ALGs in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, which lies in the eastern sector of the Line of
Actual Control (LAC) with China. In December 2022, over 200 soldiers of China’s People’s
Liberation Army clashed with Indian soldiers in the Yangtse area of Arunachal’s Tawang
district. The clash came amid rising reports of Chinese incursions and construction activity
over the past few years near the eastern sector.
India-China Stand-Off
The stand-off between India and China in the western sector of the LAC in eastern Ladakh
is now in its third year. After 17 rounds of talks at the corps commander-level, the
stalemate over Depsang Plains continues. Further talks are awaited for later this month.
Chhattisgarh Mediapersons Protection Bill 2023
The Chhattisgarh legislative Assembly has passed a Bill for the protection of mediapersons
and to prevent violence against them. The Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel, tabled the
Chhattisgarh Mediapersons Protection Bill 2023 in the House for discussion and was
pleased with its passage, calling it a historic day. The opposition BJP MLAs demanded that
the Bill be sent to the Select Committee of the Assembly for examination, but the request
was rejected by Speaker Charandas Mahant.
Registration of All Mediapersons

The Bill asks for the registration of all mediapersons, including journalists, media
institutions, and mass media such as news gatherers, freelancers, trainees, and interns.
The aim is to create a broad classification of mediapersons and to offer them better
protection.
Committee for Dealing with Complaints
A committee will be constituted to deal with complaints from the media. The chairperson
will be a retired administrative or police officer not below the rank of secretary, and three
mediapersons with over 10 years of experience, including at least one woman, and two
senior government officials will be the members of the committee. The committee will
have the same powers throughout the state as are vested with the civil court while trial of
a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
Emergency Protection Measures
The committee will have the power to recommend emergency protection measures and
protection plans to the Superintendent of Police (SP) of the district concerned, who will
take appropriate decisions as per law. In cases where there are allegations or trial or
inquiry/investigation against a mediaperson, the committee will have powers to direct the
SP of the district concerned to supervise the investigation and submit a report within 15
days.
False Complaints
The committee can also act against mediapersons for giving false complaints. For the first
false complaint, the registration will be cancelled and for a second time, a fine may go up
to Rs 10,000. A website will be created where information about the registered
mediapersons, complaints received, and action taken will be available.
Authority for Dealing with Appeals
An authority will be prescribed to deal with appeals against actions of the committee. This
will ensure that mediapersons have an avenue to appeal any actions that may be taken
against them.
Triple Threat Report
A new report released by UNICEF on March 19, 2023, highlights a major factor driving
water insecurity in the world’s worst-impacted countries. The report, titled “Triple Threat,”
reveals that a lack of monitoring of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) related
programs, projects, and policies in a third of the developing nations is causing the
problem. This lack of monitoring makes mitigation more challenging, and it’s affecting 10
African countries where children are most affected by the convergence of three water-
related threats: inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene, related diseases, and climate
hazards.
Triple Threat Analysis: Inadequate WASH, Related Diseases and Climate Hazards
The 10 African countries facing the triple burden of inadequate WASH, related diseases,
and climate hazards are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali,
Niger, Nigeria, and Somalia. According to the Children’s Climate Risk Index 2021 by
UNICEF, these countries have a combined population of 190 million children and are the
world’s most water-insecure and climate-impacted countries. They are within the top 25%
of the developing countries in terms of exposure to climate and environmental hazards,
shocks, and stresses.
Inadequate Access to WASH Facilities in Developing Countries
Globally, the percentage of households with access to at least basic drinking water rose to
90% in 2020 from 82% in 2000. Access to households with at least basic sanitation rose to
78% in 2020 from 56% in 2000 based on estimates of the World Health Organization
(WHO) / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme. Despite these global improvements,
approximately four million children under the age of five die every year due to unsafe
water, sanitation, and hygiene practices globally. Chad, in particular, has the lowest
percentage of access to basic WASH facilities and has the world’s highest burden of
deaths of children under five years due to unsafe WASH.
Slow Progress in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Considering the 2030 targets, the progress made in the last decade (until 2020) is slow, as
600 million children globally still face health issues from access to unsafe water and
sanitation or no access at all. The United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights
Council recognized the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation as part of the
binding international law in 2010. However, the report notes that countries most affected
by poor WASH, related disease, and climate threats are not on track to meet the UN-
mandated sustainable development goals (SDG) target of universal access to basic WASH
services by 2030.
Insufficient WASH Funding in Developing Countries
In 2022, the UN-Water Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking Water
found that 75% of countries had insufficient WASH funding. There is a need to scale up
investment in the sector rapidly, including from global climate financing, which is currently
estimated at $114 billion per year in developing countries. If these 10 African countries are
not on track, then the Global South will not meet SDG 6 of water and sanitation, resulting
in a huge investment in health costs.
March 25, 2023

Technology and Innovation Report 2023
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned that
green technologies, such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and electric vehicles,
may deepen global economic inequality. According to the Technology and Innovation
Report 2023 published on March 16, 2023, developed countries benefit the most from
these technologies, while developing countries may miss out on economic opportunities if
decisive actions are not taken.
The Potential Market of Green Technologies
UNCTAD estimated that green technologies could create a market worth $9.5 trillion by
2030, up from $1.5 trillion in 2020. These technologies can be used to produce goods and
deliver services with smaller carbon footprints. The market value of green frontier
technologies, such as electric vehicles, solar and wind energy, and green hydrogen, is
expected to reach $2.1 trillion in 2030, four times greater than their value today. The
market revenues for electric vehicles could rise five times, reaching $824 billion by 2030,
from today’s value of $163 billion.
The Disparities Between Developed and Developing Countries
The report found that the total exports of green technologies from developed countries
jumped to over $156 billion in 2021 from about $60 billion in 2018. In contrast, exports
from developing countries rose to only about $75 billion from $57 billion. Only a few
developing countries have the capacity needed to take advantage of frontier technologies
such as blockchain, drones, and solar power, according to the ‘frontier technology
readiness index’ included in the report. This index ranks 166 countries based on
information and communication technology (ICT) skills, research and development,
industrial capacity, and finance indicators. High-income economies such as the United
States, Sweden, Singapore, Switzerland, and the Netherlands are currently leading the
index.
The Readiness of Developing Countries
Several economies in Asia, such as India, the Philippines, and Vietnam, have made
important policy changes that have enabled them to perform better than expected,
according to their gross domestic product per capita. India remains the greatest
performer, ranking 67 positions better than expected, followed by the Philippines (54
positions better) and Vietnam (44 positions better). In contrast, countries in Latin America,
the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa are the least ready to harness frontier technologies
and are at risk of missing current technological opportunities.
The Importance of Global Cooperation
UNCTAD calls on governments in developing countries to align environmental, science,
technology, innovation, and industrial policies. It urges them to prioritize investment in
greener and more complex sectors, provide incentives to shift consumer demand towards
greener goods, and boost investment in research and development. However, the UN
body highlighted that developing countries cannot take advantage of green technologies
on their own. Much of the success of their domestic policies will depend on global
cooperation through international trade, which would require reforms to existing trade
rules to ensure consistency with the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change.
Providing Assistance to Developing Countries
The report urged developed countries to provide a helping hand to their less well-off
counterparts and ensure all nations can participate and take full economic advantage of
the green tech revolution. International trade rules should permit developing countries to
protect emerging green industries through tariffs, subsidies, and public procurement, so
that they not only meet local demand but also reach the economies of scale that make
exports more competitive.
Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023
The Ugandan parliament has recently passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023, which
proposes stringent penalties for anyone engaging in sex with a person of the same
gender. The punishments range from imprisonment to capital punishment, and even
entities like media groups, journalists, and publishers can be convicted of promoting
homosexuality. The Bill has been met with widespread condemnation and calls for its veto.
Penalties and Definitions in the Bill
Under the new Bill, anyone who “tries” to have same-sex relations will face seven years of
imprisonment. Even touching another person with the intention of committing
homosexual acts is prohibited. People found guilty of the “offense of homosexuality” can
face up to ten years of imprisonment. The crime of “aggravated homosexuality” is defined
as homosexual acts committed by an HIV-infected person, involving children or disabled
persons, or against anyone in an inebriated state who is incapable of giving informed
consent. “Aggravated homosexuality” is punishable with the death penalty.
The Bill also punishes minors convicted of engaging in same-sex acts with up to three
years’ imprisonment and a period of “rehabilitation”. Besides this, it punishes individuals
convicted of trafficking children or grooming them to engage in same-sex acts with life
imprisonment.
Entities like media groups, journalists, and publishers can be convicted of promoting
homosexuality, and they will have to face up to five years imprisonment and/ or pay a fine
of up to 1 billion Ugandan shillings. The Bill outlaws providing accommodation that
facilitates the “offense of homosexuality.” Therefore, even a property owner whose
premises are used as a “brothel for homosexual acts” or any other LGBTQ rights activities
can face the risk of getting arrested. If anyone conducts or officiates a same-sex marriage
ceremony, they can be imprisoned for ten years.
Objective and Status of the Bill
The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Anita Annet Among, has stated that the House will
continue passing laws to “recognise, protect and safeguard” the morals and culture of
their country. The Bill’s objective is to establish comprehensive and enhanced legislation
to protect traditional family values, diverse culture, and faiths by prohibiting any form of
sexual relations between people of the same sex & promoting it.
The Bill has now been sent to Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, who has a history of
anti-gay remarks. He can either use his veto power over the law or sign it into law within
30 days. While the Bill hasn’t officially been published, a majority of its elements were
discussed in Parliament.
Reactions to the Bill
The Bill has faced severe criticism and condemnation from various quarters. Amnesty
International has called the law “appalling,” “ambiguous” and “vaguely worded” and
urged President Museveni to urgently veto it. UK Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell and the
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have also condemned the Bill. The White House
press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has warned Uganda of possible sanctions, restricting
lawmakers responsible for passing the anti-LGBTQ Bill from doing business with the US.
The bill’s mandatory reporting provision has also been criticized as it makes it illegal to
identify as LGBTQ. This provision requires friends, family, and community members of
those engaging in same-sex relationships to report them to the authorities. This
mandatory reporting provision calls for a fine or six months imprisonment.
Previous Anti-Homosexuality Bill
This Bill is a “revised and more egregious version of the 2014 Anti-Homosexuality Act” that
Uganda tried to introduce in 2014. The 2014 Act reinforced existing prison sentences
under the Penal Code for same-sex conduct and outlawed the “promotion of
homosexuality.”
Lake Natron - An Alkaline Lake in Tanzania

Lake Natron is a fascinating natural wonder located in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. The
crimson waters of this alkaline lake look surreal and are indeed mesmerizing, but not
enticing enough to force people to take a dip in it. The lake has become a centre of
attraction for experts and analysts due to its unique features and mysterious history. In
this article, we will delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding Lake Natron and explore
some interesting facts about this unusual body of water.
What Makes Lake Natron So Unique?
Lake Natron is unique due to its hostile conditions that make it difficult for most animals
to survive. The lake contains salt, soda, and magnesite deposits, which contribute to its
alkaline nature. The deposits of sodium carbonate found in the surrounding hills make the
water extremely caustic, with a pH of over 10.5. This hostile environment is due to the
active volcano, Ol Doinyo Lengai, which emits rare natrocarbonatites – a carbonatite lava
found only in this volcano.
The Myth of “Stoned” Animals
One of the most intriguing aspects of Lake Natron is the myth that the lake turns animals
that touch it into “stone.” While several media reports suggest this, there is no scientific
proof to support this claim. In fact, the same water supports a thriving ecosystem of salt
marshes, freshwater wetlands, and flamingos. The flamingoes, in particular, thrive in this
hostile environment, making it their breeding ground.
Nick Brandt’s Images
In 2013, English photographer Nick Brandt published a book titled “Across the Ravaged
Land,” which documented the disappearing animals of Eastern Africa. In the book, Brandt
published a series of haunting images of Lake Natron and its surroundings, showing dead
animals washed up on its shoreline. While the book does not provide a definitive answer
to the myth of “stoned” animals, it raises some important questions about the lake’s role
in the ecosystem.
Claude Lorius - a Pioneer in Climate Science
Claude Lorius, a pioneering glaciologist, passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of
91. He was best known for his research into climate change, specifically his work in
Antarctica which helped prove that humans were responsible for global warming.
Early Life and Career

Lorius was born in Besançon, France, in 1932. He was a curious and adventurous child, and
his love for exploration would eventually lead him to become a renowned scientist. In
1956, just out of university, Lorius joined an expedition to Antarctica. This trip sparked his
fascination with the continent and its mysteries.
The Discovery
It was during a 1965 expedition to Antarctica that Lorius made his most significant
discovery. One evening, after drilling into the ice, he and his team enjoyed a glass of
whiskey with ice cubes made from the ice samples they had just collected. As they
watched the bubbles of air sparkling in their glasses, Lorius realized that the air bubbles
were samples of the atmosphere trapped in the ice. This revelation led him to study ice
cores, which act as frozen time capsules.
Research and Impact
Lorius’s research into air bubbles trapped in the ice was published in 1987. It showed that
for long periods, levels of carbon dioxide varied slightly, but after the Industrial
Revolution, concentrations of the greenhouse gas had skyrocketed as temperatures rose.
His research brought him international renown and allowed scientists to look back over
160,000 years’ worth of glacial records. The French National Centre for Scientific Research
(CNRS) said it left “no room for doubt” that global warming was due to man-made
pollution.
Campaigner and Legacy
From then on, Lorius became a campaigner for climate action. In 1988, he was the
inaugural expert of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In
2002, he was awarded the CNRS gold medal, along with his colleague Jean Jouzel.
Lorius’s impact on climate science cannot be overstated. His research into ice cores
provided essential evidence of human-induced climate change, and his advocacy work
helped raise awareness of the urgent need for action. He was a pioneer in his field and
inspired countless scientists to continue the fight against climate change.
World Happiness Report 2023
The annual World Happiness Report, published by the United Nations Sustainable
Development Solutions Network, has just been released, and it reveals that Finland
remains the happiest country in the world for the sixth consecutive year. The report is
based on data from the main life evaluation question in the Gallup World Poll, which
measures how happy citizens perceive themselves to be.
Top 10 Countries in the World Happiness Report
The report ranked the top 10 happiest countries, with Finland in the lead followed by
Denmark, Iceland, Israel, and the Netherlands. Other European countries such as Sweden,
Norway, Switzerland, and Luxembourg also made the top 10. New Zealand was the only
non-European country to make it to the top 10. The rankings are based on a range of
factors such as social support, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity,
and perceptions of corruption.
India’s Position in the World Happiness Report

India’s position in the World Happiness Report has improved from 136 to 126, although it
is still behind its neighboring countries such as Nepal, China, and Bangladesh. Despite
having the world’s fastest-growing economy, India’s ranking in the report has consistently
been low, leading some to question how it can be ranked lower than countries in turmoil.
Russia and Ukraine in the World Happiness Report
Despite the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, both countries rank higher than
India in the World Happiness Report, with Russia ranked 70th and Ukraine ranked 92nd.
The report indicates that both countries experienced increased levels of kindness in 2020
and 2021, but in 2022, Ukraine saw a sharp rise in benevolence while it declined in Russia.
The World’s Least Happy Countries
The World Happiness Report also highlights the least happy countries, with Afghanistan
ranking as the unhappiest country out of the 137 nations surveyed. The report also
highlighted other nations such as Lebanon, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of
Congo as being among the unhappiest countries, largely due to factors such as high levels
of corruption and low life expectancy.
About the World Happiness Report
The World Happiness Report is a comprehensive analysis of happiness levels across the
world based on various criteria, including both domestic and global factors. The report
gauges happiness based on feedback from a nationally representative sample of
individuals regarding their current life satisfaction levels. The first report was published in
2012 and has been released annually since then, typically in March.
Marburg Virus: Tanzania Reports its First-Ever Outbreak
Tanzania has recently confirmed its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus, a highly
contagious and deadly virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever. The World Health
Organization (WHO) has reported that the confirmation by Tanzania’s national public
laboratory followed the death of five people in the northwest Kagera region who
developed symptoms, which include fever, vomiting, bleeding, and renal failure. Here’s
what you need to know about the Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania.
What is Marburg virus?
Marburg virus is an Ebola-like virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever. The virus is the
causative agent of Marburg virus disease (MVD), a disease with a case fatality ratio of up
to 88%, but can be much lower with good patient care. Both Marburg and Ebola viruses
are members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus), and the two diseases are clinically similar.
Transmission
Human MVD infection results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by
Rousettus bat colonies. Marburg spreads through human-to-human transmission via
direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions,
organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g.
bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids. Health-care workers have frequently
been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed MVD.

Symptoms of Marburg virus disease
The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) varies from 2 to 21
days. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache,
and severe malaise. Muscle aches and pains are a common feature. Severe watery
diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, and vomiting can begin on the third day.
Many patients develop severe hemorrhagic manifestations between 5 and 7 days, and
fatal cases usually have some form of bleeding, often from multiple areas. In fatal cases,
death occurs most often between 8 and 9 days after symptom onset, usually preceded by
severe blood loss and shock.
Outbreak history
Marburg virus disease was initially detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in
Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany; and in Belgrade, Serbia. Two large outbreaks that
occurred simultaneously in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and in Belgrade, Serbia,
led to the initial recognition of the disease. Subsequently, outbreaks and sporadic cases
have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa,
and Uganda. In 2008, two independent cases were reported in travelers who had visited a
cave inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies in Uganda.
Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania
Tanzania has confirmed eight cases of MVD in its first-ever outbreak. The three who
survived were getting treatment, with 161 contacts being monitored.
Prevention and control measures
Prevention and control measures for Marburg virus disease include standard infection
control practices, such as wearing gloves and other protective equipment when caring for
patients with suspected or confirmed MVD, and proper sterilization of medical equipment.
Health-care workers should be trained on proper infection control procedures to prevent
transmission. Burial ceremonies that involve direct contact with the body of the deceased
can also contribute to the transmission of Marburg.
March 27, 2023
188th Raising Day of Assam Rifles

The Assam Rifles (AR) is a central paramilitary force responsible for border security,
counter-insurgency, and maintaining law and order in Northeast India. It is also
responsible for guarding the Indo-Myanmar border. The AR is the oldest paramilitary
force in India, originally raised in 1835 as Cachar Levy, a militia to protect tea gardens and
fertile plains of Assam against unruly tribes. Its scope increased with the expansion of
British Raj in Northeast India, and were used against insurgency in the region. The force
was redesigned as Assam Frontier Police in 1883, Assam Military Police in 1891, and East
Bengal and Assam Military Police in 1913. It got its present name in 1917.
Recruitment, perks, promotions, and retirement policies of AR are governed by CAPF rules.
Around 80 percent of its officers are deputed from the Indian Army, and the remaining
from AR cadre. The AR is commanded by the Director General of the Assam Rifles (DG AR)
who is appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Celebrating the 188th Raising Day
On March 24, 2023, the Assam Rifles celebrated its 188th raising day in Shillong. The AR
battalions in Manipur also celebrated the occasion with various welfare activities for
school children, orphans, and others as a part of its service to the nation. The Tamenglong
Battalion under the aegis of Jwalamukhi Sector organized a visit to nearby orphanages
and schools at Tamenglong, Kahulong, Awangkhul, Tamei, and Dikuiram and carried out
celebrations with the children.
Wreath Laying Ceremony and Sainik Sammelan
The Sehlon Battalion under the aegis of Headquater Inspector General Assam Rifles
(South) conducted a wreath-laying ceremony for all Martyrs of Assam Rifles, special Sainik
Sammelan for Troops, screening of a short movie on unit history, and barakhana. The
occasion was celebrated with full zeal and enthusiasm.
Commitment to Serving the Nation
The Assam Rifles remain committed to service to the nation. The tales of sacrifice,
courage, and friendship of Assam Rifles wherein they beat all odds of harsh terrain and
weather of North East have always been an inspiration for people all over the nation. The
force has been serving the nation for the last 187 years, earning many laurels at all levels.
Doubling of the Gooty-Pendekallu Line
The Ministry of Railways has recently given the nod to the doubling of the railway line
between Gooty and Pendekallu stations in Andhra Pradesh. Let’s take a look at what this
means and how it will impact train travel between Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Doubling of Railway Line: Cost and Distance
The railway line between Gooty and Pendekallu stations covers a distance of 29.2 km and
will cost an estimated Rs 352 crore for doubling.
Critical Role of Gooty-Pendekallu Section
This section falls under the South Central Railway (SCR) zone and handles busy train traffic
between Hyderabad and Bengaluru. It plays an important role in connecting cities and
beyond as most of the trains pass through this section.
Increased Passenger and Freight Traffic
Over the years, there has been a steady increase in both passenger and freight trains,
leading to the saturation of the section. This has made the doubling of the railway line
necessary.
Ease of Train Movement and Improved Efficiency
Doubling of the railway line between Gooty and Pendekallu stations will ease train
movement and improve operational efficiency. It will also provide the opportunity to
introduce more trains on this section.
Focus on Doubling Critical and Saturated Sections
The Ministry of Railways is focusing on doubling critical and saturated sections for
incorporating agility in the mobility of trains. In addition to the Gooty-Pendekallu section,
the Pendekallu and Guntur sections have already been sanctioned for doubling as part of
the Guntakal-Guntur doubling project.
Seamless Bidirectional Movement of Trains
Another key section, Gooty-Dharmavaram, has also been converted into a double line
section recently. Now, the Gooty-Pendekallu doubling will enable seamless bidirectional
movement of trains along double lines between Hyderabad and Bengaluru and beyond.
Impact on Socio-economic Development
Doubling of railway lines will not only ease the movement of trains and reduce congestion
but also give a shot in the arm of socio-economic development in these regions with
faster moving passenger and freight trains.
Connecting Hyderabad and Bengaluru
The Gooty-Pendekallu section is critical for train travel between Hyderabad and
Bengaluru. Doubling of the railway line will enable seamless bidirectional movement of
trains along double lines between these two cities and beyond.
DigiClaim Module Under PMFBY
On March 24, 2023, Union Minister of Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar launched the
National Crop Insurance Portal’s digitized claim settlement module ‘DigiClaim’ in New
Delhi, India. The module falls under the ambit of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
(PMFBY), and will disburse claims electronically, benefitting farmers from six states. The
launch marks a revolutionary step towards ensuring that farmers can receive claim
amounts digitally in a time-bound and automated manner, making them self-reliant and
empowered.
The Launch and Benefits of DigiClaim Module
At the launch, Union Minister Tomar informed that with the DigiClaim Module, insurance
claims totaling Rs 1260.35 crore have been disbursed on March 23, 2023, to insured
farmers in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and
Haryana with the click of a button. The process will continue as and when the claims are
released. With this launch, the automated claim settlement process will be an ongoing
activity to ease all insured farmers’ lives and provide them with a sustainable financial
flow and support.
One of the significant advantages of the DigiClaim Module is that farmers’ claims will be
processed directly to their respective bank accounts in a transparent and accountable
manner. The technology has been enabled through the integration of the National Crop
Insurance Portal (NCIP) and Public Finance Management System (PFMS). This would
directly impact the claim reversal ratio, which is expected to go down with DigiClaim.
Another noteworthy feature of this digital advancement is that farmers would be able to
track the claim settlement process on their mobile phones in real-time and avail the
scheme’s benefits.
Rejoining PMFBY: A Shining Example of Cooperative Federalism
Currently, the Central Government is closely working with all exited states from the
scheme and has had discussions with their senior officials. Andhra Pradesh and Punjab
are making a comeback to the scheme, which shows a shining example of coorporative
federalism. Governments of Telangana, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, and Jharkhand have
also been approached to rejoin PMFBY, and several discussions have been underway. Out
of these states, Telangana and Jharkhand have indicated their willingness to come back
under PMFBY.
What is Sagar Manthan?
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) launched a Real-time
Performance Monitoring Dashboard called ‘Sagar Manthan’ virtually. Union Minister for
Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the
dashboard. Here are the details about ‘Sagar Manthan’.
More about ‘Sagar Manthan’
The digital platform is designed to have all integrated data related to the ministry and
other subsidiaries. The platform was developed in-house by the union ministry. It was
completed efficiently in less than 1.5 months.
Significance of ‘Sagar Manthan’
The newly launched dashboard is expected to enhance the functioning of different
departments by providing well-coordinated and up-to-date information in real-time. The
MoPSW has demonstrated its commitment to promoting the growth of India’s maritime
transport sector by launching the ‘Sagar Manthan’ Dashboard. It represents a step
towards digitalization and transparency in the sector.
Key Features of ‘Sagar Manthan’ Dashboard
The ‘Sagar Manthan’ dashboard has five key features:
1. Data visualization: The dashboard allows the user to see the data in a visual form
that is easy to understand. The user can see the data in the form of graphs, charts,
and tables.
2. Real-time monitoring: The dashboard provides real-time updates on the
performance of different departments. The user can see the performance of
different departments in real-time.
3. Improved communication: The dashboard provides a platform for improved
communication between different departments. The user can communicate with
different departments through the dashboard.

4. Data-driven decision making: The dashboard provides data that can be used for
decision making. The user can use the data to make informed decisions.
5. Increased accountability: The dashboard ensures that all the entities under the
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways are accountable and transparent.
Exercise Konkan 2023
The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy conducted their annual bilateral maritime exercise
called Konkan 2023 off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea from March 20 to 22, 2023.
This exercise involved INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23
guided missile frigate, and aimed to improve cooperation and learn best practices
through various maritime drills.
Exercise Drills
These drills covered air, surface, and sub-surface operations, such as gunnery shoots on
an inflatable surface target called ‘Killer Tomato,’ helicopter operations, anti-aircraft, and
anti-submarine warfare exercises, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), ship
manoeuvres, and personnel exchange.
Benefits
The maritime exercise proved to be highly beneficial for the personnel of both navies, as it
displayed a remarkable level of professionalism and enthusiasm throughout its execution.
The personnel were focused on operational readiness, improving cooperation, and the
ability to conduct joint operations.
Improving Cooperation
The exercise aimed to improve cooperation between the Indian and Royal Navy. Such
efforts will significantly contribute to strengthening the Indian Navy and Royal Navy’s
combined efforts in enhancing maritime security and maintaining a rules-based order in
the region.
Learning Best Practices
The Konkan 2023 exercise was a great opportunity for the Indian and Royal Navy to learn
best practices from each other. Both navies learned from each other’s experiences and
demonstrated their operational capabilities to each other.
Surface and Sub-Surface Operations
The exercise included surface and sub-surface operations. The personnel of both navies
conducted anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare exercises, which would be beneficial in
any future operations.
Gunnery Shoots
One of the highlights of the exercise was gunnery shoots on an inflatable surface target
called ‘Killer Tomato.’ This drill tested the accuracy and precision of the personnel’s
gunnery skills.
Helicopter Operations
The exercise included helicopter operations, which were focused on enhancing the skills
of the personnel in operating helicopters in a maritime environment.
Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS)
The exercise included a Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) operation, which is an
essential aspect of maritime security. The VBSS operation tested the personnel’s ability to
conduct search and seizure operations on suspect vessels.
Ship Manoeuvres
The exercise included ship manoeuvres, which tested the personnel’s ability to manoeuvre
ships in various scenarios.
Personnel Exchange
The exercise also included personnel exchange between the Indian and Royal Navy. This
exchange helped personnel of both navies to understand each other’s culture and
working styles.
What is Haeil Drone?

North Korea has recently unveiled its new nuclear underwater drone, which has caused
concerns in the international community. The drone, dubbed “Haeil” or Tsunami, is
designed to create massive radioactive waves through submarine explosions. North
Korean state news agency KCNA claims that the drone can be deployed at any coast and
port or towed by a surface ship for operation. The country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, was
reportedly “greatly satisfied” after the drone was successfully tested.
Test-Firing and Capabilities of the Drone
The nuclear tsunami drone was launched earlier this week off the coast of Riwon County
in South Hamgyong Province. It reportedly cruised underwater for 59 hours at a depth of
80 to 150 metres before detonating at the target location. North Korea also launched four
strategic cruise missiles affixed with mock nuclear warheads.
Concerns and Criticism from Experts
North Korea’s claims regarding the capabilities of its advanced tsunami drones have been
met with skepticism and criticism from experts. It is not confirmed whether North Korea
has developed miniature versions of nuclear warheads that can be fitted on smaller
weapons like drones. Additionally, there is no indication that the drones are deployment-
ready. Despite these uncertainties, experts have warned against downplaying the rising
nuclear threat emanating from Pyongyang.
Joint Military Drills and North Korea’s Reaction
The joint military drills between South Korea and the United States have greatly riled the
North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. The drills have caused tensions between the two
Koreas, and North Korea’s recent display of its nuclear capabilities is seen as a response to
the drills. Pyongyang claims that its new nuclear drones will not only destroy enemy ports
but also disrupt the naval operations in the target area.
New US-Canada Border Deal

A new US-Canada border deal has recently taken effect with the aim to halt the flow of
asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings. The agreement has closed a loophole that
previously allowed migrants to claim asylum at such unofficial ports of entry. Under the
new accord, migrants caught crossing anywhere along the 3,145-mile (5,060-km) border
can now be sent back. This comes at a time when there has been a rise in migrant
crossings into Canada from the US side.
The new deal extends the Safe Third Country Act (STCA) along the entire border, including
internal waterways. The original 2004 agreement required migrants to make an asylum
claim in the first “safe” country they reach, whether it is the US or Canada. The STCA
allowed either nation to turn migrants away at official points of entry, but not at unofficial
crossing points like Roxham Road.
Record Numbers of Migrants
A record number of migrants, around 40,000, crossed into Canada last year, with the
majority of them entering through Roxham Road. The new deal is part of efforts to limit
an influx of migrants at Roxham Road, an unofficial crossing between New York state and
the province of Quebec.
Criticism and Concerns
The new deal has been criticized by refugee advocates as being ineffective at ending the
irregular crossing of migrants into Canada. There are concerns that it could incentivize
human smuggling.
Biden’s Visit to Canada
While in Canada, President Joe Biden spoke of the importance of the deep economic ties
and the defense alliances between the two nations, as well as their joint support for
Ukraine. The two leaders pledged to stand together against authoritarian regimes. They
also discussed reducing dependence on China for semiconductors and the critical
minerals needed to make batteries and electric cars.
The ongoing instability in Haiti was also discussed, where the economy is in crisis and
gang violence and kidnappings have risen sharply. The US has pushed Canada to lead an
international force to support security forces in the Caribbean country.
Global Coalition on the Opioid Crisis
The two countries announced that they will lead a new “global coalition” on the opioid
crisis. It will look to tackle the issue of drug trafficking not only in North America but
across the world.
Gaj Utsav 2023 - Celebrating 30 Years of Project Elephant
The Indian Government is set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Project Elephant with
the Gaj Utsav 2023. This two-day event aims to promote elephant conservation, protect
their habitat and corridors, and prevent human-elephant conflicts. It will also ensure the
welfare of captive elephants in India.
Inauguration and Venue
The Gaj Utsav 2023 will be inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on April 9 at
Kaziranga National Park in Assam. This event is significant as Kaziranga is a UNESCO
World Heritage site and home to the highest density of tigers in the world.
Project Elephant: Its Significance
Project Elephant is a centrally-sponsored scheme launched in 1991-92 to protect elephants
and their habitats in India. With an estimated population of 30,000-40,000 elephants, India
accounts for more than 60 per cent of the global wild elephant population. Elephants are
considered a national heritage animal protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life
Protection Act, 1972.
Celebrating Project Tiger’s 50th Anniversary
In addition to the Gaj Utsav, India is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger
in Mysuru, Karnataka. Starting on April 7, this event aims to showcase India’s tiger
conservation success globally, release the latest tiger census data, and present the
government’s vision for tiger conservation.
India’s Tiger Conservation Success
Project Tiger, launched in 1973, promotes tiger conservation in India. Approximately 2.4
per cent of India’s geographical area is covered by tiger reserves, which serve as
repositories for biodiversity conservation, ensure regional water security and carbon
sequestration, and contribute to accomplishing India’s climate change mitigation targets.
India has a current tiger population of about 3,000, accounting for more than 70 per cent
of the global wild tiger population. The tiger population in India is increasing at six per
cent per annum, which is significant in the context of global tiger conservation.
Chenab Bridge - World's Highest Rail Bridge
The Indian Railways is constructing the world’s highest railway bridge in the challenging
terrain of the Himalayas, which is expected to be completed in the coming months. The
Chenab Bridge, an engineering marvel, is a part of the strategically important Udhampur-
Srinagar-Baramullah (USBRL) railway link that will connect Jammu & Kashmir to the rest of
India.
Impressive Statistics of the Chenab Bridge
The Chenab Bridge is 35 meters taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, making it the world’s
highest rail bridge. The 1.3 km long bridge has a design speed of 100 kmph for trains and
a lifespan of 120 years.
Completion and Use of the Bridge
The USBRL project is expected to be completed by December 2023 or January 2024. The
Vande Bharat Express train will run over the Chenab bridge, and a maintenance facility for
Vande Bharat trains will be established in Badgam. The new Vande Metro, developed for
short-distance inter-city travel, will also run between Jammu and Srinagar.
The Significance of the Bridge
The 111 km stretch from Katra to Banihal is essential, and the 1.3 km long Chenab Bridge
is a crucial part of this stretch. Once completed, the entire USBRL Railway project will
provide all-weather connectivity and join Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of India.
Expertise and Cost of the Project
Several international agencies and premier Indian institutes, such as IIT Roorkee, IIT Delhi,
DRDO, and Geological Survey of India, are providing their expertise in planning and
implementing the bridge project. The ambitious project is being executed by Konkan
Railway Corporation Ltd. at an estimated cost of Rs. 1486 crore.
G20 Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable

The G20 Chief Science Advisers’ Roundtable (CSAR) is a critical government-to-
government initiative of the G20 Presidency that will deliberate on free and universal
access to scientific journals that are behind paywalls. India assumed the G20 presidency
on December 1, 2022, and the G20 summit will be held in New Delhi from September 9-10,
2023.
CSAR’s Meetings and Objectives
In the run-up to the G20 summit, CSAR will be organising two high-level meetings in
Ramnagar, Uttarakhand and Bengaluru. The participating G20 nations will discuss access
to scientific journals that are free, immediate, and universal. Additionally, they will talk
about high subscription and article processing charges levied by journals, interoperable
inter-linking of national repositories with international repositories and archives, and an

open access mandate to make knowledge outputs of public-funded scientific research
widely available.
Furthermore, on CSAR’s agenda is promoting One Health for disease control and
preparedness, improving diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in science and
technology (S&T) and setting up an institutional mechanism for inclusive, continuous and
action-oriented global S&T policy dialogue.
Free Access to Scientific Journals
Most scientific papers charge high subscription rates from readers. In 2019, the University
of California dropped its nearly $11 million annual subscription to Elsevier, the world’s
largest publisher of academic journals. Although open-access journals are free for
readers, they charge fees from scientists who wish to publish papers in them. Open access
papers have drastically fewer lead authors from low-income regions than paywalled
articles.
The One Health Agenda
Participating G20 nations will discuss a pandemic preparedness plan for flexible, adaptive,
and timely responses to pandemics as well as integrated disease surveillance mechanisms
for humans, livestock, and wildlife, as part of the One Health agenda. They will also talk
about developing a roadmap for diseases and investing in analytics capacity (such as
disease modelling, artificial intelligence, and machine learning tools) and data standards.
Other Government-to-Government Initiatives
Besides CSAR, other government-to-government initiatives are a part of the G20. These
include Science-20 (S20) and G20 Research Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG). The S20
Engagement Group will comprise the national science academies of the G20 countries.
RIIG aims to address the challenges of achieving socioeconomic equity through research
and innovation.
The State of School Feeding Worldwide 2022
A new report by the World Food Programme (WFP) has found that the reach of school
meals in low-income countries remains four percent below pre-pandemic levels. The State
of School Feeding Worldwide 2022 report also revealed that Africa had the biggest
declines in school meal coverage.

Moderate Increases in High and Middle-Income Countries
In contrast, high-income, upper middle-income, and lower middle-income countries
showed a consistent, modest increase of four percent, four percent, and 12 percent,
respectively. This data shows that while school meal programs in low-income countries
are struggling, those in higher-income countries are improving.
Targeted Support Needed for Low-Income Countries
The report emphasizes the need for external development partners to particularly target
support at low-income countries, where school meal programs are critical safety nets for
vulnerable children and households. Despite increased domestic funding for school meals,
low-income countries are still struggling due to decreased contributions from donors,
which have fallen from 69 percent to 55 percent.

Increase in Number of Children Fed, But Disparities Remain
Approximately 420 million children around the world receive school meals, an increase of
30 million or seven percent from the 388 million children reported in 2020. Of the 30
million increases in the number of children receiving school meals between 2020 and
2022, the five countries that accounted for 19 million of the increase in the number of
children fed were Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Impact of School Meal Programs
The report also highlights the significant impact of school meal programs on education,
health, and nutrition, as well as social protection. According to the WFP, school feeding
programs can increase enrollment rates by nine percent and attendance by eight percent.
Additionally, research shows that for every $1 invested in school feeding programs, there
is a return of $9.
Job Creation through School Meal Programs
School meal programs are also an important contributor to job creation, with the potential
to create 1,000-2,000 jobs for every 100,000 children receiving school meals. While the vast
majority of these jobs are cooks and food preparers, there are also opportunities for other
roles.
Exostoma Dhritiae - New Species of Catfish from Arunachal Pradesh
A team of scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recently discovered a new
catfish species in Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery was announced in a statement by the
ZSI. The new catfish species has been christened ‘Exostoma Dhritiae’.
Discovery and Naming of Exostoma Dhritiae
The new species was found in Siking stream, a tributary of Siang river in Upper Siang
district of Arunachal Pradesh. The discovery of this new catfish species adds to the
biodiversity of India. The scientists of the ZSI named the new species ‘Exostoma Dhritiae’
after Dhriti Banerjee, the first woman director of the ZSI, as a mark of honour for her
contributions to research on the fauna of the country.
Size and Local Name of Exostoma Dhritiae
The new species is a small fish found in streams in these hills and is called ‘Ngorang’ by
local tribals. Its discovery is a significant feat as the finding of new, smaller species can be
much more difficult than larger ones. The new species adds to the diversity of life in the
region and can help scientists better understand the ecology of the area.
Location of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state in northeastern India, bordering the states of Assam and
Nagaland to the south and sharing international borders with Bhutan to the west,
Myanmar to the east, and China to the north. The location of Arunachal Pradesh makes it
a hotspot for biodiversity as it is home to a variety of ecosystems, including rainforests,
grasslands, and high altitude mountain ranges.
Role of ZSI in Research
The ZSI is a premier organization in the field of zoological research and is responsible for
carrying out surveys, studies, and research on various aspects of animal taxonomy and
ecology. The discovery of Exostoma Dhritiae is just one example of the important work
being done by the ZSI.
March 28, 2023
Vedic Heritage Portal
The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has recently launched the Vedic
Heritage Portal, a digital repository of vedic knowledge and traditions from across the
country. This portal is the result of a seven-year effort and an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore.
The Vedic Heritage Portal is a one-stop solution for researchers and others who seek
information about the Vedic heritage of India. It was launched by Union Home Minister
Amit Shah and Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy during the IGNCA’s 36th
Foundation Day celebrations.
Mapping the Vedic Heritage of the Country
The Vedic Heritage Portal is an effort to map the Vedic heritage of India. The portal offers
detailed information about oral traditions, textual tradition in the form of published
books/manuscripts, or implements (yajna-related objects). The aim of the portal is to
collate information for making Vedas accessible to people and provide a forum for further
dialogue. It is a digital platform that preserves and promotes the ‘Vedas’, which are an
intangible heritage of humanity as per the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Content on the Vedic Heritage Portal
Over 550 hours of audio-visual content related to more than 18,000 Vedic mantras have
been uploaded on the website, prepared in conjunction with people who know Vedas,
Vedic research institutes, Vedapathi families, and experts from all over the world. The
Vedic Heritage Portal is available in a mix of English and Hindi, besides audio content in
Sanskrit. The portal also includes research articles and lectures on scientific subjects
explaining the relevance of ‘Vedic knowledge’ in the perspective of modern science.
IGNCA’s Future Plans
Apart from the Vedic Heritage Portal, the IGNCA is planning to create a museum dedicated
to the Vedic implements, or vessels used in yajna. The museum will showcase over 250
vessels from the vedic traditions of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
IGNCA is also working on a project called Vrihattar Bharat, which will explore cultural
linkages of India with 40 other countries, including South East Asian Nations such as
Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Mongolia.
Who was Basavanna?

Basava, also known as Basavanna, was a 12th-century CE Indian statesman, philosopher,
poet, Lingayat social reformer, and Hindu Shaivite social reformer. He was born in a small
village called Basavana Bagewadi in modern-day Karnataka. Basava is known for his social
awareness campaigns through his poetry, popularly known as Vachanaas, which were
written in Kannada.
Rejecting Discrimination and Superstitions

Basava was a vocal opponent of gender and social discrimination, superstitions, and
rituals that were prevalent during his time. He believed that everyone, regardless of their
birth or caste, should be treated equally. Basava introduced the Ishtalinga necklace, which
was worn by every person, with an image of the Shiva Liṅga, to symbolize the equality of
all individuals.
Condemning Sacrifices and Promoting Ahimsa
Basava was also a vehement opponent of human and animal sacrifices. He believed that
the practice was barbaric and went against the principles of non-violence, or Ahimsa,
which he promoted. Basava’s teachings and beliefs are still followed by the Lingayat
community, which he is considered to have founded according to traditional legends.
Introducing New Public Institutions
Basava introduced several new public institutions during his time, one of which was the
Anubhava Mantapa, also known as the “hall of spiritual experience.” The Anubhava
Mantapa was a platform for people of all backgrounds to come together and share their
experiences and ideas.
Literary Works and Legends
Basava’s literary works, including his Vachana Sahitya, are still widely read and celebrated
in Karnataka. His ideas and teachings have also been passed down through traditional
legends, such as the Basavarajadevara Ragale, which was written by the Kannada poet
Harihara.
Basava’s life and ideas have been chronicled in several texts, including the sacred Telugu
text, the Basava Purana, written by Palkuriki Somanatha. Basava is known by many names,
including Bhaktibhandari, which means “the treasurer of devotion.”
Unveiling of Statues
Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled statues of both Basavanna and
Nadaprabhu Kempegowda in Bangalore. Nadaprabhu Kempegowda was a feudal ruler
who founded the city of Bangalore in the early 16th century. He was also known for his
contributions to building temples, tanks, and other infrastructure in and around
Bangalore.
Who was Sir M Visvesvaraya?

Sir M Visvesvaraya was an Indian civil engineer, administrator, and statesman. Born on
September 15, 1861, in Muddenahalli village in the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore, Sir M
Visvesvaraya played a pivotal role in the development of the state of Mysore and India as a
whole. His contributions to the fields of engineering, education, and public service have
made him a revered figure in Indian history.
Diwan of Mysore
Sir M Visvesvaraya served as the 19th Diwan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918. During his
tenure, he implemented various reforms that led to the overall development of the state.
He introduced a system of revenue collection that ensured fairness and transparency,
built numerous schools and colleges, and established a public works department that
oversaw the construction of roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects.

Engineers’ Day
In honor of Sir M Visvesvaraya’s contributions to the field of engineering, Engineers’ Day
is celebrated in India, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania on his birthday, September 15. The day is a
tribute to his legacy as a civil engineer and an inspiration to aspiring engineers.
Maker of Modern Mysore
Sir M Visvesvaraya is widely regarded as one of the foremost civil engineers in India and
the maker of modern Mysore. He designed and constructed various dams in the country,
including the Krishna Raja Sagara dam near Mandya, which is still operational today. He
was also responsible for founding numerous institutions, including the Mysore Soap
Factory, Parasitoid Laboratory, Mysore Iron & Steel Works in Bhadravathi, Bangalore
Polytechnic, Bangalore Agricultural University, State Bank of Mysore, among various other
institutions.
Bharat Ratna
In recognition of his services to the Kingdom of Mysore and the Republic of India, Sir M
Visvesvaraya was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1955. The
award is a testament to his contributions to the country’s development and his status as a
national hero.
Tribute from Prime Minister Modi
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Sir M Visvesvaraya at his
birthplace, Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapura district in Karnataka. He also visited the
museum dedicated to him, which houses various artifacts related to his life and work.
Indian Navy's First Training Squadron and its Visit to Madagascar
The First Training Squadron (1TS) of Indian Navy, based in Kochi, is responsible for
providing basic and advanced training to the officer and sailor trainees of the Indian Navy.
Recently, two ships, INS Tir and ICGS Sarathi, from the squadron visited Port Antsiranana
in Madagascar, from March 20 to 23, 2023, as part of their training activities. Let us delve
deeper into this visit and its significance.
Welcome at Port Antsiranana
Officers from the Malagasy Navy and representatives from the Indian Embassy at
Madagascar received the ships of the First Training Squadron (1TS) at Port Antsiranana.
Sri Bandaru Wilsonbabu, the Ambassador of India at Madagascar, also met the squadron
members during their visit.
Meetings with the Governor and Naval Commandant
During their visit, the senior officers of the squadron called upon Mr Rakotomanga
Taciano, the Governor of the region, and Captain Raorasata Dibiharivony Gislain, the
Commandant of the Naval base at Antsiranana. These meetings were aimed at promoting
friendly relations between the two nations.
Training Activities Undertaken
The ships of the First Training Squadron (1TS) conducted various training activities with
the Malagasy Navy during their stay at Antsiranana. These activities included Nuclear
Biological Chemical Defence (NBCD), Fire Fighting, Weapon Handling, and Visit Board
Search and Seizure (VBSS). Such training activities are crucial for strengthening the
operational capability and preparedness of both the Indian and Malagasy Navies.
Other Activities Conducted
Apart from the training activities, the ships of the First Training Squadron (1TS) also
conducted a yoga session for personnel from both navies. This activity highlighted the
importance of holistic development and the benefits of yoga for physical and mental
health. Friendly Volleyball and Basketball matches were also played between the Indian
and Malagasy teams, promoting camaraderie and goodwill.
About Antsiranana
Antsiranana is a port city in the far northern part of Madagascar Island. It has a population
of around 115,000 and covers a total area of 42 km2 (16 mi2). The original name of the city
was Diego Suarez, and it was coveted by France during the 1880s.
President’s Standard
On March 25, 2023, the Indian Army’s Armoured Regiments were awarded the prestigious
President’s Standard at an event held at the Suratgarh military station in Rajasthan’s
Sriganganagar district. The presentation was made by Army chief General Manoj Pande,
who commended the four regiments for their exemplary services.
What is the President’s Standard?
The President’s Standard is the highest honor bestowed by the Supreme Commander to a
military unit in recognition of their service rendered to the nation. It is the same honor as
the President’s Colours, which are awarded to a relatively smaller military formation or
unit.
The Award Presentation
At the presentation event, four Armoured Regiments of the Indian Army received the
President’s Standard. These were the 49 Armoured Regiment, 51 Armoured Regiment, 53
Armoured Regiment and 54 Armoured Regiment. The presentation ceremony was
attended by dignitaries and senior military officials. The regiments were also part of a
mounted parade, which showcased their strength and skill. The Chief of the Army Staff
reviewed the parade and appreciated the rich legacy of valour, sacrifice and traditions
displayed by the Armoured Corps in war and in peace.

The Significance of the President’s Standard
The President’s Standard is the highest honor a military unit can receive, and it recognizes
their exceptional service to the nation. The Supreme Commander, who is the President of
India, confers this honor to a military unit in recognition of their service to India. This
award is a significant achievement for the four Armoured Regiments of the Indian Army,
and it demonstrates their commitment to serving the nation with distinction.
The Armoured Corps
The Armoured Corps is one of the premier combat arms of the Indian Army. It is
responsible for providing support to the infantry by providing armored vehicles, tanks,
and other combat support vehicles. The Armoured Corps has a rich history and has been
involved in many operations, both in India and abroad. The regiments awarded the
President’s Standard have made significant contributions to the Armoured Corps and the
Indian Army as a whole.
March 29, 2023
Aravalli Green Wall Project
On March 25th, 2023, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri
Bhupender Yadav, inaugurated the Aravalli Green Wall Project. The project aims to green
the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range in four states – Haryana, Rajasthan,
Gujarat, and Delhi. The project was launched on the International Day of Forests and is a
part of the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation Through
Forestry Interventions.
The Objective of the Aravalli Green Wall Project
The Aravalli Green Wall Project aims to improve the ecological health of the Aravalli range,
prevent land degradation, combat desertification, improve biodiversity, mitigate climate
change, and promote sustainable development. The initial phase of the project focuses on
the rejuvenation of 75 water bodies in the Aravalli landscape, starting with five water
bodies in each district of the Aravalli landscape. The project aims to develop a synergy
between restoration, socio-economic factors, and development activities to ensure that
both conservation and development can be achieved.
The Role of Society for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development and IMGurgaon
To mobilize people for Shramdaan for the revival of water bodies, the project has engaged
the Society for Geoinformatics and Sustainable Development and NGO, IMGurgaon.
Shramdaan is a voluntary contribution of labor or effort. The Society for Geoinformatics
and Sustainable Development is responsible for mobilizing people for Shramdaan for the
revival of water bodies at Bandhwadi, and IMGurgaon for the revival of water bodies at
Ghata Bundh.
What is BARC B1201?
India’s Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and National Aluminium Company Limited
(NALCO) jointly developed BARC B1201, India’s first Bauxite Certified Reference Material
(CRM). The launch of this CRM is a significant achievement, especially since it is the first of
its kind in India and only the fifth in the world.

What is a CRM?
A CRM is a sample of a material that has been analyzed and certified for its composition,
purity, and other important characteristics. It is used as a standard to compare other
samples of the same material, ensuring that the results obtained from different
laboratories are comparable.
Who is NALCO?
NALCO, also known as National Aluminium Company Limited, is a government-owned
company that specializes in integrated and diversified operations in mining, metal, and
power. Its main products are alumina and aluminium, and it is the leading manufacturer
and exporter of these materials in India.
NALCO comes under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Mines. The Indian government
owns 51.5% of the equity in NALCO.
What is BARC?
BARC, short for Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, is India’s premier nuclear research
facility. It was founded by Homi Jehangir Bhabha in January 1954 and is headquartered in
Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
The purpose of BARC is to conduct a multidisciplinary research program essential for
India’s nuclear program. It is also involved in other areas such as chemistry, physics,
engineering, and biosciences.
Launching of BARC B1201
Shri M.P. Mishra, Director (P&;T), NALCO, and Dr. A. C. Sahayam, Head of Division, National
Centre for Compositional Characterisation of Materials, formally launched BARC B1201.
The launch took place at NALCO Research & Technology Centre, Bhubaneswar, on 24th
March 2023.
Water and Heritage Shield and Sípàapu

Arizona’s Black Mesa Trust (BMT) has been awarded the prestigious ‘Water and Heritage
Shield’ by the International Committee On Monuments and Sites International Science
Committee (ICOMOS ISC) on March 25, 2023. The award recognizes BMT’s work to raise
public awareness of the significance of water and indigenous sacred sites worldwide,
including the Hopi’s Sípàapu.
Location of Sípàapu
The Sípàapu, a rocky dome made of limestone and a spring located on the Little Colorado
river, holds immense importance for the Hopi, Navajo, and Zuni tribes. The Hopi, in
particular, hold a unique reverence for the environment and believe that living in a high
desert environment would force them to attune their perceptions, leading to spiritual
growth.
Importance of Sípàapu
For the Hopi, the Sípàapu is the place from where their ancestors emerged from another
world into this one. However, the Sípàapu, along with many other sacred sites, faces
significant threats from mining and dams. Peabody Energy, a coal mining company, began
mining coal in the Black Mesa Plateau and developed a coal slurry pipeline to transport
the coal to the Mohave Generating Station in neighboring Nevada, further endangering
the Sípàapu and the surrounding environment.
BMT’s role
BMT has played an essential role in raising public awareness of the significance of the
Sípàapu and the need to protect it. The ‘Water and Heritage Shield’ award recognizes
BMT’s efforts to protect indigenous sacred sites, cultural and historical memory, and the
right to access water.
ICOMOS ISC
The ICOMOS ISC is a non-governmental international organization dedicated to the
conservation of the world’s monuments and sites. The organization aims to promote the
conservation of heritage sites and encourage research and education in this field. The
‘Water and Heritage Shield’ award is just one of the ways in which the ICOMOS ISC
recognizes organizations’ efforts in protecting heritage sites worldwide.
Depleted Uranium Munition
As the tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalate, the use of depleted uranium
munitions has once again come into the spotlight. The use of these weapons is a cause for
concern not only due to their devastating impact but also because of the risk they pose to
human health and the environment.
Armour-Piercing Rounds Containing Depleted Uranium
The British government recently announced its plan to provide Ukraine with armour-
piercing rounds containing depleted uranium. These weapons are made from a byproduct
of the process of creating enriched uranium used in nuclear reactors and weapons. Due to
its high density, depleted uranium is widely used in weapons as it can easily penetrate
armour plating.
Depleted Uranium Munitions and their Risks
Apart from the US, several countries, including Britain, Russia, China, France, and Pakistan,
produce depleted uranium munitions. However, the use of these weapons poses several
risks. They emit low levels of radiation and can cause severe diseases if ingested or
inhaled. Additionally, if these weapons miss their target, they can poison groundwater and
soil.
Previous Use of Depleted Uranium Munitions
Depleted uranium munitions were first used in the 1991 Gulf War. The Royal Society
estimated that about 340 tons of depleted uranium were used in munitions during the
war. Since then, these weapons have been used in several conflicts, including the 1999
NATO bombing of Yugoslavia and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Depleted Uranium Weapons and International Law
Despite the risks associated with the use of depleted uranium munitions, they are not
classified as nuclear weapons by the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons.
This is because depleted uranium weapons do not have an explosive yield and are instead
classified as conventional weapons.

The M829A4 Armour-Piercing Round
The US military is currently developing the M829A4 armour-piercing round for the M1A2
Abrams main battle tank. This is a depleted uranium munition that is expected to provide
significant advantages due to its high density and momentum, making it an effective
weapon against armoured targets.
Expert Opinion on Depleted Uranium Munitions
According to experts, depleted uranium is so dense and has so much momentum that it
can easily penetrate armour plating. However, the use of these weapons must be carefully
considered due to the potential risks they pose.
"Indo + Caribbean: The creation of a culture" Exhibition
The Museum of London Docklands was founded in 2003, with the main focus of
highlighting the history of the River Thames, the growth of the Port of London, and the
docks’ historical ties to the Atlantic slave trade. The museum features exhibitions and
events that explore the rich history and cultural diversity of the area. The upcoming
exhibition, Indo + Caribbean: The creation of a culture, is set to be unveiled in May 2023. In
this article, we will explore the purpose of this exhibition and what visitors can expect.
The Purpose of Indo + Caribbean: The creation of a culture
The purpose of the Indo + Caribbean: The creation of a culture exhibition is to explore the
underrepresented history of Indian indentured laborers in the British Caribbean and to
shed light on the Indo-Caribbean culture that exists in London today. The exhibition is a
significant milestone as it is the first time that the history of the Indo-Caribbean
community has been explored in a major exhibition in a British museum.
The History of Indian Indentured Laborers
The shortage of cheap labor in the Caribbean islands in the 1800s was caused by the
abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. This resulted in
the recruitment of Indian indentured laborers, with around 450,000 Indians taken to the
Caribbean islands between 1838-1917. In return for working in the Caribbean for three to
five years, they received transport, a minimum wage, and some basic provisions.
Indentured servitude was officially banned in British India in 1917, following pressure
from freedom fighters such as Mahatma Gandhi.
Exploring the Exhibition
The display explores the transition from enslaved African labor to Indian indenture,
including letters petitioning the government from planter Sir John Gladstone. It also
delves into the journey from India to the Caribbean, with the poor conditions on board
and the strong bonds forged between migrants as they crossed the Kala Pani or ‘dark
waters.’ Life in the Caribbean for indentured laborers was difficult, and the impact of their
arrival is explored in detail.
The exhibition also highlights the stories and memories of Indo-Caribbean Londoners
today, exploring migration to the United Kingdom and drawing on personal stories from
London’s Indo-Caribbean community. The display features photos, jewelry, film, and
artwork from London’s Indo-Caribbean community, providing a unique and personal

perspective on the Indo-Caribbean culture that exists in London today.
Tactical Nuclear Weapons
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement that he would station tactical nuclear
weapons (TNWs) in Belarus has raised concerns about increased risks of nuclear conflict.
As Belarus is a neighbor to NATO member countries, stationing nuclear weapons there
has the potential to escalate tensions between Russia and the West. Here are some key
questions and answers to understand the situation:
What Are Tactical Nuclear Weapons?
Tactical nuclear weapons are defined as nuclear weapons used for specific tactical gains
on the battlefield. They can be delivered via a variety of missiles, torpedoes, and gravity
bombs from naval, air, or ground forces. Russia is believed to have around 2,000 working
TNWs, while the United States has approximately 200.
What Concerns Have Been Raised About the Deployment of Tactical Nuclear Weapons?
The deployment of TNWs in Belarus has raised concerns about their potential use in battle
and the increased risk of nuclear conflict. The deployment of nuclear weapons could also
violate non-proliferation agreements, but Putin has claimed that it does not.
What Is Kaliningrad and Why Is It Important?
Kaliningrad is a Russian enclave between NATO and EU members Poland and Lithuania,
where Russia has deployed advanced nuclear-capable missiles that could reach large parts
of Western Europe. This makes the deployment of TNWs in Belarus an even more
significant concern for NATO.
How Can Preparations for a Nuclear Strike Be Detected?
Monitoring the whereabouts of nuclear warheads and heightened activity around the
depots where they are stored can help detect preparations for a nuclear strike.
Who is the Ultimate Decision Maker When It Comes to Using Russian Nuclear Weapons?
According to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, the President is the ultimate decision maker when
it comes to using Russian nuclear weapons.
What Is the Potential Impact of a TNW Strike Order?
If Putin were to give a TNW strike order, Russia’s entire nuclear posture would change.
Submarines would go to sea, missile forces would be put on full alert, and strategic
bombers would be visible at bases, ready for immediate takeoff.
Daylight Savings Time
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is a practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from the
standard time during the summer and back again in the autumn. Although it was initially
intended to make better use of natural daylight and save energy, today, it remains a
subject of controversy. This article examines the legacy of DST, focusing on its history,
advantages, disadvantages, and controversies.
The Origins of DST
The practice of DST began in Canada in 1908 when the residents of Port Arthur,
Ontario—today’s Thunder Bay—turned their clocks forward by one hour to start the
world’s first DST period. Other locations in Canada soon followed suit. DST caught on
globally after Germany and Austria introduced it on April 30, 1916, to minimize the use of
artificial lighting and save fuel during World War I. Today, approximately 70 countries
around the world observe DST.
Advantages of DST
One of the primary benefits of DST is that it maximizes the amount of natural light
available during the longer days of summer. This practice can reduce energy consumption
and greenhouse gas emissions, as people rely less on artificial light and air conditioning.
Furthermore, DST can reduce traffic accidents and fatalities, as there is more daylight
during peak driving hours.
Disadvantages of DST
Despite the benefits of DST, it is not without its drawbacks. Many people argue that the
disruption of the body clock due to the time change has adverse health effects. A study
conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine showed that the incidence of
heart attacks increased by 24% on the Monday following the spring DST transition.
Another study found that DST could cause a higher rate of workplace injuries, due to
decreased alertness and concentration. Moreover, many people find the time change
disruptive to their daily routines and sleep patterns.
Controversies Surrounding DST
The recent confusion surrounding DST in Lebanon highlights some of the controversies
surrounding this practice. In Lebanon, the government delayed the start of DST by a
month, causing confusion among institutions and individuals. While no reason was given
initially, a leaked video showed Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri urging Prime Minister
Najib Mikati to postpone DST to allow Muslims to break their Ramzan fast an hour earlier.
As a result, airlines, cellphone operators, schools, and workplaces are no longer following
the same time.
Another controversy surrounding DST is that it is no longer relevant in modern times. With
most appliances consuming energy running at all hours of the day, DST has lost its
energy-saving potential. Furthermore, many countries have either abandoned DST or are
considering doing so. For example, the European Union proposed abolishing DST in 2021,
but the proposal was postponed until 2022.
What is Mission Arikompan?
A wild elephant by the name of Arikomban has been causing chaos in the higher ranges of
Idukki district. Arikomban is a rogue tusker, infamous for its habit of raiding rice shops
and causing destruction in its path. Over the past few years, Arikomban has trampled at
least 10 people to death and destroyed around 60 houses and shops. The forest
department has come up with a plan to capture Arikomban and train it to be a ‘kumki’, a
captive elephant used for operations against rogue elephants.
The Petition and Impleading Forum
People for Animals – Thiruvananthapuram filed a petition challenging the forest
department’s decision to capture Arikomban. The petitioner’s plea was to radio-collar and
release the wild elephant in another location of the forest. Walking Eye for Animal
Advocacy also impleaded in the matter related to capturing the rogue tusker. However,
the division bench of Kerala High Court stayed the forest department’s decision to capture
Arikomban till March 29.
Mission Arikomban
The forest department has initiated ‘Mission Arikomban’, an operation to capture the
rogue tusker. The plan is to capture it with tranquilizer shots and later shift it to an
elephant training center. The operation was originally slated to begin on March 25. For
this mission, the forest department has built a rapid response team of 71 members. Chief
forest veterinary surgeon Arun Zackariah is heading the 11 groups of the rapid response
team for the mission.
Arikomban’s Habits and Diet

Arikomban’s name is derived from its habit of raiding rice shops. The wild elephant
prefers to eat rice, atta, and wheat. The forest department’s plan to train Arikomban to be
a ‘kumki’ is aimed at using it for operations against other rogue elephants.
Operation Interflex
On June 27, 2022, Operation Interflex began, which involves the United Kingdom (U.K.)
and several other countries training nearly 2,000 Ukraine military recruits for five weeks.
This initiative is part of the U.K.’s £2.3 billion commitment towards military aid and
support to Ukraine, and is a collaborative effort between Canada, New Zealand, Australia,
Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, and the Netherlands.
Areas of Focus in the Training
The training provided to the recruits under Operation Interflex focuses on several areas,
including weapon handling, range activity, marksmanship, fieldcraft basics, field tactics,
battle casualty drills, counter explosives, the laws of armed conflict, first aid, and cyber
security awareness. The aim is to give them the key skills and experiences to operate once
they go back to Ukraine.
The Training Team
The Canadian-U.K. training wing for Operation Interflex is headed by Major Jürgen
Miranda. The training is being delivered by more than 200 personnel, including 60 from
Canada and 150 from the U.K.
Equipment Given to Trainees
Each trainee is provided with personal protective equipment, including helmets, body
armor, eye, ear, and pelvic protectors, individual first-aid kits, field uniforms and boots,
cold and wet weather clothing, bergens, day sacks, and webbing and additional
equipment required for field conditions, including ponchos, sleeping bags, and
entrenching tools.
High-Tech Military Equipment Supplied by the U.K.
Apart from providing training, the U.K. has also supplied high-tech military equipment to
Ukraine, including 14 Challenger 2 tanks, AS90 and 28 M109 155mm self-propelled guns,
hundreds of armored and protected vehicles, more than 10,000 anti-tank missiles
(including NLAW, Javelin, Brimstone, and other anti-tank weapons), and multiple launch
rocket systems.
Expected Number of Recruits Trained by Year-End
Around 20,000 recruits are expected to be trained by year-end under Operation Interflex.
The training is aimed at building the necessary skills and knowledge base in the recruits to
enhance Ukraine’s defence against Russia.
Tamil Nadu Brown Moray
A team of researchers have discovered a new species of Moray eel off the coast of
Cuddalore, which is located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The new species
has been named Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis, with its common name being the Tamil
Nadu brown moray. This discovery has been published in the international peer-reviewed
journal Zoosystematics and Evolution.

Discovery and Description of the New Species
The new species was discovered at the Mudasalodai fish landing centre off the coast of
Cuddalore. P. Kodeswaran and G. Kantharajan were the two researchers who discovered
the species during an exploration survey conducted along the coastal waters of Cuddalore
district. The species was notably different from its known Indian water congeners, with
series of lines of small dark spots present on the head and a single line of black spots on
the mid-line of the body.
The researchers conducted an extensive morphological analysis, skeleton radiography,
and advanced molecular markers, along with species delimitation computational
techniques to conclude that this Moray eel specimen collected from Mudasalodai is
distinct from other species of the genus Gymnothorax. Four specimens ranging from
272-487 mm in total length were collected at a depth of about 25-30 metres from the
fishing landing centre at Mudasalodai.
The researchers sent a few species to the Zoological Survey of India for confirmation.
According to T.T. Ajith Kumar, the principal scientist of the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), the present description is
also the first new species of the genus Gymnothorax from the south-eastern coast of the
Bay of Bengal.
India has documented 28 species of Gymnothorax so far. The discovery of the new species
off the Cuddalore coast represents India and increases the total amount of species of
Gymnothorax to 29. The holotype of this new species has been deposited at the National
Fish Museum and repository of ICAR-NBFGR, Lucknow. The name of the species has been
registered in ZooBank, the online registration system for the International Commission on
Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).
NBFGR’s Purpose for Conducting Explorations
The institute NBFGR has been continually conducting explorations in the unexplored
regions of the country to document the hidden biodiversity of the nation, which will help
to enrich the biodiversity catalogue of the country. This new discovery is an example of
how exploring uncharted territories can lead to new findings and enrich our
understanding of the world around us.
LVM3 M3/OneWeb India - 2 Mission
On March 25, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NewSpace India
Limited (NSIL) successfully launched the OneWeb India-2 mission, a significant
achievement in space connectivity. The mission’s primary objective was to deploy 36
satellites into a 450 km circular orbit with an inclination of 87.4 degrees, which was
accomplished using the LVM3 rocket. In this article, we will delve into the details of this
mission and OneWeb’s ultimate goal.
LVM3 and Payload Details
The OneWeb India-2 mission utilized the LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark 3) rocket, which is
India’s largest rocket to date. The total weight of the payload carried by LVM3 was 5,805
kg, which included the 36 OneWeb satellites. The satellites were designed to provide high-
speed, low-latency broadband connectivity to governments, businesses, and communities
worldwide.
OneWeb’s Mission and Milestones
OneWeb’s mission is to provide connectivity for everyone, everywhere, through a global
communication network powered from space. The company aims to bridge the digital
divide by providing affordable, reliable, and high-speed internet access to remote and
underserved regions. The OneWeb India-2 mission was a crucial milestone in achieving
this goal, as it brought the total number of satellites in OneWeb’s constellation to 618. This
number enables global service, making it the first low Earth orbit (LEO) operator to reach
this milestone.
Satellite Dispensing and Phases
The OneWeb India-2 mission involved the dispensing of satellites in nine phases. The
satellites were released into their intended orbits over several hours, with each phase
comprising four satellites. This approach ensures that the satellites are placed in their
proper positions, preventing collisions and minimizing the risk of debris.
OneWeb’s Previous Mission and Launches
The OneWeb India-2 mission followed the successful launch of the OneWeb India-1
mission, which deployed 36 satellites into orbit in February 2022. The OneWeb India-2
mission marked the 18th launch conducted by OneWeb. Each launch brings the company
closer to achieving its mission of providing connectivity for everyone, everywhere.
First Urban Climate Film Festival
The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), a Central Autonomous Body under the
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, is organising the Urban Climate Film Festival under
the CITIIS program. The festival aims to create wider awareness of the impact of climate
change on life in cities and engage the public in the dialogue on sustainable urban
development.
Supporting International Organizations and Selected Films
The French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union provided support for the
festival, which has received films from over 20 countries. A jury shortlisted 27 films, and 11
were selected for showcasing in the festival.
Screening in Five Cities
The selected films will be screened in five cities, allowing a wider audience to engage with
the message of the festival. The festival will not only raise awareness about climate
change and sustainable urban development but also inspire people to take action.
CITIIS Program and Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Projects
The CITIIS program aims to assist 12 Smart Cities in India implement innovation-driven
and sustainable urban infrastructure projects. By organising the Urban Climate Film
Festival under the CITIIS program, NIUA is promoting the program’s approach to urban
infrastructure projects.
National Institute of Urban Affairs

The National Institute of Urban Affairs is a Central Autonomous Body under the Ministry
of Housing & Urban Affairs that undertakes multi-disciplinary research, policy planning,
and advocacy in the domain of urban development. NIUA’s work is vital in promoting
sustainable urban development in India.
U20 and Urban Engagement Group of G20
The U20 is the urban engagement group of G20. It brings together mayors from the
world’s largest cities to develop policies and solutions to global issues such as climate
change, urban infrastructure, and social inclusion. The Urban Climate Film Festival
organised by NIUA aligns with the U20’s objective of enabling a sustainable urban
development.
Maharashtra Cow Service Commission Bill
The Maharashtra Cow Service Commission Bill was recently tabled in the State Assembly,
aimed at promoting and protecting indigenous cattle breeds. Let’s take a closer look at
this legislation and its key points.
Introduction of the Bill
The Maharashtra Cow Service Commission Bill was introduced by the Maharashtra’s
Revenue Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil in the state assembly. It was announced by
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state budget.
Composition of the Commission
The Maharashtra Cow Service Commission will be a 25-member body comprising
members from the Animal Husbandry and other governmental departments. It will also
have members from various universities and NGOs.
Responsibilities of the Commission
The commission will be responsible for safeguarding indigenous cows, bulls, bullocks, and
calves. It will promote rearing and breeding of indigenous cows and will also handle the
registrations and overall supervision of cow shelters. It will also suggest measures to
strengthen financial institutions working in this sector and undertake the development of
pastures and good quality fodder for livestock.
Penalty for Violating the Norms
Under this bill, an individual found violating the norms set by the commission will be liable
for a penalty of Rs.10,000.
Role of the Commission
The Maharashtra Cow Service Commission Bill aims to promote the breeding and rearing
of indigenous cows in the state. The commission will help in the development of pastures
and good quality fodder for livestock. Additionally, it will help in registering and
supervising cow shelters in the state.
Support from Universities and NGOs
The commission will have members from various universities and NGOs. This will help in
ensuring that the commission’s initiatives are well-informed and inclusive.
Release of Tigresses into Tiger Reserves in Rajasthan

In a recent meeting attended by Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Loksabha
speaker Om Birla in New Delhi, a decision was taken to release one tigress each to Kota’s
Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve and Bundi’s Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in the state of
Rajasthan. The decision was taken to increase the tiger population in the region and to
improve the ecological balance of the area. Along with the tigresses, some other wild
animals like Gaurs and wild dogs will also be released into the reserve area. Let’s delve
into more details about the decision and its implications.
The Two Tiger Reserves
The Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve is located in Rajasthan’s Kota district and has an area of
759.99 km2. It was established in 2004 and comprises three wildlife sanctuaries: Darrah
Wildlife Sanctuary, National Chambal Sanctuary, and Jawahar Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. The
reserve is located in the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests and has a rugged and hilly
terrain dominated by Dhok (Anogeissus pendula) trees. It is an important ecological zone
for wildlife, including tigers, leopards, chinkaras, and crocodiles.
The Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve is situated in the southeastern part of the state in
Bundi district. It represents both Vindhyan and Aaravalli elements and is in continuation
with the buffer area of Ranthambore tiger reserve in the northeastern side and
Mukundara Hills tiger reserve in the southern side. The Mez, a tributary of the Chambal
river, passes through the tiger reserve. The terrain is mostly rugged and hilly, and it is part
of the ‘Semi-arid’ Zone of India. The habitat is dominated by Dhok (Anogeissus pendula)
trees.
Other Wild Animals to be Released
Gaurs and wild dogs will also be released in the reserve area besides the two tigresses.
Gaurs are the largest wild cattle species and are found in India, Bhutan, and Nepal. They
are herbivorous and feed on grass and leaves. They are an important prey species for
tigers and leopards. Wild dogs, also known as Dholes, are a social species that lives in
packs. They hunt cooperatively and feed on small to medium-sized prey.
Development and Security-related Works
The Union Forest and Environment Ministry is set to provide Rs 8 crore in funding for the
security and developmental activities in both the tiger reserves. The funds will be used to
improve the infrastructure of the reserves, including the construction of roads and
watchtowers, and the purchase of vehicles and equipment for patrolling and monitoring.
They will also be used for the conservation and protection of the wildlife in the reserves.
Proposal for River Cruise
Apart from the decision to release tigresses and wild animals, the proposal for starting a
river cruise in Chambal from Kota Barrage to Jawahar Sagar was also discussed in the
meeting. The river cruise will offer tourists a chance to experience the unique landscape of
the Chambal river and its wildlife. However, the proposal needs approval from the Centre,
as the river is home to a Gharial Sanctuary.
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway
The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is a much-awaited infrastructure project that will connect

the bustling city of Delhi with the scenic hills of Dehradun. The project is expected to
provide a boost to tourism and trade, and also reduce travel time and distance. In this
article, we will explore the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway and the various aspects related to
it.
Overview of the Project
The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is an under-construction 210 km long, six- to twelve-lane
access-controlled expressway, which will connect Delhi with Dehradun. The project is
being built at a cost of around ₹13,000 crore and will pass through the states of Delhi,
Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The expressway will have six lanes, extendable to eight
lanes, and is expected to be completed by January 2024.
Benefits of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway
The project is expected to reduce the distance between Delhi and Dehradun from 235 km
to 210 km, thereby reducing the travel time from 5-6 hours to only 2.5 hours. This will be a
huge relief to the people who have to undertake this journey frequently. The expressway
will also give impetus to the development of tourism, as it will make it easier for people to
travel to the scenic hill stations of Uttarakhand. The project is expected to create
employment opportunities and give a boost to the economy of the region.
Wildlife Protection Corridor and Daat Kali Tunnel
The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway project includes the construction of a 12 km long wildlife
protection corridor in the Rajaji National Park. The corridor will help reduce the impact on
wildlife and avoid animal-vehicle collisions. It will also help in the conservation of the
wildlife habitat and preserve the biodiversity of the region. The project also includes the
construction of the Daat Kali tunnel in the Ganeshpur-Dehradun section. The tunnel will
provide a safe passage for the wildlife and reduce their stress levels.
Connection to Haridwar
The Saharanpur–Roorkee–Haridwar Expressway, which is under construction, will connect
Haridwar to the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. This will provide an alternate route for
people traveling to Haridwar from Delhi and will also provide a boost to tourism in the
region.
10 Facts
1. The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is an infrastructure project that will connect Delhi
with Dehradun.
2. The project is being built at a cost of around ₹13,000 crore.
3. The expressway will be 210 km long and have six lanes, extendable to eight lanes.
4. The project is expected to be completed by January 2024.
5. The travel time between Delhi and Dehradun is expected to reduce from 5-6 hours to
only 2.5 hours.
6. The project will create employment opportunities and give a boost to the economy of
the region.
7. The project includes the construction of a 12 km long wildlife protection corridor in
the Rajaji National Park.

8. The wildlife protection corridor will help in the conservation of the wildlife habitat
and preserve the biodiversity of the region.
9. The project includes the construction of the Daat Kali tunnel in the Ganeshpur-
Dehradun section.
10. The Saharanpur–Roorkee–Haridwar Expressway, which is under construction, will
connect Haridwar to the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway.
1st G20 Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) Meeting
India’s G20 Presidency is conducting the first Trade and Investment Working Group
(TIWG) Meeting in Mumbai from March 28th − 30th, 2023. The TIWG Meeting is an
important forum for over 100 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries,
regional groupings, and international organizations to engage in discussions about
accelerating global trade and investments.
Trade Finance and Digitalisation
On the first day of the TIWG Meeting, an International Conference on ‘Trade Finance’ was
be held, where the role of banks, financial institutions, development finance institutions,
and export credit agencies in closing the trade finance gap was discussed. The conference
also focused on how digitalisation and fintech solutions can improve access to trade
finance. Eminent speakers from India and abroad have been invited to provide concrete
solutions for mitigating the growing trade finance gap.
Experience Zones and Exhibitions
At the conference venue, a wide range of experience zones on spices, millet, tea, and
coffee was set up. Additionally, an exhibition on textiles was also on display during the
TIWG Meeting. The G20 delegates visited the Bharat Diamond Bourse on the first day of
the meeting.
Making Trade Work for Growth and Prosperity
The focus of the TIWG Meeting on March 29th will be on making trade work for growth
and prosperity, and building resilient Global Value Chains (GVCs). The highlight will be on
realizing shared outcomes for making growth inclusive and resilient, increasing the
participation of developing countries and the Global South in GVCs, and building resilient
GVCs to withstand future shocks.

Inauguration and Closed-Door Sessions
Across four technical closed-door sessions on March 29th and 30th, the priorities related
to global trade and investment, which the Indian Presidency is pursuing, will be discussed.
Integrating MSMEs in Global Trade and Building Efficient Logistics
On March 30th, the two working sessions will focus on integrating MSMEs in Global Trade
and building efficient logistics for trade. The Indian Presidency seeks to carry forward the
efforts of past G20 Presidencies to ensure the integration of MSMEs into global trade,
given their important role in sustaining livelihoods in both developed and developing
countries. The discussions will also be held on developing robust logistics infrastructure
that could bring down transaction costs both across borders and in the hinterlands.
Building a Shared Understanding

The aim under India’s G20 Presidency is to build a shared understanding of the challenges
being faced in accelerating global trade and investment. The TIWG Meeting provides an
opportunity for delegates to deliberate on existing opportunities that can be harnessed to
formulate human-centric concrete outcomes and deliverables.
March 30, 2023
“How is India Adapting to Heatwaves?” Report
A report released on March 27, 2023, titled “How Is India Adapting To Heatwaves? An
Assessment Of Heat Action Plans With Insights For Transformative Climate Action”
provides insights into the efficacy of heat action plans (HAPs) in India. With the increase in
heatwaves due to climate change, HAPs have become India’s primary policy response to
contain and adapt to the impact of extreme heat. The report assessed 37 HAPs across
Indian states, districts, and cities to determine their effectiveness. In this article, we will
explore the key findings of the report and its recommendations for better HAPs in India.
Inadequate HAPs
The report found that the majority of HAPs in India are not built for the local context,
leading to inadequate identification and targeting of vulnerable groups. The plans also
have weak legal foundations, making it challenging to implement disaster responses
across state, district, and city government departments. Furthermore, only 11 of the 37
HAPs discuss funding sources, indicating that most plans are underfunded.
Insufficient Temperature Thresholds
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declares a heatwave when the maximum
temperature is above 40 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days in the plains, above 37
degrees Celsius in coastal areas and above 30 degrees Celsius in the hills and mountains.
However, the report found that only ten out of 37 HAPs considered locally defined
temperature thresholds. Among these ten HAPs, it is not sure whether factors such as
humidity, hot nights, and duration of continuous heat were taken into account.
Lack of Vulnerability Assessments
Only two of the 37 HAPs carried out vulnerability assessments in the context of heatwaves.
The report highlights the importance of conducting vulnerability assessments to identify
the groups most at risk from heatwaves, such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-
existing medical conditions.
Recommendations for Improved HAPs
To improve HAPs in India, the report recommends that the plans should localise the heat
hazard definitions, incorporate vulnerability assessments, and be linked to the disaster
management legal structure and environmental governance. The report argues that HAPs
should be implemented as part of an overall climate adaptation plan, ensuring that
climate adaptation efforts are integrated across government departments and are not
siloed.
What is SWAMIH Fund?
In India, affordable housing remains a critical issue, with many projects remaining
incomplete and stalled. This is where the SWAMIH Investment Fund comes into play. It is a
social impact fund that was launched in 2019 by the Ministry of Finance, Government of
India. The fund provides financial backing for stalled and stressed mid-income and
affordable housing projects across the country. In this article, we’ll delve deeper into what
the SWAMIH Investment Fund is, how it operates, and its impact on affordable housing
projects across India.
What is the SWAMIH Investment Fund?
The SWAMIH Investment Fund is a social impact fund that aims to provide funding for
affordable and mid-income housing projects that are stalled, stressed, or delayed. The
fund was launched in 2019 and is sponsored by the Ministry of Finance, Government of
India. SBICAP Ventures Ltd., a State Bank Group company, manages the fund.
Types of Projects Funded by SWAMIH
SWAMIH Investment Fund provides funding for brownfield, RERA-registered, and stressed
residential projects that fall under the affordable and mid-income housing category. The
fund considers projects by first-time developers, established developers with troubled
projects, developers with a poor track record of stalled projects, customer complaints,
NPA accounts, and even projects with litigation issues.
SWAMIH Investment Fund: The Lender of Last Resort
The SWAMIH Investment Fund is considered the lender of last resort for distressed
housing projects. It accelerates the performance of the delayed housing projects by
enabling better collections and sales. The Finance Ministry claims that the SWAMIH
Investment Fund has one of the largest domestic real estate private equity teams focused
only on funding and monitoring the completion of stressed housing projects.
Impact of SWAMIH Investment Fund
Since its launch, the SWAMIH Investment Fund has been successful in completing stalled
housing projects and providing debt financing to developers. The government has
released over Rs.2,646 crore to the SWAMIH fund till the 17th of this month. The fund has
delivered over 22,500 homes to date, providing much-needed relief to homebuyers who
have been waiting for years for their homes.
Challenger 2 Tank: An Overview

Recently, the UK announced that it would be sending a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks to
Ukraine to aid in the country’s fight against Russian aggression. This move comes at a
time when Ukraine faces increasing hostility from Russia, and the UK is keen to support its
ally in the region.
About the Challenger 2 Tank
The Challenger 2 tank is the UK’s primary battle tank, designed to destroy other tanks,
and has been used in conflict areas worldwide. It was introduced into the British Army in
1994 to replace its predecessor, the Challenger 1. The tank’s main purpose is to take out
other tanks, and its ability to place extreme pressure on the enemy has helped it become
a preferred choice for various operations.
Specifications of the Challenger 2 Tank

The Challenger 2 tank weighs a massive 62.5 tonnes, with a combat-ready weight of 75.0
tonnes when equipped with add-on armor modules. It is manned by a crew of four,
comprising a commander, gunner, loader/operator, and driver. The tank is armed with an
L30A1 120 mm rifled gun, which can fire up to 47 rounds, and a coaxial 7.62 mm L94A1
chain gun EX-34 (chain gun) and a 7.62 mm L37A2 Operator/Loader’s hatch machine gun.
The tank is powered by a Perkins CV12–6A V12 diesel engine, which generates 1,200 bhp
(890 kW). The Challenger 2 tank has a hydro-pneumatic suspension, and its fuel capacity is
1,592 liters. It has an operational range of 550 km (340 mi) on the road and 250 km (160
mi) off-road on internal fuel, with a maximum speed of 59 km/h (37 mph) on the road and
40 km/h (25 mph) off-road.
Training of Ukrainian Crews
Recently, Ukrainian crews completed training in the UK on how to operate and fight with
the Challenger 2 tanks. This training was essential, given that Ukraine was not previously
equipped with this type of tank, and the country faces increasing aggression from Russia.
The UK military officials spent several weeks instructing the Ukrainian personnel, and they
are expected to be in position for a spring counteroffensive against Russia.
10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche
The Dalai Lama recently recognized an eight-year-old Mongolian boy as the reincarnation
of the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche, one of the most important spiritual leaders
in Tibetan Buddhism. The boy’s recognition has generated celebrations among Buddhists
in Mongolia, but also negative reactions from secular nationalists and concern among
those worried about potential reactions from neighboring China.
Family Background of the Mongolian Boy
According to media reports, the Mongolian boy comes from a family with academic and
corporate backgrounds. His father, Altannar Chinchuluun, is a university mathematics
professor, while his mother, Monkhnasan Narmandakh, is a national resources
conglomerate executive. The boy’s grandmother, Garamjav Tseden, is a former member
of the Mongolian Parliament.
Unveiling Ceremony and Attendees
The unveiling ceremony of the Mongolian boy was held on March 8 in Dharamshala,
Himachal Pradesh, and was attended by nearly 600 followers. During the ceremony, the
Dalai Lama announced that they had found the reincarnation of Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa
Rinpoche of Mongolia. This is a major event in Tibetan Buddhism given the Dalai Lama
and Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche are believed to be among the most important
spiritual leaders in the tradition.
Significance of the Recognition in Tibetan Buddhism
The recognition of the Mongolian boy as the reincarnation of Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa
Rinpoche is a significant event in Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama himself is recognized
as the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche, and his recognition of the boy as the
reincarnation of one of his predecessors carries significant weight within the religion.
Tensions with China
Recognitions related to Tibetan Buddhism have often been a point of tension between
Tibet and China. This is because Beijing claims sovereignty over Tibet and seeks to take
control the recognition of reincarnated leaders. This has caused concerns about China’s
reaction to the recognition of the new Khalkha Jetsun Dhampa Rinpoche.
Anji Khad Bridge
Anji Khad Bridge is a significant infrastructure project in Jammu and Kashmir that
connects the Katra-Reasi section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line. The
bridge is situated over the Anji river and is ranked as the second most important bridge
on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Project after Chenab Bridge.
The Reasi yard station, which is a part of the project, has been built on high, rectangular,
tapered hollow piers that are 105m in height, with the bridge spanning about 490m. The
bridge is made using 7,000 reinforcement steel and 6,700 million tonnes of structural
steel. Anji Bridge is considered to be an engineering marvel and a milestone achievement
on the USBRL project.
Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Line: A Game-Changer for Jammu and Kashmir
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line is an ambitious infrastructure project that
will have a significant impact on the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The project
has been under development for a few years now, and over 80% of the work has been
completed. The entire project is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line is expected to be a game-changer for
Jammu and Kashmir. It will provide a reliable and safe transportation system for the
people of the region and will help in boosting the economic growth of the region.
What is Dama celiae?
A team of researchers from the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid, Spain,
has described a new species of deer, Dama celiae, from fossils found in the Manzanares
valley. This discovery provides valuable insight into the diversity of cervids during the
Pleistocene epoch, which lasted from 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago.
The Fossils and Other Species
The fossils were found alongside other species in the valley, including Anas platyrhynchos,
Equus ferus, Elephas antiquus, Mauremys leprosa, Bison sp., Bos primigenius, and
Stephanorhinus hemitoechus. The valley is known for its rich deposits of fossils and
artifacts, including a vast collection of Acheulean stone tools found in sand quarries.
Characteristics of Dama celiae
The antlers of Dama celiae are characterized by two points and a bifurcation between the
brow tine and main beam, with a blunt angle and a low position above the burr. Its
lineage can be traced back to Dama farnetensis, followed by Dama vallonnetensis, Dama
roberti, and finally Dama celiae.
Neanderthals and the Acheulean Culture
Dama celiae lived during the same time as the Neanderthals and the Acheulean culture.
Cut marks on the rib of one of the fossils suggest that it was consumed by Neanderthals
and likely hunted. The researchers speculate that spears like those found at the
Schöningen site in Germany or lithic spear points similar to those in other regions with
Mousterian points or convergent scrapers may have been used to hunt Dama celiae.
The discovery of Dama celiae adds to our understanding of cervid diversity during the
Pleistocene epoch. The detailed microwear studies of the tools and bones could allow for
further interpretation of hunting strategies and behavior. The description of this new
species of deer also provides insight into the life and environment of this time period.
India's First Cloned Desi Gir Female Calf
The National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) in Karnal, Haryana, has produced the
country’s first cloned female calf of the desi breed Gir, named ‘Ganga.’ The NDRI had
initiated a project to clone indigenous cow breeds such as Gir and Sahiwal to increase milk
production.
Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, and Red-Sindhi are indigenous cattle breeds in India that play a
pivotal role in milk production and the growth of the Indian dairy industry. Among these,
Gir is well-known for its tolerance to conditions of stress and resistance to various tropical
diseases.
More than 15 liters of milk per day can be produced by the cloned Gir female calf, which
has the potential to significantly contribute to milk production.
Collaboration with Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board
The National Dairy Research Institute collaborated with Uttarakhand Livestock
Development Board (ULDB), Dehradun, to work on cloning high-yield desi breeds such as
Gir, Red Sindhi, and Sahiwal breeds.
A team of scientists comprising Dr. Naresh Selokar, Manoj Kumar Singh, Ajay Aswal, SS
Lathwal, Subhash Kumar, Ranjeet Verma, Kartikey Patel, and MS Chauhan have been
working for over two years to develop an indigenous method to produce cloned cattle.
Indigenous Method to Produce Cloned Cattle
The Gir was cloned by isolating the oocytes from live animals using ultrasound-guided
needles. Oocytes were then matured for 24 hours under control conditions. The somatic
cells of elite cows are used as donor genomes, which are fused with OPU-derived
enucleated oocytes. After the chemical activation and in-vitro culture, the developed
blastocysts are transferred into recipient mothers to deliver the Gir calf.
Dr. Manmohan Singh Chauhan, the Vice Chancellor of GB Pant Agriculture University, was
the head of NDRI when it started work on cloning high-yield desi breeds like Gir, Red
Sindhi, and Sahiwal breeds at the NDRI in 2021.
Export of Gir Cattle
Dr. Dheer Aibgh, the Chief of NDRI, stated that Gir cattle are very hardy and have been
exported to Brazil, the United States, Mexico, and Venezuela for the development of zebu
cows. The export of Gir cattle can help to increase the popularity of the breed worldwide
and strengthen India’s position in the dairy industry.

QS World University Rankings 2023
The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, released on March 29th, 2023, has
ranked over 1,600 universities from around the world, evaluating their performance
across 51 subjects. Indian universities have made significant progress this year, with 44
courses from Indian universities ranked among the global top 100.
Ranking Universities by Subject Categories
The QS World University Rankings by Subject aims to provide students, parents, educators,
and policymakers with a tool for assessing the performance of universities in specific
subject areas. The rankings are based on four indicators: academic reputation, employer
reputation, citations per paper, and H-index.
Indian Universities’ Performance in QS World University Rankings by Subject
According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, Indian universities have
performed well in several fields. Indian universities have excelled in Computer Science,
Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Business Studies, and Physics. In the dentistry program,
the Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences had the best performance
globally, achieving a perfect score in citations per paper and H-index.
IIT Delhi’s Electrical Engineering program broke into the top 50 categories globally in the
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023. Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Sociology
program took 68th place, showing a rise of 33 places.
Research Output and Citations
India is the fourth-largest producer of research globally, according to the QS. Between the
years 2017 and 2022, research output in India grew by 54%. However, only 15% of India’s
publications were cited in top journals from 2017 to 2021, a lower percentage than the
United Kingdom and Germany, which have top journal citation percentages more than
double that of India.
India’s Overall Performance and Progress
India’s overall performance improved by 17.2% year on year in the QS World University
Rankings by Subject 2023. This progress is noteworthy, considering the challenges posed
by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, among countries having over 10 universities
featured in the rankings, Mainland China improved the most in the QS World University
Rankings by Subject 2023.
Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit
C-PACE or Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit is a newly established body
that aims to process and dispose of applications for the removal of company names from
the records under the Companies Act, 2013. This article delves into the significance of C-
PACE, its purpose, and how it can benefit companies.
Establishment of C-PACE
C-PACE is established in Manesar, Haryana, as a one-stop solution for companies looking
to close their business and remove their names from the Register of Companies. The
Minister of State for Corporate Affairs, Rao Inderjit Singh, announced the establishment of
C-PACE in March 2023, with the notification issued on March 17. It will come into force on
April 1, 2023.
Purpose of C-PACE
The primary purpose of C-PACE is to facilitate the process of closing businesses and
removing company names from the Register of Companies. Companies looking to file
applications for the removal of names from the Register of Companies under Section 248
of the Companies Act, 2013, can benefit from C-PACE.
Companies Act, 2013
The Companies Act, 2013, provides for the removal of a company’s name from the
Register of Companies if it is not carrying on any business or operation for a period of two
immediately preceding financial years, as per Section 248 of the Act. C-PACE will process
and dispose of applications for removal of names of private limited companies and other
companies from the Register of Companies.
Chapter XVIII
The Companies Act’s Chapter XVIII deals with the removal of companies’ names from the
Register of Companies. C-PACE aims to facilitate the closure of businesses in accordance
with the provisions of Chapter XVIII.
Financial Years
Two immediately preceding financial years of non-operation of business are required for
the removal of the name of the company from the Register of Companies under Section
248 of the Companies Act, 2013. C-PACE will expedite the process of filing and disposing of
applications for the removal of names.
Dormant Companies
A dormant company is a company that has not been carrying on any business or
operation for a period of two immediately preceding financial years and has not made any
significant accounting transaction during that period. Such companies cannot apply for
the removal of their name from the Register of Companies.
Significance of C-PACE
C-PACE is a significant step towards providing ease to companies for closing their
business and getting their names removed from the Register of Companies. It helps make
the process of removal of names more streamlined and efficient, saving time and effort
for companies.
What is chow-chow?
Chow-chow, also known as chayote, is a vegetable that belongs to the gourd family,
Cucurbitaceae. It is not easily available in markets but is a popular ingredient in the
cuisine of certain Indian states. In this article, we will explore the origins, consumption,
and potential of chow-chow.
Origins of Chow-Chow
Chow-chow originated in Mexico and was introduced to India in the late 1800s by Welsh
missionaries. Over time, it has become a popular ingredient in the cuisines of
northeastern and southern states of India. The vegetable is known by different names in
different parts of the country, such as iskut in Mizoram, piskot in Meghalaya, and lonku in
Himachal Pradesh.
Consumption of Chow-Chow
Chow-chow is a versatile vegetable as almost every part of the plant can be consumed.
The fruits, tender shoots, young heart-shaped leaves, and even roots are edible. The fruits
and tender leaves are usually available from June to December, while the tuberous roots
are available between January and March after the vines dry up.
Chow-Chow in Indian Cuisine
Chow-chow is an important part of the cuisine in northeastern states, particularly
Mizoram, and southern India. It is used in a variety of dishes such as curries, stews, and
salads. The vegetable has a mild taste and can absorb flavors easily, making it a versatile
ingredient in dishes.
Therapeutic Properties of Chow-Chow
Apart from being a delicious ingredient in cuisine, chow-chow also has several therapeutic
properties. It has anti-cardiovascular, antidiabetic, antiobesity, antiulcer, and anticancer
properties, making it a valuable ingredient for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food
industries.
Potential of Chow-Chow for Farmers
Despite its potential, few farmers grow chow-chow on a commercial level due to a
shortage of good quality planting material and not much work being done on developing
its commercial varieties. However, it can be a lucrative choice for farmers. The
government has taken steps to promote chow-chow cultivation among farmers in
Mizoram by setting up the Iskut Growers Association and providing subsidies in the form
of price support in the 1990s. In 2018, the state’s horticulture department applied for a GI
tag for Mizo chow-chow. More than 70 landraces of chow-chow have been found in the
northeastern region, indicating the potential for further research and development.
Mahim Fort: History and Restoration
The Mahim Fort is a historic fort located in Mahim, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Built by
the descendants of King Bimbdev between 1140 and 1241, the fort has a rich history and
has witnessed frequent contests over the years. Let’s take a closer look at this ancient
structure, its current state, and the efforts underway to restore it to its former glory.
History of the Mahim Fort
The Mahim Fort was built by the descendants of King Bimbdev, who established his
kingdom of Mahikawati in the north Konkan belt of Maharashtra. The fort is strategically
located in Mahim Bay, and from its vantage point, one can see Worli to the south, Bandra
to the north, and Mahim to the east. The fort was frequently contested due to its strategic
location, and its origins remain unclear.
Current State of the Mahim Fort
The Mahim Fort is currently in a state of disrepair, suffering from administrative neglect,
encroachment of slums, and exposure to tidal erosion. Squatters had encroached on the
fort’s land on the west coast of the city for decades, and it was declared as a state-
protected monument under the Maharashtra Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites
and Remains Acts, 1960. However, the excise department did away with security at the
site, leaving the fort vulnerable to neglect and vandalism.
Restoration Efforts
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken steps to restore the Mahim
Fort to its former glory. The civic body appointed famous architect and archaeological
consultant Vikas Dilawari as a consultant for the restoration of the fort. The BMC also
conducted a survey for the restoration project, and people residing in more than 260
hutments inside the fort were qualified for alternate accommodation. Nearly 3,000 people
were living inside the fort, and they have been rehabilitated at alternative
accommodations at Malad, Malvani, and other areas.
In January 2022, the BMC began the demolition of over 200 hutments inside the 800-year-
old Mahim fort. Some residents had not vacated their huts even after rehabilitation and
were forcefully removed with the help of the local police who registered complaints
against them before the demolition.
New Guinea Singing Dog
The New Guinea singing dog is also known as the New Guinea Highland dog. It is a dog
species found in the New Guinea Highlands on the island of New Guinea. This breed is one
of the few considered “barkless” and known for its unusual “yodel”-like style of vocalizing,
hence its common name of “singing dog.”
Origins and Characteristics
Considered an ancient lineage of dog, the New Guinea singing dog was once thought to
be a separate species in its own right, under the name Canis hallstromi. However, this
species is closely related to the Australian dingo. Living wild in the remote mountains of
New Guinea, this breed has adapted to its environment over 20,000 years, free from
contact with people.
Unique Vocalizations
The New Guinea singing dog is unique among canines for its vocalizations. Their howls are
similar to both the song of the humpback whale and a yodel. These howls are an
important part of their communication with their pack members, and they are able to
create a wide range of vocalizations, from soft whimpers to high-pitched yelps.

UK’s Last New Guinea Singing Dog
The last member of an ancient sub-species of dog in the UK, named Kota, recently died in
mid-March at Exmoor Zoological Park. Kota was 15 years old when he died. He had been
in palliative care for two months after losing his partner Belle four weeks earlier.
Ancestry and Conservation Efforts
New Guinea singing dogs are believed to be the original ancestors of all domestic dogs in
the Asian region. As a result, the Singing Dog Conservation Society in the United States
has been working to preserve the breed. However, there are currently only six breeding
females in the society, with no litters expected until the summer.
1st International Quantum Communication Conclave
With the vision that India should lead in the development of telecom technologies and
standards, the Department of Telecom organized the ‘First International Quantum
Communication Conclave’ on 27-28 March 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The Inaugural of the ‘First International Quantum Communication Conclave’
The inaugural of the conclave was inaugurated by Minister of Communications,
Electronics & Information Technology and Railways, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Minister
of State for Communications Shri Devusinh Chauhan on 27th March. The conclave was
organized in association with CDOT, Telecommunications Standards Development Society
India (TSDSI), and IEEE Communications Society – Delhi Chapter.
The Objective of the ‘First International Quantum Communication Conclave’
The objective of the conclave was to provide an excellent opportunity to learn about the
latest advancements in quantum communication technologies. Experts from industries,
academia, R&D centers, and government deliberated possible applications of Quantum
Technologies in building a secure communication infrastructure.
The Standards Released During the Inaugural
During the event, the standards on the ‘Test Guide of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
System’ and ‘Quantum-Safe and Classical Cryptography System’ were released. These
standards seek to provide a framework for the development of secure communication
systems.
CDOT’s Role in Developing Solutions in Quantum Communications
The C-DOT is actively involved in providing solutions in Quantum Communications. It is
currently in the path to become a hub for Quantum Communication-related activities
under NMQTA. It developed the Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post Quantum
Cryptography (PQC) security solutions, which have been demonstrated in the live network.
The Quantum Hackathon 2023
The Quantum Hackathon 2023 was launched during the event to find vulnerabilities in
QKD and PQC solutions. Its purpose is to further strengthen India’s Quantum Ecosystem.
Learning from this Hackathon will be shared with the overall Indian ecosystem. This will
strengthen the security of solutions that are developed by the Indian industry. Successful
Hackathon applicants will receive prize of Rs.10 Lakh for each break into the QKD or PQC
systems. An opportunity will also be provided for them to further collaborate with C-DOT
in the area of Quantum Security at mutually agreeable terms and conditions.
The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Skill Excellence Awards
The Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Telecom Skill Excellence Awards – 2022 were presented
to various winners during the inaugural on 27th March 2023. These awards have been
instituted by the Telecom Department to recognize outstanding contributions in the areas
of telecom skilling, services, manufacturing, and applications.
Spring Fiesta 2023
The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi, India, is celebrating its 69th
anniversary with its first-ever “Spring Fiesta” event in 2023. This event aims to showcase
and promote locally made, handcrafted, and curated products while providing an
interactive experience for visitors to connect with the museum.

Inauguration and Celebrating 69 Years
The NGMA was inaugurated by Vice President Dr. S Radhakrishnan on March 29, 1954, and
has since become an important cultural institution in India.
Over 50 Stalls to be Set Up
At the “Spring Fiesta” event, more than 50 stalls will be set up on the museum lawns,
featuring individuals from various backgrounds who specialize in areas such as
handicrafts, ceramics, indigenous art, fashion, and more. This event will offer an
opportunity for these enthusiastic participants to display and sell their creative products
at nominal prices.
Creative Products for Purchase
The “Spring Fiesta” event promises to captivate its audience with a wide range of creative
products available for purchase. Visitors can explore and buy locally made products that
are unique to the Indian culture, including handicrafts, ceramics, and indigenous art.
Interactive Session for Visitors
In addition to the stalls, NGMA has also planned a sketching and painting session to
engage visitors and provide them with an opportunity to display their artistic skills on
canvas. This interactive session is perfect for art enthusiasts, artists, and children who love
art.
3-D Mapping Projection
A 3-D mapping projection on the art treasures will be displayed before the end of the
event. This will be a unique experience for visitors to see art in a new dimension.
Musical and Performance Acts
Another highlight of the event will be the musical and performance acts by traditional and
contemporary artists. This will add to the festive atmosphere and provide visitors with an
opportunity to experience different forms of art and culture.
The Education and Research Department
The education and research department of NGMA is constantly brainstorming ideas and
working on projects to provide visitors with an interactive experience. This department
aims to connect more with the museum’s visitors, create more lasting memories, and
generate interest in locally made, handcrafted, and curated products.

Significance of Spring Fiesta
Through the “Spring Fiesta” event, individuals from various backgrounds will have a
platform to showcase their work, increase exposure, and generate interest in their
creative products. This event will not only promote the culture of India but also provide an
opportunity for visitors to connect with the museum and its rich history.
INS Sumedha and the Visit to Port Algiers
INS Sumedha is an indigenously-built stealth offshore patrol vessel that is equipped with
state-of-the-art weapons and sensors. Recently, it reached Port Algiers, Algeria for an
operational turn around. Let’s take a closer look at this vessel and its recent visit.
State-of-the-Art Weapons and Sensors
INS Sumedha is fitted with a state-of-the-art weapon and sensor package, making it a
valuable asset to the Indian Navy. The vessel is routinely deployed for fleet support
operations such as anti-piracy patrol, SAR, HADR, surveillance, and escort missions.
Additionally, it is also capable of carrying an Advanced Light Combat Helicopter onboard.
Port Algiers Visit
On March 26, 2023, INS Sumedha entered Algiers, Algeria for an operational turn around.
The patrol vessel was received at Port Algiers by officers of the Algerian Navy and officials
from the Embassy of India, Algiers. The purpose of this visit is to strengthen bilateral
relations and boost maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two countries’
navies. It also showcases the Indian Navy’s outreach to friendly maritime nations.
Sharing Best Practices
During the visit, the Indian Navy and the Algerian Navy shared best practices and
experiences through cross deck visits, professional interactions, sports fixtures, and
cultural visits. This will help to improve maritime cooperation and interoperability between
the two countries, creating stronger relationships.
Construction and Design
INS Sumedha is the third Saryu class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy. It was designed and
built indigenously by the Goa Shipyard Limited. The Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel was
launched at Goa Shipyard on May 21, 2011. It became part of the Indian Navy on March 11,
2014. It is capable of undertaking fleet support operations, coastal and offshore patrolling,
ocean surveillance and monitoring of sea lines of communications and offshore assets,
and escort duties.
Universal Acceptance Day
The internet has become a fundamental part of modern society, connecting people from
different parts of the world. With approximately five billion users worldwide, the internet
has revolutionized communication and commerce, and it has become a critical platform
for social and economic activities. However, not all users experience the full potential of
the internet, especially those who do not speak English or use non-Latin scripts. To
address this issue, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
and the Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG) have introduced Universal
Acceptance (UA) Day.

What is UA Day?
UA Day is celebrated every March 28th to promote UA awareness and encourage UA
adoption among key stakeholders. Its objective is to create an inclusive internet that
supports a wide range of languages and scripts. The inaugural edition of UA Day was
celebrated in 2023.
What is Universal Acceptance?
Universal Acceptance is a technical requirement that ensures all valid domain names and
email addresses, regardless of script, language, or character length, can be equally used
by all internet-enabled applications, devices, and systems. UA is crucial for non-English
speaking countries as it ensures that everybody has the ability to experience the full social
and economic power of the internet using their chosen domain name and email address
that best aligns with their interests, business, culture, language, and script.
Expanding the Domain Name System
The Domain Name System (DNS) is a system that translates domain names to IP
addresses. In recent years, DNS has expanded with the addition of new generic top-level
domains (e.g., .photography, .technology), Internationalized Domain Names (e.g.,
एमईआईटीवाई.सरकार.भारत, ‫مصر‬.‫صحة‬,) and country code top-level domains (e.g., .भारत).
However, many software applications used to validate domain names and email addresses
remain outdated, which hinders UA adoption.
The Significance of UA for India
The current digital divide can be removed with the creation of multilingual internet user
interface. The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), a not-for-profit company under
the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), recognizes
the importance of UA adoption in India. Through UA, India aims to bring additional 500
million broadband users. This will help add value to the digital economy, promote startup
ecosystems, and generate employment opportunities in the country. India has been
chosen as the flag bearer this year to promote UA for digital inclusion.
March 31, 2023
International Day of Zero Wastes
Every year on March 30, people around the world celebrate the International Day of Zero
Waste, a day designated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote reducing
waste and sustainable consumption and production patterns. This day promotes the
creation of a more sustainable and waste-free world.
History of the International Day of Zero Waste
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on December 14, 2022,
designating March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste. The proposal was co-
sponsored by Turkey and 105 other countries and is part of a series of resolutions dealing
with waste. It aims to achieve all the objectives and targets in the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development by promoting zero-waste initiatives.
Theme of the International Day of Zero Waste 2023
The theme of the International Day of Zero Waste in 2023 is “Achieving sustainable and
environmentally sound practices of minimizing and managing waste.” This theme
emphasizes the importance of promoting sustainable consumption and production
patterns to reduce the negative impact of waste on the environment.
Impact of Waste on the Environment
According to the UN data, around 2.24 billion tons of municipal solid waste are produced
each year. Only 55% of them is being disposed of in managed facilities. Also, an estimated
931 million tons of food are either lost or wasted every year, and approximately 14 million
tons of plastic waste enters aquatic ecosystems each year. These numbers highlight the
adverse consequences of waste on the environment, including landfills, pollution, and
resource depletion.
Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns
The International Day of Zero Waste seeks to promote sustainable consumption and
production patterns by encouraging individuals, communities, and organizations to adopt
practices that minimize waste, reuse and recycle materials, and reduce the amount of
waste generated. Initiatives like clean-up campaigns, recycling drives, educational
programs, and advocacy campaigns are being conducted on this occasion to enable
community mobilization towards a more sustainable and waste-free world.
Sustainable Development Goals Promoted by the International Day of Zero Waste
The International Day of Zero Waste promotes SDGs 11 and 12, which aim to make cities
and communities more sustainable and promote responsible consumption and
production. These goals align with the broader agenda of the United Nations to promote
sustainable development and address the challenges posed by climate change,
environmental degradation, and poverty.
Observance of the International Day of Zero Waste
International Day of Zero Waste is jointly overseen by the UN-Habitat and the UNEP.
Member countries, UN organizations, civil societies, private entities, academia, youth and
other stakeholders are encouraged to participate in activities that create awareness of of
national, subnational, regional, and local zero-waste initiatives and their role in enabling a
sustainable development.
Captive Employment Initiative
The Captive Employment initiative was launched under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) recently to provide skill development and job
opportunities for underprivileged rural youth.
What is Captive Employment Initiative?
Captive Employment is a first-of-its-kind initiative in India with the objective of providing
skill training and employment opportunities to rural poor youth. The initiative is designed
to create a dynamic and demand-based skilling ecosystem that caters to the needs of
industry partners, ensuring long-term employment for underprivileged rural youth.
Captive Employers are the industries or companies that provide skill training for youths
and employ them in one of their establishments, sister concerns, or subsidiaries.

Aim of the Captive Employment Initiative
The Captive Employment initiative aims to provide sustainable placements for rural poor
youth. The initiative provides long-term livelihood for underprivileged rural youth while
catering to the human resources needs of the industries. The Union Rural Development
Ministry inked an MoU with 19 Captive Employers recently to implement this initiative.
DDU-GKY Scheme
The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) is a government
scheme that aims to provide skill training and employment opportunities to rural youth.
The objective of the scheme is to enable rural poor youth to acquire skills and knowledge
to make them employable and help them secure a sustainable livelihood. The scheme
focuses on improving the employability of rural youth through skill training and
placement support.
RTD Model
The RTD (Recruit, Train, and Deploy) model is promoted by the Captive Employment
Guidelines. The objective of the RTD model is to create a demand-driven ecosystem where
skill training and employment opportunities are based on the needs of the industry.
Minimum Duration and Salary for Captive Employment
Captive Employers must provide captive (in-house) placement to all the trained
candidates. They must provide captive employment to a minimum of 70% of trained
candidates for six months. A minimum salary of Rs.10,000 (for less than a 6-month course)
and Rs.12,000 (for more than a 6-month course) is provided under this initiative.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya was an Indian philosopher, economist, and politician. He was a
leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the forerunner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Upadhyaya was a firm believer in the idea of ‘integral humanism,’ which aimed to create a
society that valued both individual freedom and social responsibility.
Anchitheriomys buceei - Ancient Beaver Species
Researchers from the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin
have discovered a new species of ancient beaver in the fossil collections of the university.
The species has been named Anchitheriomys buceei after a popular Texas travel center
chain.
The Discovery of Anchitheriomys buceei
The new species of ancient beaver was discovered in the fossil collections of the University
of Texas at Austin. It is believed to have lived in Texas around 15 million years ago.
Anchitheriomys buceei was approximately 30% larger than modern beavers.
Why Anchitheriomys buceei is Named After Buc-ee’s
Anchitheriomys buceei is named after the famous Texas travel center chain, Buc-ee’s. The
name honors the beaver’s Texas connection and the popular roadside chain that has
become an iconic part of Texas culture. The researchers were inspired to name the new
species of beaver after Buc-ee’s due to a chance encounter with a Buc-ee’s billboard. The
founders of Buc-ee’s were thrilled to have a prehistoric beaver named after their company
and stated that they are proud to be part of Texas history.
The Significance of the Partial Skull Fossil from Burkeville, Texas
The partial skull fossil from Burkeville, Texas, is significant because it is a fusion of bone
and brain cast. This was created when sediment naturally seeped into the beaver’s brain
cavity, creating a rock replica of the brain. The fossil provides insight into the size and
shape of the brain of Anchitheriomys buceei.
Technology Used to Obtain High-Resolution X-Ray Images of the Skull
High-resolution X-ray images of the skull were obtained using Computed Tomography
(CT) scanning. This technology allowed researchers to study the internal structure of the
skull without damaging the fossil.
The Original Collectors of the Skull and the Intended Name of the New Species
A team of Texas paleontologists in 1941, including Curtis Hesse, originally collected the
skull and intended to name it a new species. Unfortunately, Hesse died in 1945 before he
could complete his study and publish his findings. The skull remained in the university’s
collection until it was rediscovered and studied by the team from the Jackson School of
Geosciences.
The Value of Discoveries Made in Existing Museum Collections
Discoveries made in existing museum collections can be just as valuable as new
discoveries in the field. The rediscovery and study of the partial skull fossil from Burkeville,
Texas, is an example of the importance of collections in museums and universities.
Buc-ee’s: A Brief History
Buc-ee’s was founded in 1982 by Arch “Beaver” Aplin III. The first store was located in
Lake Jackson, Texas. Today, Buc-ee’s has over 38 locations across Texas, with plans for
expansion to other states. The company is known for its clean restrooms, affordable fuel
prices, and a wide range of snacks and souvenirs.
P-270 Moskit Missile
The Russian Navy, on March 28, test-fired supersonic anti-ship missiles at a mock target in
the Sea of Japan. The missiles, identified as Moskit cruise missiles, were fired at a target
located approximately 100 kilometers away from the missile ships of the Pacific Fleet. The
target was hit successfully with a direct hit from two Moskit cruise missiles, according to a
statement from the Russian defence ministry.
The P-270 Moskit Missile
The Moskit cruise missile is a medium-range supersonic missile that was developed during
the Soviet era. It is known for its speed and can destroy a ship within a range of up to 120
km. The NATO reporting name of the P-270 Moskit missile is SS-N-22 Sunburn.
Strategic Bomber Planes
The missile test came a week after two Russian strategic bomber planes flew over the Sea
of Japan for more than seven hours in what Moscow said was a “planned flight”. This
flight raised concerns among the Japanese, who are already on edge due to the increasing
military activities of Russia in the region.
Missile Test Location
The missile test occurred at Peter the Great Bay in the Sea of Japan. This bay is located on
the coast of Russia, though it faces the water between the two countries. The location of
the missile test has raised concerns among the Japanese, who are worried about
Moscow’s increasing military activities around their coasts.
India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave and AFINDEX-2023
The India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave was held in Pune with the aim of strengthening
defence relations and creating an institutionalised framework for better military-to-
military cooperation between India and African nations. The central theme of the conclave
was AMRUT (Africa-India Militaries for Regional Unity), which emphasizes regional
cooperation and integration among the militaries of India and African countries. It was
conducted at the sidelines of the AFINDEX-2023.

Joint Military Exercise AFINDEX-2023
The joint military exercise between India and African countries is known as the Africa-India
Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX). The focus of the AFINDEX joint exercises is on
humanitarian mine action and peacekeeping operations. AFINDEX-2023 saw the
participation of 25 nations, including India and 24 African countries. This exercise is a
major landmark in defence relations between India and African nations.
The Significance of the India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave
The India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave seeks to boost the synergy between militaries of
India and African nations as part of a regional cooperation mechanism. The conclave saw
the participation of senior army officers, civilian and defence officials, defence minister
Rajnath Singh, and chief of the army staff general Manoj Pande among others. The
purpose of the joint training and defence cooperation among the nations is to evolve an
institutionalised framework in order to enhance collaboration in the fields of joint military
training, peacekeeping operations and Indian defence industries.
India’s Training Programmes for African Nations
India’s training programmes for the Armed Forces of African nations cover areas such as
counter-insurgency operations, peacekeeping, maritime security, and specialised training
in new domains such as cyber warfare and drone operations. India also trains civilians in
areas such as disaster management, humanitarian aid, and medical assistance. The
training programmes aim to build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best
practices, and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking execution of
Humanitarian Mine Action and Peace Keeping Operations under the UN mandate.
Equipment Display: Make in India
On the sidelines of the AFINDEX joint exercises, an ‘Equipment Display’ showcased 75
indigenous products from 32 industries manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
This display showcased India’s capability to produce world-class defence equipment and
technologies.
H3N8 and its Presence in China

Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a viral disease that affects birds but can also be
transmitted to humans and other animals, including horses and dogs. There are several
subtypes of the Influenza A virus that can cause bird flu, with H3N8 being one of them. In
this article, we will explore the history of H3N8 and its current cases in China.
What is H3N8 and how is it transmitted?
H3N8 is a subtype of the Influenza A virus that is commonly found in birds and horses. It is
also known as the Equine influenza virus and is one of the two viruses that can cause dog
flu. It was not recorded in humans until 2022. However, some researchers believe that it
might have caused the 1889 pandemic, also known as the “Russian flu” or “Asiatic flu.”
Bird flu is primarily transmitted through contact with infected birds or their feces, saliva,
and respiratory secretions. People who handle infected birds or come into close contact
with them are at the highest risk of contracting the virus. However, in rare cases, bird flu
can also be transmitted from person to person through close contact.
History of H3N8 cases in China
In China, the first case of H3N8 infection in human was detected back in April 2022, when a
4-year-old boy in central China became seriously ill. The boy’s pets, a dog and a cat, were
also infected. The second case was reported in May 2022 when a 5-year-old boy from
Hunan province fell ill. Fortunately, he recovered quickly after experiencing only mild
symptoms. The country recently recorded a H3N8 case in Zhongshan City.
What are IMF Bailouts?
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization that provides
financial assistance to member countries facing economic crises. The organization works
towards maintaining international monetary cooperation, promoting exchange rate
stability, and facilitating international trade. IMF lending comes with strict conditions, and
countries must adhere to these conditions to receive financial assistance. In this article, we
will discuss the process and conditions laid down by the IMF for countries seeking
financial assistance.
The Bailout Plan for Sri Lanka
Recently, the IMF approved a bailout plan for Sri Lanka worth nearly $3 billion. The plan
includes immediate disbursement of $333 million to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the
country. This bailout comes as Sri Lanka struggles with economic challenges caused by
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Negotiations with Pakistan
The International Monetary Fund is negotiating with Pakistan to resume 1.1 billion USD
funding held since November since early February. To receive a bailout, Pakistan is
required to fulfill commitments from friendly countries on external financing.
Factors Leading to Economic Crises
According to the IMF website, economic crises occur due to inappropriate fiscal and
monetary policies, exchange rates fixed at an inappropriate level, a weak financial system,
political instability, and weak institutions.
Types of IMF Programs
The IMF has various lending programs designed to meet different needs. These programs
include standby arrangements, standby credit facilities, extended fund facilities, extended
credit facilities, rapid financing instruments, rapid credit facilities, flexible credit lines,
short-term liquidity lines, precaution and liquidity lines, resilience and sustainability
facilities, staff-monitored programs, policy support instruments, and policy coordination
instruments.
The Process of Requesting Financial Assistance
A member country requiring financial aid makes a request to the IMF. The country’s
government and IMF staff then discuss the economic and financial situation and financing
needs.
Policy Conditionality
IMF lending comes with strict policy conditions that a country must fulfill to receive
financial assistance. These policy actions are an integral part of IMF lending and may
include structural reforms such as fiscal transparency, tax reforms, and reforms in state-
owned enterprises.
IMF’s Role after the Loan Approval
The IMF monitors how members implement the policy actions underpinning the loan. It
ensures that countries fulfill the policy conditions set out in the loan agreement.
IMF’s Main Source of Financing and Lending Capacity
Member quotas are the IMF’s main source of financing. Currently, the IMF’s total
resources are SDR 977 billion, and its lending capacity is SDR 713 billion (around US$1
trillion).
Downsides of IMF Conditions
While IMF financial assistance can help countries facing economic crises, the conditions
laid down for financial assistance can also have negative consequences. Reduced
government spending and higher taxes are measures that have been historically
unpopular with the people and have often resulted in public unrest.
New Rules for Cattle Dehorning
Animal welfare has always been a topic of concern for various animal rights organizations
and animal lovers around the world. In India, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was
implemented in 1960 to prevent the mistreatment of animals. Recently, the Central
Government announced new rules on March 27, 2023, to prevent cruelty to animals during
specific procedures, including dehorning of cattle and castration, branding or nose-roping
of any animal. In this article, we will discuss the new rules and their implications.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is the law in India that aims to prevent the
mistreatment of animals. Section 11 of the Act defines the acts that amount to treating
animals with cruelty. Subsection 3 of Section 11 of the Act allows for exceptions for animal
husbandry procedures. However, it also requires that these procedures be performed by a
registered veterinary practitioner.
New Rules on Animal Welfare
The Central Government’s new rules specify the procedures for dehorning of cattle and
castration, branding, or nose-roping of any animal. The rules also require the use of pain-
reducing methods during these procedures. Additionally, the law suggests that tagging,
branding, and radio-telemetry devices should be placed on dead tissues.
The rules demand that the breeding of naturally hornless cattle should be preferred over
dehorning. Furthermore, the rules prescribe a methodology for euthanasia for ill animals
to avoid a painful death.
Implications of the New Rules
Animal rights non-profit organizations, such as Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals
(PETA) India, have welcomed the new rules. They believe that these rules will help prevent
the mistreatment of animals during these procedures. However, there are concerns
regarding the effective implementation of these rules.
New India Literacy Programme - Update (March, 2023)
Education is the foundation of a progressive society, and India has recognized the need to
improve its literacy rates for economic and social development. The Indian Government
has launched a new scheme, the New India Literacy Programme (NILP), to address the
issue of adult illiteracy in the country. The scheme is a significant step towards
empowering non-literates and enabling them to become self-sufficient. Let’s take a closer
look at the scheme and its components.
Financial Outlay and Target Group
The financial outlay of NILP for the five-year implementation period is Rs.1037.90 crore,
with Rs.700.00 crore as the Central share and Rs.337.90 crore as the State share. The
scheme seeks to educate around 5 crore non-literates in the age group of 15 years and
above.
Components of the Scheme
The NILP scheme has 5 components i.e., Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life
Skills, Vocational Skills Development, Basic Education, and Continuing Education. The
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy component focus on the basics of reading, writing,
and numeracy. The Critical Life Skills component focuses on functional literacy, including
digital literacy and financial literacy. The Vocational Skills Development component
focuses on imparting job-oriented skills to the beneficiaries. The Basic Education
component aims to provide basic education to adults who have missed out on formal
education. The Continuing Education component focuses on providing education to those
who have completed the basic education component.
Identification of Beneficiaries and Mode of Implementation
Door-to-door surveys are conducted on a mobile app in the States/UTs to identify the
beneficiaries of this scheme. The primary mode of implementation for the NILP scheme is
the online mode, making it accessible to beneficiaries across the country.
Teaching and Learning Resources
The National Council of Educational Research and Training has developed a curriculum for
adult learners that they can master within 200 hours of teaching. The curriculum consists
of four books, which cover topics such as reading, writing, arithmetic, and critical life skills.
The teaching and learning resources are provided through the DIKSHA platform of NCERT.
Volunteer-Driven Scheme
The NILP scheme is a volunteer-driven scheme that aims to mobilize volunteers across the
country to teach non-literates. The scheme aims to train 10 lakh teachers to teach one
crore adults.
Current Affairs Articles Compilation [PDF] - April, 2023
from this link.

Current Affairs Articles Compilation [PDF] - April, 2023
Contents
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April 28, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 22
April 29, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 23
April 30, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................. 24
April 1, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................................ 25
What is Upward Lightning? ...................................................................................................................... 25
Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland .......................................................... 26
What is GRB 221009A? ............................................................................................................................ 27
What is Mukupirna fortidentata? ............................................................................................................ 27
Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 ..................................................................................... 28
Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022 - Update (April, 2023) ......................................................... 29
World Autism Awareness Day - Update (April, 2023) ...................................................................... 29
What is Utkala Dibasa? .............................................................................................................................. 30
Bodofa Upendranath Brahma ................................................................................................................... 31
International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence ........................................ 32
Nevado del Ruiz Volcano .......................................................................................................................... 33
Space System Design Lab ......................................................................................................................... 34
Piezoelectric Effect in Liquids ................................................................................................................... 34
Defence Ministry’s Rs 5,400 crore Defence Contract ....................................................................... 36
IMF’s $15.6 Billion Loan For Ukraine .................................................................................................... 36
Airtel-IPPB WhatsApp Banking Services ............................................................................................... 37
April 3, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................................... 38
Proba-3 Mission - An Overview .............................................................................................................. 38
Corporate Debt Market Development Fund ........................................................................................ 38
AIM’s Three Innovative Resources to Empower Indian Youth ........................................................ 39
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed ............................................................................................... 40
Swachh Bharat Mission and ODF Plus Status ...................................................................................... 41
What is Sarbat Khalsa? ............................................................................................................................... 41
Dissolution of the National League for Democracy ............................................................................ 42
Lynx-U2 Fire Control System .................................................................................................................. 43
Akash Weapon System and ₹8,161 Crore BDL Contract .................................................................. 44
Combined Commanders Conference ..................................................................................................... 45

April 4, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................................... 46
Coastal Kerala Geckoella .......................................................................................................................... 46
Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism ........................................................................................................... 46
Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (Long Range) ............................................... 47
Weapon Locating Radars Swathi (Plains) ............................................................................................. 48
Rs 19,600 Crore Defence Contracts for NGOPVs and NGMVs .................................................... 48
World Bank Loan for Odisha State Capability and Resilient Growth Program ............................ 49
Azerbaijan and Tajikistan: Malaria-Free Countries ............................................................................. 50
What is DAGGER Model? ......................................................................................................................... 51
Georgia’s Resolution on Hinduphobia .................................................................................................... 52
New Research Findings: Black Rockfish Larvae Thrive in Warmer Oceans .................................. 53
First-Ever Anti-Spyware Declaration ...................................................................................................... 53
Digitization of Schengen Visa .................................................................................................................. 54
The Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation ......................................................... 55
TRAI’s Recommendations on “Promoting Local Manufacturing in the Television Broadcasting
Sector .................................................................................................................................................... 56
Foreign Trade Policy 2023 ....................................................................................................................... 57
Palm Sunday: Traditions and Significance ............................................................................................ 58
Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission ................................................................... 59
Diamond Jubilee of CBI ............................................................................................................................ 60
India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise - SLINEX-2023 ........................................................... 60
Who was Salim Durani? ............................................................................................................................ 61
April 5, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................................... 62
CPTPP and Britain's Membership ........................................................................................................... 62
ISA Permit for Deep Sea Mining of Polymetallic Nodules ................................................................ 63
Partnership Opportunities in the Lithium Value Chain between India and Chile ......................... 64
Three New Species of Bush Crickets ..................................................................................................... 65
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action ......................................... 65
Mahavir Jayanti - Celebrating the Birth of Mahavir ........................................................................... 66
International Day of Conscience ............................................................................................................. 67
What is Chondrostereum purpureum? .................................................................................................. 68
What is Sea Lamprey? ............................................................................................................................... 69
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park .................................................................................................. 69
Eravikulam National Park ......................................................................................................................... 70
Who was Ryuichi Sakamoto? ................................................................................................................... 71
April 6, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................................ 71
Izu-Ogasawara Trench and the Finding of the Deepest Fish ............................................................ 71
Mount Kilimanjaro and the Promotion of Gaddi Culture ................................................................. 72
Paris' Ban on e-Scooter ............................................................................................................................. 73
April 7, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................................... 74
5th International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure .................................................. 74
Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell ........................................................................................................ 75
Draft Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Repealing Regulations, 2023 ................................ 76
Squirrelpox Virus in Wales ....................................................................................................................... 76
3rd General Sundarji Memorial Lecture ............................................................................................... 77
Cope India Exercise .................................................................................................................................... 78
Penrose Tiling Problem and the "The Hat" Shape ............................................................................. 79

Who is Christina Koch? ............................................................................................................................ 80
April 8, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................................ 81
Basohli Painting and GI Tag ..................................................................................................................... 81
Caltoris bromus sadasiva ........................................................................................................................... 81
Finland’s NATO Membership .................................................................................................................. 82
Australia’s Gender Pay Gap Law ............................................................................................................. 83
Women Officers in Regiment of Artillery ............................................................................................. 84
World Energy Transitions: Outlook 2023 ............................................................................................. 85
Al-Aqsa Mosque: Significance and Contentions .................................................................................. 85
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative ..................................................................................................... 86
“Infertility Prevalence Estimates, 1990–2021” Report ....................................................................... 87
Food Conclave 2023 ................................................................................................................................. 88
What is Lean Diabetes? ............................................................................................................................. 89
New Jumping Spider Species ................................................................................................................... 89
World Health Day - Update (April, 2023) ........................................................................................... 90
National Maritime Day - Update (April, 2023) ................................................................................... 90
Himachal Pradesh Sukh Ashraya (Care, Protection and Self Reliance of Children) Bill, 2023
.................................................................................................................................................................. 91
India Justice Report 2022 ......................................................................................................................... 92
National Medical Council’s Guidelines on Professional Responsibilities of Students and Teachers
................................................................................................................................................................. 93
April 10, 2023 ..................................................................................................................................................... 94
“Stacking up the Benefits Lessons from India's Digital Journey” Report ...................................... 94
Ladakh's Wood Carving ............................................................................................................................ 95
Raccoon Stealer .......................................................................................................................................... 96
UN Statistical Commission ....................................................................................................................... 96
Places of Worship Act, 1991 .................................................................................................................... 97
Operation Cookie Monster and Genesis Market ................................................................................ 98
What are BH1 and Gaia BH2? ................................................................................................................. 98
Government Trends Report ..................................................................................................................... 99
Japan’s Overseas Security Assistance (OSA) Programme ............................................................... 100
Order of White Eagle ................................................................................................................................ 101
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project .................................................................................................... 102
Kerala Green Energy Corridor ............................................................................................................... 103
MPC’s First Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy of FY2023-24 ................................................................ 103
7th India-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue ............................................................................................ 104
World Homeopathy Day ......................................................................................................................... 105
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
............................................................................................................................................................... 106
Draft National Curriculum Framework for School Education ....................................................... 107
April 11, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 108
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) Mission ........................................................................................ 108
NIRCam Instrument ................................................................................................................................. 109
Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023 ................................................................. 109
Indian Space Policy 2023 ......................................................................................................................... 110
Idaho’s Abortion Trafficking Law ........................................................................................................... 111
What is Siren sphagnicola? ....................................................................................................................... 111

“Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited vs Union of India & Ors” Case ............................................. 112
Idu Mishmis and Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary ........................................................................................ 113
April 12, 2023 ..................................................................................................................................................... 114
Muthuvans and Human-Animal Conflicts ............................................................................................ 114
Hay Fever in Japan ..................................................................................................................................... 115
What is Hikikomori? ................................................................................................................................. 116
RailTel and Electronic Knowledge Network Project ......................................................................... 117
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti ............................................................................................................... 117
International Conference on Defence Finance & Economics ........................................................... 118
25 Years of Good Friday Agreement .................................................................................................... 119
State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22 ................................................................................................. 120
Draft ‘Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy’ .............................................................................. 121
What is Orion Wargame? ........................................................................................................................ 122
Balikatan Drills between the US and the Philippines ......................................................................... 123
Support for Poor Prisoners Scheme ..................................................................................................... 124
India’s Tiger Census - 2022 ................................................................................................................... 125
Vibrant Villages Programme ................................................................................................................... 125
Unified Portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics .................................................................................... 126
April 13, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 127
Discovery of Bacteria Resistant to Colistin .......................................................................................... 127
What is Crab Nebula? .............................................................................................................................. 128
April 15, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 129
Uttaramerur Inscription ........................................................................................................................... 129
NCPCR's Guidelines for Conducting Preliminary Assessment for Child Offenders .................. 129
Starship's First Uncrewed Flight Test ................................................................................................... 130
Vegetable Production System (Veggie) ................................................................................................. 131
Water Footprint of Large AI Models .................................................................................................... 132
Bohag Bihu 2023 ...................................................................................................................................... 132
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) ................................................................................................... 133
Buzi Bridge in Mozambique ................................................................................................................... 134
Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve ............................................................................................. 134
Puthandu (Tamil New Year) .................................................................................................................. 135
Incident Management Services .............................................................................................................. 136
Mission 50K-EV4ECO ............................................................................................................................. 137
EDPB’s ChatGPT Task Force ................................................................................................................ 138
World Chagas Disease Day ..................................................................................................................... 138
ITBP Battalions in Arunachal Pradesh .................................................................................................. 139
April 17, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 140
Banking on Climate Chaos Report ....................................................................................................... 140
Ambedkar Circuit Tourist Train ........................................................................................................... 140
Who was Virginia Norwood? .................................................................................................................. 141
What is CL-Flam? ..................................................................................................................................... 142
World Hemophilia Day ............................................................................................................................ 142
Martyrdom of Imam Ali .......................................................................................................................... 143
NIMHANS-AHT Comprehensive Mental-Health Action Program for Rural Communities
............................................................................................................................................................... 144
What is Cheiraoba? .................................................................................................................................. 144

April 18, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 145
Maharashtra Bhushan Award ................................................................................................................. 145
National Panchayat Awards Week ........................................................................................................ 146
Epstein-Barr Virus and Associated Ailments ....................................................................................... 147
Army Commanders' Conference - Update (April, 2023) ............................................................... 147
SOPs for Safety and Security of Journalists ........................................................................................ 148
Constable (General Duty) Examination for CAPFs ........................................................................... 149
Global Conference on Compressed Biogas ........................................................................................ 149
Cycas pectinata .......................................................................................................................................... 150
World Heritage Day - Update (April, 2023) ....................................................................................... 151
April 19, 2023 ..................................................................................................................................................... 151
Authority Holding Sealed Particulars ..................................................................................................... 151
Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 ......................................................................................................... 152
National Health Claims Exchange (HCX)-Sandbox .......................................................................... 153
Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves .................................................................................. 154
Plants' Distress Noises and Contributions of Jagadish Chandra Bose ........................................... 155
What is Civil Union? ................................................................................................................................. 155
Ningaloo Eclipse ........................................................................................................................................ 156
Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager .............................................................. 157
Regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technology .............................................................................. 158
Global Food Policy Report, 2023 .......................................................................................................... 159
April 20, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 160
Tripedalia maipoensis .............................................................................................................................. 160
Hun-Thadou Cultural Festival ............................................................................................................... 160
Olkiluoto 3 Reactor ................................................................................................................................... 161
Tea Mosquito Bug Infestation ................................................................................................................ 162
Thales Data Threat Report 2023 .......................................................................................................... 163
National Quantum Mission ..................................................................................................................... 163
State of World Population Report - Update (April, 2023) .............................................................. 164
Type 2 Diabetes and COVID-19 ........................................................................................................... 165
Miguel Diaz-Canel .................................................................................................................................... 166
April 21, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 167
Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 ........................................................................................... 167
Promotion of Tribal Products from North-Eastern Region (PTP-NER) Scheme ...................... 167
The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems Report .......................................................................... 168
Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative and Animal Health System Support for One Health
............................................................................................................................................................... 169
Shawwal Moon ......................................................................................................................................... 170
April 22, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 171
State of Global Climate Report 2022 .................................................................................................... 171
Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration ................................................. 173
National Civil Services Day - Update (April, 2023) .......................................................................... 173
World Earth Day ....................................................................................................................................... 174
What is GRX-810? .................................................................................................................................... 175
What is SuperBIT? ................................................................................................................................... 176
Fifth Round of UDAN ............................................................................................................................. 176
Nine Campaigns on Inclusive Development ....................................................................................... 177

Danish Fort ................................................................................................................................................ 178
“A Breakthrough For People and Planet: Effective And Inclusive Global Governance for Today
And The Future” Report ................................................................................................................. 178
Nagastra 1 ................................................................................................................................................... 179
Who are Hakki Pikkis? ............................................................................................................................ 180
PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 Mission ............................................................................................................... 181
Global Buddhist Conference and the New Delhi Declaration ........................................................ 182
Exercise INIOCHOS-23 ........................................................................................................................... 183
100 Food Streets ....................................................................................................................................... 184
April 24, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 185
‘Mehngai Rahat Camp’ ............................................................................................................................ 185
Kesavananda Bharati Case ...................................................................................................................... 185
National Panchayati Raj Day - Update (April, 2023) ....................................................................... 186
Guided Bombs ........................................................................................................................................... 187
SS Montevideo Maru ............................................................................................................................... 188
World Book Day - Update (April, 2023) ............................................................................................ 189
What are Heat Domes? ........................................................................................................................... 189
English Language Day - Update (April, 2023) ................................................................................... 191
Basava Jayanthi ........................................................................................................................................... 191
Puri – Gangasagar Divya Kashi Yatra .................................................................................................. 192
Sea-based Endo-Atmospheric Interceptor Missile ............................................................................. 192
44 Squadron of the Indian Air Force ................................................................................................... 193
Kochi Water Metro .................................................................................................................................. 194
EU’s Markets in Crypto Act .................................................................................................................... 195
April 25, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 195
The Factories (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill, 2023 ........................................................................ 195
Indiahandmade Portal .............................................................................................................................. 196
Operation Kaveri ....................................................................................................................................... 197
World Malaria Day - Update (April, 2023) ........................................................................................ 197
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace - Update (April, 2023) ........... 199
Manamadurai Pottery .............................................................................................................................. 200
Morel Mushroom ..................................................................................................................................... 200
Water Bodies: First Census Report ........................................................................................................ 201
Khongjom Day - Update (April, 2023) ............................................................................................... 202
Bangladesh Indo-Pacific Outlook .......................................................................................................... 202
April 26, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 203
Mohammed Shahabuddin ...................................................................................................................... 203
Assam-Arunachal Pradesh Inter-State Boundary Dispute ............................................................... 203
The State of the World's Children 2023: For Every Child, Vaccination ...................................... 204
What is Shugosin? .................................................................................................................................... 205
Mana Village .............................................................................................................................................. 206
Rang Ghar ................................................................................................................................................. 206
Latest SIPRI Report .................................................................................................................................. 206
Zero Shadow Day .................................................................................................................................... 207
Nagorno-Karabakh .................................................................................................................................. 208
World Intellectual Property Day - Update (April, 2023) ................................................................ 209
Shankaracharya Jayanti ............................................................................................................................ 210

National Health Accounts Estimates 2019-20 .................................................................................... 210
Advantage Healthcare India ..................................................................................................................... 211
The Big Catch-up ...................................................................................................................................... 212
World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies .......................................... 213
Spheroidal Carbonaceous Particle ......................................................................................................... 214
Mars' Core .................................................................................................................................................. 215
April 28, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 216
Key Decisions at Army Commanders Conference 2023 ................................................................. 216
Farm Machinery Technology Summit ................................................................................................. 216
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) ........................................................................................... 217
April 29, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 218
2023 Sudan Conflict ................................................................................................................................ 218
News Headlines
April 1, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for April 1, 2023
INDIA
Utkal Divas or Odisha Day is celebrated on 1 April, to recognize the separation of
Odisha from the Bihar and Orissa province on 1 April 1936.
WHO: Highest proportional increase of COVID cases is seen in India.
India exported military hardware worth ₹15,920 crore in 2022-23: Defence Ministry.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launches App of National Logistics Portal
(Marine) Sagar-Setu in New Delhi.
More than 40 thousand Amrit Sarovars constructed under Mission Amrit Sarovar.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE

Government hikes interest rates of small savings schemes by up to 70 basis points
for April-June quarter.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) registers the highest-ever revenue from
operations of around 26 thousand 500 crore rupees for FY 2022-23.
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) announced the launch of WhatsApp Banking
Services for their customers.
WORLD
International Monetary Fund (IMF) approves 15.6-billion-dollar support package for
Ukraine.
Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York is set to repatriate 15 stolen Indian
artefacts.
Italy banned OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot, launching a probe over a suspected breach
of data collection rules.
UK signs deal to join trade pact with 11 Asia and Pacific nations.
SPORTS
PV Sindhu enters Semi-final of Madrid Spain Masters Badminton tournament.
Gujarat Titans beats Chennai Super Kings by five wickets in the Indian Premier
League opener.
April 2, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for April 2, 2023.
INDIA
ISRO successfully carries out Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission.
Kerala and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers inaugurated the centenary celebrations of
anti-caste struggle Vaikom Satyagraha.
Second Energy Transitions Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency is
organised in Gandhinagar.
India’s defence exports reach all-time high of Rs 16,000 crore to over 85 countries.
Capulopsyche keralensis: New bagworm moth species found in Kerala.
ECONOMY
Government e Marketplace (GeM) crossed Gross Merchandise Value of two lakh
crore rupees in the financial year 2022-2023.
GST collections increase by 13% to Rs 1.6 lakh crores in March; this is the second
highest ever collection.
Bandipur completes 50 years as Project Tiger reserve
WORLD
Italian government seeks to ban English and other foreign languages in official
communication.
Georgia becomes first American state to pass resolution condemning Hinduphobia.
France invites Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Paris as a guest at the annual
Bastille Day parade in July.

Pakistan posts highest-ever annual inflation at a record 35.37% in March from a year
earlier.
SPORTS
Madrid Spain Masters: PV Sindhu to take on Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in
summit clash.
Tennis: Czech player Petra Kvitova defeats Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina to win her
first Miami Open crown.
Former India cricketer Salim Durani passes away; he was the first cricketer to receive
the Arjuna Award.
April 3, 2023
INDIA
Eravikulam National Park (ENP) in Kerala becomes the first to house a fernarium.
Vice-Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh is the new Vice-Chief of Navy.
The government has extended export curbs on petroleum products: Directorate
General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
G20 Science Summit on Clean Energy for Greener Future to begin at Agartala in
Tripura.
Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi.
The government is in the process of establishing a first-of-its-kind National Public
Health Museum.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) achieves best annual production during
financial year 2022-23.
GST mop up at all-time high of Rs 18 trillion in FY23.
Finance Ministry notifies GST amnesty scheme for non-filers and small businesses.
NASSCOM: Indian tech SME revenue to reach USD 40 billion by FY30
WORLD
Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ oil producers announced further cuts in their
production to around 1.16 million barrels per day.
Russia to place nuclear weapons near borders of Belarus with NATO.
Finland cast ballots in the parliamentary election. The race is between right-wing,
conservatives and Prime Minister Sanna Marin’s centre left.
King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to visit India.
SPORTS
Badminton: P.V. Sindhu suffered loss against Indonesia’s Gregoria Mariska Tunjung
in the summit clash of Madrid Spain Masters Super 300.
April 4, 2023

INDIA
10th Edition of annual Indian – Sri Lankan bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-2023
commences at Colombo.
Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar today extended
greetings on Rajya Sabha Day.
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy virtually hosts the first India-Central Asia Culture
Ministers’ Meet.
India and Netherlands hold first Ministerial-level meeting of Joint Working Group in
New Delhi.
Mahavir Jayanti marking the birth of Jain Tirthankara Lord Mahavir is being
celebrated today.
Parliament cleared Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which allows swifter
clearances for mergers and acquisitions (M&As).
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Gross Direct Tax collections for Financial Year 2022-23 register over 20 per cent
growth.
New orders and output rose to a three-month high in March: S&P Global India
Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).
WORLD
In Bangladesh, General elections will be held using ballot, without Electronic Voting
Machine.
Bahrain launches ‘Golden Licence’ initiative to attract large-scale investment
projects.
US Department of Defense announces four new military sites in the Philippines.
NASA announces four-member team of astronauts for first crewed voyage around
moon in 50 years.
SPORTS
Novak Djokovic returned to No. 1 in ATP rankings for a record 380th week.
Daniil Medvedev won his fourth ATP title of the year beating Jannik Sinner in the
Miami Open final.

April 5, 2023
INDIA
Government to invite bids for 50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually for the next
five years.
Skyroot Aerospace test-fires 3D-printed cryogenic engine.
Honorary Consulate of Malta in Chennai celebrated the Freedom Day of the Republic of
Malta
India Justice Report (IJR) 2022: Karnataka at top in delivery of justice among 18 large
states.
Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry sets up a committee headed by Amitabh Kant to
examine stalled real estate projects.
ECONOMY
World Bank lowers India’s growth forecast to 6.3% for this fiscal year.
PhonePe launches shopping app Pincode, on Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
platform.
Forbes Billionaire 2023 list: Ambani regains Asia’s richest person spot while Adani tumbles
to 24.
Supreme Court: Service tax will not be levied on corporate guarantees by a parent
company to its subsidiaries.
WORLD
Taliban extends ban on women working for NGOs to UN’s mission throughout the
country.
Former US President Donald Trump pleads not guilty to 34 criminal charges against him.
US pposes China’s move to assign invented names to several places in Arunachal Pradesh.
Finland joins NATO and becomes 31st member of military alliance.
SPORTS
Union Sports Ministry approves financial assistance for 12 para shuttlers.
United States booked its place in the final qualifying tournament for this year’s ODI World
Cup.
April 6, 2023
INDIA
Food & Drugs Administration of UT, in collaboration with FSSAI, to organise Eat Right
Millet Mela in Jammu.
India is elected as member of UN Statistical Commission Narcotic Drugs and
Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS.
I&B Ministry and Amazon India sign collaboration agreement to boost India’s
creative economy.
President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Awards in second Civil Investiture
Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Ministry of Cooperation approved grant-in-aid of 30 crore to establish Vaikunth
Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management.
Government unveils plans to add 250GW renewable energy capacity in next 5 years.
ECONOMY
RBI Monetary Policy Committee votes for pause, keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5%.
Global trade growth expected to grow 1.7 per cent in 2023, lower than 2.7 per cent
growth in 2022: WTO.
India services growth slows down in March after 12-year high in February.
WORLD
Iran appoints first UAE ambassador since 2016 amid realignment of relations
between Gulf states and Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula
von der Leyen arrived in Beijing.
Study: SARS-CoV-2 virus not found in animal samples from Huanan seafood market.
U.S. and South Korea hold air drills involving B-52H strategic bomber.
SPORTS
M S Dhoni among five Indian cricketers to get MCC life membership.
April 7, 2023
INDIA
Cabinet approves LIGO-India, gravitational-wave detector to be built in Maharashtra.
Information Technology Amendment Rules, 2023 were notified; Online platforms
must take down PIB-flagged ‘fake news’.
President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates Gaj Utsav at the Kaziranga national park in
Assam.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurates 200th birth anniversary celebrations of
Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Cultural asset mapping data on villages covered under ‘Mera Gaon Meri Dharohar’
programme will be made available on a web portal from May.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Cabinet approves revised domestic gas pricing guidelines to ensure stable price
regime for domestic consumers.
IMF Chief says India and China will account for half of global economic growth in
2023.
Inflation in India will ease to 5.2 % in current fiscal, says World Bank.
WORLD
World Health Day being celebrated on April 7 with the theme of ‘Health for All’.
High inflation remained the biggest concern for the people of Bangladesh in 2022,
says the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) result
SPORTS
Bangladesh defeats Ireland by 7 wickets to clinch the test match as well as the series.
April 8, 2023
INDIA
The government approved the Indian Space Policy 2023 that seeks to institutionalise
the private sector participation in space sector.
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology released an amendment to the IT
Rules, 2021, to regulate ‘online real money games.
Centre extends ceasefire agreements with three Naga groups for a further period of
one year.
Ministry of Education released a “pre-draft” version of the National Curriculum
Framework for School Education.
Information and Broadcasting Ministry advised media to refrain from transmitting
advertisements of online Betting platforms.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Finance Ministry notified the formation of a committee to review the pension system
for government employees.
Total enrolments under various schemes of NPS, APY crossed 1.35 crore margin
during FY 2022-23.
Reserve Bank of India has decided to start a portal to help in tracing unclaimed
deposits.
Reserve Bank of India expands the scope of UPI by allowing pre-approved credit
lines using UPI.
WORLD
UAE and Vietnam sign declaration to begin talks on Comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement.
France and China sign several economic agreements in sectors such as transport,
energy, agriculture, culture and science.
SPORTS
Sports Authority of India integrates Khelo India Games Certificates with Digilocker.
April 9, 2023
INDIA
Prime Minister inaugurated infrastructure projects worth more than Rs 5,200 crore in
Tamil Nadu; launches State’s second Vande Bharat Express.
Ayush Ministry to organise scientific convention on World Homeopathy Day in New
Delhi.
Report: Prevalence of obesity, and dyslipidemia among Indians has risen.
Droupadi Murmu becomes third President to fly a sortie on a Sukhoi fighter jet.
CSIR scientists find rare-earth elements (REEs) in Anantapur district in Andhra
Pradesh.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Union government is set up to constitute the Sixteenth Finance Commission in
November 2023.
State-owned non-banking finance firm REC raises USD 750 million through green
bonds.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will attend the Spring Meetings of the World
Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund along with G20.
WORLD
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filed an appeal against a ruling by a federal
judge which blocked abortion bills.
U.S. launches probe into alleged leak of Ukraine war files
Ukriane’s first Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova to begin 4-day
visit to India
SPORTS
India’s Priyanshu Rajawat reaches finals of Orleans Masters Super 300 badminton
tournament in France.
Chennai to host the second edition of the ‘Street Child Cricket World Cup’.
April 10, 2023
INDIA
Union Home Minister Amit Shah to launch Vibrant Villages Programme in Arunachal
Pradesh.
India has at least 3,167 tigers, according to the estimates from the latest tiger
census.
The Centre is planning a comprehensive livestock insurance scheme modelled on the
Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana.
India’s active Covid caseload crosses 35,000-mark, according to the Union Health
Ministry data.
78% of communicable disease deaths in 2021 due to respiratory ailments: NSO
Himachal Pradesh launches project Sanjeevani to empower dairy farmers.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Maharashtra government introduces vacant land tax for assets registration.
Indian-American C.R. Rao wins Nobel Prize equivalent in statistics at the age of 102.
Asian Development Bank and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited entered a pact to
augment power distribution in the national capital.
The Government specifies retail price based GST cess rate for pan masala, tobacco
WORLD
Russia destroys 70000-tonne fuel depot near southeastern Ukrainian city of
Zaporizhzhia.
World Homoeopathy Day (WHD) is celebrated on 10 April; The day marks the birth
anniversary of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann.
SPORTS
India’s Priyanshu Rajawat defeated Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen to claim the
men’s singles title at the Orleans Masters.
April 11, 2023
INDIA
Tamil Nadu Governor gives assent to Bill against online gambling.
3000 villages were identified under ‘Vibrant Village Programme’ for comprehensive
development along International borders.

Trinamool Congress, CPI and NCP lose national party status; Aam Aadmi Party has
been granted a National party status.
Nationwide mock drill to review the preparedness of COVID management across all
government and private hospitals were done.
Tamil Nadu House resolution asks Centre to set time limit for Governor for clearing
Bills.
Covid jab Covovax will be available on CoWIN portal soon.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Electric two-wheeler sales in India rose over twofold to 8,46,976 units in 2022-23
compared with the previous fiscal.
The government retains the interest rate payable on savings in General Provident
Fund (GPF) at 7.1% for the April to June 2023 quarter.
Reserve Bank of India came out with detailed norms for outsourcing of IT services by
banks, NBFCs and regulated financial sector entities.
WORLD
US Navy says ‘USS Milius’ conducts navigational rights and freedoms mission in
South China Sea.
Union External Affairs Minister Jaishankar launches ‘Tulsi Ghat Restoration Project’ in
Uganda
Israeli Prime Minister reverses his decision to sack Defence Minister Yoav Gallant
China reports first death from H3N8 bird flu, according to the World Health
Organization (WHO).
SPORTS
Grandmaster D. Gukesh wins at World Chess Armageddon Asia & Oceania
Vikas secured bronze medal for India in Greco Roman 72kg category at the Asian
wrestling championships in Astana.
April 12, 2023
INDIA
Tamil Nadu notifies Prohibition of Online Gambling Act; Hosting online gambling
services can result in up to 3 years of jail
SNEHA, suicide prevention centre, has launched an online chat service for those in
distress.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts normal monsoon; India’s four-year
run of heavy summer monsoon rainfall is likely to end this year.
Rajasthan: 2nd Women 20 International Meeting to be held in Jaipur.
Ministry of Education to organise a Young Authors’ Conference during the SCO
Summit 2022-23.
Unified Portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics launched; will be one step solution for
all licensing processes of the Bureau.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurates Peerah-Kunfer Tunnel at Ramban in Jammu
and Kashmir.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announces framework for acceptance of Green Deposits.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that India’s economy will grow by
5.9% for the current fiscal year 2023-24.
WORLD
US President Joe Biden arrives in Belfast capital of Northern Ireland to commemorate
25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement.
Bangladesh’s public health pioneer Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury passes away.
Three-day International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics to begin in
New Delhi.
Iran develops new domestically-build suicide drone which can destroy targets within
a range of 450 kilometers.
SPORTS
Nisha Dahia wins Silver in 68kg category in Asian Wrestling Championships in
Kazakhstan.
Chennai to host Asian Hockey Men’s Championship after 15 years.
April 13, 2023
INDIA
India’s International Aviation Safety Assessment rating to continue to remain in
Category One.
Women 20 (W20) International Meeting to commence at Jaipur in Rajasthan.
Tejas, Rafale, Su-30MKI and Jaguars of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will set to participate
in second phase of the ongoing bilateral air exercise, Cope India 23, along with US Air
Force.
India ranked fifth in terms of investments received by startups offering artificial
intelligence (AI)-based products and services last year.
FAHD Minister Parshottam Rupala to launch “Animal Pandemic Preparedness

Initiative (APPI)” under National One Health Mission.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Consumer inflation eases to 5.66% in March; This is higher than the 6.5% average
price rise projected by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
IIP Data: Industrial output of the country rises 5.6 percent in February 2023, on a
year-on-year basis.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a draft circular on ‘Fair lending practice, penal
charges on loan accounts’.
WORLD
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in China for an official visit aimed
at boosting tieS.
UAE’s Rashid Rover, onboard the HAKUTO-R Mission 1 Lunar Lander, is scheduled to
land on the Moon on 25th April 2023.
Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2022 shows that the poverty rate
in Bangladesh declined from 24.3 percent in 2016 to 18.7 percent in 2022.
Japan announces plans to develop advanced long-range missiles amid increasing
tensions with China.
SPORTS
India’s Antim Pangal clinches silver at Asian Wrestling Championships in Astana,
Kazakhstan.
Nisha Dahia wins Silver in Asian Wrestling Championships in Kazakhstan.
April 14, 2023
INDIA
University Grants Commission (UGC) has notified a new set of regulations for
redressal of grievances of students.
Indian Army and Indian Air Force hold multi-domain exercise on eastern sector.
India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Food
Programme (WFP) for sending 10,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Modi dedicated northeast’s first AIIMS to the nation; to dedicate
₹14,300 crore worth of projects on first day of the State’s spring festival ‘Rongali
Bihu’.
Andhra Pradesh begins Online process for issuance of new accreditation cards to
journalists.
Festivals of Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Naba Barsha, Vaisakhadi, Meshadi, and Puthandu
Pirappu being celebrated in different parts of country.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s goods exports declined for the second successive month in March, falling
13.9% to USD 38.38 billion, while imports dipped 7.9% to USD 58.11 billion.
Net Direct tax collection increases by 172.83 percent in the last nine years.
WORLD
A powerful cyclone Ilsa hit Western Australia close to Port Hedland as a category five
storm.
India, Japan and France announce common platform for Sri Lanka creditors
Qatar and Bahrain announce to resume their diplomatic ties after over two years.
SPORTS
Aman Sehrawat clinches India’s first gold medal at Asian Wrestling Championships.
Indian Women wrestlers bag seven medals to finish third at Asian Wrestling
Championship.
April 15, 2023
INDIA
Himachal Pradesh celebrates its 75th formation day on April 15. Himachal Pradesh
came into existence in 1948 as a Chief Commissioner’s State.
Bharat Gaurav Tourist train was flagged off to mark birth anniversary of Dr B R
Ambedkar.
Vishu and Bengali Noboborsho are being celebrated in various parts of the country
NISAR satellite, jointly developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO),
is set to map Himalayas’ seismic zones.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned by the CBI regarding Delhi
excise policy case.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s forex reserves rise USD 6.3 bn to USD 584.75 bn, the Reserve Bank of India
said.
Textile and apparel exports contracted 14% in 2022-2023 compared with the previous
year.
G-20 countries discussed the debt distress of poor and middle-income countries,
challenges to the global economy, including Ukraine war.
WORLD
Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
in Beijing to boost ties.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed financial support of USD 1 billion to
Pakistan.
European Space Agency successfully launches its mission to Jupiter’s moons
SPORTS
Rs 3,200 crore will be spent on sports facilities in next 5 years in India under Khelo
India campaign.
April 16, 2023

INDIA
Tamil Nadu chooses Ernst & Young as a consultant for analysis of 50 selected Public
Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in the State.
CAPF to hold exams in 13 local languages; MHA and Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
would sign an addendum to the existing MoU.
Union Textiles Ministry has decided to launch an e-commerce platform that would
help weavers and artisans sell their products.
Supreme Court announced the formation of a new Constitution Bench headed by
Chief Justice to hear petitions seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah confers the Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2022.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
New foreign trade policy allows duty-free import of life-saving drugs and Rakhis as
gifts.
India hosts first joint working group meeting on Chabahar port
U.S. emerges as India’s biggest trading partner in FY23 at USD 128.55 billion.
WORLD
French President Emmanuel Macron signed his controversial pension reform into
law despite protests.
Clashes have broken out in Sudan between the military and the paramilitary forces.
Bangladesh: Dhaka records highest temperature in 58 years with the temperature
rising to 40.4 degrees Celsius.
India and Peru hold second Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi.
SPORTS
Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen added a second World Championships title to her name.
Indian team to take part in IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s Asia and Oceania
Championship.
April 17, 2023
INDIA
The first edition of the biannual Army Commanders conclave 2023 will be conducted
in Hybrid format.
National Health Authority is set to introduce face authentication feature for
Ayushman Bharat App.
Apple’s first two retail stores in India will open this week in Mumbai and Delhi.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj will celebrate National Panchayat Awards Week from 17th
April to 21st April 2023.
Rajasthan’s Nandini Gupta has been crowned as the Femina Miss India World 2023.
DRDO Industry Academia Centre of Excellence inaugurated at IIT Hyderabad.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Global Conference on Compressed Biogas to be held in New Delhi.
Steel Ministry: Disinvestment process of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited is under
progress
NITI Aayog mulls Electric Vehicle policy review to reduce dependence on China.
WORLD
April 17 is observed as World Hemophilia Day, this year’s theme is ‘Access for All:
Partnership. Policy. Progress. Engaging Government, Integrating Inherited Bleeding
Disorders into National Policy.
India’s population is expected to reach 1.429 billion by the end of the year, according
to the U.N. China will be at second place, with 1.426 billion people.
Germany switches off its last three nuclear plants; Germany has been looking to
leave behind nuclear power since 2002.
The Sudanese military and a paramilitary group battled for control of the nation; 61
dead and 670 injured after clashes.

SPORTS
Shaili Singh qualifies for Asian Games; logging second longest jump in India’s
history.
April 18, 2023

INDIA
President of India Droupadi Murmu presents the National Panchayat Awards and
inaugurates the National Conference on Incentivization of Panchayats
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launches ‘YUVA PORTAL’ in New Delhi, to identify
potential young Start-Ups.
Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda to launch Marketing, Logistics Development for
PTP-NER scheme in Manipur.
Department of Posts releases special cover on Mahila Samman Savings Scheme in
Telangana.
Union Ayush Ministry organized a national conference on female infertility in New
Delhi.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India and Russia crossed bilateral trade target of 30 billion dollars before target 2025.
ADB provides USD 230 million for flood rehabilitation in Bangladesh.
Wholesale Price-based Inflation (WPI) for March 2023 declined to a 29-month low of
1.34 percent.
Indian Railways has registered a record revenue of two lakh 40 thousand crore
rupees for the financial year 2022-23.
WORLD
Bangladesh issues 5-point guideline for limited import of films made in the
languages of ‘the Indian subcontinent’.
Multilateral exercise Orion in which the Indian Air Force and French Air and Space
Force are taking part begins in France.
SPORTS
Russia’s Andrey Rublev wins Monte Carlo title after winning the final against
Denmark’s Holger Rune.
April 19, 2023

INDIA
Union Home Minister Amit Shah presided over a ‘Chintan Shivir’ of senior officers of
Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi.
Rain and thunderstorm begin in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner due to western
disturbance.
Government approves 8 projects worth around Rs 638 crore for Clean Ganga
Mission.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved a proposal for bringing in industry-friendly
reform related to Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP)
Manipur Chief Minister inaugurates Hun-Thadou cultural festival at Kangpokpi.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Apple CEO Tim Cook opens Apple’s first India store in Mumbai.
India plans to appeal against WTO ruling on IT tariffs.
G20 Digital Economy Working Group meeting held in Hyderabad.
WORLD
UN Secretary-General condemns outbreak of fighting in Sudan, calls for an
immediate ceasefire to resolve crisis.
Kuwait’s Crown Prince announces dissolution of National Assembly and calls for new
elections.
India and Russia agree to deepen trade and economic relations during the India-
Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological
and Cultural Cooperation.
SPORTS
Suryakumar Yadav was named Wisden’s Leading T20 Cricketer of the Year while
Harmanpreet Kaur becomes the first Indian woman to win a Wisden Cricketer of the
Year.
April 20, 2023
INDIA
Centre asks States to enforce new rules to check stray dog numbers.
Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Centre to extend quota for
Dalit Christians.
Union Cabinet cleared Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023 for harsher
punishments for film piracy and introduction of new age categories for classifying
films.
NMDC is exploring Australian lithium reserves for mining.

Cabinet approves National Quantum Mission to scale up scientific and Industrial
Research & Development in Quantum Technology.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Global Buddhist Summit in
New Delhi.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
The government has brought back the windfall profit tax on domestic crude oil
RBI calls meeting of all bank boards to discuss governance and supervisory.
Hurun report: India retains third spot as a unicorn hub.
India and UK hold first in-person financial dialogue meeting since 2017.
Finance Ministry tasks World Bank with examining financing in infrastructure sectors.
WORLD
India’s population projected to reach 142.86 crore against China’s 142.57 crore by
mid-2023: U.N
More than 80 people were killed and hundreds injured in the stampede at the capital
city of war-torn Yemen.
Ukraine has received the U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air guided missile systems.
North Korea’s first spy satellite is ready for launch: Leader Kim Jong-un.
SPORTS
World No. 9 H.S. Prannoy and two-time Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu will lead the
Indian challenge at the 2023 Sudirman Cup, scheduled in China.
April 21, 2023

INDIA
The governments of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh sign an agreement for the
settlement of an inter-state boundary dispute between the two States.
IIT Bombay to introduce new form of convocation called Commencement Ceremony.
National Civil Services Day is celebrated every year on April 21.
Health Ministry requests States/UTs to develop 100 food streets in 100 districts to
promote safe food practices.
Election Commission introduces Vote from Home option in Karnataka Assembly
elections.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in Exercise INIOCHOS-23, a multi-national
air exercise hosted by the Greece Air Force.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s real GDP growth likely accelerated to 4.9% in Q4: ICRA.
European Union (EU) asks Indian government for implementing ‘open skies’ and
sign a common agreement.
ITC beats HDFC to become the seventh largest firm by market capitalisation.
WORLD
UAE announces that the ‘Eid Al Fitr’ will begin on April 21.
India and Thailand agree to resolve market access issues and technical barriers.
US President announces 36th security package in new military aid for Ukraine of 325
million dollars.
Jitgadhi festival is being observed in Butwal in Nepal.
UN report: Major shift in global governance to tackle challenges as climate crisis.
UNICEF: 67 million children missed routine vaccines globally between 2019 and 2021
because of Covid-19.
SPORTS
Indian men’s recurve team enters finals of Archery World Cup in Antalya.
April 22, 2023

INDIA
Festival of Eid-ul-Fitr being celebrated in various parts of the country on April 22.
ISRO to launch PSLV-C55 with two Singaporean satellites from Sriharikota.
Mahua to be used in health drinks, chocolates and cookies in Madhya Pradesh.
FSSAI’s Web-based application FOSCOS to be available in Hindi and all regional
languages.
Ministry of Civil Aviation launched the 5th round of the Regional Connectivity Scheme
(RCS) – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN)
The two-day Global Buddhist Summit 2023 concludes with New Delhi Declaration.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries organized a Millets Fair-cum-Exhibition at the
ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
RBI data: India’s forex reserves up USD 1.65 billion to USD 586.4 billion.
PM Gati-Shakti NMP receives PM’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration
2022.
Eight states notify guidelines for monitoring direct selling entities.
WORLD
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year to demonstrate support for
environmental protection.
WMO: Climate change causing reduced crop yields in India, heatwaves globally.
British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigns after bullying allegations.
SPORTS
Archery World Cup 2023: Indian compound mixed team to compete for gold medal
against team of Chinese Taipei in Turkey.
April 23, 2023
INDIA
Ministry of Jal Shakti has conducted the first-ever census of water bodies across the
nation.
The 12-day Pushkaralu festival celebrated by Telugus started in Varanasi; pilgrims
worship the Ganga and their ancestors.
India conducts successful trial of BMD interceptor missile.
Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates one of its kind Future of Work exhibition under
G20 Education Working Group (EdWG) meeting.
National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts, IIT – Discovery Campus
was inaugurated at Chennai.
Vice-President visits Kaithal, Haryana to attend State-level programme on Dhanna
Bhagat’s birth anniversary.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
‘El Nino to be moderate and its impact on monsoon will be minimal’: IMD.
India becomes the first country in the world to have annual remittances from abroad
crossing the USD 100-billion mark.
CBIC: Electronic Cash Ledger (ECL) for payment of custom duty has been accepted by
people.
WORLD
U.S. and British forces evacuated embassy staff and their families from battle-torn
Sudan.
Azerbaijan sets up first checkpoint on key route to its rival country Armenia
Past 8 years ‘warmest on record’: New UN climate report.
SPORTS
‘Khelo India initiative’ of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports completes five
years.
Asian Champions Trophy 2023: Pakistan, China confirm participation in the Hockey
Tournament.
21-year-old beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 6-4 in Stuttgart Open final for her second
successful title defence this year.
April 24, 2023

INDIA
Union Health, Family Welfare Ministry organizes Asia Pacific Leaders’ Conclave on
Malaria Elimination in New Delhi.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will inaugurate the ‘Mehngai Rahat Camp’, to
provide relief to people from rising prices.
Prime Minister Modi to attend National Panchayati Raj Day celebrations in Madhya
Pradesh.
India’s first water metro will be launched in Kerala’s Kochi district.
Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh witnessed the second Cheetah death, in a
month.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India reaches 38th spot on World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index.
Centre launched over 250 network towers to provide 4G mobile connectivity in
border areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
Per capita income gap between Karnataka’s richest, poorest districts widens.
WORLD
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for dissolving Parliament as
Election approaches.
Russia announced the expulsion of over 20 German diplomats as a retaliatory
measure for expulsion of Russian embassy staff from Berlin.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has addressed the India-Guyana Business
Round Table.
U.K. tests new emergency alert system on millions of phones.
SPORTS
K.L. Rahul becomes fastest Indian to 7,000 runs in T20 cricket.
Barcelona Open: Carlos Alcaraz clinches title with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Stefanos
Tsitsipas.
Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara joined Donald Bradman, after a set of gates were
named in their honour at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
April 25, 2023
INDIA
India launches ‘Operation Kaveri’ to bring back citizens stranded in Sudan.
DRDO and Indian Navy successfully conduct trial of BMD Interceptor from naval
platform.
Supreme Court: ‘Governors should return Bills they do not agree to as soon as
possible and not sit over them’.
Vibrant Villages plan to be merged with Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti mega project.
Labour and Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav launches new features on
eShram portal.
PM Modi to flag off Vande Bharat Express and other development projects in Kerala.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
OPEC’s share of India’s oil imports fell in 2022-23 to the lowest in at least 22 years.
India is considering linking its power grid to those of Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates through undersea cables.
LVMH becomes first European firm to cross market capitalization (m-cap) of USD 500
billion.
WORLD
Japan’s Health Ministry approves country’s first abortion pill.
Australia’s new Defence Strategic Review was launched by Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese.
World Malaria Day: India registers over 85 per cent decline in malaria cases from
2015 to 2022.
Bangladesh officially unveiled its Indo-Pacific Outlook (IPO) outlining four guiding
principles and 15 objectives.
Md. Sahabuddin takes oath as the 22nd President of Bangladesh.
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace was observed on April
24.
SPORTS
Archery World Cup: India end campaign with two golds and one silver and bronze
medal each at Turkiye’s Antalya.
April 26, 2023
INDIA
Health Ministry released the National Health Accounts Estimates for India (2019-20);
share of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) has declined from 62.6% in 2014-15 to
47.1% in 2019-20.
Kerala panel set to prepare supplementary textbooks to cover deleted NCERT
portions.
The first batch of Indians stranded in Sudan were evacuated as part of ‘Operation
Kaveri’ on board INS Sumedha from Port Sudan.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar inaugurates National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat
@100.
Parkash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister of Punjab and senior leader of Shiromani
Akali Dal passed away.
Mizoram Governor addresses conclave organized by Civil 20 Working Group on
Education and Digital Transformation.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
NASSCOM announced the appointment of Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft
India, as its chairperson for 2023-24.
The Capital expenditure by states during April-February 2023, was 11.9% higher
compared to the previous year.
WORLD
US President Joe Biden announces his candidature for second term in 2024.
Japanese startup ispace Inc admits failure in attempt to make first private moon
landing.
Australia to host third in-person Quad Summit in Sydney; It will be attended by US
President Joe Biden, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On April 26th of each year, the world commemorates World Intellectual Property
Day.
SPORTS
Dubai Badminton Asia Championships: PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen,
and HS Prannoy to play first-round singles match.

Sathiyan and Manika Batra to spearhead a 11-member Indian squad at World table
tennis championships to be held in Durban, South Africa.
April 27, 2023

INDIA
Supreme Court modified its judgment to have mandatory eco-sensitive zones (ESZ)
of a minimum one kilometre around protected forests, national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries.
PM Modi to attend 20th anniversary of SWAGAT initiative in Gujarat via video

conferencing.
NITI Aayog releases report titled Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across
States/UTs.
Youth-20 pre-summit under G20 presidency officially begins in Leh.
Centre approves establishment of 157 new govt nursing colleges at cost of Rs 1570
crores in India.
Ten security personnel and a civilian driver were killed in Maoist blast in Dantewada
of Chhattisgarh.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Union government has approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah launches IFFCO Nano DAP (Liquid).
NASSCOM Report: Patent filings in India rose by 13.6% in FY22.
Power Ministry warns States against resorting to tax levies on electricity generation,
including through imposition of a water cess.
WORLD
Operation Kaveri: Nearly 1100 Indian nationals evacuated from conflict-hit Sudan.
US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol secures a
landmark deal.
India Pavilion at Global Education and Training Exhibition Inaugurated at Dubai
Japan has invited applications for the 17th edition International Manga Award.
SPORTS
Dubai Badminton Asia Championship: HS Prannoy and Men’s Doubles pair of
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy -Chirag Shetty advance into pre-quarterfinals.
April 28, 2023

INDIA
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chairs the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Defence Ministers’ Meeting, in New Delhi.
India sends third ship to Port Sudan for evacuating citizens.

Union Law Ministry notifies judges appointment in four High Courts.
Voters Helpline app introduced by Election Commission to help enrolment of voters
in Karnataka.
Tripartite Memorandum of Settlement signed between Centre, Assam state
government and DNLA/DPSC.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurates 91 FM transmitters to boost radio connectivity in
country.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Ministry of Heavy Industries announces release of SOPs under PLI Auto scheme to
testing agencies.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates Summit on Farm Machinery

Technology.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) defers 2nd phase of
Customs e-payment.
Demand for work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA) declines in FY23.
WORLD
India and UK to create India-UK NET zero innovation virtual centre.
The United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Cambodia have finalised the terms of
a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
World Bank approves USD 1.25 billion financing for three new projects in
Bangladesh.
Iran seized Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in Gulf of Oman and alleges the US
Navy.
SPORTS
Badminton Asia Championships: P V Sindhu, H S Prannoy and Men’s Doubles pair of
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty to play quarterfinal.
Indian athletes Aarti and Khusbhu Yadav bagged third and fourth positions in the
Girls’ 5000 m Race Walk in the Asian U18 Athletics Championships held in Uzbekistan.
April 29, 2023

INDIA
Sinthan Snow Festival-2023 is to take place at Sinthan Maidan, Jammu and Kashmir.
CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao is set to inaugurate new Dr. B R Ambedkar Telangana
State Secretariat in Hyderabad.
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai starts administering of intranasal Covid19
vaccine iNCOVACC.
Anji Khad bridge, India’s first cable stayed rail bridge, has been installed in Jammu
and Kashmir.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and NAFED launched the first of its kind
‘Millets Experience Centre (MEC)’ in New Delhi.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) increased by 3.6 percent
(provisional) in March 2023 as compared to the Index of March 2022.
Siddhartha Mohanty has been named as Managing Director (MD) and the first Chief
Executive Officer of LIC.
National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22 findings were released.
WORLD
World Day for Safety and Health at Work is being observed on April 28.
Dubai-based airline Emirates has unveiled the world’s first robotic check-in assistant
named Sara.
Nepal: Governor of Madhesh Pradesh Hari Mishra inaugurates Janakpur Dham
Cultural Festival.
Operation Kaveri: 2400 Indians evacuated from conflict-hit Sudan.
SPORTS
Badminton Asia Championships: Indian duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag
Shetty storms into semifinals; P.V. Sindhu and HS Prannoy crashed out.
April 30, 2023

INDIA
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin inaugurated a two-day ‘Medical value travel
Conclave’.
Five cadets made history as first women to be inducted into the Indian Army’s Regiment
of Artillery.
The 100th episode of the monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat will be broadcast live at
the United Nations headquarters.
Wild Tusker Arikompan has been caught, to be released in Periyar sanctuary.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) seeks time to wrap Adani probe.
Indirect tax collections rose 7.21% in 2022-23 to ₹13.82 lakh crore from ₹12.89 lakh crore in
the previous year.
WORLD
Uzbekistan holds referendum on new Constitution; the new draft would rewrite over 60%
of the current charter.
U.S. President Joe Biden will meet 18 leaders from the South Pacific when he visits Papua
New Guinea in May.
A group of Afghan women protested in Kabul against foreign recognition of Taliban.
Japanese lunar spacecraft crash lands on surface of the Moon.
SPORTS
India under-17 team defeated Myanmar in its concluding AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup
qualifiers round one.
Abdulla Aboobacker won the men’s triple jump gold at the World Continental Tour
athletics.
April 1, 2023
What is Upward Lightning?
The phenomenon of upward lightning, also known as upward flashes, has long been a
fascinating sight for scientists and observers alike. Recently, Brazilian researchers
succeeded in capturing high-speed images of the event, showcasing a self-initiated
lightning streak that develops from tall objects, traveling upward towards electrified storm
clouds. In this article, we will delve deeper into the research conducted and the
mechanisms behind the upward lightning phenomenon.
Where Was Upward Lightning Captured?
The research was conducted in São José dos Campos, a city northeast of São Paulo in
Brazil. The Brazilian researchers were successful in photographing the upward lightning
with the help of high-speed video cameras, at very high resolution.
Factors Enabling Upward Lightning
For upward lightning to occur, storm electrification and a cloud charge region’s presence
are essential factors. The vertical elevation of a tall object increases the electric field’s local
intensity on the ground, creating favorable conditions for the initiation of an upward
streak or leader from a tall object. It can also develop in response to an electric field
change created by a nearby preceding lightning flash.
Upward Lightning Studies
According to a paper in Nature on the triggering mechanisms of upward lightning, there
have been several upward lightning studies conducted in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA,
and São Paulo, Brazil, between the years 2011 and 2016 during summer thunderstorms.
The primary objective of these studies was to characterize the triggering of upward
positive leaders from tall objects due to preceding nearby flash activity.
Observation of Upward Flashes
To observe the upward flashes, a combination of high- and standard-speed video and
digital still cameras, electric field meters, fast electric-field antenna systems, and lightning
mapping arrays were used. These datasets were analyzed to determine the triggering
flash type responsible for the initiation of upward leaders from towers.
Triggering Component for Upward Leaders
The paper concluded that upward leaders’ most efficient triggering component from
towers is the propagation of the in-cloud negative leader during the continuing current
that follows a positive return stroke.
The Stepped Leader
The stepped leader is a channel of negative charge that moves downward in a zigzag
pattern from a cloud. As the stepped leader streaks towards the ground, the electrical
charges between the leader tips and the tops of tall objects on the ground keep on
increasing.
Positive Charge on the Ground
This process leads to an intensification of the positive charge on the ground, causing the
air above tall buildings or towers to ionize and turn more conductive. As a result, the
negatively charged, downward-moving stepped leader creates a positively charged
channel of air that streaks upwards, known as an upward streamer.
Connection with Upward Streamer
When the negatively charged stepped leader makes contact with an upward streamer, the
lightning channel is complete, and charges can flow rapidly from the cloud toward the
ground. The connection with an upward streamer occurs in just a fraction of a second
after the stepped leader’s initiation.

Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland
As the impacts of climate change become increasingly severe and tangible, people around
the world are looking for ways to hold their governments accountable for inaction on this
pressing issue. In Europe, senior citizens in Switzerland have taken the bold step of filing a
case against their government in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The case, known as Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland, was filed
by the Club of Climate Seniors and Marie-Eve Volkoff, who experienced 11 weeks of indoor
confinement during the heatwaves of 2022. The association and Volkoff claim that the
Swiss government’s inadequate response to climate change has violated their right to
health, and they are seeking compensation and changes to Swiss climate policy.
Blaming Swiss Authorities for Climate Change Failings
The Club of Climate Seniors has accused the Swiss authorities of various climate change
failings, including insufficient measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a lack of
preparedness for extreme weather events, and insufficient support for vulnerable
populations. During the heatwaves in 2022, many elderly people, including the women
involved in the case, experienced shortness of breath, nausea, and even loss of
consciousness.
The European Court of Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights, which is based in France’s Strasbourg, is an
international court. It hears cases related to human rights violations under the European
Convention on Human Rights, which is ratified by the court’s 46 member states.
Similar Climate Change Cases
The Swiss case is not the only legal action being taken against a government for climate
change inaction. In France, former mayor Damien Careme has filed a case against the
French government in the ECHR, alleging that its insufficient climate policy violates the
rights of future generations. Corinne Lepage, the former French ecology minister, is one
of Careme’s lawyers.
Greenpeace, an international environmental organization, issued a statement in support
of the Swiss climate change case, calling it “a wake-up call for governments around the
world to take urgent action to address the climate crisis.”

What is GRB 221009A?
In October 2022, astronomers recorded a pulse of gamma-ray radiation that could
potentially overturn a decades-long theory of gamma-ray burst (GRB) jets. The radiation
was captured by a joint observation involving several institutions, including the Center for
Astrophysics, Harvard and Smithsonian’s Submillimeter Array (SMA) in Hawaii, the
Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, the MeerKAT Array in South Africa, the US
National Science Foundation’s Karl G Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico (USA),
and NCRA’s Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope in India. The name given to this observation
was GRB 221009A.
Gamma-Ray Radiation and Black Holes
Long-duration GRBs are the consequence of the birth of a black hole, which is formed
when the core of a massive star falls under its weight. The plasma jets formed by the
formation of a new black hole release powerful gamma rays, and as these jets slam into
the gas neighboring the dying star, a bright afterglow is produced across the spectrum.
Birth Cry of a Black Hole
When the astronomers analyzed the signals from the radiation pulse, they concluded that
they were a birth cry of a black hole. However, the radio signals from the afterglow were
brighter than expected, and the astronomers initially thought that they might have
captured the fleeting signature of a ‘reverse shock.’
Challenging Decades-Old Theory on GRB Jets
The radio spectrum of GRB 221009A faded much too slowly to be a reverse shock. The
outflow may consist of a small mass shooting at 99.4 per cent at the speed of light, and
there is the possibility of a very fast-moving jet producing the X-ray and visible light in the
afterglow. These findings challenge the decades-old theory on GRB jets, indicating the
existence of a very fast-moving jet that produces the X-ray and visible light in the
afterglow.
What is Mukupirna fortidentata?
Scientists in Australia have discovered evidence of a previously unknown ancient
marsupial called Mukupirna fortidentata. This ancient species roamed the country around
25 million years ago. Researchers at Flinders University pieced together fossils of this
long-extinct marsupial after finding it in Australia’s remote Northern Territory. Let’s delve
into the details of this discovery and its implications.
Mukupirna fortidentata: The Wombat-like Marsupial
The Mukupirna fortidentata is thought to have weighed up to 50 kg, making it one of the
largest marsupials alive at the time. This wombat-like creature had a powerful bite. It is
believed to have consumed tough fruits and nuts. It is related to Mukupirna nambensis,
another marsupial species.
The Extinction of Mukupirnids
According to researchers, the extinction of Mukupirnids started during a period of
changing climate as ancient forest regions in Australia’s centre became increasingly arid.
The mukupirnids seemed to have gone extinct sometime before the end of the late
Oligocene (25-23 million years ago).
Implications of the Discovery
The discovery of the Mukupirna fortidentata is significant in shedding light on the
evolution and extinction of ancient marsupial lineages. This discovery helps scientists put
the surviving marsupial groups, like the wombats and possums, in a broader evolutionary
context. However, the extinction of the Mukupirnids remains a mystery, and scientists will
have to continue their research to understand what drove these ancient marsupials to
extinction.
Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023
Recently, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav introduced the Forest (Conservation)
Amendment Bill, 2023, in the Lok Sabha. This amendment bill seeks to clarify India’s forest
conservation law and exempt certain categories of land from its ambit to fast-track
security-related projects of national importance.
Understanding the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is a forest conservation law in India that regulates
diversion of forestland for non-forestry purposes like mining, industrial projects, and
other developmental activities. The Act was passed with the aim of conserving forests and
wildlife by regulating activities such as timber felling, grazing, and cultivation on forest
lands.
India’s Aim to Increase Forest Cover
The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 aims to broaden the horizons of the Act.
This is in line with India’s efforts towards increasing green cover for the creation of a
carbon sink of additional 2.5-3.0 billion tons of CO2 equivalent by the end of this decade.
The proposed amendments seek to add more activities for promoting conservation of
forest and wildlife.
Proposed Exemptions and Preamble
The 2023 Amendment Bill exempts certain categories of lands from the purview of the Act
to hasten the execution of projects that are of national importance. It also provides access
to small establishments, habitations on the side of public roads and railways, and
encourage plantation on non-forest land. Additionally, it seeks to insert a preamble to the
Act to encompass the country’s rich tradition of preserving forests, their biodiversity, and
tackling climate change challenges within its ambit.
Planting Trees to Compensate for Felling of Trees
The Bill provides for terms and conditions while considering the proposed relaxations
under the Act. These include the condition of planting trees to compensate for felling of
trees undertaken on the lands. This ensures that the felling of trees is compensated by
planting an equal number of trees to maintain the balance in the ecosystem.
Uniformity in Applicability
The amendments bring about uniformity in the applicability of the Act’s provisions in
respect of public and private entities. This would ensure that the provisions of the Act
apply to all entities involved in forest and wildlife conservation, regardless of whether they
are private or government-owned.
Empowering the Central Government
The Amendment Bill empowers the central government to specify the terms and
conditions subject to which any survey, such as, reconnaissance, prospecting,
investigation or exploration including seismic survey, shall not be treated as non-forest
purpose. This move would ensure that surveys are conducted in a manner that is not
detrimental to the environment.
Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022 - Update (April, 2023)
The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022 was recently passed by the Lok Sabha with the
aim of promoting fair competition in the market and preventing anti-competitive
practices. The bill was originally introduced in the lower house on August 5, 2022, and was
referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, which was headed by
Jayant Sinha. The panel made several recommendations that have been incorporated into
the amended law passed by the lower house.
Periodic Revision of Threshold and “Effects” of Anti-Competitive Conduct
The Parliamentary panel recommended periodic revision of the basic deal value threshold,
retention of the existing overall time limit, and mandating the Competition Commission of
India (CCI) to establish the “effects” of anti-competitive conduct of dominant
undertakings. The CCI is now authorised to penalise entities found engaging in anti-
competitive behaviour based on their global turnover. Previously, penalties for anti-
competitive behaviour were based on the percentage of the entity’s “relevant” turnover,
which typically means their annual domestic turnover.
Impact of the New Provision on Global Turnover
The provision to penalise entities based on their global turnover could have a significant
impact on tech companies, as it could lead to unfair and punitive outcomes and
discrimination between enterprises. In the European Union, the penalty for anti-
competitive activity is limited to 10% of the overall annual turnover of the company.
Definition of “Turnover” in Competition Law Landscape
The definition of “turnover” is a controversial subject in the competition law landscape. In
2017, the Supreme Court fixed the principle of “relevant turnover” for determining
penalties in competition law contraventions. The principle of “relevant turnover” was
upheld in a case concerning the alleged contravention of the Competition Act, 2002 in the
public procurement of Aluminium Phosphide tablets by the FCI.
Time Limit for Approval of Mergers and Acquisitions
The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2022 reduces the time limit for the approval of
mergers and acquisitions to 150 days. This move is expected to reduce uncertainty and
provide clarity to businesses engaged in mergers and acquisitions.
World Autism Awareness Day - Update (April, 2023)
On April 2 every year, the world observes World Autism Day. This day is dedicated to
spreading awareness about autism, a neurological condition that manifests during early
childhood. The aim of observing this day is to support those who are suffering from
autism and to promote acceptance and inclusion of autistic people in society. In this
article, we will delve deeper into the purpose of World Autism Day, what autism is, and the
theme for World Autism Awareness Day 2023.
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of conditions associated with brain
development. People with autism often have co-occurring conditions such as epilepsy,
depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), difficulty sleeping, and
self-injury. Intellectual capacity of autistic people are unique and distinctive, extending
from intense impairment to superior levels. The term “Autism Spectrum” refers to a range
of characteristics, including difficulties with communication, social interaction, and
repetitive behaviors.
Observing World Autism Day
The UNGA unanimously declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. On this day,
individual autism organizations across the globe come together to do research,
diagnoses, treatment, and acceptance for those with a developmental path affected by
autism. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ main purpose is to
promote, safeguard and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and
fundamental freedoms by all PwDs, including those with autism.
Theme for World Autism Awareness Day 2023
The theme for World Autism Awareness Day 2023 is “Transforming the narrative:
Contributions at home, at work, in the arts, and in policymaking”. The aim of this theme is
to bring awareness about autism, thus accepting and supporting autistic people in society
and the workplace. Appropriate assistance, accommodation, and acceptance of this
neurological variation enable all people on the Autism Spectrum to enjoy equal
opportunity and effective participation in society. It is important to understand that the
abilities and needs of autistic people vary and can evolve.
Living with Autism
It is a common misconception that all autistic people have the same abilities and needs.
Some people with autism are highly functioning and require minimal support, while
others require life-long care and support. People with severe disabilities related to autism
cannot live independently, and therefore, require life-long care and support.
What is Utkala Dibasa?
Odisha Day, also known as Utkala Dibasa, is a significant day for the Indian state of
Odisha. Celebrated on 1 April every year, the day commemorates the formation of the
state as a separate entity out of Bihar and Orissa Province. This article delves deeper into
the history behind Odisha Day and how it has become an essential part of the state’s
cultural identity.
Origins of Odisha Day
Odisha’s history dates back to ancient times when it was known as Kalinga. It was ruled by
several dynasties, including the Mauryas, Satavahanas, and Guptas. However, the state
lost its political identity completely in 1568 after the defeat and demise of the last king,
Mukunda Dev. For centuries, Odisha was ruled by different empires, including the
Mughals and the British.
In the early 20th century, Odisha witnessed a linguistic movement that aimed to establish
a separate province based on the Odia language. The movement culminated in the
formation of a separate state under British rule on 1 April 1936.
The Main Revolution
The main revolution in this separate state continued for three decades, starting from the
very day of the formation of Utkal Sammilani. The movement turned more intense under
the leadership of Utkala Gouraba Madhusudan Das and other notable leaders such as
Utkala mani Gopabandhu Das, Maharaja SriRam Chandra Bhanj Deo, and more.
The leaders fought for the rights and development of Odisha and its people. They
demanded a separate province based on the Odia language, which would help preserve
and promote the state’s rich culture and heritage. Their efforts led to the creation of a
politically separate state on April 1, 1936.
Role of the Public
The public played a significant role in supporting the leaders during the Odisha
movement. They participated in protests, rallies, and demonstrations, demanding a
separate state for Odisha. Their support and solidarity gave the leaders the strength and
motivation to continue the struggle for their rights.
Bodofa Upendranath Brahma
Bodofa Upendranath Brahma was a prominent Bodo social activist and former president
of All Bodo Students’ Union. He was born on March 31, 1956, in Boragari village of Dotma,
Kokrajhar district of Assam, India.
Leadership and Activism
Bodofa Upendranath Brahma became President of the Goalpara District Students Union in
1978-79. He was later elected as the President of All Bodo Students Union in 1986, a
position he held for several years. During his tenure as the president, he worked towards
the betterment of the Bodo community, advocating for their rights and addressing their
issues.
March 31st: A Significant Date
March 31st holds great significance for Bodofa Upendranath Brahma as it is his birth
anniversary. In recognition of his contributions, the Assam government declared March
31st as Students’ Day, to be observed across the state. On his 67th birth anniversary,
Students’ Day was observed at Jawaharlal Nehru College, Boko.
Seminar at JN College
The seminar at JN College was attended by students, faculty members, and local leaders.
Romeo P. Narzary, Deputy Chief of Boro Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council, was the
chief guest at the event. Vice-principal of the college Bijaya Deka presided over the
seminar.
In his address, Romeo P. Narzary urged the students to work hard and achieve their goals.
Dr. Tapan Dutta announced that the college would soon provide training in swimming to
its students. JN College has signed an MoU with the ‘Bogai’ sports cum cultural committee
to provide the training.
Remembering a Great Leader
Bodofa Upendranath Brahma’s contributions to the Bodo community and his dedication
to their cause continue to inspire many even today. His legacy lives on through the work
of those who strive towards creating a better future for their community.
International Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence
The ongoing Conference on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence aims to tackle the
complex issue of conflicts between humans and wildlife that have resulted in a loss of
biodiversity and harm to both humans and animals. With the conference being held from
March 30 to April 1, 2023, in Oxford, United Kingdom, experts from various fields such as
ecology, animal behavior, psychology, law, conflict analysis, mediation, peacebuilding,
international development, economics, and anthropology are convening to find ways to
promote coexistence.
Understanding the Problem
More than 75% of the world’s wild cat species are affected by conflict-related killing, and
several organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the UN Development
Programme, and others are working together to promote coexistence between humans
and wildlife.
Facilitating Dialogue and Learning
One of the action points identified by the experts attending the conference is facilitating
dialogue and learning among stakeholders. By engaging with communities that have
been directly affected by human-wildlife conflict, experts can gain insights into the local
context and come up with effective solutions to minimize conflicts.
Generating Interdisciplinary Understanding
The conference also aims to generate interdisciplinary understanding to address human-
wildlife conflict. By bringing together experts from various fields, the conference aims to
develop a holistic approach to promoting coexistence and minimizing conflicts.
Mainstreaming Human-Wildlife Conflict
To promote coexistence, human-wildlife conflict needs to be mainstreamed into policy-
making and conservation strategies. By integrating human-wildlife conflict into
conservation efforts, stakeholders can address the root causes of conflicts and promote
coexistence.
Identifying a Collective Way Forward
The conference also aims to identify a collective way forward to promote coexistence. By
developing shared goals and strategies, stakeholders can work together to promote
coexistence between humans and wildlife.
The IUCN Guidelines on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence
One of the highlights of the conference is the release of the IUCN SSC Guidelines on
Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence. The guidelines encompass both the social and
ecological aspects of human-wildlife conflict and provide a clear steer on how to manage
complex situations. They provide a clear direction on how to manage complex situations
and inform the formulation of new policies and community-led action strategies for
achieving coexistence with wildlife in any context.
The UN Biodiversity Conference and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework focuses on effective
management of human-wildlife interactions to promote coexistence and biodiversity
protection. The UN Biodiversity Conference is where Target 4 was agreed, highlighting the
global effort to promote coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Nevado del Ruiz Volcano
Nevado del Ruiz is a stratovolcano located in the central part of Colombia. It is considered
one of the most active and dangerous volcanoes in the country, with a history of
generating destructive lahars and pyroclastic flows. In this article, we will delve into the
facts and information about the Nevado del Ruiz volcano.
Geographical Location and Composition
Nevado del Ruiz is situated in the Andes mountain range, approximately 129 km (80 mi)
from the capital city of Bogotá. It is part of the Los Nevados National Natural Park, which
is home to other volcanic peaks and glaciers. The volcano’s composition consists of layers
of lava, volcanic ash, and pyroclastic rocks, which have built up over approximately two
million years of volcanic activity.
Types of Eruptions and Hazards
The Nevado del Ruiz volcano has a history of generating explosive eruptions, ranging
from Vulcanian to Plinian. The eruption in 1985 caused the deadliest lahar in recorded
history, known as the Armero tragedy. The lahar, which was triggered by the melting of
snow and ice on the volcano’s summit during the eruption, swept away the town of
Armero and claimed the lives of over 23,000 people.
Current Status and Risk Assessment
The Volcanic and Seismic Observatory of Manizales constantly monitors the Nevado del
Ruiz volcano. The current status of the volcano is an orange alert due to an increase in
seismic activity, which indicates a heightened risk of volcanic activity. Up to 500,000 people
could be at risk from lahars and other hazards in the event of future eruptions.
Nearby Town and National Park
The town closest to Nevado del Ruiz is Herveo, which is situated on a mesa overlooking
the volcano. The English translation of La Mesa de Herveo is the Mesa of Herveo. Los
Nevados National Natural Park, which encompasses the volcano and surrounding peaks,
is a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts.
The Ring of Fire
Nevado del Ruiz is situated in the Ring of Fire, a belt of intense seismic activity that
encircles the Pacific Ocean. The Ring of Fire is known for its numerous active volcanoes
and frequent earthquakes.
Space System Design Lab

The space system design lab was inaugurated recently in Ahmedabad by the Indian
National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). The Space Systems
Design Lab’s purpose is to help space start-ups turn their innovative ideas into
implementable models more quickly, and reduce research and development costs.
Focus and Objectives
The main focus of the IN-SPACe design lab is to enable start-ups in the space sector to
build prototypes with the least iterations, thus significantly reducing the turnaround time
and research and development costs for start-ups. In turn, this will help non-government
entities (NGEs) to play an important part in the development of cutting-edge space
technologies.
To achieve its objectives, the IN-SPACe design lab comprises high-end analysis and
simulation software for mission simulation, modeling, visualizing, optimizing payload and
spacecraft, ground station, and launch vehicle avionics. The software resources include
Pathwave system design, System Tool Kit, Advance Design Systems, 3D CAD Mach 3, high
frequency structure simulation, Simcenter 3D space System (Thermal and cooling), Finite
Element analysis structure (FEAST) and OpticStudio (Zemax). They will play a part in
mission planning to RF, structural and thermal design and analysis of space systems.
Computing and Training Resources
The lab features computing resources that can help start-ups to validate and visualize
their designs ideas prior to the launch of the manufacturing process. Periodic training and
workshops will be organized by the IN-SPACe at the space systems design lab to provide
practical hands-on training to NGEs to use software packages that are provided to them.
Eligibility and Seed Fund
Earlier, IN-SPACe had announced a seed fund scheme of Rs 1 crore for early-stage space
start-ups. It will benefit early-stage start-ups that utilize space technology to solve
upstream or midstream and downstream challenges in the space sector.
Global Aspirations
ISRO Chairman S Somanath stated that the goal of NGE participation in space activities is
aimed at enhancing the scale of the space economy from the present two per cent to 10
per cent of the global economy. ISRO is committed to working with NGEs towards this, he
said.
Location
The Space Systems Design Lab of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization
Centre (IN-SPACe) is located in Bopal in Ahmedabad, India. The design lab will provide
tremendous benefits to space start-ups, as it will enable them to verify and visualize their
designs before metal cutting, as well as confirm fabricated product’s test results with
minimum turnaround time.
Piezoelectric Effect in Liquids
The piezoelectric effect is a phenomenon whereby certain materials, such as quartz
crystal, generate an electric current when subjected to mechanical stress. Recently,
researchers have discovered that this effect can also occur in liquids, opening up a host of
novel applications. Let’s take a closer look at this discovery and what it means.
The Piezoelectric Effect and Liquid Composition
The piezoelectric effect in solids is well known, with quartz crystal being one of the most
famous examples. Quartz crystal is composed of silicon and oxygen arranged in an
organized structure. When squeezed, the crystal generates an electric current due to the
displacement of charges from the center.
In liquids, however, the piezoelectric effect has not been observed until now. Two liquids,
one normal and one ionic, were studied to investigate this effect. The liquids were
subjected to mechanical stress, and the resulting electric current was measured. The
researchers found that both liquids exhibited the piezoelectric effect, with strengths of 16
mV/N and 17 mV/N, respectively.

The Structure of the Body and the Piezoelectric Effect
The significance of the structure of the body in the piezoelectric effect is that it needs to
have an organized structure. Quartz crystal is an excellent example of this, as the
organized structure allows for the displacement of charges from the center when
squeezed. The same appears to be true for liquids, with the discovery of the piezoelectric
effect suggesting that there is some manner of organization in ionic liquids that is not
seen in normal liquids.
Dielectric Materials and Ionic Liquids
Dielectric materials are materials that don’t conduct electricity but are mildly affected by
an electric field. Ionic liquids, on the other hand, are made of ions instead of molecules
and can be recycled with fewer environmental issues. The difference between normal and
ionic liquids is that they respond very differently at the molecular level when an electric
charge is imposed on them.
The Piezoelectric Constant in Liquids
The piezoelectric constant is a measure of how strongly a material exhibits the
piezoelectric effect. The piezoelectric constant calculated for the liquids tested in the study
was lower than that of quartz by a factor of 10. This suggests that the piezoelectric effect
in liquids may not be as strong as in solids, but it is still a significant discovery.
Applications of the Piezoelectric Effect in Liquids
The discovery of the piezoelectric effect in liquids opens up a whole new avenue of
research for novel applications. One potential use of the inverse piezoelectric effect, which
is the distortion of liquids when an electric charge is applied, is to control how liquids bend
light passing through them. Another possible use is in developing room-temperature ionic
liquids for use in batteries and other electronic devices.
The Next Steps for Research
Dr. Blanchard, the lead researcher on the study, suggests that the next step should be to
develop a theoretical framework with predictive power to understand these experimental
observations. This will allow for more precise control of the piezoelectric effect in liquids
and open up even more opportunities for applications.
Defence Ministry’s Rs 5,400 crore Defence Contract

The Ministry of Defence of India has recently signed three defence contracts with Bharat
Electronics Limited (BEL) and NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) on March 29, 2023. The total
cost of these three contracts is nearly Rs 5,400 crore. This decision was taken to support
the modernization of India’s armed forces and make them more self-sufficient.
Project Akashteer
The first project contracted with BEL is Project Akashteer, which costs Rs 1,982 crore. This
project’s goal is to empower the Indian Army’s Air Defence units with indigenous, state-of-
the-art capabilities. The Indian Army will be the primary beneficiary of this project, which
will enhance their Air Defence capabilities and enable them to operate in an integrated
manner. This project will help reduce India’s dependence on foreign technologies, making
it more self-reliant.
Sarang Electronic Support Measure (ESM) systems
The second project contracted with BEL is Sarang Electronic Support Measure (ESM)
systems, which costs Rs 412 crore. The purpose of this project is to provide advanced
Electronic Support Measure systems for helicopters of the Indian Navy. This project is
expected to provide a significant boost to the Indian Navy’s capabilities, enabling them to
conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, and other operations with greater efficiency.
GSAT 7B
The third project contracted by the Ministry of Defence is an advanced Communication
Satellite, named GSAT 7B. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) has been contracted for this
project, which costs Rs 2,963 crore. This communication satellite will provide enhanced
communication capabilities to India’s armed forces, which will help them in critical
operations.
IMF’s $15.6 Billion Loan For Ukraine
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a loan program worth $15.6 billion
for Ukraine as part of a larger $115 billion package to aid its war-torn economy. With one-
third of Ukraine’s population displaced, the IMF’s support comes as a crucial aid in
reconstructing the country’s economy. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy expressed
gratitude to the IMF for the support and called it an essential help in the fight against
Russian aggression.
Two-Phase Loan Program for Ukraine
The IMF’s loan program for Ukraine will span four years and run in two phases. The first
phase aims to close Ukraine’s massive budget deficit and stabilize disinflation. The IMF’s
support will ease the pressure on government spending by providing immediate financial
assistance of $2.7 billion. Ukraine is required to focus on financial stability and undertake
ambitious structural reforms, particularly in the energy sector.
The second phase of the loan program will begin once active combat subsides and will
focus on reforms to improve growth in the medium to long term. The IMF’s overarching
goals are to sustain economic and financial stability at a time of exceptionally high
uncertainty and promote reforms for Ukraine’s post-war accession to the European
Union.
Requirements for the Loan Program
The IMF’s loan program is designed to support Ukraine’s struggles in meeting its
payments arising from the large exogenous shock of the war. Ukraine is required to meet
stringent IMF targets while financing its possibly decisive spring counteroffensive, which is
expected to commence in April, 2023. The program mandates Ukraine to develop
independent and effective anti-corruption institutions to help mitigate corruption risks
and boost donor confidence.
Challenges Ahead
The risks to the IMF’s arrangement with Ukraine are “exceptionally high,” according to
Gita Gopinath, the First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF. Despite the grueling war,
Ukrainian authorities are commended for maintaining financial stability. However, costs
are expected to rise as Europe’s largest armed conflict since World War II now enters its
new phase.
Airtel-IPPB WhatsApp Banking Services
India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Bharti Airtel have partnered to launch banking
services through WhatsApp for their customers in India. This joint statement was released
on March 31st, 2023. In this article, we will explore what IPPB is, what services customers
can avail through WhatsApp banking, and what the partnership with Bharti Airtel means
for customers.
What is IPPB?
IPPB (India Post Payments Bank) is a division of India Post that comes under the aegis of
the Department of Post, which comes under the Union Ministry of Communications. It was
opened in 2018 and has more than 6 crore customers as of January 2022.
IPPB Partnership with Bharti Airtel
The partnership between IPPB and Bharti Airtel will enable IPPB customers to connect
with the bank on WhatsApp and easily avail of a range of banking services. The
partnership is aimed at driving digital and financial inclusion in India.
Services Available through WhatsApp Banking
Through WhatsApp Banking, IPPB customers can now access banking services on their
preferred messaging app. Customers can easily make service requests, locate the nearest
Post Office, and perform a range of other banking services through the WhatsApp
channel. This includes checking account balance, viewing mini statements, and
transferring funds.
Multi-Language Support
Airtel-IPPB WhatsApp Banking is also working on building multi-language support. This
will improve customer experience, especially for those in rural regions of India. The goal
of this multi-language support is to make banking services more accessible to customers,
regardless of language barriers.
Interactive Customer Support Agent
IPPB and Airtel IQ are working towards integrating a live interactive customer support
agent in WhatsApp. The support agent will provide round-the-clock assistance for the
customers, enabling them to get quick resolutions for their queries. This will add a new
level of convenience for customers who need help with their banking needs.
April 3, 2023
Proba-3 Mission - An Overview
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission, consisting of two spacecrafts, will
demonstrate precision formation flying in space. It is set to revolutionize scientific
observation and space applications.
Mission Overview
Proba-3 is an ambitious mission that aims to form a 144-m long solar coronagraph,
allowing scientists to study the Sun’s faint corona closer to the solar rim than has ever
before been achieved. Achieving precise formation flying opens up a whole new era for
science and applications, including Earth observation and in-orbit satellite servicing.
Launch and Deployment
Proba-3’s spacecrafts will be deployed by India’s PSLV in a high Earth orbit. Engineers will
subject them to a simulated space environment during the testing phase. The spacecrafts
will maintain formation to a few millimetres and arc second precision at distances of 144
m or more for six hours at a time, achieved autonomously without relying on guidance
from the ground.
Mission Objectives
Proba-3’s primary goal is to validate strategies, guidance, navigation and control, and
other algorithms in space. Maintaining formation throughout the orbit is difficult due to
high fuel costs. Therefore, each orbit will be divided between 6 hours of formation flying
manoeuvres at apogee and the rest of the orbit in passive safe drifting.
Role of ESA and PSLV
ESA is responsible for designing and implementing Proba-3’s mission, while PSLV will be
used to deploy its spacecrafts into orbit. Proba-3 marks the next step in formation flying,
and the spacecrafts will be in a highly elliptical orbit of 600 x 60530 km.
Commissioning Period
During Proba-3’s commissioning period, the mission’s Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre will
be demonstrated. This ensures that the spacecrafts can be left safely in an orbit with no
risk of collision or running away from each other.
Corporate Debt Market Development Fund
SEBI, the regulatory body for the securities market in India, has recently announced the
creation of the Corporate Debt Market Development Fund (CDMDF). It comes in the form
of an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF). It will be backstop facility for the purchase of
investment grade corporate debt securities in times of stress or in case of market
dislocation. The purpose of this fund is to bring about confidence in corporate bond
market and boost secondary market liquidity.
Initial Corpus and Contributors
The initial corpus of CDMDF is Rs 3,000 crore, which will be contributed by mutual funds.
The proposed fund will be built through contributions from specified debt-oriented
mutual fund schemes and asset management companies. The government has also
permited a 10x usage of this corpus. This takes the available fund to Rs 33,000 crore.
Guarantees for CDMDF
The additional corpus is guaranteed by the central credit guarantee corporation, and
CDMDF itself will be based on a guarantee to be provided by National Credit Guarantee
Trust Company (NCGTC). This guarantee will allow CDMDF to raise funds for the purchase
of investment grade corporate debt securities during times of stress or market
dislocation.
Access to the Fund
Access to the fund will be limited to specified mutual fund schemes in proportion to the
contribution made to the fund at a mutual fund level. The SEBI board has approved the
framework for triggering CDMDF’s asset purchases during market dislocation.
CDMDF’s Significance
CDMDF is expected to play a significant role in the corporate bond market as it will
purchase investment grade corporate debt securities during times of stress or market
dislocation. This will not only provide a backstop facility for market participants but also
enhance liquidity in the secondary market.
AIM’s Three Innovative Resources to Empower Indian Youth
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), an initiative by NITI Aayog, has launched three new
resources aimed at fostering innovation and creativity among India’s youth. With a focus
on promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, AIM has introduced the ATL
Tinkering Curriculum, Equipment Manual, and the Calendar of Activities for 2023-24.
Introducing the Resources
The ATL Tinkering Curriculum is a structured learning pathway that helps students
develop and improve their innovation skills. It was developed by AIM in collaboration with
Makerghat. This curriculum covers a wide range of concepts, from basic electronics and
mechanics to cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printing and Internet of Things.
Through hands-on, experiential learning, the curriculum encourages students to identify
and design creative solutions to everyday problems.
The Equipment Manual is a comprehensive guide to the equipment provided in the Atal
Tinkering Labs in schools across the country. The manual provides detailed information
about each equipment and tool, including specifications, applications, and examples of
projects that can be built using them. This resource is a valuable asset for anyone
exploring innovation and problem-solving possibilities.
The Calendar of Activities for 2023-24 outlines a year-long schedule of workshops,
events and competitions. These activities will promote innovation and entrepreneurship
among students. The calendar integrates latest Equipment Manual and Tinkering
Curriculum in it. It also has a special section called “Activity of the Month,” with exciting
activities that the students can do in their ATL lab every month.
About Atal Innovation Mission
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a key initiative of the Indian government aimed at
creating and promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the
nation. Its primary goal is to design new programs and policies for identifying and
nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship among India’s youth. The mission recognizes
the need to foster an environment that encourages experimentation, risk-taking, and
creativity.
AIM works in collaboration with various stakeholders, including industry leaders, academic
institutions, and government agencies and provides resources, training, and support to
individuals and organizations that are working towards its goals. In addition, AIM has
established a network of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across the country, which provide a
platform for students to experiment and create innovative solutions to real-world

problems.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed was recently named the Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi, the oil-rich capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is the eldest son of UAE
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his appointment places him next in
line to take over as the leader of the federation.
Sheikh Khaled was born on January 8, 1982, in Abu Dhabi. He graduated from the
American University of Sharjah and obtained a PhD from the Department of War Studies
at King’s College London in 2014. According to news reports, he is also a fan of jiu-jitsu.
Positions Held in Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Khaled was earlier member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. He also served as
the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office. He currently sits on the board of state oil
giant ADNOC.
Reception by Gulf Rulers
The appointment of Sheikh Khaled as the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi was hailed by other
Gulf rulers, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Overall, he received positive reception for
his new post.
Succession in Gulf Monarchies
The choice of Sheikh Khaled as Crown Prince reflects a larger trend seen in Gulf Arab
monarchies where direct lineage is preferred for succession. Sons are now being chosen
over brothers, a move that breaks with previous precedent. Such instances were seen in
Saudi Arabia, with the rise of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who bypassed more
senior ruling family members.
Significance of Sheikh Khaled’s Appointment
Sheikh Khaled’s appointment as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi puts him in a position to
succeed his father as leader of the federation. The move strengthens his family’s hold on
power in the UAE, given the importance of Abu Dhabi as the country’s political and
economic center.
Swachh Bharat Mission and ODF Plus Status

India has been facing several challenges related to sanitation, and to overcome these
issues, the Indian government launched the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in 2014. The
mission aims to achieve universal sanitation coverage and make the country open
defecation free.
Indian Government’s Goal for Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)
The Centre aims to bring around 50,000 more villages across India under the Open
Defecation Free (ODF) plus status under the SBM by 2024. This means that these villages
will have sustained their ODF status, ensured solid and liquid waste management, and will
be visually clean. This is a significant milestone for India’s sanitation scheme. To achieve
this, the Centre will provide ₹14,030 crore fund in FY24.
States that achieved the ODF plus status

Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka are the states that have achieved the ODF plus
status. Tamil Nadu has a coverage percentage of 96% under the ODF plus status. The Jal
Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat informed the press about the ODF plus status
of these states.
States Actively Pursuing ODF Plus Status
Apart from the three states mentioned above, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar
Pradesh, and Mizoram are actively working towards achieving the ODF plus status. These
states are making significant efforts to improve their sanitation facilities, ensuring efficient
management of wastes and maintaining a visually clean environment.
Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is another critical mission launched by the Indian government.
The mission’s aim is to provide safe and adequate drinking water via individual household
tap connections by next year to all households in rural parts of the country. The
government is in line to achieve this mission by 2024. In the current financial year, Q4
witnessed the installation of 86,894 connections each second on average.
National Scheme Sanctioning Committee (NSSC)
The National Scheme Sanctioning Committee (NSSC) is a committee that approves
State/UT budgets for SBM-G Phase II activities. Recently, the committee approved the
State/UT budgets to the tune of Rs. 52,049 crores for SBM-G Phase II activities through
convergence for the Financial Year 2023-24. This shows the government’s commitment
towards achieving the goals set under the SBM.
What is Sarbat Khalsa?
The Sarbat Khalsa, a term meaning “all congregation,” refers to a traditional assembly of
all factions of Sikhs (Khalsa) to discuss political, social, and religious issues of great
importance to the community. The idea of a deliberative assembly of Sikhs originated in
the 18th century and was convened twice a year.
Who is calling for Sarbat Khalsa on Baisakhi Day?
Recently, Amritpal Singh has asked the Akal Takht Jathedar to call the Sarbat Khalsa on
Baisakhi Day, April 14. The move has caught the attention of the Sikh community, as the
Sarbat Khalsa has been called at crucial junctures in Sikh history.

Origins and Significance of Sarbat Khalsa
The word “sarbat” means all, and the Sarbat Khalsa was an assembly where all members
of the Khalsa were represented. It was a democratic institution where members could
participate in decision-making. The assembly was called at times of crisis and was
considered the supreme authority in the Sikh community.
During the Mughal period, Zakarya Khan, the governor of Lahore, offered the title of
Nawab to the Sikhs as a reward for their services. The Sikhs, however, refused to accept
the title and instead called for a Sarbat Khalsa to discuss the issue. This marked the
beginning of the tradition of calling the Sarbat Khalsa.
The tradition continued during the period of the Sikh misls, which were essentially
confederacies of Sikh chiefdoms. However, after the establishment of the Sikh kingdom by
Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1799, the need for an institution like the Sarbat Khalsa was
reduced with the formation of the SGPC.
Sarbat Khalsa in Modern Times
The Sarbat Khalsa was called in 1920 to discuss control over gurdwaras, and again in 1984
after the Indian Army’s Operation Blue Star in the Golden Temple. In 1986, a panthic
committee was formed that gave a call for Khalistan.
The Sarbat Khalsa was called again on November 10, 2015, by Sikh bodies opposed to the
Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal). The gathering attracted a large number of Sikhs from all over
the world, and its impact on Punjab politics was significant. It led to a demand for a
separate Sikh state, the revival of the demand for the release of Sikh prisoners, and the
establishment of a parallel committee to the SGPC.
Dissolution of the National League for Democracy
Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been in political turmoil since the military coup on
February 1, 2021. The military junta, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, seized power and
detained the country’s elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other prominent figures. The
military claimed voter fraud in the 2020 election, in which the National League for
Democracy (NLD) won by a landslide. The coup sparked widespread protests and violence
across the country, with the junta using brutal tactics to suppress dissent. In the latest
development, the military junta dissolved the NLD, the ruling party, last week.
The NLD’s Dissolution and its Leader
The NLD is the party founded by Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her
non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar. She has been under
house arrest for many years and faced numerous legal challenges from the previous
military regime. The NLD won the 2020 election by a landslide, but the military coup
prevented them from taking power. On March 23, the military junta dissolved the NLD,
citing alleged election fraud. The move follows a new Political Party Registration Law that
requires all parties to re-register by March 28, or they would face dissolution.
Implications of the Political Party Registration Law
The new law has raised concerns among democracy advocates and human rights groups,
who claim that it aims to limit political opposition and cement the military’s power. The
law prohibits anyone previously convicted of a crime or serving a prison term from joining
a political party, disqualifying many opposition figures. It is expected to severely limit the
rights of citizens to form and join political parties. Parties that fail to re-register face
dissolution, as seen with the NLD.
The Military Junta’s Plan
The military junta aims to strengthen its power through an election scheduled for 2023. It
intends to establish a political system that would ensure military control over the
government and its resources. By dissolving the NLD, the junta has eliminated a
formidable opponent and prevented them from participating in any future elections.
The NLD’s Response and International Condemnation
The NLD’s Central Work Committee said the party’s dissolution had no legitimacy and
accused the junta of violating the constitution. Since the coup, the party has faced
numerous arrests and detentions, with over 1,235 members detained. The Western
nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Germany,
Canada, and Japan, have condemned the dissolution of the NLD, calling it a severe blow to
democracy.
The Emergence of the National Unity Government
In response to the coup and the NLD’s dissolution, members of the ousted NLD
administration and their allies formed the National Unity Government. The group aims to
restore democracy and human rights in Myanmar, calling on the international community
to support their cause.
Lynx-U2 Fire Control System
The Defence Ministry recently signed a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for
the procurement of 13 indigenously developed Lynx-U2 fire control systems. The contract
is worth over ₹1,700 crore. It will be placed in the new generation offshore patrol vessels,
which will be constructed indigenously at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers and Goa
Shipyard Limited.
What is Lynx-U2 Fire Control System?
The Lynx-U2 fire control system precisely monitors air/surface targets and generates
target data to determine weapon aiming locations, and engage targets. The system has
been in operation for over two decades and has been meeting the tactical needs of Indian
Naval ships of different types such as destroyers, frigates, missile boats, corvettes, and so
on.
The Gun Fire Control System (GFCS) is built on an open and scalable framework that
allows for simple and flexible application in a variety of configurations. Medium/short
range gun mounts such as the Russian AK176, A190, and AK630, as well as the SRGM
(Super Rapid Gun Mount) available aboard ships, are used for target combat.
Expected Benefits of Lynx-U2 Fire Control Systems
The procurement of Lynx-U2 Fire Control Systems has several benefits for the Indian Navy.
Firstly, it will enhance the navy’s ability to detect and engage targets with greater
accuracy, minimizing collateral damage. This system is designed to track and engage
targets amidst sea clutter, which is a significant challenge in naval operations. The
system’s open and scalable framework allows for easy integration with existing systems,
enabling seamless interoperability and reducing operational complexities.
Secondly, the procurement of indigenously designed and developed systems will create
job opportunities in the country, supporting the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
This will reduce the reliance on foreign OEMs, resulting in cost savings, technology
transfer, and skill development. The Lynx-U2 system has been in operation for over two
decades, providing a proven track record of reliability and performance.
Akash Weapon System and ₹8,161 Crore BDL Contract
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) signed a contract worth ₹8,161 crore with the Ministry of
Defence for the production and supply of Akash Weapon System (AWS) for two regiments
of the Indian Army. This Hyderabad-based defence public sector unit is gearing up to
meet the production demands of the weapon system, which will be completed within
three years.
The Akash Weapon System
The Akash Weapon System (AWS) is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system designed and
developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The missile can
target aircraft up to 30 km away and engage targets at an altitude of up to 18 km. The
system has an advanced radar that can track multiple targets and can be launched from
both tracked and wheeled platforms. The missile system has been inducted into the
Indian Army and Indian Air Force.
Counter Measure Dispensing System
In addition to the contract for the Akash Weapon System, BDL received an order worth
₹261 crore for Counter Measure Dispensing System (CMDS), which protects aircraft from
missiles. This system deploys flares and chaffs to distract and decoy incoming missiles and
has been installed on various aircraft in the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
Consolidated Order Book Position
BDL’s consolidated order book position has reached about ₹24,021 crore, which is a
significant achievement for the company. BDL has received several orders this year to
supply various systems, including Astra MK-I Air-to-Air Missile (AAM), associated
equipment, and CMDS for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
Manufacturing Facilities
To meet the growing demand for missile systems, BDL has set up a warhead
manufacturing facility at its Bhanur unit and a seeker manufacturing facility at its
Kanchanbagh unit. These facilities have taken BDL to the coveted club of RF seeker
manufacturer and tester.
Unveiled at DefExpo-2022 and Aero India-2023
During DefExpo-2022 and Aero India-2023, BDL unveiled several new products, including
the vehicle-mounted Amogha III Anti-Tank Guided Missile (Sangramika), Light Support
Vehicle-mounted Laser Beam Riding MANPAD (Sanharika), ATGM for MBT Arjun, Vertical
Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL SRSAM), SAL Seeker ATGM for BMP II, and
Drone Delivered Missile (JISHNU).
International Collaborations
BDL has signed Memorandums of Understanding with various international companies
such as MBDA, France, for manufacturing Mistral Missiles; Dassault Aviation Pvt. Ltd. for
integration of weapon systems like Astra and SAAW on Rafale fighter jet; Thales Belgium
for setting up manufacturing facilities for Laser Guided Rocket and its major components;
Barij Dynamics LLC (“AL TARIQ”), Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to identify
and work on potential projects; Bultexpro Ltd., Bulgaria, for 122-mm GRAD BM ER and
NON ER rockets in India.
Combined Commanders Conference
The Combined Commanders’ Conference (CCC) is an annual event where India’s top
military commanders come together to discuss and brainstorm on military matters and
national security. The conference serves as a platform for the country’s military leaders to
exchange ideas, review the preparedness of the Armed Forces, and discuss the way
forward.
This year, the theme of the CCC was ‘Ready, Resurgent, Relevant.’ The objective was to
assess the progress made by the Armed Forces in meeting the challenges of modern
warfare and ensuring that they remain prepared, resilient, and capable of fulfilling their
mandate.
Theaterisation in the Armed Forces
One of the topics that were discussed during the CCC was theaterisation in the Armed
Forces. This refers to the process of organizing military forces into functional commands
or theaters. The objective is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of military
operations by ensuring better coordination and integration between the various arms and
services.
Preparing for ‘Aatmanirbharta’
The CCC 2023 also reviewed the progress made towards attaining ‘Aatmanirbharta’ or
self-reliance in defence. The conference assessed the preparation of the Armed Forces
and progress in the defence ecosystem towards achieving this objective.
During his speech at the CCC, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi complimented the
Armed Forces for their role in nation-building and providing Humanitarian Assistance and
Disaster Relief (HADR) assistance to friendly countries.
Defence Exports and Procurement Policy
India’s defence exports have been steadily increasing over the years, with the defence
ministry setting a target of $5 billion for annual defence exports by 2024-25. In the
financial year 2022-2023, the current value of India’s defence exports is Rs 15,920 crore.
The government has changed the Defence Procurement Policy to increase the indigenous
content stipulated in various categories of procurement by about 10 percent, to support
the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The Buy (Indian-IDDM) category is the most preferred way of
defence goods acquisition. The categories of acquisition given preference over the ‘Buy
(Global)’ category are ‘Buy (Indian)’, ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ & ‘Make’.
Earmarking Budget for Defence Research
To encourage defence research, the government has earmarked 25% of the defence
research budget for the private sector in 2022-23, for newer innovation and developing
niche technology. This move is aimed at boosting domestic defence research and
reducing the country’s dependence on imports.
April 4, 2023
Coastal Kerala Geckoella
Scientists have made a new discovery of a species of lizard from the coastal forests of
northern Kerala. The species, named Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) chengodumalaensis, is a
ground-dwelling gecko that was discovered by a team of researchers led by Ishan Agarwal
and Akshay Khandekar from the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation, Mumbai.

Habitat of the Cyrtodactylus (Geckoella) chengodumalaensis
The newly discovered species of ground-dwelling gecko is found in the ground among leaf
litter and rocks in forests, orchards, and other areas with canopy cover. The species is
nocturnal and small in size. It is known to inhabit the coastal forests of northern Kerala,
which is a habitat that supports endemic biodiversity.
The Chengodumala or Coastal Kerala Geckoella
The Chengodumala or Coastal Kerala Geckoella is also known as the Chengodumala dwarf
gecko or Cnemaspis chengodumalaensis. This species is also found on the midland hillock
in Kozhikode district, with Chengodumala as its type locality. The discovery of the second
new species of gecko from Chengodumala highlights the fact that biodiversity of these
low-elevation hillocks is understudied, with many more species remaining to be
discovered.
Threats to Chengodumala and Other Coastal Hills in Northern Kerala
Chengodumala and other coastal hills in northern Kerala are under immense pressure
due to illegal mining and indiscriminate logging. The protection of these unique habitats
that support endemic biodiversity is imperative because they are under threat. The
discovery of the new species of ground-dwelling gecko highlights the need for further
exploration and conservation of the biodiversity in low-elevation hillocks.
Publication of the Discovery
The paper describing the new species of ground-dwelling gecko was published in the
Journal of Herpetology. The Journal of Herpetology is an international publication of the
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles based in the United States.
Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism
Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2023 has been passed by
Parliament, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to address climate
change. With the new arrangements taking effect from 1 July 2023, the reformed
Safeguard Mechanism aims to ensure that Australia’s largest emitters are contributing
towards the nation’s emissions reductions task.
The Safeguard Mechanism covers 215 sites across the country that each emit more than
100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, together producing 28% of Australia’s emissions.
Fossil fuel operations, such as gas extraction sites, liquefied natural gas processing plants,
and coal mines, make up roughly half of the facilities covered. Meanwhile, the rest of the
facilities include steelworks, aluminum smelters, cement producers, chemical
manufacturers, major transport companies, and airlines.
Determining Emissions Limits
Each major polluting facility was given an emissions limit, known as a baseline, which was
mostly based on historic output. The Safeguard Mechanism will force coal mines and oil
refineries to curb emissions by about five percent each year. The purpose of the
Safeguard Mechanism is to stop industrial emissions from increasing and wiping out the
emissions cuts paid for by taxpayers.
Finalizing Amendments
The implementation of the Safeguard Mechanism will address the climate change and
help Australia its target of net zero emissions by 2050. It will play a major role in the
government’s emissions reduction plan. The passing of the new bill is a significant
milestone, but much work remains to be done to ensure that the mechanism is effectively
implemented and enforced.
Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (Long Range)
The defence ministry recently signed a deal worth over Rs 1,700 crore for the procurement
of the Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (Long Range), commonly known
as NGMMCB (LR). This deal, in combination with the BrahMos missiles, will strengthen
Indian Navy’s maritime strike capabilities along the coast.
What is the NGMMCB (LR)?
The Next Generation Maritime Mobile Coastal Batteries (Long Range) is a weapon system
designed to be mobile in the battlefield. It will be deployed along the Indian coast. The
NGMMCB (LR) is equipped with supersonic BrahMos missiles, which can be used to target
enemy platforms operating close to the Indian coast. This weapon system will significantly
enhance the Indian Navy’s maritime strike capability.
Make in India Initiative
The NGMMCB (LR) is part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, which is aimed at encouraging
domestic manufacturing and production and achieve self reliance. The NGMMCB (LR) is
being developed and produced indigenously by BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited
(BAPL). This initiative will not only boost the Indian Navy’s defence capabilities but will also
boost the country’s economy.
Delivery Schedule
The delivery of the NGMMCBs is scheduled to commence from 2027. Once delivered, the
NGMMCB (LR) will be deployed from Mumbai to Gujarat. This weapon system will be
linked to the Coastal Radar chain and various other systems, as well as a multi-tiered
patrol and surveillance mechanism.
Benefits of the NGMMCB (LR)
The long-range subsonic cruise missiles, installed on hostile warships, can be used to
launch attacks on ports and other naval installations. The NGMMCB (LR) batteries will be
useful in repelling such coordinated sea attacks by forcing hostile warships to stay away
from the coastline. Sea-skimming missiles that are launched from warships are difficult to
detect when launched from near the cost. However, the NGMMCB (LR) batteries will force
hostile warships to stay away from the coastline. This enables the early launch and
interception of sea-skimming missiles.
The Coastal Radar Chain
The Coastal Radar chain linked to NGMMCB (LR) will boost India’s coastal defence
capabilities. The Indian Navy’s existing Mobile Missile Coastal Battery (MMCB) Squadrons
currently rely on older Soviet-era SSMs. The NGMMCB (LR) will significantly enhance the
capabilities of these squadrons.
Weapon Locating Radars Swathi (Plains)

India, like many countries, faces threats from artillery and rocket fire across its borders. To
counter this, India developed the Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) Swathi, a mobile artillery-
locating, phased array radar system. Recently, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract
with BEL to procure the WLR Swathi, with a cost of over Rs 990 crore.
Development and Purpose
The WLR Swathi has been jointly developed by the Electronics and Radar Development
Establishment (LRDE) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Its main purpose is to detect
and track incoming artillery rounds, mortar, and rockets, and locate their launchers. It
achieves this through a phased array antenna system that scans the sky, searching for
incoming rounds. When the radar detects incoming artillery, it calculates the point of
origin for counter-battery fire. The WLR Swathi’s secondary role is to provide fire
corrections to counter-battery fire by tracking and observe the fall of shot from friendly
guns.
Capabilities
The WLR Swathi has an impressive range, with a detection range of up to 30 km for large
caliber artillery rounds and up to 40 km for unguided rockets. It can track up to 7 targets
simultaneously and is capable of tracking rounds fired at both low and high angles. The
radar array has a maximum scanning sector of 90°, and the scanning sector can be
changed in response to threats by rotating the whole array by 135° on either side within
30 seconds.
The WLR Swathi can store up to 99 target locations with broad digital map displays. The
data-linking feature allows for remote operation and better situational awareness at
higher echelons of the command hierarchy. The WLR Swathi’s advanced capabilities make
it a vital tool in India’s defense arsenal.
Rs 19,600 Crore Defence Contracts for NGOPVs and NGMVs
On March 30, 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed contracts with Indian shipyards
for the acquisition of 11 Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPVs) and six Next
Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) at an overall cost of approximately Rs 19,600 crore.
This acquisition will give a boost to India’s self-reliance in the defence sector.
Contracts for Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels
The contract for the acquisition of 11 NGOPVs under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category was
inked with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata and Goa Shipyard
Ltd (GSL). The contract is worth Rs 9,781 crore. Seven of the 11 ships will be indigenously
designed, developed, and manufactured by GSL, while the remaining four will be by GRSE.
The delivery of the ships is scheduled to commence from September 2026.
The NGOPVs will enable the Indian Navy to maintain its combat capability and meet
various operational requirements, including Anti-Piracy, Counter-Infiltration, Anti-
Poaching, Anti-Trafficking, Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations, Search and Rescue
(SAR), and Protection of Offshore Assets, among others. The construction of these ships
will generate employment of 110 lakh man-days over a period of seven and half years,
providing a significant boost to the country’s economy.

Contracts for Next Generation Missile Vessels
The contract for the acquisition of six NGMVs was signed with Cochin Shipyard Limited
(CSL) at a cost of Rs 9,805 crore. The delivery of these vessels will start from the year 2027.
The NGMVs will be heavily armed war vessels incorporating stealth, high speed, and
offensive capability. The key role of these ships ships will be to provide offensive capability
against adversary warships, merchantmen, and land targets.
The NGMVs will be involved in conducting Maritime Strike Operations, Anti Surface
Warfare Operations. These vessels will be a potent instrument of sea denial for enemy
ships, especially at choke points. In a defensive role, they will be used for Local Naval
Defence operations and seaward defence of Offshore Development Area. The warships’
construction will generate jobs of 45 lakh man-days over a period of 9 years.
Encouraging Indigenous Manufacturing
With the majority of the equipment and systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers,
these vessels will be a proud flag bearer of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat.’ The indigenous
manufacturing of these vessels will encourage the active participation of Indian
shipbuilding and associated industries, including MSMEs.
World Bank Loan for Odisha State Capability and Resilient Growth Program
Odisha, a state located on the east coast of India, is particularly vulnerable to natural
disasters, with cyclones hitting the state every 15 months on average and a coastline of
480 km exposed to tsunami risk. In response to these risks, the World Bank has
announced a $100 million loan for the state under the Odisha State Capability and
Resilient Growth Program (OSCRGP) to help minimize losses that came as the result of
natural disasters and boost social protection coverage for vulnerable households through
digital platforms.
Strengthening early forecasting systems and improving resilience planning
The OSCRGP program aims to reduce losses caused by natural disasters through a multi-
hazard digital warning system and strengthening the state’s data collection efforts for
better resilience planning. By investing in early forecasting systems, the program aims to
improve the state’s ability to respond to natural disasters and reduce the loss of life and
property.
Programme-for-Results financing instrument with a maturity of 12.5 years
The loan is being provided through a Programme-for-Results (PforR) financing
instrument, with a maturity of 12.5 years and a grace period of three years. This financing
instrument aligns with the World Bank’s priorities of supporting sustainable and inclusive
development, and ensuring that the results are delivered on time and within budget.
Enhancing social protection coverage through cash transfer programs
The loan also seeks to enhance social protection coverage to marginalized households via
digital platforms. With nearly one in three persons in Odisha living in poverty, the loan
aims to increase social protection coverage through a cash transfer program. The cash
transfer program will utilize online delivery platforms called Mo Sewa Kendras to assist
coastal and underserved communities.

Addressing poverty, infant mortality and stunting rates
The loan will also focus on addressing poverty, infant mortality, and stunting rates in
Odisha. With Scheduled Tribes (STs) having a poverty rate of 63%, the loan will help ensure
that the benefits of the program reach these vulnerable communities. The infant mortality
rate in Odisha is among the highest in the country, and stunting rates are below the
national average but high for the bottom 40% of households. The loan aims to address
these issues through a comprehensive approach to social protection and disaster
resilience.
Fragmented beneficiary registers and poor linkages
Currently, Odisha’s cash-transfer programs are ineffective due to fragmented beneficiary
registers and poor linkages between beneficiary identification systems. This results in the
duplication of administrative roles and costs. The loan aims to address these issues by
streamlining beneficiary identification systems and improving linkages between different
systems.
Azerbaijan and Tajikistan: Malaria-Free Countries
Azerbaijan and Tajikistan were declared malaria-free by the WHO on March 29, 2023. This
came as the result of an extensive century-long campaign by the two nations to eradicate
the disease.
Elimination of Anopheles Mosquito-Borne Disease
Malaria is a serious and life-threatening disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite and
transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito. The declaration by the WHO that Azerbaijan and
Tajikistan are malaria-free is a significant achievement for the two nations. They have
eliminated the Anopheles mosquito-borne disease in their territories.
Evidence of Breaking Malaria Transmission Cycle
To be certified as malaria-free by the WHO, a country must provide rigorous, credible
evidence showing that the malaria transmission cycle has been broken for at least the last
three years. In Tajikistan the last cases of regional spread of Plasmodium vivax malaria
were discovered in 2012. In Azerbaijan, it was last recorded in 2014.
41 Countries and One Territory Malaria-Free
With the latest announcement, 41 countries and one territory, including 21 countries in
the European Region, have been declared as malaria-free by the World Health
Organization. Azerbaijan and Tajikistan’s achievement brings the WHO European Region
two steps closer to becoming the first region in the world to be fully malaria-free.
Long-term Commitment to Eradicate Malaria
Both Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have worked hard and invested extensively in eliminating
malaria. They have provided free basic healthcare to their citizens for over 60 years.
Additionally, the governments of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan employed targeted malaria
interventions, such as spraying insecticides on the interior walls of homes to prevent the
disease, encouraging early diagnosis and treatment and maintenance of skilled healthcare
professionals.
National Electronic Malaria Monitoring Systems
The national electronic malaria monitoring systems were used by Azerbaijan and
Tajikistan to determine whether a malarial infection is indigenous or imported and
provide real-time case data. These systems allow them to monitor and detect any
potential cases of malaria, enabling early intervention and prevention of transmission.
Biological Larval Control Strategies
Both countries have also employed biological larval control strategies to lessen malaria
carriers, such as using mosquito-eating fish and implementing water management
practices. These strategies have proven to be effective in reducing the mosquito
population and ultimately decreasing the incidence of malaria.
Preventing Re-establishment of Transmission
Despite providing rigorous, credible evidence, a country must also demonstrate its
capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission to be certified as malaria-free.
The WHO expects Azerbaijan and Tajikistan to maintain their efforts to prevent the
reintroduction of malaria transmission.
What is DAGGER Model?
Space weather, or the effects of solar activity on Earth’s magnetic environment, can have
mild to severe impacts on various technologies and infrastructures, from power grids and
communication systems to GPS navigation and satellite operations. That’s why NASA
researchers have developed a new computer model, called the Deep Learning
Geomagnetic Perturbation (DAGGER) model, which integrates artificial intelligence (AI)
with satellite data to forecast geomagnetic disturbances and provide a warning for
impending solar storms.
Solar Wind and the Peak of the Sun’s Activity Cycle
The continuous stream of charged particles, or plasma, emanating from the Sun is known
as the solar wind. This solar wind, along with other solar phenomena, affects the Earth’s
magnetosphere and can lead to geomagnetic disturbances. The peak of the Sun’s 11-year
activity cycle, known as the solar maximum, is characterized by increased solar wind and
other space weather events, which can pose a significant threat to modern technology.
DAGGER Model – An Overview
The DAGGER model, which was developed by a team of NASA researchers led by Vishal
Upendran, uses AI to analyze and examine data from spacecraft observations of the solar
wind. The model provides a lead time of 30 minutes for an impending solar storm
anywhere on Earth, giving enough time for critical systems to be shut down or protected.
The potential of this model was assessed using data from two geomagnetic storms that
occurred in August 2011 and March 2015.
The Disruptive Effects of Geomagnetic Storms
Geomagnetic storms can have mild to severe effects on the Earth’s magnetosphere, and
consequently, on modern technology. As technology is increasingly used in our everyday
lives, the effects of these storms can become even more disruptive. Solar storms can lead
to power outages, damage to satellites and communication systems, and even endanger
the lives of astronauts on space missions.
Preventing Devastation with Rapid and Accurate Predictions
Rapid and accurate predictions of geomagnetic disturbances using the DAGGER model
can help minimize or even prevent the devastation caused by solar storms. One day, solar
storm sirens may sound an alarm at power plants and satellite control centers all over the
world, warning of an impending storm and giving critical systems enough time to prepare.
Georgia’s Resolution on Hinduphobia
On March 27, the Georgia Assembly passed a resolution condemning Hinduphobia, anti-
Hindu bigotry, and intolerance. The resolution was sponsored by Republican
representatives Lauren McDonald, Todd Jones, Rick Jasperse, David Clark, and Brent Cox
and introduced by Representatives McDonald and Jones.
Understanding Hinduphobia
Hinduphobia is a term that is used to refer to antagonistic, derogatory and destructive
attitudes and behaviors towards Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and Hindus that may
manifest as hatred, prejudice or fear. With over 1.2 billion adherents worldwide and over 4
million living in the United States, the American Hindu community has made significant
contributions in medicine, Yoga, Ayurveda, meditation, food, music, arts, and more.
Spearheading the Move for the Resolution
The resolution against Hinduphobia came as the result of the efforts of Atlanta chapter of
the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA). It is a grassroots advocacy group
representing the Hindu community of North America. The aim of this advocacy group is to
safeguard the Hindu community’s collective interests. It is involved in addressing issues
faced by the community and educating the public about Hindu heritage and tradition.
The Stance of CoHNA on Anti-Caste Discrimination Legislations and Policies
CoHNA is opposed to anti-caste discrimination legislations and policies as they view them
as Hinduphobic. This position is in contrast to Seattle’s recent legislative measure on anti-
caste discrimination, which outlawed it. The Democrats in the US political scene are
generally aligned with anti-caste discrimination laws.
Understanding the Georgia Resolution
The Georgia resolution condemning Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry, and intolerance
does not have any legal consequences as it is a simple resolution. However, it serves as a
symbolic gesture towards the Hindu community, recognizing their contributions and
condemning any form of discrimination against them.
New Research Findings: Black Rockfish Larvae Thrive in Warmer Oceans
The impact of warming oceans on marine species has long been a subject of concern, with
scientists warning of irreversible loss of marine and coastal ecosystems. However, a recent
study by scientists from Oregon State University found that black rockfish larvae fared
better than feared during two years of unusually high ocean temperatures.
Research Methodology
The research analyzed juvenile black rockfish samples collected between 2013 to 2019,
including during a marine heat wave between 2014 and 2016, to understand how larval
fish growth and mortality would be affected in warmer conditions due to the climate crisis.
The scientists found that fish growth and development were positively related to
temperature, but survival to settlement was not directly related to ocean conditions.
Black Rockfish Growth in Warmer Conditions
The dramatic increase in water temperature during the marine heatwave caused black
rockfish growth in the larval stage to accelerate, according to the research. However,
these extreme conditions also led to reduced survival when there was insufficient prey or
high predator abundance.
Rockfish: Sensitive to Environmental Conditions
Rockfish are ecologically and economically important fishes found from Baja California to
British Columbia in North America. They are known for their long lifespans that can reach
triple digits, their ability to produce large numbers of offspring, and their sensitivity to
environmental conditions during their early life stages.
Implications of the Study
The research findings are significant in understanding how future ocean conditions will
impact marine species populations, which is crucial for predicting the impact of climate
change on ecosystem function and fisheries management. They will be helpful in
managing the species’ survival as the ocean experiences increasing variability due to
climate change.
Making Management Plans
The research is significant in providing information for gauging conditions and making
management plans that will affect the species’ survival as the ocean experiences
increasing variability due to climate change. As the ocean’s temperature continues to rise,
it is important to monitor the impact on marine species and take measures to protect
them.
First-Ever Anti-Spyware Declaration
On March 30, the US and 10 other nations issued the first-ever significant anti-spyware
declaration. It recognized the threat posed by the misuse of commercial spyware and
seeks to realize the importance of stringent domestic and international controls on the
proliferation and use of this technology. The declaration stated that Australia, Canada,
Costa Rica, Denmark, France, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United
Kingdom, and the United States would take decisive steps to create robust guardrails and
procedures within their respective systems.
Executive Order by Joe Biden
US President Joe Biden issued an executive order on March 29, prohibiting the US federal
government from using spyware. This move came after several high-profile incidents,
including the Pegasus spyware scandal involving the Israeli company NSO Group.
NSO Group: A Dominant Force in the World Spyware Market
Although Israel was not singled out in the anti-spyware declaration, the NSO Group was
frequently brought up in a media briefing by a senior US administration official. A recent

US think tank report also asserted that Israeli spyware, comprising several groups, has
dominated a major portion of the global spyware market. The report has brought the
attention of the world towards the dangers of spyware and the need for strict regulations.
Blacklisting of Israeli Companies by the US Commerce Department
Late in 2021, the US Commerce Department added NSO and other Israeli companies to its
“blacklist.” As a result, Israel’s cyberattack industry has already suffered significant
setbacks. The recent anti-spyware declaration may signal the beginning of a new, more
severe crackdown on spyware.
Recognising the Threat of Commercial Spyware
Spyware tools are critical for intelligence and law enforcement agencies to counter threats
like terrorism, organised crime, and drug lords. However, powerful and invasive spyware
tools have been used to target and intimidate perceived opponents, curb dissent, limit
freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, or association, enable human rights violations
and more.
Pushing Back on Spyware’s Marketability
The nations will take concrete steps to push back on spyware’s marketability by working
within their respective systems to establish robust guardrails and procedures. They will
ensure that any commercial spyware use by their governments will not go against
universal human rights, the rule of law, and civil rights and civil liberties.
Digitization of Schengen Visa
The European Union member states’ ambassadors have approved a new proposal that
aims to digitise the visa application process. This move will replace the current ‘Schengen’
sticker with a digital barcode to streamline the process and reduce visa processing delays
among the 27 European nations that comprise the Schengen area.
Digital Barcodes and Enhanced Safety
The new visa will come in the form of cryptographically-signed 2D barcode. The move
aims to reduce counterfeiting and fraud by replacing the current stickers. A digital
Schengen visa will make it easier for legitimate travellers to apply and will at the same
time help make the Schengen area safer.
Automatic Identification and Communication
The digital platform will automatically identify the country responsible for examining the
application. Applicants can also indicate if the application needs to be processed by a
specific member state. The decision regarding visa approval will also be communicated on
the platform itself, simplifying the process and reducing visa processing delays.
Availability of Visa through the Digital Platform
The new digital platform will provide applicants with the availability of visa after they
upload their data and soft copies of their travel documents and pay the visa fees. This will
simplify the visa application process and reduce visa processing delays. However, first-
time applicants and travellers whose biometric data is no longer valid will need to appear
in front of the consulate in person.
Visa Processing Delays and Growing Demand for Travelling Abroad

Schengen visa processing delays have resulted in a significant rise in pending applications
from Indian tourists. Several travel operators have blamed visa-processing companies for
the delay. Other companies have stated that European embassies have failed to anticipate
the growing demand for travelling abroad. The new digitisation of visa application
procedure in the EU aims to address this issue.
The Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation
In recent years, Russia has been pursuing a new foreign policy strategy aimed at
strengthening its relationships with countries like India and China, while promoting
greater cooperation and stability throughout Eurasia. This new approach is outlined in a
policy document called ‘The Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation,’
which was unveiled by President Vladimir Putin.
Emphasis on Ties with India and China
Under the new policy framework, Russia is placing special emphasis on deepening its ties
with India and China. Moscow sees these two countries as key partners in building a
stable and prosperous Eurasia. With India, Russia is looking to increase bilateral trade and
strengthen investment and technological ties. Additionally, the two countries are working
together to resist the destructive actions of “unfriendly states and their alliances.” In the
case of China, Russia is pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas and boosting
coordination in the international arena to ensure security, stability, and sustainable
development.
Goals for Eurasia
Russia’s goal for Eurasia is to transform the region into a continental common space of
peace, stability, mutual trust, development, and prosperity. To achieve this, the country is
working to promote the broad Greater Eurasian Partnership integration contour. This
involves combining the potential of all states, regional organizations, and Eurasian
associations, based on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Additionally,
Russia is working with the SCO to ensure security in Eurasia and promote its sustainable
development.
Involvement in International Organizations
Russia is also actively involved in various international organizations, including the BRICS,
the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the EAEU, the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO), and the RIC. The BRICS is a group of five major emerging national
economies, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The CIS is a regional
intergovernmental organization consisting of post-Soviet republics in Eurasia. The EAEU is
a political and economic union of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.
The CSTO is a military alliance of several former Soviet republics, including Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Finally, the RIC is a
strategic partnership between Russia, India, and China.
TRAI’s Recommendations on “Promoting Local Manufacturing in the Television Broadcasting
Sector
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is a statutory body that regulates the
telecommunications and broadcasting industries in India. It was established in 1997 by the
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act to promote competition and protect consumer
interests. TRAI plays a vital role in the growth and development of the Indian broadcasting
sector.
Digitalisation of Indian Broadcasting Sector
The digitalisation of the Indian broadcasting sector began in 2012 and was completed
across the country by March 2017. This process involved the transition from analog to
digital broadcasting, which improved the quality of audio and video transmissions and
increased the number of channels available. Digitalisation also provided a unique
opportunity for the growth of local manufacturers to cater to the demand for equipment
required in this sector.
Consultation Paper on “Promoting Local Manufacturing in the Television Broadcasting Sector”
In December 2021, TRAI issued a consultation paper on “Promoting Local Manufacturing
in the Television Broadcasting Sector” with the objective of realistically assessing India’s
true potential in equipment manufacturing. The purpose this consultation paper is to
enable the transition of the Indian Broadcasting equipment manufacturing sector from an
import-dependent sector to a global hub of indigenous manufacturing. The last date of
submission of comments was 19 January 2022, which was extended up to 9 February 2022
on the request of stakeholders.
TRAI’s Recommendations
After considering all comments received from stakeholders and further analysis of the
issues, TRAI has finalised its recommendations. One of the key recommendations is the
establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for broadcast equipment. The CoE can be a
new entity or existing Telecom CoEs may be upgraded to focus on broadcast equipment
as well.
TRAI also recommended that organisations such as Telecom Export Promotion Council
(TEPC) need to be enabled to promote and facilitate exports of locally manufactured
broadcast equipment. Further, the company recommended that Telecom Engineering
Centre (TEC), Department of Telecommunications should be mandated to test and

standardise all the broadcast equipment.
TRAI also recommended that there was a need to strengthen existing R&D centres in
public sector, such as C-DOT, and develop a local R&D ecosystem along with industry
participation through the PPP route. Additionally, it said that creation of “Technology
development Fund” to promote R&D and development of local products/ technologies for
Broadcasting Sector was important.
Foreign Trade Policy 2023
The Indian government has recently announced its new Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), which
replaces the previous one launched in 2015. The new FTP came into effect on April 1, 2022,
and is aimed at increasing India’s overall exports to $2 trillion by 2030, with equal
contributions from the merchandise and services sectors.

FTP: An Overview
Foreign Trade Policy outlines the strategies, rules, and guidelines for India’s trade
relations with the rest of the world. Under this policy, the government is required to
formulate, implement and monitor trade policies under the Foreign Trade Development
and Regulation Act, 1992, to support foreign trade and maintain a favourable balance of
payments.
The previous policy was launched in 2015. It sought to boost India’s exports from $465
billion in 2013-14 to $900 billion by 2019-20. It introduced several schemes to encourage
exports and was successful in achieving exports of goods and services worth $526.55
billion by the end of its initial term in 2019-20. However, export momentum was derailed
in 2020-21 due to the pandemic and geopolitical tensions.
The New FTP: Objectives
The new FTP has set an ambitious target of increasing India’s overall exports to $2 trillion
by 2030, with equal contributions from the merchandise and services sectors. The new
policy aims to simplify the export process, reduce transaction costs, and introduce e-
initiatives to ease business operations. Additionally, it aims to develop additional export
hubs and enhance collaboration among exporters, states, districts, and Indian missions.
Key Pillars of the New FTP
The new FTP rests on four key pillars. Firstly, it aims to replace the incentive-based system
of promoting exports with remission and entitlement-based regimes. Secondly, it aims to
facilitate enhanced collaboration among exporters, states, districts, and Indian missions.
Thirdly, it aims to reduce transaction costs and introduce e-initiatives for ease in business
operations. Finally, it aims to develop additional export hubs to promote exports from all
parts of the country.
The new policy also seeks to simplify the export process for items falling under the Special
Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment, and Technologies (SCOMET) category. The
use of the Indian currency in cross-border trade will also be encouraged, aided by a new
payment settlement framework introduced by the Reserve Bank of India in July 2022.
Flexibility and Responsiveness
The new FTP is intended to be responsive to changing circumstances and will be modified
as and when required. The government will consistently gather input from relevant
stakeholders to enhance and revise the policy. This flexibility and responsiveness of the
new FTP bode well for India’s export sector and reflect the government’s commitment to
boosting exports and creating employment opportunities.
Palm Sunday: Traditions and Significance
Palm Sunday is a significant Christian feast that marks the beginning of Holy Week,
leading up to Easter Sunday. This celebration is observed on the Sunday before Easter and
is commemorated by various Christian denominations worldwide.
Commemorating Christ’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, an event
recorded in all four canonical Gospels. The name “Palm Sunday” comes from the palm
branches that were waved by the crowd as Jesus entered the city. This event is considered
significant because it was the beginning of Jesus’ final week on earth, culminating in his
crucifixion and resurrection.
Blessing and Distribution of Palm Branches
The celebration of Palm Sunday is characterized by the blessing and distribution of palm
branches. This practice symbolizes the palm branches that were laid down on the road as
Jesus rode into Jerusalem. In some Christian rites, these palm branches are woven into
crosses. However, in regions where palm trees are not readily available, other native trees,
such as box, olive, willow, and yew, are substituted for palm branches.
Palm Sunday in Different Christian Rites
Palm Sunday is celebrated by various Christian denominations worldwide, including
Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Anglican, Moravian, and Reformed traditions.
During the Palm Sunday liturgies, the clergy bless the palm branches and distribute them
to the congregations. These palms are taken to homes to be hanged alongside Christian
art or keep them in their Bibles and daily devotional books.
Shrovetide and the Burning of Palm Branches
In the period preceding the next year’s Lent, churches often collect the palm branches in a
basket placed in the narthex. These palms are then ritually burned on Shrove Tuesday to
make the ashes used on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
Palm Sunday Celebrations in Jerusalem
Palm Sunday celebrations in Jerusalem attract thousands of Christian pilgrims from
around the world. The pilgrims carry palm fronds and olive branches and march from the
top of the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem’s historic Old City, which hosts to the holy sites of
the three Abrahamic monotheistic faiths. Catholic clergy, including the Latin Patriarch of
Jerusalem, participate in the traditional procession, handing out palm fronds to the
believers before leading them in a procession into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, according to tradition.
Significance of Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday holds significant meaning for Christians worldwide. It marks the beginning
of Holy Week, which is the most solemn and sacred week in the Christian calendar. It also
reminds Christians of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the events that led to his
crucifixion and resurrection. This celebration serves as a reminder of Jesus’ teachings on
love, sacrifice, and redemption.
Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission
On April 2, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) conducted a successful
Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) at the Aeronautical Test
Range (ATR) in Chitradurga, Karnataka.
Overview of RLV LEX
RLV LEX is a technology demonstrator project that aims to develop a space plane capable
of carrying a payload to orbit and returning to Earth to land like an aircraft. The RLV-TD
(Technology Demonstrator) is a scaled-down prototype of the final RLV, which will be
much larger and capable of carrying a crew and cargo to space. The RLV-TD is 6.5 meters
long, has a wingspan of 3.6 meters, and weighs 1.75 tons.
The RLV LEX Test
The RLV LEX test was conducted on April 2 this year. The RLV-TD was released at an
altitude of 4.5 km (above MSL) and a down range of 4.6 km. The release covered ten
parameters, including release mechanism, guidance system, control, and navigation. The
purpose of the test was to perform approach and landing maneuvers, and the RLV-TD
completed an autonomous landing successfully.
RLV Characteristics
The RLV has a low lift to drag ratio, which means that it generates less lift and more drag
than a conventional aircraft. This characteristic allows the RLV to slow down quickly during
re-entry and landing, which is essential for safe and controlled landings. The RLV is also
designed to land at a speed of 350 kmph, which is slower than a typical commercial
jetliner.
Previous RLV-TD Demonstrations
The RLV-TD has undergone several successful demonstrations, including the Hypersonic
Flight Experiment (HEX) in May 2016. The main accomplishment of the HEX mission was
the re-entry of a hypersonic sub-orbital vehicle, which demonstrated India’s capability to
develop hypersonic technologies for military and civilian applications.
Future of RLV Development
The ultimate goal of developing RLVs is to enable low-cost access to space, which is
essential for advancing space exploration and scientific research. RLVs can reduce launch
costs significantly by enabling the reuse of launch vehicles, which eliminates the need for
building new launch vehicles for every mission. The successful RLV LEX test is a significant
step towards achieving this goal, and ISRO plans to conduct more tests to improve the
technology further.
Diamond Jubilee of CBI

On April 3, 2023, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the Diamond
Jubilee Celebrations of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Vigyan Bhawan in New
Delhi. The CBI was established by a resolution of the Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India on April 1, 1963, and has been the premier investigating agency in
India since then.
Investiture Ceremony
During the programme, an Investiture Ceremony was held for the recipients of the
President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Gold Medal for Best Investigating
Officers of CBI, wherein the Prime Minister conferred medals to the awardees. It was a
proud moment for the recipients, who had worked tirelessly to uphold the law and order
of the country.
Newly Constructed Office Complexes
As part of the celebrations, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed
office complexes of CBI in three cities – Shillong, Pune, and Nagpur. The move is expected
to boost the CBI’s capabilities and improve its efficiency in conducting investigations
across the country.
Release of Commemorative Items
To mark the Diamond Jubilee Celebration year of CBI, the Prime Minister released a
Postage Stamp and Commemorative Coin, which will serve as a reminder of this historic
event. On this occasion, he also released several publications. These include the updated
Administration Manual of CBI, an Almanac on Bank Frauds – case studies and learning, In
pursuit of justice – Supreme Court Judgements in CBI Cases, and a handbook on
International Police cooperation for the exchange of foreign located intelligence &
evidence.
CBI’s Jurisdiction
The CBI operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and
Pensions and has the authority to investigate breaches of central laws enforceable by the
Government of India, multi-state organised crime, multi-agency or international cases.
However, it has attracted numerous controversies and criticisms due to various reports of
irregular practices, excessive political influence, and a poor conviction rate.
Exemption from the Right to Information Act
It is interesting to note that CBI is exempted from the provisions of the Right to
Information Act, which has been a topic of debate and discussion among legal experts and
citizens alike. This exemption has been criticised for creating an atmosphere of secrecy
and hindering transparency in the functioning of the agency.
India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise - SLINEX-2023
SLINEX-2023 is the 10th edition of the annual India-Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise.
The exercise is aimed at improving mutual understanding, enhancing interoperability, and
exchanging best practices/procedures in multi-faceted maritime operations between both
Navies.
The exercise features two phases i.e., the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase. The Harbour
Phase is being organized in Colombo, Sri Lanka from April 3-5, followed by the Sea Phase
from April 6-8, off Colombo.
Bilateral Cooperation and the Importance of SLINEX-2023
India and Sri Lanka have a long-standing bilateral relationship, particularly in the maritime
domain. The cooperation between the two nations has been robust, covering various
areas such as political engagement, economic and commercial ties, people-to-people
connections, and cultural exchanges.
The bilateral naval exercise, SLINEX-2023, is a testament to the strong ties between the
two countries. It aims to further enhance the cooperation between the two navies and
reinforce the shared values and bonds of friendship and camaraderie.
Participation and Highlights of SLINEX-2023

Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Vinod Jacob took part in the opening of
the exercise on April 3. He highlighted the importance of the exercise and its firsts – the
first SLINEX held after the COVID-19 pandemic, the first after the Indian Navy changed its
Ensign, and the first with the participation of Air Force and Special Forces.
The Indian Navy is represented by INS Kiltan, an Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare
Corvette, and INS Savitri, an Offshore Patrol Vessel. The Sri Lanka Navy is represented by
SLNS Gajabahu, an Advance Offshore Patrol Vessel, and SLNS Sagara, an OPV.
Besides these vessels, the exercise will also feature Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft and
Indian Navy Chetak helicopter, Sri Lanka Air Force Dornier, and BEL 412 helicopters. The
special forces of the two navies will also participate in the exercise.
The SLINEX’s previous edition was organized in Visakhapatnam from March 7-12 last year.
This year’s exercise is expected to further strengthen the bilateral ties and cooperation
between the two navies.
Who was Salim Durani?
On April 2 this year, former Indian cricketer Salim Durani passed away at the age of 88 in
Gujarat’s Jamnagar. He underwent a surgery for thigh bone fracture in January 2023.
Durani’s Cricket Career
Salim Durani, born in Kabul, Afghanistan, was a left-arm orthodox bowler and a handy
batsman who played 29 Tests for India. He made his Test debut against Australia in the
beginning of 1960 at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium and played his last international
match against England in February 1973.
Durani had an impressive cricketing career with the ability to demolish any bowling attack
on his day. He had a Test batting average of 26.04 and scored 1,202 runs, including one
century and seven fifties in the 50 innings he played for the country. Durani’s highest
score in Test cricket was 104, and he had a career first-class batting average of 33.37.
India’s Triumphs Under Durani’s Leadership
Salim Durani was a key player in India’s historic victory against England in the Test series
in 1961-62. India beat the visitors 2-0 in the five-Test series, and it was Durani who starred
with the ball, taking 18 wickets in India’s two victories in Calcutta and Madras. He also
played a major part in India’s victory against the West Indies in Port of Spain.
Durani’s Impact in the Cricketing World
Durani was known for his fine dressing style and swagger, which added to his charismatic
personality. He had a special relationship with the crowd, who once expressed their ire
after he was dropped from the team for a match in Kanpur, and carried banners and
placards that read ‘No Durani, no test!’.
Salim Durani was first in India to win Arjuna Award in cricket. The award is bestowed by
the Sports Ministry to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of sports. Durani
was a tall man and could get the ball to lift and turn on any surface with a bit of help,
making him a formidable opponent.
Durani’s Contribution to Indian Cinema
Besides cricket, Durani gained fame with the Bollywood film ‘Charitra’ in 1973 opposite
famous actress of the ’70s and ’80s, Praveen Babi. His charming personality and screen
presence impressed many, making him an overnight sensation in the Indian film industry.
April 5, 2023
CPTPP and Britain's Membership
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a
trade pact that originated from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after the United States
withdrew in 2017. The agreement includes 11 countries, namely Australia, Brunei, Canada,
Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The CPTPP
aims to enhance trade between member countries by reducing tariffs, improving market
access, and promoting economic growth. On December 31, 2022, Britain formally applied
to join the CPTPP, which will make it the first European country to join the partnership.
Expected Membership and Impact
With Britain’s membership, the CPTPP will cover a market of 500 million people,
accounting for approximately 15% of global GDP. According to the UK government’s
estimates, joining the CPTPP will provide a £1.8 billion boost to exports in the long run,
with an estimated 0.08% increase in GDP. This increase is expected to be driven by
reduced tariffs and increased market access for British businesses.
Market Access and Regulatory Harmonization
Unlike the EU, the CPTPP does not have a single market for goods or services, and
regulatory harmonization is not needed. This means that businesses in the UK can access
markets in CPTPP countries without having to comply with a unified set of regulations.
Furthermore, the CPTPP does not impose a uniform tariff reduction, allowing member
countries to negotiate their own tariffs.
Preferential Tariffs and Eligible Products
Exporters who want to take advantage from preferential tariffs under the CPTPP are
required to prove that their products have an adequate proportion of “locally” sourced
parts. This means that the product must be made with a certain percentage of
components that originate from within the CPTPP member countries. Eligible products for
zero tariffs under the agreement include cheese, cars, chocolate, machinery, gin, and
whisky.
Membership Benefits for UK Exporters
One practical benefit that UK exporters have from the CPTPP is optionality. By joining the
partnership, UK businesses can choose to export to CPTPP member countries that offer
the most favorable market conditions. Additionally, UK exporters will be able to compete
on a level playing field with other CPTPP countries, allowing them to expand their
customer base and increase their exports.
Beef Import Quotas and Food Standards
In the CPTPP agreement, Britain agreed to a quota on beef imports. This quota is intended
to protect British farmers by limiting the amount of beef that can be imported from CPTPP
member countries. However, Britain did not agree to lower its food standards for
imported beef, including the ban on hormone-treated beef.

ISA Permit for Deep Sea Mining of Polymetallic Nodules
The ocean floor, covering more than 70% of the earth’s surface, remains one of the most
unexplored and untapped resources. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an
organization that regulates and controls the exploration and exploitation of mineral
resources on the ocean floor outside of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of its 167
member states. The organization was established by the United Nations Convention on
the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1994 and is headquartered in Jamaica.
Permit Applications for Mining Contracts
Starting in July 2023, the ISA will begin accepting permit applications from companies that
want to extract minerals from the ocean floor. Cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese are
among the valuable materials that can be extracted through undersea mining. The ISA
has the authority to issue permits to companies that wish to conduct mining operations in
international waters, but the lack of a mining code has resulted in uncertainties about the
application review process.
Polymetallic Nodules
Polymetallic nodules are potato-sized rocks found on the ocean floor at depths of 4 to 6
kilometers. These nodules contain minerals such as nickel, copper, and manganese. They
are typically found in large concentrations in specific areas of the ocean floor, making
them particularly attractive to mining companies.
The UNCLOS and Membership
The ISA was established by the UNCLOS, which sets out the legal framework for the use
and management of the world’s oceans. It defines the rights and responsibilities of
nations in their use of the world’s oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the
environment, and the management of marine natural resources. The ISA currently has 167
member states that are committed to following the organization’s rules and regulations.
The Ongoing Debate on Mining Code
The ISA has been discussing the development of a mining code for nearly a decade. The
mining code would establish rules and regulations for the exploration and exploitation of
minerals on the ocean floor, providing clarity for companies seeking permits to conduct
mining operations. However, the process has been fraught with challenges, including
concerns about the potential impact of deep-sea mining on the environment.
Moratorium on Industrial Mining
At the ISA’s council meeting, some members called for a moratorium on industrial mining,
citing concerns about the potential damage to the seabed, fish populations, and marine
mammals. They also highlighted the critical role of deep-sea ecosystems in regulating the
climate. Despite these concerns, some countries, such as Nauru, have demanded that a
mining code be adopted within two years to ensure the responsible use of ocean
resources.
Strict Rules for Mining
Canada, Australia, and Belgium have insisted that mining cannot begin without strict rules
and regulations in place to safeguard the environment. They have urged the ISA to
proceed with caution and consider the potential long-term impacts of deep-sea mining on
marine ecosystems.
Partnership Opportunities in the Lithium Value Chain between India and Chile
Lithium has become an essential component of modern technology, powering everything
from smartphones to electric vehicles. As the world seeks to reduce its carbon footprint,
the demand for lithium has skyrocketed, with countries vying for a slice of the lucrative
market. Chile is currently looking to partner with India to tap into the potential of lithium
value chain.
Chile: The World’s Largest Lithium Producer
Chile is the world’s largest producer of lithium, accounting for nearly 48% of the world’s
total lithium reserves. The country’s vast reserves are located in the Salar de Atacama, a
large salt flat located in Chile’s north. The lithium is extracted from the brines that lie
beneath the salt flats and processed into battery-grade lithium.
SQM: The Second-Largest Global Lithium Producer
Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) is the second-largest global lithium producer
and has expertise in extracting lithium from mineral form. In 2018, SQM signed a joint
venture with Kidman Resources to produce battery-grade lithium in Australia. The joint
venture, called Covalent Lithium, is expected to produce 44,000 tonnes of lithium
hydroxide per year.
India’s Inferred Lithium Reserves in Reasi District
India has significant inferred lithium reserves in the Reasi district, located in the northern
state of Jammu and Kashmir. The area is estimated to have 5.9 million tonnes of lithium in
mineral form. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) carried out a mineral exploration
project in the Salal-Haimna areas, which led to the discovery of these reserves.
India’s Efforts to Reduce Dependence on Chinese Imports
India is looking to reduce its dependence on Chinese imports, which includes both the raw
material and cells for lithium-ion batteries. The government has launched a series of
initiatives to encourage the domestic production of lithium-ion batteries, including the
formation of Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), a joint venture company formed by
central utilities to source strategic minerals.

Proposed India-Chile Partnership for Tapping into Lithium Value Chain
Chile is currently considering a partnership with India to tap into the lithium value chain. It
is also considering the possibility of sharing its expertise on lithium mining specialists and
is open to transfer technology for the exploitation of the metal.
Three New Species of Bush Crickets
The world of insects is vast and diverse, with new species being discovered all the time.
Recently, a team of researchers led by Aarini Ghosh and Ranjana Jaiswara discovered
three new species of bush crickets in India. These new species are members of the
Hexacentrus cricket family, and they are unique in their ability to produce ultrasonic
sounds of up to 60 kHz.
Discovery of Three New Hexacentrus Cricket Species

The researchers named the new species Hexacentrus khasiensis, which was discovered in
Meghalaya, and Hexacentrus ashoka and Hexacentrus tiddae, which were discovered in
Sonepat district, Haryana.
Unique Characteristics of Hexacentrus Cricket Species
The Hexacentrus cricket family is known for its unique ability to produce ultrasonic sounds
up to 60 kHz, which is beyond the range of human hearing. Their calling sound is an
unusual mechanical buzz that can be heard by other Hexacentrus crickets.
Bush Crickets and Their Sound Production
Bush crickets, also known as katydids, belong to the order Orthoptera. They are
categorized under two groups – true crickets (ground and tree crickets) and bush
crickets/katydids. Both crickets and bush crickets produce sounds via modified forewings.
The role of tympana in each forelimb of crickets and bush crickets is to receive sounds,
similar to the human eardrum.
Habitat and Predatory Nature of Hexacentrus Cricket Species
Hexacentrus cricket species mainly dwell on bushes, from lower to middle vertical strata.
They have a predatory nature and prey upon a variety of smaller adult insects, eggs, or
larvae. The significance of this discovery is that it sheds light on the unique size and sound
of Hexacentrus khasiensis, which until now, has only been reported from the Khasi hills of
Meghalaya.
Prey and Predators of Bush Crickets
Bush crickets, like other insects, are preyed upon by animals in their ecosystem. They are a
major source of food for bats, who can find their prey not only by echolocation but also by
eavesdropping upon sexual advertisement calls.
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
April 4th is marked as the International Day of Mine Awareness and Aid in Mine Action.
The day is observed annually to raise awareness about the dangers of explosive mine
action and to support the elimination of landmines and explosive remnants of war. The
observance aims to promote safety, health, and lives of civilians worldwide.
The Goal of International Day of Mine Awareness and Aid in Mine Action
The goal of the International Day of Mine Awareness and Aid in Mine Action is to raise
awareness and support for explosives elimination and notice the threats related to the
safety, health, and lives of civilians. The seeks to educate people about the dangers of
landmines and unexploded ordnances and promote a safer and suitable environment for
civilians. The observance also aims to encourage governments and organizations
worldwide to support mine-action activities.
The Role of UNMAS
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) leads the mine action community.
UNMAS has been focusing on the needs of victims of explosive risks for the last two
decades. UNMAS works in close collaboration with the United Nations Inter-Agency
Coordination Group on Mine Action (IACG-MA), which is comprised of 12 departments,

agencies, funds, and programs that ensure system-wide coherence in all mine action
pillars and activities.
Campaign Theme for 2023
The theme of International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2023 is
“Mine Action Cannot Wait.” The campaign will focus on Cambodia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic, and Vietnam, where the impact of explosive hazards remains severe.
Legal Frameworks for Protection
The UN supports the universalization of current legal frameworks to protect people from
the scourges of landmines and explosive relics of war. Protocol V of the Convention on
Certain Conventional Weapons came into effect on November 12, 2006. Additionally, the
signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions aimed to ban the use, production,
stockpiling, and transfer of cluster munitions.
Efforts of UNMAS
The UNMAS’s efforts are aimed at saving lives, facilitating the deployment of UN missions,
delivering humanitarian aid, encouraging the voluntary return of internally displaced
people and refugees, facilitating humanitarian and recovery activities, and advocating for
international humanitarian and human rights law. UNMAS works with national authorities,
non-governmental organizations, and other partners to ensure an effective response to
the threats of explosive hazards.
The Significance of International Day of Mine Awareness and Aid in Mine Action
The International Day of Mine Awareness and Aid in Mine Action is of immense
importance as it raises awareness about the dangers of explosive mine action and aims to
create a safe and suitable environment for civilians. The observance encourages
governments, organizations, and individuals worldwide to support mine-action activities
and work towards a world free of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
Mahavir Jayanti - Celebrating the Birth of Mahavir
Mahavir Jayanti is an essential religious festival celebrated by the Jain community
worldwide. It marks the birth of Lord Mahavir, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara
(supreme preacher) of present Avasarpiṇī in Jainism.
Who is Lord Mahavir?
Lord Mahavir was born in 599 BC in Kundalagrama, Bihar, India, as Vardhamana Mahavira.
He was the son of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala. Before his birth, Queen Trishala
had 16 dreams interpreted by astrologers, which signified the coming of a great soul. Lord
Mahavir had sacrificed all worldly pleasures and chose an ascetic path when he was 30
years old. He spent twelve years in meditation and self-realization, after which he attained
Kevala Jnana or perfect knowledge.
The Significance of Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated every year in either March or April, depending on the
Gregorian calendar. This year, it fell on April 4, 2023. It is a significant event for the Jain
community as it marks the birth of their most prominent religious figure, Lord Mahavir.
On this day, people engage in charitable acts, prayers, pujas, and fasts as a way to show
their respect for Lord Mahavir and his teachings.
Celebrations of Mahavir Jayanti
On the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, ancient Jain temples across India witness large
number of practitioners paying their respects and taking part in the celebrations. One of
the most significant events of the day is the Rath Yatra, a procession where the idol of
Lord Mahavir is carried out on a chariot, and religious rhymes are recited. Additionally,
many temples offer Abhishek, a ceremonial anointment given to statues of Lord Mahavir.
The Teachings of Lord Mahavir
Lectures by monks and nuns on Mahavir Jayanti preach the path of virtue as defined by
Lord Mahavir. Lord Mahavir developed a five-fold path consisting of ‘Ahimsa’ (non-
violence), ‘Asteya’ (non-stealing), ‘Brahmacharya’ (celibacy), ‘Satya’ (truthfulness), and
‘Aparigraha’ (non-possession) for all householders to follow. These teachings are still
relevant and continue to influence Jainism today.
The Promise of Mahavir Jayanti
On Mahavir Jayanti, people promise to remember the teachings of Lord Mahavir and not
hurt anyone in the future, knowingly and unknowingly. This promise is a reminder of the
importance of non-violence and the significance of Lord Mahavir’s teachings in modern
society.
International Day of Conscience
The International Day of Conscience is an annual worldwide awareness event celebrated
on April 5th. It came into existence on July 25th, 2019, when the United Nations General
Assembly passed a resolution entitled “Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and
Conscience” and designated April 5th as the International Day of Conscience. His
Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of
Bahrain, organized the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, which passed the
resolution.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Preamble mentions that disregard and
contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts that have outraged the
conscience of humankind. This highlights the significance of the International Day of
Conscience to establish a culture of peace based on the principles of freedom, justice, and
democracy, all human rights, tolerance, and solidarity.
Building a Culture of Peace
The theme of the International Day of Conscience 2023 is “Building a Culture of Peace,”
emphasizing the need to establish a culture of peace inseparable from culture as a whole,
taking root in people’s hearts and minds. It highlights the importance of promoting
intercultural dialogue to foster mutual understanding, respect, and peaceful coexistence.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific,
and Cultural Organization contribute significantly to promoting intercultural dialogue in
areas such as youth, education, media, and migration.
Understanding Conscience and Morality
An individual conscience is a personal moral sense that helps differentiate between the
right and the wrong. Investigating conscience aids in understanding the moral tenets of
others. It is crucial to study more about conscience to become better persons with better
consciences. Morality is a personal affair where each person believes that their morals are
superior and correct.
What is Chondrostereum purpureum?
A recent case report published in Medical Mycology Case Reports revealed that a man in
Kolkata, India, was infected with Chondrostereum purpureum, a plant fungus. This
discovery has raised concerns about the potential risks of fungal infections in humans,
especially in the context of global warming.
The Case of Chondrostereum Purpureum Infection in a Man
The infected man exhibited symptoms such as hoarse voice, cough, fatigue, and
difficulties swallowing. These symptoms were caused by the fungus invading the man’s
larynx, which made it difficult for him to speak and swallow. The doctors who treated the
patient noted that this was a rare case and that there are only a few fungal species that
cause infections in humans.
Chondrostereum Purpureum and Silver Leaf Disease in Plants
Chondrostereum purpureum is a fungus that causes silver leaf disease in plants,
especially in species of rose families. The fungus enters the plant through a wound and
then colonizes the xylem tissue, leading to leaf discoloration and leaf death. The silver leaf
disease can be detrimental to the growth and health of plants, and can also cause
economic losses for farmers.
The Vulnerability of Humans to Fungal Infections
Human beings having compromised immune system are most susceptible to fungal
infection. Fungal infections can also occur in healthy individuals, but they are generally
less severe. The recent case of Chondrostereum purpureum infection in a man highlights
the potential risks of fungal infections in humans, especially in the context of rising
atmospheric temperature.
Global Warming and Fungal Infections
Global warming is expected to increase the prevalence of fungal diseases in humans. Most
fungi thrive in a temperature range of 12°C to 30°C, and rising temperatures can change
the distribution of heat-tolerant and susceptible species by favoring those that are more
thermotolerant. This narrowing of the thermal difference between the human body and
its surroundings increases the chance of the prevalence of fungal diseases.
What is Sea Lamprey?
A marine biologist in The Netherlands, Jaco Havermans, recently spotted a rare sea
lamprey on a beach. The sea lamprey, which is a parasitic fish, was found for the first time
in six years. It was given to Ecomare, a nature museum and aquarium.
What is a Sea Lamprey?
The sea lamprey, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), is a parasitic fish that is native to the northern and western Atlantic Ocean. Unlike
other fish, lampreys lack scales, fins, and gill covers, and their skeletons are made of
cartilage. The sea lamprey is often confused with eels due to its physical appearance.
How was the Sea Lamprey Found?
Marine biologist Jaco Havermans found the three-foot-long sea lamprey as he walked
along the beach located about 65 miles north of Amsterdam. The fish doesn’t have a
proper bottom jaw but a copious amount of teeth, which it uses to rasp away other fish’s
flesh so it can feed on its host’s blood and body fluids.
About Sea Lamprey
The sea lamprey is a member the Agnatha, the oldest group of vertebrates that existed
more than 400 million years ago, before the existence of fish with jaws. The fish is
considered to be a pest as it attacks other fish to suck their blood out, killing about 40
pounds of fish every year.
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
Located in the southernmost part of India, the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
(GoMMNP) is a protected area covering an area of around 560 square kilometers. The
park includes a group of 21 islands situated in the Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu. The area
was declared a marine national park in 1980 and later included in the Gulf of Mannar
Biosphere Reserve (GoMBR) in 1989.
Invasive Plant Species Threatening the Vegetation
The vegetation in the GoMMNP is threatened by an invasive plant species called Prosopis
chilensis. This plant species is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. It is known for
its ability to spread rapidly, forming dense thickets that can displace native plant species.
Another invasive plant species, Prosopis juliflora, was introduced in Tamil Nadu by the
British in 1877, which is equally threatening to the natural vegetation of the area.
Bird Species in the Gulf of Mannar
A study conducted in the Gulf of Mannar recorded 96 bird species belonging to 13 orders.
Out of these, 58 were waterbird species, indicating the importance of the area for these
birds. The highest number of waterbird species was recorded on Manoli island of the
Kilakkarai group. Eight bird species were found on all the islands, including Kentish plover,
ruddy turnstone, lesser black-backed gull, greater crested tern, little cormorant, great
egret, Indian pond heron, and Brahminy kite.

Unique Ecosystems on the Islands
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is home to three unique ecosystems, including
corals, seagrass, and mangroves. The coral reefs in the area are some of the healthiest in
the world and provide a habitat for numerous marine species. Seagrass beds are also
essential for marine life, serving as breeding grounds for fish and other organisms.
Mangroves, on the other hand, provide a habitat for a variety of bird and animal species
and protect the coastline from erosion and storms.
The Significance of the 21 Islands
The 21 islands in the GoMMNP serve as resting places for birds migrating to and from the
nearby Sri Lankan islands. These islands provide a critical habitat for these birds to rest
and refuel during their long journey. The area is also important for the local communities
who rely on the park’s resources for their livelihoods.
Eravikulam National Park
Eravikulam National Park (ENP) is a 97 km2 national park located in the Idukki and
Ernakulam districts of Kerala. Established in 1978, it is the first national park in the state.
Administered by the Kerala Department of Forests and Wildlife, Munnar Wildlife Division,
ENP is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to various endemic species.
New Attraction in ENP
ENP has a new attraction – a Fernarium, which is the first of its kind in the hill station. The
Fernarium is a collection of ferns that have been planted inside the park. As per the
officials, 52 varieties of ferns have already been planted, and the plan is to cover all 104
varieties of ferns that are found in the park. The Fernarium is located near the
orchidarium, and it will be opened to the public on April 20.
Significance of New Initiatives
The new initiatives in the ENP seek to create awareness about the park’s biodiversity. They
will help in promoting ecotourism and conservation of the park.
Ferns – Ecological Indicators of Healthy Forests
Ferns are the ecological indicator of healthy forests. They are part of the Epiphytic family
of plants that grow on other plants. They obtain nutrients and water via leaching from
trees. A large number of ferns can be found on the trees inside the park, which is a sign of
a healthy forest.
New Facilities for Tourists
ENP has introduced new facilities for tourists, including a selfie point and buggy cars.
Three buggy cars have been arranged for visitors to explore the park, and two more will
be purchased soon. These new facilities aim to enhance the visitors’ experience and make
their trip more enjoyable.
Survey of New Births
A survey of new births in ENP will be conducted on April 20. The last annual census
recorded 785 Nilgiri tahrs, and 125 new calves were sighted. Around 150 new calves are
expected to be found this time.
Who was Ryuichi Sakamoto?

On March 28, 2023, Ryuichi Sakamoto, the renowned Japanese composer and producer,
passed away at the age of 71, after battling cancer for the second time in 2021. Sakamoto
was a trailblazer in the music industry, admired for his unique style and experimental
sound.
Early Life and Music Career
Sakamoto was born on January 17, 1952, in Tokyo, Japan. He started studying composition
at the age of 10. He started off with classical music and when on to specialize in
ethnomusicology at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Sakamoto was
inspired by The Beatles and Debussy and had a passion for exploring various musical
styles, including the traditional music of Okinawa island in Japan.
Sakamoto’s Musical Style

Sakamoto was known for his electronic music experimentation. He was a pioneer of
electronic music in Japan and blended traditional Japanese music with modern electronic
music. He was a member of the Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), which he set up with
Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in 1978. Their synthesizer innovations had
significant influence in techno-pop and hip-hop.
Awards and Film Career
Sakamoto won several awards throughout his career, including an Oscar, a Grammy, and
a Bafta. He won these awards for his film score for The Last Emperor in 1987. He also
received awards for his work as a solo artist and as a member of YMO. Sakamoto also
acted in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence alongside David Bowie in 1983 and The Last
Emperor, for which he won his awards.
Sakamoto’s Influence
Sakamoto was a big part of the ’80s musical experience for many, including physicist and
former keyboard player with the bands Dare and D:Ream, Prof Brian Cox. Sakamoto’s
synthesizer innovations influenced techno-pop and hip-hop and left a lasting impact on
the music industry. He challenged the conventions of Western musical composition and
often used electronics or blended electronic sound to break these walls.
Environmental Activism
Sakamoto was also well known for campaigning for environmental conservation in Japan,
particularly after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in 2011. He used his platform to raise
awareness about environmental issues and advocated for a more sustainable future.
Miu Sakamoto
Sakamoto’s daughter, Miu Sakamoto, is a J-pop singer. She followed in her father’s
footsteps and became a successful musician in her own right
April 6, 2023
Izu-Ogasawara Trench and the Finding of the Deepest Fish
The Izu–Ogasawara Trench is an oceanic trench located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is
known for being one of the deepest points in the world’s oceans. Here, the deepest ever
fish was filmed, breaking the previous record of filming a fish swimming in the Mariana
Trench.
Depth and Location
The Izu–Ogasawara Trench is also known as the Izu–Bonin Trench. It is some 9,780 meters
(32,087 feet) deep. This oceanic trench is an extension of the Japan Trench and is
composed of two trenches: the Izu Trench, located in the north, and the Bonin Trench,
located in the south, west of the Ogasawara Plateau.
The Izu–Ogasawara Trench is located in the western Pacific Ocean, southeast of Japan. It
runs parallel to the Mariana Trench, which is the deepest point in the world’s oceans at
approximately 10,935 meters (35,876 feet) deep.
Marine Life in the Trench
Despite the extreme depths of the Izu–Ogasawara Trench, unique marine life has been
found in this region. In 2019, the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre led a two-
month expedition to explore the trench’s depths. During the expedition, the deepest fish
ever caught on camera was filmed swimming at a depth of 8,336 meters (27,373 feet) in
the trench. This juvenile snail fish is one of only two fish that have been collected from a
depth greater than 8,000 meters.
The slightly warmer water in the Izu–Ogasawara Trench is believed to be responsible for
the survival of fish at such extreme depths. Scientists have also discovered other unique
marine life forms in the trench, including the Xenophyophore Occultammina, which was
first discovered at a depth of 8,260 meters (27,100 feet).
Significance of the Trench
The Izu–Bonin–Mariana Arc system, which includes the Izu and Bonin Islands, is created by
the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Philippine Sea Plate in the Izu–Ogasawara
Trench. This process is responsible for creating the unique geological features and marine
life in the region.
The Izu–Ogasawara Trench is also significant for its research potential. Professor
Jamieson, the founder of the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre, led the expedition
to the trench in 2019 to study the effects of extreme ocean depths on marine life. The
research conducted in this trench can help us understand more about the ocean’s depths
and the unique ecosystems that exist in these extreme environments.
Mount Kilimanjaro and the Promotion of Gaddi Culture
Anjali Sharma, a mountaineer from India, has made history by successfully scaling the
peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Southern Africa (Tanzania) while wearing a traditional Gaddi
dress, or Luanchadi. She is the first Indian woman to achieve this feat while wearing the
Gaddi costume, and she aims to promote Gaddi culture on mountain peaks.
Who is Anjali Sharma?
Anjali Sharma is a mountaineer from India who recently made headlines by scaling Mount
Kilimanjaro in South Africa while wearing a traditional Gaddi dress. She has been climbing
mountains since the age of 15 and has already conquered a peak of 5289 meters. In
addition, she has also climbed Hanuman Tibba and Pahar Deo, both over 6001 meters in
height.
Anjali Sharma’s Climb to Mount Kilimanjaro
Anjali Sharma’s climb to Mount Kilimanjaro was not just another mountaineering
expedition. It was a significant achievement, as she became the first Indian woman to
climb the mountain while wearing the Gaddi costume. Her aim was to promote the culture
of Himachal Pradesh, the Indian state from where the traditional dress originates.
Mount Kilimanjaro: The Highest Mountain in Africa
Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano situated in Tanzania, in the eastern part of Africa.
It is the highest summit in the continent and the highest single free-standing mountain in
the world, with its summit reaching an elevation of 5,895 meters above sea level. The
mountain is made up of three distinct volcanic cones, namely Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira,
with Kibo being the highest and most well-known of the three.
Mount Kilimanjaro: A Popular Destination

Mount Kilimanjaro is a popular destination for hikers from across the globe. It attracts
thousands of visitors each year. It is famous for its diverse ecosystems i.e., rainforest,
heath, moorland, alpine desert, and glaciers. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a challenging
and rewarding experience, requiring physical and mental stamina as well as careful
planning and preparation.
Significance of Anjali Sharma’s Traditional Dress
The Luanchadi, or Gaddi dress, is a traditional costume from the Indian state of Himachal
Pradesh. Anjali Sharma’s climb to Mount Kilimanjaro while wearing the traditional dress
was a significant achievement in promoting the culture of the state. Her climb has
encouraged more people to wear traditional attire during mountaineering expeditions,
thus showcasing their unique cultures and traditions to the world.
Paris' Ban on e-Scooter
Paris, the city of love, is known for its beauty and charm. The city’s streets are filled with
tourists and locals alike, with many of them relying on rental e-scooters to navigate the
city. However, with the recent Paris e-scooter referendum, the city has decided to ban
rental e-scooters by the end of August 2023.
Referendum Results and Ban Details
The Paris e-scooter referendum revealed that 89% of voters supported the ban, with a
turnout of 7.46% of registered voters. The ban will only affect rental e-scooters, and
private owners of e-scooters will not be impacted. The ban will come into effect by the end
of August 2023, with authorities urging companies to remove their vehicles from the
streets as soon as possible.
The referendum is expected to affect the users, employees, and residents of the city. It is
predicted to cause a significant loss of revenue for e-scooter rental companies and force
them to lay off staff.
Measures to Reduce Dependence on Private Cars
Paris has introduced several measures to reduce its dependence on private cars, including
bike lanes, e-bike rentals, public transportation, and e-scooter rentals. These measures
have been successful in reducing traffic on Paris’ roads, with a 33% drop reported
between mid-2012 and mid-2022.

Health Risks Associated with E-scooters
The French academy of medicine has described e-scooters as a “true public health
problem.” Between 2021 and 2022, there were 516 accidents involving “motorized
personal transport devices” in Paris. These accidents were caused by poor parking,
reckless driving, lack of safety, serious injuries, multiple people riding on the same vehicle,
conflict with other road users, and e-vehicles dumped in water basins.
E-scooter Bans in Other Cities
Paris isn’t the first to impose ban on e-scooters. In 2016, Barcelona partially banned e-
scooters in historic parts of the city. In London, privately owned e-scooters are not legal
for use on public roads. In Rome, an American tourist caused €25,000 worth of damage to
the Spanish Steps with an e-scooter in May.

New Rules in Brussels
Brussels had imposed new rules for e-scooters last summer. These include a 20 km/h
speed limit on roads, an eight km/h limit on pedestrian areas, and a ban on riding on
sidewalks.
April 7, 2023
5th International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) organizes an annual conference
that brings together decision-makers, thought leaders, academia, and institutions from
across the world to work on solutions for infrastructure resilience. The latest conference,
the 5th International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) 2023, was
held on 4th and 5th of April 2023 in New Delhi, India.
Purpose of ICDRI 2023
ICDRI 2023’s purpose is to provide a platform for member countries to engage and
contribute to Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI) solution pathways. The conference
brought together infrastructure actors for building partnerships, knowledge sharing and
fostering complementarity on DRI solutions, and convened DRI stakeholders for enhanced
collective action on infrastructure resilience. It also seeks to strengthen the global
discourse on disaster and climate resilient infrastructure. The goal of resilient
infrastructure is to provide access to safer and improved livelihoods and quality of life.
Thematic Focus of ICDRI 2023
The ICDRI’s theme is the “Delivering Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure: Pathways for
Risk Informed Systems, Practices and Investments”
The global conference was organized around three pillars:
1. The first pillar is Delivering Resilient Infrastructure – Inclusive and Risk Informed
Systems.
2. The second pillar is Delivering Resilient Infrastructure – Providing Reliable Services
through Resilient Infrastructure Assets.
3. The third pillar is Delivering Resilient Infrastructure – Realizing Finance and
Investments for Infrastructure Resilience.
Discussions and Launch
A Biennial Report on Global Infrastructure Resilience, which is a progress report, was
discussed at ICDRI 2023. The conference also featured the launch of the DRI Academic
Network and Partnership.
Infrastructure Systems That Need to be Resilient and Inclusive
Energy, transport, water, wastewater and solid waste management, digital
communications, and others are the infrastructure systems that need to be resilient and
inclusive. An enabling ecosystem for infrastructure resilience must be supported by
responsive policy and governance, technology and innovation, knowledge exchange and
capacity development, and sustainable financing.
Solutions and Pathways for Infrastructure Resilience
The solutions and pathways for infrastructure resilience must be collaborative, futuristic,
adaptive, and risk-informed. ICDRI 2023 provides a platform for knowledge sharing and
fosters complementarity on DRI solutions.
Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell

The Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell is the data backbone of the Union Ministry of
Petroleum and Natural Gas. It recently celebrated its 22 nd foundation day. It was
inaugurated on 3rd April 2002, PPAC has been instrumental in maintaining a reliable and
comprehensive database on the Indian oil and gas sector.
The Birth of PPAC
PPAC’s establishment was a significant step towards maintaining accurate and reliable
data on the Indian oil and gas sector. Its mission is to strengthen the existing data system,
render effective assistance to the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, monitor and
analyze developments in the domestic oil and gas sector, and undertake analysis of
domestic and international energy markets.
PPAC’s Role in the Switchover to a De-regulated Market
PPAC played a significant role in the switchover to a de-regulated market. It helped in the
formulation of policies and measures for the dismantling of the Administered Price
Mechanism (APM) and the introduction of a market-based system for the sale of
petroleum products. PPAC also assisted in the implementation of various schemes such as
the Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL) and the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
PPAC’s Schemes
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in May 2016, with the aim of
providing LPG connections to poor households. Under this scheme, PPAC played a pivotal
role in the identification of beneficiaries and their enrollment in the scheme.
PPAC also played a critical role in the implementation of the Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG
(DBTL) scheme, which was launched in November 2014. This scheme aimed to transfer the
subsidy amount directly to the bank accounts of consumers, thus preventing leakages and
ensuring efficient delivery of services.
PM Garib Kalyan Yojna was a scheme launched to provide relief to the poor during the
Covid-19 pandemic. PPAC’s mandate was to assist the government in the administration
of subsidy on PDS Kerosene and domestic LPG and freight subsidy for far-flung areas.
PPAC’s Recent Event
The event celebrating 22nd foundation day of PPAC witnessed the launch of the app
version of the immensely popular PPAC website and the announcement of the proposed
publication of a bi-annual journal on energy to disseminate collective knowledge of the
sector.
Draft Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Repealing Regulations, 2023
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is the regulatory body responsible for
monitoring and regulating the telecommunications sector in India. Established in 1997,
TRAI’s primary objective is to ensure that the interests of consumers are protected and
that there is fair competition in the market. Over the years, TRAI has released various
regulations to achieve these objectives.
Regulation on Quality of Service of Dial-Up and Leased Line Internet Access Service
In 2001, TRAI notified the regulation on quality of service of dial-up and leased line
internet access service. This regulation was applicable to all Basic Service Operators and
Internet Service Providers, including the incumbent operators BSNL, MTNL, and VSNL.
The regulation laid down Quality of Service Parameters to ensure customer satisfaction.
Service providers were required to achieve the norms of network performance by properly
dimensioning their network. These parameters were measured from time to time and
compared with specified norms to monitor the level of performance provided by various
service providers and to protect the interests of subscribers of the Internet services.
Draft TRAI Repealing Regulations, 2022
The draft Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Repealing Regulations, 2022 was released
recently by TRAI for public opinions and comments. The purpose of this regulation is to
make repeal the regulation on quality of service of dial-up and leased line internet access
service, 2001. With the passage of time, telecommunication networks have evolved to
offer high-speed broadband services on xDSL, FTTH, LTE, etc., technologies. The leased
line access services are typically offered by Internet Gateway Service Providers (IGSPs)
with an ISP licence to enterprises. As a Service Level Agreement (SLA) based service, the
agreement among the contracting parties has sufficient provisions to safeguard concerns
regarding service quality.
Relevance of Monitoring the Level of Performance
The regulation on quality of service of dial-up and leased line internet access service was
aimed at protecting the interests of subscribers of the Internet services. Monitoring the
level of performance is crucial to ensure that service providers are meeting the Quality of
Service Parameters laid down by TRAI. This helps in ensuring that customers are satisfied
with the services provided by service providers and that their interests are protected.
Squirrelpox Virus in Wales
Red squirrels are one of Britain’s most iconic species, and yet, they are under threat from
a virus that causes a fatal disease known as squirrelpox. The virus is thought to have
originated in North America and was accidentally introduced to the UK by grey squirrels. It
is a major threat to the red squirrel population in Wales, where numbers have declined
dramatically in recent years.
The Virus and Its Carrier
Grey squirrels are the usual carriers of SQPV (Squirrelpox virus), and although they are
immune to the disease, they can still spread the virus to red squirrels through physical
contact or contaminated food sources.
Anecdotal Evidence of Resistance
Despite the devastating effects of the virus, there is some good news. There is anecdotal
evidence to suggest that some red squirrels have developed resistance to squirrelpox. In
Cumbria, there have been reports of healthy red squirrels with antibodies to the virus,
which indicates that they have survived an infection and built up immunity.
Impact of Squirrelpox on Red Squirrels
Squirrelpox has a mortality rate of 100% for untreated infected squirrels in the wild, and
infected squirrels typically die within four to five days. The virus causes cuts, blisters, and
growths on the skin, which can be painful and debilitating for the squirrels. Once infected,
red squirrels can take up to three weeks to die.
Efforts to Protect Red Squirrels
There have been calls for the Welsh government to fund vaccine research to protect red
squirrels from squirrelpox. A petition signed by nearly 11,000 people was submitted to the
government, but so far, no action has been taken. Despite this, there are still efforts being
made to protect red squirrels in Wales.
Restoring Red Squirrels in Ceredigion
A project is underway to restore red squirrels in Ceredigion, where numbers remain small.
The project involves trapping grey squirrels and replacing them with red squirrels in the
hope that the red squirrel population will grow. However, this project is only one of many,
and more work needs to be done to protect red squirrels in other parts of Wales.
Biggest Threat to Red Squirrels in Wales
Squirrelpox is the biggest threat facing native red squirrels in Wales, and yet, there has
been no successful programme to cull all the grey squirrels on the mainland to protect the
red squirrels. It has proved almost impossible to repeat the success seen on Anglesey,
where a cull of grey squirrels was successful in protecting red squirrels from the virus.
Tourism and the Red Squirrel
Red squirrels are a popular tourist attraction in Wales, and tourism to see the squirrels is
estimated to be worth about £1m annually. However, the decline in the red squirrel
population due to squirrelpox threatens the tourism industry, and more needs to be done
to protect this vulnerable species.
3rd General Sundarji Memorial Lecture
On the 8th of February 1999, India lost one of its foremost military thinkers, General K
Sundarji. He was the 13th Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army from 1986 to 1988
and introduced a number of technology initiatives during his tenure. To commemorate his
memory, the Indian Army organised the 3rd General Sundarji Memorial Lecture at the
Manekshaw Centre, Delhi, on the 3rd of April 2023.
Organisation of the 3rd General Sundarji Memorial Lecture
The Indian Army organized the third edition of the General Sundarji Memorial Lecture
under the aegis of Mechanised Infantry Centre & School (MIC&S) and Centre for Land
Warfare Studies (CLAWS). The latter is an autonomous think tank on strategic studies and
land warfare that focuses national security issues, conventional military operations, and
sub-conventional warfare. The mandate of CLAWS is to convey policy recommendations
based on interactions, consensus, and research projects to policymakers and experts.
General K Sundarji: His Legacy and Controversies
General K Sundarji is also known as the ‘Father of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment’.
During his army career, he commanded Operation Blue Star under orders from former
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to clear the Golden Temple shrine. Widely respected
as a scholar warrior, he was regarded as one of the most promising generals of
Independent India.
However, General K Sundarji was also questioned for his role in recommending the Bofors
howitzer in the Bofors scandal. As the Chief of the Army Staff, he planned and executed
Operation Brasstacks, a major military exercise along the Rajasthan border.
Cope India Exercise
India and the United States are set to conduct the next edition of their bilateral air
exercise called ‘Cope India’. This is aimed at enhancing the interoperability between the
air forces the two countries. The air exercise will take place from April 10 to 21, 2023, at the
air force base in Kalaikunda, West Bengal. This will mark the first major air exercise
between India and the US after a gap of five years.
Participants of the Exercise
The Indian Air Force will participate in the exercise with its frontline fighters aircraft
SU-30MKI, Rafale, and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), among other elements.
On the other hand, the US Air Force contingent will reportedly participate with its F-15
fighter jets.
Observer Nation
The air exercise will have Japan as an observer nation. As per the Agreement of the
Defence Ministers’ Conference organized on August 20, 2018, the Japanese Air Self
Defense Force (JASDF) participated in Cope India for the first time in December 2018 as an
observer. Japan’s participation in the upcoming exercise is a part of a phased plan
proposed by the US to make it a trilateral event.
Previous Editions
The previous edition of Exercise Cope India was organized between Indian Air Force and
United States Air Force in December 2018 in India. For the first time, the exercise was
planned to be held at 2 Air Force bases, Kalaikunda and Panagarh from December 3-14,
2018. In the 2018 edition, IAF participated with its Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, Mirage 2000, C-130J &
AWACS aircraft, while the USAF participated with 12 F15 C/D and 3 C-130 aircraft.
Firsts in 2023
The year 2023 has so far turned out to be busy for IAF with several ‘firsts.’ In January this
year, India and Japan conducted the first edition of the air exercise Veer Guardian hosted
by the JASDF. When it comes to multilateral exercises, the IAF participated in Exercise
Cobra Warrior in February this year for the first time in the UK.
The Aim
The coming air wargames in the edition of Exercise Cope India are expected to enhance
the interoperability between the two air forces. This exercise is an opportunity for the two
nations to learn from each other’s combat tactics, as well as to share their experiences
and best practices.
Penrose Tiling Problem and the "The Hat" Shape
In the world of mathematics, there are problems that have been around for centuries, or
even millennia, waiting to be solved. One such problem is the Penrose tiling problem,
named after the British mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose. The Penrose tiling
problem asks if it is possible to cover a surface with tiles that are aperiodic, meaning they
can never be repeated in a regular pattern. In 2017, retired printing technician David
Smith discovered a shape that can solve the Penrose tiling problem, which he named “The
Hat”.
Discovery of “The Hat” Shape
David Smith stumbled upon “The Hat” shape while playing with a popular mathematical
toy, the Penrose tile set. He noticed that one of the shapes in the set could be used to
completely cover a surface without creating a repeated pattern. He named this shape
“The Hat” because it resembles a fedora hat. “The Hat” is an example of an einstein, a
shape that can completely cover a surface without creating a repeated pattern.
David Smith and Penrose Tiling
The Penrose tiling problem was first introduced by Roger Penrose in the 1970s. He created
a set of 20,426 tiles that can be used to cover a surface aperiodically. Later, he reduced the
number of shapes from six down to two. Even with this reduction, the problem remained
unsolved for decades.
In 2016, David Smith launched a blog on Penrose tiling, where he documented his
progress in understanding the problem. When he thought he had bested Penrose in
finding the einstein, he contacted Craig Kaplan, a computer science professor at the
University of Waterloo, for verification. Together, they used software to understand the
tile better.
Sequel to “The Hat” Shape
David Smith’s discovery of “The Hat” shape led to the creation of a new shape that is also
an einstein, which he called “The Turtle”. The Turtle is a sequel to The Hat and can also
completely cover a surface without creating a repeated pattern.
Peer Review Status of the Scientific Paper
David Smith has written a scientific paper on his discovery of “The Hat” shape and the
Penrose tiling problem, but it has not gone through peer review yet. Peer review is a
process where experts in the field review the paper to ensure that it meets the standards
of scientific research.
Who is Christina Koch?
In a significant moment for space exploration, astronaut Christina Hammock Koch has
been announced as the first woman to circle the Moon. The US space agency, NASA, has
declared that Koch will be the mission specialist when four humans board the Orion
spacecraft for a trip around the Moon. This announcement marks a breakthrough as it is
the first time a woman astronaut will be in the realm of the Moon, breaking a barrier that
was previously only crossed by male astronauts.
Christina Koch – A Career Overview
Christina Koch joined NASA in 2013 and has served as a flight engineer on the
International Space Station (ISS) for Expeditions 59, 60, and 61. She holds Bachelor of
Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics and a Master of Science degree in
Electrical Engineering, all from North Carolina State University. Before joining NASA, she
worked as an Electrical Engineer at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), where she
contributed to scientific instruments on several NASA space science missions. Koch was
first launched into space in 2019 on the Soyuz MS-12 spacecraft and has spent a total of
328 days in space, conducting six spacewalks, including the first three all-women
spacewalks.
Artemis II Mission: What is it all about?
The announcement of Christina Koch’s involvement in the mission has officially kicked off
the preparation for the Artemis II mission, which will bring humanity one step closer to
landing on the Moon since the Apollo missions. The Artemis II flight is a 10-day, 2.3-
million-km journey around the moon and back, aiming to demonstrate that all of Orion’s
life-support apparatus and other systems will operate as designed with astronauts aboard
in deep space.
Who Else is Joining Koch on the Mission?
Christina Koch will be joined by astronauts Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, and Reid
Wiseman on the Artemis II mission. Together, they will carry the world’s excitement,
aspirations, and dreams with them on this historic mission to the Moon.
The Apollo Successor Program: A Stepping Stone to Mars
The Artemis II mission will mark the debut crewed flight of an Apollo successor program
aimed at returning astronauts to the Moon’s surface this decade and establishing a
sustainable outpost there, creating a stepping stone to human exploration of Mars. The
objective of the program is to return astronauts to the Moon’s surface and establish a
sustainable outpost, which will be used to conduct research and develop technologies that
will support human exploration of Mars.
Last Time on the Moon
The last time humans walked on the lunar surface was in 1972 when Apollo 17
commander Eugene Cernan left his footprints on Earth’s natural satellite. The Artemis II
mission brings us one step closer to returning humans to the Moon, with the added bonus
of being the first mission to include a woman astronaut on its team.

April 8, 2023
Basohli Painting and GI Tag
The world-famous Basohli Painting from the Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir has
obtained the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag. This is the first time in the history of GI
registration that the Jammu region got a GI tag for handicrafts. The National Bank for
Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Jammu granted the GI tag to Basohli
Painting after a long legal process.
What is Geographical Indication (GI)?
Geographical Indication (GI) is a type of Intellectual Property right granted to goods that
originate in a specific geographical location and have distinct nature, quality, and
characteristics that are linked to that location. GI tagging provides legal protection to
registered products and promotes economic prosperity for producers and related
stakeholders, including contribution to the GDP of the country.
Initiation of the GI Tagging Process
In December 2020, NABARD in consultation with the Department of Handicrafts and
Handloom initiated the process for GI tagging of 9 products of the Jammu region during
the difficult times of COVID. The GI tags have now finally been granted to these products,
including Basohli Painting, after a long legal process.
Exclusive Right for Authorized Users
Since only authorized users within a specific place have the right to use the GI tag in
relation to registered products, manufacturers are not allowed copy it from beyond their
geographical areas. The Geographical Indication prevents unauthorized use of registered
Geographical Indication goods by third parties and promotes economic prosperity of
producers.
Basohli Painting
Basohli painting is known for its bold vitality of color and line. It is a school of Pahari
miniature painting that flourished in the Indian hill states during the late 17th and the
18th centuries, with its principal center of style in the small independent state of Basohli.
The oblong format is favored, with the picture space usually delineated by architectural
detail, which often breaks into the characteristic red borders.
Caltoris bromus sadasiva
A group of lepidopterists discovered a butterfly subspecies from the peripheries of
Akkulam and Vembanad lakes in Kerala. The newly-discovered taxon is named Caltoris
bromus sadasiva, and it is the first record of the species Bromus swift from the Western
Ghats and Peninsular India.
Discovery and Confirmation of Identity
Caltoris bromus sadasiva was first spotted at Akkulam lake in the year 2005. It was found
yet again in Vembanad in 2009 by Dr. Kalesh Sadasivan, a research associate with the
Travancore Nature History Society. Dr. Kalesh Sadasivan joined hands with entomologists
Dipendra Nath Basu and Krushnamegh Kunte of the National Centre for Biological Science
at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru reared a series of larvae over a
span around 10 years to confirm this subspecies.
It was necessary to rear the larvae to rule out the possibility of it being another subspecies
of the Bromus swift seen in Taiwan, which has adults that lack any usual spots on their
wings. The larvae were reared on the host plant Phragmites karka. The comparison of the
male and female genitalia with the other Caltoris was critical for confirming its identity.
Caltoris Genus and Other Subspecies
Caltoris is an Indo-Australian genus that has some 15 species spanning across southeast
Asia. Caltoris bromus is one of them and has two other subspecies – Caltoris bromus
bromus and Caltoris bromus yanuca.
With the discovery of Caltoris bromus sadasiva, the count of skipper butterflies in the
Western Ghats has grown to 83 species. It also increased number of butterfly species in
the Western Ghats to 336. The finding of the new subspecies happened nearly 75 years
after the last skipper butterfly was spotted by lepidopterist and British Army officer W.H.
Evans.
The discovery of Caltoris bromus sadasiva is not only exciting for lepidopterists, but it also
highlights the importance of protecting the biodiversity of the Western Ghats. The
Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to a high diversity of flora and
fauna, including many endemic species. Such discoveries also underscore the need for
continued research and conservation efforts to preserve these valuable ecosystems.
Finland’s NATO Membership
On April 4 this year, Finland officially became a member of the NATO, marking a definitive
shift in Europe’s post-World War II alignment and isolating Russia further. The move ends
over 70 years of military non-alignment for the small Nordic country that shares a 1,340-
km border with Russia. During the Cold War era, the policy of neutrality between the USSR
and the West was known as “Finlandisation”, and this had been one of the options
discussed for Ukraine before Russia invaded it.
Why Has Finland Joined NATO?
Russia’s war against Ukraine has made Finland crave the powerful military backing that
NATO offers. Every member of the alliance has to defend any one member being attacked
under its charter. Finland and its neighbor Sweden applied for NATO membership
following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland is now the 31st NATO member.
Finland-Russia Ties
During the Cold War, Finland took care not to undertake any action that could antagonize
its bigger neighbor, the Soviet Union. After the Winter War of 1939-40, when the Soviets
invaded Finland to keep Leningrad safe during World War II, Finland’s small and poorly
equipped army gave a tough fight, inflicting damage on both the Soviet army and its
reputation. The war concluded with the Moscow Peace Treaty. This treaty forced Finland
to cede territories to the USSR. After the World War ended, the Finns stayed away from
Western military alliances and respected the Soviet Union’s security interests.
Despite years of peace, Finland ensured preparedness for the possibility of invasion. The
country has compulsory military service, imparts regular disaster training, and spends 2%
of GDP on defense, the target figure demanded by NATO that even member countries like
Germany have not reached.
Significance of Finland Joining NATO
For Finland, joining NATO brings better security, but the country is losing out on
significant trade and tourist revenue it was making from Russia and its position as the
West’s gateway to the East. Russia has criticized Finland’s move and said it would fray
relations with Moscow, undo its status as a confidence-building presence in the Baltic Sea
and Europe, and raise the risk of the Ukraine conflict escalating further.
For NATO, Finland’s membership provides additional military strength doubles its border
with the country, brings it in a better position to station weapons, including missile
launchpads, closer to Russia.
For Russia, Finland’s membership brought NATO closer to its doors, the very thing it most
strenuously opposes, and the prevention of which it had cited as one of the reasons to
invade Ukraine. Russia has said it will now strengthen its military capacity in its west and
northwest.
Australia’s Gender Pay Gap Law
Australia has recently passed a new law aimed at addressing the gender pay gap in the
country. The law requires companies with over 100 employees to reveal their gender pay
gaps, a move towards transparency that is expected to make businesses accountable for
their actions. The new law, which takes effect early next year, will require the Workplace
Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) to publicly publish details of companies’ gender pay gaps.
The Need for Transparency
Until now, companies were required to report income inequality to the WGEA, which
publishes the information by industry. However, the agency did not have the power to
publicly publish details of company. The new federal laws mandate the agency to release
data for private businesses from early 2024 and for Commonwealth public sector
employees from 2025. This move towards transparency is expected to help jobseekers get
a clearer indication of a prospective employer’s commitment to ensuring the
contributions of all employees are equally valued and rewarded.
The Impact of the Gender Pay Gap
The gender pay gap in Australia has been a significant issue for years, with women
earning 87 cents on average for every dollar men earn. According to the official figures, in
2023, the gender pay gap in the country was 13.3%. The average weekly ordinary full-time
earnings across all industries and occupations were AUD 1,653.60, which was AUD 253.50
less than the average of male counterparts. The gap was wider in the private sector,
where women earned even less than in the public sector.
The Importance of the New Law
The new legislation is an important step towards improving the economic security of
women in Australia. The country’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins has
stated that the change will play an important role in encouraging business, industry, and
government to be more active in their efforts to reduce the gender pay gap. The law seeks
to promote workplace equality in Australia, where the pay gap between men and women
is higher than the OECD average of 11.9%.
Other Measures to Address the Gender Pay Gap
The Australian government has also passed a law to increase paid parental leave from 18
to 26 weeks, shared between both parents. These measures are aimed at furthering
workplace equality in the country. It is important to note that closing the gender pay gap
is not only a matter of fairness but also a matter of economic benefit. Gender equality in
the workplace has been linked to increased productivity and profitability.
Women Officers in Regiment of Artillery
In a historic move, the Indian Army is set to commission its first lot of women officers in
the artillery regiments later this month. The Officers’ Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai
will see these women officers pass out after receiving training to handle howitzers and
rocket systems. This development comes after women officers have been serving in the
Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy for several years.
Training and Commissioning of Women Officers
The women officers who pass out of OTA this month will be commissioned into units like
air defence, signals, engineers, aviation, ASC, and ordnance. Several of them are expected
to be inducted into the Regiment of Artillery for the first time. However, they will first
serve in the units they are assigned to and then undergo artillery-specific courses, which
will begin with gunnery training on the 105mm Indian field guns.
Women in Combat Arms
The Indian Army still does not allow women officers to join the main combat arms.
However, artillery is designated as a ‘combat-support arm’, and it is deployed along the
unresolved volatile borders with both China and Pakistan. The Regiment of Artillery has
over 280 units that handle a variety of howitzers, guns, and multiple-launch rocket
systems. The induction of women officers in this unit is a significant step towards gender
equality in the Indian Army.
Range of Guns in Artillery Regiments
The artillery regiments have a wide range of guns, from the 105mm field guns to the new
M-777 ultra-light howitzers and K-9 Vajra self-propelled tracked guns. The indigenous
Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems, as well as similar Russian-origin Smerch and Grad
units, are also part of the artillery. The Bofors howitzers, which are a type of gun used in
the artillery regiments, have historical significance.
Significance of Dhanush and Sharang Guns
In addition to the Bofors howitzers, the artillery regiments also have Dhanush and
Sharang guns. The Dhanush gun is a modified version of the Bofors howitzer, and it has
been designed and manufactured in India. The Sharang gun, on the other hand, is an
upgraded version of the 130mm M-46 field gun.
World Energy Transitions: Outlook 2023

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released its World Energy
Transitions: Outlook 2023 report, highlighting the need for a more aggressive approach to
transition towards renewable energy sources. The report outlines the current state of
renewable energy generation and provides insights into the challenges that need to be
overcome to achieve the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.
Renewable Energy Generation: The Current State
Renewable energy has come a long way in recent years, and the report reveals that 40% of
installed power generation globally comes from renewable sources. In 2022, renewables
accounted for 83% of global power additions, indicating the growing trend towards
cleaner energy. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve the target set by
the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The Challenges Facing the Energy Transition
The report identifies two significant events that have compounded the challenges facing
the energy transition: the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis. Both of these events
have slowed down progress towards achieving renewable energy targets. Additionally, the
report highlights that Africa accounted for only 1% of additional renewable energy
capacity in 2022, indicating the need for more investment in the region.
The Targets for the Energy Transition
To keep the 1.5°C target alive, the report outlines that over 10,000 GW of renewable
energy deployment must be achieved by 2030. Additionally, the report suggests that
yearly investments of over $5 trillion are needed to stay on the 1.5°C pathway. To achieve
this, the report highlights that 80% of planned investment by 2030 must go towards
transition technologies, and USD 1 trillion of planned annual fossil fuel investment must
be redirected towards transition technologies and infrastructure.
Priority Pillars of the Energy Transition
The report outlines three priority pillars of the energy transition: physical infrastructure,
policy and regulatory enablers, and a well-skilled workforce. All three pillars are crucial for
driving the transition towards renewable energy sources. The report highlights that
investing in these pillars will lead to economic growth, job creation, and a reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions.
The Emissions Gap in 2050
The report reveals that if current pledges and plans are implemented, there will still be an
emissions gap of 16 gigatonnes (Gt) in 2050. This indicates that more action needs to be
taken to achieve the targets set by the Paris Agreement.
Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions
The report suggests that fully implementing nationally determined contributions (NDCs),
long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-LEDs), and net-zero
targets can help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 6% by 2030.
Al-Aqsa Mosque: Significance and Contentions
Recently, a raid by Israeli police on Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque sparked an intense
reaction from Palestinians across the occupied West Bank and the wider Arab and Muslim
world. The incident underscores the sensitivity and significance of the Al-Aqsa mosque, a
flashpoint for deadly violence over matters of sovereignty and religion in Jerusalem.
Location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque
The Al-Aqsa mosque sits at the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City on a hill that is named by Jews
as Har ha-Bayit, or Temple Mount, and by Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, or The Noble
Sanctuary. The site is a compound that overlooks the Western Wall, a sacred place of
prayer for Jews.
Significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims
Al-Aqsa mosque is considered by Muslims as the third holiest site in Islam, after Mecca
and Medina. The compound of Al-Aqsa mosque hosts two Muslim holy places: the Dome
of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Qibli Mosque, which was built in
the 8th century AD. The compound holds great religious significance for Muslims, and any
perceived threats or encroachments on it trigger strong reactions from the Muslim world.
Importance of Temple Mount for Jews
The Temple Mount is the most sacred site for Jews, who believe that biblical King Solomon
built the first temple there 3,000 years ago. The second temple was destroyed by the
Romans in AD 70. However, the Temple Mount is also a contested site, with both Jews and
Muslims laying claim to it.
Capture of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israel
Al-Aqsa mosque site, along with the rest of East Jerusalem and adjoining parts of the West
Bank came under the control of Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. This annexation has
been a significant point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians
viewing it as a violation of their sovereignty and aspirations for statehood.
The “Status Quo” Arrangement
Under the “status quo” arrangement governing the area surrounding the Al-Aqsa
mosque, which Israel claims to maintain, non-Muslims can visit but only Muslims are
allowed to worship in the mosque compound. However, Jewish visitors have increasingly
prayed at the site in defiance of the rules, leading to protests and outbreaks of violence.
Jordan’s Custodianship of the Al-Aqsa Compound
Currently, Jordan, whose ruling Hashemite family has custodianship of the Muslim and
Christian sites, appoints members of the Waqf institution to oversee the Al-Aqsa
compound. Jordan’s custodianship provides some level of protection for the site and has
helped to maintain the status quo arrangement.
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has raised concerns over Ukraine’s
security and stability. The United States has pledged significant military aid to Ukraine to
help them defend themselves against Russian aggression. One such initiative is the
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a funding program aimed at increasing
Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself. The US recently approved $2.6 billion military
assistance for Ukraine. Major portion of this funding is for the USAI and the rest is for
existing US stocks.
Leadership and Purpose of USAI Program
The USAI program is led by the U.S. Department of Defense and is designed to provide
training, equipment, and advisory initiatives to Ukraine’s armed forces. The primary
purpose of the program is to counter Russian aggression and support Ukraine’s
sovereignty.
Total Amount and Components of Military Aid Package
The new military aid package for Ukraine is $2.6 billion, and it includes ammunition, rocket
systems, small arms, equipment, and logistics support. The USAI package is worth $2.1
billion and includes additional munitions for air defenses, precision aerial munitions,
Soviet-era GRAD rockets, anti-tank rockets, armored bridging systems, and fuel trailers.
Previous and Total Pledges of Security Assistance

The US had previously promised ammunition and anti-tank missiles for Bradley Infantry
Fighting Vehicles. Since February 24, 2022, the US has pledged $35.2 billion in security
assistance to Ukraine.
Requested Equipment and Equipment Received from Germany and Portugal
Kyiv has requested Patriot air defense systems and advanced heavy tanks from other
countries, but they haven’t received the support they needed. Recently, Ukraine received
Leopard 2 battle tanks from Germany and Portugal.
“Infertility Prevalence Estimates, 1990–2021” Report
Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system that is defined by the
failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual
intercourse. It affects millions of people globally, and the World Health Organization
(WHO) estimates that the prevalence rate of infertility among the global adult population
is 17.5%. However, this is likely an underestimation, as many people do not seek fertility
care or may not be aware of their infertility status.
Recently, the WHO published the report on Infertility Prevalence Estimates, 1990-2021. The
report’s purpose is to provide estimates of the global and regional prevalence of infertility
by analyzing all relevant and representative studies from 1990 to 2021. This report is
significant because understanding the magnitude of infertility is essential for developing
appropriate interventions, monitoring access to quality fertility care, and mitigating risk
factors for and consequences of infertility.
Impact on Healthcare Costs
Infertility treatment can be expensive, and millions of people face catastrophic healthcare
costs after seeking treatment for infertility. Patients often find themselves priced out, and
many have no choice but to cover the costs out of pocket. This can have devastating
consequences, as patients fall into a “medical poverty trap.”
Link to Intimate Partner Violence
Infertility is also associated with an increased risk of intimate partner violence. Women
who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term may experience physical and
emotional abuse from their partners, which can have long-lasting effects on their physical
and mental health.

Fertility Care’s Role
Fertility care is a main part of sexual and reproductive health. It plays a major role in
addressing gender inequality. However, many people in low- and middle-income countries
do not have access to quality fertility care. Patients in the poorest countries spend a
greater proportion of their income on fertility care compared to those in wealthier
countries, highlighting the urgent need to expand access to prevention, diagnosis, and
treatments.
Food Conclave 2023
On April 28 and 29, the Telangana government will host the Food Conclave-2023. The
event is an annual brainstorming session that brings together 100 thought leaders from
the agri-food industry. The conclave’s objective is to identify the main challenges and
opportunities for the growth of the Indian agri-food sector in the present decade.
Five Thematic Tracks
The event will have five thematic tracks that cover different aspects of the agri-food
sector. Agriculture (green), edible oil (yellow), dairy (white), meat and poultry (pink), and
aquaculture (blue) will be the main focus areas. The tracks are designed to provide a
platform for participants to share their knowledge and ideas on how to address the
challenges facing the industry.
Collaborations with Organizations
The Telangana government is collaborating with several organizations to conduct the
sessions. These include the World Economic Forum-India, Indian Vegetable Oil Producers
Association (IVPA), Indian Dairy Association, Heifer International, and Society of
Aquaculture Professionals. Through these collaborations, the government hopes to bring
in different perspectives on how to tackle the challenges facing the agri-food sector.
27 Panel Discussions and More Than 40 One-on-One Meetings
The event will feature 27 panel discussions, 5 roundtables, and more than 40 one-on-one
meetings between government and industry leaders. The sessions are designed to
encourage participants to exchange ideas and develop solutions that can drive growth in
the agri-food sector. The government hopes that the conclave will provide a platform for
stakeholders to collaborate and chart out a clear path to capitalize on the opportunities
presented by the current global situation.
Unveiling the Conference Brochure
Telangana Industries and IT Minister KT Rama Rao unveiled the conference brochure
recently. He highlighted the state’s progress in agriculture production and emphasized
the need for a coordinated and calculated effort to capitalize on the opportunities
presented by the current global situation. He called for the collaboration of the key
stakeholders and pointed out the importance of charting a clear path to cash in on the
opportunity. Through the conclave, the government hopes to create such a platform.
Augmenting Agriculture Production
The Telangana government has taken several steps to augment agriculture production.
One of the major initiatives was to augment irrigation facilities, which has led to increased
productivity. Additionally, the government has launched several schemes aimed at
providing support to farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.
Opportunities and Challenges
The current global situation presents a unique set of challenges and potential
opportunities for the agri-food sector. With the right initiatives and collaborations, the
sector can drive growth and contribute to the country’s economic development. However,
this will require a coordinated and calculated effort by all stakeholders.
What is Lean Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic medical condition in which the body is unable to regulate blood
sugar levels. In India, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes account for 61% of
deaths. In Chhattisgarh, cases of lean diabetes is seen among tribal communities. Lean
diabetes is a type of diabetes that affects individuals who have a low BMI and are often
impoverished and malnourished.
Symptoms and Consequences
Diabetes, regardless of phenotype, can have severe long-term consequences. Patients
with diabetes are at an increased risk of retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, foot
infections, and cardiovascular diseases. Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage
that is associated with diabetes. Patients may experience a tingling sensation and pain in
their feet, which can progress to complete loss of sensation and severe foot infections.
Treatment
The treatment for diabetes involves regular monitoring of blood sugar levels, a healthy
diet, exercise, and medication. However, patients with lean diabetes may require a
different approach due to their lower BMI and malnourished state.
Difference between Type 2 and Lean Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, abnormal glucose output from the
liver, and a lack of profound deficiency of insulin. In contrast, lean diabetes does not have
any of these characteristics. The underlying mechanisms of lean diabetes are not well
understood, but it is believed that a combination of genetic and environmental factors
may play a role.
New Jumping Spider Species
In early 2022, a research team was located in Meghalaya, a state in Northeast India, for
over three months. The team, consisting of scientists and researchers, embarked on a
mission to discover new species of spiders. The team’s hard work paid off, and they
discovered several new species of jumping spiders.
The Discovery of New Jumping Spider Species
The research team discovered three previously undiscovered species of jumping spiders in
Meghalaya. The species were found in the districts of South Garo Hills and South West
Khasi Hills. The team identified the species and published their findings in the scientific
journal, PECKHAMIA. One of the discovered species, Habrocestum togansangmai, was
named after Togan Nengminza Sangma, a Garo freedom fighter. Another species,
Habrocestum emanasakgrensis, was named after the village in which it was discovered.
The team also discovered a new genus of jumping spider, Habrocestum, which was
named after its discovery in Meghalaya. Habrocestum imilchang was found below the
Imilchang waterfall in South Garo Hills.
The Researchers and Their Contributions
The research team consisted of several scientists and researchers, each of whom made
significant contributions to the discovery of new spider species. Rishikesh Tripathi, who is
pursuing his PhD on Thar Desert spiders, was part of the research team. Gautam Kadam,
an independent researcher on spiders of Northeast India and Western Ghats, also joined
the team. Professor Ambalaparambil V. Sudhikumar was another member of the research
team who contributed to the discovery.
The research team also discovered a new genus of Selenopid spider, which was named
after Garo Hills. The team published their findings in the international journal, Zootaxa.
World Health Day - Update (April, 2023)
World Health Day is celebrated globally on April 7 every year to raise awareness about
physical, mental, and social wellness. It is an initiative of the World Health Organization
(WHO) to promote health and well-being for all individuals. The day aims to raise
awareness about health issues, encouraging conversations and discussions about ways to
maintain good health, and advocating actions on a global scale. This year, it marks the
75th anniversary of the World Health Organization, which was established in 1948.
Themes for World Health Day
Each year, WHO picks a specific theme relevant to the wellness and medical field. The
theme for World Health Day 2023 is ‘Health For All”. The theme highlights the public
health successes of the WHO that played a role in improving the quality of life of the past
seven decades. It also calls on the world to address the present and future health-related
challenges.
Importance of World Health Day
World Health Day is an important day to reflect on your own health and take steps
towards improving it. By choosing a different theme each year, it ensures that everyone is
aware of the current pressing health issue. The day also helps reduce the stigma
associated with illness, leading to more people seeking support and treatment.
National Maritime Day - Update (April, 2023)
National Maritime Day is celebrated every year in India on April 5th. This year marks the
60th edition of the day. The purpose of this day is to spread awareness about international
trade and the economy. It is a day to honour and recognise the efforts of those who work
in the Indian maritime sector. In this article, we will delve deeper into the history,
celebrations and significance of National Maritime Day in India.
History of National Maritime Day
The inaugural edition of the National Maritime Day was celebrated on April 5, 1964. It was
an opportunity to inform and educate people about intercontinental commerce and the
economy worldwide. The day is observed to commemorate the maiden voyage of SS
Loyalty, the first ship of The Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd, to the United
Kingdom. This event was a significant moment in India’s shipping history as sea routes
were previously controlled by the British.
Celebrations and Awards
On the occasion of the National Maritime Day, the NMD Award of Excellence is conferred
to recognize individuals for their lifetime distinguished and exceptional achievements in
the Indian maritime sector at a senior level. The Varuna Award, which consists of a statue
of Lord Varuna and a citation, is also presented to those who have made an outstanding
contribution to the Indian maritime sector. Additionally, the Outstanding Contribution to
Maritime Education and Training award is also bestowed to honour distinguished
individuals for their sustained contribution to Maritime Education and Training.
Themes of National Maritime Day

Each year, National Maritime Day is celebrated on a different theme. This year’s theme is
‘Amrit Kaal in Shipping’, which focuses on giving thanks to the men who spend countless
months at sea, conducting the majority of India’s trade and commerce on a global scale.
In 2019, the theme was “Indian Ocean-An Ocean of opportunity,” which highlighted the
importance of the Indian Ocean for the global economy.
Importance of Protecting Our Marine Zone
National Maritime Day highlights the necessity of protecting, safeguarding, and defending
our marine zone. Maritime shipping is the most efficient, secure, and ecologically
responsible method of moving commodities around the globe. Therefore, protecting our
marine zone is not only important for India’s economy but also for the international
economy.
International Maritime Organisation
The United Kingdom has nominated the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for
maritime protection and to prevent pollution from ships. India became an associate of this
agency in 1959. The IMO convenes maritime conferences and drafts worldwide maritime
conventions on a standard basis. The organization plays an essential role in ensuring the
safety and security of shipping and preventing pollution from ships.
Himachal Pradesh Sukh Ashraya (Care, Protection and Self Reliance of Children) Bill, 2023
The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sing Sukhu recently announced the
launch of the Sukh-Ashraya Yojana, a scheme that aims to provide better life and
education opportunities to orphans and destitute children in the state. This initiative
addresses a long-neglected issue of caring for children who are deprived and needy. The
state government has initiated the scheme, which has now been given a legal shape
during the budget session via the Himachal Pradesh Sukh-Ashraya (Care, Protection and
Self-Reliance of Children) Bill, 2023.
Sukh-Ashraya Yojana’s Objective
The main objective of the Sukh-Ashraya Yojana is to provide proper care, protection,
development, and self-reliance to orphans, semi-orphans, and specially-abled children in
need. The scheme is designed to help these children reintegrate into the mainstream of
society and not be dependent on the mercy of society.

Children of the State
The Himachal Pradesh Sukh-Ashraya (Care, Protection and Self-Reliance of Children) Bill,
2023, makes the destitute children the responsibility of the state government. 6,000
destitute children of the state have been adopted as “Children of the State.” These
children would now be supported by the government to become self-reliant. The state
government will take steps to nurture these children as guardians and help them
reintegrate into the mainstream of society.
Provisions of the Sukh-Ashraya Bill
The Sukh-Ashraya Bill will provide clothing allowance and festival allowance to the children
living in the Child Care and After Care Institutions. Also, the state government will open
and contribute to recurring deposit accounts for these children. These children would be
given the opportunity for yearly exposure visits within and outside the state.
The state government will be providing shelter, food, clothing, etc. till the age of 27 years
along with higher education, vocational training, skill development, and coaching facilities.
Apart from stipends to meet their personal expenses, the government will also provide
them with financial assistance to establish their own start-ups. The bill also has a provision
for three Biswas land allotments and housing grants to landless orphans.
India Justice Report 2022
The Tata Trusts recently released the India Justice Report 2022, which ranks the police
forces of states across India. The report provides insights into the current state of the
country’s law enforcement agencies, highlighting strengths and weaknesses across
various parameters.
Vacancies in Police Forces
As of January 2022, the report found that there were 22.1% overall vacancies in police
forces across the country. This statistic is concerning, as it leaves police departments
severely understaffed and ill-equipped to handle the growing demands of law
enforcement.
Performance of Large and Mid-Size States
Among large and mid-size states, West Bengal had the worst performance in terms of
constable vacancies. The state’s police force is grappling with a shortage of personnel,
with a vacancy rate of 57.6% in constable positions. On the other hand, Bihar had the
highest percentage of police officer vacancies, standing at a staggering 76.6%.
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes
One of the key findings of the report is that Karnataka is the only state that met its
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other backward classes quotas. This
achievement highlights the progress made by the state in promoting diversity in its police
force.
Haryana was the best performer in terms of SC police officers against its reservation
quota among large and mid-sized states. However, Uttar Pradesh was the worst
performer in terms of the percentage of actual SC police officers to its reservation quota.
SC Constables and Quota
In terms of SC constables against its quota, Karnataka had the highest percentage among
large and mid-sized states. Haryana was the worst performer in this category, failing to
meet its quota for SC constables.
Performance of Small States
Among small states, Goa was the best performer for the percentage of SC officers in its
police force. Sikkim was the best performer for the percentage of SC constables in its
police force.
ST Constables
Bihar outperformed all other states by fulfilling its quota for ST constables by 278%. This
achievement showcases the state’s commitment to promoting diversity in its police force.
Women in Police
Andhra Pradesh had the highest share of women in police among large and medium
states. The state’s police force has been proactive in recruiting women personnel,
enabling it to build a more inclusive and diverse team.
National Medical Council’s Guidelines on Professional Responsibilities of Students and Teachers
The National Medical Council (NMC) is an apex body responsible for regulating medical
education and professionals in India. Recently, the NMC issued a set of guidelines for
medical students, teachers, and institutions, outlining their professional responsibilities.
25-page document explains code of conduct
The 25-page document explains the code of conduct for teachers and students, covering
topics such as the relationship between teachers and students, personal attributes and
conduct, and collective responsibility towards the community. The guidelines emphasize
that sexual orientation, gender, and socio-economic class should not be the basis for any
discrimination.
Guidelines aim to instill responsibility
The guidelines seek to make students understand the grave responsibilities of their
chosen profession. The guidelines for teachers, on the other hand, aim to remind them of
their professional role in the life of a student and the nation.
Dr. Yogender Malik, a member of the Ethics and Medical Registration Board of the NMC,
said that the guidelines are expected to serve as a guide for medical colleges across India.
He advised medical education units in medical colleges to use these guidelines to train
teachers and to offer them the right atmosphere to work. The guidelines are not intended
for punitive actions but to instill a sense of responsibility in medical students.
Responsibilities of medical students
Among the various listed responsibilities of medical students, the NMC emphasizes that
they should be diligent about their study and research work, be responsible for their
personal growth, and stay away from substance abuse. They should dress modestly and
approach appropriate authorities for grievance redressal. Students’ interactions with
colleagues must be free from discrimination. They should strive towards ensuring an
ethical doctor-patient relationship and the maintenance public trust in the health system.
The guidelines also warn students about the possible professional hazards associated with
the indiscriminate use of social media.
Guidelines for teachers
The guidelines for teachers state that education is a moral enterprise. The teachers are
required to ensure that students are competent, caring, empathetic, and ethical in their
practice. They are also expected to be role models and should follow boundaries with their
students, even during interactions on social media.
Guidelines for medical institutions
Medical institutions have been told not to give false information during inspections and
accreditation processes, pressurize teachers to give false information, and apply pressure
on teachers to show preference to individual candidates.
April 10, 2023

“Stacking up the Benefits Lessons from India's Digital Journey” Report
India’s development of a “world-class digital public infrastructure” has been lauded by the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a working paper titled ‘Stacking up the Benefits
Lessons from India’s Digital Journey.’ The paper credits India’s building block approach
and focus on supporting innovation for the success of its digital public infrastructure
(DPI).
Building Block Approach to DPI
India’s approach to building its digital public infrastructure involves identifying a minimal
common core to solve a set of problems. The building block approach provides basic tools
for creating tailored solutions. For a diverse country like India, this approach allows each
building block to address multiple problems.
Interoperability and Vibrant Ecosystem
Interoperability between different DPIs and a competition-focused design support a
vibrant ecosystem. The interoperability is supported via open standards, enabling
everyone to use India Stack’s functionality. This fosters innovation and provides the
opportunity to tailor solutions to the local context. The design of India Stack encourages
competition and removes silos, sidestepping existing bottlenecks and incumbent
interests.
CoWIN: A Successful Example
India’s principles are implemented in DPIs in education and health industries. On such
example is the COVID-19 vaccine distribution platform, CoWIN. India successfully scaled its
vaccine delivery and addressed large-scale internal migration with the help of the digital
backbone. CoWIN’s technology was also used in countries like Indonesia, the Philippines,
Sri Lanka, and Jamaica to implement their vaccination programs.
Importance of Information Technology
India’s recognition of the importance of Information Technology (IT) in developing the
identity layer is also highlighted. Before the Aadhaar card, India had various identity cards
and databases, but none had universal coverage or the ability to handle a billion-plus
citizens. The government appointed a successful IT entrepreneur as its founding chairman
and enabled UIDAI to hire more relevant talent for the task. India’s success in this area
highlights the importance of recognizing the role of IT in building digital infrastructure.
Transforming Lives
Luis E Breuer, IMF Senior Resident Representative to India, praised India’s digital public
infrastructure in a tweet, stating that it is transforming people’s lives. The paper concludes
that India’s journey offers lessons for other nations undergoing digital transformation.
The building block approach fosters innovation, allowing each building block to address
multiple problems.
Ladakh's Wood Carving
The recent granting of a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Ladakh’s wood carving has
brought a significant boost to the region’s cultural traditions and local economy. The GI
tag has been given by the GI Registry in Chennai, which is responsible for registering
products under the GI Act, 1999.
Promotion of Cultural Traditions and Benefitting Artisans
The GI tag is a type of intellectual property right that identifies a product as originating
from a specific geographical location, and possessing certain qualities, characteristics, or
reputation that are due to that location. Ladakh’s wood carving is famed for its complex
designs and distinctive patterns, which are mostly inspired by Buddhist themes and
motifs. The wood carvings are made from local wood such as willow and apricot and are
often used for decorating doors, windows, and other household items.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed happiness about the recent granting of a GI tag
for Ladakh’s wood carving, stating that the move will popularize Ladakh’s cultural
traditions and benefit artisans. Member of Parliament in Lok Sabha from Ladakh, Jamyang
Tsering Namgyal, also tweeted about the granting of the GI tag.
Unique Identity and Origin of a Product
The GI registration ensures that the product has a unique identity and origin, and it
cannot be duplicated or sold under the same name by any other manufacturer from a
different region. This protection ensures that consumers get genuine and authentic
products. The GI tag is granted based on the provisions of the Geographical Indications of
Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, by the Geographical Indication Registry
under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade.
Boosting the Local Economy
The recognition of Ladakh’s wood carving as a GI product is likely to boost the local
economy by promoting tourism and creating employment opportunities for artisans.
Tourists are drawn to authentic and unique products that are not available elsewhere, and
the GI tag ensures that Ladakh’s wood carving fits that bill. With the recognition, artisans
will be able to charge a premium price for their products, which will help in improving
their livelihoods.
Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Skills
The recognition of Ladakh’s wood carving as a GI product will also protect the traditional
knowledge and skills of wood carving, ensuring that it is passed down to future
generations. The GI tag is an important step in preserving the cultural heritage of a region
and ensuring that it continues to thrive and flourish in the future.
Raccoon Stealer
In a recent cyberattack, eight Central government entities, including central paramilitary
forces and the Income Tax department, were targeted by the Raccoon Stealer malware.
The attack was brought to the attention of the affected agencies by the National Technical
Research Organisation (NTRO), a specialized intelligence agency under the National
Security Advisor.
What is Raccoon Stealer?
Raccoon Stealer is an information stealing malware that is usually delivered through
email. It retrieves sensitive data from infected machines and is available as Malware-as-a-
service (MaaS). This means that anyone can buy this malware and use it for malicious
purposes.
Attack on Central Government Entities
The NTRO wrote to the affected agencies on March 24 to inform them of the attack.
According to the intelligence agency, recent analysis revealed that a malicious campaign
was launched “by an unknown threat actor using Raccoon malware” to target computer
systems of the Central Board of Direct Taxes of the Income Tax department, the pay and
accounts department of the Central Public Works Department, the office of the IG of CRPF,
the DG of the NSG, the assistant director (admin) of the Sashastra Seema Bal, the Centre
for Social Tech of NCERT, a joint director of the National Institute of Disaster Management,
and a call center of the Sports Authority of India at JLN Stadium.
Impact on Government Agencies
The attack on these government agencies has raised concerns about the security of
sensitive data. The Raccoon Stealer malware can retrieve sensitive data, such as personal
information, financial data, and login credentials. The attack has also highlighted the need
for better cybersecurity measures in government agencies.
UN Statistical Commission
India’s recent election to the UN Statistical Commission is a testament to its expertise in
the field of statistics, diversity and demography. The UN Statistical Commission is the
highest decision-making body for international statistical activities and is responsible for
setting statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods.
India’s Election to the UN Statistical Commission
India was last a member of the Statistical Commission in 2004. It has been elected again
for a four-year term beginning on January 1, 2024. India secured an overwhelming 46 out
of 53 votes in the secret ballot in the UN Statistical Commission election. The country that
won other seat in the Asia Pacific States category is South Korea.
Other UN Bodies India Has Been Elected to
India has also been elected to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, along with 21 other
countries, including Argentina, China, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. Additionally, it has
been elected to the Committee for Programme and Coordination, which helps in the
coordination and integration of the work of the UN in economic and social fields. India will
serve a four-year term beginning on January 1, 2024, along with other elected countries
such as Brazil, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and the United States.
India and Cambodia have also been elected to the Programme Coordinating Board of the
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for the Asia-Pacific States. This
board guides the work of UNAIDS in the region and helps in the development of strategies
to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
India’s Expertise in the Field of Statistics
According to the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, India’s expertise in the field of
statistics, diversity and demography has earned it a seat on the UN Statistical Commission.
This expertise is evident in the fact that India has developed its own statistical system,
which is comparable to international standards. India has also developed methods to

estimate poverty, measures of labor force participation, and consumer expenditure.
Philosophy That Guides India’s Contributions to UN Organs
The philosophy that guides India’s contributions to these UN organs is ‘Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam’ or ‘The World is One Family.’ This philosophy emphasizes the
interconnectedness of all humanity and encourages the building of relationships based on
understanding and mutual respect.
Places of Worship Act, 1991
The Places of Worship Act, 1991, is an important legislation in India that seeks to protect
the character of religious places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947. The law
prohibits any suit or proceeding against the encroachment of any religious properties
before this date, and any such pending proceeding stands abated. The Act also requires
that any proceeding filed on the grounds that conversion of religious place has taken
place after August 15, 1947, and before September 18, 1991, shall be disposed of to
maintain the status as existed on August 15, 1947.
The purpose of the Act
The Places of Worship Act is a crucial piece of legislation that seeks to maintain communal
harmony in India. It ensures that religious places of worship are not converted or
encroached upon, and their character is preserved for generations to come. The Act is
particularly important in a diverse country like India, where communal tensions can often
lead to violent clashes.
The current status of the Act
Recently, a clutch of petitions challenging the Places of Worship Act was filed before the
Supreme Court of India. However, the Centre is yet to file its response in the matter. The
Supreme Court, in its order, has posted the matter for hearing before a three-judge Bench
in July 2023. The Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, and Justice J B Pardiwala will hear
the matter.
Previous developments in the case
The matter related to the Places of Worship Act was last heard by the Supreme Court on
January 9, 2023. The Centre was given time till February 2, 2023, to file its response.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the Bench that the government “may” file a reply
before the hearing. However, the Centre had not yet submitted its reply despite seeking
an extension of time. The parties of this case requested the Bench to schedule the matter
for regular hearing. The three-judge Bench will hear the matter in July 2023.
Operation Cookie Monster and Genesis Market
The FBI and the Justice Department recently led a massive operation to combat illicit state-
backed cybercrime. Dubbed “Operation Cookie Monster,” the effort involved an
international consortium of law enforcement authorities and resulted in the seizure of
Genesis Market, a Russia-linked marketplace that sold tens of millions of hacked accounts
to cybercriminals around the world. The effort also included 400 law enforcement
operations and 208 searches across more than a dozen countries.
Genesis Market: A sophisticated, globe-spanning infrastructure

Genesis Market was one of the two largest venues for the purchase and sale of hacked
accounts. It had a sophisticated, globe-spanning infrastructure that compromised some 1
million devices. The market profited out of malware-infected computer systems by
compiling stolen private data, like email addresses, mobile device identifiers, usernames,
and passwords. It also sold unauthorized access to computer systems. According to
estimates of the Treasury, the cost of the illegal activities of the Genesis Market is around
tens of millions of dollars.
The largest operation of its kind
The takedown of Genesis Market is the largest ever operation of its kind. The FBI’s
commitment to disrupting and dismantling key services used by cybercriminals to
facilitate cybercrime is demonstrated by the success of Operation Cookie Monster. The
effort targeted both the operators of the service and its users.
International cooperation is crucial
Records show that Genesis domain names were linked to nameservers in Russia and
China, two nations that have been named as loci for state-sponsored hacking. Treasury
said it believes Genesis to be located in Russia. Genesis’ user base was spread across
dozens of countries, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in the fight
against cybercrime.
Sanctions against Genesis Market
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions against
Genesis Market, along with the takedown of its domain names. The effort is a continuation
of the Justice Department’s work against crypto exchange Bitzlato earlier this year.
Bitzlato was described as an alleged haven for criminal activity with overt links to a
Russian dark web marketplace.
What are BH1 and Gaia BH2?
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery by finding the closest black hole to
Earth, located in our cosmic backyard. This discovery has opened up a new world of
possibilities for studying these enigmatic cosmic objects and understanding their role in
shaping the universe.
What is a black hole?
Black holes are formed when massive stars collapse under the force of their own gravity,
creating incredibly dense objects. They are so dense that their gravity is strong enough to
trap anything that comes too close, including light itself. Telescopes cannot detect them
directly since they can only capture the effects of black holes’ gravity on the neighboring
matter.
The discovery of BH1 and Gaia BH2
BH1 is the closest black hole ever detected till date. It is situated just 1,560 light-years
away from Earth in the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by a
team of astronomers using the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Gaia satellite, which is
designed to precisely measure the positions and movements of stars in the Milky Way
galaxy. In addition to BH1, Gaia also found the second closest black hole to Earth, Gaia
BH2, which is 3800 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus.
What makes the discovery significant?
The discovery of BH1 and Gaia BH2 is significant since it enables scientists to observe
black holes up close and in detail. By observing the effects of their gravity on nearby stars
and gas, astronomers can learn more about the properties and behavior of black holes.
This will improve the understanding of the black holes’ formation and their interactions
with nearby matters.
Role of Gaia satellite in detecting black holes
The Gaia satellite is playing a crucial role in the detection of black holes. It is designed to
precisely measure the positions and movements of stars in the Milky Way galaxy, which
helps scientists to identify any changes caused by the gravity of nearby black holes. By
detecting these changes, scientists can locate and study black holes in greater detail.
The promise of advanced telescopes and satellites in black hole research
The discovery of BH1 and Gaia BH2 marks the start of a new era of black hole research.
With the help of advanced telescopes and satellites, astronomers are poised to unlock the
secrets of these mysterious objects and gain new insights into the workings of the
universe. Scientists hope to learn more about the role of black holes in galaxy formation,
the behavior of matter under extreme conditions, and the nature of spacetime.
Government Trends Report
The world has seen a significant change in the way governments deliver solutions to the
common citizen in a post-COVID world. The Deloitte Center for Government Insights’
report titled ‘Government Trends’ highlights the nine trends that are reshaping this
landscape. The report goes into great depth on the paradigm shifts driving these changes.
Dissolving Boundaries: The Unifying Theme
The COVID-19 pandemic was the major catalyst in boosting collaboration between
governments and agencies across various sectors. The unifying theme of the 2023
Government Trends report is ‘dissolving boundaries.’ The pandemic flipped orthodoxies
on where and how we work, and these trends have continued. Governments are working
actively to eliminate obstacles in key areas such as data-sharing, tackling funding crises,
tailoring public services by pooling resources, and using innovative back-office operations.
Cross-Cutting Trends
Out of the nine trends, five are cross-cutting. Governments are aiming to tailor public
services to the needs of citizens by pooling resources and using innovative back-office
operations. The report states that there has been an attempt to get rid of bureaucracy,
which often hampers the hiring of the talented workforce in governmental departments.
Future-Ready Workforce
Flexible models like internal talent marketplaces, gig work, and on-demand talent are
embraced to achieve a future-ready workforce. Traditional public talent models are being
replaced by leaders to attract and retain talent and ensure that public services are
delivered efficiently.
Shared Funding and Collaboration

Governments come under criticism for being opaque with the funding of projects.
However, post-pandemic, there has been a decisive change. Currently, more and more
governments are shifting towards shared funding to incentivize collaboration between
agencies. This approach promotes transparency, collaboration, and accountability.
Domain-Focused Trends
The remaining four trends have been encapsulated under domain-focused trends.
Governments are actively working towards restructuring complex, multilayered healthcare
systems to deliver integrated patient-centered whole health. The aim of regulation that
enables innovation is to encourage innovation. End-to-end justice ensures security by the
network.
Japan’s Overseas Security Assistance (OSA) Programme
On April 5, 2023, Japan announced its decision to provide financial support to help nations
strengthen their defences. This announcement marked a radical departure from the
regulations that have been preventing the use of foreign aid for military objectives. The
Overseas Security Assistance (OSA) programme will be run independently from the
Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) programme, which finances civilian
infrastructure.
The Aim of the OSA Programme
According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, the OSA programme aims to
deepen security cooperation with countries and create a desirable security environment
for Japan. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that by enhancing their
security and deterrence capabilities, specific projects would likely include radio equipment
for maritime surveillance and satellite communication.
Initial Beneficiaries and Principles Regulating Arms Exports
The initial beneficiaries of the OSA programme may include the Philippines, Malaysia,
Bangladesh, or Fiji. The foreign ministry launched a bid to begin an OSA feasibility study in
order to increase the maritime security of these nations. As per the foreign ministry, aid
under the new arrangement would not be used to purchase deadly weapons that
recipients might use in disputes with other nations. The principles regulating arms
exports in Japan are the three principles, which Japan adheres to strictly.
No Assistance for Wealthy Nations
Since the assistance will be in the form of grants, only poor nations will be able to access
the OSA. It is expected to help countries that are in dire need of financial support for their
security.
Japan’s Defence Strategy and Export of Weapons
The decision to broaden the scope of international assistance to military-related projects
was made in response to Japan’s statement in December that it would double its defence
spending over the next five years to stave off China’s expanding military power. The
movement to loosen Japan’s ban on exporting weapons is gaining pace, and the ruling
coalition is hoping to begin working-level negotiations about easing the present
restrictions on weaponry exports in late April.

Expanding Relationships with Developing Nations
In an effort to compete with China, Japan has been expanding its relationships with
developing nations. As part of the efforts to strengthen relationship with South and
Southeast Asia, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a $75 billion investment across
the Indo-Pacific. This investment will help to create economic growth and improve
infrastructure in the region.
Order of White Eagle
Poland’s highest order, the Order of the White Eagle, has a rich history dating back to its
official institution on November 1, 1705, by Augustus II the Strong, King of Poland and
Elector of Saxony. Originally bestowed on only eight of his closest diplomatic and political
supporters, the order has become a symbol of prestige, honour, and service to the nation.
Over the centuries, the order has been awarded to the most distinguished Poles for their
merits and to the highest-ranking representatives of foreign countries.
The Order of the White Eagle is attached to a purple ribbon slung over the left shoulder to
the right side, and the star of the order, once embroidered, is worn on the left side of the
chest. The order has maintained its significance throughout the years, remaining one of
the oldest distinctions in the world still in use.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s Visit to Poland
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently visited Poland, a close ally that has
provided refuge to millions of Ukrainian citizens and has assisted the Kyiv government
with vital weaponry. As Ukraine prepares to conduct a counter-offensive to recapture its
land in the east and south from Russian control, Zelensky’s visit held great significance.
Poland and Ukraine share a border, and the former has played a critical role in persuading
other Western powers to supply the latter with battle tanks and other weaponry for its
offensive against Moscow.
Awarding of the “Order of White Eagle”
During his visit to Poland, President Zelensky was awarded the “Order of White Eagle”. In
Warsaw, Zelensky met with President Andrzej Duda, who honoured him with the order.
President Duda explained that “the Order of White Eagle which I have an honour today to
award to Mister President Zelensky is the oldest and the most precious Polish order.”
Poland’s Support for Ukraine
Following the meeting, the two leaders held a press conference where President Duda
confirmed Poland’s support for Ukraine. He announced that Poland would provide
assistance to Ukraine by giving its “whole remaining fleet of MiG-29s” if the need arises.
He further stated that Poland would be able to pass on its MiG-29s to Ukraine as they get
the new South Korean FA-50 fighter jets and US-made F-35 stealth jets that have been
ordered.
Poland’s willingness to provide military assistance to Ukraine highlights the strong bond
between the two nations. As Ukraine prepares for a counter-offensive to regain its
territory, Poland’s support is crucial. The Order of the White Eagle, one of the oldest
distinctions in the world, demonstrates Poland’s recognition of the importance of the

bond between the two countries.
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) is India’s largest nuclear power plant
located in Kudankulam, Tamil Nadu. The plant was built in collaboration with Russia’s
Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation and was constructed in two phases. The first
phase involved the construction of Units 1 and 2, which started generating power on
December 31, 2014. The second phase involves the construction of four additional
reactors, which are currently under construction. Recently, a pressuriser was delivered for
Reactor 5 of this power plant by AEM-Technologies Izhora, which is part of the machine-
building division of Rosatom – Atomenergomash.
The Pressuriser in Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project
The pressuriser is an important component of a nuclear power plant that is responsible
for creating and maintaining pressure and coolant volume in the reactor. In the
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, the pressuriser plays a crucial role in ensuring the
safety and efficiency of the plant. The pressuriser used in Kudankulam was manufactured
by the Italian company, Walter Tosto. It traveled 17,000 km via sea to reach the
Kudankulam site.
VVER: Water-Water Energy Reactor
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project uses the VVER (Water-Water Energy Reactor)
technology, which is a pressurized water reactor design developed in the former Soviet
Union. The VVER technology is one of the most widely used reactor designs in the world
and is known for its safety and reliability.
Power Generation Capacity and Additional Reactors
The current power generation capacity of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is
2×1,000 MWe VVER. However, with the construction of four additional reactors, the total
capacity is expected to increase significantly. The cost of constructing the four additional
reactors is estimated to be ₹89,470 crore.
Allocation of Power and Expected Completion Date
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project is expected to allocate 50% of the power
generated to the state of Tamil Nadu. The construction of Units 3 and 4 is underway, and
they are expected to be completed by May 2025 and December 2025, respectively.
IAEA Safety Analysis
All units of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project are open to International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) safety analysts. However, the Kalpakkam nuclear plant is not open
to IAEA analysis as it is reserved for strategic use under the India-US Nuclear Agreement.
Protests and Power Generation
The construction of Units 1 and 2 of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project was met with
a big protest from the local people, which led to the suspension of work for some time.
However, the units eventually started generating power in 2014. The current total
generated power of Units 1 and 2 is 75,781 million units.
Kerala Green Energy Corridor

The Cabinet has given its approval for the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) project, which will
be implemented by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), to secure a loan from the
German development bank, KfW. The objective of this project is to facilitate grid
integration and power evacuation of Renewable Energy power. The Central government
and KfW signed an agreement on November 11, 2022, for the ₹1,457-crore Kerala GEC
project.
Tripartite agreement to be signed
To move the loan proposal forward, a tripartite agreement will be signed by the State
government, KSEB, and KfW. The Law and Finance departments have given the go-ahead
for the proposal. At current rates, the project will be eligible for a KfW loan of 102.11
million euros (around ₹916 crore) at 3% to 4% interest. A Central government grant of
₹138.71 crore will also be available for the project.
Three GEC projects to be undertaken
Three GEC projects will be undertaken under the programme. These include the North
Green Power Corridor Project for Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts, the
Attappady Green Power Corridor Project in the tribal areas of the Attappady, Agali, and
Kottathara regions, and the Ramakkalmedu Green Power Corridor Project, which will
benefit Idukki district.
MPC’s First Bi-Monthly Monetary Policy of FY2023-24
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) recently announced
the first bi-monthly monetary policy of FY2023-24. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das revealed
that the MPC has unanimously decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.50%. This
key lending rate is the rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks. The
decision to pause the repo rate is only for this meeting, but the committee will not
hesitate to take further action as may be required in its future meetings.
GDP Growth Projection Revised Upwards
The MPC marginally revised the GDP growth projection upwards to 6.50% for the current
financial year of FY2023-24 from its earlier estimate of 6.4%. Das said that GDP growth in
Q1 of FY24 is expected at 7.8%, followed by 6.2% for Q2, 6.1% for Q3, and 5.9% for Q4. This
shows that India’s economy is expected to grow at a steady pace.

Banking and Financial Sector Remains Healthy
Governor Das also talked about the recent upheaval in the banking sector. He stated that
the central bank is keeping a close eye on the turmoil in the banking sector in developed
countries. However, amidst this volatility, India’s banking and nonbanking financial service
sector remain healthy, and financial markets have evolved in an orderly manner.
Economic activity remains resilient, and real GDP growth is expected to have been 7
percent in FY23.
Moderating Inflation
Despite the headline inflation moderating, it remains well above the targets of the RBI.
These developments have led to heightened volatility in global financial markets.
However, the current financial year points towards the softening of inflation. Governor
Das said that the war against inflation will continue until there is a durable decline. The
central bank has projected inflation to marginally decline to 5.2% in FY24, with 5.1% in Q1,
followed by 5.4% in Q2 and Q3, and 5.2% in Q4 of the current financial year.
Maintaining an Agile Approach for Liquidity Management
Governor Das also stated that the RBI will maintain an agile approach for liquidity
management to manage the government’s borrowing program in a non-disruptive
manner. The current account deficit of India is expected remain moderate in Q4 FY23 and
also eminently manageable going forward. The Indian Rupee moved in an orderly manner
in FY23, but the RBI will remain watchful of the currency.
Maintaining the Stance on “Withdrawal of Accommodation”
The RBI’s MPC has maintained its stance on “withdrawal of accommodation.” The central
bank has raised the repo rate by 250 bps in the last 11 months, since May 2022. The repo
rate is one of the primary tools to manage inflation in the country. With inflation still
above the central bank’s target, maintaining the repo rate at 6.50% is a necessary step to
control inflation.
7th India-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue
India and Japan have been working together to strengthen their defense and security
cooperation. The latest development in this regard was the 7th India-Japan Defense Policy
Dialogue, which was co-chaired by the defense secretaries of both countries on April 6,
2023.
The Aim of the India-Japan Defense Policy Dialogue
The primary aim of the India-Japan Defense Policy Dialogue is to enhance defense and
security cooperation between the two countries. This partnership aims to provide a secure
and stable environment for the citizens of both countries and to maintain peace and
stability in the region.
India-Japan Joint Military Exercises
India and Japan have been conducting joint military exercises since 2018. The name of this
exercise is Shinyuu Maitri, which aims to enhance mutual understanding and
interoperability between the two countries’ militaries.
Defense Agreements between India and Japan
India and Japan have signed five defense agreements to date. The first agreement was
signed in 2008. The focus of these agreements is to enhance defense and security
cooperation, joint exercises, and exchange of information between the two countries.
National Defense Program Guidelines
Japan introduced its National Defense Program Guidelines in 2010. The guidelines aim to
strengthen Japan’s defense capabilities and address the changing security environment.
These guidelines are regularly reviewed and updated to keep pace with changing security
challenges.
India’s Defense Acquisition Council
India’s Defense Acquisition Council seeks to fast track procurement of the approved
requirements of the Armed Forces. The council is responsible for all acquisitions related to
Indian defense.
Leadership and Structures
The current Indian Defense Minister is Rajnath Singh. The Japanese Defense Ministry, on
the other hand, is responsible for protecting Japan and its interests and contributing to
peace and stability in the international community. The Japanese National Security Council
has a counterpart in India called the National Security Council Secretariat.
World Homeopathy Day
World Homeopathy Day is observed on April 10 to mark the birth of Dr. Samuel
Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy. This alternative form of medicine has been
gaining popularity worldwide and is known for its gentle and natural healing approach.
Principles of Homeopathy
Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine based on the principle of “like cures like.”
The idea is to use a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person to treat similar
symptoms in a sick person. Homeopathy aims to treat the entire person and not just the
symptoms of an illness. This gentle approach is focused on natural healing and avoiding
invasive medical procedures.
Origins of Homeopathy
Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, developed the principles of homeopathy in
the late 18th century. He was disillusioned with conventional medical practices, such as
bloodletting and the use of toxic substances like mercury. In the late 1700s, Hahnemann
commenced brainstorming the idea of homeopathy, and by 1796, he published a book
outlining his principles and practices. Hahnemann believed that homeopathy offered a
safer and more effective alternative to conventional medicine.
Popularity and Criticism
Homeopathy quickly gained popularity throughout Europe and North America in the early
19th century. The first homeopathic medical school was established in the US in 1835. By
the mid-1800s, there were more than 100 homeopathic medical colleges and 15,000
practitioners in the US alone. However, homeopathy was not without its critics. Many in
the medical community dismissed it as quackery and questioned its scientific basis.
Decline in Popularity
The rise of modern medicine and the development of antibiotics and other drugs led to a
decline in the popularity of homeopathy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
However, homeopathy remains a controversial topic today, with proponents arguing that
it is a safe and effective form of medicine, while critics point to a lack of scientific evidence
supporting its efficacy and the potential risks of using highly diluted substances to treat
serious illnesses.
Benefits of Homeopathy
Homeopathy is believed to be capable of treating a wide range of conditions, from
allergies and arthritis to depression and anxiety. Its advocates believe in the use of highly
diluted substances to reduce side effects and maximize the body’s ability to heal itself.
Homeopathy is considered a gentler and more natural approach to healing than

conventional medicine.
Raising Awareness on World Homeopathy Day
On the occasion of the World Homeopathy Day, practitioners and supporters of
homeopathy come together to raise awareness about the benefits of this alternative form
of medicine. Events, seminars, and workshops are organized to educate about it to the
general public. The aim is to promote the use of homeopathy as a complementary and
alternative form of medicine alongside conventional medicine.
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021
Several amendments were made by the Central Government to the IT Rules related to
online gaming and the spread of false and misleading information regarding government
business. These amendments seek to enforce greater due diligence by online gaming and
social media intermediaries.
Consultation with Stakeholders
The Ministry of Electronics and IT allocated the matter related to online gaming rules on
December 23, 2022. The draft amendments were uploaded for consultations on January 2,
2023. During the drafting process, stakeholders such as parents, school teachers,
academics, students, gamers, and gaming industry associations, child rights bodies, were
consulted to ensure the new rules take into account the interests and concerns of all
parties involved.
Obligations of Intermediaries
According to the amended rules, online gaming intermediaries are obliged to make
reasonable efforts to not host, publish or share any online game that can cause the user
harm or that has not been verified as a permissible online game by an online gaming self-
regulatory body/bodies designated by the Central Government. The self-regulatory body
has the authority to inquire and satisfy itself that the online game does not involve
wagering on any outcome and that the online gaming intermediary and the game comply
with the rules.
For online games involving real money, the amended rules cast obligations on online
gaming intermediaries to display a mark of verification by the self-regulatory body on
such games, inform their users of the policy for withdrawal or refund of deposit, manner
of determination and distribution of winnings, fees and other charges payable, obtain the
KYC details of the users, and not give credit or enable financing by third parties to the
users.
If in case a notification is issued by the Central Government in the interest of users or
other specified grounds, the same rules and obligations will be applicable to even those
games where the user is not required to make any deposit for winnings.
Fact Check Unit and Fake News
The amended rules also cast an obligation on intermediaries not to publish, share, or host
any fake, false, or misleading information in respect of any business of the Central
Government. The notified Fact Check Unit of the Central Government will identify fake,
false or misleading information as per the amended rules.

PM Modi’s Vision for Young Indians
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision and goal are to ensure that young Indians get
every opportunity possible to create startups and innovate for the world. These
amendments aim to protect the interests of all parties involved, while also ensuring that
online gaming and social media intermediaries uphold greater due diligence and
responsibility in their operations. As online gaming presents a huge opportunity for India
and young Indians, it is important to create a safe and regulated environment for its
growth and development.
Draft National Curriculum Framework for School Education
The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) in India is a comprehensive guideline that
serves as a blueprint for school education. The NCF is periodically updated to reflect
changing student and societal needs. The new draft NCF proposes significant changes to
the school day and academic year.
The Proposed Changes to the School Day and Academic Year
According to the draft, students are required attend school for five and a half days a week,
with Saturdays as a half-day of study. It also recommends that the class periods should
span for 40 minutes for preparatory and middle school stages, and 50 minutes for Class 9
onwards. The academic year should have 180 school days (34 weeks) at all stages of
education.
Preparatory and Middle Stages
For the preparatory and middle school stages, all weekdays must start with a 25-minute
assembly, and each period is to last for 40 minutes. Some subjects will require a block
period, and class time is then extended to 80 minutes. The 5-minute transition time must
be provided for students to prepare for next class. A 15-minute snack break and 45-
minute lunch break must also be provided.
Secondary Stage
For Class 9 onwards, the weekday will also begin with a 25-minute assembly. Class time is
50 minutes, and block periods are hence 100 minutes. Lunch has been extended to 55
minutes. The school day has been extended to account for an ‘Additional Enrichment
Period’ every evening. This is used for enrichment in any subject on the curriculum.
Impact on Teaching and Assessment
The NCF forms the basis of changes that will be brought about in school textbooks and
will influence the pattern of teaching and assessment in classrooms. The new draft NCF is
more specific in its suggestions than the 2005 one, which was criticized for being too
broad and general.
Board Examinations and Semester System
The draft NCF has suggested some significant changes in the examination system. It
recommends that board examinations be held twice a year and that Class 12 should follow
a semester system. This will help reduce the stress on students during exams and provide
them with more opportunities to showcase their skills. The NCF also recommends that
students should be free to pursue a mix of science and humanities to minimize the
inflexible boundaries separating arts, commerce, and science in classes 11 and 12 of all
school boards.
April 11, 2023
Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) Mission
The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) is a mission by the European Space Agency (ESA)
set to launch on April 13, 2023, from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Science Goals of JUICE
The primary focus of JUICE’s science goals is the Jupiter system, with a particular emphasis
on Ganymede as a planetary body and potential habitat. The mission objectives for
Ganymede include the characterization of the ocean layers and detection of putative
subsurface water reservoirs, topographical, geological, and compositional mapping of the
surface, studying the physical properties of the icy crusts, characterizing the internal mass
distribution, dynamics, and evolution of the interiors, investigating the exosphere, and
studying Ganymede’s intrinsic magnetic field and its interactions with the Jovian
magnetosphere.
JUICE’s investigations on Europa will be focusing on the chemistry essential to life,
including organic molecules. It will help in the understanding the formation of surface
features and the composition of non water-ice material.
Mission Profile and Launch Details
After launch, JUICE will take 7 to 8 years to reach Jupiter, utilizing Earth and Venus gravity
assists. During the journey, the spacecraft will undergo multiple tests to ensure it can
withstand the harsh conditions of space.
Upon arrival at Jupiter in 2031, JUICE will flyby Ganymede and Callisto to optimize its orbit
around Jupiter. These flybys will also include a flyby of Europa. After studying Jupiter and
its moons, JUICE will enter a highly elliptical orbit around Ganymede, which will evolve to a
5000 km circular orbit, and will then be lowered into a 500 km circular orbit. After it maps
and conducts other investigations at this altitude, it will move to a 200 km circular orbit.
The nominal mission length for JUICE is about 3 years, with the possibility of an extension
of 200 or more days. It will conclude with an impact on the Ganymede’s surface.
NIRCam Instrument
The Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) is the primary imaging instrument of the James
Webb Space Telescope (JWST). It covers the infrared wavelength range from 0.6 to 5
microns, making it an invaluable tool for studying various celestial objects. It played a
crucial role in the recent discovery of four of the most distant galaxies ever observed.
The Cutting-Edge Tech of JWST
Since its launch in 2021, JWST has been sending back an impressive amount of information
and images, surpassing the capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope. The JWST is
equipped with cutting-edge technology, including the NIRCam, which allows scientists to
cross new frontiers in exploring the universe.
The NIRCam’s Role in Finding Distant Galaxies
In two studies published in the Nature Astronomy journal, astronomers revealed that
NIRCam has helped them detect the four most distant galaxies ever observed. The
farthest galaxy, named JADES-GS-z13-0, was formed just 320 million years after The Big
Bang. This discovery is significant because it is the greatest distance ever observed by
astronomers.
The Weight and Characteristics of Distant Galaxies
The four distant galaxies detected by NIRCam are “very low in mass,” weighing roughly a
hundred million solar masses. In comparison, the Milky Way weighs 1.5 trillion solar
masses. However, these galaxies are very active in star formation in proportion to their
mass.
JWST and Hubble Space Telescope’s Contribution
JADES-GS-z10-0, one of the four galaxies detected by NIRCam, was previously spotted by
the Hubble Space Telescope. This highlights the importance of combining the capabilities
of both telescopes to make groundbreaking discoveries.
Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023
On March 29, 2023, the Indian government introduced the Coastal Aquaculture Authority
(Amendment) Bill, 2023, to amend the provisions of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act,
2005. The primary purpose of this bill is to promote sustainable coastal aquaculture in
India while ensuring ease of doing business.
Expanding the Definition of “Coastal Aquaculture”
One of the significant changes proposed under the Coastal Aquaculture Authority
(Amendment) Bill, 2023 is to broaden the definition of “coastal aquaculture.” The current
definition under Section 2(1)(c) of the 2005 Act only covers the culturing or cultivating of
shrimp, prawn, fish, or any other aquatic life in saline or brackish water under controlled
conditions. However, the 2023 Bill aims to include the rearing and cultivation of any life
stages of fish, including crustaceans, mollusks, finfish, seaweed, or any other aquatic life
under controlled conditions.
Encouraging Environment-Friendly Aquaculture Practices
The 2023 Bill promotes several newer forms of environment-friendly coastal aquaculture
practices. This includes cage culture, seaweed culture, bi-valve culture, marine ornamental
fish culture, and pearl oyster culture. By encouraging these practices, the government
aims to ensure sustainable aquaculture, reduce the ecological impact, and provide new
avenues for livelihood to coastal communities.
Establishment of Facilities in Areas with Direct Access to Seawater
The 2023 Bill also aims to promote the establishment of facilities in areas with direct
access to seawater. This would enable the production of genetically improved and
disease-free broodstocks and seeds for use in coastal aquaculture, promoting the
sustainable development of the sector.
Preventing the Use of Harmful Substances
The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 aims to put an end to the use
of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances that are harmful to human health.
This is a significant step towards promoting sustainable aquaculture practices that are
safe for both the environment and consumers.
Ensuring Biosecurity Measures
The 2023 Bill proposes several provisions to ensure biosecurity measures in coastal
aquaculture. This includes measures and strategies for analysing, managing, and
preventing the risk of introducing or spreading harmful organisms within the coastal
aquaculture unit, which could lead to infectious diseases. The bill also provides for the
establishment of Brood Stock Multiplication Centres that receive specific pathogen-free or
tolerant and resistant post-larvae or juveniles from a Nucleus Breeding Centre to be
reared under strict biosecurity and disease surveillance.
Guidelines for Regulating Establishment and Operation of SPF Shrimp Broodstock Multiplication Centres
The Guidelines for Regulating Establishment and Operation of SPF Shrimp Broodstock
Multiplication Centres, published by the National Fisheries Development Board, provide
for many of the biosecurity measures mentioned in the 2023 Bill. This would ensure the
safe and sustainable operation of these centres.
The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries
The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, and Fisheries was formed in 1991 to
oversee matters related to animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries and advise states and
UTs on the formulation of policies and programmes. Before being subsumed under the
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, this department played a vital role in
the development of the fisheries sector in India.
Indian Space Policy 2023
The Indian government recently approved the Indian Space Policy 2023, with the aim of
institutionalizing and facilitating private sector participation in the Indian space sector.
The policy’s approval by the Cabinet Committee, helmed by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, is a significant step towards transforming India into a major space power.
ISRO’s Focus on R&D of Advanced Space Technologies
Under the new policy, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will focus on
research and development of advanced space technologies. The private players’
participation in the space sector is crucial to increase India’s current share of less than two
per cent in the global space economy to 10 per cent in the future.
NSIL’s Role in Carrying Out Strategic Activities
New Space India Limited (NSIL) will carry out strategic activities related to the space
sector. NSIL will work in a demand-driven mode, according to Union Minister Jitendra
Singh. This means that private players will have access to end-to-end space activities,
including building rockets, satellites, launch vehicles, data collection, and dissemination.
In-Space as the Interface between ISRO and Private Sector Enterprises
Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (In-Space) serves as a liaison
between ISRO and private sector enterprises. In-Space will enable private players to
participate in the space sector by offering a simplified regulatory environment for private
entities’ operations. The policy’s approval is expected to pave the way for the Indian space
sector’s privatization and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

The Rise of Private Sector Companies in India’s Space Industry
Over 100 active space companies have been operating in India since 2012, according to
the Economic Survey of India. Private sector companies like SpaceX, led by Elon Musk,
have become a popular choice for space missions around the world. The Indian
government’s approval of the Indian Space Policy 2023 is expected to encourage more
private sector companies to enter the space sector.
Idaho’s Abortion Trafficking Law
On April 5, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed into law House Bill 232, which creates a new crime
called “abortion trafficking.” The law makes it illegal for adults to get abortion drugs for a
minor or to “recruit, harbor or transport the pregnant minor” across state lines to
terminate a pregnancy without parental consent. The law also prohibits anyone from
helping a minor get an abortion by supplying them drugs or helping them across state
lines to terminate a pregnancy without parental consent. The new law takes effect on 1st
of July this year.
New Crime: Abortion Trafficking
The new crime, “abortion trafficking,” carries a potential jail sentence of two to five years.
The Idaho attorney general has the power to bring charges against people accused of
violating the law, even if the county prosecutor chooses not to pursue criminal charges.
The law specifically targets only the portion of a trip that occurs within the state when
seeking abortion services from an out-of-state provider. It does not limit an adult woman
from obtaining an abortion in another state.
Reaction to the Law
Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates-West condemned the law, calling it “despicable,”
and vowed to stop it. Idaho is one of 36 U.S. states that mandate parental involvement
regarding a minor’s decision to have an abortion. However, Washington, Oregon, and
California have been presented as safe havens for women seeking abortions.
What is Siren sphagnicola?
Siren sphagnicola is a recently discovered species of elongate, eel-like aquatic
salamanders that inhabits seepage areas in the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain of the United
States.
Characteristics of Siren sphagnicola
Siren sphagnicola belongs to the family Sirenidae, which is part of the order Caudata
(salamanders). This family comprises two genera, Siren and Pseudobranchus. All living
sirens, including Siren sphagnicola, have lidless eyes, external gills with comb-like
filaments and laterally compressed tails with fin blades. What makes sirens unique within
salamanders is their lack of pelvic girdles and associated hindlimbs.
Siren sphagnicola is the smallest known species in the Siren genus, measuring around 20
cm in total length. It has typical Siren characteristics, such as external gills with three
fimbriate gill stalks, three associated gill slits, and four toes on the forelimbs. However, a
combination of traits distinguishes it from other members of the genus. The species has
30 to 33 costal grooves and a mouse gray base color with occasional light, grayish brown
sheen on the dorsum.
Habitat of Siren sphagnicola
Siren sphagnicola is restricted to the environs of sandy, seepage-fed creeks in the lower
Gulf Coastal Plain, ranging from the Florida Parishes of Louisiana eastward to the
westernmost tributary creeks of Choctawhatchee Bay in the western Florida panhandle.
Most specimens have been found in the Blackwater, Yellow, and Escambia/Conecuh river
drainages of Florida and Alabama.
Discovery of Siren sphagnicola
The existence of quite a few undescribed species of Siren in southeastern United States
Coastal Plain has been known for around 40 years now. One of these species, Siren
reticulata, was recently described, but a small, seepage-dwelling species remained
undescribed until recently. To resolve outstanding questions concerning the phylogeny of
Siren, a group of researchers from the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute at the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission collected sequence and morphometric data
from specimens across the range of Siren.
The newly-identified species, Siren sphagnicola, was described based on these data. Its
common name is the seepage siren, and it has a smaller geographic distribution than
other Siren species. Researchers believe that its range is poorly known, but they expect it
to be restricted to the lower Gulf Coastal Plain as far west as the Florida Parishes of
Louisiana.
“Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited vs Union of India & Ors” Case
In recent years, the media industry in India has been subjected to increased scrutiny and
censorship. The case of “Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited vs Union of India & Ors” is an
example of such censorship, where the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting refused
to renew the broadcast license of the Malayalam channel MediaOne. The refusal was
based on alleged links between the channel’s promoters Madhyamam Broadcasting
Limited and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. The case has been closely watched by media
professionals and legal experts as it raises significant concerns about freedom of speech
and expression.
The Ban on Media One
A single bench of the Kerala High Court initially upheld the ban on the channel. However,
the Supreme Court later allowed the channel to resume operations. Media One’s
promoters argued that they were not given a chance to defend themselves, and freedom
of speech and expression can only be restricted on the grounds under Article 19(2) of the
Indian Constitution.
Grounds for Upholding Media One’s Appeal
The Supreme Court upheld Media One’s appeal on two procedural grounds: natural
justice and proportionality. The principles of natural justice were constitutionalized in the
case of “Maneka Gandhi vs Union of India.” In a case involving natural justice, the burden
is on the claimant to prove that the procedure that was followed oversteps the core of
procedural guarantees.
In the case of “Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited vs Union of India & Ors,” Media One
proved that MBL’s right to a fair hearing was infringed by the unreasoned order of the
MIB dated 31 January 2022 and the non-disclosure of relevant material to the appellants,
and its disclosure solely to the court. The burden on the Centre in such a situation is to
prove that the procedure that was followed was reasonable and in compliance with the
requirements of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
National Security Concerns and Proportionality
While principles of natural justice are fundamental to ensuring fairness in legal
proceedings, they can be excluded in cases where national security concerns outweigh the
duty of fairness. The test to assess the validity of the claim of involvement of national
security considerations is whether there is material to conclude that the non-disclosure of
information is in the interest of national security, and whether a reasonable prudent
person would draw the same inference from the material on record.
In the case of “Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited vs Union of India & Ors,” the Supreme
Court found that the means adopted by the respondents did not satisfy the other prongs
of the proportionality standard. The case has been significant in emphasizing the
importance of natural justice and proportionality in ensuring fairness in legal proceedings,
particularly in cases involving national security concerns.
Idu Mishmis and Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary
Arunachal Pradesh is a state in the northeastern region of India that is known for its rich
biodiversity and cultural diversity. The state is home to various indigenous tribes, one of
which is the Idu Mishmi tribe. The tribe has a distinct culture and tradition that is deeply
connected to the wildlife of the region, particularly the tigers and hoolock gibbons. It is
currently protesting against the proposed tiger reserve in the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responsible for the management of Project
Tiger, India’s flagship program for tiger conservation. The NTCA works in collaboration
with various state governments, local communities, and non-governmental organizations
to achieve its objective of conserving tigers and their habitats.

The Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary
The Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Arunachal Pradesh, was notified in 1998 and is
home to a diverse range of wildlife, including Mishmi takin, musk deer, goral, clouded
leopards, snow leopards, and tigers. The Idu Mishmi tribe has a deep cultural connection
with the sanctuary and its wildlife.
The Idu Mishmi Tribe
The Idu Mishmi tribe is estimated to have a population of around 12,000 people and
speaks the Idu Mishmi language. The tribe has a unique belief system called ‘iyu-ena,’
which prohibits them from hunting many animals, including tigers, and emphasizes the
need for conservation.
The Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society

The Idu Mishmi Cultural and Literary Society (IMCLS) is the apex body of the Idu Mishmi
tribe, working towards the preservation of their cultural heritage and language. The
society plays a crucial role in educating the younger generation about their traditions and
culture, including their connection with the wildlife of the region.
Proposed Tiger Reserve
Recently, the Indian government proposed the creation of a new tiger reserve in the
Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary. While this move is aimed at conserving the tiger population in
the region, the Idu Mishmi tribe fears that it will cut off access to their lands, affecting
their livelihoods and traditional practices.
Special Tiger Protection Force
To address these concerns, the government has proposed the deployment of a Special
Tiger Protection Force, a stricter security measure that will guard the area at all times,
ensuring the safety of the wildlife and the Idu Mishmi tribe.
Biocultural Conserved Area
The proposed tiger reserve is a form of conservation governed by the state government,
but the Idu Mishmi tribe has been advocating for the creation of a Community Conserved
Area (CCA), a model of conservation governed entirely by local populations. This would
ensure that the conservation efforts are in line with their cultural traditions and practices,
ensuring their participation in the process.
Craftsmanship Skills
Apart from their connection with the wildlife, the Idu Mishmi tribe is also known for their
weaving and craftsmanship skills, which have been passed down through generations.
Endangered Language
The Idu Mishmi language is considered endangered by UNESCO, and efforts are being
made to document and preserve it.
April 12, 2023
Muthuvans and Human-Animal Conflicts
The Muthuvans are a tribe of cultivators who dwell in the hilly regions of Tamil Nadu’s
Coimbatore and Madurai and Kerala’s Adimali and Devikulam forest regions of Idukki
district. They have a rich cultural heritage and are known for their agricultural practices.
However, in recent times, they have been facing severe problems with human-animal
conflict, particularly with elephants. In response to this issue, the Kerala High Court
appointed a committee of experts to investigate the matter.
History and Culture of the Muthuvan Tribe
The Muthuvans migrated to the Western Ghats around 300-400 years ago, during the
reign of the Madurai dynasty. When the dynasty was deposed, the surviving royal
members shifted to Travancore in central Kerala, and the Muthuvans carried the idols of
Madurai Meenakshi, the deity of the royal family, on their backs.
The Muthuvans are cultivators known to traditionally grow ragi, cardamom, and lemon
grass. Their name, Muthuvar, means elders.
Human-Animal Conflict
The Muthuvans have been facing severe problems with human-animal conflict,
particularly with elephants. In response to this issue, the Kerala High Court appointed a
committee of experts to investigate the matter. The committee’s report focused on the
Chinnakkanal and Santhanpara panchayats in Udumbanchola taluk, precisely the
Anayirankal area.
During the meeting, the members of the Muthuvan tribal community pointed out that
they have been following a co-existence method with animals over the years. However,
subsequent unscientific resettlements in the region triggered an increase in human-
animal conflict.
The Committee of Experts’ report suggested long-term solutions such as measures for
consolidation of the elephant habitat, eco-restoration, and maintaining connectivity with
other significant elephant habitats.
Hay Fever in Japan
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has recently vowed to tackle hay fever, a pollen
allergy that affects a significant portion of the Japanese population. In a recent
parliamentary committee, Kishida referred to hay fever as a “social problem” and pledged
to work with ministers to devise a response to the issue. In this article, we will explore the
prevalence of hay fever in Japan and the measures being taken to address it.
What is Hay Fever?
Hay fever is a pollen allergy that typically causes itchy, watery eyes and sneezing. It is
usually caused by the pollen of specific plants or trees, and its symptoms can range from
mild to severe. Hay fever is a common ailment in many parts of the world and is estimated
to affect up to 30% of the global population.
Prevalence of Hay Fever in Japan
In Japan, hay fever is particularly prevalent, with approximately 40% of the population
experiencing symptoms. The main culprits responsible for the outbreak of hay fever in
Japan are cedar and cypress trees, which are widely planted throughout the country.
Postwar Reforestation Program
The prevalence of hay fever in Japan can be traced back to a postwar reforestation
program that aimed to help the country’s construction industry by planting trees at a
rapid rate. As a result, Japanese forests were left to grow in density, causing an influx of
pollen and misery for those affected by hay fever.
Mask-Wearing in Japan
Many people in Japan continue to wear masks outside, despite the recent lifting of
government guidelines advising people to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of
Covid-19. This is in part due to the prevalence of hay fever, with masks being used as a
means of protection against both pollen and Covid-19.
Kishida’s Plan
The Japanese government under Kishida is expected to address the issue of hay fever by
logging and replanting forests with trees that shed less pollen. Additionally, the
government is also reportedly promoting a type of rice that is said to alleviate hay fever
symptoms. The plan aims to provide relief to hay fever sufferers and reduce the impact of
hay fever on the productivity of the Japanese workforce.
Recent Sales Surge
This year’s pollen season has sparked a surge in sales of antihistamine and other
products, with some shops reporting a doubling in sales compared to the first three
months of 2022. The sales of treatments such as anti-inflammatory nasal sprays and anti-
allergy eyedrops spiked because of this issue.
Environment Ministry Warning
The environment ministry recently warned that Tokyo and eleven other prefectures would
witness their highest cedar pollen counts for 10 years. This has prompted several
companies to provide “hay fever allowances” to employees to spend on prescription
treatments and clinic visits.
What is Hikikomori?
Hikikomori is a social phenomenon affecting people of all ages in Japan, where individuals
withdraw from society and remain isolated for extended periods.
Origins and Definition of Hikikomori
The term Hikikomori was coined in the 1990s in Japan to describe the phenomenon of
social withdrawal. Hikikomori is not a clinical diagnosis but rather a social issue that
affects individuals who choose to isolate themselves from society due to various reasons,
including social anxiety, depression, academic pressure, and bullying.
Prevalence of Hikikomori in Japan
Hikikomori is a widespread issue in Japan, with an estimated 1.5 million working-age
people living in isolation. Typically, people with Hikikomori withdraw from society for a
period of six months or longer, with the most common reasons being unemployment,
depression, academic pressure, and bullying in school or the workplace.
Filial Piety and Japan’s Work Culture
Filial piety, the respect for one’s parents and elders, is an essential part of Japanese
culture. Children often feel a sense of obligation to care for their parents in old age, which
can cause feelings of guilt and anxiety. Additionally, Japan’s work culture is intense and all-
consuming, with long working hours, high levels of stress, and limited opportunities for
career advancement. The combination of these factors can contribute to the prevalence of
Hikikomori among individuals who feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with societal
pressures.
Consequences of Hikikomori
The consequences of Hikikomori are significant and far-reaching. Social isolation can lead
to a lack of employment opportunities, financial hardship, and mental health issues such
as depression and anxiety disorders. Moreover, the longer an individual remains in
isolation, the harder it becomes to reintegrate into society.
Addressing Hikikomori in Japan
The Japanese government has recognized the severity of Hikikomori and has
implemented various initiatives to address this issue. These include counseling services,
support groups, and financial assistance for individuals and families affected by
Hikikomori. While progress has been made, addressing Hikikomori remains a complex
and ongoing issue.
RailTel and Electronic Knowledge Network Project
RailTel Corporation of India Limited is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the
Ministry of Railways, with expertise in the fields of Information Technology (IT) and
education. Recently, RailTel Corporation of India Limited has been awarded an order
worth Rs. 76.10 Crores by the Bihar State Electronics Development Corporation (BSEDC) to
provide high capacity, scalable, and reliable network infrastructure for the Electronic
Knowledge Network project.
What is the Electronic Knowledge Network project?
The Electronic Knowledge Network project aims to revolutionize the use of IT in technical
educational institutes in Bihar. The project will cater to the future digital needs of
campuses for the next 5 years, providing high-speed internet, campus LAN, Wi-Fi
solutions, smart classroom solutions, VoIP solutions, and SD-WAN solutions.
Components of the Awarded Work
RailTel Corporation of India Limited will be responsible for the supply, installation,
commissioning, and integration of the campus LAN, Wi-Fi solution, smart classroom
solution, VoIP solution, SD-WAN solution, and Internet from 2 different Internet Service
Providers (ISPs). The BSEDC will centrally host the Network Management System (NMS) of
the Electronic Knowledge Network project.
Expertise of RailTel Corporation of India Limited
RailTel Corporation of India Limited has expertise in the IT and education sector, making it
an ideal candidate for the Electronic Knowledge Network project. The objective of the
project is to enhance the use of IT in technical educational institutes in Bihar, making
RailTel Corporation of India Limited the perfect partner for this project.
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti is a day observed on 11 April every year to remember the
works of Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, a social activist, thinker, writer and anti-caste social
reformer born on the same day in 1827 in Maharashtra. Jyotiba Phule, together with his
wife, Savitribai Phule, fought for women’s education in India and were the first to facilitate
schooling for women in the country. Jyotirao Govindrao Phule worked towards eradicating
untouchability and the caste system in India, and his contributions to society are
remembered and honored on Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti.
Founding Schools and Societies
Jyotirao Govindrao Phule founded his first school for girls in Pune, which was located at
the residence of Tatyasaheb Bhide. This was a significant step in advocating for women’s
education and breaking down social barriers in India. Jyotiba Phule and his followers also
founded the Satyashodhak Samaj, which is the Society of Truth Seekers, a group that
fought for equal rights for people who belonged to the exploited castes.
Speaking Out Against Social Issues

As a social reformer, Jyotirao Govindrao Phule spoke out against various social issues,
including female infanticide. He launched a massive campaign to remove the water crisis
and provided valuable solutions that helped to address the issue. His tireless efforts made
a significant impact in reducing the water crisis in Maharashtra.
Bestowing the Title of “Mahatma”
Jyotirao Govindrao Phule was bestowed with the title of “Mahatma” by social activist
Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar in 1888. This honorary title acknowledged Jyotiba Phule’s
contributions to society and his relentless efforts to bring about social change.
Fighting Against Social Issue
As a social reformer, Jyotirao Govindrao Phule stood up against major issues like
untouchability, the caste system, the welfare of the poor, and education for women. His
wife, Savitribai Phule, also supported him in his fight and was instrumental in helping him
in his work.
Remembering the Legacy of Jyotirao Govindrao Phule
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti is significant because it is observed to remember the life
and works of Jyotirao Govindrao Phule and to honor his contributions to society. On this
day, people in India should learn more about Jyotiba Phule and the important role he
played in bringing about social change. It is an opportunity for people to reflect on the
progress made in addressing social issues in India and to recognize that there is still much
work to be done.
International Conference on Defence Finance & Economics
The International Conference on Defence Finance & Economics, organized by the Ministry
of Defence (Finance), is held on April 12, 2023. The conference aims to foster dialogue and
collaboration among eminent policy makers, academics, and government officials from
India and abroad. The focus of the conference is on defence finance and economics in the
context of changing security scenarios, with the objective of aligning processes in the
Indian context with international standards and disseminating best practices, experiences,
and expertise of various countries.
Aim and Objectives
The primary aim of the International Conference on Defence Finance & Economics is to
contribute to the country’s defence readiness with optimum financial resources and
effective implementation of the Defence Budget. The conference hopes to facilitate
collaborations with foreign governments, international institutions, and global leaders in
the domain of Defence Finance and Economics to support the Government’s ongoing
efforts on indigenisation and self-reliance in the Defence sector.
The objective of the conference is to disseminate best practices, experiences & expertise
of various countries and align processes in the Indian context with international
standards. Participants will deliberate on different models and practices of finance and
economics related to Defence Acquisition around the world, with a focus on managing
logistics in a cost-conscious way, finance and economics related to Defence Acquisition,

and the latest developments and innovations in Defence Research and Development.
Discussions
The participants of the International Conference on Defence Finance & Economics will also
focus on managing human resources in Defence, discussing issues related to pay,
pensions, and welfare of Defence Personnel. The discussions will explore current
challenges and opportunities in the areas of Defence Finance and Economics, with a view
to allocating and using resources efficiently.
International Participation and Expected Outcomes
Eminent policy makers, academics, and government officials from the USA, UK, Japan,
Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Kenya will participate in the conference. The expected
outcome of the conference is to contribute to the country’s defence readiness with
optimum financial resources and effective implementation of the Defence Budget.
Significance and Goal
The significance of the International Conference on Defence Finance & Economics lies in
its potential to provide a platform for sharing insights and experiences on Defence
Finance and Economics in the context of evolving security challenges and policies globally.
The ultimate goal of the conference is to advance transformative reforms in the Defence
sector.
25 Years of Good Friday Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, is a historic peace
agreement that ended the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, commonly referred to
as “The Troubles.” The agreement was signed on April 10, 1998, by the British and Irish
governments, along with political parties in Northern Ireland. The aim of the agreement
was to establish a power-sharing government and bring an end to the decades-long
conflict that had claimed more than 3,500 lives.
The Division in Northern Ireland
The division in Northern Ireland was primarily between Unionists, who wanted Northern
Ireland to remain part of the UK, and nationalists, who wanted Northern Ireland to join
the Republic of Ireland. The conflict was fueled by deep-rooted political, social, and
religious differences. Armed groups such as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the Ulster
Volunteer Force (UVF) used violence to advance their agendas, leading to a cycle of
violence that lasted almost 30 years.
Negotiators of the Good Friday Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement was negotiated by political leaders from various factions,
including Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern, and George Mitchell. The agreement addressed key
issues such as power-sharing, policing, justice, and human rights. It also established the
Northern Ireland Assembly, a devolved legislature with powers to make decisions on
issues such as education, health, and the environment.
Approval of the Good Friday Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement was put to a referendum on May 22, 1998. It gained the
approval of 94% of voters in Ireland and 71% in Northern Ireland. The overwhelming
support for the agreement demonstrated a desire for peace and a willingness to move
away from the cycle of violence.
Current Status of the Good Friday Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement continues to be in place, but issues have emerged due to
Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol. The protocol is a plan agreed upon by the UK
and the EU to check goods arriving in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK to ensure
they follow EU rules. The nationalist Sinn Féin party supports the protocol, while the
Unionist party Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) opposes it. The DUP sees the protocol as a
threat to the union as it distinguishes Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.
State Energy Efficiency Index 2021-22
The State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2021-22 report was released on April 12 this year
during the RPM meeting of States and State Utilities in New Delhi.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE)
developed the SEEI index. SEEI 2021-22 assesses the annual progress of states and union
territories in energy efficiency implementation for FY 2020-21 and 2021-22. The updated
framework of SEEI 2021-22 has 50 indicators aligned with national priorities.
Front Runner and Achiever Categories
SEEI 2021-22 categorized the states into two groups, Front Runner and Achiever. The Front
Runner category includes states with a score greater than 60 points, while the Achiever
category comprises states with scores between 50-60 points.
Five states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Telangana – are in the
Front Runner category, while four states – Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab – are
in the Achiever category. Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Chandigarh are the top-
performing states in their respective state groups. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
showed the most improvement since the last index.
SEEI Recommendations
The SEEI report recommends several actions to help states drive change in energy
efficiency (EE) and contribute towards the fulfillment of SDGs and NDC. These include
enabling fiscal assistance for energy efficiency in the focus sectors, developing
institutional capacity in states and UTs to address emerging needs and challenges in
energy efficiency implementation, enhancing cross-functional collaborations across
financial institutions, energy service companies, and energy professionals in large-scale
energy efficiency implementation in states, and mainstreaming energy data reporting and
monitoring across sectors.
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power. Its
objective is to assist in the development of policies and strategies with a thrust on self-
regulation and market principles, within the overall framework of the Energy Conservation
Act, 2001. Its core aim is to minimize the energy intensity of the Indian economy.
Draft ‘Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy’
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has recently issued the Sagarmala
Innovation and Start-up Policy to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the
maritime sector in India. The policy aims to create a conducive environment for the
growth of start-ups and other entities in the maritime sector, leading to sustainable
development and employment opportunities.
Objective of the Policy
The primary objective of the Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy is to nurture start-
ups and other entities to co-create the future of India’s growing maritime sector. The
policy aims to create an innovation ecosystem that promotes entrepreneurship,
innovation and technology in the maritime sector.
Key Areas for Start-up Growth
The draft policy has identified nine key areas for start-ups to flourish in the maritime
sector. These include decarbonization, optimizing processes through data, maritime
education, multi-modal transportation, manufacturing, alternate/advance materials,
maritime cybersecurity, smart communication, and marine electronics. The policy aims to
provide support to start-ups in these areas through various means, such as funding,
mentorship, and infrastructure support.
Selection of Start-ups
The selection of start-ups will be made through a digital portal-based selection process to
ensure transparency. The policy aims to provide grants for creating a minimum viable
product/service (MVP), commercializing proprietary technology, including market entry or
scaling up.
Launch Pads
The draft policy introduces Launch Pads as facilities at Ports for carrying out trials,
facilitating pilot projects, establishing working space, and adopting products and
solutions. The Launch Pads will provide a platform for start-ups to showcase their ideas
and innovations.
Annual Start-up Awards
The annual Start-up Awards in the maritime sector aim to recognize distinguished efforts
of innovation in the maritime sector. The awards will encourage innovation and
entrepreneurship in the maritime sector.

Support for Non-registered Start-ups
The policy aims to provide guidance for registration of start-up and availing Department
for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recognition to non-registered start-
ups and individuals with promising ideas in the maritime sector.
Legal and Accountancy Support
The policy aims to provide legal and accountancy back up to start-ups for IP-Patent filing,
company registration, annual filings, and closures.
Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIH)
The draft policy introduces Maritime Innovation Hubs (MIH) as centers that will perform
various functions such as developing incubators and accelerators with state of the art
facilities and attracting investment for eligible start-up businesses. MIH will conduct
‘know-how’ sessions about various aspects of the maritime industry and launch
innovation-focused programs.
Centralized Repository
The centralized repository will contain all pertinent information to assist emerging
entrepreneurs. The repository will provide access to relevant data, research, and other
resources required for entrepreneurship.
Collaboration with National and International Stakeholders
MIH will collaborate with national and international stakeholders for mentorship,
knowledge sharing and facilitate access to global subject matter experts, serial
entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors.
Promoting Sustainable Growth
The draft policy aims to promote sustainable growth by nurturing start-ups and
facilitating innovation in the country. It is expected that this will drive sustainable growth
and generate large-scale employment opportunities in the maritime sector.
Significance of the Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy
The Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy is significant for the maritime sector in India
as it aims to create a strong innovation ecosystem that will lead to significant
development in the sector and create numerous employment opportunities. The policy
will promote entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology in the maritime sector, leading
to sustainable growth and development.
What is Orion Wargame?
France is hosting the multinational wargame codenamed Orion, which is expected to be
held from the third week of April to May 5. This exercise will involve various countries,
including India, and will test their combat capabilities in a simulated war scenario.
Background of the Wargame
The backdrop of this wargame is the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, where NATO led by
the US is opposing Russian moves against Ukraine. The aim of the exercise is to test the
preparedness of the participating countries’ air forces and their ability to operate in a
multi-national environment.
Indian Participation in Orion
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in Orion with its Rafale fighter jets from the
Western Air Command’s Golden Arrows squadron. The IAF has already inducted 36
Rafales, and these fighter planes have participated in wargames with foreign countries
earlier, including Desert Knight with the French Air Force in Jodhpur.
Other Participating Countries
Apart from India, several other countries are taking part in the wargames with their
fighter planes. These include France, NATO, and other allies. The exercise is significant for
the French defence forces as it is reportedly the largest ever multinational exercise they
have carried out. This wargame involves not only their Air Force but also their Army and
Navy along with their allies, the US and the UK.
Number of Participants
Some 7,000 NATO troops have reportedly participated in the drill involving the land forces
of their NATO allies. The exercise will take place in France and will involve a range of
combat capabilities from air-to-air combat to ground attacks.
Exercise Copeindia
Another exercise involving India is Exercise Copeindia, which is going to take place in West
Bengal. The American F-15 fighter planes are also expected to participate in this drill.
However, there may be some changes in their availability of schedule due to the ongoing
crisis in Ukraine.
Balikatan Drills between the US and the Philippines
The Balikatan drills are annual military exercises conducted between the United States
and the Philippines. The name “Balikatan” is derived from the Tagalog word “shoulder-to-
shoulder,” reflecting the strong partnership between the two countries.
Involvement and Types of Exercises
More than 17,600 military personnel are involved in the Balikatan drills, with about 12,200
from the US and 5,400 from the Philippines. The drills involve various exercises, including
live-fire exercises and a boat-sinking rocket assault. The drills are aimed at enhancing the
interoperability and readiness of the US and Philippine armed forces.
Weapon Systems and Live-Fire Drills
The Balikatan drills showcase a range of advanced weapon systems, including Patriot
missiles, Himars rocket launchers, and anti-tank Javelins. The live-fire drills during the
exercises are aimed at bolstering the Philippines’ coastal defenses against external
threats.
The Spratlys Archipelago
The Spratlys archipelago is a hotly contested area in the South China Sea. It is claimed by
China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The Balikatan drills have
been conducted in this region to promote regional stability and deter aggression.
China’s Response
China has expressed its concerns over the Balikatan drills, as it considers the South China
Sea and the Taiwan Strait as its own territory. The drills have the potential to inflame
tensions in the region, which China claims as part of its sovereign territory.
USS Milius Deployment
The US 7th Fleet’s deployment of guided-missile destroyer USS Milius within 12 nautical
miles of Mischief Reef was aimed at challenging China’s expansive territorial claims in the
South China Sea. This deployment was part of the US’ efforts to maintain a free and open
Indo-Pacific and uphold international law in the region.
2014 Defense Pact
The 2014 defense pact between the US and the Philippines allows for rotating batches of
American forces to stay in more Philippine military camps. This pact has been critical in
enhancing the US-Philippine defense cooperation and maintaining peace and stability in
the region.
Support for Poor Prisoners Scheme

The Indian government has recently launched a special scheme called ‘Support for Poor
Prisoners,’ aimed at providing financial assistance to poor prisoners who are unable to
pay the penalty or the bail amount. The scheme was announced by the Home Ministry on
April 7th, 2023, to provide financial support to poor people languishing in jails.
Purpose of the Scheme
The primary objective of the scheme is to provide financial support to poor people who
are in prisons and are unable to afford the penalty or the bail amount. Most of the poor
prisoners belong to socially disadvantaged or marginalized groups with lower education
and income levels. This makes it difficult for them to come up with the necessary funds to
get out of prison. The scheme will assist economically weak prisoners who are unable to
avail bail or get released from prisons because of the non-payment of fines due to cash
crunch.
Issuing the Official Release
The Home Ministry issued an official release regarding the scheme, stating that the broad
contours of the scheme had been finalized in consultation with concerned stakeholders.
The Centre will provide financial support to states to ensure that benefits reach the poor
prisoners. To further strengthen the process, technology-driven solutions will be put in
place, reinforcing the E-prisons platform, strengthening District Legal Services Authority,
and sensitization and capacity building of stakeholders to ensure that quality legal aid is
made available to needy poor prisoners.
The Role of Prisons in the Criminal Justice System
Prisons play an essential role in the Criminal Justice System and uphold the rule of law. To
ensure that the prisoners are treated fairly and with respect, the Ministry of Home Affairs
has been sharing important guidelines with state governments through various advisories
issued from time to time.
Financial Support Provided to State Governments
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been providing financial support to state governments to
enhance and modernize the security infrastructure in prisons. It has taken steps to solve
issues pertaining to undertrials in prisons from time to time. These include the insertion of
Section 436A in the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the insertion of a new chapter
XXIA ‘Plea Bargaining’ in the CrPC.
Free Legal Aid to Poor Prisoners
Legal Services Authority provides free legal aid to poor prisoners at various levels,
ensuring that they are not left alone to face the legal system. This is a significant step in
ensuring that the rule of law is upheld and that no one is left behind.
India’s Tiger Census - 2022
India is home to the largest population of tigers in the world, and their protection and
conservation is of utmost importance. The country conducts a scientific estimation of its
tiger population once every four years, and the latest report was released by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi recently.
The Total Number of Tigers in India

The report revealed that as of 2022, India’s tiger population stands at 3,167, which is a
significant increase from the 2006 figure of 1,411. This growth indicates that conservation
efforts in India are working and that the government’s initiatives and measures are
helping in preserving the species.
Tiger Populations in Different Landscapes
However, the report also shows a decrease in tiger population in the Western Ghats
landscape. The Western Ghats have seen a significant decline in the tiger population due
to the overlap between “wildlife and humans” caused by developmental activities. This
area covers about 1,40,000 square km and is a cause of concern for conservationists.
The report further highlights that the Nilgiri cluster that is Nagarahole to BRT Hills in
Karnataka has the largest tiger population in the world. However, the tiger populations in
areas outside of the reserves such as Wayanad landscape, BRT Hills, and the tiger areas on
Goa-Karnataka border have decreased significantly.
States Reporting a Decline in Tiger Populations
The report has shown a decline in tiger populations in the Indian states of Jharkhand,
Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This data highlights the need for
increased protection and conservation measures in these areas.
Increase in Tiger Populations in Other Landscapes
The report indicates that several landscapes have shown a substantial increase in tiger
population, such as Shivalik and Gangetic floodplain, central India, northeastern hills,
Brahmaputra flood plains, and Sundarbans. This growth is promising and a testament to
the conservation efforts that have been implemented in these areas.
International Big Cat Alliance
In a bid to protect and conserve seven major big cats of the world – tigers, lions, leopards,
snow leopards, pumas, jaguars, and cheetahs, the International Big Cat Alliance was
inaugurated in Mysuru. The alliance aims to work towards the protection and
conservation of these big cats.
Vibrant Villages Programme
On April 7 this year, Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the Vibrant Village program at
Kibithu, a remote village located at an altitude of 9,000 feet above sea level, near the India-
China border in Arunachal Pradesh. This program aims to transform rural areas into self-
sufficient and prosperous communities.
Kibithu Village: The Gateway to the Land of the Rising Sun
Kibithu is the easternmost village of India and is considered the gateway to the Land of
the Rising Sun, Arunachal Pradesh. Despite its strategic location, the village lacks basic
amenities such as electricity, healthcare facilities, and proper roads. These factors make it
difficult for the residents to access necessary services.
Vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat: Self-Reliant India
The Vibrant Village program aligns with the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat,
which aims to make India self-reliant and self-sufficient. The program will help enhance
rural population’s quality of life and promote the overall economic growth and
development of these regions. The government has allocated funds for the successful
implementation of this initiative in a phased manner.
Impact of the Vibrant Village Program
The program aims to revolutionize rural India by providing access to basic amenities and
promoting economic growth and development. The construction of roads, bridges, and
other infrastructure will enhance connectivity, making it easier for people to access
essential services. Provision of electricity and access to clean drinking water will improve
the quality of life of people living in rural areas. Skill development programs will create
employment opportunities for local residents, promoting economic growth and
development.
Unified Portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics
The Unified Portal of Central Bureau of Narcotics was recently launched to facilitate the
ease of doing business of Narcotic Drugs and Controlled Substances in India. The launch
of this portal is expected to be a significant stepping stone towards achieving better
compliance and transparency.
Unified Portal: A Game-Changer
The Unified portal is calibrated to have database integration and ingestion with other
government services, including Bharat Kosh, GST, PAN-NSDL validation, e-Sanchit, and
UIDAI. It will provide a single point service for obtaining licenses from CBN and facilitate
secure, user-friendly, and transparent operations. Exporters, importers, and
manufacturers of Narcotic Drugs and Controlled Substances are expected to be the
primary beneficiaries of the Unified portal. The portal is designed to support and harbor
user-friendly, secure transactions, and cloud-based storage, thus simplifying the process
of obtaining various licenses such as Import Certificates, Export Authorizations, No
Objection Certificate for various NDPS and controlled substances, manufacturing licenses,
and Quota Allocation of Narcotic Drugs in smooth, hassle-free, and transparent
operations.
Reduced Processing Time
The Unified portal eliminates the need for physical interaction, reducing the processing
time drastically. This will leverage a significant reduction in the processing time and
conserve the resources of the trade for other fruitful business activities.
The Primary Objective of CBN
CBN is a central government organization that regulates the international trade of
Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, and Precursor Chemicals. The NDPS Act, 1985,
provides the legal framework for regulating Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances, and
Controlled Substances in India.
Potential of Narcotic Drugs and Controlled Substances
Narcotic Drugs and Controlled Substances have strong medicinal, scientific, and industrial
use, but they also have the potential for diversion for illicit use. Striking a balance between
their availability for legitimate purposes and compliance with the law is a significant
challenge.
Digital Platform for Facilitation and Compliance Management
CBN conceptualized the use of a Digital platform as an effective tool to synergize and
sustain a balance between facilitation and compliance management. The Unified portal is
a significant milestone towards achieving this objective.
Various Licenses Issued by CBN
Import Certificates, Export Authorizations, No Objection Certificate for various NDPS and
controlled substances, manufacturing licenses, and Quota Allocation of Narcotic Drugs are
the various licenses issued by CBN. These licenses ensure that the substances are being
used for legitimate purposes and in compliance with the law.
Faceless and Contactless Interaction
The Unified portal’s mode of interaction is faceless and contactless. Applicants can file
applications and raise queries from anywhere and at any time, and the department will
respond through the portal.
April 13, 2023
Discovery of Bacteria Resistant to Colistin
Researchers in Los Angeles have made a concerning discovery: bacteria that is highly
resistant to colistin, which is considered the “last resort” antibiotic. The bacteria was
found in the wastewaters of two of Los Angeles’ largest treatment plants, the Joint Water
Pollution Control Plant in Carson and the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant in Playa del
Rey. These treatment plants were being surveilled to monitor untreated waters, a practice
that began following the Covid pandemic.
Potential Danger of Antibiotic Resistance
The discovery of highly resistant bacteria is alarming because of the potential for the
resistance to spread widely across different bacterial populations. This is especially
concerning given that antibiotic resistance is the major threat to global health according
to the World Health Organisation. Misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is the
primary trigger for the process of antibiotic resistance, and infections like pneumonia,
tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and salmonellosis are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due
to antibiotic resistance.
Testing Findings
The testing found antibiotic resistance genes on two novel small plasmids. Plasmids are
circular pieces of DNA that can be shared among different types of unrelated bacteria. The
fact that these antibiotic resistance genes were found on small plasmids is especially
concerning because they can spread more easily between bacteria, making it more likely
that the resistance will continue to spread.
Colistin Discovery and Documentation
Colistin was originally discovered in 2015 in China. Since then, it has been documented on
every continent except Antarctica. This highly effective antibiotic has been used as a last
resort option for many infections, but the emergence of highly resistant bacteria makes it
increasingly difficult to treat infections.
Potential Consequences
Antibiotic-resistant infections can be very difficult to treat, making it more likely that
patients will need to stay in the hospital for extended periods of time. This can increase
healthcare costs and make it more difficult for people to recover from infections.
What is Crab Nebula?
NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) released a breathtaking image of the
Crab Nebula, a celestial object that has intrigued astronomers for centuries.
NASA’s IXPE and the Crab Nebula
NASA’s IXPE is a spacecraft that is designed to study the polarization of X-rays emitted
from celestial objects like the Crab Nebula. The IXPE was launched on December 9, 2021,
and it has already captured incredible images of the Crab Nebula, which is located in the
Taurus constellation. The Crab Nebula is approximately 6,500 light-years away from Earth.
The Crab Pulsar and its Size
The Crab Nebula is the remnant of a supernova explosion that was observed on Earth in
1054 AD. This explosion created a dense object called the Crab Pulsar. The Crab Pulsar has
a diameter that is about the same as the length of Manhattan and a mass that is
equivalent to two Suns. The pulsar rotates at a rate of 30 times per second, creating a
chaotic mess of gases, shock waves, magnetic fields, and high-energy light and particles,
which are collectively known as a “pulsar wind nebula.”
Scientists’ Quest to Understand the Magnetic Field
The pulsar wind nebula of the Crab Nebula is of particular interest to scientists because it
gives them a glimpse into the magnetic field. The polarisation of X-rays emitted from
different parts of the Crab Nebula gives scientists clues about the direction and the
orderliness of the magnetic field. This is important because the magnetic field plays a
critical role in the behavior of cosmic objects.
Origination of X-rays from the Crab Nebula
Although scientists know that X-rays are emitted from the Crab Nebula, they are still
unsure about the exact location and process that causes the emission. However, they
believe that the X-rays originate in the outer magnetic field region, also known as the
“wind” region.
Martin Weisskopf and the Development of Powerful Instruments
The Crab Nebula has been a source of fascination for astronomers for many years.
Astronomer Martin Weisskopf and his colleagues proposed developing a satellite with
“powerful instruments” to gather more detailed measurements of the Crab Nebula and
other mysterious cosmic objects.
April 15, 2023
Uttaramerur Inscription
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on April 14, mentioned an inscription from Uttaramerur in
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, while discussing India’s democratic history. Uttaramerur has
several inscriptions dating back centuries. The one referred by the Prime Minister was
created during the reign of Parantaka I (907-953 AD).
Background and Significance

Uttaramerur is known for its historic temples built during the Pallava and Chola rule. The
inscription mentioned by Modi is found on the Vaikunda Perumal Temple’s walls. It dates
back to the ninth century CE and is an invaluable source of information about the
functioning of the village assembly. The inscription is significant because it provides
insight into the governance structure of that era, which was characterized by
decentralization of power.
Details of the Inscription
The inscription describes the functioning of the local sabha, i.e., the village assembly. It
mentions the qualifications for being a representative to the sabha, which includes
ownership of a certain amount of land, having a house, being between the age of 35 and
70, and knowing mantras and Brahmanas. On the other hand, certain factors disqualify a
person from consideration, such as not having submitted accounts while previously
serving in a committee, committing any of the first four of the five ‘great sins,’ being
associated with outcastes, and eating ‘forbidden’ dishes.
The representative is chosen for the village assembly through an elaborate draw of lots
conducted by priests. Once elected, the member serves on important committees within
the sabha, such as the garden committee, the tank committee, the annual committee, the
committee for supervision of justice, the gold committee, and the five-fold committee. The
committee assignments last for 360 days, and any committee member implicated in any
wrongdoing is removed instantly.
NCPCR's Guidelines for Conducting Preliminary Assessment for Child Offenders
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued guidelines for
the first time for conducting a preliminary assessment to determine whether a child
should be treated as a minor or not in criminal cases which come under the “heinous”
offences category of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015
Under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, a child is defined as
an individual who has not completed 18 years of age. However, there is a specific
provision under which initiation of an inquiry into a heinous crime has been differentiated
based on the age of the child. According to Section 15(1) of the Act, in case of a heinous
offence alleged to have been committed by a child “who has completed or is above” the
age of 16, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) “shall conduct a preliminary assessment with
regard to his mental and physical capacity to commit such offence, ability to understand
the consequences of the offence and the circumstances in which he allegedly committed
the offence”. The Board may then pass an order that there is a need for trial of the child as
an adult.
Responsibility of Juvenile Justice Board (JJB)
The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) is solely responsible for conducting preliminary
assessment, which it must complete within three months from the date of first production
of the child before it. In case the Board determines that there is a need for a trial of the
child as an adult, it will then transfer the case to the Children’s Court.
Age Determination
To determine the offender’s age, the JJ Board would either obtain the date of birth
certificate from the school or the matriculation or equivalent certificate from the
concerned examination Board in the absence of the birth certificate given by a civic body.
Only in cases where neither of the two are available, “age shall be determined by an
ossification test or any other latest medical age determination test” conducted on the
orders of the JJ Board, say the guidelines.
Categories of Criminal Cases Involving Children
The amendment passed in 2021 by Parliament defines three categories of criminal cases
involving children in conflict with law. They are “heinous offences,” which include crimes
for which the minimum punishment is imprisonment for 7 years or more; “petty
offences,” which includes crimes for which the maximum punishment is imprisonment up
to three years; and “serious offences,” which includes crimes for which the punishment is
a minimum imprisonment for a term more than 3 years and not exceeding 7 years.
Two Essential Conditions for Preliminary Assessment
The sole aim of preliminary assessment is to determine whether the child in the age of
16-18 years should be tried as an adult in case of heinous offence. There are two essential
conditions that call for preliminary assessment. First, the offence is in the category of
“heinous” as defined in the Act. Second, the child who has allegedly committed the crime
is in the age group of 16-18 years.
Starship's First Uncrewed Flight Test
SpaceX, the private space exploration company founded by Elon Musk, is set to launch its
Starship rocket from its facility in South Texas. The Starship rocket is the most powerful
rocket ever constructed, generating nearly 16.5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. The
inaugural launch of the Starship rocket is scheduled to take place on April 17.
The Starship rocket, consisting of a Super Heavy booster and a Starship spacecraft, is
designed to be fully reusable. The Super Heavy booster houses 33 next-generation Raptor
engines, while the Starship spacecraft has six Raptor engines. The upcoming test flight will
involve a Super Heavy prototype called Booster 7 and the Ship 24 upper-stage variant.
FAA Approval for Uncrewed Flight Test
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted SpaceX’s request for an uncrewed
flight test of the Starship rocket. The regulatory body has also issued a restriction in the
launch area to ensure the safety of air traffic. SpaceX had to wait for more than a year to
get FAA approval for an orbital launch attempt. Government personnel will be on the
ground to ensure the private space company complies with its license during the test
launch.
SpaceX’s Starship rocket is part of NASA’s Artemis program, which has awarded SpaceX
contracts and options worth more than $3 billion. The company believes that the Starship
rocket, which stands 400 feet (120 meters) tall when fully stacked, will make the settlement
of the moon and Mars economically feasible.
Inaugural Flight Test Details

During the inaugural flight test, Starship is expected to travel about 150 miles above
Earth’s surface. If all goes according to plan, Booster 7 will splash down in the Gulf of
Mexico, while Ship 24 will keep flying, conducting a partial lap of Earth before coming
down in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. SpaceX plans to recover the rocket booster in
future flights by guiding it to an upright landing back at the launch site.
Vegetable Production System (Veggie)
On April 15, 2023, SpaceX’s commercial resupply services will transport tomatoes grown
on the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) aboard the International Space Station (ISS)
back to Earth. These tomatoes were grown as part of the Veg-05 experiment, which
probed the impact of light quality and fertiliser on fruit production, microbiological safety,
and nutritional value. The aim of the Veggie system on the ISS is to develop a ‘pick-and-
eat’ fresh vegetable component to food on the space station, in order to bring fresh
produce in the astronauts’ diet.
The Veggie System
The Veggie system is a plant growth unit aboard the ISS. Salad plants such as leafy greens
and dwarf tomatoes were cultivated in the Veggie chambers, with each crop grown under
two different LED lighting setups. They were grown using plant “pillows” – sacks with a
wicking surface filled with soilless substrate and fertiliser. The crops were nurtured by the
crew for 104 days, who opened wicks to assist seedlings sprout, provided water, thinned
the seedlings, pollinated them, and kept an eye on their health and development.
The Benefits of Fresh Produce in Space
The degradation of vitamins and quality of packaged food over time is a significant
challenge for long-duration missions into deep space. To solve this problem, growing a
supplemental food crop is a solution. The goal of this study is to establish horticulture
standards to obtain high yields of secure, nutritious dwarf tomato fruit to augment a
space diet of pre-packaged food. By providing fresh produce to astronauts on long-
duration missions, NASA is working towards enhancing the nutritional value of their diet
and, in turn, their overall health and well-being.
Water Footprint of Large AI Models

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the world by providing unprecedented
benefits to industries ranging from healthcare to finance. However, a recent study by the
University of Colorado Riverside and University of Texas at Arlington, titled “Making AI
Less Thirsty,” sheds light on an aspect of AI that has remained under the radar – its water
footprint.
Measuring the “water footprint” of AI models
The study aims to measure the “water footprint” of large AI models like OpenAI’s
ChatGPT. It found that the water consumed to run ChatGPT, which is used by billions of
users worldwide, is “extremely large.” The study highlights the importance of addressing
water footprint of AI models in order to address global water crisis.
Withdrawal and consumption

The study distinguishes between “withdrawal” and “consumption.” Withdrawal refers to
the physical extraction of water from rivers, lakes, and other sources, while consumption
relates to the water loss due to evaporation when used in data centers. According to the
recent study, the conversation comprising 20-50 questions with the AI chatbot in a single
system may consume a “500 ml bottle of water.”
Water usage concentration
According to the researchers, when addressing consumption in this context, “water
cannot be recycled,” which is where most of the AI’s water usage is concentrated. The
water consumed also refers to clean freshwater used for generating electricity as well as
for cooling servers to run AI models. The study claims that while training GPT-3 alone,
Microsoft may have consumed a staggering 700,000 liters of water, which is the same
amount used to make 370 BMW cars.
Water use in less energy-efficient data centers
The study highlights that if the data had been generated in the tech giants’ less energy-
efficient data centers in Asia, water use may have increased threefold. The number is
predicted to surge with the newly-launched GPT-4 AI system since it has a larger model
size.
Bohag Bihu 2023
Bohag Bihu is a seven-day festival of joy and abundance celebrated in Assam, a
northeastern state of India. It is also known as Rongali Bihu or the spring festival, which
signifies the onset of the seeding season. This year, Bohag Bihu will be celebrated from
April 14-20, 2023. Let us dive deeper into this colorful festival and explore its various
aspects.
Rongali Bihu: A Time for Joy and Happiness
Rongali Bihu is celebrated over 7 days and is one of the major festivals of Assam. It is a
time for joy and happiness for the Assamese community, who celebrate it with great
enthusiasm. The festival is celebrated with cultural programs, feasting, and exchanging
gifts among family and friends.
The Seven Days of Bohag Bihu
Garu Bihu, the first day of Bohag Bihu, is dedicated to cattle. On this day, cows and bulls
are bathed and decorated with flowers and vermilion. They are also fed special meals and
offered prayers.
Manuh Bihu, the second day of Bohag Bihu, involves traditional baths and delicious food.
People take a bath early in the morning with special herbs and enjoy traditional delicacies
like pitha, laru, and doi.
Guxai Bihu, the third day of Bohag Bihu, is dedicated to worshipping household deities.
People clean their houses and offer prayers to the deities.
Taator Bihu, the fourth day of Bohag Bihu, is celebrated for handlooms. On this day,
women weave new clothes and offer them to the deities.
Nangolor Bihu, the fifth day of Bohag Bihu, is dedicated to farm equipment. People clean
and decorate their farm equipment and offer prayers to the deities.
GharosiaJibar Bihu, the sixth day of Bohag Bihu, is celebrated for domestic animals.
People clean and decorate their domestic animals and offer them special meals.
Chera Bihu, the final day of Bohag Bihu, is celebrated with much enthusiasm. People wear
new clothes, visit their friends and relatives, and exchange gifts.
Traditional Musical Instruments of Bohag Bihu
Bohag Bihu celebrations are incomplete without traditional musical instruments like dhol,
pepa, gogona, toka, and taal. The dhol is a large drum played with two sticks, while the
pepa is a long trumpet made from buffalo horn. The gogona is a bamboo mouth organ,
while the toka is a small drum played with a stick. The taal is a pair of cymbals.
World Record in Bihu Dance
On April 13 this year, Assam entered the Guinness Book of World Records by performing
the traditional Bihu dance at a single venue with more than 11,000 performers, including
drummers and dancers, participating at the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. The traditional
dance is performed especially during the Bohag Bihu. The event aimed to put Assam’s
cultural heritage on the world map.
Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year)
Pohela Boishakh is a cultural festival celebrated in Bangladesh and the Bengali-speaking
Indian states like West Bengal. Also known as Bengali New Year, this festival is a time for
people to come together and celebrate their traditions and values while reflecting on the
past year and making plans for the future. In this article, we will explore the origins,
significance, and celebrations of Pohela Boishakh.
Origins and Evolution of Pohela Boishakh
The origins of Pohela Boishakh can be traced back to the Mughal Empire, where it was
celebrated as a harvest festival. It was a way to thank the gods for a bountiful harvest and
pray for a prosperous year ahead. During the Bengali Renaissance in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries, cultural icons like Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam
incorporated Pohela Boishakh into their works, making it more significant. Today, it is
celebrated as a symbol of Bengali cultural identity and a reminder of the region’s rich
cultural heritage.
Significance of Pohela Boishakh
Pohela Boishakh is an important festival that celebrates and promotes Bengali culture and
heritage. It brings people together in a spirit of unity and community and promotes
harmony, regardless of their religion or background.
Celebrations of Pohela Boishakh
Pohela Boishakh is celebrated on the first day of the Bengali calendar, which usually falls
on April 14 but this year will be celebrated on April 15. The day is marked with colorful
parades, traditional music and dance performances, and various cultural programs. The
occasion is celebrated by wearing traditional attires, eating traditional delicacies and
exchanging greetings, wishing peace and prosperity in the coming year.
Buzi Bridge in Mozambique

The Buzi Bridge in Mozambique was virtually inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Dr S.
Jaishankar. It has been built by India as part of the 132 km Tica-Buzi-Nova-Sofala Road
project. This newly constructed bridge is a practical example of India-Mozambique
solidarity and friendship.
Buzi Bridge: India’s contribution to Mozambique
The Buzi Bridge is a significant project that showcases India’s commitment to
Mozambique’s infrastructure development. India has been a reliable partner in
Mozambique’s growth story, and this bridge is yet another example of India’s
contribution to the country’s development.
The journey by train from Maputo to Machava
During his visit, Dr Jaishankar took a ride in a Made in India train from Maputo to Machava
with Mr Magala, and CMD of Rail India Technical and Economic Service RITES Rahul Mithal
joined them on the journey. This journey highlights the significance of India’s contribution
to Mozambique’s rail infrastructure development.
Meeting with President of Assembly Esperança Bias
Dr Jaishankar met with President of Assembly Esperança Bias. During their meeting, they
discussed the historic cooperation between India and Mozambique. The Indian side
reiterated its support for Mozambique’s sustainable development. The focus of the
meeting included counter-terrorism and disaster resilience.
The External Affairs Minister also had talks with Mozambican Minister of Transport and
Communication and Chairman, Mozambican Port and Rail Authority Mateus Magala
regarding expanding train networks, electric mobility, and waterways connectivity. He
emphasized that India is a reliable partner in this regard.
Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is located in the states of Andhra Pradesh and
Telangana, making it one of the few tiger reserves in India that spans across two states. It
is also the largest tiger reserve in India, covering a total area of 3,728 km2 (1,439 sq mi).
The core area of the reserve is 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi), which is an area dedicated solely to
the conservation of tigers and other endangered species.
Major Attractions
The Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is not just a habitat for tigers, but also a
popular tourist destination. The reservoirs and temples of Srisailam are the major
attractions for tourists and pilgrims. The reserve is also home to several waterfalls,
including Ethipothala Falls, Pedda Dukudu, Gundam, and Chaleswaram. The Krishna river
cuts its basin almost 200 meters deep over a distance of 130 kilometres via the
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. The reserve is home to a diverse range of flora
and fauna, including tigers, leopards, Indian bison, spotted deer, sambar deer, and wild
boar.
Climate
The reserve experiences an average annual rainfall of 1,000 mm (39 in), with the
southwest monsoon being active from the second half of June to the end of September.
The reserve’s elevation ranges from 100 m (330 ft) to 917 m (3,009 ft) above mean sea
level. The hill ranges feature numerous plateaus, with Amrabad, Srisailam, Peddacheruvu,
Sivapuram, and Nekkanti being the most famous.
Initiative for Efficient Entry Process
To facilitate a seamless and efficient entry process for vehicles into the forest area, the
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has signed an MoU with the Nagarjunsagar-
Srisailam Tiger Reserve. The initiative seeks to deliver a FASTag-based payment system at
forest entry points to ease movement. Visitors can now avoid long queues and delays, and
the collection of the Ecosystem Management Coordination fee will be done through
FASTag at various entrance points of the Tiger Reserve.
Partnership for Sustainable Tourism
The partnership between NHAI and the Forest Department is a major step towards
promoting sustainable tourism and preserving natural resources. The initiative will help in
curbing vehicular emissions at the forest entry points, thereby reducing the
environmental impact of tourism on the reserve.
Puthandu (Tamil New Year)

The Tamil community celebrates the beginning of their New Year with great fervor and
joy. This festival is known as Puthandu, which translates to “new year,” or Puthuvarudam,
which means “new age.”
Date and Celebration
Puthandu usually falls on the 14th of April on the Gregorian calendar. The celebration is
not limited to Tamil Nadu, India, but also observed in parts of Sri Lanka and Malaysia. The
Tamil New Year is observed with traditional ceremonies, cultural events, and feasting.
Significance of Puthandu
The Tamil New Year holds great significance for the community. According to popular
belief, Lord Brahma started the creation of the universe on this auspicious day, and Lord
Indra came down to earth to assure tranquility. Therefore, Puthandu is a day of new
beginnings and is celebrated with enthusiasm and optimism.
Traditions and Customs
On this day, Tamil speakers greet each other by saying “Puttu vttuka!” or “Iiya puttu
nalvttuka!” to wish one another a happy new year. Families typically clean and tidy up
their homes, light the family puja altar, and go to nearby temples to seek blessings. It is
customary to dress in new clothes, visit elders to express respect and seek their blessings,
and prepare a tray of fruits, flowers, and other auspicious objects.
Festivals and Celebrations
The Chittirai Thiruvizha is observed in the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, a city famed for
its temples. This festival celebrates the coronation of Lord Meenakshi and Lord
Sundareswarar, and it is marked by a grand procession. Another significant car festival is
organized on the day of the Tamil New Year at Tiruvidaimarudur, not far from
Kumbakonam. Numerous other celebrations are organized in different locations,

including Tiruchirapalli, Kanchipuram, and others.
Incident Management Services
India is known to have one of the deadliest road systems in the world, with fatal accidents
happening every few minutes. In response to this alarming issue, the country’s Ministry of
Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has launched a program to expand Incident
Management Services (IMS) across all national highways in India. This program aims to
lower fatal accidents and enhance road user safety by providing quick response to
accidents and saving the lives of accident victims.
IMS on National Roads in India
Businesses that respond to the MoRTH’s request for proposals (RFP) will provide, run and
maintain the IMS. Under this initiatives, road networks across the country will have a
dedicated IMS every few kilometres as well as personnel and equipment to quickly assist
accident victims. The roadways would have ambulances, cranes, 24/7 patrol cars, gas
cutters, hydraulic rescue tools, hydraulic towing arms, and qualified personnel to ensure
immediate emergency care.
Response Time Limit
Ambulances, cranes, and other emergency vehicles under IMS in India would have a
response time limit of 30 minutes. This will enable the rescue team to respond quickly to
accidents and save lives, especially since victims are frequently stuck within wrecked cars
and require expert powered equipment to free them. The integration of a single hotline
for highways would further bring down the response time.
Accident Frequency and Costs
According to government estimates, there is an accident on Indian roads every minute,
and there is a fatal accident every four minutes. In 2021, road accidents took the lives of
156,000 people in India, or 457 people every day, according to the National Crime Records
Bureau. MoRTH estimated that the cost of road accidents ranges from 1% to 3% of a
nation’s GDP.
Efficient Patrolling
Half of all accidents in India involve vehicles and two-wheelers. Besides road design-
related issues, drivers are generally at fault in accidents. Efficient patrolling of the IMS
providers will minimize the number of traffic accidents and associated deaths. The new
IMS system will be used on both national and state routes, ensuring that there is a
dedicated IMS every few kilometers.
Standardization
To maintain uniformity and eliminate ambiguity, specifications for ambulances, police
vehicles, and rescue cranes will be standardized. Also, as a collision rescue team, patrol
vehicles and ambulances will collaborate and combine their tasks to provide a more
efficient response to accidents.
Mission 50K-EV4ECO
SIDBI has recently launched the pilot version of the Mission 50K-EV4ECO to promote the
growth and development of value chain of India’s electric vehicle industry. It is expected
to promote EV adoption and strengthen associated infrastructure in the country.
Mission 50K-EV4ECO: Prioritizing EV Ecosystem Development
The project prioritizes the uptake of 2-wheeler, 3-wheeler, and 4-wheeler EVs through
direct and indirect lending. The objective of this scheme is to provide access to affordable
financing for electric vehicles and to develop charging infrastructure, including battery
swapping.
Challenges Faced by MSMEs and NBFCs in the EV Ecosystem
One of the biggest challenges faced by MSMEs and non-banking financial companies
(NBFCs) in the EV ecosystem is access to adequate finance, including competitive rates of
interest. The bankers perceive EV projects as high risk, which makes it difficult for MSMEs
and NBFCs to convince them to lend money for such ventures. Additionally, dedicated
NBFCs struggle with the high cost of funds, which results in the ultimate beneficiary
paying a high acquisition cost.
Pushing the 3-Wheelers EV Segment
The 3-wheelers EV segment needs to be promoted as it offers the greatest potential for EV
adoption in India. Accounting for 79% of passenger road activity, e-2/3Ws are already cost-
competitive relative to conventional vehicles. Hence, SIDBI has been advised by NITI
Aayog to prioritize this segment in its Mission 50K-EV4ECO scheme.
SIDBI’s National Mission
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is a government-owned financial
institution established in 1990 to support and promote small industries. Over the years,
SIDBI has evolved into the principal financial institution for micro, small, and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) in India, providing various financial services to help them grow and
develop. In line with its national mission, SIDBI has adopted EVs as a priority. The pilot
scheme Mission 50K-EV4ECO shall enable quick replicability and scalability through
multilateral support. The scheme is the precursor to the EVOLVE scheme by SIDBI-World
Bank, which provides better financing terms and other solutions to address the issues
faced in the EV ecosystem in India.
EDPB’s ChatGPT Task Force

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has formed a task force to address concerns
related to OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot. This move comes after the Italian government
banned the use of ChatGPT in the country and accused OpenAI of stealing users’ data and
failing to have an age-verification system to bar minors from being exposed to illicit
material. The German data protection commissioner has also expressed concerns about
the chatbot, suggesting that it may face a similar ban in Germany. The task force set up by
EDPB is dedicated to fostering cooperation and exchanging information on possible
enforcement actions conducted by data protection authorities related to ChatGPT.
About ChatGPT
ChatGPT, developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI, is a language model that possesses
human-like abilities in various domains, including composing poems, writing code, and
providing solutions to ethical dilemmas. Its latest iteration, GPT-4, is expected to be more
creative, reliable, and nuanced in ascertaining instructions than its predecessor.
About EDPB
EDPB is responsible for supervising data protection regulations within the European
Union, and it consists of national data protection authorities and watchdogs from
different European countries.
Silver lining for OpenAI
According to reports, if ChatGPT can form general policies that are transparent, it may be
allowed to operate. This would be beneficial for OpenAI and Microsoft, who are in a race
with Google in the artificial intelligence segment. It may take some time for EDPB to align
policy positions on ChatGPT, but there seems to be a silver lining for the future of the
chatbot.
World Chagas Disease Day
Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a life-threatening illness
caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). This disease is mostly
present in endemic regions of 21 continental Latin American countries, where it is
transmitted through contact with infected blood-sucking triatomine bugs’ faeces and/or
urine (vector-borne transmission). However, it can also be transmitted through infected
donor organ transplants, laboratory mishaps, congenital (mom-to-child) transmission
during pregnancy or childbirth, and transfusions of infected donor blood or blood
products.
World Chagas Disease Day
World Chagas Disease Day is observed every year on April 14 to raise awareness about
Chagas Disease. This date was chosen to commemorate the discovery of the first human
case of Chagas disease, which was diagnosed by Brazilian doctor and researcher Carlos
Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas on April 14, 1909. The theme for World Chagas Disease Day 2023
was “Time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care,” reflecting the
importance of early detection and treatment of this disease.
Prevalence and Treatment
As per the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) estimates, approximately 70 million
people in the Americas live in areas of exposure and are at risk of contracting this disease.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around 6-7 million people are infected
with Chagas disease worldwide, with 10,000 deaths every year.
Two antiparasitic medicines – Benznidazole and Nifurtimox – can be used to treat Chagas
Disease. Both of these medicines are almost 100% effective in curing the disease if
consumed immediately after infection, including cases of congenital transmission.
However, pregnant women or people with kidney or liver failure should not take these
medicines. Nifurtimox is also contraindicated for patients with neurological or psychiatric
disorders.
ITBP Battalions in Arunachal Pradesh

In a recent development, the Indian government has announced that it will station six out
of the seven Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) battalions in Arunachal Pradesh, the north
eastern border state of India, to counter China’s manoeuvres. The decision was made in
February when the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved a proposal to hire
9,400 personnel for the ITBP. The move comes after the 2020 standoff between Indian and
Chinese forces, which led to an increase in their military presence along the Line of Actual
Control (LAC).
Earmarking ITBP Battalions for Arunachal Pradesh
The decision to station six out of the seven ITBP battalions in Arunachal Pradesh is a major
push by the Indian government to counter Chinese presence in the region. The move is
expected to augment India’s military presence along the LAC and ensure that any attempt
by China to indulge in frequent transgressions is thwarted. The new battalion and sector
headquarters are expected to be put in place by 2025-26.
Border with China and Other Countries
India shares a 3,488-km border with China, and the middle sector lies between
Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh on the Indian side and the Tibet autonomous region
on the Chinese side. The eastern sector lies between Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and the
Tibet autonomous region on the Chinese side. Apart from China, Arunachal Pradesh
shares borders with Myanmar and Bhutan. The total length of Arunachal Pradesh’s
international border is 1,863 kilometers.
Recent Tensions with China
In December 2020, Indian and Chinese soldiers clashed in Yangtze near Tawang in
Arunachal Pradesh, where troops from both sides exchanged blows after hundreds of
Chinese soldiers transgressed into India’s side of the boundary. According to India, China
is in illegal occupation of 38,000 sq km in Ladakh and claims 90,000 sq km in Arunachal
Pradesh. The undemarcated LAC has been a constant source of tension between the two
countries.
Vibrant Village Programme
Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently visited Arunachal Pradesh to launch the Vibrant
Village Programme. Under this scheme, 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting
the northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and
Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development. As many as 662 villages
have been identified for priority coverage in the first phase/ These include 455 villages in
Arunachal Pradesh.
April 17, 2023
Banking on Climate Chaos Report
On April 12, 2023, environmental organizations released the “Banking on Climate Chaos”
report, which details the world’s largest banks’ spending on fossil fuel project financing
since the Paris Agreement. The report reveals some shocking figures and highlights the
urgent need to shift towards sustainable financing.
Highlights of the Report

World’s 60 largest banks have spent a staggering $5.5 trillion or Rs 4,49,36,265 crore
on financing fossil fuel projects since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2016. This
figure alone demonstrates the scale of the issue at hand and highlights the need for
swift action.
United States was the top financier of fossil fuels, providing 28% of total financing in
the fossil fuel sector in 2022.
Ten banks that had the highest spending on fossil fuels from 2016-2022 include
JPMorgan Chase & Co, Citibank NA, Wells Fargo & Company, Bank of America
Corporation, and others.
As much as $673 billion was spent on fossil fuel financing in just 2022, emphasizing
the urgency of the situation.
BNP Paribas, which lent the highest amount in Europe, is financed $20.8 billion worth
of fossil fuel entities in 2022.
Canada and Japan were the top financiers for fossil fuels from 2020-2022, revealing
the need for these countries to take bold action to shift towards renewable energy
sources.
G7 countries provided $73 billion in public finance for fossil fuels from 2020-2022,
which calls into question their commitment to the Paris Agreement.
Danske Bank decided in 2023 to end fossil fuel refinancing of old oil and gas
exploration and production projects and new long term financing for the same,
especially for companies that lack a credible transition plan based on the Paris
Agreement.
Ambedkar Circuit Tourist Train
The Indian government recently launched the Ambedkar circuit tourist train under the
Dekho Apna Desh initiative, aimed at promoting domestic tourism in the country. This
eight-day special tour covers eight significant places associated with Ambedkar i.e., New
Delhi, Mhow, Nagpur, Sanchi, Sarnath, Gaya, Rajgir, and Nalanda. The train is a joint
initiative of the Ministries of Tourism and Railways, aimed at attracting not only the wider
tourist base but also the Dalit community.
The flag-off ceremony of the Bharat Gaurav Tourist train was held on April 14, 2023, at the
Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi. The train was flagged off by the Union Minister for
Culture and Tourism, G. Kishan Reddy.
Significance of Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur
One of the most significant places in the Ambedkar circuit covered by the Bharat Gaurav
Tourist train is Deekshabhoomi in Nagpur. It is a sacred monument of Navayana
Buddhism where Dr. B.R. Ambedkar embraced Buddhism with approximately 6 lakh of his
followers, mainly scheduled caste people, on Ashoka Vijaya Dashami on October 14, 1956.
Deekshabhoomi is regarded as a sacred place, a preparation for social actions against
class conflicts, discrimination, and inequality, and the first pilgrimage center of
Ambedkarite Buddhism in India. Millions of pilgrims visit Deekshabhoomi every year.
Facilities Available in the Tourist Train

The Bharat Gaurav Tourist train is equipped with various facilities to make the journey
comfortable and memorable for tourists. It has a well-equipped pantry to cater to the
dietary needs of passengers. The train also has an infotainment system that provides
information about the places covered in the tour. Additionally, CCTV cameras have been
installed in the train for the safety and security of passengers.
Who was Virginia Norwood?
Virginia Norwood was an American inventor and scientist whose contribution to the
development of the scanner has revolutionized the field of remote sensing. Her invention
enabled scientists to record images of the earth from space and paved the way for the
Landsat program.
The Life of Virginia Norwood
Virginia Norwood was born in 1923 and grew up in Los Angeles, California. She obtained
her Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in
1946. Norwood’s interest in electronics and computing led her to pursue a career in
developing electronic equipment for Hughes Aircraft Co.
The Invention of the Scanner
Norwood’s most significant contribution to the field of remote sensing was the
development of the scanner that made Landsat programme possible. Her invention was
initially designed to record seven bands of energy, but she later scaled it back to four
bands. The scanner recorded images of the earth by measuring the amount of energy
reflected from the planet’s surface. This data was then transmitted to Earth and
interpreted by scientists.
Impact of Norwood’s Invention
The Landsat program, which was launched in 1972, uses a series of satellites to map
changes in the earth’s surface brought on by climate change and human actions. The
Landsat satellites orbit the earth every 99 minutes and have recorded millions of images
of the planet.
Norwood’s invention was crucial to the Landsat program’s success. Her scanner recorded
multiple spectra of light and energy, which could be modified for the planetary project.
The images recorded by the scanner enabled scientists to monitor changes in the earth’s
surface over time. Her invention revolutionized the field of remote sensing and her work
has had a lasting impact on the scientific community.
Norwood’s love for nature was evident in her work, and she hung an image of Yosemite
National Park’s Half Dome on the wall of her house for the rest of her life. Her legacy
continues through the Landsat program, which has launched nine satellites to date, with
the latest being Landsat 9.
What is CL-Flam?
IIT Indore, NASA-Caltech, and Sweden’s University of Gothenburg have collaborated to
develop a low-cost camera setup called CL-Flam, which can revolutionize scientific
imaging. This device has the capability of capturing multispectral images of four chemical
species in a flame using a single DSLR camera, unlike the previous complex system that
required four cameras. Now, the international team is looking to explore the device’s
applications in biomedical imaging, ultrafast imaging, multidimensional, and other
advanced studies.
Improvement in Combustion Engines
The primary objective of this research was to study the combustion of fuels and improve
the efficiency of engines and burners while reducing carbon emissions. The elements
released due to fuel combustions in industrial burners and engines can be studied by
analysing the images captured by the CL-Flam device. Such analyses will help companies
make necessary improvements in engines and burners to ensure optimum and
environment-friendly use of fuels during combustion.
Methodology
The structured illumination method has been used by the researchers to achieve the
simultaneous imaging of multiple species. It enables imaging of low-intensity species like
CH* using a DSLR camera, which typically requires intensified CCD cameras.
Market Launch
The smart camera will be launched in the market through a start-up, providing a low-cost,
effective, and environmentally friendly solution for combustion analysis. The device will be
beneficial to industries dealing with fuel combustion and emissions.
World Hemophilia Day
World Hemophilia Day is observed globally on April 17 to raise awareness about
hemophilia, a rare genetic blood disorder that inhibits the clotting of blood. Hemophilic
individuals lack two crucial clotting factors, Factor VIII (8) or Factor IX (9), which can lead to
significant bleeding during injuries and surgeries. Although minor wounds are usually not
a concern, severe hemophilia can cause internal bleeding that can damage organs and
even result in death.
Establishment of World Hemophilia Day
The first-ever World Hemophilia Day was established in 1989 by the World Federation of
Hemophilia (WFH) to raise awareness about hemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
April 17 was chosen as the date in memory of Frank Schnabel, who was born on that day
in 1942 and dedicated his life to improving the lives of people affected by bleeding
disorders.
The Significance of World Hemophilia Day
Every year, World Hemophilia Day is observed to acknowledge volunteers who support the
hemophilia community and raise awareness about the condition. The World Hemophilia
Federation commemorates this day worldwide as a means of honoring these volunteers
and spreading information about hemophilia.
Theme for World Hemophilia Day 2023
The theme for World Hemophilia Day 2023 is “Access for All: Prevention of Bleeds as the
Global Standard of Care.” The objective of this theme is to urge local policymakers and
governments to improve access to care for all individuals with bleeding disorders.
Martyrdom of Imam Ali

The Martyrdom of Imam Ali is a significant event in the Islamic faith, observed on the
twenty-first day of Ramadan. This day commemorates the death of Ali ibn Abi Talib, who is
considered by Shia Muslims to be the first Imam and was the son-in-law of the Prophet
Muhammad.
The Life and Achievements of Imam Ali
Ali ibn Abi Talib was born on September 15, 601, to Abu Talib and Fatimah bint Asad. He
was a wise leader whose reign existed between 656 and 661. Hazrat Ali participated in
several decisive conflicts alongside the Prophet Muhammad that played a major role in
establishing and creating the early Muslim community. Some of the key battles fought by
him are the Battle of Uhud, the Battle of Badr, the Battle of Trench, the Battle of the
Camel, the Battle of Siffin, and the Battle of Nahrawan.
Later in his life, Ali became his son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad after marrying
Fatima al-Zahra. On the 19th of Ramadan in the year 661, Abd al-Rahman ibn Muljam, an
Egyptian Kharijite, struck him in the cranium with a poisoned sword while he was praying
in the Grand Mosque of Kufa, modern-day Iraq.
The Legacy of Imam Ali
Despite his untimely death, Ali left behind an abundance of writings, such as speeches and
proverbs. His teachings have been transmitted from one generation to the next, serving
as a testament to his wisdom and insight. Millions of pilgrims visit Hazrat Ali’s final resting
place in Najaf, southern Iraq, to pay homage to his legacy and remember his birth and
martyrdom.
Iconic Facts About Imam Ali
1. The Divine Delivery: Imam Ali was honoured to have been born within the Sacred
Kaaba.
2. He Destroyed Deities: He destroyed the idols in the Kaaba because Islam considers
idolatry to be the gravest and most unforgivable transgression. Idolatry is
considered a form of polytheism or shirk.
3. He had a Brief Reign as Caliph: Hazrat Ali only served as Caliph for five years.
4. The Zulfiqar Sword: Muhammad gave him the sword Zulfiqar, which bore the name
Zulfiqar.
NIMHANS-AHT Comprehensive Mental-Health Action Program for Rural Communities
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and NGO Ashraya
Hastha Trust (AHT) signed an MoU recently to test the feasibility of a model
comprehensive rural mental health program named “NAMAN” (NIMHANS-AHT
Comprehensive Mental-Health Action Program for Rural Communities) in two taluks
before launching it nationwide.
The NAMAN program
NAMAN envisions to deliver promotive, preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative care for
the entire population of the target taluks utilizing the existing human resources in the
community. It will be implemented over 3 years in 4 phases. The first phase includes
resource building, which involves staff recruitment and training. The second phase will
involve the conducting of the situational analysis to assess the mental health of the
respective taluks. The third phase is intervention, which involves therapeutic and
rehabilitation services. The final phase is evaluation.
Implementation partners and collaborating institutes
The two taluks selected for implementing NAMAN are Munsiyari in Uttarakhand’s
Pithoragarh district and Belur Taluk in Karnataka’s Hassan district. NIMHANS will develop
and implement the overall roadmap of the program, and All India Institute of Medical
Sciences (AIIMS) -Rishikesh will collaborate with NIMHANS to deliver the program in
Uttarakhand. Other implementation partners include the state governments of Karnataka
and Uttarakhand.
What is Cheiraoba?
Cheiraoba, also known as Sajibu Nongma Panba, is a significant festival celebrated by the
Meetei community that follows Vaishnav Hinduism in Manipur. This festival is considered
one of the most important festivals of the northeastern state and is celebrated with great
pomp and joy.
When is Cheiraoba celebrated?
Cheiraoba is usually celebrated in the month of April and marks the beginning of the lunar
new year for the Meiteis residing in Manipur and elsewhere. While the followers of
Sanamahism, Meitei’s indigenous religion, celebrate it on the first day of the lunar new
year, the followers of Vaishnav Hindus celebrate it on the 13th or 14th of April every year
according to the solar Hindu calendar.
Celebrating Cheiraoba
On this day, Meiteis clean their houses and dress up in their traditional attires to mark the
occasion. Traditional cuisines such as eromba, pakora, ooti, and many more are prepared
and offered to the local deity in addition to flowers and incense sticks in front of the gates.
The dishes are also exchanged with neighbors.
Visiting the Nearest Hillocks
After they consume the sumptuous meal, people visit the closest hillocks for merriment in
the afternoon. According to traditional beliefs, climbing the hilltop to worship the deity on
this new year of the Meiteis will usher in prosperity and help people achieve greater
heights in life. This tradition has great significance as it aids in digestion after consuming a
lot of food.
Thabal Chongba
At night, Thabal Chongba, the Manipuri folk dance, is organized by the locals across
Manipur valley as a joyous event for ushering in the much-awaited Meitei new year. It is a
lively dance, which involves rhythmic clapping, and the dance itself is performed in a circle.
Customs on Cheiraoba
On Cheiraoba, women visit their paternal homes with gifts for the family’s male members.
This custom is an act of repaying the gifts received by them on the day of Ningol
Chakouba, a festival celebrated for the strengthening of the bond between brothers and
sisters.
April 18, 2023
Maharashtra Bhushan Award
The Maharashtra Bhushan award is the highest civilian award presented annually by the
state government. It is a prestigious recognition that celebrates outstanding
achievements and contributions in various fields. The award has a rich history and has
been conferred upon numerous notable individuals who have made significant
contributions to society.
History and Evolution of Maharashtra Bhushan Award
The Maharashtra Bhushan award was conferred for the first time in the year 1996. Initially,
it was conferred in the fields of literature, art, sports, and science, but over the years, the
categories have expanded to include social work, journalism, and public administration
and health services. This expansion reflects the evolving landscape of contributions and
achievements that are worthy of recognition.
Notable Recipients and Recent Events
In recent years, the Maharashtra Bhushan award has been presented to individuals who
have made exceptional contributions to society. Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah
conferred the award upon Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, a renowned personality known for
his philanthropic efforts.
Appasaheb Dharmadhikari: A Philanthropic Leader
Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, the recipient of the Maharashtra Bhushan award at the recent
government event, is known for his remarkable contributions to society. He has dedicated
his life to the service of humanity and founded the Dr Shri Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari
Pratishthan, an organization that engages in various activities such as environmental
conservation, water conservation and protection, health, education, business, disaster
management, and transport.
Philosophy and Contributions of Appasaheb Dharmadhikari
Appasaheb Dharmadhikari’s philosophy revolves around making everyone aware of the
universal consciousness lying within each individual. He believes that service to humanity
is the only purpose of life and has actively worked towards promoting national
integration. His organization, Dr Shri Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan, organizes

regular congregations called Shri Baithaks, where people come together to engage in
discussions and activities aimed at fostering a sense of community and social
responsibility.
Recognition and Achievements
Appasaheb Dharmadhikari’s efforts in the area of cleanliness have also been recognized,
and he was appointed as ‘Swachata Doot’ (cleanliness ambassador) by the then
Maharashtra governor. His selfless contributions to various causes have earned him
widespread admiration and respect from people across Maharashtra and beyond.
National Panchayat Awards Week
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is celebrating the National Panchayat Awards Week from
17th to 21st April this year. This week-long celebration is aimed at recognizing the efforts
of Panchayati Raj institutions in achieving sustainable development goals and promoting
good governance at the grassroots level.
National Panchayati Raj Day
The National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated every year on 24th April to commemorate
the adoption of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 that institutionalized
Panchayati Raj in India.
Theme and Duration
The theme of the National Panchayat Awards Week Celebrations 2023 is “Panchayaton ke
Sankalpon ki Siddhi ka Utsav,” which means “Celebration of the Success of Panchayat’s
Aspirations.” The week-long celebration will last for five days and will include various
events and conferences.
National Conferences
The National Conferences will be held at the C. Subramaniam Auditorium, NASC Complex,
Pusa, New Delhi, on 18th, 19th, and 20th April 2023. The themes for these conferences are
“Poverty-free and Enhanced Livelihoods Panchayat, Self-sufficient Infrastructure
Panchayat and Panchayat with Good Governance,” “Child-friendly Panchayat, Women-
friendly Panchayat, and Socially-secured Panchayat,” and “Water Sufficient Panchayat,
Clean and Green Panchayat, and Healthy Panchayat,” respectively.
Localization of Sustainable Development Goals
The Localization of Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved through Panchayati
Raj Institutions. It aims to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions to contribute to the
achievement of Sustainable Development Goals by aligning local development plans and
priorities with national and global goals.
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav 2.0
Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) is a nationwide campaign launched by the Government
of India to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence. The National Panchayat
Awards Week commemorates the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav 2.0. AKAM 2.0 aims to enhance
the outreach of AKAM to touch the lives of every Indian by celebrating the achievements
and contributions of the people of India in various fields.
Epstein-Barr Virus and Associated Ailments

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), also known as human herpesvirus 4, is a highly contagious virus
that belongs to the herpesvirus family. It is one of the most common human viruses
worldwide, affecting more than 90% of the world’s population. EBV is known to cause
infectious mononucleosis, also known as mono, and is primarily transmitted through
saliva.
Transmission and Symptoms of EBV Infection
EBV infection is primarily spread through saliva, but it can also be transmitted through
genital secretions during sexual activity or through blood transfusions or organ
transplants. Most people infected with EBV do not develop symptoms or only experience
mild symptoms that are easily mistaken for other viral illnesses. However, some people
may experience symptoms such as fatigue, fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and
enlarged spleen.
EBV and Cancer
In some cases, EBV infection can lead to cancer. The virus can go dormant after the initial
infection and reactivate later, leading to long-lasting latent infections that are associated
with a number of cancers, including Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma,
nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and gastric cancer. Researchers at the University of California
San Diego discovered how EBV can trigger cancer by inducing cleavage in human
chromosome 11. Researchers found that cancer tumors with detectable EBV had higher
levels of chromosome 11 abnormalities. These abnormalities are caused when a viral
protein called EBNA1 binds to a site on chromosome 11 to cause breakage.
EBV and Autoimmune Diseases
There is some evidence that EBV infection is associated with a higher risk of developing
certain autoimmune diseases, including dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus,
rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. However, the exact relationship between
EBV and autoimmune diseases is not fully understood.
Childhood Disorders Associated with EBV
EBV infection has also been associated with two childhood disorders: Alice in Wonderland
syndrome, which causes distorted perception of time, space, and body image, and acute
cerebellar ataxia, which affects coordination and balance.
Army Commanders' Conference - Update (April, 2023)
The Indian Army conducts the Army Commanders’ Conference (ACC) biannually to discuss
critical matters related to security and other related aspects. The first edition of the ACC
for the year 2023 is being organized from April 17 to 21. The conference will be conducted
in a hybrid format, taking advantage of available technology to ensure secure
communication. Army Commanders and other senior functionaries attended the
conference virtually on the first day. It is followed by physical meetings in Delhi to balance
detailed deliberations on matters.
Agenda and Updates
The first day of the conference included discussions on agenda points sponsored by
various Command Headquarters. This will be followed by an update from Commander-in-

Chief Andaman and Nicobar Command and sessions by Principal Staff Officers of the Army
Headquarters. The conference will also review the progress made on the activities charted
out as part of ‘Year of Transformation-2023.’ Additionally, advancements on Agnipath
scheme, digitisation and automation initiatives, Combat Engineers tasks, work aspects,
and budget management will also be discussed.
Security and Operational Preparedness
Apart from the review of the Army’s progress, the apex leadership of the Army will
brainstorm on the current and emerging security scenarios. The operational
preparedness of the force will also be reviewed during the conference.
Equipment Display and Talks
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to address the biennial conference on 19th
April. During his speech, he will also review an equipment display focusing on niche
technology, innovation, solutions for surveillance, Artificial Intelligence, training, robotics,
virtual reality, and operational logistics. The conference will also feature a talk on future
contours of India-China relations by Vijay Gokhale, former Foreign Secretary. Vijay
Gokhale is a renowned diplomat and has a deep understanding of India’s foreign policy.
SOPs for Safety and Security of Journalists
A recent incident in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh has raised concerns about the safety and
security of journalists in India. On April 15, 2023, mafia don-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed
and his brother were shot dead by three individuals posing as TV news reporters. The
assailants were carrying identity cards, a mic, and a camera, and one of them shot Atiq
Ahmed at point-blank range when he was interacting with media persons.
The incident has prompted the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to draft a Standard
Operating Procedure (SOP) for the safety and security of journalists. The decision to draft
the SOP was taken under the direction of Prime Minister Modi. It aims to ensure the safety
of media persons while following the accused and interviewing such individuals while they
are in custody.
MHA’s Caution on Safety of Journalists
This is not the first time that the MHA has expressed concern about the safety of
journalists. On October 20, 2017, the Ministry urged all States “to strictly enforce the law to
ensure that a peaceful environment prevails, allowing journalists/media personnel to
exercise freedom of speech and expression in their professional pursuit; ensure that
investigations are concluded in a time-bound manner and public trust in criminal justice
system is maintained.”
The advisory further highlighted the importance of the Fourth Estate as an institution of
democracy. It ensures that citizens are able to express their opinions freely without any
fear or coercion, as provided under the Constitution. The advisory emphasized that
incidents of attack on journalists/media persons need to be investigated promptly to
ensure that criminals get prosecuted in a time-bound manner. State governments have
the power to provide security to individuals based on threat perceptions.
The Prayagraj Incident: What Happened
Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf were being escorted by about a
dozen police personnel for a routine medical check-up when they were shot dead by three
assailants. According to the FIR that was filed after the shooting incident, the assailants
threw the mic and camera and opened fire with semi-automatic weapons when the duo
were speaking with reporters. One of the accused was injured in cross-firing, and some
media persons were injured in a stampede-like situation when the incident occurred.
Constable (General Duty) Examination for CAPFs
The Union Home Ministry has approved the conduct of the Constable (General Duty)
examination for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in 13 regional languages in addition
to Hindi and English. This landmark decision seeks to boost the participation of local youth
in the CAPF and encourage the use of regional languages.

13 regional languages added to the examination
Besides Hindi and English, now the question paper of the Constable (General Duty)
examination for CAPF will be set in Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Malayalam,
Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Odia, Urdu, Punjabi, Manipuri, and Konkani. The examination in
these 13 regional languages will be conducted from January 1, 2024, onwards.
Importance of the Constable (General Duty) examination
The Constable (General Duty) examination is one of the flagship examinations conducted
by the Staff Selection Commission. It attracts lakhs of candidates from across India. The
inclusion of 13 regional languages will help local youth participate in the CAPF and make a
career serving the country.
Encouraging local youth to take the examination in their mother tongue
The States and UT governments have been urged to launch a widespread campaign
promoting this opportunity for local youths, enabling them to use this opportunity to be a
part of CAPFs. This will help increase the number of candidates for these examinations
and strengthen India’s internal security.
Global Conference on Compressed Biogas
The Two Day Global Conference on Compressed Biogas (CBG) was organized by IFGE-CBG
Producers Forum with assistance from Ministry for Petroleum & Natural Gas. It is an
important event for the promotion of CBG in India. The conference was held on April 17 to
18. It focused on creating a progressive policy framework for the growth and development
of the CBG industry in India.
Objective and Scheme
The primary objective of the conference is to apprise the industry about the initiatives
taken by the Government of India for the development of the CBG industry and to identify
areas where policy modifications are required.
Properties and Utilization of CBG
CBG has properties similar to CNG (Compressed Natural Gas). It is a green renewable
alternative that can be utilized in automotive, industrial, and commercial areas, making it
a versatile and sustainable energy source.
Institutional Partners and Supporting Organizations
The institutional partners of the conference are TERI, NAMA Facility, Deutsche Gesellschaft
für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and LCB Forum (Low Carbon Biofuel
Forum), Greece. Indian Oil Corporation is one of the supporting organizations.
Mission of IFGE
The mission of IFGE (Indian Federation of Green Energy) is to promote energy security in a
sustainable manner in every sector of economic development through outreach activities
like organizing workshops, conferences, and policy advocacy initiatives.The purpose of
IFGE: CBG Producer Forum is to provide training and awareness programs for LOI
Holders, Stake Holders, Prospective Investors, including policy advocacy for the industry
members.
Cycas pectinata
An evergreen, palm-like plant with a Jurassic link is under stress in Bhutan, according to a
new study conducted by five botanists. The plant in question is Cycas pectinata, the only
cycad species found in Bhutan. The study, published in the March edition of the Journal of
Threatened Taxa, highlights the vulnerability of Cycas pectinata, which is listed as
“vulnerable” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
Threats to Cycas pectinata in Bhutan
The study on Cycas pectinata was conducted at elevations ranging from 787 to 1,394
meters above mean sea level in known locations of two districts in Bhutan – Trashi
Yangtse and Mongar. It reveals that Cycas pectinata is facing multiple threats to its
existence in Bhutan. Overcollection as an ornamental plant and habitat destruction are
two significant factors contributing to the plant’s stress. Additionally, low seed production
and predators such as wild boars could also be hindering the expansion of the plant’s
population.
Cycads – Ancient Gymnosperms with Genetic Significance
Cycads are one of the most ancient gymnosperms, with a possible origin in the late
Carboniferous period, around 300-325 million years ago. They reached their greatest
diversity during the Jurassic-Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Cycads
are unique in having open-to-air unfertilized seeds that are directly fertilized by
pollination.
The genetic information contained in cycads makes them valuable for scientific research
and conservation efforts. They are considered bridges in major evolutionary transitions in
plants and are indispensable for understanding the origin and subsequent evolution of
seed plants.
Species Information and Cultural Significance
Cycas pectinata belongs to the family Cycadaceae, which has 118 accepted species. It was
first described by Scottish surgeon and botanist Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in 1824,
believed to be a part of modern-day Assam.
Cycads, including Cycas pectinata, hold cultural and economic significance for native
populations. In northeast India and some places in Bhutan, the plant is used for religious
ceremonies. Locals in certain regions of Bhutan also use the seeds of Cycas pectinata as a
dietary supplement, and the young leaves as a substitute for vegetables.
World Heritage Day - Update (April, 2023)
World Heritage Day, also known as the International Day of Monuments and Sites, is
observed annually on April 18th to promote global awareness of the significance of
historical, heritage, and cultural monuments and the measures required to protect them
for future generations.
The Origins of World Heritage Day
In 1982, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) proposed the
concept of World Heritage Day. The following year, the General Conference of UNESCO
approved it. Since then, the day has become a significant occasion for raising public
awareness of cultural assets.

Promoting Cultural Heritage
The primary objective of World Heritage Day is to promote respect for and preservation of
the cultural heritage found around the world for upcoming generations. It honors the
unique and varied cultural heritage found around the world and reminds us of the
importance of preserving and protecting these sites so that future generations can also
witness them and embrace the rich heritage of the world.
The Significance of World Heritage Day
World Heritage Day is a crucial event for raising public awareness of cultural assets. It
emphasizes that these sites are not just a part of our past but an integral part of our
present and future. Celebrating World Heritage Day fosters a sense of pride and
responsibility for our cultural heritage, encouraging people to become active participants
in preserving it.
Theme of World Heritage Day 2023
Every year, World Heritage Day is celebrated under a specific theme. The theme for 2023 is
“Heritage Changes,” with a focus on climate action and its connection to cultural heritage.
This year’s theme aims to encourage people to consider how heritage sites are affected by
climate change and what steps can be taken to mitigate the impact.
April 19, 2023
Authority Holding Sealed Particulars
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently approved a proposal for industry-friendly reforms
related to the Authority Holding Sealed Particulars (AHSP).
What is AHSP?
The AHSP is responsible for generating, maintaining, updating, or declaring obsolete the
entire history and technical information of defence products. So far, the Directorate
General of Quality Assurance (DGQA) was the AHSP for majority of the defence items that
were designed and developed by the various defence public sector undertakings and
private industries.
Why are reforms necessary?
The existing procedures related to the AHSP have bottlenecks. Liberalization of the AHSP
procedures to make them more industry friendly will ensure timely improvements in
defence products and technologies as per the changing times. It will allow defence
companies to own and account for their final designs and specifications as AHSP. This will
enable them to develop products, systems, sub-systems, and components using their own
indigenous capabilities (excluding critical stores) more quickly and efficiently.
Simplified mechanism for decision-making
In the event of any change in the sealed particulars, a simplified mechanism representing
all stakeholders concerned, including the industry, will make a decision. The DGQA will
notify the detailed procedure within two months.
Examination and rationalization of AHSPs by DGQA
The DGQA has been directed to probe all AHSPs and rationalize the entire list within two
months. The ministry has advised the DGQA to transfer the AHSP to the industry at the
earliest. This move is another significant step taken by the Indian government to
encourage ease of doing business.
Aim of the reforms
The government’s aim behind these reforms is to enable timely improvements in products
and technologies based on the changing situations. With these industry-friendly reforms,
the Indian defence companies will be able to make the necessary changes and
improvements to their products, which will help boost their overall competitiveness. The
reforms will create a conducive environment for the industry to innovate and make
significant contributions to the defence sector, leading to the growth of the Indian
defence industry.
Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023
The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 have been notified by the Central Government on
March 10th, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960. These rules
supersede the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001 and address the 2009 guidelines of
the Supreme Court issued during the hearing between Animal Welfare Board of India and
People for Elimination of Stray Troubles. These rules aim to regulate and streamline the
Animal Birth Control (ABC) program and address animal welfare issues.
Guidelines for Sterilization and Immunization of Stray Dogs
The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 lay down guidelines for the sterilization and
immunization of stray dogs as a means of population control. The responsibility for
carrying out the ABC program lies with the respective local bodies, including
municipalities, Municipal Corporations, and Panchayats. These bodies are required to
implement the ABC program in collaboration with AWBI recognized organizations
specifically recognized for Animal Birth Control programs.
Cruelty Prevention
The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 emphasize the need to address cruelty involved in
the implementation of the ABC program. The rules stress the importance of carrying out
sterilization and immunization procedures in a humane manner, without causing any
unnecessary harm or suffering to the animals. This includes providing adequate post-
operative care, pain management, and ensuring the well-being of the animals during and
after the procedures.
Supreme Court Orders
The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 also take into account the orders of the Supreme
Court, which have specifically mentioned that relocation of dogs cannot be permitted. This
indicates that the rules prioritize non-lethal methods of population control and discourage
the relocation of stray dogs from one area to another as a means of addressing the issue.
Joint Implementation
The 2023 rules highlight the need for Municipal Corporations to jointly implement the ABC
program along with the Anti Rabies Program. This underscores the importance of
integrating sterilization and immunization efforts with rabies control measures to
effectively manage the population of stray dogs and reduce the risk of rabies
transmission.
AWBI Recognition
According to the new rules, the Animal Birth Control program needs to be carried out only
by AWBI recognized organizations. This ensures that the ABC program is carried out by
qualified and experienced organizations to ensure the welfare of the animals.
List of Recognized Organizations
The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 mandate that the list of AWBI recognized
organizations for the ABC program will be made available on the website of the Board and
will be updated from time to time. This provides transparency and accountability in the
selection of organizations to carry out the ABC program and ensures that only recognized
organizations are entrusted with the responsibility.
National Health Claims Exchange (HCX)-Sandbox
The National Health Authority has invited participation in the National Health Claims
Exchange (HCX)-Sandbox recently under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
About HCX
The Health Claims Exchange (HCX) is a new initiative under the Ayushman Bharat Digital
Mission (ABDM) that aims to bring interoperability of health claims and streamline the
process of claim settlement. The HCX was announced by the National Health Authority
(NHA) on September 23rd, 2022, as a solution to the challenges posed by the current
manual and non-digital process of exchanging health insurance claims in the country.
Features of HCX
The HCX is designed to be interoperable, machine-readable, auditable, and verifiable,
ensuring that the information being exchanged is accurate and trustworthy. Insurers and
third-party administrators (TPAs) are required to send responses for each e-claim
submitted by providers via the HCX through standard protocols (APIs). The HCX acts as a
gateway for the ecosystem, validating and routing the responses.
Benefits of HCX
The HCX is expected to lead to a reduction in operational overheads and increase trust
among payers and providers through a transparent and rule-based mechanism. It will
reduce claims processing costs, expedite pre-authorization or patient discharge approvals,

improve patient experience, better track claims, and provide better quality data for
industry and regulators.
HCX – Sandbox Environment
To ensure the success and adoption of the claims network, the NHA has introduced the
HCX – Sandbox Environment. This is a testing ground for contributors and developers
from the open community, especially those working in the Health Insurance and
Healthcare Provider space, to test and contribute to the HCX ecosystem. The HCX –
Sandbox enables participants to test their specific components against communication
standards and get certified to become a part of the system. The successful completion of
the HCX – Sandbox process enables the participants to gain access to the HCX production
environment.
Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) have identified and studied
Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) waves, a form of plasma waves observed in the
Earth’s magnetosphere, at the Indian Antarctic station, Maitri.
Plasma – The Fourth State of Matter
More than 99% of the visible universe consists of plasma, which is the fourth state of
matter. It is a highly ionized gas consisting of charged particles that react to
electromagnetic fields. The Sun, solar wind, interplanetary medium, near-Earth region,
magnetosphere, and upper part of our atmosphere all consist of plasma. The study of
plasma waves provides the critical information about regions that are inaccessible to us,
enabling the better understanding of how they interact with charged particles, and control
the overall dynamics of the Earth’s magnetosphere.
The Significance of EMIC Waves
EMIC waves are a type of traversing plasma waves observed in the Earth’s magnetosphere
that can resonate with electrons with a wide energy range – from 500 keV to hundreds of
MeV. They make these electrons precipitate to the high-latitude atmosphere, leading to
the formation of the radiation belt of the planet Earth. These killer electrons are
hazardous to space-borne technology and instruments.
The Study of EMIC Waves
The scientists from IIG analysed data collected between 2011 and 2017 by the Induction
Coil Magnetometer data, installed at the Indian Antarctic station Maitri to study the EMIC
waves. They identified the location of the generation of the waves in space and suggested
that the lower-frequency waves modulate the higher-frequency waves.
Improving Our Understanding of EMIC Waves
The study discovered that short-period modulation of such wave events is common and
relies on EMIC wave frequency. It also showed that the short period decreases with an
increase in the peak frequency of the EMIC wave, and stronger EMIC wave events were
likely to have a higher peak frequency. The study aimed to improve our understanding of
EMIC wave modulation and their interaction with energetic particles that impact satellites
and their communication.

Plants' Distress Noises and Contributions of Jagadish Chandra Bose
Plants are often thought of as silent, passive beings that lack the ability to communicate.
However, recent research by a group of scientists at Tel Aviv University has challenged this
notion. The group, led by biologist Lilach Hadany, has discovered that plants emit distinct,
high-pitched sounds in the ultrasonic range when subjected to stress or distress.
The Kind of Sound Plants Make When in Distress
The Tel Aviv University group’s study involved recording and analyzing the sounds made
by tomato and tobacco plants when subjected to various stressors, such as cutting a leaf
or withholding water. The researchers found that the plants emitted sounds that were not
audible to the human ear but could be detected with special equipment. The sounds were
described as very distinct, high-pitched sounds in the ultrasonic range.

Jagadish Chandra Bose, the Pioneer in Plant Physiology
The idea that plants experience sensations and have the ability to feel pleasure and pain,
similar to animals, is not new. In fact, several generations of Indians grew up hearing
about Jagadish Chandra Bose, a colossal figure of Indian science who was a physicist-
turned-biologist and made pioneering contributions in both fields. Bose is considered the
first Indian to have made a powerful impact on modern science.
Bose’s Contributions to Science
Bose is best remembered for his work on the wireless transmission of signals and the
physiology of plants. He is credited as one of the first contributors to solid-state physics
and published 12 papers on radio waves in the Proceedings of the Royal Society. Despite
his accomplishments, Bose was not recognized as the sole inventor of the radio, which
went to Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian scientist.
Bose’s Focus on Plant Physiology
In the early years of the 20th century, Bose abruptly began to focus his attention on
plants. Prior to this, he was a physicist and had made pioneering contributions in the field
of wireless transmission of signals and solid-state physics. Bose was extremely talented at
picking electric signals and was extremely creative at making instruments. His simple
experiments revealed a high degree of similarity in the responses of plant and animal
tissues to external stimuli.
What is Civil Union?
During the SC’s hearing on same sex couples’ right to marry, the Centre, represented by
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, challenged the validity of the petitions and the judiciary’s
authority to grant legal recognition to the “socio-legal institution” of marriage. In
response, the Chief Justice of India clarified that the hearing would focus solely on
establishing the concept of a “civil union” that is legally recognized under the Special
Marriage Act.
Legal Status of Civil Unions
A civil union is the legal status that provides same-sex couples specific rights and
responsibilities normally conferred upon married couples. This means that same-sex
couples who are in a civil union have access to legal protections and benefits that were
previously unavailable to them. These rights are often similar to those conferred upon
married couples, such as inheritance rights, employment benefits to spouses, joint
parenting or joint ownership rights, and the right to abstain from testifying against one’s
partner.
Difference between Civil Unions and Marriage
One of the main differences between civil unions and marriages is the level of legal
recognition they receive. Civil unions are recognized by issuing states, and not by federal
law. This means that same-sex couples in civil unions may not be able to enjoy the
benefits of being in a civil union uniformly, across all states. This disparity of recognition
existed in the US, where states had to determine their own marriage laws. In contrast,
marriages are recognized by both state and federal law, which means that the rights and
benefits conferred upon married couples are uniform throughout the country.
Legalisation of Same-Sex Marriages
In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) legalised same-sex marriages
across the country with its landmark ruling in “Obergefell v. Hodges”. Before this ruling, a
majority of the US states had civil union laws that allowed same-sex couples to marry,
without providing them formal recognition of the same. In the wake of the legalisation of
same-sex marriages, several civil unions were converted into marriages.
Other Countries that Recognize Civil Unions
The United States is not the only country that recognizes civil unions. Sweden legalised
same-sex marriages in 2009, but prior to that, LGBTQ couples could apply for civil unions
and enjoy benefits such as the right to adopt. Similarly, couples in Norway enjoyed the
right to enter into civil unions from 1993, which gave way to a new law 15 years later,
allowing such couples to marry, adopt and undergo state-sponsored artificial
insemination.
In Austria, same-sex couples could form civil partnerships between 2010 and 2017, but civil
unions were deemed discriminatory in January 2019 when same-sex marriages were
legalised. Other countries that have recognised the right of same-sex couples to enter into
civil unions include Brazil, Uruguay, Andorra, and Chile.
Ningaloo Eclipse
On April 20, sky gazers and astronomy enthusiasts around the world are gearing up for a
rare celestial event known as the “Ningaloo Eclipse.” This solar eclipse is unique as it is a
hybrid eclipse, transitioning from an annular eclipse to a total eclipse in certain regions
before becoming an annular eclipse again. In this article, we will explore everything you
need to know about the Ningaloo Eclipse, including its name, timing, appearance, visibility,
and related lunar eclipse.
What is the Ningaloo Eclipse?
The Ningaloo Eclipse is the name given to the upcoming solar eclipse that is set to occur
on April 20. This rare event is known as a hybrid solar eclipse because it transitions from
being an annular eclipse to a total eclipse in certain regions before becoming an annular
eclipse again. An annular eclipse happens when the Moon partially covers the Sun,
resulting in a “ring of fire” appearance where a small dark circle is visible on top of the
Sun.
What happens during a total eclipse?
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon passes between our planet and the Sun, completely
obstructing its face. This results in a complete darkening of the sky, creating a similar
effect to early morning or late evening. However, only those people who are within the
Moon’s shadow will be able to witness the total solar eclipse.
The Corona of the Sun
Under optimal weather conditions, those in the path of the total solar eclipse may be able
to see the Sun’s corona, which is the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere. The corona is
typically concealed by the Sun’s bright face, but during a total solar eclipse, it becomes
visible, creating a breathtaking sight.
Related Lunar Eclipse
Eclipses tend to occur in pairs. After the occurrence of the total solar eclipse on April 20,
there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse on May 5. However, this lunar eclipse will only be a
penumbral eclipse, indicating that the imperfect alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager
RHESSI (Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager) is a NASA satellite that
has been orbiting the Earth for over 20 years, providing valuable insights into the sun’s
powerful bursts of energy known as solar flares. Launched in 2002 and decommissioned
in 2018, RHESSI is now expected to make its final descent to Earth this week, bringing an
end to its remarkable mission.
Key Facts About RHESSI
RHESSI was launched by NASA in 2002 to study solar flares and their associated
coronal mass ejections.
The spacecraft weighs approximately 660 pounds, and it has been orbiting the Earth
for almost 21 years.
RHESSI was equipped with an imaging spectrometer, which served the main purpose
of recording the sun’s X-rays and gamma rays.
One of RHESSI’s significant achievements was capturing images of high-energy
electrons that carry a large part of the energy released in solar flares, providing
valuable data for scientists to understand these phenomena.
RHESSI documented the huge range in solar flare size, from tiny nanoflares to
massive superflares that were tens of thousands of times bigger and more explosive.
Understanding Solar Flares
Solar flares are powerful eruptions on the sun’s surface that release a tremendous
amount of energy, equivalent to billions of megatons of TNT, into the sun’s atmosphere
within minutes. These flares can have various effects on Earth, including the disruption of
electrical systems, communication networks, and even satellite operations.
RHESSI’s Contributions
RHESSI’s data has provided vital clues to scientists about solar flares and their associated
coronal mass ejections. Before RHESSI, no gamma-ray images or high-energy X-ray
images had been taken of solar flares. RHESSI’s imaging spectrometer enabled scientists
to study the high-energy electrons and the energy released during solar flares, helping
them better understand the underlying mechanisms and dynamics of these phenomena.
RHESSI’s Mission Conclusion
After 20 years of orbiting the Earth and providing valuable data, RHESSI was
decommissioned in 2018. Now, RHESSI’s final chapter is approaching, as it is expected to
reenter Earth’s atmosphere this week. NASA, along with the Department of Defense, will
be monitoring the satellite’s reentry to ensure the safety of people on Earth. The risk of
harm from RHESSI’s return is estimated to be low, with NASA stating it to be

approximately 1 in 2,467.
Regulation of Assisted Reproductive Technology
The Indian government has recently tightened regulations for Assisted Reproductive
Technology (ART), which is commonly used to treat infertility through vitro fertilization
(IVF). The health ministry’s move aims to regulate the mushrooming money-making
industry that often carries out unnecessary procedures to make profits.
Limiting the Number of Oocytes and Embryos
The government has directed IVF clinics to follow compliance procedures with respect to
the retrieval of oocytes, which are developing eggs in a female. It has limited the number
of oocytes that can be retrieved in one cycle to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation. The
government has also put a cap on the number of embryos that can be transferred to the
female during the treatment cycle. The regulations specify that a gynaecologist should
transfer only 1-2 embryos in the uterus during a treatment cycle, depending upon the
medical condition of the patient. The transfer of three embryos is allowed only in
exceptional circumstances, such as advanced maternal age, recurrent miscarriages, and
recurrent implantation failure. The move is expected to prevent multiple births like triplets
or quadruplets and decrease morbidity in newborns, thus reducing the pressure on the
healthcare system.
Regulations for Oocyte Retrieval and Donor Consent
The government notification says that clinics shall retrieve oocytes from the donor after
taking their consent. Clinics must make efforts to retrieve not more than seven oocytes
during one cycle, retrieve all formed follicles, and ensure controlled ovarian stimulation of
the woman to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation. The regulations also mention that for the
welfare of the donor, there must be health insurance for her. It is important to ensure that
one donor is not repeated and has given her consent for the same. However, in selected
donors where a higher number of follicles are stimulated, capping the number of oocytes
during one cycle at seven may be worrisome as it can increase the risk of morbidity in
donors with higher numbers of stimulated follicles.
Impact of the Tightening of Regulations
The government’s move to regulate the ART industry is a significant step in ensuring the
safety of patients undergoing these treatments. The regulations will have an impact on
the growing IVF industry and help put an end to unnecessary procedures undertaken by
clinics just to make money. Experts say that many IVF clinics across the country operate
with semi-trained staff and no expertise in the field, putting patients’ lives at risk. Hence,
regulations are required from time to time to regulate the industry.
Global Food Policy Report, 2023
The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) released the Global Food Policy
Report, 2023 on April 13, urging stakeholders to invest in long-term solutions for building
resilient and equitable food systems. The report highlights that multiple crises, such as the
COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, natural disasters, civil unrest, and political instability,
have led to a rise in food insecurity worldwide during 2020-2022.
Three Key Areas of Focus for Responding to Food System Shocks
To respond to food system shocks, the IFPRI report suggests focusing on three key areas:
crisis prediction and preparation; building resilience before and during crises; and making
crisis response supportive and inclusive of vulnerable groups. Investing in early warning
systems is essential to save lives, livelihoods, and money.
The Urgent Need for Strengthening Agrifood Value Chains
The report advocates for strengthening agrifood value chains to support livelihoods and
food security during crises. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that
3.83 billion people worldwide live in households reliant on agrifood systems-based
livelihoods, at least in part. In particular, fertiliser prices rose by 199% between May 2020
and the end of 2022, exacerbating food insecurity, according to the World Economic
Forum.
Current State of Hunger Levels and Undernourishment
The IFPRI report reveals that 205 million people across 45 countries experienced crisis-
level acute food insecurity or worse in 2022. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s State
of Food Security and Nutrition Report estimates that 768 million people worldwide were
undernourished in 2021. Furthermore, hunger levels in 2023 are higher than ever before,
according to the World Food Programme.
Promoting Gender Equality and Sustainability in Food Systems
To promote gender equality and sustainability, IFPRI suggests integrating social
protection with gender and climate goals and empowering women. According to the
report, 20% of Africa’s population is food insecure and undernourished. Investing in long-
term solutions is crucial, as climate change is predicted to leave 72 million more people
undernourished by 2050.
The Required Investment for Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems
The finance lever of the UN Food Systems Summit estimates that an annual investment of
$300-400 billion is required to make food systems more resilient and sustainable.
Therefore, it is vital for governments, policymakers, and other stakeholders to prioritize
long-term solutions for building resilient and equitable food systems to address the
current food crises and prevent future ones.
April 20, 2023
Tripedalia maipoensis
Scientists from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have made an exciting discovery in
Mai Po Nature Reserve, located in northern Hong Kong. They recently found a new species
of box jellyfish, which is the first of its kind to be discovered in Chinese waters. The
research team, led by Professor Qiu Jianwen from the Department of Biology at HKBU,
collected jellyfish samples from a brackish shrimp pond in Mai Po Nature Reserve between
2020 and summer 2022. Their findings were published in the international academic
journal Zoological Studies in March.
The New Species: Tripedalia Maipoensis

The new species of box jellyfish discovered by the team has been named Tripedalia
maipoensis, or Mai Po Tripedalia. The name reflects the location where the species was
first found. It belongs to the family Tripedaliidae of the class Cubozoa and is the fourth
species of Tripedaliidae known worldwide.
Unique Feature of Box Jellyfish
Box jellyfish are a small group, with only 49 species reported worldwide. The newly
discovered Tripedalia maipoensis, like most other species of box jellyfish, has a
transparent, colorless body and three tentacles at each of its four corners. Box jellyfish can
swim faster than other jellyfish due to the flat pedal-shaped structure at the base of each
tentacle that looks like a boat paddle. This allows them to produce strong thrusts when
contracting their bodies.
The discovery of Tripedalia maipoensis highlights the rich diversity of marine life in Hong
Kong and China. It is believed that the new species is also found in the adjacent waters of
the Pearl River Estuary as the brackish shrimp ponds are connected to the estuary
through a tidal channel. The discovery provides important insights into the poorly known
box jellyfish in Chinese marine waters.
Hun-Thadou Cultural Festival
The Hun-Thadou cultural festival is an annual celebration of the Thadou community in
Manipur. It is a time when the Thadou people come together to honor their customs,
culture, and religious beliefs. Recently, the 5th edition of the festival was held at Thomas
Ground in Kangpokpi district. The event was attended by dignitaries, including the Chief
Minister of Manipur, state ministers, MLA, top civil and police officers.
Hun: The Most Important Festival of the Thadou Tribe
Hun holds immense significance for the Thadou tribe as it is considered the most
important festival among all their celebrations. The word “Hun” signifies time and season
according to the Thadous, and it is celebrated for seven days, making it a grand affair for
the community.
Reasons Why Hun is Important for the Thadou Tribe
1. Celebration of New Year: Hun marks the arrival of the New Year for the Thadou
tribe. It is a time when they bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year
with joy and enthusiasm. It is a time of new beginnings and fresh hopes for the
community.
2. Religious Affair: Hun is an annual religious affair for Thadou families. During the
festival, the Thadou people acknowledge the existence of the all-powerful God and
seek blessings for the well-being of their families and communities. It is a time of
deep reverence and spirituality for the Thadou tribe.
3. Peace and Well-being: On the occasion of Hun, chief and his Council of Ministers
satisfy themselves that peace prevails in their chiefdom and there is no sickness. It is
a time to ensure the well-being and prosperity of the community, and the festival
serves as a platform for the leaders to assess the state of affairs in their chiefdom.
4. Acknowledgment of Women’s Labor: The labor of women is acknowledged during
Hun celebrations. Women play a vital role in Thadou society, and their contributions
are recognized and appreciated during this festival. It is a time to honor and
appreciate the role of women in Thadou culture and society.
5. Children’s Joy and Respect: For children, Hun is a highly awaited occasion as they
show great love and respect to their maternal grandparents during the festival. It is a
time for family bonding and inculcating traditional values in the younger generation.
6. Annual Village Assembly: The 7th day of Hun is significant as it is the day of the
Annual Village Assembly. It is a time when the entire community comes together to
discuss and address important issues, make decisions, and plan for the future. It is a
platform for community governance and decision-making.
Olkiluoto 3 Reactor
Europe’s most powerful nuclear reactor, Olkiluoto 3, has recently started producing
regular energy in Finland after a delay of 14 years from its original completion timeline.
This costly reactor, with a capacity of 1,600 megawatts, has been connected to the Finnish
national power grid in March 2022 and is expected to play a significant role in Finland’s
energy production and transition towards green energy.
Olkiluoto 3: Boosting Finland’s Energy Self-Sufficiency
After a test phase lasting more than a year, Olkiluoto 3 has kicked off regular production
on 16 April, providing a serious boost to Finland’s electricity self-sufficiency. Currently,
Olkiluoto 3 is producing around 14% of the country’s electricity, which is a significant
addition to clean, domestic production. The launch of this new nuclear reactor is expected
to stabilize the price of electricity and increase energy security, especially at a time when
European countries have cut oil and gas from Russia, Finland’s neighbor.
The Technology Behind Olkiluoto 3: European Pressurized Reactor (EPR)
Olkiluoto 3 is the first new-generation European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) plant that has
gone online in Europe. Developed in a joint venture between France’s Areva and
Germany’s Siemens, this advanced technology has faced several technological problems,
leading to delays and lawsuits. However, with its capacity of 1,600 megawatts, Olkiluoto 3
is now operational and expected to remain so for at least the next 60 years, providing a
significant contribution to Finland’s energy production.
The Cost of Olkiluoto 3: An Expensive Venture
The construction of Olkiluoto 3 began in 2005 and has faced significant delays, resulting in
a final estimated cost of around 11 billion euros ($12 billion). This price tag is almost three
times what was initially estimated, making Olkiluoto 3 a costly venture for Finland.
However, those who advocate for this project argue that it will help the country increase
its energy security and reach its carbon neutrality targets.
Nuclear Power in Finland: Current Status and Future Plans
Presently, Finland has 5 nuclear reactors in two power plants situated on Baltic Sea shores.
These plants together cover more than 40% of the nation’s electricity demand. The
government of Finland is currently planning to increase the share of energy from nuclear
power even further.
Tea Mosquito Bug Infestation
India is the world’s second-largest tea producer after China. However, the tea industry in
India has been facing a major setback due to the infestation of tea mosquito bugs. These
pests, which are a type of mirid bug, feed on the tender tea leaves and cause extensive
damage to the tea bushes. This has led to a significant decline in tea production, especially
in the Valparai region of Tamil Nadu, where the production has fallen by around 50
percent over a decade.
Impact of Tea Mosquito Bug Infestation
Tea mosquito bug infestation is threatening the very existence of tea plantations and the
situation is worsened by the rising cost of inputs and employee wages. For instance, the
pest infestation resulted in Valparai tea region witnessing falling in production from 30
million kg in 2009-10 to 16.73 million kg in 2021-22.
Limited Choice of Pesticides
The tea growers in impacted areas are spending around ₹12,000 per hectare on pesticide
application each year. However, the control of the pest is poor due to the lack of effective
molecules available to control the pest. The problem is further exacerbated by the limited
choice of pesticides available to tea growers. The Tea Board has imposed restrictions on
the use of certain pesticides after the formation of the Plant Protection Code (PPC) in
2014, with the objective of making Indian tea safer and free of harmful residue.
Consequently, only 7 pesticides are approved for use in South India, and planters are
unable to implement effective control measures.
Rapid Spread to Higher Elevation Plantations
The tea mosquito bug was once considered a wet weather pest, and was earlier restricted
to plantations in low elevations. However, the pest is now spreading rapidly to higher
elevation plantations too. The situation has put the tea industry in India at risk, as tea is a
major export commodity for the country. Therefore, the government needs to take
immediate measures to control the pest infestation and safeguard the tea industry.
Thales Data Threat Report 2023

The Thales Data Threat Report 2023 is a comprehensive analysis of cybersecurity trends
and threats. It has revealed some concerning findings about ransomware attacks and
cloud data breaches in India and globally. The report highlights a significant increase in
these attacks, indicating the need for businesses to implement robust security measures
to protect their sensitive data.
Ransomware Attacks on the Rise
The report finds that ransomware attacks have seen a significant increase in India and
worldwide. In India, more than half (52%) of IT professionals reported a surge in
ransomware attacks in the past 12 months. This is higher than the global figure of 48
percent. This highlights the growing threat of ransomware attacks and the need for
businesses to be prepared to mitigate such risks.

Main Targets for Cyber-Attacks
The report identifies cloud assets and Internet of Things (IoT) devices as the primary
targets for cyber-attacks. In India, 53% of respondents claimed that their IoT devices were
the top most targets, followed by cloud-based storage (41%) and cloud-delivered
applications (SaaS) (40%). This indicates that businesses need to prioritize the security of
their cloud assets and IoT devices to protect against cyber-attacks.
Human Error: Primary Cause of Cloud Data Breaches
Human error, misconfiguration, and other mistakes are found to be major causes of cloud
data breaches. In India, 52% of respondents who suffered a data breach in the past 12
months cited human error as the main cause. Proper training, processes, and access
management can prevent human error-related data breaches.
Data Loss from Ransomware Attacks Remains a Concern
Data loss from ransomware attacks remains a key concern for enterprises within India. A
staggering 82 percent of Indian respondents reported data loss from ransomware attacks,
compared to 67 percent globally. This highlights the need for robust backup and recovery
strategies to mitigate the impact of ransomware attacks.
National Quantum Mission
The Union Cabinet of India recently cleared the National Quantum Mission, a
groundbreaking initiative aimed at harnessing the power of quantum technologies. With a
budget of Rs 6,003 crore and an expected duration of eight years, the mission seeks to
unlock the potential of quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum
sensing.
Objective of the National Quantum Mission
The National Quantum Mission is a multidimensional effort that encompasses four
verticals. The first three verticals focus on quantum computing, quantum communication,
and quantum sensing, respectively. These areas have immense potential in various
applications, from ultra-secure military communication to highly accurate MRI machines.
The mission aims to develop novel materials and devices that would support these core
programs. This holistic approach will facilitate advancements in quantum technologies
and position India as a global leader in the field.

Significance of the National Quantum Mission
The National Quantum Mission is a significant milestone for India, as it places the country
among the few nations that possess frontier technologies related to quantum computing,
communication, and sensing. Currently, the US, Austria, Finland, France, Canada, and
China are the only countries with dedicated quantum missions. However, unlike these
countries, which are primarily in the research and development stage, India aims to be at
par with them by combining expertise from research institutions and the industry through
sustained funding. This collaborative approach is essential, considering the complexity of
quantum technologies and the need for a mission mode program to achieve
breakthroughs.
Key Objectives of the National Quantum Mission

The National Quantum Mission has set several key objectives to drive advancements in
quantum technologies. One of the main goals of this mission is to achieve long-distance
quantum communication across a 2000 km gap, either using satellites or fibers. This
ambitious goal requires the development of multiple ground stations within India and
abroad. Additionally, the mission aims to make significant progress in quantum
computing by developing 50 physical qubits initially and eventually scaling up to 1,000
qubits. These qubits are developed using various platforms such as superconducting,
ionic, or photonic technologies. Currently, India has only developed 2-3 qubits in a
superconducting platform, while IBM has already developed 430 qubits and aims to reach
1,000 qubits by 2023.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the ambitious goals of the National Quantum Mission, there are several
challenges that India may face on this quantum leap. Quantum technologies are highly
complex and require interdisciplinary expertise in areas such as physics, computer
science, materials science, and more. The lack of skilled researchers and infrastructure
could pose challenges in achieving the mission’s objectives. Additionally, quantum
technologies are still in their nascent stage, and there are uncertainties around their
commercial viability, safety, and ethical implications. Managing these challenges
effectively would be crucial for the success of the National Quantum Mission.
State of World Population Report - Update (April, 2023)
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released its annual State of World
Population (SOWP) report on April 19, 2023. The report focuses on the current state and
projections of the world’s population, including trends, challenges, and opportunities for
sustainable development. The report covers a wide range of topics, including
demographics, migration, health, gender, and human rights.
Current Global Population and Demographics
The current global population, according to the UNFPA report, is 8,045 million. The largest
share of the population is between the ages of 15 and 64 years, which represents 65% of
the world’s population. Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, and Central and Southern Asia
have the largest populations, with more than 1.4 billion people each in 2022.
Fertility Rates and Replacement Level
The report highlights the replacement fertility rate, which is the number of children a
woman needs to have to maintain a stable population level. The replacement fertility rate
is 2.1 children per woman. According to the report, 60% of the world’s population lives in a
region where the fertility rate is below replacement level, which can have implications for
population growth and economic development.
Migration and Population Growth
International migration is identified as a driver of population growth in many countries.
According to the report, Pakistan has seen the highest net flow of migrants between 2010
and 2021. The report also highlights the challenges and opportunities that migration can
bring, including economic benefits and social cohesion.

Life Expectancy and Ageing Population
The report notes that the current life expectancy for men is 71 years. The highest number
of newborns in 2021 were in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, which highlights the need for
investment in maternal and child health in these regions. The average longevity projected
by the UN in 2050 is around 77.2 years globally. The report also projects that 16% of the
global population will be aged 65 years or above in 2050.
Population Decline and Sustainability
One of the key implications of declining fertility rates in high fertility regions is the
potential for a decline in the global population. The report notes that once fertility rates
drop, the global population will start to decline. This presents opportunities and
challenges for sustainable development, including reducing carbon emissions, improving
resource management, and addressing inequality.
Type 2 Diabetes and COVID-19
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects the way the body processes
blood sugar. The disease is characterized by high blood sugar levels and can lead to a
number of serious health complications. Recent research has found a link between
COVID-19 infection and an increased likelihood of a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
COVID-19 Infection and Type 2 Diabetes
Several studies have found a significant association between COVID-19 infection and an
increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. A study published in the Lancet Diabetes &
Endocrinology journal found that COVID-19 infection increased the risk of diabetes
diagnosis by up to 50%. Another study, published in the Journal of Diabetes Investigation,
found that COVID-19 infection increased the risk of diabetes diagnosis by up to 80%.
In a study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers compared diabetes diagnoses
among COVID-19 positive and unexposed individuals. The study found that those who
were hospitalized due to COVID-19 were more than twice as likely to develop diabetes
compared to those who were not exposed to the virus. Those who were admitted to
intensive care due to COVID-19 were more than three times as likely to develop diabetes.
Possible Biological Explanations
While the link between COVID-19 and Type 2 diabetes is still not fully understood, several
biological explanations have been proposed. One possible explanation is that the virus
directly infects the beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for producing insulin.
Another possible explanation is that the stress and inflammatory response associated
with COVID-19 infection can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes.
Study Findings
The new study published in JAMA Network Open found that 3.4% of new diabetes cases
could be attributed to COVID-19 infection overall. For men, this figure was higher, at
4.75%. The study adjusted for several factors, including age, sex, underlying health
conditions, socioeconomic status, vaccination status, and other factors.
The findings of the study do not prove that COVID-19 infection causes diabetes. However,
the majority of studies on the link between COVID-19 and diabetes have reported an
increase in diabetes diagnosis after COVID-19 infection. The statistical significance of
elevated risk for women in developing diabetes after COVID-19 infection was not
significant overall unless hospitalized or admitted to an intensive care unit.
Miguel Diaz-Canel
Cuba’s political landscape recently witnessed a significant development as Miguel Diaz-
Canel secured a second five-year term as the President of the country. With a
parliamentary vote that had him as the sole candidate, Diaz-Canel’s bid to serve as the
most powerful man in Havana’s corridors of power was confirmed by an overwhelming
majority.
Diaz-Canel’s Second Term Confirmed through Parliamentary Vote
Diaz-Canel’s second term as Cuba’s president was confirmed through a parliamentary
vote, with him being the only candidate on the ballot. The parliamentary vote took place in
the Communist Party of Cuba-aligned National Assembly, and Diaz-Canel’s bid was
approved by an astounding 97.66 percent of votes cast. This resounding mandate reflects
the support he enjoys among the ruling party members and the Cuban political
establishment.
Announcement of Results and Succession
The results of the parliamentary vote were announced by Esteban Lazo, the president of
the National Assembly. Diaz-Canel’s successful bid for a second term makes him the first
non-Castro leader of Cuba since the revolution, as he succeeded the brothers Fidel and
Raúl Castro. This marks a historic transition of leadership in Cuba and sets the stage for
Diaz-Canel to continue shaping the country’s political and economic future.
Voter Turnout and Validity of Votes
Cuban authorities announced the election of all 470 legislators for the National Assembly
on March 27, 2023. The initial turnout for the elections was reported to be 75.92 percent,
indicating a significant level of engagement among the Cuban electorate. Moreover, just
over 90 percent of votes cast were deemed valid, with a small percentage left blank or
annulled.
Denouncement by the United States Embassy
The recent elections in Cuba were not without controversy. The United States embassy in
Cuba denounced the vote as “undemocratic” due to the absence of opposition parties and
the one-party system in Cuba. The embassy took to Twitter to express its concerns and
called for real choices in elections with candidates from more than one political party, and
beyond the Communist Party.
Controversial Issues in Diaz-Canel’s Second Term
As Diaz-Canel embarks on his second term as Cuba’s president, there are expectations
regarding the governance of controversial issues. Regulation of the press and the right to
protest in Cuba are anticipated to be key areas of focus. The press has been tightly
controlled in Cuba, and the right to protest has been limited in the past. It remains to be
seen how Diaz-Canel’s government will navigate these sensitive issues in the coming
years.
April 21, 2023
Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Union Cabinet recently approved the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023. The
proposed legislation seeks to curb the transmission of pirated film content on the
internet. The announcement was made by Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag
Thakur, who stated that the bill would be introduced in the upcoming session of
Parliament.
Classification System for Films
Currently, films in India are classified into three categories: ‘U’, ‘A’, and ‘UA’. ‘U’ stands for
unrestricted public exhibition, ‘A’ is restricted to adult audiences, while ‘UA’ is for
unrestricted public exhibition subject to parental guidance for children below the age of
12. The proposed amendments seek to add new classification – “UA-7+”, “UA-13+” and
“UA-16+” in place of 12 years, which will be age-based classifications for films.
Aim of the Amendments
Apart from improving the process of certifying films by the Central Board of Film
Certification (CBFC), the amendments also aim to bring about uniformity in categorisation
of films and content across platforms. They are expected to harmonise the law with
executive orders and various Supreme Court judgements, to achieve consistency.
Demands for Amendments
Stakeholders in the film industry have demanded action to curb piracy, age-based film
classification and the removal of certain redundant provisions in the existing Act. In 2019,
a Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill in the Upper House of the Indian Parliament. The new
draft was based on consultations with the film industry, incorporating best practices from
across the world.
Promotion of Tribal Products from North-Eastern Region (PTP-NER) Scheme
Arjun Munda, the Minister of Tribal Affairs, has recently launched the Marketing and
Logistics Development for Promotion of Tribal Products from North-Eastern Region (PTP-
NER) scheme in Manipur. This ambitious scheme aims to enhance procurement, logistics,
and marketing efficiency of tribal products from the North-Eastern Region and strengthen
the livelihood opportunities of tribal artisans.
PTP-NER Scheme: Enhancing Tribal Products’ Procurement, Logistics, and Marketing Efficiency
The PTP-NER scheme, short for Marketing and Logistics Development for Promotion of
Tribal Products from North-Eastern Region, is a flagship initiative launched by the Ministry
of Tribal Affairs. The scheme is focused on boosting the tribal economy of the North-
Eastern Region by providing support to tribal artisans and promoting their products in the
market.
Applicability and Coverage
The PTP-NER scheme will be implemented in 8 states in the North-Eastern Region i.e.,
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim.
These states are home to numerous tribal communities with rich traditional craftsmanship
and unique products. The scheme aims to provide support and opportunities to these
tribal artisans to showcase their skills and products to a wider audience.
Tribal Artisan Melas: A Platform for Showcasing Tribal Products
As part of the PTP-NER scheme, the government plans to organize 68 Tribal Artisan Melas
in various districts of the North-Eastern Region. These melas will serve as a platform for
tribal artisans to showcase their products and skills. This will not only help in promoting
their products but also create a direct link between the tribal artisans and the market,
thereby enhancing their marketing efficiency.
Aim and Benefits of PTP-NER Scheme
The scheme’s main goal is to strengthen the job opportunities of tribal artisans from the
North-Eastern States by promoting their products. By providing support for procurement,
logistics, and marketing, the scheme aims to improve the overall efficiency of the tribal
products’ value chain and create sustainable livelihoods for tribal communities. This will
not only uplift the socio-economic status of tribal artisans but also help in preserving and
promoting tribal art and culture.
Significance of PTP-NER Scheme for Tribal Artisans
The PTP-NER scheme holds immense significance for tribal artisans as it provides them
with a unique opportunity to showcase their products and skills in the market. This will
help in creating a wider demand for tribal products, leading to increased income and
livelihood opportunities for tribal artisans. The scheme also aims to promote and preserve
the rich traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage of tribal communities, ensuring
their socio-economic empowerment.
The Status of Women in Agrifood Systems Report
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently released a report titled “The Status
of Women in Agrifood Systems” which sheds light on the gender disparities in agriculture
and its impact on global economy and food security. The report presents comprehensive
data and lessons learned about gender in agrifood systems, and highlights the need for
gender considerations in achieving better production, nutrition, environment, and
livelihoods.
Impact of Gender Discrimination in Agriculture
The report reveals that eliminating gender discrimination in agriculture could have
significant positive impacts on the global economy and food security. Currently, over 345
million people are estimated to experience acute food insecurity. By closing the gender
gap in farm productivity and wage employment in agrifood systems, the report suggests
that global GDP could increase by 1% (or almost USD 1 trillion), and global food insecurity
could be reduced by about 2%, benefiting 45 million people.
Gender Disparities in Agrifood Systems
The report highlights various gender disparities in agrifood systems. Women’s ownership
and secure tenure rights over agricultural land are lower than men’s in most countries
reporting on Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 5.a.1. There is also a 24% gender
gap in land productivity between farms managed by men and women of the same size. In
wage employment in agriculture, women earn 82 cents for every dollar that men earn,
indicating a gender wage gap.
Shocks in Agrifood Systems and Differential Impacts
The report shows that shocks in agrifood systems, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have
differential impacts on men, boys, women, and girls. Coping strategies and vulnerabilities
differ among gender groups, and women often face more challenges due to existing
gender disparities. Addressing gender considerations in shock response and recovery
efforts is crucial for building resilience and reducing vulnerabilities in agrifood systems.
Regional Disparities in Women’s Employment in Agrifood Systems
The report highlights regional disparities in women’s employment in agrifood systems. In
sub-Saharan Africa, 66% of women’s employment is in agrifood systems, while in southern
Asia, it is 71%. This indicates that women in these regions rely more on agrifood systems
for their livelihoods than men. Closing the gender gap in these regions could have
significant positive impacts on poverty reduction and sustainable development.
Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative and Animal Health System Support for One Health
Animal pandemics and zoonotic diseases pose significant threats to both animal and
human health, and addressing them requires a holistic approach. The Animal Pandemic
Preparedness Initiative and the World Bank-funded Animal Health System Support for
One Health are comprehensive efforts launched by the Indian government to enhance
preparedness and response to potential animal pandemics through a coordinated and
holistic approach that involves various stakeholders.
Understanding the One Health Approach
The One Health approach is a holistic approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of
human, animal, and environmental health. It emphasizes the need to collaborate across
sectors and disciplines to address emerging and zoonotic diseases that pose threats to
both animals and humans. The One Health approach recognizes that the health of
animals, humans, and the environment are closely connected, and addressing health
issues in one sector can have positive impacts on the others.
Objectives of the Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative
The Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative aims to enhance India’s preparedness and
response to potential animal pandemics. The initiative focuses on integrated disease
surveillance and monitoring, early warning and response, vaccine and diagnostics,
research and development, and production, and ecosystem coordination with funding and
regulatory framework enablers.
Animal Health System Support for One Health
The World Bank-funded Animal Health System Support for One Health project aims to
create an ecosystem for a better animal health management system using the One Health
approach. The project covers five states in India and focuses on strengthening animal
health surveillance, improving diagnostic capabilities, enhancing veterinary services, and
promoting public-private partnerships.

Stakeholders Involved in the Initiatives
The initiatives involve collaboration among various stakeholders. This includes the
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, the World
Bank, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,
State governments, veterinary institutions, research organizations, private sector, and
other key stakeholders. Nearly 200 stakeholders participated in the launch event,
highlighting the commitment of various stakeholders towards addressing animal
pandemics in a coordinated manner.
Shawwal Moon
Muslims all around the world celebrate the start of the Shawwal month as it marks the
end of the month-long fasting of Ramadan and the beginning of the Eid al-Fitr festival. The
Shawwal Moon is an important celestial event in the Islamic calendar as it indicates the
beginning of the new month. The sighting of the new moon or crescent is a traditional
practice among Muslims to mark the beginning of the 10th month in the Islamic calendar.
Observing the New Moon or Crescent
The traditional method of observing the new moon or crescent is done with the naked eye
or telescopes. This is typically done on the 29th day of the preceding month. If the new
moon is sighted, then the first day of the new month begins the next day. If not, the
current month extends to 30 days, and the new month begins the day after.
The Shawwal Moon’s Appearance
The Shawwal Moon appears just a few hours after the astronomical New Moon. During
the New Moon, the Earth’s natural satellite gets lost in the Sun’s glare and becomes
completely invisible. But as it creeps from between the Sun and Earth, its limb becomes
visible. Shawwal Moon appears when the moon emerges briefly in the west just after the
sunset.
Celebrations Around the World
The start of Shawwal may differ between various Muslim communities and countries. This
year, the moon was sighted in the UAE and Saudi Arabia on April 20, so several nations like
the United Kingdom, Qatar, and the United States, celebrated Eid al-Fitr on April 21.
However, few Muslim nations, like Indonesia and Pakistan did not spot the crescent moon
on April 20. Hence, they will celebrate the first day of Eid on 22nd April.
April 22, 2023
State of Global Climate Report 2022
The State of the Global Climate report is an annual publication from the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) that presents the latest findings on the state of
climate change worldwide. The report combines observations from global networks of
weather and climate stations, ocean buoys, and satellites, as well as modeling studies, to
provide a comprehensive assessment of the Earth’s climate system. The most recent
report, released ahead of Earth Day 2023, reveals several alarming trends that highlight
the urgent need for climate action.
Key Findings of the Report:

High Global Mean Temperature: In 2022, the global mean temperature was 1.15
[1.02 to 1.28] °C above the average temperature of 1850-1900. The years between
2015 and 2022 were the eight warmest years recorded since 1850. Even though there
were three consecutive years of cooling La Niña, 2022 was still the 5th or 6th
warmest year. This is a rare occurrence as such a “triple-dip” La Niña has only
happened three times in the past 50 years.
Concentrations of 3 Main GHGs: In 2021, the levels of the three primary
greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide – reached the
highest observed levels in the period between 1984 and 2021. The amount of
methane concentration increased significantly from 2020 to 2021, making it the
highest annual increase recorded. Presently, real-time measurements from
particular locations indicate that the levels of these greenhouse gases continued to
rise in 2022.
Reference Glaciers: Glaciers around the world are melting at an alarming rate, with
reference glaciers showing an average decrease in thickness of over 1.3 meters
between October 2021 and October 2022. This is significantly higher than the
average of the last ten years, and six of the ten most severe mass balance years
occurred since 2015. The European Alps saw record glacier melting due to a
combination of factors, and glaciers in High Mountain Asia, western North America,
South America, and parts of the Arctic also saw significant losses. The Greenland Ice
Sheet experienced a negative mass balance for the 26th consecutive year, and
globally, glaciers lost over 6000 Gt of ice between 1993 and 2019.
Antarctic Sea Ice: The Antarctic sea ice reached a record low of 1.92 million km2 on
February 25, 2022, which is almost 1 million km2 less than the long-term (1991-2020)
average. It remained below average for the rest of the year, with record lows in June
and July. Meanwhile, the Arctic sea ice tied for the 11th lowest monthly minimum ice
extent in the satellite record at the end of the summer melt in September.
Ocean Heat Content: In 2022, the ocean’s heat content reached a new observed
high, breaking previous records. Greenhouse gases trap a significant amount of

energy in the climate system, with around 90% of it being absorbed by the ocean,
which could mitigate even higher temperature increases but threatens marine
ecosystems. The rate of ocean warming has been very high over the last 20 years.
Even with La Niña conditions continuing, marine heatwaves occurred in 58% of the
ocean’s surface in 2022.
Global Mean Sea Level: In 2022, the global mean sea level rose to a new high, as
measured by satellite altimeters from 1993-2022. The rate of sea level rise has
doubled in the past two decades, with a faster rate from 2013-2022 than from
1993-2002. From 2005-2019, melting land ice from glaciers, Greenland, and Antarctica
contributed to 36% of the sea level rise, while warming oceans through thermal
expansion contributed 55%, and variations in land water storage contributed less
than 10%.
Ocean Acidification: When carbon dioxide combines with seawater, it leads to a
drop in pH levels, also known as ocean acidification. This is a major concern for
marine organisms and the services they provide. According to the IPCC Sixth
Assessment Report, the pH levels on the surface of open oceans have reached the
lowest point in at least 26,000 years, and the rate of this change is unprecedented.
Socio-Economic and Environmental Consequences
East Africa has been suffering from drought, with below-average rainfall in five
consecutive wet seasons, resulting in over 20 million people facing acute food
insecurity in the region as of January 2023.
Pakistan experienced extensive flooding in July and August, with over 1,700 deaths,
33 million people affected, and almost 8 million people displaced, causing damage
and economic losses of US$ 30 billion.
Europe had record-breaking heatwaves in the summer, which led to excess deaths of
over 15,000 across several countries. China also experienced its most extensive and
long-lasting heatwave on record, resulting in the hottest and second-driest summer
on record.
Food insecurity affected 2.3 billion people in 2021, with 924 million facing severe food
insecurity, and projections estimated that 767.9 million people would face
undernourishment in 2021.
Heatwaves in India and Pakistan in 2022 led to a decline in crop yields and
threatened the availability and stability of staple foods.
Somalia had almost 1.2 million internally displaced people due to drought, with over
60,000 people crossing into Ethiopia and Kenya during the same period.
Climate change is having significant impacts on ecosystems, including the expansion
of the temperate zone in the Tibetan Plateau and the disruption of recurring natural
events like cherry blossom flowering in Japan. The timing of spring events, such as
bird migration, is also becoming mismatched with other important events,
potentially contributing to declines in some bird populations.
Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Public Administration

The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration is a recognition
program for extraordinary and innovative work done by districts and organizations of
central and state governments for the welfare of the people. The awards aim to motivate
public servants to enhance accountability, transparency, and innovation in their work by
recognizing their efforts towards providing better governance. They were recently
conferred at the National Civil Services Day event in New Delhi.
PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan Initiative
In October 2021, the Indian government launched the PM Gati Shakti national master plan
initiative to develop critical infrastructure projects for integrated and planned
development. The initiative aims to reduce logistics costs and improve connectivity and
accessibility. It received the award for excellence in public administration under the
innovation (centre) category.
J&K’s Mission Youth Initiative
The ‘Mission Youth’ initiative by Jammu and Kashmir administration received the award in
the innovation (state) category. It is an inter-social initiative that seeks to empower youth
in the union territory.
National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme
The Union Health Ministry’s National Covid-19 Vaccination Programme was awarded the
Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2022 in the innovation
category. Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan received the award on behalf of the ministry.
Anakapalli District and Swasth Bharat
Anakapalli district in Andhra Pradesh received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in
Public Administration 2022 for promoting Swasth Bharat (Healthy Bharat) through Health
and Wellness Centres. The selection criterion for the district was based on its efforts
towards promoting health and wellness.
Changlang District’s New Age Learning Centre (NALC)
Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh received the Prime Minister’s Award for
Excellence in Public Administration for its innovative New Age Learning Centre (NALC). The
NALC is a futuristic learning space-cum-library, conceptualized by Sunny K. Singh, the
district’s Deputy Commissioner. The NALC aims to provide people of all age groups with
the opportunity to learn and improve every aspect of their personality.
Latur District’s ‘Arogyavardhni’ Centres
Latur district in Maharashtra received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public
Administration in recognition of its innovative scheme, ‘Sanjivani Abhiyan,’ implemented
for cancer diagnosis. The ‘Arogyavardhni’ (wellness) centres set up by the district provide
health check-ups for pregnant women, children, adolescent girls, and treatment for
infectious diseases, cancer, and diabetes.
National Civil Services Day - Update (April, 2023)
National Civil Services Day is annually celebrated in India on 21st April. It recognizes the
contribution of civil servants towards the development of the country.
Why April 21?
April 21 was chosen as the date for National Civil Services Day to commemorate the birth
anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of India. He is widely
known as the ‘Iron Man of India’ and played a key role in the integration of the princely
states into the Indian Union. Patel’s efforts to unite the country are remembered every
year on this day as civil servants across the nation celebrate their contributions to the
country.
History of National Civil Services Day
The first National Civil Services Day was celebrated on April 21, 2006. It was chosen to
honor Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and to recognize the efforts of civil servants in providing
essential services to the people of India. The day reminds the importance of public service
and encourages civil servants to continue serving the public with commitment and
dedication.
Role of Civil Servants in India
Civil servants in India work in various departments and agencies to provide essential
services to the people of the country. They play a crucial role in shaping the future of India
by working tirelessly to ensure that the government’s policies and programs are
implemented effectively. From delivering public services to maintaining law and order,
civil servants are the backbone of the government machinery.
Significance of National Civil Services Day
National Civil Services Day is a day to recognize and appreciate the civil servants’ efforts
towards India’s development. It serves as a reminder of the importance of public service
and encourages civil servants to continue serving the people with dedication and
commitment.
World Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22nd, observed across 193 countries
worldwide. It aims to encourage people to come together for environmental protection
and raise awareness about the urgent need to address climate change. The first Earth Day
was celebrated in the United States in 1970, and since then, it has grown into a global
movement with various events and campaigns organized by committees and
organizations.
Extended Celebration: Earth Week
Earth Week, celebrated from April 16th to 22nd every year, is an unofficial extended
celebration of Earth Day. It is dedicated to educating people about Earth Day, climate
change, and the need to take steps towards environmental conservation. Earth Week
provides an opportunity to initiate conversations, raise awareness, and take meaningful
actions to protect our planet. It is a time to come together and amplify the campaign for
environmental sustainability.
World Earth Day 2023: Theme
The theme for World Earth Day 2023 is “Invest in Our Planet”, which is a continuation of
the 2022 theme. This theme emphasizes the importance of investing in efforts to save our
planet on a global scale. The five feature programs of the Earth Day 2023 theme are
Sustainable Fashion, The Great Global Cleanup, Canopy Project, Climate and
Environmental Literacy, and Food and Environment, and the Global Earth Challenge. These
programs aim to raise awareness, promote sustainable practices, and empower
individuals and communities to take action for the environment.
History and Significance of Earth Day
Peace activist John McConnell conceptualized Earth Day in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference.
The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22nd, 1970, in the United States as a way to
raise awareness about environmental issues and advocate for environmental protection.
In 1990, Earth Day went global with the participation of 141 countries in various events
and activities. In 2016, Earth Day gained further significance with the signing of the Paris
Agreement, an intergovernmental treaty for climate protection. In 2020, Earth Day

celebrated its 50th anniversary, showcasing the long-standing impact and importance of
this global movement.
Our Responsibility to Protect the Planet
Earth Day serves as a reminder that we all have a responsibility to protect our planet. It is
a time to reflect on our individual impact on the environment and think of ways to reduce
our carbon footprint. There are numerous ways to take action, such as participating in
community clean-up initiatives, reducing energy consumption, supporting policies that
promote environmental conservation and sustainability, and educating children and
people around us about the importance of Earth Day. Earth Day provides us with an
opportunity to come together as a global community and take meaningful action towards
a brighter, more sustainable future for our planet.
What is GRX-810?
NASA researchers have developed a new high-strength, high-temperature-resistant alloy
called GRX-810 that could revolutionize the aerospace industry.
Development of GRX-810
GRX-810 is a nickel-cobalt-chromium-based alloy developed by materials scientists at
NASA’s Glenn Research Center. The alloy was developed using a model-driven alloy design
approach and laser-based additive manufacturing. With the laser 3D printing process,
metals were fused together to create a new allow.
Properties of GRX-810
GRX-810 has a twofold improvement in strength compared to current state-of-the-art 3D
printed superalloys. Additionally, it has over 1,000-fold better creep performance than
traditional polycrystalline wrought Ni-based alloys. The temperature resistance of current
state-of-the-art 3D printed superalloys is up to 1,093 degrees Celsius, but GRX-810 is over
1,000 times more durable than these alloys. GRX-810 has a twofold improvement in
oxidation resistance compared to traditional polycrystalline wrought Ni-based alloys.
Potential Applications of GRX-810
The GRX-810 will help increase the strength and toughness of components and parts used
in aviation and space exploration. It could be used to build aerospace parts for high-
temperature applications, like those inside aircraft and rocket engines. The benefits of
utilizing oxide dispersion strengthened alloys in aerospace applications lie in their ability
to endure more severe circumstances prior to reaching their failure limits.
What is SuperBIT?
SuperBIT is a state-of-the-art scientific instrument designed to measure precise weak
gravitational lensing of galaxy clusters. As the joint project of Durham University, the
University of Toronto, Princeton University, and NASA, SuperBIT aims to detect the
presence and quantity of dark matter in galaxy clusters, as well as the large scale
structure of the universe.
Cost and Sensitivity Range
Compared to an equivalent satellite, SuperBIT is relatively inexpensive, with a cost of
approximately £4.1million/$5million USD. Despite its lower cost, SuperBIT has an

impressive range of optical sensitivity, from the near-infrared (900 nm) to the near-
ultraviolet (300 nm). Its unique operating altitude of 33.5 km above Earth’s atmosphere
allows it to achieve space-like performance and conditions.
Science Goals
The main objective of SuperBIT is to assess the characteristics of dark matter, an unseen
and dense substance. By observing the way dark matter bends passing rays of light,
scientists can map its distribution in galaxy clusters. During its first flight, SuperBIT
intends to examine if dark matter particles can collide with each other by creating a map
of the dark matter distribution around clusters of galaxies that are in the process of
colliding with their neighboring clusters. SuperBIT maps the distribution of dark matter by
observing how it bends the path of light. Through this technique, scientists can construct
a map of the distribution of dark matter and gain insights into its true nature, which
remains a mystery to scientists.
Antennae Galaxies and Tarantula Nebula
SuperBIT’s first images, taken during its recent launch on April 16, 2023, include the
Tarantula Nebula and the collision between the Antennae Galaxies. The Tarantula Nebula
is a vast star-forming region of ionized hydrogen gas, located 161,000 light-years from
Earth in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The bright, newly formed stars within the region are
surrounded by swirling clouds of dust and gas that seem to be turbulent. The Antennae
Galaxies, NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, are two large galaxies colliding 60 million light-years
away towards the southerly constellation of Corvus.
Fifth Round of UDAN
The Union Civil Aviation Ministry launched the fifth round of the Regional Connectivity
Scheme (RCS), known as Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN). It is expected to further boost
the connectivity to remote and regional areas across India.
UDAN 5.0 Key Features
UDAN 5.0 focuses on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats) flights, with
no restrictions on the distance between the origin and destination.
Viability gap funding (VGF) for both Priority and Non-Priority areas has been
increased to 600 km stage length.

Only Network and Individual Route Proposals proposed by airlines will be
considered.
After receiving the Letter of Award (LoA), airlines must submit an action/business
plan within two months, including their aircraft acquisition plan, availability of
aircraft, crew, slots, etc.
Airlines cannot be awarded the same route more than once, whether in different
networks or the same network.
If the average quarterly PLF surpasses 75 percent for four continuous quarters, the
exclusivity will be withdrawn to eliminate the instances of exploitation in a route for
monopolization.
Airlines must commence operations within four months of being awarded the route.
The scheme includes a list of airports that are ready or will soon be ready for
operations, making it easier to operationalize routes under the scheme.
The process of transferring routes from one operator to another will be simplified
and incentivized.
UDAN 5.0: Vision and Benefits
UDAN has been beneficial for a diverse set of stakeholders, including passengers, airlines,
and underserved regions. Passengers have gained access to air connectivity, airlines have
received concessions for operating regional routes, and unserved regions have received
direct and indirect benefits for their economic development. UDAN 5.0 aligns with the
Prime Minister’s vision of making air travel affordable and accessible to the common man.
Since its launch, UDAN has proven to be a lifeblood of many regions which are now well
connected with places across the country. This new and stronger version of the scheme
will raise the momentum, connecting new routes, and bring us closer to the target of
operationalizing 1000 routes & 50 additional airports, heliports, and water aerodromes in
the near future.
Nine Campaigns on Inclusive Development
On National Panchayati Raj Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch nine
campaigns centered around the theme of Inclusive Development in Reqa, Madhya
Pradesh. These campaigns are intended to have high-impact value and a high potential
for Jan-Bhagidari, or public participation.
The Ministry of Rural Development is leading five of the campaigns. These include
Samagra Awaas under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), Financial Literacy
at District Level, Promoting Digital Transaction at Gram Panchayat Level, Social
Mobilisation of Eligible Rural Women into Self Help Group (SHG) Network, and Pashudhan
Jagriti Abhiyan Intensive Awareness Campaign in Aspirational Districts.
Partnering ministries are leading the Swastha Mahila- Samriddha Samaj (SMSS) campaign.
Other campaigns include Plantation Drive on River Banks under the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Svamita Meri Sampatti, Mera Haq,
and Natural Farming with SHG Women campaign.
Monitoring progress with a website and mobile app
To monitor and track the progress of these campaigns, a website has been designed,
which will be launched by the prime minister himself. The website will provide updates on
various activities under the Samaveshi Vikaas campaigns, key performance indicators, a
calendar of events, event-related photos and videos, newspaper clippings, and public
opinions in real-time.
A mobile app called “Samaveshi Vikas” has been created to document Jan Bhagidari and
public participation. This app is user-friendly and enables the public to share their
experiences and provide feedback on the impact and benefits of these campaigns through
photos.
Danish Fort
The 400-year-old Danish Fort in Tharangambadi, also known as Tranquebar, is set to

undergo a facelift worth 3.5 crore.
History of Danish Fort
The Danes constructed the Danish Fort in Tharangambadi in 1620, which is also referred
to as ‘Fort Dansborg’ in the Danish language. The fort was used as a base for the Danish
East India Company’s troops, who had established a colony along the Coromandel coast.
Later, its administration was handed over to the British and then to India after
Independence. Since then, the fort has now been transformed into a museum that
exhibits artefacts from the 16th century, managed by the tourism department.
Project Details
The project is expected to commence in four months and last for 10 months. The planned
initiative involves setting up six high-mast lights, constructing a 226-meter-long paver
block road, establishing a sanitary complex, and making provisions for street vendors to
conduct their business. The officials are also mulling a children’s park and installation of
CCTV cameras.
Impact on Tourism
The project is expected to give a boost to tourism in the district, which will help in the
socio-economic development of the area. The last renovation work on the fort was carried
out in 2011. With the new installations, the fort is expected to attract more tourists, and
the children’s park and street vendors’ arrangements will provide additional revenue
opportunities.
“A Breakthrough For People and Planet: Effective And Inclusive Global Governance for Today And
The Future” Report
The United Nations’ High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism recently
launched a new report titled “A Breakthrough For People and Planet: Effective And
Inclusive Global Governance for Today And The Future”. The report emphasizes the need
to redesign the global governance system to address current and future challenges, such
as the climate crisis, rising security threats, and digital transition.
The 10 Constituent Principles of Effective Multilateralism
The report drafted 10 constituent principles of effective multilateralism, which are
essential for addressing crises such as rising inequality, lack of finance for sustainable
development, gender divide, and threats to democracy. The principles are people-centric,
representative, transparent, equitable, networked, mission-focused, flexible, accountable,
and future-oriented.
The Six Transformative Shifts
The report outlines six transformative shifts that align with the United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and “Our Common Agenda,” the UN Secretary-
General’s vision for global cooperation. The shifts aim to rebuild trust in multilateralism,
ensure sustainable finance for all, support a just digital transition, strengthen governance
for current and emerging transnational risks, and regain balance with nature by providing
clean energy for all.
The Overall Goal

The report’s overall goal is to secure a more sustainable, just, and peaceful world for
people and the planet. The report argues that effective multilateralism is only possible if
the SDGs on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls are fully
implemented, and the gender equality is ensured in all institutions and processes of
global governance.
Dissemination and Discussion of the Report’s Recommendations
The recommendations of the report will be disseminated and discussed via an information
campaign targeting key constituencies and stakeholders over the next 18 months.
Policymakers, non-governmental organizations, businesses, and civil society groups are
likely to be the primary targets of the campaign.
Summit of the Future
The report was launched on April 18, 2023, ahead of the Summit of the Future, scheduled
to be held on September 22-23, 2024, in New York. The recommendations of the report will
be an important discussion point at the summit, which will bring together policymakers,
business leaders, and civil society representatives to discuss global challenges and identify
solutions.
Nagastra 1
The Indian Army has recently made significant progress in the field of defence by signing
a contract to purchase over 450 completely indigenous Nagastra-1 loitering munitions.
Developed by Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL), a subsidiary of Solar Industries, in
collaboration with Z-Motion from Bangalore, Nagastra-1 is a game-changer for India’s
defence industry, surpassing competitors from Israel and Poland to secure the contract.
Advanced Features of Nagastra-1
Nagastra-1 is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of choice for loitering munitions with
advanced features such as abort, recover, and reuse capabilities. Its superior features
make it stand out amongst similar systems developed by more technologically advanced
countries. Nagastra-1 is a significant accomplishment for India’s defence industry and
aligns well with the ‘Make-in-India’ initiative.
Solar Industries Secures the Contract
Solar Industries Nagpur, a leading company in India’s defence industry, has secured the
contract to provide Nagastra-1 to the Indian Army. The company’s push for self-reliance in
ammunition and defence systems has resulted in the development of the first domestic
Loiter Munition (LM). This milestone achievement was made possible through the
collaboration between Economic Explosives Ltd (EEL) and Z-Motion.
Emergency Procurement Provisions and Delivery Timeline
The Indian Army has signed the contract for the acquisition of Nagastra-1 under the
emergency procurement provisions, which must be delivered within one year. These
emergency procurement deals can have a maximum value of ₹300 crores, reflecting the
urgency and priority given to indigenous defence products in emergency situations. Such
measures promote self-reliance and reduce dependence on foreign sources.

Boosting Indigenous Capability with Weaponised Drones
Solar Industries has undertaken the task of creating a diverse range of weaponized
drones, among which is the Nagastra-1. These drones possess the ability to neutralize a
range of targets by means of gravity drop bombs, guided missiles, or by utilizing the
Kamikaze mode. This showcases the company’s commitment to enhancing the indigenous
capability of using drones/UAVs as war machinery. The successful development and
acquisition of Nagastra-1 by the Indian Army is a significant step towards achieving self-
reliance in ammunition and defence systems.
Demonstrated Effectiveness of Drone Technology in Military Operations
The effectiveness of drone technology as a force multiplier in military operations has been
demonstrated worldwide. Recent conflicts, such as those in Syria, the one between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, the attack on oilfields in Saudi Arabia, and the ongoing conflict
between Russia and Ukraine, have emphasized the critical role of drones in contemporary
warfare. The acquisition of Nagastra-1 by the Indian Army signifies the country’s
commitment to staying at par with global advancements in defence technology and
leveraging indigenous capabilities.
Who are Hakki Pikkis?
The Hakki Pikki tribe is a nomadic tribe that resides in several states in western and
southern India. They are especially concentrated in forest areas where they practice their
traditional occupation of bird catching and hunting. The tribe’s name itself reveals a lot
about their history and identity. “Hakki” means “bird” in Kannada, while “Pikki” means
“catchers”. This highlights the tribe’s close association with birds and their expertise in
capturing them.
Population and Distribution
The 2011 census figures show that the Hakki Pikki tribe’s population in Karnataka was
around 12,000. The tribe is divided into four clans, namely Gujaratia, Panwar, Kaliwala, and
Mewaras. The tribe originated in the bordering districts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, but over
time, they have migrated to different parts of India, where they continue to face social,
economic, and political marginalization.
Traditional Occupation and Livelihood
The tribe’s traditional occupation of bird catching and hunting has become increasingly
difficult due to the strict implementation of wildlife protection laws. Consequently, the
tribe members have had to shift to alternative livelihood options. Many of them now earn
their livelihood by selling spices, herbal oils, and plastic flowers in local temple fairs. While
this has helped them survive, it has also led to their cultural traditions fading away.
Marriage and Social Structure
The Hakki Pikki tribe members usually get married at the age of 18 for women and 22 for
men. Cross-cousin marriages are the preferred type of marriage within the tribe, where
they marry their mother’s brother’s daughter or father’s sister’s daughter. This tradition
is believed to strengthen family bonds and promote social cohesion within the
community.
Organizations Working for the Tribe
Several organizations have been working for the betterment of the Hakki Pikki tribe in
Karnataka. One such organization is the Karnataka Adivasi Budakattu Hakki Pikki Jananga.
This organization aims to provide education, healthcare, and other basic facilities to the
tribe members and work towards their social, economic, and political empowerment.
Selling Ayurvedic Products in Africa
The tribe members also sell Ayurvedic products in Africa, indicating their entrepreneurial
spirit and willingness to explore new markets. This highlights the need to provide them
with opportunities to enhance their skills and create sustainable livelihood options for
their future.
PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 Mission
Recently, ISRO successfully launched the PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 mission to send two
Singapore-made satellite into space. An Orbital Experimental module was also launched
as part of this mission to carry out tests in the space vacuum.
TeLEOS-2 and Lumelite-4
TeLEOS-2 and Lumelite-4 are the two Singapore-made satellites that were launched
aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in
Sriharikota. TeLEOS-2, weighing 741 kg, is a commercial Earth Observation satellite
developed by the Government of Singapore and Singapore Technologies Engineering
Limited. Lumelite-4, on the other hand, is a small, 16 kg satellite developed by the
Singapore-based ST Engineering Geo-Insights Pte Ltd, with the purpose of augmenting
the maritime safety of the city-state.
PSLV-C55 Mission
The PSLV-C55 mission, under which the two satellites were launched, is significant in more
ways than one. It marks ISRO’s first commercial mission of the year 2022, and also its first
mission to use the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) – a spent fourth stage of the
launch vehicle that has been repurposed as an experimental platform for scientific
experiments. The POEM is carrying seven non-separable payloads, including the
Navigation Guidance and Control (NGC) system, which will be used for attitude
stabilization, and the Starberry Sense Payload developed by the Indian Institute of
Astrophysics, which is a low-cost device to accurately identify and measure star positions
in space. Other payloads carried by the POEM include PiLOT (PSLV In orbitaL Obc and
Thermals), an OBC package from IIST; ARIS-2 (Advanced Retarding Potential analyser for
Ionospheric Studies) experiment from IIST; HET-based ARKA200 Electric Propulsion
System from Bellatrix; DSOD-3U and DSOD-6U deployer units along with the DSOL-
Transceiver in S- & X- bands from Dhruva Space.
PiLOT Payload and ARKA200 Electric Propulsion System Payload
The PSLV In orbitaL Obc and Thermals (PiLOT) payload’s purpose is to test the On-Board
Computer and thermal environment in space. The HET-based ARKA200 Electric Propulsion
System payload, developed by Bellatrix, is a technology demonstration mission aimed at
testing the performance of an advanced electric propulsion system for future missions.
Global Buddhist Conference and the New Delhi Declaration
The Global Buddhist Summit 2023 was held in New Delhi and concluded successfully with
the New Delhi Declaration. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day
summit on 20th April 2023, which focused on modes of disseminating and internalizing
universal values to address global challenges and offer a sustainable model for the future
of the world. The Declaration reinforces the points highlighted by the Prime Minister in his
opening address, emphasizing the need for peace, harmony, and universal values in
today’s world.
Promoting Peace and Harmony
According to the Declaration, peace is the foundation for human happiness and well-
being. The teachings, principles, and ideology of Buddha Dhamma are regarded as the
most effective direction for fostering interfaith communication, unity, and global
tranquility. The Declaration calls upon all nations, organizations, and individuals to work
towards creating a world free from conflict, violence, and war. It recognizes that peace is
essential to be free from conflict, ill-feeling, greed, selfishness, and uncertainty of life in
the present world scenario.
Addressing Environmental Degradation
The Declaration recognizes that the deterioration of the environment is among the most
critical issues confronting humankind in the present time. It encourages both individuals
and governments to actively work towards diminishing carbon emissions, conserving
biodiversity, and safeguarding natural resources to ensure their availability for future
generations. The Declaration affirms the commitment to protect the environment and
promote sustainable development.
Promoting Well-being
The Declaration recognizes that genuine happiness stems from inner calmness and
satisfaction. It motivates individuals to foster mindfulness, empathy, and sagacity, which
are vital for fostering happiness and a state of good health. The teachings of Buddha
Dhamma are seen as a source of guidance in this regard.
Significance of Buddhist Pilgrimage
The Declaration acknowledges the importance of Buddhist pilgrimage as an active legacy
that fosters spiritual development, cultural comprehension, and societal concord. It
appeals to governments to conserve and safeguard the revered locations of Buddhism
and enhance their availability to people of diverse backgrounds. Buddhist pilgrimage is
seen as a means of fostering unity and understanding among diverse communities.
Paradigm Shift in Human Attitude towards Nature
The Declaration stresses the necessity of a fundamental alteration in the way humans
perceive and approach nature. By drawing upon the Buddha’s teachings, the Declaration
accentuates the responsibility that members of the Sangha, Buddhist leaders, scholars,
adherents, and establishments can assume in tackling the various challenges confronting
the planet today for the betterment of all living creatures.The continuation of the annual
Global Buddhist Summit is seen as an important step in this direction.
Preserving Value Education and Character Building
The Declaration refers to Nalanda, which was one of the most prominent centers of
Dhamma education for around seven centuries, spanning from the 5th to the 12th century
AD. It precedes the modern system of university education and was famous for value
education and character building. The Declaration underscores the importance of
inculcating these values among youths to rejuvenate society towards the concept of
“Vasudeva Kuṭumbakam”, which means the world is one family. This will help promote a
sense of community and a common purpose among individuals.
Exercise INIOCHOS-23
Exercise INIOCHOS-23 is a multi-national air exercise hosted by the Greece Air Force, in
which the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating. It is one of the three exercises that
the IAF will be taking part in simultaneously, along with Exercise Cope India with the U.S.
underway at Kalaikunda and a multilateral exercise Orion hosted by France, in which four
Rafale fighters are participating. Exercise INIOCHOS-23 will be held at the Andravida Air
Base in Greece from April 24 to May 4.
Enhancing International Cooperation
Exercise INIOCHOS-23’s goal is to strengthen international cooperation, synergy, and
interoperability amongst the participating Air Forces. The exercise provides a platform for
different countries to come together, share their knowledge, expertise, and best practices,
and learn from each other’s experiences. Through professional interactions, the
participating contingents can engage in valuable exchanges, which provide insights into
each other’s best practices, and foster mutual understanding and cooperation among the
air forces of different nations.
Realistic Combat Scenario
Exercise INIOCHOS-23 will be conducted in a realistic combat scenario that involves
multiple types of air and surface assets. This scenario allows the participating air forces to
test their capabilities, tactics, and strategies in a challenging environment, and enables
them to refine their skills and techniques. The exercise provides an opportunity for the IAF
to showcase its capabilities and demonstrate its professionalism on an international stage.

IAF’s Participation
The IAF will be taking part in Exercise INIOCHOS-23 with four Su-30 MKI aircraft and two
C-17 aircraft. The Su-30 MKI is a state-of-the-art multi-role fighter aircraft known for its
versatility, speed, and agility. The C-17 aircraft is a strategic airlifter that can transport
heavy equipment, troops, and cargo over long distances. The participation of these
advanced aircraft in Exercise INIOCHOS-23 highlights the IAF’s commitment to enhancing
its operational capabilities and interoperability with other air forces.
100 Food Streets
The Union Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs,
has launched a unique initiative to develop 100 food streets in 100 districts across the
country. This pilot project aims to promote safe and healthy practices to reduce food-
borne illnesses and improve overall health outcomes for citizens. The initiative also aims
to boost the economy, create local employment opportunities, and enhance tourism
potential.
Implementation and Financial Assistance
The food streets initiative will be implemented through the National Health Mission (NHM)
in convergence with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and with technical support
from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Under the National Health
Mission (NHM), States and Union Territories in India will receive financial aid of ₹1 crore
for each food street or district. The ratio of financial assistance will be either 60:40 or
90:10, with the requirement that the food streets follow FSSAI guidelines for standard
branding. The FSSAI will oversee the implementation of the project and provide technical
support. This ensures that the food streets maintain the highest standards of hygiene and
safety.
Aim and Benefits of the Initiative
The aim of the food streets initiative is to promote safe and healthy practices to reduce
food-borne illnesses and improve overall health outcomes. By providing easy access to
safe and hygienic food, the initiative aims to encourage citizens to make healthier food
choices. In addition to improving public health, the initiative also has several other
benefits. It will boost the economy by creating local employment opportunities and
enhancing tourism potential. Moreover, it will improve the hygiene credibility of local food
businesses, thereby promoting the “eat right campaign” and food safety.
Other Initiatives Associated with the Project
Apart from financial assistance, the food streets initiative also includes other important
initiatives. The Health Ministry has directed Municipal Corporations and District Collectors
to lead the effort in aligning financial resources and physical infrastructure to facilitate the
project’s smooth implementation. Moreover, several activities such as training of food
handlers, independent third-party audits, certification of Eat Right Street Food Hubs, and
establishing a standard protocol for modernizing food streets will be undertaken. These
measures will improve the safety and hygiene standards of the food streets. Additionally,
training of food handlers, independent third-party audits, certification of Eat Right Street
Food Hubs, and developing a standard procedure for modernization of food streets will be
undertaken as part of the initiative. This will further enhance the safety and hygiene
standards of the food streets.
Training Programmes for Street Vendors
States and Union Territories have the opportunity to conduct training programmes for
street vendors on food safety, maintenance of hygiene, and waste disposal. This will help
street vendors to adopt safe and hygienic practices in their food businesses, thereby
contributing to the overall success of the food streets initiative.
April 24, 2023
‘Mehngai Rahat Camp’
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is set to inaugurate the ‘Mehngai Rahat Camp’ on
April 24 at Mahapura village panchayat of Sanganer. The camp, which will continue till
June 30 this year, aims to provide relief to the general public and deprived sections from
rising prices and inflation.
Objective of the Camp
The main objective of the Mehngai Rahat Camp, as stated by the Chief Minister, is to
empower the common people. Through the camp, the government aims to provide
complete information about rights, schemes, and eligibility to the general public and
deprived sections. The camp will act as a platform to connect people with the public
welfare schemes of the state government, providing relief from inflation and rising prices.
Welfare Schemes
The Mehngai Rahat Camp will provide 10 public welfare schemes to the common people.
These schemes are aimed at benefiting various sections of society, including farmers,
landless laborers, and agriculture course graduate unemployed youths. The state
government has allocated ₹592 crore under various schemes for farmers’ welfare,
including provisions for spraying nano urea by drone, grants to landless laborers for
purchasing manual agricultural machinery, and providing agricultural machinery to
farmers.
Registration and Camp Details
Registration has been made mandatory for joining the 10 public welfare schemes run by
the state government. The camps will be set up at around 2,000 permanent inflation relief
camps in government offices and public places across districts. For the convenience of the
common people, registration can be done in camps of other districts through the
Rajasthan government’s Jan Aadhar card.
Kesavananda Bharati Case
India’s Constitution, adopted in 1950, lays out the framework for governing the world’s
largest democracy. The Constitution has been amended many times since its inception,
with more than 60 amendments passed since 1973. However, the “basic structure”
doctrine, introduced in the landmark case of Kesavananda Bharati v State of Kerala has
become a vital mechanism for ensuring that Parliament’s power to amend the
Constitution is not unlimited.

The Kesavananda Bharati Ruling
In 1973, the Supreme Court of India ruled on the case of Kesavananda Bharati v State of
Kerala, in which the petitioner challenged the constitutionality of land reforms legislation
passed by the Kerala State Legislature. The Court upheld the legislation but also
introduced the “basic structure” doctrine. The doctrine states that Parliament’s power to
amend the Constitution is limited and cannot be used to destroy or alter its “basic
structure”. This includes the principles of democracy, secularism, federalism, and the rule
of law, among others.
Testing Constitutional Amendments Against the Basic Structure Doctrine
Since 1973, at least 16 cases have tested constitutional amendments against the basic
structure doctrine. In only one instance has the Supreme Court struck down an entire
constitutional amendment: the Constitution (Ninety-ninth Amendment) Act, 2014. The
amendment provided for the establishment of a National Judicial Appointments
Commission, which would have replaced the collegium system of appointing judges to the
higher judiciary. However, the Supreme Court struck it down as it threatened “judicial
independence”, which it ruled was a basic feature of the Constitution.
Partially Striking Down Constitutional Amendments
The Supreme Court has partially struck down six constitutional amendments since 1973.
The Constitution (Fifty-second Amendment) Act dealt with the Tenth Schedule, also known
as the “anti-defection law”. The Constitution (Thirty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1975, barred
the Supreme Court from hearing challenges to the election of the President, Prime
Minister, Vice-President, and Speaker of Lok Sabha. The Constitution (Ninety-seventh
Amendment) Act, 2011, introduced changes to the legal regime for cooperative societies.
In 2021, the Supreme Court struck down a portion of the Constitution (Ninety-seventh
Amendment) Act on procedural grounds, not basic structure grounds.
National Panchayati Raj Day - Update (April, 2023)
National Panchayati Raj Day is a significant day observed on April 24 every year in India. It
marks the day in 1993, when the Panchayati Raj system with constitutional status in India.
History of Panchayati Raj in India
The Panchayati Raj system has its roots in ancient India, dating back to around 300 BCE.
The word “panchayat” has its origins in Sanskrit, where “panch” denotes “five” and “ayat”
represents “assembly”. During the Mauryan period, the administration was decentralized,
and local self-government was the norm. The Panchayati Raj system was initially
implemented in modern India in 1959 under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru’s
government. However, it was only in 1993, with the 73rd Amendment to the Indian
Constitution, that the system was granted constitutional status.
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
The PRIs, which are the third level of governance in India, are accountable for governing
rural areas at the local level. The 73rd Amendment required the establishment of a three-
level system of PRIs at the village, block, and district levels. The PRIs have a significant role
in promoting rural development by executing government schemes and programs at the

local level. They also guarantee that women and underprivileged sectors of society are
involved in the decision-making process.
Significance of National Panchayati Raj Day
National Panchayati Raj Day is significant as it highlights the importance of grassroots-
level democracy and local self-government in India. This occasion offers a chance to
evaluate the advancements made in executing the Panchayati Raj framework and
recognize regions that need to be enhanced. Additionally, the day acknowledges the role
of Panchayati Raj establishments in enhancing rural areas’ growth.
Theme for National Panchayati Raj Day 2023
The theme for National Panchayati Raj Day 2023 is “Sustainable Panchayat: Building
Healthy, Water Sufficient, Clean & Green Villages.” The objective of the theme is to
encourage the sustainable growth of rural regions by ensuring access to unpolluted
water, promoting healthy habits, and establishing an environment that is both hygienic
and environmentally friendly. The theme emphasizes the need for PRIs to focus on
sustainable development and the role they can play in achieving this goal.
National Panchayati Raj Award Celebration Week
The National Panchayati Raj Award Celebration Week is being organized to recognize the
efforts of panchayats in achieving sustainable development goals and to encourage
further progress towards sustainable development. The National Conference on Healthy
Panchayat, Water Sufficient Panchayat, and Clean and Green Panchayat will provide a
platform for panchayat representatives and officials to share their experiences and
discuss strategies for achieving sustainable development in rural areas. This celebration
week recognizes the crucial role played by PRIs in achieving sustainable development in
India.
Guided Bombs
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing for several years now.
Recently, the Ukrainian government has reported an increase in the number of guided
bomb attacks carried out by the Russian forces.
Type of Bombs
The Russian forces are using guided bombs to attack Ukraine. These bombs are equipped
with wings and a satellite control system that allows for precision targeting. The modern,
satellite-guided bomb that Russia has is called the UPAB-1500B. Additionally, the Russian
army uses FAB-type bombs, which are high-explosive bombs. Ukrainian military experts
believe that Russia currently has two types of guided bombs.
Affected Areas
Kherson, a city in the south of Ukraine, has been particularly affected by the attacks. The
regions of Ukraine bordering Russia and Belarus have also been heavily targeted.
According to reports, up to 20 guided bomb hits have been registered along the entire
front line in recent weeks.
Reasons behind Increased Use of Guided Bombs
The Russian forces are dropping more guided bombs because they are running out of
missiles, and guided bombs are cheaper. While the guided bombs are far inferior to
modern systems and equipped with outdated technology, they can still hit targets at a
great distance from where they are dropped and allow for precise targeting. This gives the
Russian forces an advantage over Ukraine.
Defense Against Guided Bombs
It is difficult for Ukraine to defend itself against guided bombs as they currently use Soviet
anti-aircraft missile systems that are not effective against aerial bombs. According to
experts, Western fighter jets are needed to defend against guided bombs. However, it is
risky for Ukraine to deploy modern air defense systems close to the front line as Russian
troops will try to destroy them, even if just for propaganda purposes.
SS Montevideo Maru
The Montevideo Maru was a ship that sunk during World War II, resulting in the loss of
about 1,060 prisoners of war and civilians from 14 different countries. For 81 years, the
wreckage of the ship remained elusive, until a recent discovery by the Silentworld
Foundation, led by Captain Roger Turner, a technical director and submarine specialist
who spent years researching the wreck.
The Tragic History of the Montevideo Maru
The Montevideo Maru was a Japanese cargo ship that was used to transport prisoners of
war and civilians during World War II. On July 1, 1942, the ship was torpedoed and sunk by
a US submarine in the South China Sea. The ship was carrying about 979 Australian troops
and civilians, as well as prisoners from other countries, including the United Kingdom,
New Zealand, and the Netherlands, among others. Tragically, no one on board survived
the sinking, and it became one of the deadliest maritime disasters in Australian history.
The Recent Discovery
After 81 years of being lost at sea, the wreckage of the Montevideo Maru was discovered
by the Silentworld Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to maritime
archaeology and exploration. The team, led by Captain Roger Turner, used bottom
contour mapping and an autonomous underwater vehicle to identify the obstacles on the
sea floor and locate the wreck. The discovery was a significant breakthrough, as it shed
light on the final resting place of the long-lost ship and provided closure for the families of
the victims.
Details of the Discovery
The team that discovered the Montevideo Maru wreck was able to match parts of the
wreckage with the drawings of the ship, including the hold, the foremast, and the curve of
the bow. This confirmation helped to positively identify the wreck as the Montevideo
Maru, putting an end to decades of speculation and uncertainty. However, despite the
significance of the discovery, the wreck will not be disturbed, and human remains and
artifacts will not be removed from the site out of respect for the victims and their families.
World Book Day - Update (April, 2023)

World Book Day is a yearly celebration observed on April 23rd globally to promote the love
for reading, writing, publishing, and copyright. It is an initiative to create awareness of the
importance of education and literacy. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) organized the first World Book Day in 1995, chosen to
coincide with the death anniversary of notable writers William Shakespeare, Garcilaso de
la Vega, and Miguel de Cervantes.
Significance of World Book Day
The significance of World Book Day lies in its promotion of the importance of education
and literacy. Reading is an essential skill needed by people from all walks of life, and books
are a vital source of knowledge. World Book Day also focuses on publishing and copyright
issues that are prevalent in the digital age. With the rise of e-books and piracy, the
publishing industry faces significant challenges. World Book Day helps raise awareness of
these issues and promotes the protection of intellectual property rights.
The Theme for World Book Day 2023
The theme for World Book Day 2023 is ‘Indigenous Languages.’ The theme is focused on
promoting the diversity of native languages in a country. This theme highlights the
importance of preserving cultural and linguistic heritage.
Books and the Past and Future
Books serve as a connection between the past and the future, a pathway that links various
generations and cultures. They provide a window into different times and worlds,
connecting people across continents and ages. UNESCO recognizes the importance of
books and authors and stands for creativity, diversity, and equal access to knowledge.
Celebrating Books and Authors
To sustain the momentum of World Book Day’s festivities, UNESCO and global
organizations that represent the primary sectors of the book industry, namely publishers,
booksellers, and libraries, pick the World Book Capital for a year. World Book Day is a
worldwide celebration of books and authors that brings together numerous individuals
and groups, including authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, private and public
institutions, humanitarian NGOs, and the media. It has become a platform to rally
together millions of people worldwide to celebrate books and authors, and promote the
enjoyment of reading.
What are Heat Domes?
Heat domes are high-pressure systems that result in extremely hot and dry weather
conditions, causing a variety of impacts on human health, the environment, and society.
As the frequency and intensity of heat domes increase, understanding their causes,
impacts, and mitigation strategies becomes crucial.
What is a Heat Dome?
A heat dome is a type of high-pressure system that occurs when a large area of high
pressure in the upper atmosphere traps hot air near the surface of the earth. This results
in a dome-like shape of high pressure that prevents the hot air from rising and cooling,
leading to persistent hot and dry weather conditions.

How Can Heat Domes Impact Human Health?
Heat domes can have severe impacts on human health. Prolonged exposure to extreme
heat can cause heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can
be life-threatening. Heat domes can also aggravate pre-existing health conditions, such as
asthma and heart disease, and increase the risk of dehydration and heat-related injuries,
particularly among vulnerable populations such as elderly individuals, children, people
with pre-existing health conditions, construction workers, farmers, and those living in
poverty.
Contributing Factors to the Increased Frequency and Intensity of Heat Domes
Several factors contribute to the increased frequency and intensity of heat domes. Climate
change is a significant factor, as rising global temperatures alter weather patterns and
create favorable conditions for the formation of heat domes. Melting icebergs and loss of
Arctic sea ice also contribute to drier conditions, reducing the moderating effect of the
ocean on temperature extremes. Changes in weather patterns, such as the slowing down
of atmospheric circulation, can result in prolonged periods of stagnant weather
conditions, leading to the formation of heat domes.
Impacts of Heat Domes on the Environment
Heat domes can have severe impacts on the environment. The persistent hot and dry
conditions associated with heat domes can lead to droughts, exacerbate wildfires, and
damage infrastructure such as roads and buildings. Drier conditions can also have long-
term impacts on ecosystems, including changes in plant and animal populations, and
disruptions to agricultural production.
Formation of Heat Domes
Heat domes form when a large area of high pressure occurs in the upper atmosphere,
causing air to sink and warm as it descends towards the surface. This sinking air creates a
dome-like shape of high pressure that traps hot air near the surface, preventing it from
rising and cooling. Other factors that contribute to the formation of heat domes include
less reflection of sunlight due to changes in atmospheric conditions and dry air.
Can Heat Domes be Completely Prevented?
Heat domes are a natural weather phenomenon, and it is not possible to completely
prevent their occurrence. However, the impacts of heat domes can be mitigated through
various strategies.
Mitigation Strategies for Heat Domes
Mitigating the impacts of heat domes requires a multi-pronged approach. Reducing
greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change is critical in addressing the
root causes of heat domes. Improving energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable
energy sources, and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels can help mitigate the impacts of
heat domes. Urban planning strategies, such as planting trees and implementing cooling
measures, can help reduce the urban heat island effect, which exacerbates the impacts of
heat domes in urban areas. Additionally, implementing early warning systems, providing
access to cooling centers, and educating vulnerable populations on heat-related risks and
preventive measures can also help mitigate the impacts of heat domes on human health.
English Language Day - Update (April, 2023)
April 23 is a significant day for language enthusiasts all around the world. It marks the
celebration of World English Day, also known as English Language Day, which
commemorates the birth and death anniversary of the renowned English playwright and
poet William Shakespeare. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) established World English Day in 2010 to promote multilingualism,
cultural diversity, and to recognize the importance of the English language in the world.
History of World English Day
The English language is one of the most widely spoken languages around the globe. It is
referred to as the lingua franca of the modern era and serves as the working language of
the United Nations. The Department of Global Communications began language days for
all of the United Nations’ six official languages in 2010. This effort eventually resulted in
the creation of English Language Day, also known as World English Day.
Significance of English Language
Approximately 952 million people speak English as their first language globally, with an
additional 603 million people speaking it as their second language. This makes English the
most commonly spoken language worldwide and a tool for communication in various
fields such as business, science, and technology. Celebrating World English Day
acknowledges the language’s power and significance, promoting its continued usage and
growth, and fostering multilingualism.
Theme and Purpose of World English Day
The theme for World English Day changes every year, often representing a specific facet of
the language’s importance. The United Nations has previously selected themes for World
English Day, such as “English and Creativity” and “English as a Global Language,” to
highlight the language’s impact on global communication, education, and culture. The
aim of celebrating this day is to recognize the importance and influence of the English
language, encourage its continued development and use, and promote multilingualism.
Basava Jayanthi
Basava Jayanthi is an important festival celebrated in Karnataka and other parts of South
India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Basavanna. This festival is of great
significance to the Lingayat community, as Basavanna is considered the founding saint of
this Hindu sect.
Who was Basavanna?
Basavanna was a 12th-century poet-philosopher and social reformer who founded the
Lingayat tradition. He was born in the northern part of Karnataka to a family devoted to
Lord Shiva. Basavanna was a visionary who believed in creating a society that was free of
the caste system and provided equal opportunities for all. He also founded the Anubhava
Mantapa, an academy that included Lingayat mystics, saints, and philosophers.
Basava Jayanthi Significance
Basava Jayanthi is celebrated to honor the birth anniversary of Basavanna, who is also
known as Bhaktibhandari, Basaveswara, and Vishwaguru Basavanna. This day is
significant for the Lingayat community as it serves as a reminder of Basavanna’s
teachings, which emphasized the importance of social equality and human dignity.
Celebrations on Basava Jayanthi
On this day, people visit Lord Basaveshwar temples, offer prayers, and celebrate the
occasion. Lingayat committees organize many events to celebrate this special day.
Devotees also perform special poojas and abhishekams to Lord Basaveshwar.
Basava Jayanthi Date and Celebrations
Basava Jayanthi is usually observed on the third day of the Vaisakha month according to
the Hindu calendar, which falls in either April or May in the Gregorian calendar. In 2023,
Basava Jayanthi falls on April 23, Sunday. The festival is primarily celebrated in South India,
especially in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
Puri – Gangasagar Divya Kashi Yatra
Indian Railways is set to launch the Puri–Gangasagar Divya Kashi Yatra to promote
religious tourism. This initiative aims to offer a unique opportunity for pilgrims to visit
important religious destinations across the country. The tour is being launched under the
“Dekho Apna Desh” and “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” Scheme, which promotes domestic
tourism in India.
Tour Details and Schedule
The Puri–Gangasagar Divya Kashi Yatra is scheduled to begin its journey from Pune on
April 28, 2023, and will last for 9 nights and 10 days. The tour aims to cover important
religious destinations in Puri, Kolkata, Gaya, Varanasi, and Prayagraj. It will provide
passengers with the opportunity to experience and visit renowned pilgrimage sites and
temples. These include the Jagannath temple, Konark Temple, Lingraj Temple situated at
Puri, Kali Bari located in Kolkata, Ganga Sagar, Vishnu Pad Temple, and Bodh Gaya in
Gaya, Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Ganga Ghat in Varanasi, as well as Triveni Sangam in
Prayagraj.
Role of IRCTC
This comprehensive tour is being provided by IRCTC, the specialized division for tourism
and hospitality services of Indian Railways. The aim of the tour is to showcase the rich
cultural and religious heritage of India to domestic and international tourists. With the
inclusion of the Puri–Gangasagar Divya Kashi Yatra, IRCTC aims to further promote
religious tourism in the country.
Sea-based Endo-Atmospheric Interceptor Missile
India recently achieved a significant milestone in its ambitious ballistic missile defense
(BMD) program by successfully conducting the maiden flight trial of an endo-atmospheric
interceptor missile. The test happened off the coast of Odisha in the Bay of Bengal, and its
purpose was to engage and neutralize a hostile ballistic missile threat. With this successful
test, India has elevated itself to an elite club of nations that possess such a capability.
Demonstration of Land-Based BMD System
Prior to the sea-based missile trial, India’s Defense Research and Development
Organization (DRDO) had successfully demonstrated the capabilities of its land-based
BMD system in neutralizing ballistic missile threats from adversaries. The land-based BMD
system played a crucial role in developing the sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor
missile, which was tested recently. This successful demonstration of the ship-based BMD
system was lauded by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who congratulated the Indian Navy
and DRDO for their achievements.
Significance of Sea-Based Endo-Atmospheric Interceptor Missile
The maiden flight trial of the sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile holds
immense significance for India. It brings India into an elite club of nations that possess
naval BMD capability. This milestone is a testament to India’s progress in developing

advanced defense technologies and enhancing its defense capabilities. The successful test
of the sea-based missile further strengthens India’s position as a responsible and capable
player in the field of missile defense.
Role of BMDs
BMDs, or Ballistic Missile Defense systems, play a critical role in intercepting incoming
long-range nuclear missiles and hostile aircraft. India’s Ballistic Missile Defence program
is working towards enhancing its capacity to intercept and counteract hostile ballistic
missiles that could pose a threat, not only within the earth’s atmosphere but also beyond
it. With the successful test of the sea-based endo-atmospheric interceptor missile, India
has taken a significant step towards achieving its goal of a robust BMD system that can
effectively neutralize ballistic missile threats.
Role of AWACS
Hostile aircraft, including AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control Systems), can also be
intercepted by BMDs. AWACS are airborne radar systems used for surveillance and
command and control purposes. The successful development of a sea-based endo-
atmospheric interceptor missile enhances India’s ability to counter hostile aircraft,
including those equipped with AWACS, thus further strengthening its defense capabilities.
44 Squadron of the Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has a rich history of valor and sacrifice in serving the nation, and
44 Squadron is an integral part of this legacy.
Formation and Early Years
44 Squadron was raised on 6th April 1961, equipped with AN-12 aircraft. The personnel of
the squadron received their training in Ukraine in the erstwhile USSR in December 1960.
The squadron’s first sortie to Chushul was flown on 9th April 1961 in support of the Army.
Role in 1962 and 1971 Operations
During the 1962 operations, 44 Squadron provided logistic support to the Army in the
Ladakh sector, landing sorties at Leh and Chushul, airdrop of supplies to various forward
posts in the Aksai Chin area, and evacuation of a large number of casualties. In the 1971
operations, 44 Squadron effectively used AN-12s for bombing missions and undertook the
first mission to the Changa Manga forest ammunition depot on the very first day. It was
awarded the ‘’Battle Honours’ for the 1971 Operations, making it the only non-
fighter/bomber squadron in the IAF to receive this distinction.
Induction of IL-76 Aircraft
In March 1985, 44 Squadron brought the IL-76 aircraft into India. It was formally inducted
into the IAF on 16th June 1985. The unit crest of 44 Squadron portrays ‘Himalayan Geese,’
reflecting tranquility and supremacy and the global reach of one of the largest transport
aircraft in the inventory of the IAF.
Role in IPKF Operations
During the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operations in Sri Lanka, 44 Squadron played
a crucial role in transporting man and material, including T-72 tanks and artillery guns, in
the early hours of 30th July 1987, greatly contributing to the airlift effort. The squadron
flew extensively during the IPKF operations, which culminated in March 1990.
Ongoing Operations
In recent years, 44 Squadron has continued to serve the nation with distinction. During the
ongoing operations in Eastern Ladakh, it airlifted more than 2,000 troops to the Ladakh
sector besides all kinds of equipment. After the induction of the IL-76 aircraft in 1985, the
squadron carried out practice landings at Thoise in October 1985 and in early 1986,
inducted tanks and artillery guns into the Ladakh region.
Kochi Water Metro
PM Modi is all set to inaugurate the first phase of the Kochi Water Metro project in Kerala
on April 25. The Kochi Water Metro project is said to revolutionize transportation in India
as it is the country’s first-ever water metro system of its kind.
Linking Ten Island Communities in Kerala
The main objective of the Kochi Water Metro project is to link ten island communities in
Kerala’s city with the mainland, resulting in shorter travel times and more cost-effective
transportation. The project boasts a distinct infrastructure and has the capacity to carry
over one lakh passengers. During the initial phase of the project, it is expected to
transport more than 34,000 passengers. Upon the completion of the metro system, this
number is predicted to rise significantly, reaching up to 1.5 lakhs of passengers daily.
Modern Ferry Transport Project
The Kochi Water Metro is a modern ferry transport project consisting of numerous boats
running along 16 routes across Greater Kochi. Equipped with cutting-edge safety devices
and advanced technology, the ferry ensures smoother commutes and more efficient travel
experiences. The boats in the Kochi Water Metro are powered by batteries and require
only 10 to 20 minutes to traverse each route. The incorporation of innovative technology
enables smooth sailing even in adverse weather conditions.
38 Stations and 78 Ferry Boats
Upon the project’s completion, the system will feature a total of 38 stations and 78 ferry
boats. The project has a total cost of Rs. 1137 crore, which is being financed by the Kerala
state government and a German funding agency called KWF.
EU’s Markets in Crypto Act

The European Union’s legislature has granted final approval to the Markets in Crypto
Assets (MiCA) regulations, which are the new common rules for the crypto space in
Europe. The MiCA will regulate the supervision, consumer protection, and environmental
safeguards of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
MiCA aims to reduce the carbon footprint of cryptocurrencies and counter the risks of
market manipulation, money laundering, and terrorist financing. Larger service providers
are obliged to disclose their energy consumption, and licensing for crypto service
providers operating in the bloc is introduced. A register for non-compliant companies will
also be established.
Regulatory clarity for the EU
The MiCA would protect consumers against fraud and allow the sector to regain trust. It
would put the EU at the forefront of the token economy with 10,000 different crypto
assets. MiCA will become effective after receiving formal endorsement from the Council
and 20 days after being published in the EU Official Journal.
Tracing of crypto transactions
In a separate vote, the European Parliament passed supplementary legislation allowing
the tracking of cryptocurrency transactions. The purpose of this legislation is to ensure
that transfers of cryptocurrencies can “always be traced” and blocked if they are found to
be suspicious. Transfers of crypto assets are subject to the “travel rule” from traditional
finance, which mandates that details about the source of the asset and its beneficiary
must accompany the transaction and be recorded on both ends.
Self-hosted wallets and exemption rules
The provisions will also cover transactions from crypto addresses of private users, the so-
called “self-hosted wallets,” if they exceed €1,000 (approx. $1,100) in fiat equivalent and
when they transact with “hosted” wallets managed by service providers. Exceptions to the
rules include transfers conducted directly between individuals, transfers that do not
involve a service provider, and transfers made between providers who act on their own
behalf.
April 25, 2023
The Factories (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Tamil Nadu government has recently passed The Factories (Tamil Nadu Amendment)
Bill, 2023 to amend the Factories Act, 1948, in a bid to provide greater flexibility to the
manufacturing sector. The proposed amendment suggests inserting a new Section 65A in
the Act, which will allow factories to have flexible working hours. The Bill has raised several
concerns among trade unions, and political parties have opposed the move.
The Proposed Amendment
The proposed amendment aims to provide greater flexibility to factories by allowing them
to have flexible working hours by inserting a new Section 65A in the Factories Act, 1948.
The proposed change is to extend the daily shifts of factory workers to 12 hours instead of
the existing eight hours in case they opt for a four-day work week. The total working
hours in a week will remain unchanged at 48.

Sections of the Factories Act Affected by the Amendment
The proposed amendment affects several sections of the Factories Act, including Sections
51, 52, 54, 55, 56, and 59. These sections deal with issues related to the working hours of
factory workers, including the maximum number of hours of work per day, intervals for
rest, spread over, and overtime wages.
Trade Unions Express Concerns
The trade unions have raised concerns that the provisions of the Bill are open-ended and
can be misused by employers. They fear that the amendment will lead to an increase in
working hours for factory workers, which can have severe consequences for their health
and well-being.
Tamil Nadu Government’s Aim

The Tamil Nadu government aims to provide flexibility in working hours to workers,
particularly women workers, and to manage production schedules better. The
government argues that any change in work schedule cannot be forced on employees by
an employer, and the choice will ultimately rest with the employees.
Indiahandmade Portal
Indiahandmade Portal is an e-commerce portal launched by the Indian Government with
the aim of empowering artisans and weavers by providing them a platform to sell their
products directly to customers. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to
promote local artisans and craftsmanship, and support the “Vocal for Local” movement.
A Platform for Artisans and Weavers
Indiahandmade Portal provides a platform for artisans and weavers to showcase their
products to a wide customer base. More than 35 lakh handloom weavers’ products and
over 27 lakh handicraft artisans’ products are available directly to consumers through the
portal. Customers can find a variety of products including clothing, home decor, jewellery,
accessories, and other handmade items by skilled artisans. It connects artisans and
weavers directly to buyers through a common platform, eliminating the need for
middlemen and ensuring that artisans and weavers get fair value for their products.
Opportunities for E-Entrepreneurship
Indiahandmade Portal offers an opportunity for weavers and artisans to become future e-
entrepreneurs. A total of 62 lakh weavers and artisans can leverage the portal to expand
their reach and access a larger customer base. The portal provides free handholding to
sellers from registration till order fulfillment, helping them with logistics, payments, and
other aspects of online selling. This empowers weavers and artisans with the necessary
tools and support to become successful e-entrepreneurs and grow their businesses.
Customer-friendly Features
Indiahandmade Portal offers several customer-friendly features. The portal does not
charge any commission from sellers, ensuring that artisans and weavers receive the full
value of their products. Free shipping is provided to customers, making it convenient and
cost-effective for them to purchase products from the portal. It also provides a return
option to customers, ensuring a seamless buying experience. Multiple payment gateways

are available for customers to pay online, providing flexibility and convenience in payment
options.
Government’s Efforts to Promote Artisans and Weavers
Indiahandmade Portal is part of the government’s broader efforts to promote artisans
and weavers in India. The portal complements the PM-VIKAS initiative by providing a
platform for artisans and weavers to showcase their products and sell them directly to
customers. PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman Yojana (PM-VIKAS) aims to provide small
artisans and craftsmen with training on quality, scale, and reach, as well as access to
advanced skill training, modern digital techniques, brand promotion, linkage with local
and global markets, digital payments, and social security.
Operation Kaveri
The Indian government has launched a rescue operation in Sudan to evacuate its
stranded citizens. The operation, named Operation Kaveri, is currently underway.
Number of Indians Stranded in Sudan
As per official data, around 4,000 Indians are stuck in Sudan. The Indian government has
deployed two C-130s aircraft and the navy ship INS Sumedha on standby to evacuate
Indians from the violence-hit African nation.
Symbolic Meaning of the Name Kaveri
The rescue operation in Sudan has been named Operation Kaveri for a symbolic reason.
Kaveri is an important river flowing through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, worshipped as
Goddess Kaveriamma. The name represents a river that reaches its destination despite
barriers, symbolizing the safe return of Indians stuck in Sudan.
Operation Ganga
This is not the first time the Indian government has launched a rescue operation and
named it after a river. The Indian government had evacuated Indians from war-torn
Ukraine more than a year ago, and this rescue operation was dubbed Operation Ganga.
The Ganges is a massive water resource and is also worshipped in India.
Conflict in Sudan
The Sudanese army and a paramilitary group have been engaged in an armed conflict for
the last 10 days. The conflict has claimed over 427 lives, including at least 273 civilians, and
more than 3,700 people have been wounded.
Ceasefire Agreement
The warring factions have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire beginning from today, allowing
Western, Arab and Asian nations to evacuate their nationals from the country. Scores of
people, including Sudanese and people from neighbouring countries, have fled the
country in the past few days to Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan.
World Malaria Day - Update (April, 2023)
Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which
is spread to humans through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. Despite being
preventable and treatable, malaria continues to affect millions of people around the
world, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa. This is why World Malaria Day is observed
annually to raise awareness and promote action towards the prevention and control of
the disease.
Observing World Malaria Day
World Malaria Day is observed every year on April 25th to remind people around the world
about the dangers of malaria and the need to take action. This day aims to increase
awareness about malaria, promote prevention measures, and encourage research into
new treatments and vaccines for the disease. It also aims to celebrate the progress made
in the fight against malaria and to focus on areas where more needs to be done.
Malaria Transmission
Malaria is transmitted through the bites of infected Anopheles mosquitoes, primarily the
female ones. The Plasmodium parasite is spread to humans when an infected mosquito
bites them, and the parasite enters their bloodstream. This leads to the development of
malaria, a potentially life-threatening disease that can cause fever, chills, flu-like
symptoms, anemia, and in severe cases, organ failure, and death.
Risk Factors for Malaria
Malaria affects nearly half of the world’s population, and an estimated 247 million people
contracted malaria in 2021. Approximately 619,000 people died from the disease in the
same year. Pregnant women, infants, children under 5 years of age, and HIV/AIDS patients
are particularly at risk. Migrants, mobile populations, and traveler groups are also
vulnerable groups since they have not acquired partial immunity from long-term exposure
to the disease or are not taking chemopreventive therapies.
History of World Malaria Day
Africa Malaria Day is an event observed by African governments since 2001. In 2007, at the
60th session of the World Health Assembly, the World Health Organisation (WHO)
proposed that Africa Malaria Day be changed to World Malaria Day. This day helps to
identify the existence of malaria in countries worldwide and brings awareness among
people globally to fight against malaria.
Goal of World Malaria Day
The goal of World Malaria Day is to take action to control the deadly disease. Through
prevention measures such as mosquito nets, insecticide spraying, and education on the
use of protective clothing, people can protect themselves from mosquito bites and reduce
the spread of malaria. Medication is also available to treat malaria, making it both
preventable and curable.
World Malaria Day 2023
World Malaria Day 2023 will be marked under the theme “Time to deliver zero malaria:
invest, innovate, implement”. The focus will be on how to maximize the impact of tools
and strategies to reach out to marginalized populations. This theme will help to create
awareness about malaria, its prevention, and treatment options, and encourage people to
take action towards achieving zero malaria.
International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace - Update (April, 2023)
The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is an annual observance
celebrated on April 24th. In 2018, the Republic of Azerbaijan’s representatives suggested
the idea to the United Nations as a means of strengthening and promoting the principles
of multilateralism and diplomacy in global affairs. The observance acknowledges the use
of multilateral decision making and diplomacy in achieving peaceful resolutions to
conflicts among nations.
Philosophy behind Multilateralism
Multilateralism is a strategy of international relations that accentuates the significance of
teamwork and synchronization between numerous nations and global organizations in
addressing worldwide predicaments and accomplishing mutual objectives. It
acknowledges that intricate global dilemmas like terrorism, climate change, or

international trade can’t be solved by a single nation alone, and that collective action and
mutual responsibility are indispensable. The principles of multilateralism include
impartiality, mutual respect, and diplomacy, and it aims to encourage a more
comprehensive and transparent global governance system that promotes broad-based
engagement and agreement-building.
Role of International Agreements and Organizations
International agreements, treaties, and organizations such as the United Nations, World
Trade Organization, or the International Monetary Fund, among others, embody the idea
of multilateralism and promote cooperation among nations. They serve as a platform for
dialogue, negotiation, and consensus-building among member states, and provide a
framework for addressing global challenges through collective action.
Multilateralism: Benefits and Challenges
Multilateralism provides several benefits, including collective action, shared responsibility,
and a more inclusive and transparent global governance system. It emphasizes diplomacy
and mutual respect among nations, promoting peaceful conflict resolution. It allows for
the pooling of resources and expertise, which can lead to more effective and efficient
solutions to global problems.
However, the rise of nationalism, protectionism, and unilateralism poses challenges to the
principles of multilateralism. Some countries may prioritize their national interests over
global cooperation, leading to a lack of consensus and cooperation on important global
issues.
Significance of the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
The observance of the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
carries significance as it brings attention to the value of nations working together and
coordinating their efforts to peacefully resolve conflicts. Its objective is to increase
awareness of how multilateralism and diplomacy can be used to address worldwide
challenges and promote sustainable development, human rights, and peace. The
observance also acknowledges the United Nations and other multilateral organizations for
their role in promoting the principles of multilateralism.
Manamadurai Pottery
Manamadurai, a small village in the Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu, is known for its
pottery making. The tradition has been passed down from generation to generation, and
today, Manamadurai pottery is recognized worldwide for its unique style and
craftsmanship.
Main Raw Material: Mud
The main raw material used for making Manamadurai pottery is mud. The clay used for
the pottery is enriched by the Vaigai river, which runs through the village. The Vaigai river
contributes to the quality of the clay used in the pottery, making it ideal for the process.
The Five Elements of Nature
The making of Manamadurai pottery involves the use of the five elements of nature,
namely, earth, water, fire, air, and space. These elements are believed to give the pots a
unique quality that cannot be replicated by modern machinery. The process begins with
mud, which represents the earth, mixed with water, another element of nature. The
mixture is then baked in fire, marking the third element. The fourth element is the air that
passes through the pores in the clay. Finally, the cavity enclosed by the pot represents
space, one of the five elements.
Adding Sand for Quality
To improve the quality of the pottery, sand is added to the clay mixture. The sand is
collected from different places in the district and dried for two days. The particles of mud
get separated by sieving, and the slurry is mixed with sand. Lead, graphite, calcium lime,
ash, red lead, sodium silicate, manganese, iron, and plasticizing are added to the mixture
to make the pottery strong.
Proportion is Key
Pot making requires expertise, and one of the most critical factors is proportion. The
bottom of the pot has to be perfectly round, and the circumference of the pot and the
neck should be proportionate. This ensures that the pot sits flat on the ground and
maintains its balance.
Geographical Indication (GI)
Manamadurai pottery recently earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, which
recognizes it as a unique product of the region. The GI tag ensures that the pottery is
protected from imitation and guarantees its authenticity.
Morel Mushroom
Guchhi, also known as Morel mushroom, is a prized delicacy found in the Himalayan
region. It is a wild mushroom belonging to the Morchellaceae family and is known for its
unique spongy head. This mushroom is not only delicious but is also packed with essential
nutrients. It is expected to receive GI tag in the near future.
Family and Nutritional Value of Guchhi
Guchhi belongs to the Morchellaceae family, which also includes other mushroom
varieties like the Black morel and the Yellow morel. It is a rich source of vitamins B, C, D,
and K, making it an excellent addition to a healthy diet. Additionally, it is low in calories,
fat-free, and contains high amounts of protein, making it a perfect dietary option for
vegetarians and health-conscious individuals.
Cost and New Regulations
Guchhi is a rare and prized mushroom, which makes it an expensive delicacy. The cost of
Guchhi per kg varies from ₹ 30,000 to ₹ 50,000, depending on its availability and demand.
Recently, the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment notified the MFP and NTFP
rules, which included Guchhi. As per the new rules, local panchayats and rural
development departments via self-help groups are now authorized to collect Guchhi.
Gram panchayats have control over the collection of Guchhi.
Guchhi Habitats
Training is provided for forest-dwellers in Jammu Shivaliks in mushroom collection and
processing techniques, as well as the market knowledge. Apart from the Himalayas,
Guchhi is found near the banks of the Chenab in Akhnoor. Rain, lightning, and thunder are
believed to be the three earthly elements responsible for causing Guchhi to sprout in the
Himalayas.
Water Bodies: First Census Report
The Ministry of Jal Shakti conducted its first-ever census of water bodies in India between
2018-19. The objective of this census was to collect comprehensive data on all aspects of
water bodies in the country, including their condition, encroachment status, and usage.
The Water Bodies: First Census Report includes information on various types of water
bodies, their distribution across different states and districts, and their current state.
Inclusions and Exclusions of the Census
The water bodies census included ponds, tanks, lakes, and reservoirs used for various
purposes, including irrigation, domestic/drinking, industrial, pisciculture, recreation,
religious, and ground water recharge. The census excluded oceans and lagoons, free-
flowing rivers, swimming pools, covered water tanks, temporary water bodies, and open
water tanks for cattle.
Definition of a Water Body
As per the Water Bodies: First Census Report, a water body is a structure used for storing
water for various purposes, including irrigation, domestic/drinking, industrial, pisciculture,
recreation, religious, and ground water recharge. It is a unit bounded on all sides with
some or no masonry work.
Number of Water Bodies Enumerated
The census revealed that more than 2.4 million water bodies were enumerated in the
country. South 24 Pargana in West Bengal had the highest number of water bodies,
followed by East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh and Kutch in Gujarat.
Encroachment of Water Bodies
According to the report, 1.6% of the enumerated water bodies were encroached upon.
Uttar Pradesh accounted for the highest number of water bodies under encroachment,
followed by Karnataka and Kerala. More than 95% of the encroached water bodies were in
rural areas, and almost 63% of them had less than a quarter of the area under
encroachment.
Data Collection Methodology
The census data was collected through paper-based schedules and the use of
smartphones to capture location and photos of water bodies. The collected data will help
policymakers to formulate strategies for the conservation and rejuvenation of water
bodies in the country.
Khongjom Day - Update (April, 2023)
Khongjom Day is a significant event in the history of Manipur that commemorates the
bravery of the state’s soldiers who fought in the 1891 Anglo-Manipuri War. The battle
occurred at Khongjom in Manipur’s Thoubal district. It marked the start of the British
colonialism in the region.
Observing Khongjom Day

On April 23, Manipur honours to the courageous soldiers who gave up their lives during
the war. The event is typically held at Kheba Ching in Khongjom, where Manipur’s Chief
Minister and Governor, along with other dignitaries, pay their respects to the fallen
heroes.
The Significance of Khongjom Day
Khongjom Day serves as a celebration of the valor and resilience of Manipur’s bravehearts
and a testament to the state’s rich history, culture, and tradition. It recognizes the
sacrifices made by the people of Manipur in their fight for freedom and independence. It
also highlights the need for the youth to preserve and defend the dignity, freedom, and
sovereignty of the country.
Bangladesh Indo-Pacific Outlook
Bangladesh recently announced its 15-point Indo-Pacific Outlook (IPO), envisioning a free,
open, peaceful, secure, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tri-
nation visit to Japan, the USA, and the UK prompted the announcement of the IPO.
Scope of Partnership with India
Bangladesh’s IPO opens up the scope of partnership with India. The Indo-Pacific area’s
collective share in global GDP, preponderance in international trade, enhanced climate
action, and growing technological dynamism can be key determinants for ensuring
Bangladesh’s long-term resilience and prosperity. Thus, the IPO aims to foster regional
connectivity, trade, and investment cooperation, and promote people-to-people
exchanges.
Guiding Principles of Bangladesh’s IPO
Apart from the first guiding principle of “Friendship towards all, malice toward none,” the
other guiding principles include constitutional mandate on the conduct of international
relations, striving for renunciation of the use of force, adherence to relevant UN treaties
and international conventions, and constructive regional and international cooperation.
Adherence to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
Bangladesh’s IPO follows the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which
sets out the obligations and privileges of nations in utilizing the world’s oceans, setting
standards for corporations, the ecosystem, and the administration of marine resources.
Goal of Constructive Regional and International Cooperation
According to the Indo-Pacific Outlook (IPO) of Bangladesh, the country aims to achieve
sustainable development, international peace, security, humanitarian action, and
fundamental rights and freedoms through constructive regional and international
cooperation. Bangladesh is confident that the IPO can help ensure the nation’s long-term
resilience and prosperity, as well as contribute to the establishment of a secure, stable,
and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
April 26, 2023
Mohammed Shahabuddin
On 25th April 2023, veteran politician Mohammed Shahabuddin was sworn in as the 22nd
president of Bangladesh at a state ceremony held at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban.

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the Speaker, administered the oath to the 73-year-old
Shahabuddin.
Shahabuddin’s Election and Responsibilities as President
Shahabuddin’s election to the presidency was unopposed in February 2023 as a candidate
of the ruling Awami League. As the largely ornamental head of state, the primary
responsibilities of the president in Bangladesh are to appoint the prime minister and
become the constitutional guardian of the country. The office of the president draws extra
attention, particularly during general elections.
Assessing the Political Situation
Shahabuddin has pledged to review the political situation and assess if he needs to play
any role in minimizing disputes between political parties. Bangladesh is set for general
elections in December or January next year amid growing differences between the ruling
Awami League and its main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), over the
electoral system.
Shahabuddin’s Career
Before joining politics, Shahabuddin was a retired district judge who later served as one of
the commissioners of the independent Anti-Corruption Commission. He hails from the
northwestern Pabna district and was a leader of the Awami League’s student and youth
wings in his early life. Shahabuddin took part in the 1971 Liberation War and was
imprisoned following the 1975 assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of
Prime Minister Hasina. In 1982, he was inducted into the country’s judicial service.
Assam-Arunachal Pradesh Inter-State Boundary Dispute
Border disputes between Indian states are not uncommon, with many long-standing
disagreements between neighboring states. One such dispute is between the
northeastern states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. It centers around the demarcation
of their shared border, which spans over 800 kilometers.
Gopinath Bordoloi Sub-committee
The sub-committee headed by Gopinath Bordoloi was established in 1951 to look into the
border dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The committee was tasked with
resolving the disagreement and demarcating the border. However, it was not until 1972
that Arunachal Pradesh was made a Union Territory.
High-powered tripartite committee
In April 1979, a high-powered tripartite committee was established to delineate the
boundary between the two states. By 1983-84, the committee had demarcated 489
kilometers of the border. However, several disputes still remained unresolved.
Supreme Court-appointed Local Boundary Commission
In 2006, the Supreme Court appointed a Local Boundary Commission to resolve the
remaining border disputes. The commission was tasked with examining the claims of both
states and determining the correct boundary line. Arunachal Pradesh presented a list of
123 villages to the commission, which were the focus of the dispute.
CM-level talks and regional committees

In January 2022, Chief Minister-level talks were initiated between the two states to resolve
the border dispute. Both states set up 12 regional committees to jointly verify the 123
villages. After the MoU, 34 villages have been amicably resolved, with 86 disputes
remaining.
Namsai Declaration
The Namsai Declaration was signed by the two states in July 2022, which included a MoU
to resolve the border dispute. According to the MoU, 60 villages will be included in
Arunachal Pradesh as per the notified boundary. The timeline for finalizing the boundaries
of the remaining 49 unresolved villages is six months. However, the Indian Air Force’s
bombing area in Dullong, which includes three partially located villages, remains a point
of contention.
The State of the World's Children 2023: For Every Child, Vaccination
The UNICEF recently unveiled its global flagship report, ‘The State of the World’s Children
2023: For Every Child, Vaccination,’ which provides a comprehensive overview of vaccine
confidence and coverage around the world. The report highlights some worrying trends,
including a decline in vaccine confidence in over a third of the 55 countries studied, with
some notable exceptions.
Improved Vaccine Perception
China, India, and Mexico were among the countries that saw an improvement in vaccine
perception, according to the report. This positive trend indicates the success of political
and social commitment to vaccination drives.
Backslide in Childhood Immunization
The pandemic interrupted childhood vaccination almost everywhere, resulting in the
largest sustained backslide in childhood immunization in 30 years. Factors such as access
to misleading information and declining trust in vaccine efficacy have contributed to the
growing threat of vaccine hesitancy.
Missed Vaccinations
The UNICEF report revealed that 67 million children missed out on vaccinations between
2019 and 2021, with the coverage levels decreasing in 112 countries. The number of
measles cases doubled in 2022 compared to the previous year, and the number of
children paralysed by polio was up 16% year-on-year in 2022.
Vaccination Efforts in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra government has a robust vaccination program that vaccinates nearly 2
million infants and 2.1 million pregnant women every year with routine immunization
vaccines. The full immunization coverage of the state in the year 2022-23 is 100%, a
testament to the government’s political and social commitment.
Vaccine Confidence in India
India has been highlighted in the report as one of the countries with the highest vaccine
confidence globally. The report recognizes the success of the vaccine drive during the
pandemic, which has built confidence and strengthened routine immunization systems to
vaccinate every child.

What is Shugosin?
Chromosomes are an essential part of our DNA, and they have been the subject of much
scientific research for centuries. Researchers have recently identified Shugoshin, a protein
that plays a crucial to the formation of the iconic X-shape of chromosomes.
Discovery of Chromosomes
Chromosomes were found during the late 1800s following the development of the light
microscope. They function as the fundamental components of DNA, which is accountable
for the transfer of hereditary data from parents to their offspring. The X chromosome,
which is one of two sex chromosomes that ascertain gender, extends over approximately
155 million base pairs of DNA building blocks.
Role of Shugoshin
Recently, scientists have identified the protein Shugoshin as the key protein that “locks”
the X chromosome into its famous X shape. Shugoshin is also known as SGO1 and is
responsible for holding together two identical long DNA threads, which make up a
chromosome. Shugoshin uses a molecular key that fits precisely into a kind of keyhole in
cohesin, ring-shaped molecules that hold the two threads together. Shugoshin locks the
cohesin rings and creates the iconic X shape of chromosomes.
Discovery of Shugoshin
Professor Daniel Panne from the University of Leicester and Dr Benjamin Rowland of the
Netherlands Cancer Institute led the team that discovered the role of Shugoshin. The
researchers saw a suspicious similarity between two molecules in the nucleus of cells,
which led them to investigate further. They found that Shugoshin uses a molecular key to
lock cohesin rings and create the X shape of chromosomes.
Implications for DNA Structure
Determining the structure of DNA has significant implications for the behavior of our cells.
DNA is the code of life, and its structure determines the function of DNA. If scientists can
determine the structure of DNA, it could have huge implications for the future of medical
research and treatment.
Mana Village
Mana village is located near the famous pilgrimage site of Badrinath in Chamoli district of
Uttarakhand. The village has gained prominence recently after it was renamed as part of
the government’s ‘Vibrant Village’ scheme mentioned in Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman’s Budget speech in Parliament. The scheme aims to develop villages in 46
border blocks across 19 districts, four states, and one Union Territory.
Elevation and Inhabitants of Mana Village
Mana village is around 3,219 meters above sea level and rests on the banks of River
Saraswati. The village is home to the Bhotias, a Mongol tribe, and is one of the oldest
villages in the region. The locals are known for their hospitality and simple way of living.
The Mana village attracts tourists only from May to early November, as the region remains
inaccessible due to heavy snowfall till April.

Significance of Mana Village
Mana village holds a significant place in India’s history and culture. During a visit to the
village in October last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that border villages of
the country are its first villages and not the last as they are usually called. The central
government recently put up a signboard at the entrance of the village along the Line of
Actual Control or LAC, reading ‘India’s first village’, to denote the village’s importance.
Rang Ghar
Rang Ghar is a two-storeyed building located in the northeastern state of Assam, India.
The building has a rich history and served as a royal sports pavilion during the reign of the
Ahom kings and nobles. The amphitheater is situated three kilometers away from the
center of Sivasagar Town, by the side of the Assam Trunk Road.
Construction and Historical Significance of Rang Ghar
Rang Ghar is considered to be one of the most ancient amphitheaters in Asia that has
managed to survive over time. It was originally built during the era of Swargadeo Rudra
Singha, and the primary building materials used in its construction were bamboo and
wood. Later, Swargadeo Pramatta Singha rebuilt the structure with brick between
1744-1751 AD. The unique construction techniques and prominent architectural features
of Rang Ghar showcase the rich heritage of Assamese culture and architecture.
Tourist Development Plan for Rang Ghar by the Assam Government
The Assam government has proposed a plan to develop 26 acres on the northwest side of
Rang Ghar as an international tourist destination. The 124-crore project includes an
artisan village, guest house, tourist information center, amphitheater, boat house, and
sound and light show. The primary objective of the project is to encourage local artisans
and craftsmen to showcase their handicraft products, traditional dresses, and local
cuisines to the tourists.
Latest SIPRI Report
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is a world-renowned think
tank that specializes in research and analysis of security issues. Established in 1966, SIPRI
conducts independent research on issues related to peace, conflict, and security. The
institute publishes various reports and databases, including its flagship publication, the
SIPRI Yearbook. A new data released by SIPRI revealed a surge in defence spending.
Worldwide Military Expenditure
According to SIPRI’s latest data, global military expenditure increased by 3.7% year-on-
year, reaching $2.3 trillion. This is the biggest jump since 2009, and the total spending is
now 10% higher than in 2012.
Russia’s All-Out War Against Ukraine Spurs Increased Military Spending
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led to increased military spending
by European countries. Many European nations are rethinking their defense budgets and
increasing their investment in defense capabilities due to Russia’s aggression. Russia’s
behavior has raised concerns about the security of European nations, especially those that
are NATO members.

NATO’s Defense Spending Goal
In 2014, NATO members agreed to meet the target of spending 2% of their national GDP
on defense by 2024. The goal was set to ensure that NATO members could collectively
deter and defend against any potential threats.
Russian Threat in Cyberspace
While the Russian threat has not materialized as expected, experts warn that Russia could
be a potent adversary in cyberspace. Russia has been accused of engaging in cyberattacks
against other countries’ infrastructure, such as the United States’ colonial pipeline.
Defense Spending Compared to GDP
In 2022, the share of GDP spent on defense was 0.1% lower compared to 2013. However,
countries such as China, India, and Israel have seen double-digit increases in defense
spending over the past decade, though defense spending has not increased as a
percentage of their national economic output.
The “Lag Effect” in Defense Spending
One important consideration when assessing the effectiveness of defense spending is the
“lag effect.” Weapon systems take years to develop, procure, and press into service, which
means that it can take time for the effects of increased defense spending to be fully
realized. Additionally, defense ministries spend their budget not only on buying new
weapons and upgrading fighting forces, but also on employing personnel, administration,
and military aid.
Zero Shadow Day
Zero Shadow Day is a unique and fascinating phenomenon that occurs when the sun is
directly overhead, causing the shadow of vertical objects to disappear. This phenomenon
is caused by the Earth’s tilt and revolution around the sun.
What is Zero Shadow Day?
Zero Shadow Day is a unique astronomical phenomenon that occurs when the sun is
directly overhead. It is the day when the shadow of vertical objects disappears. It occurs
twice a year in Bengaluru, one during Uttarayan and the other during Dakshinayan.
Zero Shadow Day is restricted to locations between the tropics, and the latitude range for
locations where Zero Shadow Day occurs is between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic
of Capricorn. On April 25, the latitude that experiences Zero Shadow Day is 130°N.
Zero Shadow Day in Bengaluru
Bengaluru experienced Zero Shadow Day on April 25, 2023, at 12:17 pm. The Jawaharlal
Nehru Planetarium issued a release ahead of the phenomenon. The next Zero Shadow
Day in Bengaluru will be on 18th August.
What causes Uttarayan and Dakshinayan?
The occurrence of Uttarayan and Dakshinayan is due to the fact that the Earth’s axis of
rotation is inclined at an angle of approximately 23.5° to the axis of revolution around the
Sun. Uttarayan is the movement of the Sun from south to north from winter solstice to
summer solstice, while Dakshinayan is the back movement of the Sun from north to south.
Interesting facts related to Zero Shadow Day

Zero Shadow Day occurs in all locations where the latitude matches the angle between the
Sun’s position and the equator on that particular day, and at local noon, the shadow
appears to be beneath an object. The northernmost and southernmost points of the Sun’s
location are the two solstices, and the crossing of the Sun across the equator are the two
equinoxes. Niruj Ramanujam, a member of the public outreach and education committee
of the Astronomical Society of India, had spoken to The Indian Express in 2018 about Zero
Shadow Day.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked, mountainous area in the South Caucasus that has
been a source of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan for decades. It is predominantly
populated by ethnic Armenians but is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
The Inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is mainly inhabited by ethnic Armenians. In 1923, the Soviet
government granted the region autonomy within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.
However, in the 1980s, the Armenian population began to demand unification with
Armenia.
The First and Second Karabakh Wars
The First Karabakh War took place from 1988 to 1994, resulting in the deaths of about
30,000 people. The war ended with a ceasefire that left Nagorno-Karabakh and some
surrounding territories under Armenian control, but the international community still
recognizes it as part of Azerbaijan.
The Second Karabakh War broke out in 2020, and Azerbaijan emerged as the victor. One of
the main reasons for Azerbaijan’s success was its use of drones purchased from Turkey
and Israel.
The Lachin Corridor
The Lachin corridor is the only road linking Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. After the 44-
day war in 2020, Russia negotiated a ceasefire agreement that included the deployment of
Russian peacekeepers to guard the Lachin corridor. Azerbaijan pledged to guarantee the
safety of traffic along the corridor in both directions.
Tensions Over the Lachin Corridor
In December 2022, Azerbaijani citizens who identified themselves as advocates for the
environment initiated a barricade of the Lachin corridor. Despite Azerbaijan’s insistence
that some aid and convoys were permitted to pass through, they refuted accusations of a
complete road blockade. Recently, Azerbaijani troops set up a new checkpoint near the
Armenian border at the beginning of the Lachin corridor.
The United States expressed deep concern over the move and called for free and open
movement along the corridor. The tensions over the Lachin corridor highlight the ongoing
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh and the need for a
peaceful resolution to the issue.
World Intellectual Property Day - Update (April, 2023)
World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on April 26th with the primary
objective of promoting awareness of intellectual property and its safeguarding.
Origins and Establishment of World Intellectual Property Day
The concept for World Intellectual Property Day was first proposed during the 33rd
Assembly Session of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Member States
in September 1988. It was officially established on August 9th, 1999, coinciding with
WIPO’s 30th founding anniversary. The inaugural celebration of World IP Day took place in
the year 2000, with 59 member countries participating in the event. Over the years, the
number of countries commemorating this event gradually increased to 189 by 2022,
highlighting the growing global awareness about the importance of intellectual property
protection.
Purpose of World Intellectual Property Day
The primary objective of observing World Intellectual Property Day is to create
consciousness about the significance of protecting intellectual property. It serves as a
platform to emphasize the importance of intellectual property protection and to generate
awareness about copyrights, patents, trademarks, and other related subjects. Public
outreach campaigns are organized on this day to educate people about the importance of
intellectual property protection and promote understanding of intellectual property
concepts.
Theme for the 2023 Celebration
Every year, WIPO declares a new theme for World Intellectual Property Day to inspire
women creators, entrepreneurs, and inventors. The theme for the 2023 celebration of
World Intellectual Property Day is “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and
Creativity.” This theme aims to emphasize the crucial role of women in propelling
innovation and creativity forward and recognizes their contributions to the field of
intellectual property.
Role of Creators in World Intellectual Property Day
Creators play a significant role in the celebration of World Intellectual Property Day. This
day celebrates creators across the world and their contributions to the development of
their respective regions. It recognizes their efforts in creating original works, inventions,
and innovations, and the importance of protecting their intellectual property rights.
Creators are encouraged to share their stories and experiences, inspiring others to create
and innovate while respecting intellectual property rights.
Shankaracharya Jayanti
Shankaracharya Jayanti holds great importance for Hindus since it commemorates the
birth anniversary of Adi Shankaracharya, an Indian Guru and philosopher. It is celebrated
with great grandeur and devotion, and in 2023, it falls on April 25th. This year,
Shankaracharya will be 1235 years old.
Early Life of Adi Shankaracharya
Adi Shankaracharya was born in a small village in Kerala named Kaldi in 788 CE. His
parents were mother Aryamba and father Sivaguru. He was also known as Jagadguru,
which means a teacher who imparts knowledge to the whole world.

Adi Shankaracharya’s Teachings
Adi Shankaracharya always preached about Vedik knowledge and its importance. He
introduced the Panchkayatna form of worship, which involves worshipping the five deities:
Lord Shiva, Goddess, Lord Vishnu, Lord Surya, and Lord Ganesha. He was an expert in the
Vedas and had mastered them by the age of sixteen. He wrote many scriptures, books,
and stotram to spread the awareness of Hindu religion and spirituality.
Significance of Shankaracharya Jayanti
Shankaracharya Jayanti holds great importance among Hindus, and it is considered a
sacred day. On this day, devotees celebrate the birth anniversary of Adi Shankaracharya
with great grandeur. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, Shankaracharya was born on
Panchami Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaishakha.
The Four Maths Founded by Adi Shankaracharya
Adi Shankaracharya founded four Maths in all four directions to spread awareness and
knowledge about the religion and spirituality. These Maths are Shringeri Math, Govardhan
Math, Sharda Math, and Jyotir Math. He selected his most loyal and close disciples to
become the head of the Math and run them for the benefit of people who belong to the
Hindu religion. The heads of the Maths are responsible for spreading awareness and
knowledge about the Vedas, Upnishads, and other holy scriptures.
Sanatan Dharma and Hindu Scriptures
Sanatan Dharma is based on the Vedas, which are considered the oldest and most sacred
scriptures of Hinduism. These Vedas are Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda.
Hindu scriptures mention that once people were deprived of holiness and spirituality, and
all the deities decided to seek help from Lord Shiva. He promised them that he would be
born as Adi Shankaracharya to enlighten people’s lives with the ultimate truth of life.
National Health Accounts Estimates 2019-20
Healthcare is one of the most crucial sectors for the development of any nation. Adequate
healthcare facilities not only ensure the wellbeing of citizens but also contribute to the
overall economic growth of a country. In India, the healthcare sector has witnessed some
significant changes over the past few years. National Health Accounts Estimates 2019-20
was released recently by the Indian Government, providing a comprehensive analysis of

the the trends in government and private health expenditures in India between 2014-15
and 2019-20.
Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) in Total Health Expenditure
According to data released by the National Health Accounts, the share of Out-of-Pocket
Expenditure (OOPE) in Total Health Expenditure in 2019-20 was 47.1%. This indicates that
almost half of the healthcare expenses were borne by individuals directly from their
pockets, which is a cause of concern.
Government Health Expenditure
The percentage increase in Government Health Expenditure’s share in the country’s total
GDP between 2014-15 and 2019-20 was 0.22%. Although this increase may seem small, it
indicates a positive trend in government spending on healthcare. The percentage increase

in Government Health Expenditure’s share in Total Health Expenditure between 2014-15
and 2019-20 was 12.4%. This increase indicates that the governent’s contribution to
healthcare expenditure has increased significantly over the years.
Per Capita Government Spending on Healthcare
The percentage increase in per capita Government spending on healthcare between
2014-15 and 2019-20 was 81.6%. This increase is a positive sign as it indicates that the
government is spending more per person on healthcare. This increase in spending can
lead to better healthcare facilities for citizens and can also boost the economy.
Government Spending on Health
The percentage increase in government spending on health between 2018-19 and 2019-20
was 12%. This indicates that the government has increased its spending on healthcare
significantly. This increase is a positive sign for the healthcare sector and shows the
government’s commitment to providing better healthcare facilities.
Share of Health Sector Spending in General Government Expenditure
The percentage increase in the share of health sector spending in General Government
Expenditure between 2014-15 and 2019-20 was 1.08%. This indicates that the government
is allocating more funds towards the healthcare sector, which is a positive sign.
Share of Primary Healthcare in Current Government Health Expenditure
The percentage increase in the share of primary healthcare in Current Government Health
Expenditure between 2014-15 and 2019-20 was 4.6%. This indicates that the government is
focusing more on primary healthcare, which is essential for the wellbeing of citizens.
Advantage Healthcare India
The upcoming 6th edition of Advantage Healthcare India (AHCI) 2023, also referred to as
One Earth One Health, will be addressed virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The
event will take place on April 26 and 27, and will be held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi,
the national capital. The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, in partnership with the
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), is organizing the AHCI
event to encourage the export of medical services from India and to present the nation as
the new center of medical value travel.
Highlighting the Purpose of the International Summit
The international summit on medical value travel, Advantage Healthcare India (AHCI), is
aimed at promoting the export of medical services from India. India has emerged as a
major hub for world-class healthcare and wellness services, and this event seeks to
showcase the country’s potential in the medical sector. With the participation of countries
from regions such as Africa, the Middle East, CIS, SAARC, and ASEAN, the summit aims to
create opportunities for healthcare collaborations between participating countries. This
event serves as a platform for healthcare providers from India to connect with foreign
participants and explore potential collaborations.
Co-Branding and Participants of the Summit
The 6th edition of Advantage Healthcare India 2023 (One Earth One Health) is co-branded
with the Indian G20 Presidency, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce &
Industry (FICCI) is actively involved in organizing the event. The summit is expected to
witness the participation of more than 200 exhibitors, showcasing the latest
advancements in the medical field, and over 500 hosted foreign delegates from 70+
countries. Additionally, the summit will be attended by Health Ministers from various
countries, including Bangladesh, Armenia, Bhutan, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Maldives,
Nigeria, Russia, and Somalia. Other dignitaries from ten countries, as well as foreign
business delegates from Government, private hospitals, and medical facilitators, are also
expected to participate.
Significance of Advantage Healthcare India (AHCI):
The Advantage Healthcare India (AHCI) event holds immense significance as it showcases
India as the New Hub of Medical Value Travel. With its world-class healthcare and wellness
services, India has emerged as a prominent destination for medical value travel, attracting
patients from across the globe. The summit provides a unique platform for healthcare
providers from India to connect with international delegates and explore collaborations to
further enhance the medical potential of the country. Through Reverse Buyer Seller
Meetings and scheduled B-2-B meetings with hosted delegates from over 70 designated
countries, the event aims to promote medical tourism and collaborations in the healthcare
sector.
The Big Catch-up
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a major disruption in healthcare services, with more
than 100 countries registering a drop in immunization levels. This has resulted in a crisis
where around 75% of children have missed essential immunization against preventable
but critical diseases in 2021. A targeted global initiative named The Big Catch-up has been
implemented by a consortium of organizations such as the World Health Organization,
UNICEF, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, and Immunization Agenda 2030, among other public
health organizations, to elevate vaccination levels among children, as they have dropped
due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Impact of the Pandemic
Due to the pandemic, health services were overburdened, leading to the shutdown of
clinics and causing disturbances in the transportation of medical supplies such as vials,
syringes, and other equipment. Furthermore, strict lockdown measures, travel restrictions,
and depleting financial and human resources further compounded access to healthcare.
The disruption has already led to outbreaks of diseases like measles, diphtheria, polio, and
yellow fever becoming more prevalent and severe.
Countries Showing Progress
While the pandemic has derailed immunization efforts, some countries have already
shown considerable progress. For instance, India managed to record a strong recovery in
essential vaccines in 2022, Uganda stood out by maintaining high immunization levels in
the early years of the pandemic, while Kenya has targeted its approach to address
immunization needs of the country’s northern nomadic populations.
The Big Catch-up

The Big Catch-Up will pay special attention to the 20 countries home to a majority of the
children who have missed their vaccine doses. The plan’s salient features include
strengthening health care workforces, improving health service delivery, building trust
and demand for vaccines within communities, and addressing gaps and obstacles to
restoring immunization.
World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies
The world population has reached eight billion and is expected to grow for decades, but
many countries are facing a sharp drop in working-age adults. The competition for
workers and talent will intensify globally, and many countries will be reliant on migration
to realise their long-term growth potential. A recent report from the World Bank, titled
“World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies”, proposes policies
for better migration management in destination, transit and origin countries,
underscoring its urgency.
Match-Motive Framework
The report introduces the “Match-Motive Framework,” a labour economics-based
approach that emphasizes how well migrants’ skills and attributes match the needs of the
destination countries. The framework also considers the reasons why migrants move in
search of opportunity and determines the extent to which migrants, origin countries and
destination countries gain from migration. The framework combines “match” and
“motive” to determine policy priorities for countries of origin, transit, destination, and the
global community.
Policies for Origin and Destination Countries
The World Bank report suggests that origin countries should make labour migration an
explicit part of their development strategy. At the same time, it is suggested that the
countries of destination promote migration in sectors where migrant skills are highly
sought after, make efforts to integrate them into their society, and tackle social
consequences that may worry their citizens. The report also calls for international
cooperation and multilateral efforts to strengthen the match of migrants’ skills with the
needs of destination societies.
Population Shifts
Many low-income countries are anticipated to experience a surge in population, which will
exert pressure on them to generate additional employment opportunities for the youth.
However, developing and impoverished nations such as India are observing an increase in
the number of young people, while developed countries have already surpassed this
stage, as they are experiencing depopulation. Spain, with a population of 47 million, is
predicted to reduce by over one-third by 2100, with people aged 65 and above accounting
for a greater proportion of the population, escalating from 20 per cent to 39 per cent. As
their populations are no longer expanding, countries like Mexico, Thailand, Tunisia, and
Türkiye might soon require more foreign workers.
Spheroidal Carbonaceous Particle
Spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs) are microscopic particles that are a component
of fly ash, a by-product of fossil fuel combustion. SCPs have been identified for the first
time in an Antarctic ice core, according to a new study published in the journal Scientific
Reports. Scientists from the University College London and the British Antarctic Survey
examined the ice core, which dated back to 1936.
Environmental Indicator of Industrialization
SCP particles have no other anthropogenic or natural sources except for fossil fuel
combustion, making them a clear environmental indicator of industrialization. The study
provides the first evidence that SCPs have been transported to continental Antarctica,
trapped in ice layers since the early decades of the 20th century. The deposition of SCPs in
Antarctica during the twentieth century was probably affected by atmospheric circulation
and transport processes, particularly in relation to the Southern Hemisphere westerly
winds’ position and intensity.
Probable Source of SCPs
The most probable source of the identified SCPs was Australian coal-fired power plants,
located some 8,000 km away from Antarctica, with potential additional input from central
Chile, 4500 km away. SCP data was collected from an ice core taken from the Palmer Land
region of the Antarctic Peninsula. The annually resolved samples, ranging from 1900-2011,
displayed the earliest possible SCP evidence at Palmer in the sample for 1930-1937.
Nonetheless, the definitive year was discovered in 1936 by using the discrete sampling
method at an annual resolution.
Analysis of SCPs
The SCPs identified within the ice core were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy
and energy-dispersive x-ray to determine their surface chemistry and fuel source. An
analysis of SCPs in the ice core can reveal information about the particles’ surface
chemistry and fuel source, providing crucial information about industrial activities in the
past.
Contaminants Reach Antarctica via Atmospheric Transport
Atmospheric transport is the primary means by which contaminants reach Antarctica. The
closest sources are furthest south in South America. Scientists detected Chernobyl
radioactivity in the snow in the South Pole less than two years after the accident in 1986,
demonstrating how easily pollutants can travel across the globe.
Future SCP Deposition
The study warns that the predicted increase in the strength of the Southern Hemisphere
westerly winds during the 21st century might lead to an increased deposition of fly ash
particles and other anthropogenically-derived atmospheric pollutants in Antarctica in the
future.
Mars' Core
A new study has revealed fascinating insights into the innermost layer of Mars – its core.
The Red Planet’s core is estimated to have a radius of approximately 1,780-1,810
kilometers, smaller and denser than previously thought. It is likely in a liquid state,
according to the research published in the journal PNAS.

The InSight Mars Lander
In order to gain insight into the makeup and architecture of Mars, a team of international
scientists scrutinized seismic information collected by NASA’s InSight Mars Lander, which
was sent into orbit in May 2018. The lander put a seismometer and other geophysical
equipment on the planet’s surface. Seismometers detect and measure seismic waves –
shockwaves generated after an earthquake. As seismic waves pass through different
materials, they behave differently, slowing down when they pass through liquid materials
or hot regions.
Farside Seismic Events
The team looked for ‘farside’ seismic events that occur on the opposite side of the planet
to InSight. The team of researchers identified two seismic occurrences, one resulting from
a marsquake and the other caused by a significant impact. Afterward, they compared the
duration seismic waves took to travel through the core in contrast to those that remained
within the mantle. Through the use of computer models, the team made projections
concerning the physical characteristics of the core, such as its dimensions.
Composition of Mars’ Core
The research found that light elements, sulfur, and oxygen, comprise a fifth of the core’s
weight. Irwing explained that although both Earth and Mars are mostly made of iron,
Mars’ core is less dense than Earth’s due to several factors, including the material that
formed the planets.
Understanding Earth and Mar
By learning more about Mars’ physical properties today, data could inform better models
of how Earth and Mars formed. It is theorized that Mars was once habitable before
evolving into its current hostile state, with the planet’s interiors playing a key role in this
evolution.
Earth’s Magnetic Field
The Earth’s magnetic field is generated in its outer liquid core, which allows it to protect us
from solar winds, keeping water on our planet. In contrast, Mars’ surface environment is
not conducive to life as the planet’s core does not produce this defensive barrier.
April 28, 2023

Key Decisions at Army Commanders Conference 2023
The Indian Army recently concluded its Army Commanders Conference (ACC), which was
held from April 17-21. The conference was attended by the Army Commanders, Director-
General of Military Operations, and various other senior officers. It was held in a hybrid
mode for the first time, with both in-person and virtual participation.
The aim of the conference was to review and discuss the Army’s operational preparedness
and modernization plans. Several major decisions were taken during the conference,
including the induction of a large number and variety of niche tech-enabled equipment,
such as drones, electronic warfare, and anti-drone apparatus.
CCOSWs’ Focus and Aim
The decision to activate the Command Cyber Operations and Support Wings (CCOSWs)
was made during the Army Commanders’ Conference, taking into consideration the needs
of the grey zone and the disclosure of cyber warfare capabilities. This unit will aid
formations in carrying out necessary cybersecurity tasks to enhance the Indian Army’s
cybersecurity position. The aim of raising CCOSWs is to strengthen the cyber security
posture of the Army and safeguard the networks.
TES Model Changes
The Technical Entry Scheme (TES) model for officers’ entry as B.Tech graduates has
undergone changes. The current TES model has been converted from a five-year model to
a four-year (3+1) model, with the duration of technical training at Cadet Training Wings
(CTWs) under the new TES model being three years. Basic Military Training (BMT) will be
conducted at IMA, Dehradun under the new TES model.
Training for Paralympic Events
The leadership and organization are responsible for the well-being of soldiers and
therefore, it was decided to train certain enthusiastic soldiers in nine different sports
events, including Paralympic sports, using the facilities available at the Army Sports and
Mission Olympic Nodes. This is aimed at harnessing the unbeatable determination and
“never give up” attitude of soldiers.
Lead Directorates and Test Bed Formations
The Army is setting up Lead Directorates and Test Bed formations to evolve optimal
employment philosophies and scaling to facilitate better exploitation of futuristic
technologies pan Army. This initiative is aimed at enabling the Army to keep up with the
latest technologies and stay ahead of its adversaries.
Farm Machinery Technology Summit
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized the third edition of the Summit on
Farm Machinery Technology, which was held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi from
27-28 April 2023 in physical format. The previous two editions of the summit were
conducted virtually, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The recent edition was held
in physical format.
Objective of the CII Summit on Farm Machinery Technology
The objective of the CII Summit on Farm Machinery Technology is to address the
challenges faced by the sector and chart a growth path for it. Farm mechanization is an
important aspect of agriculture, as it enhances productivity and availability of food grains,
increases agriculture exports, mitigates labour shortage and facilitates judicious use of
scarce natural resources. The Indian Government has set an ambitious target of doubling
the availability of farm power to 4.0 KW per ha by the end of 2030, which presents a
tremendous opportunity for all stakeholders in the sector.
Stakeholders in the farm machinery sector
The stakeholders in the farm machinery sector include original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs), policy makers, technology suppliers, and product development & design firms.
These stakeholders play a crucial role in driving innovation, technology adoption, and
policy implementation to ensure the growth of the sector.
Impediments to the growth of the farm machinery sector
Despite the immense potential of the farm machinery sector, there are several
impediments that need to be addressed. These include small and fragmented farms,
outdated farming practices, limited investing capacity of farmers, and lack of suitable
machinery. The CII Summit on Farm Machinery Technology provides a platform to
deliberate on these issues and find solutions to overcome them.
Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) is the national regulatory body for civil
aviation security in India. It recently commemorated its raising day.
A Brief History of BCAS
The BCAS was established as a Cell in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in
January 1978 following the hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight in September 1976. The
primary role of the cell was to manage and train personnel on Civil Aviation Security
matters. In April 1987, the BCAS became an independent department under the Ministry
of Civil Aviation in response to the Kanishka Tragedy in June 1985.
Responsibilities of BCAS
One of the key duties of BCAS is to create aviation security standards in compliance with
Annex 17 to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s Chicago Convention for
airlines and airport operators, as well as their security agencies, responsible for
implementing AVSEC measures. The BCAS also monitors the implementation of security
regulations and carries out assessments to determine security requirements. The bureau
ensures that security staff receives appropriate training and necessary competencies to
perform their duties.
In addition, BCAS is responsible for coordinating and planning aviation security matters,
including conducting surprise and dummy checks to evaluate the proficiency and
alertness of security personnel. The bureau also conducts mock exercises to test the
effectiveness of contingency plans and the operational preparedness of various agencies.
37th Raising Day Commemoration in New Delhi
Recently, BCAS celebrated its 37th raising day in New Delhi. During the inaugural session
of the two-day program, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Gen. Dr. V.K. Singh (Retd.),
presented awards to the best screeners in different categories. The Minister also
conferred awards on BCAS officers with the President’s Police Medal for distinguished
service on Republic Day 2022 and the Police Medal for meritorious service on Republic Day
2023. The Secretary MoCA, Shri Rajiv Bansal, and the DG BCAS, Shri Zulfiquar Hasan, also
addressed the program, emphasizing the importance of security in the aviation sector and
BCAS’s role in making aviation zero error.
April 29, 2023
2023 Sudan Conflict
Sudan has been engulfed in a violent conflict between its military and paramilitary forces
since April this year. The ongoing battle has led to at least 420 deaths, with many more
injured and displaced.
The Conflict Begins
The conflict began on April 15, 2023, when the military and paramilitary forces clashed in
the capital city of Khartoum. The unrest was sparked by the growing ambition of Rapid
Support Force (RSF) head, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who sought to lead Sudan. His
ambition put him at odds with Army chief Lt Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leading to a
fallout between the two.
The Janjaweed Militias
To understand the origins of the conflict, it is important to look at the Janjaweed militias.
The Janjaweed militias were first armed and organized in the early 1980s by the Sudanese
government. Their main purpose was to help the government expand its influence in
neighboring civil-war-torn Chad.
The militias gained global prominence in 2003 when they were accused of committing
genocide in Darfur. The conflict between 2003 and 2008 resulted in an estimated 300,000
deaths. The United States government, led by President George Bush, declared the
violence in Darfur as “genocide” in 2007.
Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and the Rapid Support Forces
Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemetti, became the head of the Rapid
Support Forces in 2013. Since then, the RSF has expanded its political and economic
influence by partnering with the Russian mercenary Wagner Group to mine the vast gold
reserves in Sudan.
With an estimated number of fighters ranging from 70,000 to 150,000, the RSF holds a
significant position in Sudan. The increasing influence and power of the RSF, combined
with the aspirations of Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemetti) to lead Sudan, have
created a rift between him and Army chief Lt Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, ultimately
resulting in the ongoing conflict.
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Contents
......................... ........ ....... _ .. .. . ........................................................
News Headlines ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
May 1, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 3
May 2, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 3
May 3, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 4
May 4, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 5
May 5, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 5
May 6, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 6
May 7, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 7
May 8, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 8
May 9, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................. 8
May 10, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................. 9
May 11, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 10
May 12, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 10
May 15, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................ 11
May 16, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 12
May 17, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 13
May 18, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 13
May 19, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 14
May 20, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 15
May 20, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 16
May 21, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 16
May 22, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 17
May 23, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 18
May 24, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 19
May 25, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 20
May 26, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 20
May 27, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 21
May 28, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 22
May 29, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 23
May 30, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 23
May 31, 2023 ............................................................................................................................................... 24
May 1, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................................... 25
EU’s Fit for 55 Package ............................................................................................................................. 25
IFFCO’s Liquid Nano Di-Ammonia Phosphate (DAP) ...................................................................... 26
Quasar and Galactic Collisions ................................................................................................................ 27
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues ................................................................... 28
FAO’s Report on the Contribution of TASF to healthy Diets for Improved Nutrition and Health
Outcomes ............................................................................................................................................. 29
National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 .................................................................................................. 30
Mahila Samman Saving Certificate .......................................................................................................... 31
NITI Aayog’s “Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India” Report
.................................................................................................................................................................. 31
Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) ............................................................................................................. 32
US Legal Debt Ceiling ................................................................................................................................ 33
Company Limited by Guarantee .............................................................................................................. 33
Ranajit Guha and the Subaltern School ................................................................................................. 34
Celebration Picasso 1973-2023 ............................................................................................................... 35
Sara: World's First Robotic Check-in Assistant .................................................................................... 36
Japan’s Basic Plan on Ocean Policy ......................................................................................................... 36
Jana Shakti Exhibition ................................................................................................................................ 37
Bihan Mela ................................................................................................................................................... 38
Extraction of Oxygen from Lunar Soil ................................................................................................... 39
Who is Geoffrey Hinton? Why he has quit Google? .......................................................................... 39
May 2, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................................ 40
ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) ................................................................................... 40
Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023 ...................................................................... 41
Geomagnetic Pc1 Pearl Oscillations ........................................................................................................ 42
Swachhata Pakhwada ................................................................................................................................ 42
NTPC-NPCIL Agreement on Joint Development of Nuclear Power Plants .................................. 43
Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan AVSM, VM .......................................................................................... 44
Ekta Evam Shradhanjali Abhiyan ............................................................................................................ 44
StarBerrySense Payload ............................................................................................................................. 45
New Species of Spiny Clam Shrimps ..................................................................................................... 45
Article 142 of the Indian Constitution ................................................................................................... 46
Stone of Scone ............................................................................................................................................ 47
Smart Cities Mission Extended ................................................................................................................ 48
Odisha’s Survey on Social and Educational Conditions of Backward Classes .............................. 49
WEF’s ‘Chief Economists Outlook’ Report ............................................................................................ 50
Meera Syal Receives the BAFTA Fellowship ........................................................................................ 50
Catalyst for Clean Hydrogen Production from Wood Alcohol ......................................................... 51
World Bank’s Business Ready Project ..................................................................................................... 52
Delhi’s Summer Action Plan ..................................................................................................................... 52
France India Foundation ............................................................................................................................ 53
Santiago Pena: Paraguay’s New President-Elect .................................................................................. 54
May 3, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................................... 55
What is Bluebugging? ................................................................................................................................ 55
Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL) Project .................................................... 55
Uzbek Constitutional Referendum .......................................................................................................... 56
TRAI Recommendations on Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcasting .................. 57
Wayanad District Tops ODF Plus Ranking ........................................................................................... 57
National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22 .......................................................... 58
CU-Chayan Portal ....................................................................................................................................... 59
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 .................................................................................................... 59
USCIRF's 2023 Annual Report on Religious Freedom ...................................................................... 60
May 4, 2023 ......................................................................................................................................................... 61
Two New Species of Jumping Spiders ................................................................................................... 61
Somnath Temple in 3D Cave .................................................................................................................. 62
World Press Freedom Index 2023 .......................................................................................................... 62
SEBI introduces the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) System ................................................................... 63
RBI Report on Currency and Finance .................................................................................................... 64
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's Visit to Maldives ............................................................................ 64
New US-Mexico Immigration Policies ................................................................................................... 65
Internet in India Report 2022 .................................................................................................................. 65
Brazil’s Fake News Law ............................................................................................................................ 66
Metavalent Bonding ................................................................................................................................... 67
“Geoeconomic Fragmentation: Sub-Saharan Africa Caught between the Fault Lines” Report
................................................................................................................................................................. 67
ESMA’s Derecognition of 6 Indian CCPs ............................................................................................. 68
Coronation of King Charles III ................................................................................................................ 69
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse .......................................................................................................................... 69
Kyasanur Forest Disease ........................................................................................................................... 70
India’s Own Heat Index ............................................................................................................................. 71
Indian-origin Ajay Banga Chosen as World Bank President ............................................................. 72
What is Arexvy? .......................................................................................................................................... 72
Google rolls out Passkeys: The Future of Secure Sign-In ................................................................. 73
May 5, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................................ 74
ST Status of Meitei Community ............................................................................................................. 74
New Non-Invasive Method to Extract DNA from Palaeolithic Remains ........................................ 75
MV-ITT LION (V-273) ............................................................................................................................ 76
Horaglanis populi ....................................................................................................................................... 76
Petersberg Climate Dialogue ................................................................................................................... 77
Global Warming’s Four Indias, 2022 ..................................................................................................... 77
Global Report on Food Crises 2023 ...................................................................................................... 78
“Is an End to Child Marriage Within Reach?” Report ....................................................................... 79
New York Becomes the First US State to Ban Fossil Fuels in New Buildings .............................. 80
China Competition 2.0 Bill ........................................................................................................................ 81
Tu-160 Bomber ........................................................................................................................................... 81
Defending Creative Voices Report .......................................................................................................... 82
Notification to Tweak PMLA ................................................................................................................... 82
Recent Key Decisions of Himachal Pradesh Government ................................................................. 83
May 6, 2023 ........................................................................................................................................................ 84
C-DAC's Technology Transfers ............................................................................................................. 84
Nagaland’s Directorate of Minority Affairs ........................................................................................... 85
Nagaland’s High-Level Committee on Restructuring & Re-organisation of State Police ........... 86
Decommissioning of INS Magar ............................................................................................................ 87
Clinical Trial Opportunities in India Report ......................................................................................... 87
Eruption of Fuego Volcano ...................................................................................................................... 88
South Asia Clean Energy Forum 2023 .................................................................................................. 88
Dawki Land Port ........................................................................................................................................ 89
Ubhauli Festival ........................................................................................................................................... 89
Machines Can See 2023 Summit ........................................................................................................... 90
Project Sanjay ............................................................................................................................................... 91
SEBI’s Testing Framework for IT Systems of Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) ........... 91
UK's Contribution to Brazil’s Amazon Fund ........................................................................................ 92
Buland Bharat Exercise .............................................................................................................................. 93
Rail War Room ............................................................................................................................................ 93
Restructuring of ICAR ............................................................................................................................... 94
Student Suicides in India ........................................................................................................................... 95
COP28 to Focus on Health Impacts of Climate Change .................................................................. 96
FAO’s Agriculture and Market Information System (AMIS) and Its Latest Monitor ................. 96
RITES to Provide Technical Support for Waste Management under Swachh Bharat Mission-
Urban 2.0 ............................................................................................................................................. 97
CarbSar - Britain's Spy Satellite .............................................................................................................. 98
Central Asian Flyway ................................................................................................................................. 99
Safety Approval For China's First Gene-edited Crop ....................................................................... 100
May 8, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................................... 101
Expansion of Employment Scope for Women Officers in Territorial Army ................................. 101
Credit Suisse-Ecuador Debt-for-Nature Swap Deal ......................................................................... 102
Ukraine's Attack on Kremlin .................................................................................................................. 102
All India Radio to be Exclusively Known as Akashvani .................................................................... 103
Deep Oceans Beneath Ice Capped Surfaces of Uranus’ Four Moons ........................................... 104
IRDAI to Tighten Rules on Insurance Advertisements ..................................................................... 105
Stable Auroral Red (SAR) Arc ............................................................................................................... 105
Love in 90s: First Feature Film Based on Tagin Community ......................................................... 106
Saurona Genus .......................................................................................................................................... 106
INSV Tarini ................................................................................................................................................ 107
Odisha Government’s Financial Assistance for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients ........ 107
Lucknow Smart City's School Health Program ................................................................................. 108
Naykap Gokab .......................................................................................................................................... 109
Syria’s Return to Arab League ................................................................................................................ 110
The Report on Optimal Generation Capacity Mix for 2029-30 .................................................... 110
One Minute Traffic Light Plan ................................................................................................................. 111
First Indian Air Force Heritage Centre .................................................................................................. 111
Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START) ...................................................... 112
US Patriot Shoots Down Kh-47 Kinzhal .............................................................................................. 113
Lithium Reserve in Rajasthan's Degana ................................................................................................ 114
May 9, 2023 ....................................................................................................................................................... 114
Project-SMART .......................................................................................................................................... 114
ESCAP's “Race to Net Zero” Report ..................................................................................................... 115
Jaganannaku Chebudam Programme ................................................................................................... 116
Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor ............................................................................................................. 117
TROPICS Mission ...................................................................................................................................... 117
Lifting of Title 42 ...................................................................................................................................... 118
Creditor-led Insolvency Resolution Mechanism .................................................................................. 118
What is Yarchagumba? ............................................................................................................................. 119
Nano-QuIC (Nanoparticle-enhanced Quaking-Induced Conversion) ........................................... 119
First China-Central Asia Summit ........................................................................................................... 120
36th CISO Deep-Dive Training Programme ...................................................................................... 121
Tungnath Temple ...................................................................................................................................... 121
First Dubai FinTech Summit .................................................................................................................. 122
MiG-21 Jet in India - An Overview ....................................................................................................... 123
Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana ................................................................................................................ 124
Swamp Deer Released into Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) .................................................... 125
Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) ..................................................................................................................... 125
Ban on Diesel Four-Wheelers ................................................................................................................. 126
IMF's Regional Economic Outlook ....................................................................................................... 127
Indian Army Standardizes Uniform for Senior Officers ................................................................... 127
May 10, 2023 ..................................................................................................................................................... 128
India’s First Pod Taxi ................................................................................................................................ 128
Djerba Synagogue ..................................................................................................................................... 129
Bharat EMart Portal .................................................................................................................................. 130
Piezoelectric MEMS Technology ........................................................................................................... 130
Telangana Launches State Robotics Framework ................................................................................ 131
Aeolus Satellite ........................................................................................................................................... 132
Assam Government Forms Expert Committee to Probe Polygamy ............................................... 133
Sludge in STPs with Potential for Use as Fertilizer ........................................................................... 134
Siddheswara Temple Inscriptions .......................................................................................................... 135
Jama Masjid Redevelopment ................................................................................................................... 135
Greek Embassy Event to Host Event About Situation in Mariupol ................................................ 136
Tibet Matters March ................................................................................................................................ 136
SAKSHAM Platform ................................................................................................................................ 137
May 11, 2023 ...................................................................................................................................................... 138
Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum ............................................................................................... 138
35th Indo-Thai CORPAT ........................................................................................................................ 138
International Museum Expo 2023 ......................................................................................................... 139
iDrone Initiative ......................................................................................................................................... 140
Harit Sagar Guidelines 2023 .................................................................................................................. 140
Motor Vehicle Aggregator Scheme 2023 ............................................................................................ 141
National MSME Council .......................................................................................................................... 142
Ayushman Asom-Mukhya Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana ..................................................................... 143
National Conference on “Land Governance in North Eastern States” ......................................... 144
“Improving Maternal and Newborn Health and Survival and Reducing Stillbirth” Report ..... 145
Mitochondrial Donation Treatment ..................................................................................................... 146
What is Pangenome? ................................................................................................................................ 147
Pliosaur Discovered in England ............................................................................................................. 148
OFDA 4000 in Srinagar ......................................................................................................................... 149
"Buddham Saranam Gacchami" Exhibition ......................................................................................... 150
May 12, 2023 ...................................................................................................................................................... 151
The Global Health Emergency of Mpox Comes to an End .............................................................. 151
ISRO Tests Semi-Cryogenic Engine ...................................................................................................... 151
Carbon Credit Trading Scheme ............................................................................................................. 152
ICMR-Ayush Ministry Collaboration on Integrated Medicine ........................................................ 153
The Global Report on Internal Displacement 2023 (GRID-2023) ............................................... 154
INS Garuda Marks 70 Years of Service .............................................................................................. 155
Eretmoptera murphyi in Signy Island ................................................................................................... 156
SCO Starup Forum 2023 ........................................................................................................................ 157
Zimbabwe’s Gold-Backed Digital Currency ....................................................................................... 158
6th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) .................................................................................................... 158
Greenwashing TechSprint ...................................................................................................................... 159
FDA Eases Restrictions on Blood Donations from Gay and Bisexual Men ................................. 160
Comb Jellies and Their Unique Neurons .............................................................................................. 161
Prime Minister Modi's First State Visit to US ..................................................................................... 162
Clinical Trial of Viaskin ............................................................................................................................ 162
Vaccination of Wild Koalas Against Chlamydia .................................................................................. 163
Queensland's Isaac River Coal Mine ..................................................................................................... 164
May 13, 2023 ..................................................................................................................................................... 165
Scary Barbie - The Largest Cosmic Explosion ................................................................................... 165
E-retrofitment Industry in India ............................................................................................................. 166
Cyclone Mocha ......................................................................................................................................... 167
“Changing Status of Tropical Cyclones Over the North Indian Ocean” Report ........................ 168
Agenda for Action: Sustainable Urban Transformation in Bhopal ................................................ 168
Moroccan Locust Attack in Afghanistan ............................................................................................. 169
Portugal Legalizes Euthanasia ................................................................................................................ 170
Portugal Legalizes Euthanasia - Current Updates (May, 2023) ...................................................... 171
5th Edition of Global Ayurveda Festival ............................................................................................... 172
RBI Deadline for Transitioning to Alternative Reference Rate ....................................................... 173
‘100 Days 100 Pays’ Campaign ............................................................................................................. 173
TRAI Regulation on Misuse of Telemarketing Message Templates ............................................. 174
ASI Govind Swarup Lifetime Achievement Award ........................................................................... 175
Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) ............................................................................................ 176
Soaring Eagle Exercise ............................................................................................................................. 177
Husky –Ichor ............................................................................................................................................. 178
Storm Shadow Cruise Missile ................................................................................................................ 178
Paralakhemundi Railway Station ........................................................................................................... 179
White Knight Corps ................................................................................................................................. 180
Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit - Current Updates (May, 2023) ................ 180
Survey Report on Data Governance Quality Index ............................................................................ 181
May 15, 2023 ..................................................................................................................................................... 182
NVS-01 Satellite ......................................................................................................................................... 182
Non-Aqueous All-Organic Redox Flow Battery ................................................................................. 183
India- EU Trade and Technology Council - Current Updates (May, 2023) ............................... 184
Shirdi Sai Darshan .................................................................................................................................... 184
Automated Return Scrutiny Module for GST returns ...................................................................... 185
4th Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) for DPSUs ............................................................................... 186
What is ASC2? .......................................................................................................................................... 187
Training Programme on Legislative Drafting ..................................................................................... 188
Nathuram Mirdha ..................................................................................................................................... 188
Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary ............................................................................................................. 189
Meri LiFE Mobile Application ................................................................................................................ 190
Central Equipment Identity Register ...................................................................................................... 191
Drive Against Fake GST Registration .................................................................................................. 192
Pasang Dawa Sherpa ................................................................................................................................ 193
Samudra Shakti-23 ................................................................................................................................... 194
Great Grandfather Tree .......................................................................................................................... 194
UTSAH Portal and PoP Portal ............................................................................................................... 195
INS Mormugao Successfully Fires Brahmos Supersonic Cruise Missile ...................................... 196
May 16, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 197
Spring 2023 Economic Forecast ........................................................................................................... 197
Odisha Millet Mission .............................................................................................................................. 198
NIRSpec Instrument Finds Water Around the Comet Read ........................................................... 199
50 Start-ups Exchange Programme ..................................................................................................... 200
May 17, 2023 ..................................................................................................................................................... 201
Benin and Mali Eliminate Trachoma .................................................................................................... 201
Gekko mizoramensis ............................................................................................................................... 202
Tilting of Tungnath Temple .................................................................................................................. 203
WHO Advisory Against Non-Sugar Sweeteners ............................................................................... 203
New UNEP Roadmap to Slash Plastic Pollution ................................................................................ 204
Analysis of Sources of Funding of Regional Parties of India, FY 2021-22 .................................. 205
Exercise Jal Rahat ..................................................................................................................................... 206
Dharavi Redevelopment Project ............................................................................................................ 207
IRDAI Relaxes Norms for Surety Bonds ............................................................................................. 207
Qualified Institutional Buyers ................................................................................................................. 208
Special Rights for Unitholders of REITs and InvITs ......................................................................... 209
LOGISEM – 23 – the National Logistics Management Seminar ................................................... 210
The Demand for Kukiland ...................................................................................................................... 210
May 18, 2023 ...................................................................................................................................................... 211
“Age of First Smartphone and Mental Wellbeing Outcome” Report ............................................. 211
Climate Change Impact on Sea Butterflies .......................................................................................... 212
Kapileshwar Temple ................................................................................................................................. 213
Robert E Lucas ........................................................................................................................................... 214
Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber
Verification (ASTR) .......................................................................................................................... 215
Production Linked Incentive Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware ............................................................ 216
Union Health Ministry Launches '75/25' Initiative ........................................................................... 216
Mukhyamantri Sikho Kamao Yojana .................................................................................................... 217
Kerala Approves Ordinance Amending Hospital Protection Act ................................................... 218
New Rules for M&A in MSMEs and Startups .................................................................................... 219
Sri Lanka's State Owned Enterprise Reform Policy .......................................................................... 220
YSR Matsyakara Bharosa Scheme ......................................................................................................... 221
UP’s 5G Technology Training Programme ........................................................................................ 222
Death Cap Mushroom ............................................................................................................................. 223
Early El Nino .............................................................................................................................................. 223
Implications of Go First Airline Suspension ....................................................................................... 224
May 19, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 225
Dotted Lands in Andhra Pradesh .......................................................................................................... 225
G-7 Hiroshima Summit .......................................................................................................................... 227
Spitzer Resurrector Mission ................................................................................................................... 228
SEBI Framework for Unexplained Suspicious Trading Pattern ..................................................... 229
Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur ......................................................................................................... 229
SEBI Recommendations on Mutual Fund Fees .................................................................................. 230
Rasht-Astara Railway Link ....................................................................................................................... 231
NRL-T-Hub MoU to Promote iDEATION Program ....................................................................... 232
Unpublished Price Sensitive Information ............................................................................................. 233
Shipbuilding Financial Assistance (SBFA) ........................................................................................... 233
Advance and EPCG Authorisation Scheme ........................................................................................ 234
Pocket Map of Kartavya Path ................................................................................................................ 235
Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve ......................................................................................................... 236
Satellites Reveal Widespread Decline in Global Lake Water Storage ............................................ 237
South Africa to Produce CAB-LA ........................................................................................................ 237
Operation Karuna ..................................................................................................................................... 239
May 20, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 239
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) ............................................................................... 239
National Capital Civil Service Authority .............................................................................................. 240
RBI Withdraws Rs.2,000 Denomination Notes ................................................................................. 241
World Health Statistics 2023 ................................................................................................................. 242
Panthera and Oxford University's WildCRU Collaborate to Protect Lions .................................. 243
Kudumbashree Celebrates Silver Jubilee ............................................................................................. 244
Zorawar Light Tank ................................................................................................................................ 245
African Plume Heatwave ........................................................................................................................ 246
UK’s Semiconductor Strategy ............................................................................................................... 246
Riverine Based Religious Tourism Circuit .......................................................................................... 247
MH60R Helicopter Successfully Lands and Takes Off from INS Kolkata ................................. 248
New Accreditation Reforms for IITs and HEIs ................................................................................. 249
SEBI’s Risk Disclosure Framework for Individual Traders in Equity Derivative Segment ...... 249
Vladivostok Port ........................................................................................................................................ 250
Sea Trial of INS Vaghsheer ..................................................................................................................... 251
76th World Health Assembly ................................................................................................................ 252
Ghaziabad-Aligarh Expressway ............................................................................................................. 253
Sagar Parikrama Yatra Phase-V ............................................................................................................. 253
Patch Reporting App ............................................................................................................................... 254
May 22, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 255
Deputy Chief Minister ............................................................................................................................. 255
Bakhmut in Ukraine Conflict ................................................................................................................. 256
What is Article 239AA? .......................................................................................................................... 256
Root Mean Square Granulation Contrast ........................................................................................... 258
Indian Astronomical Observatory Observes BL Lacertae ................................................................ 258
First Evidence of Wolf-Dog Hybridization in India ........................................................................... 259
Fezolinetant to Prevent Hot Flashes ..................................................................................................... 260
Prime Minister Modi Receives Highest Honours from Fiji and Papua New Guinea ................. 261
FIPIC Summit 2023 ................................................................................................................................. 262
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum ................................................................................................... 263
Chucarosaurus Diripienda ...................................................................................................................... 263
Stelladens mysteriosus ............................................................................................................................. 264
Himachal Pradesh’s Green Hydrogen Policy ...................................................................................... 265
Stanford Researchers Develop e-Skin ................................................................................................. 266
Rayyanah Barnawi .................................................................................................................................... 267
May 23, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 267
GRSE’s ‘GAINS’ Startup Challenge ..................................................................................................... 267
Panch Karma Sankalp ............................................................................................................................. 268
What is Shavuot? - Current Updates (May, 2023) .......................................................................... 269
ONDC Academy ...................................................................................................................................... 270
Machilipatnam Port Project .................................................................................................................... 271
Barkudia Limbless Skink ......................................................................................................................... 272
Dangote Refinery ...................................................................................................................................... 272
A Third of Global Population to Live in Dangerously Hot Areas ................................................. 273
Data Centre Q1 2023 Report ................................................................................................................ 274
Colorado River Conservation Deal ....................................................................................................... 275
US-Papua New Guinea Defence Agreement ..................................................................................... 276
Education Ministry's Workshop Unifying School Boards for Enhanced Assessment ................ 277
Maharana Pratap Lok .............................................................................................................................. 278
Nilgiri Marten - Current Updates (May, 2023) ................................................................................ 279
Enhanced Rock Weathering ................................................................................................................... 279
Chennai to Host Squash World Cup ................................................................................................... 280
Mandatory Testing of Cough Syrup Exports ...................................................................................... 281
Regulation of Big Tech ........................................................................................................................... 282
May 24, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 283
What is Forum Shopping? ...................................................................................................................... 283
NPC Guidelines on Admissions and Quota for Disabled People ................................................... 284
Ireland Mandates Warning Labels on Alcoholic Products ............................................................... 285
National Campaign for Updating and Verifying the People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) ...... 286
Meiogyne arunachalensis ........................................................................................................................ 287
Brain's Role in Chronic Pain .................................................................................................................. 288
Taiwan's Last Comfort Woman Passes Away ................................................................................... 289
What is C-KYC Database? ..................................................................................................................... 289
Thriving: Making Cities Green, Resilient, and Inclusive in a Changing Climate ........................ 290
Repeat Offenders: Coal Power Plants Top the EU Emitters List .................................................... 291
MRPL-HPCL Merger ............................................................................................................................... 292
G20 High-Level Principles on Hydrogen ............................................................................................ 292
What is Sengol? ........................................................................................................................................ 293
The Green Shift: The Low Carbon Transition of India’s Oil and Gas Sector ............................ 294
WMO's Updated Figures of Mortality and Economic Losses from Natural Hazards ............... 295
Martin Amis Passes Away ...................................................................................................................... 296
May 25, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 297
Dancing Girl of Mohenjodaro ............................................................................................................... 297
Georgi Gospodinov Wins International Booker Prize ...................................................................... 298
Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) ............................................ 299
Phase II of Bangalore-Chennai Expressway ....................................................................................... 300
New Building of Jharkhand High Court .............................................................................................. 301
India to Launch 18 New petaFLOP Supercomputers ....................................................................... 302
PCIM&H e-Office and Online Portal .................................................................................................... 303
What is UDAN 5.1? ................................................................................................................................. 304
May 26, 2023 ................................................................................................................................................... 304
What is Volt Typhoon? ........................................................................................................................... 304
AIRAWAT at 75th Position in Top 500 Global Supercomputing List ........................................ 306
Urban Climate Film Festival ................................................................................................................... 306
France’s Ban on Short-haul Flights ...................................................................................................... 308
Prohibition of Differential Rights to AIF Investors ........................................................................... 309
USS Gerald R. Ford Visits Oslo .............................................................................................................. 310
ITF Transport Outlook 2023 ................................................................................................................. 310
What is Sturisoma reisi? ........................................................................................................................... 311
Tina Turner Passes Away ........................................................................................................................ 312
Pragati Maidan Convention Centre ....................................................................................................... 313
New Rules for Special Protection Group ............................................................................................. 314
May 27, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 314
Elon Musk's Neuralink : Key Facts ....................................................................................................... 314
May 29, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 315
What is XPoSat? ........................................................................................................................................ 315
AI Discovers Antibiotic for Acinetobacter baumannii ...................................................................... 316
New Replenishment Mechanism for Flexible WHO Funding ......................................................... 317
Government Grant for Unani Research and Development Bodies ................................................ 318
Cheetah Project Steering Committee ................................................................................................... 319
What is Daam Malware? ........................................................................................................................ 320
Rs 75 Commemorative Coin .................................................................................................................. 321
Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan ...................................................................................................... 322
Underwater Landslides in Antarctica .................................................................................................... 323
New Parliament Building ........................................................................................................................ 324
Gateway to the Underworld ................................................................................................................... 325
Global Wealth Conference ..................................................................................................................... 326
Iraq's Route of Development ................................................................................................................. 327
Somalia to Introduce Direct Universal Suffrage in 2024 ................................................................ 328
Joint Malnutrition Estimates Report ..................................................................................................... 329
Supermassive Black Hole in GS-9209 ................................................................................................ 330
Praveen Kumar Srivastava Becomes New CVC ................................................................................. 331
Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wins Runoff Election ..................................................................................... 332
May 30, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 332
Polio Eradication Efforts in West and Central Africa ........................................................................ 332
Gomphonema rajaguruii ......................................................................................................................... 334
Shenzhou-16 Mission ............................................................................................................................... 335
What is Israel-1? ........................................................................................................................................ 336
SEBI’s Intermediary Advisory Committee ........................................................................................... 337
Forever Toxic: The Science on Health Threats from Plastic Recycling ....................................... 337
Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP Early Warnings on Acute Food Insecurity ................................. 338
Heart Failure Subtypes ............................................................................................................................ 339
Borealis Mud Volcano ............................................................................................................................. 340
Feasibility Study on Sabang Port .......................................................................................................... 340
Lipizzan Horses ......................................................................................................................................... 341
Latest Periodic Labour Force Survey Figures ..................................................................................... 342
‘Mo Ghara’ (My House) Scheme ......................................................................................................... 343
Odisha for AI and AI for Youth Initiatives .......................................................................................... 343
Developmental Plan for Konark Sun Temple Complex .................................................................. 345
TOEFL Accepted Under Canada's Student Direct Stream ............................................................. 345
May 31, 2023 .................................................................................................................................................... 346
Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA) ................................................................................... 346
What is 2023 FW13? ............................................................................................................................... 347
Lightweight Payment and Settlement System .................................................................................... 348
SEBI Guidelines for IPF and ISF ........................................................................................................... 349
Pisodonophis kalinga ............................................................................................................................... 350
Expected Loss-based Approach for Bad Loan Provisioning ............................................................. 351
Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Yojana ................................................................................................... 352
e-Appeals Scheme 2023 ......................................................................................................................... 353
22nd Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation .............................................................. 353
Digital Kumbh Museum ......................................................................................................................... 354
ADB’s Country Partnership Strategy for India ................................................................................... 355
Electronics Repair Pilot Project .............................................................................................................. 356
Anert’s Solar City Project ....................................................................................................................... 356
Artifacts Unearthed at Delhi's Purana Qila ......................................................................................... 357
PARAS Spectrograph Discovers Dense Exoplanet ............................................................................ 358
News Headlines
May 1, 2023
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for May 1, 2023
INDIA
Retired Commander Abhilash Tomy created history as the first Indian to complete
the Golden Globe Race.
Uzbekistan President wins nationwide referendum to rewrite Constitution.
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin announces withdrawal of controversial amendment to
Factories Act.
Divorce can be granted on ‘grounds of irretrievable breakdown’: Supreme Court
Odisha state government begins Backward Class survey after Bihar
Tamil Nadu government has released a glossary of Tamil words on climate change.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s gross GST revenues hit a record high in April at ₹1,87,035 crore, 12% higher
than the same month last year
World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 says ‘A quarter of jobs will
change by 2027’.
WORLD
U.S. to modernise H-1B visa registration process after fraud in lottery system.
Philippines President travels to U.S. to bolster ties amid China tensions.
Citizens of Uzbekistan vote on reforms to strengthen President.
SPORTS
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty become the first Indians after Dinesh
Khanna to be crowned champions, after 58 years, at Badminton Asia Championships
CSK batter Devon Conway completed third-fastest to 5,000 runs in T20 cricket.
Ding Liren of China crowned king of World chess.
May 2, 2023
INDIA
Indian Government bans 14 apps in Jammu and Kashmir, cites use by terror groups.
Supreme Court says it can end wait for consensual divorce
Odisha state government begins survey of OBCs, after Bihar.
‘Operation Kaveri’: Total number of Indians brought back home now stands at 2,140.
Justice T.S. Sivagnanam is new Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court.
The Supreme Court held that it can dissolve marriages on the ground of
“irretrievable breakdown of marriage” invoking special powers under Article 142.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 57.2 from 56.4 in March.
Year-end compliances rise April GST revenue to record ₹1.87 lakh crore.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised Asia’s economic forecast in its regional
outlook report.
World Economic Forum (WEF) releases ‘Chief Economists Outlook Report 2023’.
WORLD
Santiago Peña of Paraguay’s ruling conservative Colorado Party wins presidential
election.
International Apparel and Textile Fair kicks off in Dubai featuring 90 Indian
participants.
Inaugural ASEAN-India maritime exercise begins in South China Sea
Japan to train 1,000 Indian engineers for bullet train project.
SPORTS
Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Ganemat Sekhon win Gold for India in ISSF Shotgun World
Cup
May 3, 2023
INDIA
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) celebrates Diamond Jubilee on its 60th
Foundation Day.
TRAI releases recommendations on Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and
Broadcasting Sector.
Centre asks States and UTs to curb outdoor advertisements of betting and gambling
platforms.
UIDAI allows residents to verify mobile numbers, email IDs seeded with Aadhaar.
Yoga Mahotsav to mark 50 days countdown to International Day of Yoga begins in
Jaipur.
India’s External Affairs Ministry criticises USCIRF report, calls it misrepresentation of
facts.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Toll collection through FASTag system reaches all-time high at over Rs 193 crore.
Government extends date to opt for higher EPF pension to June 26.
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has introduced Group Post Retirement
Medical Benefit Scheme.
India’s Go First airline files for bankruptcy; cancels hundreds of flights.
WORLD
Indian Embassy in Sudan’s Khartoum will be temporarily relocated to Port Sudan.
India, Israel sign MoU on Industrial Research and Development Cooperation with
focus on technology.
30th edition of Arabian Travel Market begins at Dubai World Trade Centre.
World Bank to provide 2.25 billion dollars to Bangladesh to support 5 development
projects
Uganda parliament passes revised version of anti-LGBTQ bill; include the death
penalty for certain same-sex acts.
SPORTS
India surpasses Australia to become Top Test team in ICC rankings.
Olympian Ashish Kumar Chaudhary enters the pre-quarterfinals of the World boxing
championships.
May 4, 2023
INDIA
India slips in ‘2023 World Press Freedom Index’, ranks 161 out of 180 nations.
Tamil Nadu launches website for food safety and mobile app for consumers.
India is at risk to the ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza (H5N1) worldwide.
National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is working on a
transplant manual.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal next
week.
India is set to launch its own heat index next year to quantify heat hazard.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s services sector had best expansion in 13 years.
U.S. Federal Reserve raises rates by another 25 basis points.
Indian-origin Ajay Banga confirmed as the next President of World Bank.
RBI DEPR: Adapting to climate change to cost India ₹85.6 lakh crore by 2030.
WORLD
Russia accuses Ukraine of attempting to kill President Vladimir Putin.
India and Egypt hold 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations.
India’s CSIR and its Israeli counterpart sign MoU on Industrial Research and
Development Cooperation.
SPORTS
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek cruises into Madrid Open semi-finals.
Three Indian shotgun shooters, ended day two of the trap qualification at the ISSF
World Cup with a fighting chance to qualify for the top-eights.
May 5, 2023
INDIA
Buddha Purnima is being celebrated on May 5; Gautam Buddha was born on the
same day and attained Nirvana.
DRDO scientist in Pune has been arrested on charges of espionage
Suggestions were invited from stakeholders on ‘Examination of the Forest
(Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023’.
Patna High Court ordered a stay on the caste-based survey being conducted by the
Bihar government.
Many people were killed in Manipur riots; state government issues shoot-at-sight
order.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Bank for International Settlements (BIS) launch G20
TechSprint, a global technology competition.
Labour Ministry says 1.16% will be taken from employers’ share for higher PF
pension.
WORLD
Over 3800 Indians evacuated from conflict-hit Sudan under Operation Kaveri so far.
Buddhist devotees in Sri Lanka celebrate Vesak on the day of Buddha Poornima.
South Korea to provide USD 3 billion financing support to Bangladesh for metro ine,
CNG buses and railway signalling system.
Russia accuses US of being behind drone attack on Kremlin.
UAE government launches ‘Machines Can See 2023’ Summit.
Floods and landslips in Rwanda kill over 130 people and thousands left homeless.
SPORTS
Sports Minister Anurag Thakur launches logo and mascot of Khelo India University
Games 2022.
Neeraj Chopra begins his season at Diamond League in Doha, Qatar.
Tennis: Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden strom into final of Madrid Open.
May 6, 2023
INDIA
Centre for Innovation Incubation Research and Entrepreneurship (C-i2 RE)
inaugurated in Telangana.
Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to receive first Indian
cargo ship at Sittwe Port in Myanmar.
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to organise Pradhan Mantri
National Apprenticeship Mela.
PM Modi to visit France to attend this year’s Bastille Day Parade as Guest of Honour
in Paris.
Sharad Pawar withdraws his resignation as NCP Chief on request of party workers.
National Green Tribunal (NGT) levies ₹4,000 crore environmental compensation on
Bihar for failure in waste management.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
World Gold Council (WGC) : India’s gold demand for Q1 2023 (January to March)
shrank by 17% to 112.5 tonnes.
India-US bilateral trade has been recorded at highest point in past few years.
WORLD
Coronation of King Charles III and his wife Camilla set to take place in London.
UNICEF: More than 1 million polio vaccines destroyed in Sudan
10th Landport between India and Bangladesh inaugurated at Dawki in Meghalaya.
Serbia President vows to launch disarmament plan to remove hundreds of
thousands of guns from country.
Nepal: Kirant community celebrates Ubhauli
WHO: Covid-19 no longer represents a global health emergency.
SPORTS
Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra clinches Doha Diamond League title.
Mohammad Hussamuddin and Naveen Kumar advance to pre-quarter finals of IBA
Men’s World Championships.
May 7, 2023
INDIA
Border Haat between India and Bangladesh has been inaugurated at Bholaganj in
Sylhet.
INS Magar has been decommissioned after 36 years of service, from Kochi.
Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) is working on technical
and scientific terminology in 10 Indian languages.
Manipur to set up peace committees in all Assembly constituencies.
Wastewater study detects a large, silent wave in Bengaluru.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Moody’s predicts India’s economy to recover with 5.5% GDP growth in 2023.
GSTN defers by 3 months implementation for businesses with turnover of over Rs
100 crore to upload their old e-invoices.
India’s imports from OPEC hits all-time low at 46% as Russia oil buy peaks
WORLD
Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida arrives in Seoul to meet South Korean President Yoon Suk
Yeol.
Floods and wildfires in western Canada displace thousands of people.
IMF: Bangladesh growth and foreign currency reserves facing inflationary pressures,
elevated volatility and slowdown in trading partners.
Britain’s King Charles III formally ascended the throne at the age of 74, as titular
head of the U.K. and 14 former commonwealth countries.
SPORTS
Indian Archery men and women teams win 12 medals including 5 Gold at Asia Cup-
World Ranking Tournament, Stage II in Tashkent.
Avinash Sable, Parul Chaudhary break 5000m national records in the Sound Running
Track Festival.
IBA Boxing World Championships: Hussamuddin reaches quarters, Deepak beats
Olympic medallist Saken.
May 8, 2023
INDIA
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to inaugurate Indian Air Force Heritage Centre in
Chandigarh.
Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela to be organised in more than 200
districts.
India leads as top source market for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector for April 2023.
Indian Air Force MiG-21 crashes in Rajasthan and two civilians were killed.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced a new online training
programme called space science and technology awareness training (START).
Karnataka Assembly elections: ECI to pilot facial recognition tech in upcoming polls
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
After Jammu and Kashmir, lithium reserves have been traced in Rajasthan’s Degana.
Fintech sector to become $1.5 trillion industry by 2030 : Report.
India, Canada trade ministers to review progress in talks on free trade agreement.
WORLD
World Athletics Day 2023 was celebrated on 7th May with the theme of ‘Athletics for
All – A New Beginning’.
Japan and South Korea agree to take ties forward in a landmark regional shift.
Arab League readmits Syrian government after 11-year absence.
SPORTS
Asian Weightlifting Championships: Jeremy Lalrinnunga wins silver medal at Jinju,
Korea.
Rohan Bopanna-Matthew Ebden lose to Karen Khachanov-Andrey Rublev in Madrid
Open final.
May 9, 2023
INDIA
In Karnataka, voting for assembly elections will take place on May 10.
IIT Roorkee unveils new labs to drive India’s clean energy transition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch projects worth ₹5,500 crore in Rajasthan.
Biologist Sathyabhama Das Biju, known as ‘the Frogman of India’, has been chosen
for Harvard University’s prestigious Radcliffe fellowship.
Five more cheetahs to be released into wild at Kuno National Park.
AWS launches skill development programme for quantum computing in India.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and
APY complete 8 years.
The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) gold reserves touched 794.64 metric tonnes in
fiscal 2023.
India’s fuel consumption was down about 0.3% year-on-year in April: Petroleum
Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the Oil Ministry.
WORLD
After adopting new Constitution, Uzbekistan calls presidential election.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will host a two-day summit with the leaders of five
Central Asian nations.
Iran hangs two men in rare blasphemy case as executions surge across the Islamic
Republic.
SPORTS
Asian Weightlifting Championships 2023: Indian weightlifters finish with three silver
medals in South Korea
Tamil Nadu Champions Foundation (TNCF) was officially launched in Tamil Nadu.
Max Verstappen won the Miami Grand Prix from ninth on the starting grid, with the
fastest lap.
May 10, 2023
INDIA
A third cheetah, a female called Daksha, at the Kuno National Park (KNP) has died
after it was injured by another Cheetah.
Union Health Ministry launched a learning management information system
SAKSHAM, Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management.
Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates Sittwe Port in Myanmar.
IIT Madras, DRDO develop sensor technology for underwater communications.
President Droupadi Murmu conferred eight Kirti Chakras, including five posthumous,
and 29 Shaurya Chakras, including five posthumous.
Andhra Pradesh CM launches public outreach programme Jaganannaku Chebudam.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Climate adaptation to cost India Rs 85.6 lakh crore by 2030: RBI.
India’s diesel consumption in April touches record 7.8 million tonnes.
Commerce ministry recommends anti-dumping duty on imported optical fibre.
WORLD
Pakistan and China agree to extend China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to
Afghanistan.
United States announces USD 1.2bn in additional military aid for Ukraine
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested during court appearance.
Title 42, is set to expire on May 11, as Hundreds of migrants amass near US-Mexico
wall.
Russia showcases its military in wartime Victory Day event ; 78th anniversary of the
victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
SPORTS
Indian pugilists Deepak Bhoria, Nishant Dev storm into quarterfinals of World Boxing
Championships
Lionel Messi wins the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year 2023; Ann Fraser-Pryce
wins Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year 2023.
May 11, 2023
INDIA
National Technology Day is observed on May 11.
Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi inaugurates ‘Buddham Saranam Gacchami’
exhibition in New Delhi.
Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate and lay foundation stone of various projects
worth around Rs 4,400 cr in Gujarat.
ICMR successfully conducts trial run of blood bag delivery under i-Drone initiative.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s economic success hailed at Asian Development Bank meet in South Korea.
Sri Lanka gains support in Debt Restructuring Efforts in a virtual meeting of creditor
nations, co-chaired by Japan.
Technology firm Cisco announced that it would start manufacturing operations in
India
WORLD
Bangladesh will host the 6th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) scheduled to be held
between May 12-13 in Dhaka.
India and Canada agrees to explore enhanced cooperation in near future through a
Memorandum of Understanding
Poland will stop using the official name for Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave and revert to
its historic equivalent.
SPORTS
Indian boxers secure historic three medals at World Boxing Championships.
ISSF World Cup: India’s Rhythm Sangwan wins bronze medal in Women’s 10 metre
air pistol event.
Atanu Das and Mehuli Ghosh re-included in Target Olympic Podium Scheme of
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
May 12, 2023
INDIA
IMD: Cyclone Mocha to make landfall along Bangladesh-Myanmar coast.
Supreme Court: Governor’s decision to call floor test is wrong.
Karnataka witnesses historic high 73.19% turnout in state assembly elections.
ISRO successfully tests semi-cryogenic engine at new facility in Mahendragiri.
Hyderabad airport recognised as world’s most punctual as per the recently released
report by aviation analytical firm, Cirium.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the Health Ministry and the
Ministry of AYUSH sign MoU for research.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
FSDC meeting discusses global financial turmoil and India’s economic stability.
GST e-invoicing will include smaller firms from August 1.
Government scraps levy on soyabean, sunflower seed oil shipments.
WORLD
U.K. gives long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine and Ukraine delays counter-attack.
World Health Organization (WHO) declared that mpox no longer constitutes a global
health emergency.
Migrants gather along US-Mexico border on both the sides in final hours before Title
42 expires.
SPORTS
Sarabjot Singh and T.S. Divya beat World champions of Serbia to clinch the mixed air
pistol gold in the World Cup in Baku.
World boxing championships: Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin
(57kg) and Nishant Dev (71kg) enter semifinals.
May 15, 2023
INDIA
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launches mobile application Meri
LiFE.
Kerala Healthcare Service Persons and Healthcare Service Institutions law to have
harsher penalties.
Praveen Sood was appointed as the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI).
Defence Ministry has approved the fourth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) for
DPSUs.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues fourth heatwave alert for the Konkan
region.
CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) system to be launched across India.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
India’s goods exports for 2022-23 scaled up to almost USD 451 billion, indicating a
6.9% year-on-year growth.
SEBI proposes tighter norms for delisting debt securities.
Centre and states to initiate special drive against fake GST registration.
WORLD
Cyclone Mocha floods homes, cuts communications in western Myanmar, at least 700
injured.
International Day of Families 2023 is observed on May 15.
China launches projects to build new-era marriage and childbearing culture.
SPORTS
Indian shooters Hriday Hazarika and Nancy Mandhotra bag silver medals in 10-meter
air rifle event at ISSF World Cup 2023
May 16, 2023
INDIA
Union Minister Hardeep S Puri launches mega campaign ‘Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh
Shehar’.
Odisha expands Special Development Council (SDC) intervention in the tribal areas,
from nine to 23 districts.
Indian Railways is planning to overhaul the signage system at railway stations.
One-stop centres for zero waste to be launched in cities across the country.
(iDEX) initiative of Ministry of Defence (MoD), has reached a milestone as it signed its
250th contract.
National Institute of Epidemiology, an institute of ICMR is set to train Ayush
researchers.
A North-wester wind passed over south Bengal, disrupts road and railway
movement.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Wholesale-Price based inflation (WPI) slips into negative territory for the first time in
three years, falls to -0.92% in April.
National Stock Exchange (NSE) launches WTI crude oil and gas futures contracts.
Government has appointed Ravneet Kaur as the Competition Commission of India
(CCI) Chairperson.
WORLD
First ever direct international flight connecting Bhubaneswar-Dubai started.
U.S. releases annual report on religious freedom; calls on India to condemn
‘persistent’ religious violence.
India and Bangladesh launch ’50 Start-ups Exchange Programme’.
SPORTS
India was knocked out of the Sudirman Cup badminton tournament.
Barcelona claimed its 27th LaLiga title and first for four years.
May 17, 2023
INDIA
Supreme Court transferred to Kerala High Court the responsibility of monitoring
measures taken by State to provide care for endosulfan victims.
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) hosts global meet on TV technology.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy released ₹123.52 crore under
the YSR Matsyakara Bharosa scheme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia from
May 19 to 24: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Collegium recommends Andhra Pradesh Chief Justice, senior advocate as Supreme
Court judges.
Centre rejects U.S. govt. report citing deteriorating religious freedom in India.
Manoj Soni was sworn in as the Chairman of the Union Public Service Commission
(UPSC).
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
The Indian Telecommunication Bill is set to take its final form by July: Minister
Ashwini Vaishnaw.
India exhausts the 51,000-tonnes quota of duty-free Australian cotton imports for
2023.
Reliance BP Mobility unveils ‘high-performance’ diesel.
Startup and MSME Mergers and Acquisitions to be cleared within 15-60 days:
Corporate affairs Ministry (MCA).
India remains a bright spot, India’s conomy expected to grow 6.7% in 2024: UN
WORLD
Cyclone Mocha toll rises to 60 in Myanmar; It was the most powerful cyclone to hit
the area in over a decade.
Ukraine receives jet fighter support pledge from UK, Netherlands.
Kim Jong Un inspects North Korea’s first military spy satellite.
SPORTS
Shubman Gill becomes the only cricketer in the history to score a century in Test,
ODIs, T20I and Indian Premier League in a calendar year.
May 18, 2023

INDIA
Siddaramaiah to be next Chief Minister of Karnataka, D K Shivakumar to be the
Deputy Chief Minister.
Government to set up 1,100 new Farmer Producer Organizations in cooperative
sector.
Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate International Museum Expo 2023 in New Delhi.
On World Telecom Day, Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan
launches ORAN test bed project.
Union Government approves signing of Project Collaboration Agreement between
DHR & WHO on Assistive Technology.
Arjun Ram Meghwal assigned independent charge as MoS in Ministry of Law and
Justice, Kiren Rijiju was assigned Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to inaugurate the two-day National Ayush
Mission Conclave in New Delhi.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Supreme Court gives SEBI time till August 14 to probe Hindenburg charges.
Union Cabinet approved an updated Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for IT
hardware manufacturing.
IRDAI changes Surety insurance norms to expand market.
WORLD
India and European Union agree to coordinate their policies in strategic semi-
conductor sector
UN’s WMO: Next five years are expected to be warmest period on record.
Sri Lanka’s cabinet of ministers gives approval to state owned enterprise reform
policy.
SPORTS
South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2023 concludes in Itanagar.
Italian Open Tennis: Novak Djokovic was knocked out in the quarterfinals.
May 19, 2023
INDIA
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launches State dashboard and CM dashboard.
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud to swear in Prashant Kumar Mishra and K.V.
Viswanathan as Supreme Court judges.
Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry pushes vaccination as lumpy skin cause more
deaths in cattle
Parliamentary Standing Committee deliberating on heritage theft noted that nothing
prevents India from seeking the return of the Kohinoor diamond.
India launched ‘Operation Karuna’ to assist Myanmar which has been hit by Cyclone
Mocha.
Supreme Court termed jallikattu a “type of bovine sport” existing in Tamil Nadu for
at least a century; says T.N.’s amended law on jallikattu valid.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
SEBI proposes new framework for AIFs to strengthen corporate governance rules.
For the first time, India’s defence production crosses ₹1 lakh crore: Ministry of
Defence.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to build 350 more tunnels worth
₹1 lakh crore
WORLD
Zelensky to join G7 at Hiroshima summit as leaders prepare to unveil new Russia
sanctions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Japan to attend G7 Summit.
UK announces ban on Russian diamonds & metals ahead of G7 meeting in Japan.
US Supreme Court ruled that internet companies cannot be held accountable for the
content posted on their sites.
SPORTS
Women’s Hockey: Australia defeats India 4-2 in first of five-match series
Tennis: Rafael Nadal withdraws from French Open due to injury
May 20, 2023

INDIA
Ghaziabad-Aligarh Expressway has achieved a new milestone by successfully laying
Bituminous Concrete across 100 lane kilometers in 100 hours.
Telangana Home Minister launches ‘SAHAS’ an initiative towards making workplaces
safer for women.
Operation Karuna: INS Gharial delivers medical supplies for people of cyclone-hit
Myanmar.
Centre promulgates ordinance to constitute National Capital Civil Services Authority.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka for second
term.
PM Modi attends G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan and holds bilateral meetings with
top leaders of Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Finance Ministry says no Tax Collection at Source (TCS) on overseas payments via
debit or credit cards up to Rs 7 lakh per year.
Adani-Hindenberg case: Expert panel appointed by the Supreme Court says SEBI
needs to develop proper enforcement policy
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to withdraw ₹2,000 denomination banknotes
from circulation.
WORLD
Japan expresses interest in joining India’s Unified Payments Interface system.
U.S. President Joe Biden told G-7 leaders that the country will support providing
advanced warplanes including F-16s to Ukraine.
Indian Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Force Collaborate for Maiden Afloat Training of
Saudi Cadet.
SPORTS
World Table Tennis Championships 2023: Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra to lead Indian
campaign in South Africa.
Italian Open: Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan to take on Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina in
summit clash.
May 20, 2023

INDIA
Ghaziabad-Aligarh Expressway has achieved a new milestone by successfully laying
Bituminous Concrete across 100 lane kilometers in 100 hours.
Telangana Home Minister launches ‘SAHAS’ an initiative towards making workplaces
safer for women.
Operation Karuna: INS Gharial delivers medical supplies for people of cyclone-hit
Myanmar.
Centre promulgates ordinance to constitute National Capital Civil Services Authority.
Congress leader Siddaramaiah sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka for second
term.
PM Modi attends G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan and holds bilateral meetings with
top leaders of Japan, South Korea and Vietnam.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Finance Ministry says no Tax Collection at Source (TCS) on overseas payments via
debit or credit cards up to Rs 7 lakh per year.
Adani-Hindenberg case: Expert panel appointed by the Supreme Court says SEBI
needs to develop proper enforcement policy
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to withdraw ₹2,000 denomination banknotes
from circulation.
WORLD
Japan expresses interest in joining India’s Unified Payments Interface system.
U.S. President Joe Biden told G-7 leaders that the country will support providing
advanced warplanes including F-16s to Ukraine.
Indian Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Force Collaborate for Maiden Afloat Training of
Saudi Cadet.
SPORTS
World Table Tennis Championships 2023: Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra to lead Indian
campaign in South Africa.
Italian Open: Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan to take on Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina in
summit clash.
May 21, 2023

INDIA
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Jhelum
Rajbagh Riverfront in Srinagar.
100 e-buses to start operations in Jammu from August this year under the Smart
Urban e-Mobility Project.
Madhya Pradesh becomes first state to provide air travel for pilgrims under
Mukhyamantri Teerthdarshan Yojana.
Three more cheetahs at Madhya Pradesh Kuno National Park released into the wild.
The 3rd Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting
will begin in Mumbai.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has added 1.39 crore members
during the financial year 2022-23.
LinkedIn’s India business has almost quadrupled in size over the last five years
₹2,000 note will continue to be legal tender post-Sept 30, Government clarifies
WORLD
Arab League Summit in Jeddah Adopts ‘Jeddah Declaration’, emphasizes unity and
addressing regional challenges.
Panel discussion on ‘Role of G20 in creating global economic stability’ held at Dubai.
2025 to be observed as ‘Special tourism year’ in Nepal.
Mahatma Gandhi Scholarships awarded to 300 students across Sri Lanka.
More than 36,000 people have now been forced from their homes by deadly floods in
northeast Italy.
SPORTS
Italian Open: Elena Rybakina clinches women’s singles title; Holger Rune and Daniil
Medvedev to clash for Men’s Singles final.
India win 3 gold and a bronze medal in Archery World Cup Stage 2 at Shanghai.
May 22, 2023
INDIA
Union Minister Smriti Irani to inaugurate women labourers convention in Kerala.
Vice President Dhankhar to inaugurate Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Kerala
Legislative Assembly building in Thiruvananthapuram.
Yoga Mahotsav to be held on May 27 in Secunderabad to mark 25 days countdown to
International Yoga Day.
Third G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting to begin today at Srinagar in Jammu and
Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 76th Session of the World Health
Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland via video message.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
RBI clarifies, 10 notes of Rs 2000 can be exchanged at a time from bank without
obtaining any requisition slip.
Canara Bank emerged as the largest buyer from GeM portal among the state-owned
lenders in 2022-23.
Public sector banks’ total profit crosses Rs 1 trillion-mark in 2022-23.
Uttar Pradesh surpasses Maharashtra in sugar production this season at 107.29 lakh
tonnes.
WORLD
Greece’s Ruling Conservatives win parliamentary election but fall short of majority to
form a government.
China says U.S. semiconductor giant Micron failed national security review.
INS TARKASH and INS SUBHADRA Arrive in Saudi Arabia to participate in AL-MOHED
AL-HINDI 2023 Naval Exercise.
SPORTS
Indian athlete Shaili Singh bags bronze medal at Golden Grand Prix 2023 athletics
meet in Japan.
Italian Open: Daniil Medvedev claims first clay-court title of his career after beating
Denmark’s Holger Rune in final.
May 23, 2023
INDIA
Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), Vandalur in Chennai gets two new sloth bears.
Indian Navy’s submarine INS Sindhuratna underwent a major upgrade in Russia and
reached Mumbai after sailing for 97 days.
Cough syrups exporters will have to undertake testing of their products at specified
government laboratories from June 1.
Education Ministry holds meet on PARAKH aimed at unifying 60 school Boards.
Union Health Ministry issues a public notice for stricter implementation of the Act
which prohibits manufacture, sale and advertisements of e-cigarettes.
Union Higher Education Ministry has discontinued the ‘Shiksha Puraskar’ and
‘Hinditar Bhashi Hindi Lekhak Puraskar’ awards.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Banks across the country to start accepting 2,000-rupee notes for exchange.
TCS-led consortium gets BSNL 4G order worth ₹15,000 crore.
Centre to provide 30 per cent financial support for promotion of Green Shipping.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) pushes for stronger governance at public sector
banks.
ONDC is set to launch an Academy to train network partners.
WORLD
EU imposes USD 1.3 billion fine on Meta, orders to stop sending data to U.S.
U.S. signs security pact with Papua New Guinea amid competition with China
First Arab female astronaut reaches the International Space Station (ISS).
Bird flu: Brazil declares animal health emergency after several cases found.
SPORTS
Chennai to host Squash World Cup in June.
Virat Kohli crosses 600-run mark in a single IPL season for third time.
May 24, 2023
INDIA
India’s Ministry of Railways in India handed over 20 broad- gauge locomotives to
Bangladesh.
A cheetah cub died at the Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.
A judicial panel probing the killing of six people on the Assam-Meghalaya boundary
in November 2022 is scheduled to resume.
Tamil Nadu extends ban on manufacturing, sale of tobacco-containing chewable
food products.
Guru Arjan Dev Ji Shaheedi Diwas is observed to commemorate the martyrdom of
Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Guru of Sikhism.
Centre to release first draft of Digital India Act in early June; more concrete version of
the law by December.
Denmark to help Rajasthan in managing water sector, to replicate its waste water
management system.
Parliamentary Affairs Ministry is set to organize a National Workshop on the National
e-Vidhan Application, NeVA in New Delhi.
Goa and Uttarakhand signed MoU to promote tourism between the states as part of
the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
More than 90% of the funds allocated under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) have
been utilised till now, while 73% of the projects have been completed.
No Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) is required for a player if the net winning does not
exceed Rs 100 in Online Gaming.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das: GDP growth for FY23 could top 7 per cent.
WORLD
Russia and China sign economic pacts despite Western criticism.
India and Australia sign migration pact; to open new consulate in Brisbane.
Bulgarian writer and translator win International Booker Prize for darkly comic
memory novel.
Australia offers strong support for India’s permanent membership to UN Security
Council.
SPORTS
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra became the World No. 1 for the first time in his
career.
Carlos Alcaraz replaced Novak Djokovic at the No. 1 spot in the latest ATP rankings.
May 25, 2023
INDIA
U.T. Khader, 54, was unanimously elected Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative
Assembly, becomes the first Muslim to hold the post in Karnataka.
INSV Tarini entered Goa harbour after successfully completing a 17,000 NM trans-
ocean inter-continental voyage after 188 days.
India is set to scale up its supercomputing prowess and install an 18-petaflop system.
Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya initiated the second phase of talks to
resolve boundary disputes.
FSSAI to conduct nationwide surveillance of milk and milk products.
PM Modi flags off Delhi-Dehradun Vande Bharat Express.
Arunachal Pradesh govt to set up Institute for Transforming Arunachal with NITI
Aayog.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) tightens norms for offshore funds.
BSE and NSE put the securities of Adani Enterprises under the short-term ASM
framework.
India and Australia aim to conclude comprehensive trade deal by end of 2023.
SEBI approves HDFC Bank as new owner of HDFC AMC.
WORLD
Florida Governor, Republican Ron DeSantis launches his US presidential campaign.
UK Visa Policy Update: New Immigration Rule restricts Indians from bringing
dependents.
China appoints new envoy to U.S. ,filling a post that unusually remained vacant for
close to five months.
Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov and translator Angela Rodel won the
International Booker Prize for Time Shelter.
SPORTS
Indian Junior hockey team defeats Chinese Taipei 18-0 at Men’s Asia Cup 2023.
P V Sindhu defeats Aya Ohori to enter Malaysia Masters quarterfinals.
Indian Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar wins gold and Jeswin Aldrin takes silver at
International Jumping Meeting in Greece
May 26, 2023
INDIA
Indian Navy and ISRO release training plan for Gaganyaan crew module.
Prime Minister Modi to launch special ₹75 coin to mark inauguration of new
Parliament.
Kerala becomes India’s first e-governed state, CM Pinarayi Vijayan announces.
Centre forms Steering committee to review, monitor Cheetah translocation project to
Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurates International conference on India
pharma, India medical device
Two more cheetah cubs die at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Government is trying to link TCS on overseas spends to local TDS: CEA.
The government notified an increase in tax exemption limit for leave encashment
benefits received by salaried employees at retirement from ₹3 lakh to ₹25 lakh.
Centre further raises 2023 wheat production estimate to 112.74 mt.
Bank of Maharashtra tops PSU lenders chart in profit and loan growth in FY23.
Axis Bank launches Sarathi platform for easy PoS onboarding of merchants.
WORLD
Japan adopts new sanctions on Russia; criticises its deal to deploy nuclear weapons
in Belarus
Tina Turner, ‘Queen of rock ‘n’ roll’ dies at 83.
Russia to shut Swedish consulate and expel diplomats
South Korea launched a commercial-grade satellite for the first time using a
domestically produced space rocket- Nuri.
SPORTS
Malaysia Masters: PV Sindhu, HS Prannoy enter singles Semi-Finals.
Junior Asia Cup Hockey 2023: India to face Pakistan after two wins.
May 27, 2023

INDIA
Next Census to only count Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain as
options.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has kept its forecast of normal rainfall from
June-September this year.
India, Nepal may sign pacts on energy and water during Prime Minister Prachanda’s
visit to India.
Study: Darjeeling to join the list of most polluted cities of West Bengal.
New Chief Justices were appointed to Madras and Bombay High Courts.
Prime Minister Modi to Chair 8th governing council meeting of Niti Aayog.
Mansukh Mandaviya unveils National Medical Device Policy 2023 and launches
another pharma related schemes.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
SEBI will soon introduce a new light-touch regulatory framework for passively
managed mutual funds.
RBI informs Delhi HC that withdrawal of Rs 2,000 denomination bank notes was a
currency management exercise.
Karnataka Bank appoints Srikrishnan Harihara Sarma as MD and CEO.
RBI sanctions merger of Maratha Co-op Bank with Cosmos Co-op Bank.
India moves WTO dispute panel over Information and communication technologies
(ICT) import duties.
WORLD
Saudi Arabia and Canada to restore full diplomatic ties and appoint new
ambassadors, bringing an end to a dispute from 2018.
Scientists find 5,000 new species in the Pacific Ocean in a region known as the
Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), warn of mining risk.
Cairo masterplan threatens ancient City of the Dead, the Unesco World Heritage Site.
SPORTS
Malaysia Masters Super 500: P V Sindhu and Prannoy move into the semifinals;
Srikanth knocked out.
India loses their opening match against Belgium in European leg of FIH Pro League.
IPL 2023 Final: Gujarat Titans to face Chennai Super Kings.
May 28, 2023
INDIA
23 MLAs and AICC secretary N.S. Boseraju took oath as Ministers in Karnataka led by
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Himachal Pradesh government urges Centre to direct PFRDA to return ₹9,242.6 crore
deposited under NPS.
ISRO commenced countdown for the launch of a navigation satellite on board a GSLV
rocket in Sriharikota.
High Court dismisses plea challenging decision over ₹2,000 banknote exchange
India’s Prime Minister inaugurated the new parliament building amid a boycott of at
least 20 opposition parties.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
GDP expected to grow 6-6.5 per cent in FY24: Bank of Baroda Eco Research
PM Modi chairs NITI Aayog’s Governing Council meeting in New Delhi.
WORLD
Ukrainian drones attack Russian oil pipeline stations; Ukraine asks Germany for long-
range missiles.
Iraq unveils USD 17-bn project linking Europe, West Asia
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic quits as head of ruling party.
Twitter decides to leave European Union’s disinformation code
SPORTS
National record-holder Jyothi Yarraji wins women’s 100m hurdles gold at the
Kurpfalz Gala athletics meet.
Indian athlete Parul Chaudhary bags 3000m steeplechase bronze in the USATF Los
Angeles Grand Prix athletics meet.
Indian women’s hockey team posts 2-1 win over Australia-A.
May 29, 2023
INDIA
ISRO launches its next-generation navigational satellite – NVS-1 from Sriharikota.
Praveen Kumar Srivastava was sworn in as Central Vigilance Commissioner.
Prime Minister Modi to flag off Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express in
Assam.
India shows a reduction in stunting and recorded 1.6 crore fewer stunted children
under five years in 2022 than in 2012.
Delhi Police files FIR against protesting wrestlers after detaining Vinesh Phogat,
Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
UPI to account for 90% of retail digital payments by 2026-27: PwC India report.
CBIC issues SoP for scrutiny of GST returns for FY’20 onwards; DGARM to identify
cases.
Report: Microfinance loans grow 21.3% YoY to Rs 3.5 trillion in FY23.
WORLD
75th UN Peacekeepers Day is observed today. “Peace begins with me” is the theme
of the 75th anniversary of Peacekeepers Day.
Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wins Presidential election in runoff vote.
Justine Triet becomes only the third woman to win Palme d’Or at Cannes.
Somalia to introduce direct universal suffrage in 2024
SPORTS
Men’s Junior Asia Cup Hockey: Defending champions India defeats Thailand 17-0 in
final Pool A match in Oman.
Hockey: India beat Japan 3-1 in Men’s Junior Asia Cup at Salalah in Oman.
IPL 2023: Final match between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans to be played
in Ahmedabad
H.S. Prannoy, won his maiden BWF World Tour title as he clinched the Malaysian
Open.
May 30, 2023

INDIA
Tamil Nadu and Japanese firms sign six MoUs worth ₹818 crores, in the presence of
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off northeast region’s first Vande Bharat
Express, to connect Guwahati in Assam with New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully placed the NVS-01
navigation satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
President Droupadi Murmu will visit Suriname and Serbia from June 4 to 9.
UN peacekeeping mission: India to train women personnel from South East Asia later
this year.
Girish Chandra Murmu, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), has
been re-elected as the External Auditor of WHO.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S. Somanath has said that
Chandrayaan-3 will be launched in July.
Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Ltd (NLCIL) inked a MoU with Water and Power
Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) for pumped storage, reservoir storage, and run-of-
river hydropower projects.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Inflation risks to moderate, growth momentum to sustain: RBI annual report.
Razorpay launches ‘Turbo UPI’ payment service; allows customers of online
merchants to make UPI payments directly.
ADB approves USD 350 million in budgetary support to Sri Lanka.
WORLD
New anti-LGBTQ law in Uganda imposes capital punishment; including the death
penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”.
China prepares to send its first civilian into space as part of a crewed mission to the
Tiangong space station.
North Korea notified Japan that it plans to launch a satellite in coming days.
SPORTS
Chennai Super Kings win IPL 2023 beating defending champions Gujarat Titans by 5
wickets.
French Open: Alcaraz, Djokovic advance with straight-set wins.
Triple jumper T. Selva Prabhu broke Arpinder Singh’s 12-year-old National junior
record
MS Dhoni becomes first Indian with 300 dismissals in T20s.
May 31, 2023
INDIA
35 lakh Class 10 students fail or drop out, unable to make it to Class 11: Ministry of
Education.
Government drops plans to host SCO summit in Delhi; Summit will now be in virtual
format.
Fresh excavation reveals pre-Mauryan era signs in Delhi’s Purana Qila site.
Tele-Law programme: 40 lakh beneficiaries empowered with pre-litigation advice.
Maharashtra farmers to get Rs 12,000 annually under ‘Kisan Samman Nidhi’.
Applications for PLI 2.0 for IT hardware to be open from June 1.
ECONOMY & CORPORATE
Reserve Bank of India: India’s growth momentum likely to sustain in FY24.
Investments in P-notes hits 4-month high of ₹95,911 crores.
ADB launches country partnership strategy for climate-resilient growth.
WORLD
North Korea’s launch of 1st spy satellite fails; the rocket carrying the satellite crashed
into waters off the Korean Peninsula’s western coast.
A new Jupiter-size exoplanet with the highest density known and mass 13 times than
that of Jupiter, has been discovered.
Chinese mission to its Tiangong space station with first civilian reaches space.
World No Tobacco Day 2023 is observed on May 31.
SPORTS
Indian chess player Gukesh defeats Magnus Carlsen in 97 moves in the Norway
Chess blitz tournament.
CSK joins Mumbai Indians as the most successful franchise.
National record-holder Jyothi Yarraji won the women’s 100m hurdles gold in 13.08s
in the T-Meeting at Tilburg in the Netherlands.
May 1, 2023
EU’s Fit for 55 Package
The EU has introduced a comprehensive climate action plan called the Fit for 55 package
to minimize greenhouse gas emissions that plays a major role in the global warming and
climate change.
What is the Fit for 55 package?
The Fit for 55 package is a collection of proposals aimed at updating and enhancing
existing EU legislation while introducing new initiatives to align EU policies with the
climate objectives agreed upon by the Council and the European Parliament. It includes a
range of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across various sectors.
The goal of the Fit for 55 package
The main objective of the Fit for 55 package is to align EU legislation with the EU’s
objective of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. This
ambitious goal is in line with the Paris Agreement’s long-term target of limiting global
temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Elements of the Fit for 55 Package:
The EU emissions trading system
The EU emissions trading system is a carbon market based on a cap-and-trade system of
emission allowances for energy-intensive industries and the power generation sector. It
aims to reduce emissions in a cost-effective manner while providing incentives for
companies to invest in cleaner technologies. Since its introduction in 2005, the EU
emissions trading system has contributed significantly to reducing emissions, with a 41%
decrease recorded.
Social Climate Fund
The social climate fund proposal aims to address the social and distributional impact of
the new emissions trading system for buildings and road transport. It proposes to provide
support measures and investments for vulnerable households, micro-enterprises, and
transport users. The social climate fund proposal has a budget of up to €65 billion in
external assigned revenues.
The carbon border adjustment mechanism
The carbon border adjustment mechanism is designed to ensure that the EU’s emissions
reduction efforts are not offset by increasing emissions outside its borders through the
relocation of production to non-EU countries or through increased imports of carbon-
intensive products. It targets imports of products in carbon-intensive industries and aims
to provide a level playing field for EU companies while promoting global climate action.
The effort sharing regulation
The effort sharing regulation covers sectors that are not included in the EU emissions
trading system or the regulation on land use, land use change and forestry. These sectors
include road and domestic maritime transport, buildings, agriculture, waste, and small
industries. The EU has set a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of at least 40%
compared to 2005 levels for these sectors.
The land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) regulation
The LULUCF regulation sets a binding commitment for the EU to reduce emissions and
increase removals in the land use and forestry sectors. The EU has set an increased target
for net removals of greenhouse gases from land use, land use change and forestry for
2030, with a goal of at least 310 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
New rules on methane emissions reduction in the energy sector
The EU has proposed new rules on methane emissions reduction in the energy sector to
track and reduce methane emissions, which have a significant impact on the climate, as
methane is a potent greenhouse gas.
The ReFuelEU Aviation proposal
The ReFuelEU Aviation proposal aims to reduce the environmental impact of the aviation
sector by increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuels, such as advanced biofuels and
electrofuels.
IFFCO’s Liquid Nano Di-Ammonia Phosphate (DAP)
On April 26th, 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched IFFCO’s liquid nano Di-
Ammonia Phosphate (DAP), marking an important step towards making India self-reliant
in the field of fertilizers. The Nano DAP, which has been manufactured by the cooperative
major IFFCO, has been notified by the Centre in the Fertilizer Control Order, which
regulates the sale, pricing, and distribution of fertilizers in India.
The Significance of the Launch of Nano DAP
The launch of Nano DAP is expected to revolutionize the Indian agriculture industry and
make the country self-reliant in the production of fertilizers. It is expected to boost India’s
food grain production, ensuring food security and self-reliance. It will also help India
achieve the goal of minimizing the use of granular DAP by about 90 lakh metric tons.
IFFCO’s Contribution to Fertilizer Production in India
Of the total fertilizer production of 384 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) in India, 132 LMT has
been contributed by the cooperative societies, out of which 90 LMT has been produced by
IFFCO.
In May 2021, IFFCO had launched Nano Urea, which has resulted in a decrease of seven
lakh metric tonnes of urea import in the country in 2021-22. Till March this year, 6.3 crore
bottles of Nano Urea have been manufactured.
About IFFCO
IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited) is a cooperative society that
operates in multiple states in India. The ownership of IFFCO is solely in the hands of
Cooperative Societies of India. The primary business of IFFCO is to manufacture and sell
fertilizers. It was established in 1967 and began with only 57 member cooperatives. Today,
it is considered the world’s largest cooperative society in terms of turnover on GDP per
capita (according to World Cooperative Monitor 2021) and has over 35,000 member
cooperatives that serve more than 50 million farmers in India.
IFFCO is the largest manufacturer of fertilizers in India and has a market share of
approximately 19% in urea and around 31% in complex fertilizers (in P2O5 terms). As of
2017, the cooperative was ranked 66th on the Fortune India 500 list of the country’s
largest corporations. Its net worth was estimated to be $2.6 billion as of March 2021.
Quasar and Galactic Collisions
Quasars are some of the brightest and most energetic celestial objects in the known
universe, discovered in the 1950s. Their origins remain a mystery, but a recent study by
the Universities of Sheffield and Hertfordshire sheds new light on the source of quasars.
Understanding Quasars and Active Galactic Nuclei
Quasars are a type of active galactic nucleus (AGN), where the core of a galaxy exhibits
much higher brightness than usual. Quasars are home to supermassive black holes, which
pull in mountains of matter, collecting in a glowing-hot accretion disk. Some of this matter
is ejected into deep space as a relativistic jet of plasma, making quasars shine as brightly
as a trillion stars, outshining even the largest galaxies.
Galactic Collisions and Quasar Formation
The key component of ultra-bright AGNs is access to large volumes of gas and stellar
material. Without these, there is nothing to release all the energy as it falls towards the
singularity. Scientists have long speculated that collisions between galaxies could
contribute to quasar formation. Galactic collisions are known to drive gas towards the
center, where it could encounter a black hole and ignite a quasar.
Testing the Hypothesis
The team conducted detailed observations of dozens of galaxies using the Isaac Newton
Telescope in La Palma. The researchers examined 48 galaxies that have quasars and over
100 galaxies that don’t have quasars. They conducted the examination to identify
distinctive deformations in the galaxies that suggest previous interactions with other
galaxies. Their analysis revealed that 65% of the galaxies with quasars demonstrated signs
of collisions, whereas only 22 of the non-active galaxies exhibited similar characteristics.
Therefore, galaxies with quasars are about three times more likely to have gravitationally
interacted with another galaxy.
The Role of Quasars in Shaping the Universe
This research marks a significant step forward in understanding how these monstrous
AGNs work, which could completely reshape a region of space by pushing gas out of the
galactic disk and stalling star formation for billions of years. Future work with the James
Webb Space Telescope will help confirm the role played by galactic collisions and allow us
to better understand the mysteries of quasars.
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is a high-level
advisory body established on July 28, 2000, to provide expert advice and recommendations
on indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the
environment, education, health, and human rights. It serves as a platform for indigenous
peoples to voice their concerns and work together towards a better future.
The Mandate of UNPFII
The mandate of the UNPFII is to raise awareness and promote the integration and
coordination of activities related to indigenous issues within the UN system. In addition, it
readies and distributes data concerning indigenous matters while advocating for and
ensuring the complete implementation of the guidelines set out in the UN Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Forum is a unique space where governments, civil
society organizations, and indigenous peoples can come together to address issues that
affect indigenous peoples worldwide.
22nd Session of the UNPFII
The 22nd session of the UNPFII, which took place from April 17 to 28 this year, centered on
the full inclusion of indigenous people in realizing their socio-economic development and
the preservation of their culture, languages, and environment. A report on the subjects of
“truth, transitional justice, and reconciliation processes” was given during the session.
This report highlighted the need to address the historical injustices committed against
indigenous peoples and to promote transitional justice and reconciliation processes to
ensure that their rights are respected.
Key Topics Covered During the 22nd Session of the UNPFII
Effects of Colonialism and Apartheid: The colonialism and apartheid resulted in
indigenous communities losing their lands and resources. Launching public policies
and combating structural discrimination are some of the steps that need to be taken
to overcome the historic debt to indigenous peoples.
Protecting Indigenous People’s Traditional Knowledge and Genetic Resources:
The legal protection of indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge, cultural
experiences, and genetic resources remains inadequate. This needs to be addressed
to safeguard their rights and ensure that their knowledge and resources are not
exploited without their consent.
The Green Shift and Indigenous Peoples: The green shift cannot happen by
compromising cultures that have kept ecosystems intact. The global community
needs to abandon fossil fuels and reduce emissions while transitioning to alternative
energy sources without placing the burden of this shift on indigenous peoples.
Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity: The importance of indigenous peoples’
traditional knowledge and practices is underscored in the Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework for the Convention on Biological Diversity. This
acknowledgment is essential in protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable
development.
Media and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights: Article 16 of the Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples acknowledges indingeous peoples’ right to establish their
media. Media is essential for providing reliable information, raising awareness, and
inspiring action to address global challenges. Thus, promoting and safeguarding the
media rights of indigenous peoples is crucial for their empowerment and the
promotion of their rights.
FAO’s Report on the Contribution of TASF to healthy Diets for Improved Nutrition and Health
Outcomes
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently released a report titled
“Contribution of terrestrial animal source food to healthy diets for improved nutrition and
health outcomes.” This report sheds light on the importance of animal food products such
as meat, eggs, and milk in achieving global nutrition targets.
Global Nutrition Targets and the Role of TASF
The world is not on track to achieve the nutrition targets set by the World Health Assembly
and UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals. However, terrestrial animal source
food (TASF) can help achieve milestones related to reducing stunting and wasting among
children under five years of age. Moreover, TASF can help address various health issues
like low birth weight, anemia in women of reproductive age, overweight among children
under five years of age, and obesity in adults.
Nutrients in TASF
TASF is a rich source of macro-nutrients like protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
Consumption of TASF can address deficiencies in iron and vitamin A, which are common in
children and pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, TASF is a
source of micro-nutrients.
Regional Disparities in TASF Consumption
Eastern Africa and Middle Africa consume the lowest levels of TASF in the continent. This
highlights the need to improve access and consumption of TASF in these regions.
Plant-Based and Cell-Cultured Alternatives to TASF
While plant-based food and cell-cultured meat are gaining popularity, they cannot replace
TASF in terms of nutritional composition. A comprehensive analysis of the benefits and
risks of consuming animal-source foods based on data and evidence from over 500
scientific papers and 250 policy documents confirms the nutritional significance of TASF.
Cell-Based Meat and Future Possibilities
Cell-based meat is an emerging technology that can provide an alternative source of
animal protein. The technology uses biotechnology, tissue engineering, molecular biology,
and synthetic processes to produce meat from animal cells. While this technology has
shown potential, it is not yet widely available or affordable for mass production.
National Medical Devices Policy, 2023
India’s dependence on imported medical devices has been a growing concern in recent
years, with the majority of medical devices sold in India being imported from foreign
countries. The high import dependence has been a significant barrier to the development
of the indigenous medical devices industry in India. The National Medical Devices Policy,
2023 seeks to address this issue.
Current Status of Medical Device Market in India
According to industry estimates, 80-85% of medical devices currently sold in India are
imported, mainly from the United States, Germany, Japan, China, and Israel. Indian
manufacturers have primarily focused on producing low-cost and low-tech products such
as consumables and disposables, leaving high-end devices to foreign companies. India’s
current market share in the medical device category is just 1.5% of the global space, which
is significantly lower than the country’s potential.
Future Goals of the Indian Government for the Medical Device Industry
The Indian government aims to reduce the dependence on imported medical devices to
nearly 30% in the next couple of years. It has set a goal of achieving a 10-12% global
market share for India’s medical device industry in the next 25 years. To achieve these
goals, the government has launched several initiatives, including changes to the Medical
Devices Rules in 2020, promoting domestic manufacturing of high-end medical devices,
and the National Medical Devices Policy.
Initiatives to Promote Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices
In 2020, the Indian government announced changes to the Medical Devices Rules to
strengthen the regulatory framework and improve patient safety. The changes were
triggered by the revelation of faulty hip implants marketed by Johnson & Johnson. Under
the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the government has approved 26 projects
to promote domestic manufacturing of high-end medical devices such as Linear
Accelerator, MRI Scan, CT-Scan, Mammogram, C-Arm, MRI Coils, high-end X-ray tubes, etc.
The government’s immediate short-term goal is to make the medical devices sector a $50
billion industry by 2030.
National Medical Devices Policy
The National Medical Devices Policy aims to create a conducive ecosystem for the medical
devices industry in India. The policy promotes research and development, availability of
skilled manpower, and learning from the best global practices of manufacturing. It
establishes Centres of Excellence in academic and research institutions and promotes
innovation hubs to encourage research and development. The policy supports dedicated
multidisciplinary courses in existing institutions to ensure the availability of skilled
manpower. Furthermore, the policy initiates studies and projects to learn the best global
practices of manufacturing and adopt globally successful models in India.
Mahila Samman Saving Certificate
The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate (MSSC) is a small savings scheme designed
exclusively for women in India. The scheme was launched on April 1, 2023, as a part of
observing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, which is a celebration of India’s 75th year of
Independence. The initiative was announced during the Union Budget in February 2023
and was opened by the Union Minister, Smriti Irani.
Tenure, deposit limits, and interest rate
Women can open an MSSC account for a tenure of two years and deposit up to 2 lakh
rupees. The interest rate on the scheme is 7.5% per annum, which is higher than other
small savings schemes. Interest is calculated quarterly and credited to the account.
Withdrawal provision
The account holder gets the provision to withdraw 40% of the amount deposited in the
account one year after the opening of the account. This feature of the scheme provides
flexibility to the account holder to use the funds as per their requirement.
Minimum and maximum deposit limits
The minimum amount to be deposited is 1000 rupees, while the maximum is 2 lakhs
rupees. However, an individual may open an unlimited number of accounts, subject to the
maximum deposit limit, and a three-month period must elapse between the one account
and the opening of another.
Empowering women financially
The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate aims to encourage women to avail the benefits of
interest on their savings and empower them financially. The scheme is backed by the
Union Government, and thus, there is no credit risk involved. Women can also open a
second savings account under this scheme, but only after three months of the opening of
the first account.
NITI Aayog’s “Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India” Report
NITI Aayog, the Indian government’s policy think-tank, recently released a report titled
“Promoting Millets in Diets: Best Practices across States/UTs of India.” The report
highlights the good and innovative practices adopted by state governments and
organizations in various aspects of the millet value-chain, with a particular focus on
production, processing, and consumption.
Themes Covered in the Report
The report is divided into three themes, including State Missions and initiatives to
promote millets, Inclusion of millets in ICDS, and Research and development and use of
technology for innovative practices. The report provides a set of good and innovative
practices that have been adopted by state governments and organizations across these
themes.
State Missions and Initiatives to Promote Millets
The report highlights various missions, programs, and initiatives adopted by different
States/UTs to boost production and consumption of millets. Odisha Millet Mission,
launched in 2017, has been the flag bearer in this regard, as it simultaneously focuses on
production, processing, consumption, marketing, and inclusion of millets in government
schemes. There are additional noteworthy millet initiatives, including the Comprehensive
Revival of Millet Cultivation by Tribals in Andhra Pradesh, the Chhattisgarh Millet Mission,
and the Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana of Haryana.
Millet Production in India
India produces all nine commonly known traditional millets, including Sorghum, Pearl
Millet, Finger Millet, Foxtail Millet, Proso Millet, Little Millet, Barnyard Millet, Browntop
Millet, and Kodo Millet. Millets are highly secure crops for small farmers due to their ability
to withstand climatic changes, including hot and dry conditions.
Reasons for the Decline in Millet Cultivation
The cultivation of different types of millets in India has been diminishing due to various
factors. The emphasis on rice and wheat over millet farming and the lack of appropriate
measures for promoting millets have resulted in discouraging millet farmers. Additionally,
the lower profit margins associated with millet production compared to other crops have
also played a role in this decrease. Moreover, the crops’ relatively shorter shelf life raises
issues related to storage and increases the likelihood of spoilage. Changes in lifestyle and
consumer tastes, coupled with the unavailability of ready-to-eat millets, have further
contributed to lower demand.
Purpose of the Report
The report serves as a guiding repository to revive and mainstream millets in our diets. It
highlights the best practices adopted by state governments and organizations across
India, which can be replicated to promote millets’ production, processing, and
consumption. The report is an essential step towards reviving the lost glory of millets, and
it is hoped that it will contribute to a more sustainable and healthy food system in India.
Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI)
Since its launch on December 25, 2021, the James Webb Telescope has been offering
scientists unprecedented views into the universe beyond Earth. This cutting-edge
telescope has 17 observing modes, with the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) being one of
its most vital components. However, on April 26, officials observed a sensor glitch in the
MIRI’s Medium Resolution Spectroscopy (MRS) mode during routine performance
monitoring and calibration.
Discrepancy in Data Found
NASA mission officials found that the MRS mode was receiving less sensor throughput
than the expected amount of light, particularly at the longest wavelengths. However, they
quickly identified that there was no risk to MIRI imaging and the instrument as a whole.
While the MRS mode was affected, all other observation modes within MIRI and each of
Webb’s other scientific instruments remained unaffected. The MIRI observations can be
continued as planned while gathering all relevant ground test and flight data to fully
assess the MRS performance.
Investigation and Possible Mitigation Strategies
At present, NASA and its associates are examining the fault to recognize potential risks
and seek solutions that may enhance the performance. A feasible approach to reduce the
impact could be to prolong the exposures slightly at the affected wavelengths, which
would augment the signal-to-noise ratio.
MIRI: Capable of Detecting Distant Objects
The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) consists of a camera and a spectrograph that enable it
to detect light in the mid-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, which has
longer wavelengths than those visible to the human eye. Its detection range spans from 5
to 28 microns, and its highly sensitive detectors can identify the redshifted light of faraway
galaxies, newly forming stars, and barely visible comets, as well as objects located in the
Kuiper Belt. The MIRI’s medium-resolution spectroscopy provides new physical details of
the distant objects it observes.
US Legal Debt Ceiling
As the United States faces a mounting national debt, discussions surrounding the debt
ceiling have become increasingly common. The debt ceiling is a legal limit on the amount
of money that the US government can borrow to finance its operations.
What is the Debt Ceiling?
The debt ceiling is a statutory limit on the amount of money that the US government can
borrow. It was first established in 1917 as part of the Second Liberty Bond Act, which was
enacted to finance the US involvement in World War I. Essentially, the debt ceiling is a self-
imposed limit on the amount of debt that the government can accumulate. Since it was
introduced, the US debt has been increased at least 90 times in the 20th century alone.
Every president since Herbert Hoover has raised the national debt.
Current Debt Ceiling and Its Raise
The current debt ceiling of the United States is $31 trillion. Joe Biden raised the debt
ceiling to its current level in 2021. The debt ceiling has been raised numerous times
throughout history, with the most recent increase occurring in 2019. A bill as passed
recently to increase the debt limit by 1.5 trillion USD in exchange for steep cuts.
Implications of Hitting the Debt Ceiling
If the US hits the debt ceiling, the government may not be able to legally borrow money.
To avoid defaulting on its obligations, the government has historically deployed
“extraordinary measures,” which are essentially accounting maneuvers. These measures
have been used at least 16 times since their inception.
If the US were to default on its debt, investors would lose confidence in the government’s
ability to pay its bonds. Washington’s credit rating could also take a hit. The failure to
meet the government’s obligations would cause irreparable harm to the US economy, the
livelihoods of all Americans, and global financial stability.
Company Limited by Guarantee
The YREF, a company limited by guarantee, received a subsidy of Rs 2 crore through the
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). The organization is purportedly operated by
Sanjay Prakash Rai Sherpuria, who was detained on charges of deceiving individuals and
obtaining funds by falsely presenting his alleged connections within the government.
About Company Limited by Guarantee
A company limited by guarantee is a type of company owned by a group of individuals
who pledge to pay a certain amount if the company is wound up. In this type of company,
the liability of the members is limited to the amount they have pledged to pay. This means
that if the company becomes insolvent or is closed down, the members are only liable to
pay the amount they pledged and nothing more. This type of company is commonly used
for non-profit and charitable organizations where any profits earned are reinvested into
the business.
Not for Profit or Charitable Company
A company limited by guarantee is referred to as a ‘not for profit’ or ‘charitable company.’
This is because its purpose is to serve a social cause and not to generate profits for the
members. The company’s primary objective is to serve a particular cause, such as
education, healthcare, or social welfare, and any profits earned are reinvested into the
business. It often enjoys certain tax benefits and exemptions from certain regulations.
Members as Guarantors
In a company limited by guarantee, the members act as guarantors. This means that they
pledge to pay a certain amount in the event of the company being wound up or becoming
insolvent. However, the members do not own any shares in the company, and they are not
entitled to any profits or dividends.
Understanding Youth Rural Entrepreneur Foundation (YREF) and BMF Initiative
Youth Rural Entrepreneur Foundation (YREF) is an organization that aims to promote
entrepreneurship among rural youth in India. The organization provides training and
financial assistance to young people who want to start their own businesses. YREF runs
several programs, including the Breed Multiplication Farm (BMF) initiative.
The Breed Multiplication Farm (BMF) program aims to provide farmers with heifers of
cattle and buffalo breeds that have high genetic value. This program was granted financial
aid in the form of a Rs 2 crore subsidy that was authorized by the Union Ministry of
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
Ranajit Guha and the Subaltern School
Ranajit Guha was a historian who revolutionized the study of South Asian history through
the Subaltern School. Guha passed away in May at his residence in Vienna Woods, Austria.
His work focused on understanding the voices of underclasses in South Asian society, and
his approach challenged the traditional narratives of Indian history.
Challenging Traditional Narratives of Indian History
According to Guha, the conventional historical accounts about India were extremely
inadequate in exploring the intricacies of its past. These narratives were either shaped by
colonial perspectives or were influenced by the agendas of the ruling classes, which were
themselves a product of colonial frameworks. Guha observed that these narratives
ignored the voices of the marginalized and oppressed sections of society. He asserted that
subordination could only be comprehended in relation to dominance, which was the other
essential element in the binary equation.
The Birth of the Subaltern School
Guha’s work focused on studying peasant insurgency in colonial India from the
perspective of the peasant. Through his research and observations, Ranajit Guha enabled
peasant insurgents to establish their own political agency, rather than relying on the
support of the local elites. Guha and his colleagues, such as Gayatri Spivak and Dipesh
Chakrabarty, coined the term “subaltern” to describe these underclasses. The Subaltern
School is a post-colonial, post-Marxist school of historical study that focuses on the voices
of underclasses in South Asian society.
Criticism of the Subaltern School
Although the Subaltern School has played a significant role in directing academic research
on post-colonial societies and South Asia for decades since the 1980s, it is not exempt
from criticism. It is criticised for its prioritization of the agency and its ignorance to the
structure’s importance. Vivek Chibber, one critic of the Subaltern School, argues that its
approach to politics tends to be overly romanticized.
Celebration Picasso 1973-2023
On April 8, 2023, the art world will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the passing of
Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. It is a day that marks not only his death but also a celebration
of his remarkable work and artistic legacy that continues to inspire and influence
generations of artists.
The Picasso Celebration 1973-2023: Collaborating Governments and Cultural Institutions
The Picasso Celebration 1973-2023 is an initiative by the French and Spanish governments
to honor the life and work of the artist. Its primary goal is to showcase the career of a
predominantly European artist who has globally disseminated symbols that are
universally recognized, such as Guernica. It is an opportunity to review and understand
the artist’s work and to appreciate his contribution to the art world.
Symposiums and Exhibitions to Celebrate Picasso’s Legacy
As part of the Picasso Celebration 1973-2023, several symposiums and exhibitions are
planned to take place worldwide. The first symposium, ‘Picasso in the 21st century:
Historical and cultural issues,’ will be held at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina
Sofía in Madrid.
The major international symposium, which aims to bring together all the partners,
museum institutions, research centers, and researchers around “Picasso in the 21st
century: Historical and cultural issues,” will be held on December 2023, at UNESCO in
Paris.
The Guggenheim Museum will showcase the exhibition ‘Young Picasso in Paris,’ focusing
on the artist’s early works during his formative years in Paris. The museum will also put
particular emphasis on Picasso’s oil painting, ‘Le Moulin de la Galette.’
The Brooklyn Museum will feature the exhibition ‘It’s Pablo-matic According to Hannah
Gadsby,’ curated by Hannah Gadsby, a comedian and art lover who explores the
relationship between Picasso’s work and contemporary art.
Pablo Picasso: Life and Legacy
Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, Spain, on October 25, 1881. He spent most of his life in
France, where he became a prominent figure in the art world. Picasso’s artistic legacy is
marked by his remarkable contributions to the development of Cubism, his
experimentation with various art forms, and his political activism through his work.
Sara: World's First Robotic Check-in Assistant
The world’s first robotic check-in assistant, named Sara, is the latest addition to Emirates’
services. With the latest innovation, the airlines aim to improve the customer experience
and streamline the check-in process.
Introducing Sara
Sara is a robotic assistant designed to facilitate the check-in process at Emirates’ new City
Check-in and Travel Store located in Dubai’s financial district. Equipped with facial
recognition technology, Sara can match customers’ faces with scanned passports, check
them in, and guide them to the luggage drop area. The robot can also print boarding
passes, making the check-in process more efficient. Future versions of Sara will have arms
to transport luggage.
The Check-in Facility
Passengers have the option to drop off their luggage at their own convenience, from 24
hours prior to the flight up until 4 hours before departure. The check-in process can be
done through self-check-in kiosks or with the assistance of Emirates agents at dedicated
desks. Additionally, the facility provides free access to certain lifestyle amenities located at
the ICD Brookfield Place, as well as discounts and exclusive offers for various restaurants,
gyms, and luxury stores.
Japan’s Basic Plan on Ocean Policy
Japan’s Basic Plan on Ocean Policy was adopted recently by Prime Minister Fumio
Kishida’s Cabinet. This five-year ocean policy seeks to strengthen marine security amid the
growing Chinese assertiveness in the regional seas. It focuses on bolstering the country’s
coast guard’s capability and cooperation with the military, along with accelerating the
development of autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated robots to
enhance surveillance capabilities.
Threats and Challenges
The new policy listed various dangers that Japan’s territorial waters and exclusive
economic zone face, such as frequent violations by Chinese coast guard vessels,
unauthorized marine operations by foreign survey boats, North Korea’s repeated missile
launches, and China and Russia’s increasing joint military exercises. These challenges
have increased the tension in the ocean around Japan.
Strengthening the Coast Guard
The Basic Plan on Ocean Policy places great importance on enhancing the capacity of
Japan’s coast guard. The coast guard frequently faces situations where Chinese coast
guard vessels approach disputed Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea, North
Korean poachers, and suspected spy boats, as well as Russian coast guard vessels near
disputed northern islands. Despite its role as civilian policing at sea and not military
combat, concerns have been raised about the coast guard’s safety in a possible conflict.
The new plan calls for a closer cooperation with the Self Defense Force to address these
concerns.
National Security Strategy and China’s Stance on Taiwan
Japan’s new ocean policy is consistent with the country’s recent national security strategy,
which was approved by Prime Minister Kishida’s administration in December 2022. The
strategy aims to double Japan’s defense budget within five years and boost its military
power with a strike capability. In addition, the policy encourages closer coordination
between the military and the coast guard during emergencies involving Taiwan or other
potential conflicts.
Using Maritime Resources
The Basic Plan on Ocean Policy also calls for Japan to better use maritime resources to
achieve carbon neutrality, including greater use of the exclusive economic zone outside
territorial waters to build offshore wind-power generators. Japan has repeatedly protested
against Chinese research ships’ entry into Japanese waters or the exclusive economic zone
for apparent surveys of undersea deposits and other marine resources. The new ocean
policy recommends the adoption of more proactive approach towards conducting surveys
of the undersea region and exploiting its energy resources.
Jana Shakti Exhibition
To commemorate the 100th episode of the popular radio program “Mann ki Baat” by the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on All India Radio, an exhibition titled ‘Jana Shakti’ was
recently inaugurated at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi. The
exhibition showcases the artworks of twelve notable modern and contemporary Indian
artists, who have contributed to the exhibition by showcasing their artwork on a specific
theme. Renowned artist Anjolie Ela Menon inaugurated the exhibition, which was
attended by various dignitaries.
The Diverse Range of Themes and Mediums on Display
The exhibition was curated by well-known curator Alka Pande, and it presents a variety of
themes such as Water Conservation, Nari Shakti, Awareness on Covid and India; the
World, Swachh Bharat, Environment and Climate Change, Indian Agriculture, Yoga and
Ayurveda, Indian Science and Space, Sports and Fitness, India @ 75 and Amrit kaal, and
Celebrating North-East India. The artists have used a diverse range of mediums, including
paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations, and new media to visually express the
government’s developmental initiatives, which were highlighted by the PM in Mann Ki
Baat.
The Objective of the Exhibition
The primary objective of the Jana Shakti exhibition is to present an engaging and
immersive experience to visitors, offering a distinctive viewpoint on the several themes
inspired by “Mann ki Baat.” Visitors will have the chance to appreciate a diverse range of
creative expressions that express the artists’ unique perspectives on each theme.
Additionally, the exhibition commemorates India’s artistic diversity while also serving as a
platform for artists to showcase their work and viewpoints.
Launch of the 12-Book Series
In addition to the Jana Shakti exhibition, the Ministry of Culture has collaborated with
Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) to launch a 12-book series of comic books. The first book, which
covers different walks of life from different parts of the country, was released at the
exhibition. These books will be printed in English and then translated into 12 Indian
languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, Kannada, Hindi,
Assamese, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Urdu. To connect the stories together and discover all
the themes and stories of Mann ki Baat, a set of fictional characters, who will be constant
across the entire 12-book series, have been created.
Bihan Mela
Bihan Mela is a unique festival celebrated by the Kondh tribe in Odisha’s Nayagarh district
since 2019. Literally meaning “seed festival,” it is a celebration of the indigenous crops
and varieties grown by the farmers in the region.
Participation in the Festival
The Bihan Mela festival is participated by farmers from as many as 40 villages in Dasapalla
block of Nayagarh district. The farmers commence their preparations for the festival right
after reaping their kharif crops, which consist of both hybrid and native kinds of paddy,
millets, maize, and sorghum. The festival is usually held on a designated day in December.
Women at the Helm of the Festival
Women play a crucial role in the Bihan Mela festival. They carefully collect seeds of the
indigenous varieties and store them in earthen pots. These pots are then decorated with
red and white motifs and placed in a bamboo basket. Women carry the baskets on their
head to the village where the fair is being organized, accompanied by men beating drums
and other traditional instruments.
Nirman Initiative
The seed festival was initiated by Nirman, a non-profit organization working with the tribe
on forest rights and agro-ecological farming. It was implemented to support farmers in
reverting back to their conventional farming practices, such as mixed-cropping. These
crops, which are naturally resistant to pests and well-suited for the region’s climate, were
abandoned post the Green Revolution.
Seed Bank to Facilitate Access to Indigenous Seeds
To facilitate access to indigenous seeds, Nirman set up a seed bank in Raisar village in
2019. The bank works on a simple premise: collect and preserve indigenous seeds from
across Kondh villages and lend them out to farmers. Under this initiative, the farmers have
to return double the quantity of seeds or two different seed varieties within the first year
of cultivation. The seed bank now boasts of 62 varieties of paddy, four varieties of millets,
five varieties of pulses, and eight vegetables. The bank has benefitted 750 families so far,
and Nirman plans to open three more seed banks in the region.
Extraction of Oxygen from Lunar Soil
NASA scientists have successfully extracted oxygen from simulated lunar soil in a vacuum
environment. This technology could help establish a long-term human presence on the
Moon and enable future colonization. The ability to extract oxygen from lunar soil is
crucial for providing breathable air and as propellant for transportation and further space
exploration. NASA senior scientist, Aaron Paz, said this technology could produce several
times its own weight in oxygen per year on the lunar surface, allowing for a sustained
human presence and lunar economy. The extraction process was tested using a
carbothermal reactor to heat the lunar soil simulant and then used a high-powered laser
to simulate heat from a solar energy concentrator to melt the lunar soil and extract the
oxygen. The success of this extraction process is a significant step towards building
sustainable human bases on other planets.
Related GK & Current Affairs Points
NASA scientists at Johnson Space Center in Houston have successfully extracted
oxygen from simulated lunar soil in a vacuum environment.
The technology of extracting oxygen from lunar soil could pave the way for
establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon.
It could also enable future colonization of the Moon and even further space
exploration.
The ability to extract oxygen from lunar soil is crucial for providing breathable air for
astronauts on the Moon.
It can also be used as propellant for transportation on the Moon.
The Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) team conducted a test in a
special spherical chamber called the Dirty Thermal Vacuum Chamber to extract
oxygen.
The conditions inside the vacuum chamber were similar to those found on the Moon.
To extract oxygen, the NASA team used a high-powered laser to simulate heat from a
solar energy concentrator to melt the lunar soil.
The CaRD reactor was able to hold pressure to keep gases from escaping while
allowing lunar material to travel in and out of the reaction zone.
This successful extraction of oxygen is a big step towards building sustainable
human bases on other planets.
Who is Geoffrey Hinton? Why he has quit Google?
Geoffrey Hinton is a renowned computer scientist and one of the pioneers of deep
learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence (AI) that involves training artificial neural
networks to learn from data. He is widely considered the “Godfather of AI” and has made
significant contributions to the development of machine learning and neural network
algorithms.
As per the recent reports, Geoffrey Hinton left his position at Google in order to speak out
about the “dangers” of AI, despite playing a significant role in its development. He
expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with AI, such as the potential for
chatbots to spread misinformation and displace jobs. He clarified that his decision to leave
Google was not to criticize the company but to speak freely about his concerns.
Hinton’s work on neural networks has powered many of today’s AI systems, and he has
been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Turing Award in 2018.
His departure from Google and subsequent focus on the risks associated with AI reflects a
growing concern within the tech industry about the potential unintended consequences of
the technology’s development.
GK & Current Affairs Related to this news
Who is Geoffrey Hinton?
Answer: Geoffrey Hinton is a renowned computer scientist and one of the pioneers of
deep learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence.
What is the subfield of artificial intelligence that Hinton is known for?
Answer: Hinton is known for his contributions to the development of deep learning, a
subfield of artificial intelligence that involves training artificial neural networks to learn
from data.
Why did Hinton leave his role at Google?
Answer: Hinton left his role at Google in order to speak out about the “dangers” of the
technology he helped develop, expressing concerns about the potential risks associated
with AI.
What did Hinton’s work on neural networks power?
Answer: Hinton’s work on neural networks powered many of today’s AI systems.
What award was Hinton recognized with in 2018?
Answer: Hinton was recognized with the Turing Award in 2018, which is considered one of
the highest honors in computer science.
Who is Jeff Dean?
Answer: Jeff Dean is the chief scientist at Google. He leads Google’s AI Division.
What is ChatGPT?
Answer: ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot that gained attention in the tech industry last
year.
What are the concerns around the potential use of AI-powered chatbots?
Answer: There are concerns that AI-powered chatbots could spread misinformation and
displace jobs.
Which companies are at the forefront of developing AI tools?
Answer: OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google are among the companies at the forefront of
developing AI tools.
What are some other companies that are working on similar AI technologies?
Answer: IBM, Amazon, Baidu, and Tencent are mentioned as companies working on
similar AI technologies.
May 2, 2023
ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023)
Indian Naval Ships Satpura and Delhi, with Rear Admiral Gurcharan Singh, the Flag Officer
Commanding Eastern Fleet embarked onboard, arrived at Singapore on May 1, 2023, to
participate in the Inaugural ASEAN India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023). This exercise is
scheduled from May 2 to May 8, 2023, and will provide an opportunity for Indian Navy and
ASEAN navies to work together closely and conduct seamless operations in the maritime
domain.
The Harbour Phase of AIME-2023 is scheduled to be held at Changi Naval Base from
May 2 to May 4, 2023. During this phase, participating nations will engage in various
professional and cultural exchanges.
The Sea Phase of AIME-2023 will be conducted from May 7 to May 8, 2023, in the
South China Sea. This phase will include a wide range of naval exercises such as
surface warfare exercises, anti-submarine warfare exercises, and air defense
exercises.
INS Delhi and INS Satpura are a part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet based at
Visakhapatnam.
INS Delhi is India’s first indigenously-built guided missile destroyer, and INS Satpura
is an indigenously-built guided missile stealth frigate.
While the INS Delhi and INS Satpura are at port call in Singapore, they will take part
in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and the International
Maritime Security Conference (IMSC), both hosted by Singapore.
Best Practices in Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023
The social sector is crucial in India and encompasses various components such as
education, health, sanitation, and more, which are significant for human development.
The sector has witnessed several successful interventions by various stakeholders,
showcasing innovative approaches and effective strategies. To document such initiatives
as reference models, NITI Aayog collaborated with UNDP to release the “Best Practices in
Social Sector: A Compendium, 2023”. The aim is to highlight replicable, sustainable, and
impactful models for enhancing grassroots quality of life and serve as a handbook for
future scale-up.
In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Indian independence, 75 case studies
across 14 key social sectors are provided by this compendium.
The compendium’s case studies were obtained from every Indian state and union
territory, as well as from 30 government ministries and departments.
The objective of this exercise is to expand, enhance, and improve the quality of life at
the grassroots level.
The cases identified cover diverse themes such as education, health and nutrition, e-
governance and digitization, agriculture, women’s empowerment, sports, and
financial inclusion, among others.
The compendium presents an opportunity for states to learn from each other and
share their experiences.
Apart from being a valuable resource for peer learning among states, this document
is also an important source for other countries to learn from India’s successes.
Geomagnetic Pc1 Pearl Oscillations
Researchers have made a significant discovery regarding special continuous oscillations
called Geomagnetic Pc1 pearl oscillations. These oscillations have been observed during
the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms, and they play a vital role in measuring particle
precipitation in the Earth’s magnetosphere.
Geomagnetic Pc1 pearl oscillations are amplitude-modulated structured narrow-
band signals that are signatures of low-frequency EMIC waves generated by
resonant wave-particle interactions in the Earth’s magnetosphere.
Geomagnetic storms cause a dent in Earth’s magnetic field protection, resulting in
changes in plasma environment.
Low-frequency waves called Electromagnetic ion-cyclotron (EMIC) wave instability
are generated in the Earth’s magnetosphere.
Geomagnetic Pc1 pearl oscillations are a proxy for measuring particle precipitation in
the Earth’s magnetosphere.
These oscillations play a significant role in the space weather within the Earth’s
immediate environment.
The research was conducted during two solar cycles, namely solar cycle 20-21 and
the descending phase of solar cycle 24.
The structures of Pc1 waves were investigated at two sites in India, namely
Choutuppal (CPL, L = 1.03) and Desalpar (DSP, L = 1.07).
A clear increase in the number of Pc1 waves was observed during the night
compared to the day. This is due to the fact that the weakening of Pc1 waves during
their transmission through the ionospheric waveguide to lower latitudes is less
pronounced at night.
The transmission rate of Pc1 waves to the equator was diminished during the solar
maximum period compared to the solar minimum.
At both stations, there was an opposite correlation between the frequency of Pc1
events during various seasons and years and the number of sunspots.
The occurrence of Pc1 was observed to increase significantly in the recovery phase of
geomagnetic storms.
The understanding of radiation hazards to satellites and astronauts is important due
to our high dependence on satellite-based communication systems.
Swachhata Pakhwada
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs celebrated Swachhata Pakhwada from 16th to 30th
April 2023. This annual event is a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, which is a flagship
programme initiated by the Central Government to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of a
clean and hygienic India.
The Swachhata Pakhwada was launched during the second fortnight of April 2023,
following the Calendar of Swachhata Pakhwada for the year 2023 released by the
Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
During the Swachhata Pakhwada, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs carried out
various activities to promote cleanliness and hygiene. Some of these activities
included a cleanliness drive, reviewing and weeding out of old physical files,
identifying old obsolete items for auction, cleaning of electrical
switchboards/fans/AC, and whitewashing in all rooms of the Ministry.
On 17th April 2023, the Secretary of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
administered the ‘Swachhata Pledge.’ This was done to spread awareness and
importance of Swachhata in one’s life. To further spread awareness, the Swachhata
Pledge was also administered to students in colleges/schools through the
organization of special sittings of Youth Parliament.
The efforts put in by the employees of the Ministry during the Swachhata Pakhwada
were commendable. As a result, 92 files were reviewed, out of which 32 files were
weeded out, and a revenue of Rs 67,900/- was generated by auctioning of old
obsolete items which were identified during the Pakhwada.
The top three sections of the Ministry who stood the best on Swachhata Parameters
during Pakhwada were awarded prizes.
NTPC-NPCIL Agreement on Joint Development of Nuclear Power Plants
India is a developing country with a growing demand for energy. To meet this increasing
demand for electricity, the country is turning towards nuclear power. In this regard, the
state-run company NTPC has signed a supplementary joint venture agreement with NPCIL
for the development of nuclear power projects in India.
The goal of the joint venture between NTPC and NPCIL is to collaborate and
cooperate in the field of development of nuclear power projects.
The joint venture company will initially develop Pressurized Heavy-Water Reactor
(PHWR) projects.
Chutka Madhya Pradesh Atomic Power Project 2×700 MW and Mahi Banswara
Rajasthan Atomic Power Project 4×700 MW are the two PHWR projects identified as a
part of fleet mode nuclear projects.
It is projected that India will have a nuclear capacity of 22,480 MW by the year 2031.
The current total installed power generation capacity of NTPC is 71.644 GW. By 2030,
It aims to operationalize 3.5 GW of capacity from the two nuclear power plants
currently being built.
As of 14 March 2023, the current installed nuclear power capacity in India is 6.78 GW.
The Indian government has set a target capacity of nuclear power generation of 20
GW by 2030. This is part of the step to achieve the net-zero emission target year of
2070.
In line with the net zero target, five new sites have been accorded ‘in-principle’
approval for locating nuclear power plants in the future.
In fleet mode, ten PHWRs with a capacity of 700 MW, which are of indigenous origin,
will be established.
Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan AVSM, VM
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) has a new Commander-in-Chief, Air Marshal
Saju Balakrishnan, who has replaced Lt Gen Ajai Singh. With this appointment, Air Marshal
Balakrishnan has become the 17th Commander-in-Chief of the ANC.
Who is Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan?
Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1986
and was part of the fighter stream. He has over 3200 flying hours on various variants of
MIG-21 and Kiran aircraft. He has held various command, staff and instructional
appointments, including as the first Commanding Officer of an AWACS Squadron. Prior to
assuming the position of Commander-in-Chief of the ANC, Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan
served as the Senior Air Staff Officer at the IAF Training Command located in Bengaluru.
He has been awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for his distinguished service.
What is the Andaman and Nicobar Command?
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is India’s only tri-services command,
comprising the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force. It was created in 2001 to safeguard
India’s strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Strait of Malacca. The ANC is
responsible for defending India’s eastern seaboard and its extended neighborhood,
including the Bay of Bengal and the Malacca Strait.
Why is the ANC important?
The ANC is strategically important for India as it is the country’s only command that
integrates the capabilities of all three services – the Army, Navy and Air Force. It plays a
crucial role in enhancing India’s strategic reach and presence in the Indian Ocean region.
The ANC has been instrumental in strengthening India’s ties with the countries of
Southeast Asia and the Pacific. It is seen as a successful example of jointmanship and
theatrisation of the armed forces.
Ekta Evam Shradhanjali Abhiyan

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is commemorating its Karmyogis and their
contribution to nation-building by organizing the “Ekta Evam Shradhanjali Abhiyan” as
part of its 64th BRO Day Celebrations. The expedition comprises motorbikes and motor
cars, which started from the North East and Northern parts of India. On May 1st, 2023, the
Director General of Border Roads, Lt. Gen. Rajeev Chaudhry, flagged off the motorcycle
and car rally teams from Seema Sadak Bhawan, New Delhi.
Starting in Kibithu, Arunachal Pradesh on 14 April 2023, expedition members from 18
projects have collected soil, water, and saplings from 108 remote border locations. They
will plant these at BRO Alma Mater, BRO School and Centre in Pune. The expedition is
scheduled to finish on 7 May 2023, BRO’s 64th raising day, when Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri
Ajay Bhatt will flag in the expedition teams.
What is Border Road Organization?
BRO (Border Road Organization) is a statutory body under the aegis of the Defence
Ministry. Its primary responsibility is to develop and maintain road networks in India’s
border areas and friendly neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar,
Tajikistan and Sri Lanka. Its operational areas span across 19 states and three union
territories, which also include the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The motto of BRO is
Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam, which means everything is achievable through hard work.
The Border Roads Organisation is primarily composed of officers from the Border Roads
Engineering Service (BRES) and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force
(GREF). Additionally, the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers contributes officers and troops
on a temporary basis for extra regimental employment through deputation.
BRO’s achievements
BRO had built more than 55,000 kilometers of roads, erected over 450 permanent bridges
spanning a total distance of more than 44,000 meters, and established 19 airfields in
strategic areas by 2022. BRO’s responsibilities include maintaining this infrastructure,
which entails activities such as snow clearing.
StarBerrySense Payload
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched a low-cost star sensor called
StarBerrySense on board its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-55 rocket on April 22,
2023. Developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), StarBerrySense’s primary
objective is to image the field of view, identify stars, and calculate the spacecraft’s
pointing direction.
How StarBerrySense Sensor Works
The StarBerrySense sensor calculates the pointing direction by identifying the stars in its
field of view. The sensor captures images of the stars and uses them to determine the
spacecraft’s attitude and orientation. This information is crucial for controlling the
spacecraft’s movement and keeping it on the right path.
Advantages of Using Star Sensor in Space Missions
The use of a star sensor in space missions provides the most accurate information about a
spacecraft’s orientation. This is because the sensor can identify stars in the background,
which provides a fixed reference point for the spacecraft’s position. It allows for precise
control of the spacecraft’s movements and reduces the risk of errors and malfunctions.
PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM)
The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) is a platform for carrying out scientific
experiments in space. It provides a stable platform for scientific instruments and
payloads, including StarBerrySense. POEM’s primary purpose is to enable scientific
experiments that require a stable and controlled environment in space.
New Species of Spiny Clam Shrimps
Researchers have uncovered two genetically unique species of spiny clam shrimps, also
known as Spinicaudatans, in Karnataka and Goa. These newly discovered species are
distinct from other Indian species previously identified.
What are Spiny Clam Shrimps?
Spiny clam shrimps, despite their name, are not actually clams. They are crustaceans that
live in temporary freshwater bodies around the world, except in Antarctica. Their unique
feature that sets them apart from other families of crustaceans is the existence of a spine
located on the tip of their rostrum, which is a projection of the head resembling a beak.
Discovery of New Species
A team led by Sameer Padhye, a data analyst with Biologia Life Science LLP, and Mihir
Kulkarni, a researcher with the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species at
Hyderabad’s CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, discovered two new species
of spiny clam shrimps in Karnataka and Goa. The two new species, named ‘Leptestheria
chalukyae’ and ‘Leptestheria gomantaki,’ were genetically different from other known
Indian species.
Leptestheria chalukyae and Leptestheria gomantaki
Leptestheria chalukyae was discovered in Badami, Karnataka, and was named after the
Chalukya dynasty, which ruled large parts of southern and central India during medieval
times. Leptestheria gomantaki was discovered in Goa and named after the state where it
was found.
Leptestheriidae Family
Leptestheriidae family, to which the two new species belong, is one of the 35 recognized
species of clam shrimps. With the discovery of these two new species, the number of
known species of Leptestheria in the Indian subcontinent now stands at nine.
Research and Study
As part of their study, the scientists isolated adult clam shrimp specimens from rock pools,
which are small pools of seawater that form along the coastline, and fixed them in
ethanol. They then photographed and observed them under a microscope to study their
unique features. The study sought to highlight the rich biodiversity in India, especially in
understudied habitats like rock pools, which are vulnerable to climate change, pollution,
and overfishing.
Structural Traits and Evolutionary History
The researchers examined Leptestheria nobilis, which was discovered in the Maharashtra
region of the Western Ghats in 2016, to make a comparison. They found that this species
had highly variable structural traits. The three species studied were found to have
evolutionarily distinct lineages that diverged during the Cretaceous period, which ended
66 million years ago, and during which dinosaurs were the dominant group of land
animals on the planet.
Distribution of Crustacean Groups
According to the study, the distribution of several ancient Leptestheria lineages in India
could be attributed to older vicariance events, trans-oceanic dispersals, or even local
environmental sorting, which have influenced the distribution of other crustacean groups.
Article 142 of the Indian Constitution
Under Article 142 of the Indian Constitution, the Supreme Court has the power to pass
such a decree or make such an order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any
cause or matter. This article allows the Supreme Court to grant a divorce decree directly to
consenting parties in cases of an irretrievable breakdown of marriage. However, the order
to do complete justice under Article 142 must not only be consistent with the fundamental
rights guaranteed by the Constitution but cannot even be inconsistent with the
substantive provisions of the relevant statutory laws. In the Union Carbide Corporation vs
Union of India (1991) case, the Supreme Court stated that this article confers power at an
entirely different level and of a different quality.
Filing a Petition for Divorce by Mutual Consent
Parties seeking a divorce by mutual consent under the Hindu Marriage Act can file a
petition under Section 13B. The minimum period of separation required for such a petition
is one year. Additionally, there is a mandatory waiting period of six months for a divorce
decree under Section 13B(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act. However, this waiting period can
be waived through an exemption application filed before the family court.
Exceptional Hardship and Depravity
In cases of “exceptional hardship to the petitioner or of exceptional depravity on the part
of the respondent”, a divorce petition can be filed before one year of the marriage under
the Hindu Marriage Act.
Cooling-off Period and the Amit Kumar vs Suman Beniwal Case
In the Amit Kumar vs Suman Beniwal case, the Supreme Court held that the cooling-off
period of six months under Section 13B(2) of the Hindu Marriage Act should be enforced
where there is a chance of reconciliation, but it would be meaningless to prolong the
agony of the parties to the marriage if there is no possibility of reconciliation.
Factors Considered by the Court
The Supreme Court has laid down that the court should be fully convinced and satisfied
that the marriage is “totally unworkable, emotionally dead and beyond salvation and,
therefore, dissolution of marriage is the right solution and the only way forward” before
granting a divorce decree.
Second Motion and Waiver of Waiting Period
The minimum waiting period for a second motion before the court under Section 13B(2) of
the Hindu Marriage Act is six months after the date of the presentation of the first
petition. The Supreme Court has held that the mandatory waiting period can be waived
through an exemption application filed before the family court. In the Shilpa Sailesh vs
Varun Sreenivasan case, the court waived the mandatory waiting period for divorce under
The Hindu Marriage Act and allowed the dissolution of the marriage on grounds of
irretrievable breakdown even if one of the parties was not willing.
Stone of Scone
On May 6, 2023, King Charles III’s coronation ceremony is scheduled to take place at
Westminster Abbey in London. This event will mark the first coronation in the United
Kingdom since Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1953, making it a highly anticipated and historic
occasion. Millions of people from all over the world are expected to tune in to witness this
historic event. The coronation ceremony is steeped in tradition, and it symbolizes the
continuity and stability of the British monarchy. As part of this historic event, Stone of
Scone was recently shifted from Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle to London to be a part of the
coronation.
The Stone of Scone: A Symbol of Scottish Monarchy and Nationhood
The Stone of Scone is a 150kg red sandstone slab with some marks on it, seen as a sacred,
historic symbol of Scotland’s monarchy and nationhood. The stone has a rich history, and
it has been used in Scottish inaugurations for centuries. Monarchs would have their
inauguration as kings while sitting on it.
The Stone’s Journey
The Stone of Scone has had a tumultuous history. It was seized by King Edward I of
England in 1296 and was incorporated into a small section underneath the wooden
Coronation Chair ordered in 1308 for London’s Westminster Abbey. During the
suffragettes’ activism, both the chair and the stone sustained some damage when a bomb
was set off near the chair.
In 1950, four nationalist Scottish students removed the stone from Westminster Abbey on
Christmas Day, and it turned up nearly 800 kilometers away, in the Arbroath Abbey in
Scotland. Today, the Stone of Scone is displayed in the Crown Room of the Edinburgh
Castle and is only “borrowed” for coronations.
The Legends of the Stone of Scone
Legend says that the Stone of Scone was originally from West Asia and has associations
with Biblical stories. The stone was thought to be the very one utilized by the biblical
character Jacob. When the stone was brought to Ireland, it was placed upon the sacred Hill
of Tara and called “Lia-Fail,” the “fatal” stone, or “stone of destiny.” Fergus Mor MacEirc,
the founder of the Scottish monarchy, received the stone in Scotland. Another legend
associated with the stone claims that monks at the Scone Palace hid the “real stone” in a
nearby river and gave English soldiers a replica.
Smart Cities Mission Extended
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has extended the deadline of its Smart
Cities Mission to June 2024, giving all 100 smart cities more time to complete their projects
and document and disseminate the learnings from the mission. This move is expected to
enable the best practices and innovations created under the mission to be replicated in
other cities across India.
The Smart Cities Mission, which began in 2015, chose 100 cities through a competitive
process between January 2016 and June 2018. These cities were given a five-year
timeframe from the date of their selection to finish their proposed projects. Originally, the
mission was supposed to be completed by June 2023. However, with only two months
remaining until the deadline, 50 out of the 100 cities have completed 75% of the projects
and should be able to finish the remaining work by June.
Project Completion
More than 80% of the projects in the larger cities have been finished, while the smaller
cities’ completion rate stands at 66%. On average, about 100 projects worth Rs 1,850 crore
are completed every month under the Smart Cities Mission. In many cities, the spending
associated with the mission exceeds their regular budget spending.
Project Details
The Smart Cities Mission involved the establishment of integrated command and control
centers by all 100 cities, which cost a combined total of Rs 11,775 crore. Currently, there
are 526 ongoing projects related to smart mobility, 116 to smart energy, 411 to water,
sanitation, and hygiene, 343 each to creating vibrant public spaces and economic
infrastructure, 203 to social infrastructure, and 145 to smart governance.
Funds and Budget
A total of Rs 71,000 crore has been released to the cities, of which Rs 38,000 crore is from
the Centre, and the remaining from states and urban local bodies. Around 90% of the
released funds have been utilized, and the Rs 8,000 crore that has been budgeted for
2023-2024 would be enough to complete the projects.
Odisha’s Survey on Social and Educational Conditions of Backward Classes
Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes (OSCBC) has initiated a survey on the
social and educational conditions of backward classes, which began on May 1 and will
continue until May 27. This survey is the first of its kind for the state and will collect data
from people belonging to backward classes on various indicators such as educational
status, occupation, and marital status, among others.
Collection of Information
The survey will also require documents related to caste details, Aadhaar number, voter ID
card, passport number, PAN, ration card number, and mobile phone number. The
information will be gathered at survey centers designated by the OSCBC, or online. The
heads of families belonging to the backward classes can share their details at these survey
centers, which have been set up in nearly every ward in 314 blocks in rural areas, and at
114 civic bodies in urban areas.
The accurate collection of data will help the government with the effective policy
formulation. This survey is a crucial step in collecting data to develop policies that can
uplift the backward classes in Odisha.
Completion Dates
After the main survey concludes on May 20th, a special effort will take place until May 27th
to guarantee that no eligible household has been overlooked in the survey process. In
case any eligible household has been left out, there will be scope for further surveys after
May 27. It is expected that the outcome of the findings will be published within five
months.
Reservation Status
Odisha currently has 208 communities designated as backward classes, with 11.25%
reservation in government jobs. However, there is no reservation for the SEBCs in the
education sector.
WEF’s ‘Chief Economists Outlook’ Report
The ‘Chief Economists Outlook’ report, which was released recently by the World
Economic Forum, aims to provide a brief overview of the current economic situation and
highlight key areas where policymakers and business leaders should focus their efforts in
response to the shocks caused by geo-economic and geopolitical events.
Benefactors of Current Supply-Chain Changes
The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently conducted a survey to identify the countries
that are most likely to benefit from ongoing supply-chain changes. According to the
survey, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey, and Poland are among the
countries that are likely to see significant benefits. The survey also found that regions
such as South Asia, East Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the US are
most likely to benefit from these changes.
Industries Expected to See Pronounced Supply Chain Changes
The leading economists identified several sectors where they anticipate significant
alterations in the supply chain, which consist of semiconductors, green energy,
automobiles, drugs, food, energy, and the overall technology field.
Global Recession Likelihood
The WEF survey found that 45% of chief economists consider a global recession likely in
2023, while an equal percentage considers it unlikely.
Recent Banking Disruption
Based on the survey, the global perspective has been shaken by the banking disruption
that occurred in March 2023. Silicon Valley Bank, one of the most prominent lenders in the
world of technology startups, collapsed on March 10 after a run on the bank by
depositors. The collapse of a few regional banks in the US, starting with Silicon Valley
Bank, has sent ripples across the global banking industry and posed fears of a contagion
effect across economies.
Central Banks Face a Trade-Off
Around 80% of chief economists believe that central banks are now in a position where
they have to balance controlling inflation and preserving stability in the financial sector.
Additionally, nearly the same percentage anticipates that central banks will encounter
difficulties in meeting their inflation objective.
Meera Syal Receives the BAFTA Fellowship
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is one of the most prestigious
award-giving bodies in the entertainment industry. One of their highest accolades is the
BAFTA Fellowship, awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to
film and/or television. The recent recipient of this esteemed award is Meera Syal.
Who is Meera Syal?
Meera Syal is a UK-based Indian-origin actor, screenwriter, and novelist. She was born in
the UK to Punjabi parents and grew up in the West Midlands region of England. Syal is
best known for her work in television shows such as ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ and ‘The
Kumars at No. 42’, which have earned her critical acclaim and several awards. She has also
made her mark as an award-winning screenwriter and novelist.
Awards and Honours
Syal’s contribution to drama and literature has been recognized with various awards and
honours. She has received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) and a CBE
(Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for her work in these fields. In 2023, she
was conferred with the BAFTA Fellowship, which is the highest honour the Academy can
bestow.
History of the BAFTA Fellowship
The BAFTA Fellowship was first awarded in 1971, and Alfred Hitchcock was the first
recipient of the award. Since then, the award has been presented annually to outstanding
contributors to the moving image art forms. While the award is usually given to film
directors, it has also been awarded to actors, film/television producers, cinematographers,
film editors, screenwriters, and contributors to the video game industry.
Notable Recipients
Merchant Ivory Productions became the first organization to win the BAFTA Fellowship
award in 2002. The list of recipients mainly includes people from the UK, but it also
includes several U.S. citizens and some from other European countries. However, the last
time someone from a European country other than the UK received the award was in
1996. In 2010, Shigeru Miyamoto became the first citizen of an Asian country to receive the
award.
Catalyst for Clean Hydrogen Production from Wood Alcohol
A revolutionary catalyst has been created by scientists at IIT Guwahati, which has the
ability to release hydrogen gas from wood alcohol without any accompanying carbon
dioxide byproduct. The study was published in ACS Catalysis, a leading journal in the field
of catalysis.
Exciting Avenues of the Research
Hydrogen gas is widely considered the best source of clean energy generation, as it
produces only water as a byproduct. However, the conventional methods for producing
hydrogen have their limitations. At present, hydrogen gas is generated through either the
electrochemical division of water or from chemicals obtained from biomass like alcohol.
Methanol-reforming is the process for producing hydrogen from methyl alcohol, but it has
two problems: high temperatures and the co-production of carbon dioxide.
The newly developed catalyst has opened up new avenues for developing the hydrogen-
methanol economy. The method produces formic acid, a valuable industrial chemical that
can be used in various applications. Methanol is a promising carrier of Liquid Organic
Hydrogen (LOHC), which could be a game-changer in the quest for sustainable and
renewable energy.
The Unique Feature of the ‘Pincer’ Catalyst
The ‘pincer’ catalyst used in this research contains a central metal and a few specific
organic ligands. It has a unique feature of breaking wood alcohol into hydrogen without
producing carbon dioxide. Instead, it generates formic acid, which has numerous
industrial applications.
Advantages of the New Method
One of the significant advantages of this new method of producing hydrogen is that
it requires a temperature of only 100 degrees Celsius, which is significantly lower
than the conventional methods.
The catalyst can be reused by loading it on an inert support, which is a cost-effective
and eco-friendly way of recycling the catalyst.
World Bank’s Business Ready Project
The World Bank Group has recently launched a new project called Business Ready, which
aims to assess the business and investment climate in economies worldwide. This new
initiative replaces the Doing Business project, which had been the World Bank Group’s
flagship program for assessing the ease of doing business for over two decades.
Objective of the Business Ready Project
The objective of the Business Ready project is to make each country’s economic
environment ready for a dynamic private sector. This will be done by assessing and
ranking the ease of doing business in each economy, identifying areas of improvement,
and providing recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders.
Expert Input and Approach
The Business Ready project has been developed by a team of professionals both from
inside and outside the World Bank Group, comprising members from governments,
private entities, and civil society organizations. The project focuses on ten topics, including
Business Entry, Business Location, Utility Services, Labor, Financial Services, International
Trade, Taxation, Dispute Resolution, Market Competition, and Business Insolvency.
Methodology and Safeguards
The Business Ready project uses a comprehensive set of indicators and scoring
methodology, which is detailed in the Business Ready Methodology Handbook. To ensure
the integrity of the assessments, the World Bank Group has put in place protocols and
safeguards, which are specified in the Business Ready Manual and Guide. It will ensure
transparency by making all information collected by the project publicly available on the
project website.
Assessment and Reporting
The Business Ready project will assess 180 economies annually in its final year, with the
first annual report set to be published in the spring of 2024. The project will provide a
detailed assessment of the business-enabling environment, including strengths,
weaknesses, and recommendations for reform.
Impact of Previous Assessments
The World Bank Group’s assessments of the business-enabling environment worldwide
have spurred nearly 4,000 regulatory reforms over the past two decades, leading to a
significant improvement in the ease of doing business in many economies.
Delhi’s Summer Action Plan
On May 1, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched an action plan to combat air pollution
during the summer months in Delhi. The main objective of the summer strategy is to
manage the problem of dust pollution, which has significantly contributed to the decline
of the city’s air quality. The Delhi government already has an action plan in place to
combat air pollution in winter months, which focuses on stubble burning, firecracker
pollution, and industrial and vehicular emissions.
Implementation
In order to address the problem of dust pollution in the summer months, the Delhi
administration has acquired a total of 84 mechanical road sweepers, 609 water sprinklers,
and 185 mobile anti-smog guns. Additionally, the government is procuring 70 integrated
road sweeping machines and 250 integrated water sprinklers to further improve the air
quality. Teams have been established to patrol industrial areas and monitor activities such
as open burning of garbage, dumping of waste, and dust pollution. During the day and
night, 225 and 159 teams, respectively, will monitor dust pollution in the city.
Real-time Source Apportionment Studies at 13 Air Pollution Hotspots
Thirteen air pollution hotspots will undergo real-time source apportionment studies.
These studies help identify factors responsible for the increase in air pollution at any spot,
such as vehicles, dust, biomass burning, and emissions from industries. The information
gathered from these studies will be used to take preventive measures accordingly.
Construction Sites Monitored to Check Dust Pollution
Construction sites with an area exceeding 500 square meters will be under close
surveillance to prevent dust pollution. Moreover, a standard operating procedure has
been prepared to prevent fire incidents at landfill sites, and a plan is being prepared for
the scientific disposal of industrial waste.
Beautifying Parks and Creating an E-waste Eco Park
The Delhi government is working in tandem with the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)
and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to revive and beautify parks in the city. Around
3,500 parks in Delhi greater than half an acre will be beautified by December this year, and
17,000 parks under the MCD will be beautified by March next year. Additionally, a first-of-
its-kind e-waste eco park is being created in Holambi Kalan for effective management of e-
waste.
France India Foundation
The France India Foundation (FIF) is a private, not-for-profit organization that was set up
to promote meaningful dialogue between young leaders from India and France. The
foundation was launched by the France Asia Foundation and has the support of both the
Ministry of External Affairs and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Young Leaders Program
The flagship program of FIF is the Young Leaders Program. This program aims to identify
and nurture promising young leaders from various fields, including business, politics,
sports, and culture. The first cohort of the program had 25 young leaders from India and
France.
The Young Leaders Program took place in New Delhi and Bangalore and provided a
platform for young leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue, learn from each other’s
experiences and perspectives, and build lasting relationships. The program aims to leave a
mark on Indo-French ties in the years to come.
FIF’s Agenda
Apart from the Young Leaders Program, the France India Foundation aims to organize
thematic conferences, knowledge papers, media-based partnerships, and art and science
dialogues. These initiatives aim to facilitate and enhance dialogue between India and
France on a range of issues and promote understanding and cooperation between the
two nations.
The France Asia Foundation
The France Asia Foundation is a foundation headquartered in Paris that promotes
dialogue, mutual understanding, sustainable development, and cooperation with the
Indo-Pacific region. The foundation launched the France India Foundation, which aims to
strengthen ties between France and India, especially among young leaders.
Renewed Strategic Partnership
France and India share a strategic partnership that is over 25 years old and is set to be
renewed this year. The France India Foundation has the potential to further strengthen
this partnership by fostering strong ties between young leaders from both nations.
Santiago Pena: Paraguay’s New President-Elect
On April 23, 2023, Paraguay held its presidential election and Santiago Pena, the hand-
picked candidate of the conservative Colorado Party, emerged as the victor.
Who is Santiago Pena?
Santiago Pena is a former central banker who worked at the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) in Washington, D.C. Before entering politics, he pursued postgraduate education at
Columbia University in New York, where he obtained a degree in economics. His political
affiliation lies with the Colorado Party, a conservative party that has governed Paraguay
for most of the past 70 years.
Pena’s Victory and Controversies
Pena’s biggest opponent in the election was Efrain Alegre, and he won the election with 43
percent of the vote. However, critics argue that Pena is a member of the elite and lacks
political experience. Furthermore, they claim that he is acting as a puppet of the Colorado
Party leader and former President Horacio Cartes.
Pena’s Stance on Issues
Pena is known for his business-friendly policies that focus on job creation, keeping taxes
low, and attracting foreign investment. He is a defender of traditional family values and is
opposed to abortion and gay marriage. Despite demands from the agricultural and
livestock industries to open up an export market to China, Pena has pledged to preserve
diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Diplomatic Relations with Taiwan
Currently, only 13 countries recognize Taiwan, and Paraguay is one of them. In 2018,
Paraguay moved its embassy to Israel, specifically in Tel Aviv. However, in the same year,
Paraguay reversed its decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, leading to Israel closing
its mission in Asuncion.
May 3, 2023
What is Bluebugging?
The rise of cybercrime has been a growing concern in many areas, including Prakasam
district in Andhra Pradesh. The district’s Superintendent of Police, Malika Garg, has urged
people to take precautions to protect themselves from bluebugging attacks.
What is Bluebugging?
Bluebugging is a form of hacking that involves accessing a device through its discoverable
Bluetooth connection. Once a device is bluebugged, a hacker can listen to calls, read and
send messages, and steal and modify contacts. This type of attack is particularly
dangerous because many smartphones have their Bluetooth settings on discovery mode,
making it easy for hackers to access them when they are within 10 meters of the device.
Data Security
In a bluebugging attack, hackers can steal sensitive information, photos, and files. This
stolen data can be used for blackmailing purposes. To avoid such incidents, it’s crucial to
secure data and ensure that the devices are free from vulnerabilities.
Preventing Bluebugging Attacks
To prevent bluebugging attacks, a user should remove or disable Bluetooth-paired
devices, regularly update the system software on their smartphone, restrict the use of
open WiFi, install a VPN as an additional layer of security, and always deactivate Bluetooth
settings when not in use. By following these precautions, users can ensure that their
device is safe and secure.
Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (RRPCL) Project
The Maharashtra government has proposed the Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals
Limited (RRPCL) project, which is touted as the world’s largest single location refinery
complex. The refinery is expected to be set up in Barsu village in the coastal Ratnagiri
district of Maharashtra. The joint venture partners for this project include Saudi Aramco,
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat
Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited. The
project is estimated to cost around Rs. 3 lakh crore and would require 6,200 acres of land
from 14 villagers in Ratnagiri and neighbouring Sindhudurg districts. It is expected to
make India self-sufficient in the petrochemical sector, reducing the country’s dependence
on imports, and boosting the local economy.
Shift from Nanar to Barsu
The project was initially planned to come up at Nanar, about 20 kilometres from Barsu.
However, due to strong opposition from the locals and environmental activists, the it was
denotified in 2019. Barsu was suggested as an alternative site instead of Nanar.
Criticism of the Project
Hundreds of residents from Barsu-Solgaon and neighbouring villages have been
protesting the government’s decision as they are concerned about the potential impact
on the environment and the livelihoods of local communities. The Konkan region has large
mango orchids as well as jackfruit and cashew plantations, making it ecologically sensitive.
The villagers also expressed concern about the potential health hazards posed by the
refinery and petrochemical unit, which is expected to emit a large amount of pollutants.
Critics are currently calling for the project to be shifted to more arid regions like
Marathwada and Vidarbha.
Uzbek Constitutional Referendum
Recently, an overwhelming majority of Uzbekistan’s electorate voted in favor of President
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s proposal to revise the country’s Constitution, which pledged to
provide more rights to the citizens of the ex-Soviet republic and may allow the President
to exceed his present two-term cap. 90.21% of the voters supported the changes, while
9.35% voted ‘No’, with a turnout of 84.54%.
Valid Referendum and Political Parties
To be considered valid in Uzbekistan, at least 50% of the voters must cast their ballots. The
Election Commission declared the referendum valid as voters turned out in large numbers
across the country.
Doubts on Fairness of Referendum
International election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe (OSCE) raised doubts on the fairness of the referendum process. While the voting
was technically well-prepared and widely promoted as a move to enhance various rights
and freedoms, it took place in an environment that fell short of genuine political pluralism
and competition.
Changes in the Constitution
The proposed changes in the Constitution include extending the presidential term to
seven years with a two-term limit, introducing language discouraging the state from
harming the rights and freedoms of people and citizens, adding rights/protections for the
accused, making all laws exempting or mitigating punishment for an offense retroactive,
and more.
Maximum Number of Years in Power
President Mirziyoyev is currently serving his second term, which would expire in 2026.
However, the new Constitution would reset his terms so that he can contest again for two
more terms (14 years in total), which means he could theoretically stay in power until
2040.
Media Freedoms and Women’s Rights
The new Constitution promises more media freedoms, and under Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan
has relaxed Soviet-era censorship. However, self-censorship by media owners and editors
is still prevalent, and journalists remain skeptical about the implementation of the new
Constitution. Women’s rights and gender equality are also emphasized in the new
Constitution, with more power given to women, including the ability to prosecute men
who practice physical abuse for up to 12 years.
TRAI Recommendations on Ease of Doing Business in Telecom and Broadcasting
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently released its
recommendations on ease of doing business in telecom and broadcasting sectors.
TRAI Recommendations for Infrastructure and Services in India’s Broadcast and Cable Sector
TRAI has suggested according infrastructure status to the “broadcast and cable sector and
submarine cable laying and repair in Indian Territorial Water and Exclusive Economic
Zones of India.” The regulator has also proposed that Cable Landing Stations in India be
considered as “critical and essential services.”
Consultation Process and User-friendly Portal
The TRAI’s recommendations were made after a suo motu consultation, and it
recommended that a user-friendly, transparent and responsive digital single-window
system-based portal be established for end-to-end inter-departmental online processes. It
has also recommended that each Ministry establish a standing Ease of Doing Business
(EoDB) Committee to regularly review, simplify, and update existing processes and ensure
ease of doing business as an on-going activity.
Spectrum Royalty Fee and Mobile App for Registration
TRAI has suggested that Wireless and Planning Commission charge the spectrum royalty
fee for temporary live event uplinking on a pro-rata basis for the actual event days. In
addition, TRAI has recommended that I&B Ministry create a mobile app for local cable
operators to register. The GatiShakti Sanchar Portal or RoW portal should also incorporate
all service providers, including LCOs, and the DoT should seek RoW approvals for LCOs
while consulting with MIB.
Reducing Compliance Burden and Online Submarine Cable Network
To reduce the compliance burden on Internet Service Providers, the TRAI has
recommended revision in the periodicity for submission of information by the ISPs on
details of ISPNodes or Points of Presence (PoP) with their locations and number of
subscribers. The TRAI has also recommended that the website blocking process should be
incorporated on the single window portal. It further suggested that permissions of laying
and operations of submarine cables network should be made online as a part of Saral
Sanchar portal.
Standing Committee and Special Corridor
TRAI has recommended that DoT should constitute a standing committee comprising two
senior-level officers of joint secretary level each from MeitY, DoT, WPC, TEC, BIS, and two
representatives from product manufacturers. The TRAI suggested that the committee
should distinctly recognize one testing scheme for the product to be tested. Additionally,
TRAI recommended that the committee should assess the global best practices and
practicality to identify and declare a specific passage in the Indian marine context.
Wayanad District Tops ODF Plus Ranking
Wayanad, a district in the southern Indian state of Kerala, has achieved a remarkable feat
by becoming the first ODF Plus district in India. This is a significant milestone in the
country’s efforts towards maintaining cleanliness and sanitation under the Swachh Bharat
Mission (Clean India Mission).
What is ODF?
ODF stands for Open Defecation Free. The ODF programme is part of the Swachh Bharat
Mission, which was launched on October 2, 2014, by the Indian government to achieve
cleanliness and sanitation across the country.
Wayanad Secures Top Spot in Three-Star Category
The Wayanad district secured the first position in the ODF Plus rankings in the three-star
category. Following Wayanad were Mancheriyal district in Maharashtra and Anupur in
Madya Pradesh. Wayanad scored a perfect 100 points in the ODF ranking, while
Mancheriyal and Anupur got 90.45 and 88.79 points, respectively. The ODF Plus scores for
panchayats and districts were evaluated by considering the ODF Plus progress report
submitted by the villages before October 1, 2022.
Previous Achievements of Wayanad
Wayanad had won two national awards in the sanitation and waste management sectors
earlier, which are a testament to the district’s commitment towards cleanliness and
sanitation.
Swachh Bharat Mission
The Swachh Bharat Mission is a nationwide campaign launched by the Government of
India to promote cleanliness, sanitation and hygiene. It sought to achieve the objective of
an open defecation-free India by October 2, 2019. The programme focuses on eliminating
open defecation, improving solid waste management, and promoting cleanliness and
hygiene practices in the country.
National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22
The “National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021-22: Summary for
Policymakers” was released recently. The objective of the NMIS study was to evaluate the
innovation performance of manufacturing firms in India. The Department of Science and
Technology (DST) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
jointly conducted this survey.
Examining innovation processes and outcomes
The NMIS survey examined the innovation processes, outcomes, and barriers in
manufacturing firms and studied the innovation ecosystem that affects innovation
outcomes in these firms. The findings offer wide-ranging insights into the enabling
activities and barriers to innovation by firms and how states and sectors have performed
with respect to the manufacturing firms’ ability to produce new products, services, and
business processes.
Benefits of implementing innovation
Over 80% of firms that successfully implemented an innovation in the observation period
reported significant benefits in expanding markets and production and reducing costs.
Firm-level and Sectorial System of Innovation (SSI) surveys
The NMIS 2021-22 survey consisted of two distinct components, namely the firm-level
survey and the sectorial systems of innovation (SSI) survey. A total of 8,087 firms
participated in the firm-level survey, while 5,488 firms and non-firms took part in the SSI
survey. The SSI survey aimed to delineate the manufacturing innovation system and its
role in promoting innovations in firms. It assessed the interactions among stakeholders in
the innovation ecosystem, the challenges hindering innovation, and the degree of
alignment or divergence of prevailing policy instruments in five crucial manufacturing
sectors that are essential to the Indian economy, namely textiles, food & beverage,
automotive, pharma, and ICT.
Contributing to strengthening manufacturing value-chains
The NMIS study’s contribution is to strengthen the baselines to some of the capacities and
capabilities, opportunities, and challenges in the manufacturing value-chains that require
immediate attention. Policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in the field of
innovation and economic development would find the detailed analysis of the survey
results valuable.
CU-Chayan Portal
The UGC has introduced a new platform to hire faculty members in central universities.
The portal, CU-Chayan, will provide a consolidated list of job openings across all 46 central
universities under the Union Ministry of Education. According to the Union Government’s
recent submission in the Lok Sabha, nearly 31% of sanctioned positions in central
universities are vacant. This portal will address this issue by fast tracking the recruitment
process.
How the Portal Works
On the new portal, central universities will still be responsible for advertising job openings,
accepting applications, screening applicants, conducting interviews, and hiring faculty
members, just as they did before. However, all of these tasks will be managed through the
admin dashboard for each university on the portal. Applicants will find a consolidated list
of openings across the central universities, personalized dashboards to help manage the
application process, and filters such as location, designation, subject, experience, and
education level to view openings that suit them.
Benefits for Applicants and Universities
Both applicants and universities will benefit from the CU-Chayan as it provides a
simple interface to apply for job openings.
The portal will also throw up real-time data on vacancies, applications under
consideration, and whether the reservation policy is being followed or not.
It will fast-track the recruitment process without centralizing the faculty hiring for the
central universities.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023
On May 1st, the Arabian Travel Market’s 30th edition started at the Dubai World Trade
Center with a substantial attendance from India. This is among the most prominent global
events for the travel and tourism industry, drawing visitors and exhibitors from all corners
of the world. This year, India has one of the largest pavilions at the event, with over 100
participants, including state tourism boards, hotels, and tour operators showcasing the
diverse cultural and tourism offerings of the country.
Focus on Sustainable Tourism
The focus of this year’s event is on reducing carbon emissions in the travel industry. The
Indian pavilion is showcasing the eco-friendly initiatives of the country, which includes
sustainable tourism practices and responsible wildlife tourism.
India’s Booming Outbound Tourism Market
In the first nine months of 2022, Indian nationals spent $10 billion on overseas travel,
which is a significant increase of almost 43% from the pre-Covid figures, according to data
from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Indian business consultants have projected that the
annual number of outbound journeys will surpass 27 million, with a total value of more
than $42 billion by 2024.
Visit India Year 2023 Campaign
The Ministry of Tourism is participating in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 and
showcasing “Incredible India” at the event. The Ministry has launched the Visit India Year
2023 campaign, which highlights India’s diverse tourism offerings and the country’s
commitment to sustainable tourism practices. The focus is on inbound travel to India, to
promote India as a preferred travel destination among the Middle East and North Africa
(MENA) markets.
The aim here is to enhance relations with the tourism industry in the Middle East and
North Africa, including travel agents, tour operators, airlines, and media representatives.
The delegation will engage in a variety of networking events, B2B meetings, and media
interactions to advertise India as a tourism destination and establish collaborations with
industry players.
USCIRF's 2023 Annual Report on Religious Freedom
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recently
released its 2023 Annual Report, which highlights the status of religious freedom across
the globe during 2022. The report provides recommendations to improve the promotion
of freedom of religion or belief abroad. India criticised this report after it recommended
that the country be designated for the fourth year in a row that India be designated as a
“Country of Particular Concern”.
USCIRF’s Recommendations
The USCIRF recommends that 17 countries be designated as Countries of Particular
Concern (CPCs) for violating the right to freedom of religion or belief.
Additionally, five new countries, including India, are recommended to be designated
as CPCs.
The report suggests 11 countries for being added to the State Department’s SWL,
with Sri Lanka being one of them, and it is being proposed for the first time due to
the worsening religious freedom conditions in 2022. In addition, the report
recommends redesignating seven non-state actors as “entities of particular concern”
(EPCs) because of their ongoing, systematic, and extreme violations of religious
freedom.
Moreover, seven non-state actors are recommended for redesignation as “entities of
particular concern” (EPCs) for systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom
violations.
The report includes USCIRF’s Freedom or Religion or Belief (FoRB) Victims List, which
features individuals who are particularly vulnerable to and victimized by religious
freedom violations.
Global Developments and Trends
The report also highlights the status of religious freedom in countries that do not meet
the criteria for CPC or SWL recommendations. The report encompasses various areas,
including religious freedom issues in Europe, emerging religious freedom concerns in
other countries, laws that restrict religious freedom, transnational influence by religious
freedom violators, the fight against anti-Semitism, and religious freedom concerns faced
by indigenous communities in Latin America.
Implementation of USCIRF’s Recommendations
The report also provides information about the measures taken by the US government in
response to USCIRF’s recommendations from its 2022 Annual Report, such as the
inclusion of Central African Republic to the State Department’s SWL, imposing targeted
sanctions on those violating religious freedom, and acknowledging the Burmese military’s
crimes against humanity and genocidal actions towards Rohingya Muslims.
May 4, 2023
Two New Species of Jumping Spiders
Two new species of jumping spiders have been discovered by researchers at the
Zoological Survey of India. These spiders are similar to other members of the genus
Phintella, which typically inhabit under leaves and barks of shrubs and grasses. Their
discovery is a major contribution to arachnology, a branch of science that deals with the
study of arachnids, which includes spiders, scorpions, and pseudoscorpions. Prior to the
discovery of these latest species of jumping spiders, there were already 12 identified
species of Phintella that were acknowledged in India.
Honoring Dr. Dhriti Banerjee and Dr. Norman Platnick
One of the new species of jumping spiders discovered by the Zoological Survey of India
has been named Phintella dhritiae in honor of Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, who became the first
female director of the ZSI in August 2021. The other species, Phintella platnicki, has been
named after Dr. Norman Platnick, who made significant contributions to the study of
arachnology before his passing.
Phintella dhritiae was discovered in the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka,
while Phintella platnicki was found in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu.
Publication of the New Discoveries
In the March 2023 edition of the well-regarded scientific journal Arthropoda Selecta, the
identification of these recently found species of jumping spiders was published. The
exploration team responsible for uncovering these new species was composed of Souvik
Sen and Sudhin P P from ZSI Kolkata, along with John T D Caleb from Chennai. The team
had previously identified two other jumping spider species, Stenaelurillus megamalai and
Stenaelurillus neyyar, from the Western Ghats area earlier in the year.
Somnath Temple in 3D Cave
The Somnath Temple, one of the foremost jyotirlinga sites located in Gujarat, India, can
now be virtually explored in a 3D cave located in Delhi. The cave was created by the
Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board, a state government agency responsible for
promoting and preserving Gujarat’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
Location and Inauguration
The Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board developed the first-ever immersive experience
project of its kind, a 3D cave located at 25B Akbar Road in Delhi. On the occasion of the
Foundation Day of Gujarat, the project was jointly inaugurated by Principal Secretary to
the Prime Minister PK Mishra, along with Supreme Court Judges Justice MR Shah and
Justice Belaben Trivedi.
Technology and Purpose
The Somnath Temple was scanned with a 3-D LiDAR scanning/mapping system and
converted into an immersive virtual experience to disseminate the architecture, cultural
and religious significance of the temple through this project. The purpose of creating this
3D cave at Garvi Gujarat in Delhi is to provide an opportunity for visitors to explore the
temple in a highly realistic and detailed manner. This unique system enables every visitor
to have a unique and new experience of the temple.
Visiting the Temple
Visitors can explore the temple through experiential darshan VR goggles and a 3D cave
that provides an immersive experience of the temple’s architecture and significance. This
allows visitors to explore the temple as if they were physically present there.
Preserving and promoting historical heritage
The government of Gujarat has implemented various measures to safeguard and promote
its cultural and spiritual heritage, with the development of the 3D cave at Garvi Gujarat in
Delhi being one such initiative. Garvi Gujarat in Delhi is a representation of the customs,
culinary art, and culture of Gujarat, and the project has contributed to enhancing this
aspect of the Bhawan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the need to
preserve and promote historical heritage, and the creation of the 3D cave is a step
towards achieving this goal.
World Press Freedom Index 2023
India’s ranking in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index has slipped to 161 out of 180
countries, according to the latest report released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). This
ranking reflects a significant decline in press freedom in the country. The report shows
that India’s ranking has fallen 11 places since last year when it was ranked 150th in the
World Press Freedom Index.
What is the World Press Freedom Index?
The World Press Freedom Index is an annual ranking released by RSF. The objective is to
assess and evaluate the extent of media freedom that journalists and media outlets have
in 180 countries and territories. The index is based on an evaluation of media pluralism,
independence, transparency, legislative framework, and the safety of journalists in each
country.
Norway, Ireland, and Denmark secured the top three positions in the index, while
Vietnam, China, and North Korea ranked at the bottom.
Pakistan ranks higher than India
Pakistan has done better than India in terms of media freedom, with a rank of 150 which is
an improvement from its 157th position last year. This is a significant improvement in
Pakistan’s press freedom ranking.
Concerns over India’s press freedom
The Indian Women’s Press Corps, the Press Club of India, and the Press Association have
expressed their concern over India’s dip in the index. These organizations have voiced
their concerns over the worsening of the press freedom index in India and the constraints
on press freedom due to hostile working conditions.
RSF, an international NGO headquartered in Paris, aims to defend and promote media
freedom. RSF has been given consultative status by the United Nations. According to RSF,
press freedom refers to the capacity of journalists to choose, create, and distribute news
for public interest, free from political, economic, legal, and social intervention and without
risks to their physical and mental well-being.
SEBI introduces the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) System
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has introduced the Legal Entity
Identifier (LEI) system for issuers that have listed or are planning to list non-convertible
securities, securitized debt instruments, and security receipts. The LEI is a unique global
identifier for legal entities participating in financial transactions. Its purpose is to create a
global reference data system that uniquely identifies every legal entity that is a party to a
financial transaction. The LEI code is a 20-character code to identify legally distinct entities
that engage in financial transactions.
RBI mandates non-individual borrowers to obtain LEI code
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) mandates non-individual borrowers having an aggregate
exposure of above Rs 25 crore to obtain the LEI code. SEBI has specified the deadline for
issuers having outstanding listed non-convertible securities, securitized debt instruments,
and security receipts to obtain and report the LEI code to the centralised database of
corporate bonds and depositories respectively by September 1. In addition, issuers who
plan to list non-convertible securities, securitized debt instruments, and security receipts
after September 1, must report their unique global identifier code to the central database
of corporate bonds and depositories during the allocation of the International Securities
Identification Number (ISIN).
Authorized issuers and deadline for mapping
Legal Entity Identifier India Ltd, a subsidiary of the Clearing Corporation of India Ltd, is
authorized to issue and manage LEI codes in India. The Global Legal Entity Identifier
Foundation (GLEIF) accredits the local operating unit in India for issuance and
management of LEI code. The depositories are responsible for mapping the LEI code
provided by the issuers with the ISIN at the time of activation of the ISIN for future
issuances, with a deadline of September 30.
Circular issued by SEBI
SEBI has issued a circular introducing the LEI system, which comes into force immediately.
However, the requirement of LEI for issuers proposing to list or having outstanding
municipal debt securities will be specified later by SEBI.
RBI Report on Currency and Finance
On May 3, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released a report on currency and finance
for the financial year (FY) 2022-23. The theme of the report is ‘Towards a Greener Cleaner
India,’ which reflects India’s focus on reducing carbon emissions and promoting
sustainable growth.
Dimensions of climate change
The report addresses four key aspects of climate change, encompassing its exceptional
size and rapidity, macroeconomic impacts, financial stability implications, and strategies to
reduce climate risks.
India’s green financing requirement and net-zero target
India’s green financing requirement is estimated to be at least 2.5% of gross domestic
product (GDP) annually till 2030. The report highlights that India has embarked on a
targeted and time-bound climate action plan, and currently ranks the best amongst G-20
countries as per the Climate Change Performance Index, 2023. India’s net-zero target year
is 2070, and for this, the country would require an accelerated reduction in the energy
intensity of GDP by around 5% annually and a significant improvement in its energy mix in
favor of renewables to around 80% by 2070-71.
Balanced policy intervention needed
The RBI stressed the need for a well-rounded policy intervention, ensuring progress
across all policy levers, to enable India to accomplish its green transition targets by 2030
and, in the future, attain the net-zero goal by 2070.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's Visit to Maldives
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the Maldives marks the first visit by an Indian
Defence Minister in 11 years, highlighting the growing relationship between India and the
island nation.
Inauguration of the ‘Ekatha Harbour’
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Didi, laid the
foundation stone for the Maldives National Defence Forces Coast Guard ‘Ekatha Harbour’
on May 3. The ‘Ekatha Harbour’ is a coast guard harbour and repair facility in Sifavaru,
and it is one of India’s largest grant-in-aid projects.
Gifting Patrol Vessels
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gifted a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the
Maldives during his visit to the country on May 3. The gifting of the two platforms to one
of India’s strategically important maritime neighbors is a move to counter China’s
persistent efforts to increase its strategic influence in the region. The fast patrol vessel will
enhance the Maldives’ maritime security, while the landing craft will improve its coastal
protection capabilities. The move is expected to bolster India’s defense cooperation with
the Maldives, a country that has increasingly become an important partner in India’s
Indian Ocean strategy.
Strengthening Partnership and Security
In a joint communique issued at the end of Union Defence Minister’s three-day tour, the
two sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and security in the
region, recognizing the need to work together to address common security challenges.
Both ministers also expressed their commitment to upholding principles of respecting
international law and rules-based international order.
New US-Mexico Immigration Policies
The US and Mexico have agreed on a five-point plan to deter illegal border crossings while
also opening up other pathways for migrants. Homeland Security adviser Liz Sherwood-
Randall met with Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and other top officials,
emerging with a plan that includes Mexico continuing to accept migrants from Venezuela,
Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua who are turned away at the border. In addition, up to 100,000
individuals from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador who have family in the US will be
eligible to live and work there.
COVID-19 Restrictions Set to Lift
COVID-19 restrictions have allowed US officials to turn away tens of thousands of migrants
crossing the southern border, but those restrictions will lift on May 11th, and border
officials are bracing for a surge. The US is deploying 1,500 active-duty US troops for
administrative support and implementing other crackdown measures to manage
overcrowding and other possible issues that might arise once the restrictions end.
Screening and Penalizing Illegal Crossers
The US plans to swiftly screen migrants seeking asylum at the border itself, quickly deport
those deemed unqualified, and penalize people who cross illegally into the US or illegally
move through another country on their way to the US border. The US also plans to
penalize and deport migrants who illegally cross into the US.
Mexico Accepting Limited Number of Migrants
Mexico will keep accepting a maximum of 30,000 migrants every month from the four
nations that are contributing significantly to the growing number of illegal border
crossings, and it is not easy to repatriate these migrants quickly back to their home
countries. Haiti has the highest number of asylum seekers in Mexico.
National Guard at the Border
Currently, there are 2,500 National Guard members at the border, but they are not
working in a law enforcement capacity. The former President of the United States sent
active-duty troops to aid in dealing with the processing of large groups of migrants.
Internet in India Report 2022
A new report published by IAMAI and Kantar revealed that a majority of Indians have
become active internet users in 2022, with 52% of the population or 759 million people
accessing the internet at least once a month. The report indicated that the figure of active
internet users in India is projected to increase to 900 million by 2025. It was also noted
that of the current active internet users in India, 399 million are from rural areas, while 360
million are from urban areas.
Rural India Driving Growth of the Internet
According to the report, rural India is driving the growth of the internet in the country,
with 56% of all new internet users in India expected to be from rural areas by 2025. The
report revealed that, while urban India had an internet penetration rate of about 71%, it
only had a growth rate of 6% in 2022. On the other hand, rural India had a growth rate of
14% over the past year, which led to most of the overall increase in numbers. However,
the report underlined the digital divide between states, with Bihar having less than half
the level of internet penetration than the leading state of Goa.
Gender Divide Corrected
The report indicated that 54% of active internet users were male, while 57% of new users
in 2022 were female. The report estimates that by 2025, 65% of new users will be female,
which will help bridge the gender gap. Furthermore, the report states that digital access
has improved not only in terms of coverage but also in terms of usage depth. While 100%
of users access the internet via mobile, the use of other devices (tablets, streaming
devices, ‘smart’ devices) has risen from 8% in 2021 to 13% in 2022.
Brazil’s Fake News Law
Brazil’s Congress is considering a regulatory bill that would shift the responsibility of
reporting illegal content on their sites onto internet companies. The bill, known as the
Fake News Law or Bill 2630, proposes penalties for tech companies that fail to crack down
on fake news and other illegal materials on their platforms. This proposed legislation
would create one of the strictest regulations governing social media and content-hosting
websites.
Controversial initiative
The introduction of Bill 2630 has caused a conflict between the government of President
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and tech giants like Google and Facebook. These companies have
cautioned that the legislation could be employed to impose censorship and threaten the
existence of open content services. Google was forced to remove a link from its homepage
in Brazil that advocated against the bill. The link alleged that the bill would cause public
confusion and called on users to contact their congressional representatives to speak out
against the legislation.
Order for testimony
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued an order requiring the Brazilian
leaders of major tech companies to give testimony to federal police about possible
misinformation spread about the bill. The order included the heads of Google, Meta,
Spotify, and Brasil Paralelo, a conservative content website.
Metavalent Bonding
Metavalent bonding is a newly discovered chemical bonding phenomenon that has caught
the attention of the scientific community. This bonding mechanism is found in solids and
exhibits a unique property that can conduct electricity like a metal and heat like a glass.
This property is known to tailor the thermoelectric performance of quantum materials and
convert waste heat to electricity.
zT and the material constants that constitute it
The performance evaluation of a material is done by using the thermoelectric index
known as zT, which is a dimensionless index that considers the electrical resistivity,
Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity. Efficiency is directly proportional to zT,
meaning that the higher the zT value, the better the efficiency. Nevertheless, increasing
the zT value is a daunting task due to the interdependencies between the material
constants that constitute zT, which are in contradiction with each other.
New Research Breakthrough
Researchers have recently turned to chemical bonding in solids to optimize thermoelectric
performance in quantum materials. They utilized metavalent bonding, a chemical bond
possessing qualities of both metallic and glass bonding, to achieve low thermal
conductivity in materials.
TlBiSe2 and its behavior
The researchers analyzed TlBiSe2, a renowned topological insulator, by synchrotron X-ray
pair distribution function experiment done in Petra-III, DESY, Germany. Due to the
influence of metavalent bonding, the material displayed a lattice shearing phenomenon
resulting from local distortion caused by dual lone pair induction. Atoms in a locally
distorted crystal exhibit slightly distorted positions.
The highest reported zT among n-type thallium chalcogenides for TlBiSe2 is around 0.8.
The research provides fundamental insights into how novel chemical bonding can be used
to optimize thermoelectric performance in quantum materials. Their work can help to
advance the field of green energy production and provide a new direction for the
country’s newly launched Quantum Mission.
“Geoeconomic Fragmentation: Sub-Saharan Africa Caught between the Fault Lines” Report
The IMF has recently released a report titled “Geoeconomic Fragmentation: Sub-Saharan
Africa Caught between the Fault Lines”.
Sub-Saharan African economies may face a long-term decline of as much as 4% of
their gross domestic product in a decade if the world is fragmented into isolated
trade blocs centered around China or the United States and the European Union
(EU).
The region stands to lose the most in a severely fragmented world compared to
other regions.
While economic and trade ties with China, India and other partners have provided
benefits, Sub-Saharan Africa has been negatively impacted by the recent increase in
geopolitical tensions. The escalation of these tensions would see countries in the
region hit by higher import prices or even lose access to key export markets,
potentially impacting half of the region’s international trade value.
The financing options for Sub-Saharan African countries have deteriorated
significantly over the past year due to the acceleration in the tightening of global
monetary policy. This has led to higher interest rates worldwide, causing borrowing
costs for Sub-Saharan African countries to increase both domestically and
internationally. T
The Sub-Saharan African countries could face a loss of around $10 billion in foreign
direct investment and official development assistance inflows each year, which
amounts to about 0.5% of the region’s gross domestic product.
Recommendations
To build resilience, the IMF suggests that Sub-Saharan African countries strengthen the
ongoing regional trade integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area, expand
financial inclusion, identify and nurture sectors that may benefit from trade diversion, and
promote economic integration and cooperation through multilateral institutions.
ESMA’s Derecognition of 6 Indian CCPs
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the European Union’s financial
markets regulator and supervisor, has derecognized six Indian central counterparties
(CCPs) from April 30, 2023, due to no cooperation arrangements between ESMA and
Indian regulators.
Derecognition of Indian CCPs
EMIR mandates the recognition from ESMA for a central counterparty (CCP) in a third
country to offer clearing services to European banks. ESMA reviewed the recognition of all
third-country CCPs (TC-CCPs) that had been recognized before September 21, 2020, and
decided to derecognize Indian CCPs due to no cooperation arrangements with Indian
regulators, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities and Exchange Board
of India (SEBI), and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
While ESMA wants to supervise these six CCPs, Indian regulators feel that these entities
cannot be subjected to the ESMA regulations since they operate in India and not in the EU.
Impact of the derecognition
The derecognition of these TC-CCPs implies that they can no longer offer their services to
clearing members and trading venues that are established in the EU. Several significant
European banks that deal in the domestic markets for forex, forward, swap, equities, and
commodities, such as Deutsche Bank, Societe Generale, and BNP Paribas, will be affected.
Clearing members will also be affected by higher capital and margin requirements, an
increased credit risk, and the absence of multilateral netting benefits. Around 20% of
foreign portfolio investors (FPI) registered in India are from Europe.
Role of CCP
CCPs are responsible for two primary functions as an intermediate party in market
transactions: clearing and settlement. They ensure the trade terms are guaranteed and
act as an intermediary between participants involved in admitted transactions for
settlement. In order to settle their transactions, they become the buyer to every seller and
the seller to every buyer. The RBI has authorized CCPs to operate in India under the
Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
Coronation of King Charles III
The history of British royal coronations in London dates back around a thousand years,
with numerous rituals developed over that period. The coronation of King Charles III and
his wife, Camilla, will take place on May 6, which coincides with the anniversary of the 1910
death of his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII.
Westminster Abbey, the chosen location for the coronation since 1066
Westminster Abbey has been the site of coronation ceremonies for British monarchs since
1066, when William the Conqueror defeated England. Over the centuries, a total of 38
coronations have taken place at the cathedral.
St. Edward’s Crown: The centerpiece of the so-called Crown Jewels
The British royal family possesses multiple crowns, and King Charles III will wear St.
Edward’s Crown during his coronation, as is customary. St. Edward’s Crown is the oldest
of the British royal crowns and is a part of the Crown Jewels collection. King Charles II was
the first monarch to wear the crown, which was created in 1661. The crown is made
entirely of gold and is adorned with rubies, amethysts, and sapphires. It weighs around
two kilograms and is estimated to be worth $40 million (€36 million). The crown’s name is
derived from St. Edward, who was the final Anglo-Saxon king of England and ruled from
1042 until his passing in 1066.
Camilla’s crown for the coronation
Camilla, currently Queen Consort, will wear the crown made for the 1911 coronation
ceremony of Queen Mary, consort of King George V, during the coronation. For the first
time since the 1700s, a queen consort’s crown will be reused in a coronation. Before the
coronation, the Koh-i-noor diamond, a significant gem in the crown, will be taken out, as it
has caused controversy as it came into the possession of the British royal family under
questionable circumstances. Instead, Camilla’s crown will feature some of Queen
Elizabeth II’s favorite stones, as four nations – India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran – are
attempting to reclaim the Koh-i-noor from Great Britain.
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Skywatchers and astronomy enthusiasts are in for a celestial treat on May 5, 2023, as a
penumbral lunar eclipse is set to occur. It is the first of two lunar eclipses that are
expected to occur that year.
What is a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse?
There are three types of lunar eclipses – total lunar eclipses, partial lunar eclipses, and
penumbral lunar eclipses. A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the moon moves
through the outermost region of the Earth’s shadow known as the penumbra. During this
event, the moon appears slightly darker than usual.
Significance of the Eclipse
Unlike total and partial lunar eclipses, the moon will not be concealed from view during
the penumbral lunar eclipse. Rather, a subtle darkening of the moon can be expected
during the phase of the eclipse. This eclipse is often mistaken for a regular full moon as it
does not present dramatic views from Earth.
Magnitude of the Eclipse
The umbral magnitude of the lunar eclipse will be -0.046, indicating that the moon will be
just missing the Earth’s inner shadow by a thin margin. According to astronomers, this
upcoming lunar eclipse is said to be the deepest penumbral lunar eclipse to see until
September 2042. The obscuration of the eclipse will be 0.0%, which means that not an iota
of the moon will be concealed from view during the eclipse.
Kyasanur Forest Disease
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the devastating impact of zoonotic diseases,
which can transmit from animals to humans. Efforts to break the chain of transmission
from wildlife to humans often receive inadequate attention, and the scientific rigour to
implement them is lacking. Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, is
one such zoonotic illness, where spillover events have increased, resulting in recurring
outbreaks.
Origins and Spread
KFD, a haemorrhagic fever borne by the tick, Haemaphysalis spinigera, is named after
Kyasanur forest in the Western Ghats, where it originated. Researchers believe that the
disease was endemic to the forests of the Western Ghats for centuries, circulating silently
among primates and ticks. However, KFD was first identified in 1957 after an outbreak in a
Kyasanur forest village in Shivamogga district of Karnataka.
Although outbreaks have remained largely confined to the area, the disease has spread to
other Indian states in recent decades. Tamil Nadu and Kerala reported KFD for the first
time in 2013, followed by Goa in 2015 and Maharashtra in 2016. As per a 2019 study
published in the journal GeoHealth, India records 400-500 KFD cases annually.
The Reason behind Increasing KFD Cases
One of the reasons behind the increasing cases of KFD is the growing conflicts between
humans and monkeys, particularly the bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata), which is highly
susceptible to the KFD virus. Shivamogga district, which has a high population of bonnet
macaques, reports some of the highest instances of monkey raids on agricultural fields
and villages. Farmers often protest and demand that the government either control the
macaques or provide them compensation for the damage caused.
Government Plans to Address the Monkey Menace
To address the monkey menace, the government allocated Rs 6.25 crore in 2020-21,
including plans to set up “monkey parks” or rehabilitation centers in forests. However,
this proposal faced opposition from communities and environmentalists, who feared that
it would trigger KFD in the surrounding areas. In 2022, taking a cue from Himachal
Pradesh, the Karnataka forest department planned to sterilize the macaques. However,
the plan faced criticism from several quarters because of ethical concerns and is yet to be
implemented.
Root Cause of Human-Macaque Conflicts and KFD Outbreaks
According to researchers from the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and
Technology (TDU), Bengaluru, habitat loss is the root cause of the increase in human-
macaque conflicts as well as KFD outbreaks. The study found that almost 90% of
households in Shivamogga, which reported conflicts with macaques, were surrounded by
monoculture plantations or degraded forests, where native fruit-bearing species had
declined. Areas where forests were damaged had the greatest occurrence of KFD and
density of ticks.
A Solution to Mitigate the Situation
Ecological restoration of degraded forests by reconnecting wildlife corridors and forest
fragments seems to be the only sustainable and ethical solution to mitigate the situation.
Mature trees can be periodically removed in patches, and native fruit trees can be planted
to restore the habitat. With time, entire plantations can be converted into native forests,
addressing the problems of macaque conflict and KFD. However, the government must
also take the opposition of local communities and environmentalists into account while
making policy decisions.
India’s Own Heat Index
Next year, India plans to launch a composite index of its own to measure the effect of heat
on its population and produce impact-based heat wave alerts for specific locations. The
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already launched an experimental heat index
for various regions of the country, which calculates how hot it feels by taking into account
air temperature and relative humidity.
Introducing the Heat Hazard Score
The IMD is now developing a new multi-parameter product called the “heat hazard score,”
which will integrate other parameters such as wind and duration of exposure, making it
an effective indicator of heat stress for people. The heat hazard score will be operational
next summer season and will be used to issue impact-based heat wave alerts for specific
locations.
Differences from the US Heat Index
One major difference between the heat index of the US and India’s heat hazard score is
that the latter will consider other parameters that aggravate heat situations such as
minimum temperature, wind, and exposure duration.
Predicted Heat Wave Hazards
According to IMD, there will be an increase in the maximum temperature and heatwave
days in May for the eastern and central-eastern regions of India. IMD data demonstrates
that there has been a 24% rise in the number of heatwaves from 2010 to 2019 when
compared to 2000 to 2009. The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change also indicates that the major climate risk for south Asian countries will
be the rising mortality rate due to heat waves.
Impact of Heat Waves on Human Health and Agriculture
Heat waves have a significant impact on human health, leading to cramps, exhaustion,
stress, heat stroke, and even death. Individuals who are old, young, have heart and
breathing problems, kidney diseases, and mental disorders are at a higher risk of being
affected. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can significantly reduce crop yields
and cause many crops to fail. Around 380 million people, which is approximately 75% of
the workforce in India, experience heat-related stress. In India, about 75% of workers
(around 380 million people) experience heat-related stress.
Indian-origin Ajay Banga Chosen as World Bank President
Indian-origin Ajay Banga has been selected as the new World Bank President. He will serve
in this position for five years starting from June 2, succeeding David Malpass. The World
Bank aims to tackle climate change more effectively under Banga’s leadership. The World
Bank has 189 nations, including India, as its members. US President Joe Biden nominated
Ajay Banga for the post of World Bank President, and he was the only candidate
nominated for the role.
Facts About Ajay Banga
Ajay Banga is a recipient of India’s fourth-highest civilian award, Padma Shri.
Banga finished his schooling at Hyderabad Public School and obtained his post-
graduate degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A).
He is currently serving as the Vice Chairman of equity firm General Atlantic.
Banga started his career at Nestle in 1981 and then worked for PepsiCo. He spent
over a decade at Nestle in various roles, including marketing, sales, and
management.
Banga played an instrumental role in launching fast-food franchises in India while
working at PepsiCo.
He spent ten years as the President and CEO of Mastercard and was also a member
of the Board of Directors.
He held various positions at Citigroup Inc., including as CEO of the Asia-Pacific
region.
Ajay Banga’s net worth is $206 million, and he owns Mastercard stocks worth around
$113,123,489. He was reportedly taking home $23,250,000 annually as his salary at
Mastercard.
What is Arexvy?
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the world’s first respiratory
syncytial virus vaccine called Arexvy. The vaccine, manufactured by British pharmaceutical
company GSK, has been approved for individuals aged 60 years and above in the United
States.
What is respiratory syncytial virus?
Respiratory syncytial virus is a respiratory virus that is extremely infectious and gives rise
to indications like cough, sneezing, fever, wheezing, runny nose, and a reduced appetite.
This virus is air-borne as well as fomite-borne, transmitted through coughing and
sneezing, through direct contact with an infected individual, or by touching objects with
the virus on it. In case of infection, treatments include over-the-counter pain relievers,
staying hydrated, and in severe cases, hospitalisation and oxygen support.
In the US, respiratory syncytial virus is the most common cause of bronchiolitis,
inflammation of the small airways in the lungs, and pneumonia, infection of the lungs, in
children aged less than a year. In older adults, respiratory syncytial virus is a common
cause of lower respiratory tract disease that can affect the lungs and cause life-
threatening pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
Arexvy Vaccine
The objective of the vaccine is to hinder respiratory syncytial virus-induced lower
respiratory tract illness in elderly individuals. Arexvy is an adjuvanted respiratory syncytial
virus vaccine, which means that it has an adjuvant, an ingredient that helps create a
stronger immune response to vaccination.
Efficacy of Arexvy
A clinical trial was conducted in the US and internationally in individuals aged 60 years and
above. The trial revealed that the usage of Arexvy lowered the possibility of developing
lower respiratory tract disease related to respiratory syncytial virus by 82.6 percent and
reduced the chance of developing severe lower respiratory tract disease by 94.1 percent.
This indicates that the vaccine’s overall efficacy is 82.6 percent. This means that the overall
efficacy of Arexvy is 82.6 per cent. In older adults with at least one underlying medical
condition, the efficacy of Arexvy was 94.6 per cent.
Safety and Effectiveness of Arexvy
GSK has reported that Arexvy has an acceptable safety profile and was generally well
tolerated. The most commonly observed adverse events after receiving the vaccine were
pain at the injection site, muscle pain (myalgia), joint pain (arthralgia), fatigue, and
headache. Ten participants who received the vaccine reported experiencing atrial
fibrillation within 30 days of vaccination. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and rapid heart
rhythm that can cause blood clots in the heart, but in these cases, the symptoms were
mostly mild to moderate.
Launch and Availability
Arexvy is scheduled to take place in the US prior to the 2023/2024 respiratory syncytial
virus season. This vaccine has not yet been approved for use in any other country outside
of the US.
Google rolls out Passkeys: The Future of Secure Sign-In
On May 4, 2023, Google announced a major new security feature for its services: Passkeys.
With this new technology, users can log in to their Google accounts without using a
password, using their device’s biometrics or PIN for authentication. Google is encouraging
other developers to adopt passkeys as the future of secure sign-in.
What are Passkeys and how do they work?
Passkeys are a new way to authenticate yourself when logging in to your Google account.
When you set up Passkeys, a unique pair of cryptographic keys (a private key and a public
key) is generated for your account. The private key stays on your device for security, while
the public key is uploaded to Google’s servers.
When you want to log in to your Google account, your device uses the private key to
verify your identity, allowing for a passwordless sign-in experience. This means that
you don’t have to remember a password or worry about someone stealing it.
Using Passkeys for authentication offers higher security because the private key is
stored on your device and never leaves it. This makes it much more difficult for
hackers to steal your login information.
How to set up Passkeys for your Google account?
To set up Passkeys for your Google account, you need to have an Android device
running Android 12 or higher. You can set up Passkeys by going to the Google
Account Settings, selecting “Security,” and then choosing “Passkeys.”
Once you’ve set up Passkeys, you can use your device’s biometrics (such as your
fingerprint or face recognition) or a PIN to log in to your Google account. You can
also use Passkeys to sign in to other Google services, such as Google Drive, Gmail,
and YouTube.
Why are Passkeys the future of secure sign-in?
Passkeys are the future of secure sign-in because they offer a much higher level of
security than traditional passwords. Passwords are often weak and easy to guess,
and many people use the same password for multiple accounts, making it easy for
hackers to steal login information.
Passkeys, on the other hand, are unique to each user and are stored securely on
their device. This makes them more difficult to steal by unauthorized users like
hackers.
May 5, 2023
ST Status of Meitei Community
On May 3, 2023, violent clashes broke out at various places in Manipur during the course
of a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM).
Flag marches were conducted by the Army and Assam Rifles in the regions affected by the
clashes. This incident has brought to light the ongoing conflict in Manipur over the
demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Meitei community.
Demand for ST status
The Meitei community in Manipur has been demanding inclusion in the state’s ST list for
at least a decade. The Scheduled Tribes Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) has
been pushing for this demand. In April 2023, the Manipur High Court released an order
asking the government to consider the demand after the Meetei Tribe Union filed a plea
seeking directions to the Manipur government.
Opposition to the demand
Tribal groups in Manipur have been opposing the demand for ST status for the Meitei
community. The opposition is based on the fear of losing job opportunities and affirmative
actions granted to STs, as well as the dominance of the Meiteis in population and political
representation. Furthermore, it has been argued that some sections of the Meitei
community are already categorized under Scheduled Castes (SC) or Other Backward
Classes (OBC), and that the Manipuri language spoken by the Meiteis is already listed in
the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Population distribution
Approximately 64.6% of the population of Manipur is constituted by the Meiteis, who are
the largest community in the state. There are 34 recognized tribes in Manipur, which are
broadly classified as ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ and ‘Any Naga Tribes’. The remaining 35.4% of the
population resides in the hills surrounding the valley.
Churachandpur violence
There has been growing discontent and tension among the hill tribes in Manipur due to
several factors. In late April, Churachandpur witnessed violence after the state
government issued notices claiming illegal settlements and encroachers in the
Churachandpur-Khoupum Protected Forest area. The government’s subsequent eviction
drive resulted in clashes. Kuki groups have claimed that the survey and eviction violate
Article 371C, which confers some administrative autonomy to the tribal-dominated hill
areas of Manipur.
New Non-Invasive Method to Extract DNA from Palaeolithic Remains
By using a new non-invasive method to extract DNA from a Paleolithic deer tooth pendant
found in Denisova Cave, Siberia, scientists have obtained the genomes of both deer and
ancient humans. This breakthrough led to the ability to determine that the pendant was
roughly 19,000-25,000 years old. This new method offers a promising alternative to
traditional methods of DNA extraction, which can be destructive and alter specimens or
risk alteration of specimens submerged in extraction buffer solutions.
Overview of the non-destructive DNA extraction method
The non-destructive DNA extraction method involves gradually increasing the
temperature while submerging the object in a sodium phosphate buffer. DNA trapped in
ancient bone and tooth artifacts is released into the solution, enabling further sequencing
and analysis without causing damage to the specimen.
Promising artifacts for DNA analysis
Artifacts made of stones, bones, and teeth offer insights into human behaviors and
culture in Paleolithic times. Objects made from animal bones or teeth, in particular, are
promising because they are porous and allow penetration of DNA-containing fluids such
as sweat, blood, or saliva, which can be used to infer the makers or users of such objects.
Identification of a female individual with genetic affinities
The deer tooth pendant’s creator or wearer was identified by researchers as a female
individual who shared a close genetic relationship with a group of Ancient North Eurasian
people who lived in the same period but were only previously discovered farther east in
Siberia.
Potential of ancient artifacts
The recent findings demonstrate the potential of ancient artifacts to provide a previously
undiscovered source of ancient human DNA that can directly link genetic and cultural
information. It has been recommended that archaeologists follow protocols to minimize
handling during and after excavation to prevent surface DNA contamination.
MV-ITT LION (V-273)
A cargo vessel named MV-ITT LION (V-273) was flagged off recently from Shyama Prasad
Mukherjee Port, Kolkata to Sittwe Port in Myanmar, marking the inaugural shipment to
operationalize the port in the Rakhine State. The ceremony was presided over by Union
minister Shantanu Thakur. The cargo vessel is carrying 1,000 metric tonnes of cement in
20,000 bags and is expected to reach Sittwe Port on May 9. The vessel will be received by
Cabinet minister Sarbanand Sonowal at the port.
Development of Sittwe Port
Sittwe Port has been developed with Indian assistance as part of the Kaladan Multimodal
Transit Transport Project (KMTTP). The port is linked to Paletwa in Myanmar by a
waterway that runs inland, and from Paletwa, it is connected to Zorinpui in Mizoram by a
road section. The Kaladan River connects Sittwe Port in Myanmar with Mizoram in India.
The port has been developed under a framework agreement between India and Myanmar
for the construction and operation of a Multimodal Transit Transport Facility on the
Kaladan River.
Benefits of KMTTP
Once fully operationalized, the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) will
provide alternative connectivity from the east coast of India to the northeastern states
through the Sittwe port. The project aims to enhance trade and commerce between India
and Myanmar and the wider region. The opening of the Sittwe port will create new
opportunities for trade and transit from and to Myanmar, particularly the Rakhine State.
Horaglanis populi
Researchers in southern India have made a fascinating discovery after a six-year-long
survey for signs of subterranean creatures. They found a new species of subterranean
catfish, which they named Horaglanis populi. This creature dwells only in underground
aquifers, and encounters with them are often by chance. Researchers used several
methods to locate the subterranean catfish, including draining wells and water tanks,
searching wetlands, gardens, and plantations, and putting out bait traps in caves.
Unique Characteristics of Horaglanis populi
Horaglanis populi is a tiny, blind, and pigmentless catfish with no eyes and blood-red
coloring. Genetic analysis showed that it was genetically much different from all the other
known species. However, it is not morphologically different from other subterranean
catfish, making genetic barcoding the only way to distinguish it from other species.
The discovery of Horaglanis populi is significant because it shows that the diversity of
subterranean fish species is still underestimated. This new species was found in several
Kerala towns, including Malapally, Edanadu, Chengannur, and Thiruvanvandoor, in
southern India, about 1,200 miles south of New Delhi. The name Horaglanis populi means
“people,” honoring the citizen scientists who contributed to its identification. The genetic
distance between Horaglanis populi and other known catfish species is about 13% to 17%.
Petersberg Climate Dialogue
The Petersberg Dialogue on Climate Change was held in Berlin from May 2-3, 2023, and
was hosted by Germany and the United Arab Emirates, which is hosting the 28th
Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change. The conference brought together ministers from 40 countries to discuss the way
forward towards COP28. Discussions were initiated around a potential global target for
renewables at the next climate conference.
Inaugural Address
At the inaugural address, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized
the need for cleaning up economies, breaking fossil fuel addiction, and driving
decarbonization in every sector to achieve a 1.5-degree global warming pathway. He
reiterated his previous proposal for an Acceleration Agenda.
Acceleration Agenda
The goal of the Acceleration Agenda is to hasten countries’ Net Zero targets by requiring
the phasing out of coal in OECD nations by 2030 and by 2040 in all other countries, as well
as reaching Net Zero electricity production and decarbonizing major industries.
Global Stocktake
2023 is the year for the Global Stocktake, which is a periodic review of global climate
action that aims to assess whether current efforts will enable us to reach the objectives set
out in the Paris Agreement. The report has been underway for the past two years and is
set to be released in September of 2023.
The Indian side highlighted that the initial results of the Global Stocktake must focus on
conveying a message regarding sustainable lifestyles and consumption. This message is
crucial to inform the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions as well as
improved international cooperation.
Climate Finance
Developed countries are on a good track to deliver the $100 billion per year they had
promised to mobilize by 2020 during the COP15 in 2009. However, providing the pledged
$100 billion by 2023 may not be enough, as climate finance requirements for emerging
markets alone are estimated at $1 trillion per year by 2030. This indicates that developed
countries have mobilized an amount that is more than ten times smaller than the climate
finance needs, even after committing to the $100 billion goal for 14 years.
Global Warming’s Four Indias, 2022
Global Warming’s Four Indias, 2022 is a report that was released recently by the Yale
Program on Climate Change Communication and CVoter International, an Indian
international polling agency headquartered in Delhi.
Key Findings of the Survey
82% of the Indian population is either alarmed or concerned about global warming
or favours climate and energy policies.
There are four unique audiences within the Indian public, each responding
differently to the issue of climate change.
1. The Alarmed (54%) are the most convinced of the reality and dangers of global
warming
2. The Concerned (29%) know less about it but view it as a serious threat.
3. The Cautious (11%) believe global warming is happening but are less certain of the
causes
4. The Disengaged (7%) rarely or never engage with the issue.
The Alarmed segment is the most supportive of political and national action to
address global warming and motivated to take individual action.
The Disengaged are the most likely to say they don’t know or don’t have an opinion
about the issue.
The most favored policies across the three segments include developing a national
program to teach Indians about global warming, developing a national program to
train people for renewable energy jobs, and encouraging local communities to build
check dams to increase local water supplies. However, few of the Disengaged favor
these climate and energy policies.
The findings also underscore how social and economic inequalities increase climate
vulnerability among diverse Indian populations, requiring policymakers and
businesses to take immediate action to address global warming and develop
sustainable solutions.
Global Report on Food Crises 2023
The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) for 2023 was produced by the Food Security
Information Network (FSIN) and released by the Global Network against Food Crises
(GNAFC). The GRFC report serves as a reference document for acute food insecurity at the
global, regional, and country levels. The primary objective of the report is to provide
independent and consensus-based evidence and analysis that can inform humanitarian
and development actions.
Global Network Against Food Crisis
The Global Network Against Food Crisis is a coalition of organizations working in the fields
of humanitarian aid and development, who share the aim of addressing the underlying
causes of food crises and promoting sustainable solutions. They achieve this by working
together to analyze and share knowledge, coordinate evidence-based responses, and
collaborate across the HDP nexus. The GNAFC provides resources such as the Global
Report on Food Crises and Hunger Hotspots reports and holds events focused on tackling
food insecurity and addressing issues such as climate change, conflict, and economic
factors that contribute to food crises.
A Quarter of a Billion People Experiencing Acute Hunger
The Global Report on Food Crises 2023 has revealed the surge in the number of people
who require immediate food and livelihood assistance due to acute food insecurity.
According to the report, more than 250 million people are experiencing acute hunger, and
this is primarily caused by economic shocks and the Ukraine war. In 2022, the number of
people who faced acute food insecurity has increased to around 258 million people in 58
countries and territories, from 193 million people in 53 countries and territories in 2021.
This trend indicates a worsening situation in global acute food insecurity.
Drivers of the Crisis
The report identifies three crucial drivers of this crisis: economic shocks,
conflict/insecurity, and weather/climate extremes. Economic shocks caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent war in Ukraine have surpassed conflict as the
primary driver of acute food insecurity and malnutrition. In 19 countries/territories,
conflict/insecurity was the biggest contributor to the food crisis, especially in food import-
dependent and low-income countries that had already been adversely affected by the
COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, in 12 countries, weather/climate extremes were the
primary reason for the acute food insecurity.
Challenges in Achieving Food Security
This latest data shows that the world is far behind in achieving food security and improved
nutrition. The report is a reminder of the world’s failure to progress towards the
Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger by 2030. To address the issue, the report
calls for urgent and coordinated action by governments, humanitarian organizations, and
the private sector.
“Is an End to Child Marriage Within Reach?” Report
Child marriage remains a prevalent issue worldwide, with many underage individuals
forced into marriage despite various rules and laws prohibiting the practice. The United
Nations defines child marriage as a marriage under the age of 18 and considers it a
fundamental violation of human rights. Both boys and girls are placed in disadvantageous
positions by child marriage, with girls often experiencing early pregnancy, interrupted
schooling, limited opportunities, and domestic violence. In contrast, boys may face adult
roles for which they are unprepared, overburdened with economic pressure, and unable
to progress in life. In this regard, the UNICEF recently released a report titled ‘Is an End to
Child Marriage Within Reach?’.
Prevalence of Child Marriage
West and Central Africa have the highest rates of child marriages, with one in three
women being married before the age of 18 in these parts of the continent. Child marriage
rates are somewhat lower in Eastern and Southern Africa, South Asia, Latin America and
the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa. Roughly 115 million children
worldwide were married before reaching the age of 18.
Progress in South Asia
There have been some positive signs in the fight against child marriage, particularly in
South Asia, where a girl’s likelihood of marrying in childhood dropped by nearly half, from
46 per cent to 26 per cent. India has played a significant role in driving this progress,
although Bangladesh, Maldives, and Pakistan have also shown notable declines.
Concerns About the Future of Child Marriage
Although there has been a decline in the rate of child marriage, about 640 million girls,
teens, and women have been victims of child marriage, and 12 million girls and teens
worldwide become brides each year. The rate of decline in child marriages is not
significant enough, and at this rate, the practice of child marriage will continue to exist for
300 more years.
UNICEF has expressed fears that child marriage’s hard-won gains may be eliminated due
to global conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change. According to the agency,
the COVID-19 pandemic could result in over 10 million child marriages between 2020 and
2030. The UNICEF report mentions sub-Saharan Africa as a region of special concern, with
the rate of child marriages expected to increase by 10 per cent by 2030. Girls in the region
are especially at risk of child marriage compared to the rest of the world.
New York Becomes the First US State to Ban Fossil Fuels in New Buildings
New York has taken a monumental step in the fight against climate change by becoming
the first state in the United States to ban natural gas and other fossil fuels in most new
buildings. This decision has been seen as a major win for climate advocates but may also
face pushback from fossil fuel interests.
About the new law
The legislation prohibits gas-fueled stoves, furnaces, and propane heating, while
promoting the usage of environmentally friendly equipment, such as induction stoves and
heat pumps, in the majority of new homes built in the state. Additionally, all-electric
heating and cooking will be mandated for buildings under seven stories by 2026 and for
taller buildings by 2029.
Buildings Account for 32% of NY State’s Planet-warming Emissions
A report published in 2022 revealed that buildings contribute to 32% of New York State’s
emissions that cause global warming. Methane, which is the key ingredient in natural gas
used for heating homes and stoves, has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon
dioxide in the first 20 years of its release into the atmosphere. Consequently, scientists are
looking at reducing the use of this fossil fuel to decrease pollution that causes global
warming. Moreover, research has shown that gas stoves are responsible for causing
serious health problems, such as asthma.
Berkeley Leads the Way
Although New York is the first state to introduce a law of this kind, other cities have
already set an example. Berkeley was the first US city to pass a code prohibiting natural
gas hookups in new buildings in 2019, followed swiftly by San Francisco in 2020 and New
York City in 2021.
Pushback from the Natural Gas Industry
The state’s new law has been criticized by the natural gas industry, who argue that it limits
consumer choice. Concerns were raised that the ban on natural gas could increase costs,
jeopardize environmental progress, and deny affordable energy to underserved
populations.
More Climate Change Efforts
Aside from the prohibition of natural gas, the state budget of New York also promotes
other initiatives to combat climate change, which includes the establishment of publicly
owned renewable energy projects that would generate eco-friendly jobs, and the cap-and-
invest program. The program compels companies that have a greater carbon footprint to
procure permits to pollute. The revenue raised would go towards initiatives that offset the
impact of planet-warming pollution.
China Competition 2.0 Bill
US senators have launched a new legislative push called the China Competition Bill 2.0 to
counter China’s growing influence in various areas.
What is the Purpose of the China Competition Bill 2.0?
The China Competition Bill 2.0 aims to limit the flow of technology to Beijing to
safeguard the United States’ business interests and security.
It also aims to deter China from initiating a conflict with Taiwan by tightening rules.
Additionally, the bill seeks funding for domestic investments in key technology areas
and provides a better US alternative to China’s Belt and Road global infrastructure
initiative.
What is the Chips and Science Act?
The newly proposed legislation aims to broaden and replicate the Chips and Science Act.
The Chips and Science Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden last year. It
authorized more than $170bn over five years to boost US scientific research to better
compete with China and $52bn in new subsidies for semiconductor manufacturing and
research. Its purpose is to lift Washington’s competition with Beijing in semiconductors
and other technology.
Tu-160 Bomber
Russia has reportedly deployed the world’s largest bomber, the Tu-160, in the ongoing
conflict in Ukraine. The Tu-160, also known as the Blackjack in NATO countries, is a
strategic bomber developed by Russia’s Tupolev Design Bureau in the 1980s.
Capabilities of Tu-160 Bomber
The Tu-160 bomber is propelled by four turbofan engines with afterburners, allowing it to
reach a maximum speed of about 2,200 km/h or Mach 1.6. It has a range exceeding 12,000
km and is equipped with an in-flight refueling system, enabling it to remain in the air for
extended periods. Additionally, the bomber has the capacity to carry different armaments,
such as nuclear and conventional bombs, cruise missiles, and anti-ship missiles. The
bomber can carry its weapons in its internal bomb bay or on external pylons, with a
maximum payload capacity of up to 40,000 kg.
Sophisticated Avionics Suite
The Tu-160 bomber is fitted with an advanced avionics suite, which comprises a digital fly-
by-wire control system, advanced communication and navigation systems, and
sophisticated targeting systems. It has a crew of four, consisting of a pilot, co-pilot,
navigator, and weapons officer.
Deployment and Recent Role
Russia’s Air Force has been using the Tu-160 bomber since 1987, and the bomber has
received numerous upgrades over the years to enhance its capabilities and extend its
lifespan. The Tu-160 has played an important part in Russia’s military operations,
especially in Syria, in recent times.
India’s Interest in Buying Tu-160 Bombers
Last year, Indian Air Marshal Anoop Raha announced India’s interest in purchasing at
least six Tu-160 bombers from Russia to strengthen its strategic forces. Experts believe
that Tu-160 bombers could play a crucial role in a two-front battle by attacking vital air
bases, warships, and aircraft carriers patrolling the seas in Pakistan and China.
Defending Creative Voices Report
UNESCO has recently published a report called Defending Creative Voices which highlights
the need for increased protection for artists who have been affected by armed conflicts,
political instability, and natural calamities. This report comes in light of the dangers that
artists are facing around the world.
In 2021, 39 artists were killed in 12 different countries, while 119 were imprisoned in
24 countries.
Over 1,200 violations of artistic freedom were reported globally in a year, which
shows the extent of the problem.
Individuals working in the arts face various threats such as harassment, income loss,
legal prosecution, violence, censorship, and silencing.
Emergencies such as armed conflicts, political instability, and natural disasters can
further exacerbate these vulnerabilities.
The Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions became effective in 2007,
and 152 countries have ratified the treaty. However, only 27% of these countries have
created or supported safe environments for artists.
UNESCO has allocated $1 million to fund projects that promote artistic freedom in
over 25 countries. The financing will aid 13 projects led by the government and
several other initiatives administered by non-governmental organizations.
International cooperation is critical to protect artists and their freedom of
expression, especially in regions that are currently facing conflicts or natural
disasters
Notification to Tweak PMLA
The Indian government recently widened the scope of the Prevention of Money
Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, to include transactions facilitated by chartered accountants,
company secretaries, and cost and works accountants. This move is part of the
government’s efforts to tackle the issue of money laundering and prevent the misuse of
professionals in the financial sector for illegal activities.
What is the PMLA?
The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is a law that was passed in 2002 to
combat money laundering and other financial crimes. It was designed to prevent the use
of illegal funds to finance terrorist activities and other unlawful acts. The PMLA has been
amended several times since its introduction to expand its coverage and strengthen its
provisions.
What transactions are covered under the new law?
The recent changes in the law have broadened its scope to encompass actions carried out
by chartered accountants, company secretaries, and cost and works accountants on
behalf of their clients, including setting up a company, buying property, and conducting
financial transactions, which will now be included under the anti-money laundering law.
What is the responsibility of reporting entities?
Chartered accountants, company secretaries, and cost and works accountants have now
become “reporting entities” and are responsible for verifying the identity of clients,
examining their financial position, and recording the purpose of the transaction. If they
assist in a transaction that breaches the law, they will be held responsible under the
Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has the power to impose penalties
under Section 13 of the Act for non-compliance with the law.
What is the effect of the recent notification on reporting entities?
The recent notification ensures that reporting entities maintain records of all transactions
and furnish them to the director of the FIU. The Act also stipulates confidentiality on
information sought from the reporting entity, requiring adherence to the strictest of
professional standards. This move is expected to strengthen the government’s efforts to
combat money laundering and other financial crimes.
Recent Key Decisions of Himachal Pradesh Government
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet recently announced a series of changes recently, affecting
several aspects of the state.
Key Decisions of the Himachal Pradesh Government
Indira Gandhi Mahila Samman Nidhi
The cabinet decided to provide Rs 1,500 per month to all women aged 18-60 years in Spiti
valley under the Indira Gandhi Mahila Samman Nidhi. This decision was made during the
Himachal Day function on April 15 by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. In the
previous state budget, the Chief Minister had declared that a raised pension of Rs 1,500
per month would be provided to 2.31 lakh women who were earlier getting a pension of
Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,150.
Tax Increase
The cabinet granted its approval to raise the CGCR tax on tobacco in all its forms, which
include Pan Masala, Pan Chatney, and tobacco or tobacco substitutes, from Rs 3 per
quintal to Rs 4.50 per quintal.
E-Stamping
The cabinet approved the implementation of e-stamping for collecting stamp duty to
facilitate business activities. Physical stamp papers will no longer be printed and stamp
paper vendors will be authorized as collection centers. The dual system of using both
physical stamp paper and e-stamp paper will continue until March 31, 2023, after which
the use of physical stamp paper will be entirely discontinued.
Cabinet Sub-Committee
The cabinet formed a sub-committee under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister
Mukesh Agnihotri to create a report on the state’s financial condition. The chief minister
has been accusing the previous BJP government of causing a debt burden of Rs 75,000
crore, as well as liabilities of more than Rs 11,000 crore, which relate to unpaid salaries,
dearness allowance, and pensions of workers.
School Uniforms
The cabinet resolved to provide about 5.25 lakh students (girls and boys) of class I to VIII,
who are enrolled in government schools, with Rs 600 via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
instead of school uniforms.
Revenue Department
The cabinet also decided to increase the honorarium of nambardars and chowkidars/part-
time workers in the revenue department from Rs 3,200 to Rs 3,700 per month and Rs 5,000
to Rs 5,500, respectively. The decision is estimated to benefit some 3,177 Nambardars and
1,950 chowkidars.
Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy
The Cabinet made a decision to modify the Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy, 2021, in order to
allow the transfer of land for the establishment of solar power and new and renewable
energy projects on a lease/purchase/acquisition basis, in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the various Acts related to the matter.
Court Fee
The cabinet also decided to increase the court fee from Rs 6 to Rs 20 for filing any
application/petition in the revenue courts or applying attestation of affidavit or any other
documents in civil courts other than the High Court.
May 6, 2023
C-DAC's Technology Transfers
C-DAC, a research and development organization under the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology (MeitY), has recently transferred its indigenous technology of
Power Quality Solution and Railways VCU solutions to industry partners.
Technology Details
The Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) technology was developed with
adherence to the PQ standard-IEEE519 & IEEE1459. The STATCOM technology is
engineered to minimize voltage fluctuation and instability that are caused when
renewable energy sources are integrated to the power grid. As the demand for renewable
energy sources like wind and solar power continues to rise, the significance of this
technology has increased.
The VCU technology, based on the standard IEC-61375, was developed to upgrade the
existing C-DAC-VCU to bring it at par with contemporary technology. The technology was
handed over to CLW Chittaranjan to tackle the day-to-day and long-term maintenance
requirements of the locomotive fleet.
The Loco Simulation Controller was developed to test the VCU and its application
software in locomotive and enhance debugging. The aim of developing the Rolling Stack
Software was to enhance the dependability of loco operation in case of processor board
malfunctions. This rolling stock application controls the locomotive function and is
distributed among the four processor boards present in the VCU set. Lastly, the Off-Loco
VCU Test Kit was developed to verify the basic functions of the sub-system PCBs used in
the C-DAC developed VCU for 3 phase electric locos.
Nagaland’s Directorate of Minority Affairs
The Nagaland Government has recently established a new Directorate of Minority Affairs
under the Planning & Transformation Department to manage schemes and programs
related to the educational, economic, infrastructural, and special needs of minorities. The
move was approved by the cabinet on April 6th, 2023.
Department Details
The Directorate of Minority Affairs falls under the Planning & Transformation Department,
which aims to facilitate the overall development of the state by promoting economic
growth, effective resource utilization, and sustainable development.
Management of Minority Schemes
The new directorate will manage the various schemes and programs under the Union
Ministry of Minority Affairs related to the educational, economic, infrastructural, and
special needs of the minorities. This includes the management of scholarship schemes
such as Pre-Matric, Post-Matric, and Merit-cum-Means based Scholarship Schemes, which
will be responsible for providing financial assistance to students from minority
communities.
Educational Schemes
The Directorate will take up educational schemes such as Maulana Azad National
Fellowship, Naya Savera, Padho Pardesh, and Nai Udaan. These schemes provide free
coaching and interest subsidy on educational loans for overseas studies, among other
things.
Economic Development
For the economic development of minorities, the Directorate will manage schemes such
as Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan, Nai Manzil, and concessional credit through
National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation. These schemes aim to provide
economic assistance to individuals and communities from minority backgrounds.
Infrastructure Development
The Directorate will also manage the Pradhan Mantri Jan Yikas Karyakram, a program for
the development of infrastructure projects in all districts. The program aims to improve
the infrastructure and living conditions of minority communities.
Support to Institutions
The new Directorate will provide support to institutions such as the Maulana Azad
Education Foundation and National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation. The
support will ensure that these institutions can effectively provide assistance to the
minority communities they serve.
Special Needs
The Directorate of Minority Affairs will also handle special needs schemes such as Nai
Roshni, Hamari Dharohar, Haj management, and research, monitoring, and evaluation of
development schemes. These schemes aim to provide assistance to individuals from
minority communities with special needs.
Nagaland’s High-Level Committee on Restructuring & Re-organisation of State Police
Nagaland government has set up a high-level powered Committee to look into the
restructuring and re-organisation of Nagaland Police to improve its functional efficiency
and effectiveness. The Restructuring and Re-organisation Committee of Nagaland Police
will be headed by DGP Nagaland Rupin Sharma and eight other members, who will review
the existing structure and functioning of the Police Department in totality.
Objective of the Committee
The Committee will suggest reorganisation in the larger public interest and better
security. It will examine the allocation of resources, the restructuring and reorganisation,
recruitment and training of Nagaland Police. Allocation or re-allocation of manpower and
resources, redistribution of posts in geographical basis and coordination of State police
with other central and state law enforcement and security agencies will be the focus of the
Committee.
Best Practices and Report Submission
The Committee will analyze policing strategies in ten other countries that could be
adopted or adapted to suit the specific needs of Nagaland. If necessary, the Committee
can invite additional members to assist with its work, and it aims to present a report
within 60 days from the 27th of April notification.
The Current State of Nagaland Police
Nagaland Police is predominantly armed police centric with the NAP-IR Battalions and
armed branch comprising almost 75%. The State Police has grown in numbers but there is
an urgent need to make it more efficient on functional and operational lines so that it can
effectively deal with current problems as well as for the future.
War on Drugs
Over the last four months, Nagaland Police has conducted an anti-drug campaign to
combat drug-related activities, which involved arresting offenders and dismantling drug
distribution networks. In accordance with the Nasha Mukt Abhiyaan program launched by
the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, Nagaland State Police has successfully
registered 101 cases and apprehended 143 criminals from different areas of the North-
eastern region.
Decommissioning of INS Magar
INS Magar, an amphibious assault ship of the Indian Navy, has served the nation for 36
years and is set to retire on May 6th, 2023. The decommissioning ceremony will be held at
the Naval Base in Kochi, where Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-
Chief, Southern Naval Command will preside over the event.
Construction and Significance
INS Magar, which was commissioned in the eastern Indian city on July 18, 1987, was
constructed by GRSE Kolkata. It was a significant achievement for the Indian shipbuilding
industry because it was the first domestically built vessel with a gross register tonnage of
more than 5000 and the first of the Landing Ship Tank (Large) class.
Primary Role and Capacity
INS Magar’s primary role has been that of an expeditionary warfare unit, which can carry
11 battle tanks, 13 BMP infantry fighting vehicles, 10 trucks, eight heavy motor vehicles,
and more than 200 troops in various configurations. The vessel is equipped with an
integrated Seaking Helicopter for airborne missions, and four Landing Craft Assault (LCA)
for initiating amphibious attacks.
Symbolic Crest
The ship’s crest depicts the Hindu mythological character Makara, riding the waves. The
Makara is generally depicted as a half crocodile in the fore part with a tail of a fish. The
crest symbolizes the amphibious capability of INS Magar as well as emphasizing its size,
adaptability, agility, and ferociousness.
Major Operations Undertaken by INS Magar
INS Magar has been involved in several significant operations, including Operation Pawan
in 1987, where it played a key role in the transfer of army troops and tanks to the Sri
Lankan peninsula to assist the fighting effort of the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF)
against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE).
The vessel had a significant role in responding to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami by
assisting in the relief effort and evacuating over 1300 individuals from the Andaman
Nicobar Islands, which were affected by the disaster.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, INS Magar was deployed as part of ‘Operation Samudra
Setu’ and was tasked with evacuating Indian nationals and providing medical relief to
friendly foreign countries. The ship safely evacuated 202 Indians, including 24 women, two
expectant mothers, and two children from Male, Maldives.
Clinical Trial Opportunities in India Report
A joint report titled “Clinical Trial Opportunities in India” Report was released recently by
the PwC India and US-India Chamber of Commerce (USAIC).
Key findings of the Report:
Clinical trial activity in India was historically low until 2014 due to unfavourable
policies.
Currently, India is emerging as a favourable destination for conducting clinical trials
due to regulatory reforms since 2013 and the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules of
2019. These measures have streamlined the approval processes, reducing timelines
30-40%.
Although India has contributed only approximately 4% to the global clinical trials on
an annual basis since 2010, its clinical trial activity has been consistently rising since
2014 because of regulatory harmonization, which has permitted unrestricted entry to
clinical trials within the country.
India’s diverse population and developing healthcare infrastructure create a
conducive environment for clinical trials to succeed.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also contributed to raising awareness about the
importance of clinical trials in India.
Among the top 20 pharma companies, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and J&J
are the top sponsors of clinical trials in India, according to the report.
Eruption of Fuego Volcano
Recently, Guatemalan authorities evacuated over a thousand people and closed a road as
the Fuego volcano erupted, sending thick clouds of ash over nearby towns and farms.
Nature of the Eruption
The Fuego volcano is sending out “pyroclastic flows” – a high-temperature mix of gas, ash,
and rock fragments that descend with great speed down the flanks of the volcanic
complex. The ash column that was spewed by Fuego went beyond 6,000 meters in
altitude. The ash was falling towards the western and southwestern parts of the volcano,
which is located away from Guatemala City, the capital. The possibility of stronger
emissions still remains since the “high level” eruption is ongoing, and the forecast of
rainfall may lead to the formation of mudslides.
Impact on People and Places
The ash cloud could expose around 130,000 people to falling ash, which came down as far
as 100 kilometers from the crater. Four towns in the vicinity have opened thirteen
emergency shelters, which are capable of accommodating up to 7,600 people seeking
refuge.
History of Fuego Volcano Eruptions
Fuego is an active volcano in Guatemala that erupts every four to five years on average.
An eruption that occurred in 2018 caused lava to flow down the sides of the volcano,
leading to the destruction of the village of San Miguel Los Lotes, resulting in the death of
215 individuals and leaving around the same number of people unaccounted for.
South Asia Clean Energy Forum 2023
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized the South Asia
Clean Energy Forum (SACEF) from May 2-4, 2023. The forum aimed to promote regional
cooperation and support clean energy initiatives in South Asian countries, including
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Nepal.
Meeting the Challenges of the Energy Sector in South Asia
The region of South Asia is confronted with substantial difficulties in meeting the surging
energy needs while switching to energy sources that are sustainable, reliable, affordable,
and secure. SACEF established a forum that facilitated constructive and solution-based
conversations, which would propel the energy industry and assist in achieving a more
sustainable future for the citizens of the region.
Regional Cooperation for a More Sustainable Future
During the event, the US government reiterated its commitment to fostering regional
stability, deepening strategic partnerships, and supporting individual sovereignty and
regional connectivity. The forum provided an opportunity for the United States and South
Asian nations to work together to transform climate challenges into opportunities to build
a safer, more secure world.
The importance of cross-border cooperation and bringing together initiatives to translate
change was highlighted. Initiatives such as a green transition in technology, end-use, and
supply-side are critical. While the conference focuses on the engagement side of cross-
boundary initiatives, NITI Aayog plays a fundamental role in state-level initiatives in India.
The Importance of Regional Cooperation in Achieving Shared Goals
The forum has marked a significant milestone in the region’s power sector as
representatives from South Asian governments, power utilities, regulators, development
organizations, financial institutions, clean energy project developers, technology
providers, research institutions, capacity-building organizations, civil society
organizations, and emerging clean energy professionals came together to share ideas and
collaborate on innovative solutions to address the pressing challenges of the clean energy
transition in South Asia.
The forum featured eight technical sessions facilitating knowledge exchange and
partnerships among global and regional clean energy stakeholders and experts. A
“Partners’ Day” event was held to kickstart building partnerships among stakeholders.
Dawki Land Port
Union Minister Nityanand Rai inaugurated the Dawki Land Port in Meghalaya’s West
Jaintia Hills district to improve trade and commerce between India and Bangladesh.
Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and Union Minister of State for
Home Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar were also present during the inauguration.
Key Facts about Dawki Land Port
The Dawki Land Port is situatedd in West Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, approximately 55
kilometers from Jowai district headquarters and around 84 kilometers from the state
capital, Shillong.
Tamabil is the matching Land Port located in Bangladesh.
The Dawki Land Port will play a significant role as an economic and transportation
hub between India and Bangladesh, facilitating the transportation of goods, people,
and vehicles across the border.
Additionally, it will simplify border crossing procedures for passengers.
The land port is expected to promote the tourism and economic sectors.
Ubhauli Festival
The festival of Ubhauli is celebrated annually by the Kirant community on the full moon
day of the Lunar month of Baishakh. The festival is of great significance for the community
as it marks the beginning of farming and the migration phase upwards towards the hilly
regions when the summer season arrives.
Ubhauli Festival in Nepal
Ubhauli is mostly celebrated in Koshi Province and Kathmandu districts in Nepal. The
festival is celebrated by the Sunuwar, Rai, Limbu, and Yakkha communities of Nepal, India,
and other parts of the world by Kirati people.
Significance of the Religious Book Mundhum
The religious book of the Kirants, Mundhum, divides time into two parts, Udhauli and
Ubhauli, based on farming. Udhauli marks the migration from hills downwards to areas of
lower altitude, which is also an annual festival of the Kirant communities.
Celebration of Ubhauli Festival
During the celebration, members of the Kiranti community come together in a structured
manner to mark the occasion and share kind words. The festival is marked by the
performance of the traditional dance, Sakela. On this day, Kirat people pray to mother
nature for healthy crops and protection from natural calamities in that year.
Machines Can See 2023 Summit
Recently, the UAE government launched an international conference on Artificial
Intelligence (AI) in the region called the ‘Machines Can See 2023’ Summit. The summit
took place at the Museum of the Future in Dubai and was organized in partnership
between the Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications Office
and ‘Machines Can See’ company.
Aim and Collaboration
The ‘Machines Can See 2023’ Summit, launched by the UAE government, had the primary
objective of gathering AI experts from different parts of the world to talk about the future
of AI and its potential contribution to the UAE’s ambition of establishing the next Silicon
Valley. The summit delved into the present advancements in AI, its utilization, and its
prospects in the UAE and other countries globally. Dubai’s Department of Economy and
Tourism and the Dubai Future Foundation partnered with the summit to make it possible.
Experts Discussion and Possibilities
During a panel discussion titled ‘Government, Business and Science,’ the experts
discussed the future of AI in the UAE and its potential to become the next Silicon Valley.
The experts examined the potential applications of AI and policymakers from the public
sector, businesses, and academia agreed that the UAE is making significant progress in
realizing its vision of becoming a hub for advanced technologies, especially in the field of
AI.
Significance and Commitment
The one-day summit was a testament to the UAE’s commitment to supporting the
progress of AI technology. The UAE has a state-level AI program, which is not found in any
other country. The Museum of the Future in Dubai served as an important venue for the
summit, which featured presentations and panel discussions from various experts in the
field of AI.
Project Sanjay
Indian Army aims to transform itself into a “future-ready, technology-driven, lethal and
agile force.” To achieve this vision, it has initiated a project called Project Sanjay, which
focuses on building the Army’s Battlefield Surveillance System. The primary objective of
this system is to provide commanders and staffers with a composite operational picture
for faster decision-making. Bharat Electronics Limited is the system integrator of this
ambitious project. It has validated the project in various terrains and is now delivering the
surveillance centers for field formations by December 2025.
Projects
The Army is working on several other projects, including SAMA, Combat Information
Decision Support System, E-Sitrep, Project Avgat, Project Anumaan, and Project INDRA.
SAMA is being developed to provide situational awareness to commanders and
staffers at all levels. It will present a comprehensive battlefield picture based on
authorizations and roles.
The Combat Information Decision Support System is being redesigned as the
Army Information and Decision Support System, which will integrate inputs from all
operational and managerial information systems.
E-Sitrep will focus on situational reporting over an enterprise-class GIS platform.
Project Avgat is inspired by PM Gati Shakti, which aims to bring multi-domain
spatial awareness on a single GIS platform.
Project Anumaan is an initiative in collaboration with the National Centre for
Medium-range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) to receive customised weather
forecasts for its components.
Project INDRA will manage a database of junior commissioned officers and other
personnel across 47 Record Offices.
ASAAN application
The Army’s ASAAN application is software for Agnipath Administration and Networking. It
was put to use from January 1, 2023, for the first batch of Agniveers who joined the
training centers. With the introduction of e-office, the use of digital signatures has
increased from near zero in October 2022 to several thousand every month in 2023,
reducing paper usage and improving efficiency.
SEBI’s Testing Framework for IT Systems of Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs)
SEBI, India’s regulatory body, has introduced a new framework for testing the IT systems
used by market infrastructure institutions (MIIs), including stock exchanges, clearing
corporations, and depositories. The objective of the framework is to assist MIIs in
performing thorough risk assessment before deploying any IT systems in the production
or live environment. The MIIs will be required to undertake system testing, functional
testing, and application security testing under this new framework.
Approval Process
MIIs will have 30 days to submit the testing framework of all their IT systems, which needs
to be approved by the Standing Committee on Technology (SCOT) of the respective
institutions. SCOT has the responsibility of giving approval to the all-inclusive approach for
testing the system, functional, and application security methodologies.
Testing Scope
MIIs are required to perform white box testing or structural testing, which involves
analyzing data flow, control flow, information flow, coding practices, exception, and error
handling within the system. The testing scope covers business logic, system function,
security controls, and system performance under load and stress conditions. Testing
should be conducted in a separate environment that mirrors the production environment
to reduce any disturbance.
Bug Fixes
All identified software bugs, issues, or defects should be remediated immediately. Major
issues that could hurt the MII should be reported to their SCOT and addressed before
deployment to the production environment. MIIs have been asked to establish policies
and procedures on the use of third-party systems or software codes to ensure that these
systems are subject to review and testing before they are integrated with their systems.
Importance of Testing
Testing is critical to identify software bugs, issues or defects, and to ensure that IT systems
function properly and efficiently. The objective of this framework is to have a
comprehensive testing methodology in place that can assist the MIIs in performing
thorough risk assessment before deploying any IT systems in the production or live
environment. This framework will assist the MIIs in making their IT systems more reliable,
robust, and secure.
UK's Contribution to Brazil’s Amazon Fund
The United Kingdom will contribute more than $101 million to Brazil’s Amazon Fund,
which seeks to stop deforestation in the sprawling South American rainforest. The British
Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, made the announcement after holding talks with Brazilian
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in London. During the meeting, Sunak mentioned the
shared interests of higher trade and the fight against climate change.
The Amazon Fund was established to finance sustainable development projects in the
Amazon rainforest. Under the new framework, the UK will invest in the Amazon Fund and
assist market-based strategies for protecting the forest. It is expected to be one of the key
contributions towards achieving zero deforestation in the Amazon by 2030.
Deforestation Surge under Bolsonaro
The previous far-right Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, promoted greater economic
development in the Amazon, leading to a surge in deforestation. In 2019, Bolsonaro
dissolved the steering committee that selected sustainable projects to finance through the
Amazon Fund, prompting Germany and Norway to freeze their donations.
However, with the new Brazilian government under President Lula, Germany announced
in late January that it would make $38 million available again to the Amazon Fund. The US
President Joe Biden also announced that he would request Congress to contribute $500m
over five years to the fund and related activities. France and Spain have also expressed
interest in contributing to the fund.
Protecting the Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest is critical to the global fight against climate change, absorbing
large amounts of carbon dioxide and producing a significant amount of oxygen. Nations
with significant forest cover require aid, particularly from developed countries, to
safeguard them. With the new government under President Lula, there is a renewed effort
to protect the forest and offer a new perspective to the people who live there.
Buland Bharat Exercise
The Indian Army recently conducted a divisional-level integrated training exercise,
codenamed Exercise Buland Bharat, in the high-altitude ranges of the eastern theatre in
Arunachal Pradesh. The purpose of the month-long exercise was to verify plans for
reducing integrated firepower through coordinated firing of artillery guns and fire
support components of Infantry towards the destruction of designated targets.
Additionally, the exercise included evaluating the coordinated application of the
surveillance and firepower capabilities of the Artillery and Infantry.
Testing communication and deploying additional forces
During the exercise, the Indian Army also tested uninterrupted communication across
multiple media over long distances. In addition, Special Forces, Aviation, and Central
Armed Police Forces were deployed in the West Kameng and Tawang districts of
Arunachal Pradesh, contributing to the exercise. The training, which lasted for a month,
culminated in a test exercise in which troops and equipment were tested under simulated
war conditions in high altitude areas and extreme weather conditions.
Practice in war-like situations
During the exercise, the synergised surveillance and firepower from Infantry and Artillery
radars, weapon systems, and direction of fire from the air were practiced. The training
exercise was conducted in the recently operationalised longest high-altitude artillery
ranges in Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian Army’s efforts to conduct such exercises in tough
terrain and in extreme weather conditions indicate the high level of preparedness that the
Indian Army maintains to protect the country’s borders.
Rail War Room
The Rail War Room has been set up by the Ministry of Railways to facilitate fast redressal
of public complaints and grievances. Equipped with latest communications facilities, it will
function round-the-clock to improve the services of the railways.
Key Facts related to the Rail War Room
The new war room is set up at the Ministry of Railways in Delhi to quickly address
public complaints and grievances.
Called the Rail War Room (RWR), it operates 24/7, but currently works until 10 pm
each day during the week.
Equipped with the latest communication facilities, the war room has a large screen to
display complaints and redressal ratios for minute-to-minute monitoring.
This is the first time the Railways has taken such a step to monitor any untoward
incidents or accidents in the future.
The objective of this war room is to enable board members and officials, including
the minister and chairman of the Railway Board, to make necessary decisions in the
event of a major incident or accident.
Features of the Rail War Room
The war room has chairs in adequate numbers for officials to sit in case of emergency or
crisis times. Additionally, there are six monitoring tables that are allotted to officials from
six major wings of Railways, including the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
Functioning of the War Room
Since its inception on May 2, the war room has received more than 5,000 complaints from
the public, and 95% of them were quickly resolved, with feedback received. An RPF official
is the first to receive the complaint, and he then forwards it to concerned authorities for
swift resolution.
Restructuring of ICAR
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an important institution that has
contributed immensely to the growth and development of Indian agriculture. To make it
more efficient and effective, the government has constituted a high-level committee to
restructure ICAR in line with the vision of Amrit Kal.
The objective of Amrit Kal
Amrit Kal is a term used to describe the next 25 years, during which the Indian
government aims to fulfill the aspirations of the youth, promote self-reliance and achieve
economic stability. The government plans to restructure ICAR in accordance with this
objective to meet the emerging aspirations of India.
The 11-member committee
The 11-member committee was formed to restructure the ICAR. It is led by the Additional
Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and the Secretary of
ICAR. The committee includes members from administrative services such as scientists,
experts from NITI Ayog, and representatives from the Department of Agriculture and
Farmers’ Welfare, as well as the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The
committee was established on April 24th and is expected to present its report within 30
days.
Why is restructuring necessary?
Priorities and global agricultural trade have changed in the past few decades, and this
new structure of ICAR is to be compatible with the vision of 2047. The government wants
ICAR’s research work to shift from grain-centric research to nutrition-centric research and
help farmers in producing for global requirements.
Previous committees
Earlier, the government had constituted committees under Dr MS Swaminathan and Dr RA
Mashlekar. The recommendations provided by these committees have not been
implemented.
Student Suicides in India
Student suicide rates in India have become a significant problem, with mental health
issues among students highly stigmatized in the country. According to the National Crime
Record Bureau’s 2021 report, India recorded 35 daily student suicides, especially during
Covid. Due to disruptions in their education, isolation from peers, and uncertainty about
the future, stress and anxiety levels among students have been further aggravated.
Student suicide rates in India
The Indian Institutes of Technology reported 33 student suicides from 2018-2023, while
the National Institutes of Technology and Indian Institutes of Management reported 61
additional suicides, according to the Ministry of Education. In 2022, student suicides
increased by 4.5%, with around 35 reported each day. Of the 10,732 suicides in 2021, 864
were linked to exam failures, while nine Central University students committed suicide in
2023.
Factors contributing to student suicide in India
A major issue of student suicide has arisen due to India’s highly competitive education
system, combined with restricted opportunities for higher education and employment.
This issue is multifaceted, with parental expectations, financial constraints, bullying,
relationship issues, and inadequate support systems contributing to the problem.
Actual suicide figures
Reported figures of suicide attempts in India may not accurately reflect the true number,
even though attempted suicide is no longer a punishable offense under the Mental
Healthcare Act (2017). The classification of the cause of death as suicide or not may
depend on the local police constable, and many students do not report suicide attempts
due to guilt, shame, or fear of being mocked.
Mental Health Infrastructure
There is a significant shortage of mental health professionals in India, with just one
professional available for every 1,00,000 people. This scarcity of professionals has resulted
in individuals, including students, often having to resort to costly private mental health
professionals for regular mental healthcare. In major cities, counseling or psychiatric
consultations can be priced as high as Rs.2,000-4,000 per hour, rendering it difficult for
students with limited resources to avail themselves of these services.
Countermeasures Against Student Suicides
A comprehensive strategy is necessary to tackle the issue of student suicide rates in India,
which includes a range of measures such as education system reforms, improved mental
health support, awareness campaigns, and more opportunities for students to engage in
non-academic interests. The UGC has put forth new regulations, and the Union Health
Ministry has asked for a short-term plan from the IIT Council. In addition, operational
guidelines have been issued by the Centre for schools and higher education institutions to
provide trained counsellors or psychologists on campus. Despite these steps, there is still
a long road ahead to effectively address the problem.
COP28 to Focus on Health Impacts of Climate Change
The upcoming 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change is set to assess health issues in great detail. COP28, which
will be held in Dubai this November, will dedicate a day to health, making it the first COP
to focus on health issues in such depth. The conference is also expected to host a health
and climate ministerial. The decision was made after years of discussions highlighting the
impact of climate change on public health.
Worsening Climate Change Crisis Threatens Health Systems
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted existing fissures in the world’s health systems that
will only widen as the climate change crisis worsens. A warming world will exacerbate to
the prevailing high disease burden. Increased disasters such as heatwaves, floods, and
droughts will lead to more illnesses, while rising temperatures will allow vector-borne
diseases to survive at higher latitudes and impact a larger population.
Calls for Action and Investment in Climate Resilient Health Systems
The anticipated Health Day at COP28 is expected to stimulate an impartial increase in
climate action and guarantee the establishment of a future where people can prosper.
Direct damage costs to health are estimated to be between $2-4 billion per year by 2030,
according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO has also highlighted the
dangerous climate and health nexus, emphasizing that the effects of global warming will
accelerate unless there is action to tackle the root cause of climate change. These factors
make it critical to adopt strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change, such as
investing in climate resilient health systems and having a well-trained and decentrally paid
health workforce.
Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health
In 2021, the WHO and the United Kingdom COP26 presidency established the Alliance for
Transformative Action on Climate and Health, with 60 countries as signatories. It identified
four primary areas to focus on, such as:
1. Funding health-related efforts for sustainable and resilient low-carbon health
systems
2. Enhancing the resilience of health systems to climate change
3. Implementing sustainable and low-carbon health systems
4. Establishing sustainable supply chains
COP27 held in Egypt last year referred to the need for governments’ climate action to
respect and promote human rights, including the right to the highest attainable standard
of physical and mental health.
FAO’s Agriculture and Market Information System (AMIS) and Its Latest Monitor
FAO’s Agriculture and Market Information System (AMIS) is an inter-agency platform that
was set up to boost transparency in the food market and promote policy response for
food security. In its latest monitor, the AMIS revealed that India’s corn, soyabean and rice
production will be affected due to the El Nino weather event.
Key Findings of the Latest AMIS Monitor
The likely El Nino weather event has been predicted to cause severe droughts over
Australia, Indonesia, and parts of southern Asia, including India.
Maize, soybean, and rice production in India could be affected because of the El
Nino.
The impact of the potential El Nino is uncertain as no two events are the same with
regards to strength, duration, or localised mitigations. However, over 25% of global
croplands are estimated to be affected by El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
events.
Based on previous data, ENSO events typically have a minor positive effect on global
soybean yields, but lead to a decrease in global maize, rice, and wheat yields.
Maize is typically more affected compared to other crops.
Also, negative impacts tend to be lessened for irrigated crops compared to those
that are rainfed.
Maize and soybean productivity in India, north China plain, southern Mexico, north-
east Brazil, Indonesia, West Africa, and southern Africa will likely be affected by the
potential El Nino.
On the positive side, maize and soybean production will likely gain in Midwest US
and southeast South America.
Wheat yields may also rise in the US southern Great Plains, China, Central Asia, and
southeast South America.
Reduction in yields in one region might be balanced by increases in another. Thus,
any potential negative impact on crop yields in one region might be offset at the
global level.
South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF) and El Nino
The South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF), backed by the FAO’s weather arm
World Meteorological Organization (WMO), recently predicted that the south-west
monsoon could witness normal to below normal rainfall over most parts of South Asia.
However, there is no indication of the strength or duration of El Nino yet, according to the
WMO. Probabilities for the development of El Nino later during the year are 80% or more.
While El Nino can significantly lower crop yields in some regions, the WMO said that
depending on its strength, it could also lead to average to above-average rains in several
parts of the world while other areas might experience drier-than-average conditions.
RITES to Provide Technical Support for Waste Management under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban
2.0
The Indian government has hired technical and infrastructure specialists from Rail India
Technical and Economic Service (RITES) to create a uniform standard for processes and
facilities that manage solid waste and used water in towns with less than one lakh
population. The partnership was formalised with a Memorandum of Understanding
signed between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and RITES, under the Swachh
Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.
The Vision of SBM-U
The overall vision of SBM-U is to create ‘garbage-free cities’, and a newly funded
component for towns with less than one lakh population is used water management. The
objective of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 is to provide safe and sustainable
sanitation access universally.
The Objective
The Memorandum of Understanding will allow states and urban local bodies to efficiently
execute mission initiatives that ensure safe and sustainable access to sanitation
universally, by securely containing, collecting, transporting, treating, and reusing waste.
More About the MoU
There are 3,700 towns in India with a population of less than a lakh. RITES will offer
technical assistance for three years in setting standards and specifications for sewage
and fecal sludge management, as well as for standardizing units used for treating waste
water in these towns. For solid waste management, the areas of engagement will be
process standardisation and engineering design of waste management facilities. The
waste management facilities will incorporate the segregation of biodegradable waste that
has partially or fully decomposed, plastic waste, textiles, metal, glass, and other materials.
Moreover, RITES will lend a hand in creating model tender documents and procurement
related to waste management.
CarbSar - Britain's Spy Satellite
British companies Surrey Satellite Technology Limited and Oxford Space Systems are
teaming up to launch a low-cost radar satellite next year. Called CarbSar, the satellite is
designed to fill the gap in Britain’s spying capacity.
Importance of CarbSar
The Ukraine crisis has demonstrated the importance of such technologies, which have
been utilized for monitoring Russian locations. Yet, Britain lacks its own system, making it
the only permanent member of the UN Security Council without one. The launch of the
CarbSar will address this problem.
Radar technology to see through clouds
The satellite will use radar technology to see through clouds, making it more efficient in
monitoring targets. It will have the ability to see through clouds and work at night, which
will make it more efficient in monitoring targets round-the-clock.
OSS’s knitted tungsten wire mesh antenna
CarbSar’s deployable antenna/reflector will be supplied by Oxford Space Systems. The
antenna features a knitted tungsten wire mesh that will be folded tightly for launch and
then expand in orbit to form an umbrella-like shape that is 3 meters wide. The satellite will
use this antenna/reflector to capture images of the ground. The mesh is produced using
an industrial knitting machine that is operated by a former fashion lecturer from
Denmark.
Funding for CarbSar
The National Security Strategic Investment Fund has provided some of the funding for the
CarbSar project, which supports potential technologies that could be used for national
security and defense. The government is interested in the capabilities of the knitted
satellites and the success of the CarbSar pathfinder could position the two British
companies well to secure future contracts for operational spacecraft for both civil and
military purposes from the UK government.
Precision is important
The mesh has to adhere to stringent requirements when it is stretched taut. To achieve
the intended outcome, the mesh needs to be created with specific precision. Carbon-
composite rods connect the gold-plated tungsten mesh, which can be wrapped around a
central hub in a radial direction. The structure is called a “wrapped rib” design, and the
strain energy in these rods will naturally want to jump back into their straightened
configuration, pulling the mesh into position in the process. The UK has talked for some
years about having a network of radar satellites, and CarbSar is a step in that direction.
Central Asian Flyway
The Central Asian Flyway (CAF) is a significant migration route that covers a vast
continental area of Eurasia, including 30 countries of North, Central, and South Asia and
Trans-Caucasus. The Flyway consists of numerous crucial migration paths of waterbirds,
with the majority of them stretching from the breeding grounds in the Russian
Federation’s northernmost regions to the non-breeding or wintering grounds in West and
South Asia, the Maldives, and the British Indian Ocean Territory located at the
southernmost end.
CAF Migration Routes
The CAF migration routes include the steppes and cold deserts of Central Eurasia and
much of the Himalayan chain, where unique, high-altitude migrations, such as those of
the Bar-headed Goose, take place. The Flyway includes a minimum of 279 populations of
182 migratory waterbird species, among which 29 species are globally threatened or close
to being threatened. Many waterbird populations are declining rapidly, and the habitats
they depend on are under threat due to uncontrolled hunting, habitat degradation,
unsustainable water management, and lack of law enforcement and conservation
capacity.
CAF and AEWA Agreement Area
There is a correlation between the CAF and the Agreement on the Conservation of African-
Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), which was signed in 1995 in The Hague, the
Netherlands. Sixteen of the thirty countries included in the CAF fall within the AEWA
Agreement Area, accounting for over half of the migratory waterbird species’ populations.
Initiatives for Conservation
In May 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change collaborated with
the United Nations Environment Programme/Convention on Migratory Species
(UNEP/CMS) to hold a meeting of Range Countries in New Delhi. The main objective of the
meeting was to enhance conservation efforts for migratory birds and their habitats in the
Central Asian Flyway. The meeting was attended by delegates from eleven CAF countries,
representatives of Chief Wildlife Wardens of States, scientific institutions in India,
international and national non-governmental organizations, and subject experts.
Institutional Framework Mechanism
The delegates agreed on an institutional framework mechanism to develop a coordinated
approach to the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. During the meeting,
the participants talked about important areas for implementation and reached an
agreement on a preliminary plan for revising the CMS CAF Action Plan. The conference
provided a crucial opportunity for the CAF Range States to work together and exchange
thoughts and best practices for preserving the migratory birds and their habitats
sustainably.
Safety Approval For China's First Gene-edited Crop
China has approved the safety of a gene-edited soybean in a significant boost to food
production.
Key Facts About the Soybean
Developed by privately owned Shandong Shunfeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd, the
soybean has two modified genes which raise the level of healthy fat oleic acid in the
plant.
Although the name of the soybean has not been provided, the safety certificate has
been approved for five years from April 21.
Gene Editing Vs Genetic Modification
Gene editing is distinct from genetic modification because it modifies existing genes
instead of introducing foreign genes into a plant. This technology is thought to be less
hazardous than genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and is subjected to less regulation
in certain countries, such as China, which established regulations on gene editing in 2020.
Commercialisation of Gene-Edited Crops
Shunfeng Biotechnology Co., Ltd claims to be the first firm in China aiming to sell gene-
edited crops. The company is researching about 20 other crops that have been gene-
edited, including rice, wheat, and corn with higher yield, herbicide-resistant rice and
soybeans, and lettuce with high vitamin C content. In 2019, Calyxt, a United States-based
company, developed a high oleic soybean, which was the first gene-edited food approved
by the U.S.
Other Countries
In addition to the United States, Japan has granted approval for gene-edited foods such as
tomatoes with improved nutritional value and fish that grows at a faster rate.
Future Prospects
Due to fewer regulatory steps involved, it is expected that gene-edited crops will reach the
market faster than GMO crops. China’s approval of a gene-edited soybean comes at a
time when the country is facing increasing concerns over feeding its 1.4 billion people due
to trade tensions, erratic weather, and war in Ukraine, a major grain exporter.
Additionally, China’s growing middle class is facing a surge in diet-related diseases. While
China is also promoting GMO crops, it is worth noting that large-scale trials of GM corn
have begun this year.
May 8, 2023
Expansion of Employment Scope for Women Officers in Territorial Army
In April 2023, the Union Ministry of Defence has amended the existing cadre management
provisions applicable to women officers of the Territorial Army to allow them to be posted
along the Line of Control (LOC).
History
In 1948, the Territorial Army Act established the TA in India as a replacement for the
Indian Defence Force (1917-1920) and the Indian Territorial Force (1920-1948).
The TA is led by a three-star Director General, who is a Lieutenant General-ranking
officer from the Indian Army.
It is overseen by the Chief of Defence Staff in the Ministry of Defence’s Department
of Military Affairs.
The TA comprises two units: a departmental unit consisting of ex-servicemen and
public sector undertakings such as Indian Railway employees, and a non-
departmental unit consisting of privately employed citizens.
The TA has around 40,000 members, consisting of infantry battalions, ecological task
force units, railway engineer units, oil sector units, and engineer units responsible
for fencing the Line of Control (LoC).
Role of the TA
The TA’s primary objective is to relieve the regular army from monotonous duties and
help civil administration in responding to natural calamities and essential services
maintenance. Additionally, it’s tasked with providing units for the regular army whenever
needed.
The TA has played an active role in every war India has engaged in since gaining
independence, including the Sino-Indian War of 1962, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Indo-
Pakistani War of 1971, and the Kargil War. Furthermore, the TA has been involved in
numerous operations, such as Operation Pawan (1987) in Sri Lanka, Operation Rakshak in
Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, Operation Rhino (1991), and Operation Bajrang
(1990–1991) in Northeast India, and Operation Parakram in Jammu and Kashmir.
Eligibility and Benefits
To be eligible for the TA, individuals must work in essential civilian professions or be self-
employed. Members are obligated to provide two months of paid service each year. The
TA clarifies that it does not offer a full-time career, but there are no constraints on this.
Many soldiers choose to remain in the TA for extended periods. TA members are entitled
to the same benefits as Indian Army personnel, excluding gratuity and pension, which
depend on the number of full years served.
Women Officers in Territorial Army
In 2019, the Territorial Army began enlisting women officers who were initially assigned to
ecological task force units, TA oil sector units, and TA railway engineer regiment. Recently,
the Ministry of Defence made changes to the existing cadre management provisions
concerning female officers of the Territorial Army to broaden their career opportunities.
As a result, women officers will now be deployed to work with the engineer regiments of
the Territorial Army serving along the Line of Control and as staff officers at TA Group
Headquarters/Directorate General of Territorial Army in New Delhi, as per the
organization’s requirements. This amendment is a major stride towards gender equality
in the military and will expand the role of women officers in the Territorial Army.
Credit Suisse-Ecuador Debt-for-Nature Swap Deal
Swiss bank Credit Suisse has bought Ecuadorian bonds worth $1.6 billion in a debt-for-
nature swap. The deal will commit Ecuador to spending $18 million annually for the next
20 years on conservation in the Galapagos Islands, one of the world’s most precious
ecosystems. The remote islands are a UNESCO world nature heritage site, home to
unspoiled nature and animal life that was crucial to Charles Darwin’s research before
publishing his theory of evolution.
The Cost of the Swap
The Swiss bank purchased the bonds at less than half their original value, at a cost of just
$644 million. Due to the recent drop in bond prices, Credit Suisse utilized only $644 million
of the original offer to purchase the 2030, 2035, and 2040 bonds at a rate of 53.25% to
35.5% of the issue price. Initially, the bank had proposed to spend up to $800 million on
the bonds.
Replacing the Old Debt
The new debt-for-nature swap will replace the old debt with a cheaper-to-service
“Galapagos Bond” maturing in 2041, partly underwritten by the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB) and the US International Development Finance Corporation. This
will contain Credit Suisse’s risk. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has
authorized a financial assurance of $85 million for swapping $800 million of Ecuador’s
government bonds, which could be utilized to cover the initial six quarterly interest
payments, if necessary.
Political Turmoil and Slump in Bond Prices
Ecuador has been in severe financial peril, and the country’s National Assembly seeks to
impeach President Guillermo Lasso for alleged embezzlement, causing a slump in bond
prices. Ecuador’s public debt amounted to around $66.68 billion in 2022, according to the
Germany-based data platform Statista.
Ukraine's Attack on Kremlin
Russia has accused Ukraine of attacking the Kremlin on May 3, 2023, with drones in an
attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin. Unverified videos on the internet have
shown a flying object exploding near the Kremlin Senate building during the alleged
drone attack.
What is the Kremlin?
The term Kremlin is derived from the Russian language which means “a citadel or a
fortress within a city.” Although there are more than 20 kremlins throughout Russia, the
most significant and widely known one is located in Moscow. This particular fortress has
been the center of political power in Russia since the 14th century.
Size and Structures
The Kremlin is located on the northern bank of the Moskva river and spans 28 hectares,
which is about the size of Connaught Place in New Delhi. It includes four cathedrals and
five palaces and is enclosed by the Kremlin Wall, which has distinct towers. To the east of
the Kremlin are the famous St Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square, which are the locations of
important state events. Since 1990, the Kremlin has been recognized as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
Built and Rebuilt Over Centuries
The first fortifications were undertaken at the site in 1156, and the Kremlin’s subsequent
development and increasing grandeur reflected the rise of Moscow as the seat of power in
Russia. The Kremlin saw its next spurt of building in the 17th century, but it fell into
disrepair after Czar Peter I moved the capital to the Baltic Sea port of St. Petersburg in
1713.
After Napoleon’s invasion in 1812, the Kremlin needed significant restoration. Ultimately,
from 1839 to 1849, certain outdated edifices were dismantled once more to construct the
Grand Kremlin Palace, which presently acts as the abode of the Russian President.
The Kremlin Today
Currently, the Kremlin represents a mixture of various architectural designs that mirror
not only the aesthetics and technical prowess of the period but also the ideological and
political inclinations of the ruling elite. Ivan III’s constructions reflect his desire to make
Moscow the center of the Orthodox world, whereas the Soviets famously replaced the
eagles atop the spires with Soviet stars, the official symbol of the communist state.
The diversity of the Kremlin’s uses is another factor that contributes to its architectural
diversity. It has been accessible to tourists since the 1950s, and numerous buildings have
been transformed into museums. After the fall of the Soviet Union, service in the existing
cathedrals resumed.
All India Radio to be Exclusively Known as Akashvani
The Central Government has ordered that All India Radio (AIR), the country’s public
broadcaster, be exclusively referred to as Akashvani in all broadcasts and programmes.
This move is in line with the Prasar Bharati Act, 1990, passed by Parliament, and is aimed
at bringing the name and title of the broadcaster in tune with the statutory provisions.
The name change is long pending and in accordance with the law which came into being
in 1997. This renaming exercise seeks to rid the organization of colonial baggage.
A Rich History
AIR has a long and rich history in India. Radio broadcasting began in India in 1923 when
the Radio Club of Bombay sent out the first commercial transmission. In the same year,
the Calcutta Radio Club and Madras Presidency Radio Club were established, but the
ambitious Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) faced bankruptcy in 1930. After the
government intervened, the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) started its
operations on an experimental basis in 1930. Lionel Fielden, a senior BBC producer, was
appointed as India’s first Controller of Broadcasting in 1935 and introduced major
advancements to the programming. Finally, on June 8, 1936, ISBS was renamed All India
Radio.
Exponential Growth
At the time of independence, India had only six radio stations, covering just 2% of the
country’s land area and reaching only 11% of its population. Since then, AIR has grown
exponentially and now has a network of over 262 radio stations, covering 92% of India’s
area and nearly all of its population. The broadcaster offers programming in 23 languages
and 146 dialects, catering to India’s diverse demographics and tastes. Furthermore, AIR
has an External Services Division that transmits content in 11 Indian and 16 foreign
languages to over 100 countries. Additionally, the News Services Division of AIR airs 647
bulletins daily, having an overall duration of almost 56 hours.
FM Broadcasting and Akashvani Jingle
FM broadcasting began in Chennai in 1977 and expanded in the 1990s. Today, AIR has 18
FM stereo channels that largely target urban audiences. The name Akashvani was adopted
by AIR in 1956 and has been used interchangeably with AIR, particularly for Hindi
programming. The Akashvani jingle, which was composed by Walter Kaufmann, evokes
nostalgia for many Indians today. It is a popular tune that played at the start of AIR
programming and continues to be used today.
Deep Oceans Beneath Ice Capped Surfaces of Uranus’ Four Moons
In a new study, NASA scientists have found that there can be water in the four large
moons of Uranus, namely Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. The Voyager-2 spacecraft
data from the 1980s and cutting-edge computer models were re-analyzed, leading to this
groundbreaking discovery. The study suggests that these four moons of Uranus may
contain vast, deep oceans beneath their icy surfaces, which was earlier not thought
possible.
Evolution and Composition of Uranus’ Moons
The new study on Uranus’ moons is significant as it discusses their evolution, interiors,
and composition. Previous research indicated that the moons were unable to preserve the
necessary internal heat. Titania was considered most likely to retain internal heat caused
by radioactive decay as it is larger in size compared to the other moons. However,
according to the new study, it is probable that the biggest moons of Uranus contain an
oceanic layer that exists between their icy crusts and cores.
The computer models used in the study suggest that the surface of the moons is insulated
enough to maintain the internal heat required for an ocean. The research also indicates
that the oceans in these moons are probably saturated with ammonia and chlorides,
which function as a type of antifreeze for the oceans.
Further Studies Required
NASA scientists will conduct further research to better understand the composition of the
atmosphere of Uranus’ moons. While there is no scientific evidence about life on Uranus,
the discovery of water in these moons is a significant step towards understanding the
possibility of life on other planets.
IRDAI to Tighten Rules on Insurance Advertisements
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is the statutory
body responsible for regulating and developing the insurance industry. Recently, the
regulatory authority proposed to tighten norms for insurance advertisements by
assigning higher responsibility to the senior management of insurers in designing and
approving media campaigns for product promotion.
Proposed Amendments to Directives on Insurance Advertisements
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has suggested
making changes to the guidelines for insurance advertisements and disclosure that were
introduced in 2021. Under the proposed amendment, each insurer will be required to
constitute an advertisement committee comprising at least three members, to undertake
marketing, actuarial, and compliance functions of the insurer. The objective of the
amendment is to assign higher responsibility to the senior management while designing
and approving the advertisements for the consumption of the customers.
Responsibilities of Advertisement and Product Management Committees
The panel will be required to report to the product management committee, which will be
the final authority to approve or reject the advertisements, after examining the
recommendations of the advertisement committee. The product management committee
and advertisement committee shall be accountable and fully responsible for releasing the
approved advertisements. The insurer’s product management committee needs to adhere
to the record retention policy of the insurer and maintain data on all advertisements, or
for a minimum of three years after the advertisement’s withdrawal date.
Importance of Advertisements in the Insurance Industry
Insurance advertisements are considered an integral part of the product-filing procedure.
Currently, the acceptance of advertisements is based on approved applications of ‘File and
Use’ and adherence to IRDAI regulations and circulars on advertisements. IRDAI has
asked insurers to set up proper robust systems to upload advertisements on their website
within three days of release.
Stable Auroral Red (SAR) Arc
Last month, aurora-like colorful curtains of dazzling light were captured in Ladakh, which
is much farther from the polar regions, where auroras usually occurr. The lights are
actually billions of charged particles moving into space at ultra-high speeds, and when
they arrive in the direction of Earth, they cause a disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field,
enabling us to see the aurora lights.
Stable Auroral Red (SAR) Arc
After analyzing the aurora, Hanle sources confirmed that it appears to be a “stable auroral
red (SAR) arc.” SAR arc is a band of reddish light seen in the sky. It is a very rare event in
Ladakh. Unlike auroras that exhibit a range of colors in dynamic patterns, SAR arcs have a
fixed color and remain static. Geomagnetic activity due to a burst of charged particles
from the Sun triggers both auroras and SAR arcs, but their formation mechanisms differ
slightly.
A Rare Sight
The occurrence of light particles from the Sun colliding with Earth’s magnetic field is a
once-in-a-lifetime event, and it is even more rare to capture it on camera. Luckily, the
Indian Astronomical Observatory above Mount Saraswati managed to record the
happening. These waves were witnessed from Europe, China, and Ladakh in India. The last
time such a phenomenon was witnessed was in 2015.
Not an Air Glow
Instruments at the Indian Astronomical Observatory confirmed that the colored light seen
was not “air glow,” which is an unrelated phenomenon that is not visible to the naked eye
but often appears as a faint region of color in images of the night sky.
The instruments captured a geomagnetic storm that struck Earth’s magnetic field on April
23-24, causing the charged particles from the Sun to collide with atoms and molecules in
the Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in the Northern lights. Auroras can be seen in regions
close to Earth’s magnetic poles, and a clear sky can enhance the visibility of these lights.
Love in 90s: First Feature Film Based on Tagin Community
Love in 90s, a new feature film directed by Tapen Natam, recently had its trailer released
by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in New Delhi. The movie is significant as it is the first one to
be based on the Tagin community of Arunachal Pradesh. The movie portrays the culture,
lifestyle, and various elements of the tribal community as well as the northeastern state.
Who are the Tagins?
The Tagins are one of the major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. They are proud and
independent in character and rich in traditional culture. The Tagins belong to the larger
designation of Abo Tani Clane (Abo – Father, Tani – Ancestor’s Name). Most Tagins are
concentrated in Daporijo, upper Subansiri district, and some adjoining parts of West
Siang, Mechuka, and Papum Pare.
Si-Donyi: The Most Important Festival of the Tagins
Donyi Poloism is the religion followed by most Tagins. The most important festival of the
Tagins is Si-Donyi, which involves the veneration of the earth (si) and the sun (donyi).
Celebrated from the 3rd to the 8th of January, it is considered auspicious for the well-
being of the community and mankind as a whole, as well as for agriculture purposes. The
fifth and sixth days of the festival are the main celebration days.
Saurona Genus
The Natural History Museum in London has named a newly discovered genus of
butterflies Saurona. The name was chosen because the black rings on the butterfly’s
orange wings reminded the experts of the all-seeing eye in JRR Tolkien’s books. Dr Blanca
Heurtas, curator of the butterflies at the museum, picked the name for the genus, which is
expected to draw attention to the species and generate more research.
Genus description
Two species of butterfly, Saurona triangula and Saurona aurigera, have been added to the
newly named Saurona genus. These two species are the inaugural members of the group,
but the team expects many more species to join them. For ten years, scientists from
various parts of the world examined the butterfly subtribe Euptychiina, and they
scrutinized over 400 butterfly species. The experts used advances in DNA to identify the
differences between them at a genetic level, as well as by their appearance.
Another butterfly genus named
Apart from Saurona, the team has also found another butterfly genus, which Dr Huertas
has named Argenteria, meaning silver mine, on account of the silver scales on its wings.
INSV Tarini
Indian Naval Sailing Vessel Tarini has completed a 6-month-long transoceanic
intercontinental expedition, covering 17,000 nautical miles of passage once it reaches Goa
on May 24. The vessel sailed to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil via Cape Town, South Africa,
participating in Cape to Rio Race 2023. The expedition was a challenging one, with Tarini
braving storms, rough seas, strong winds, and heavy weather conditions. Tarini’s crew
consisted of six officers, including two women officers, who exhibited their spirit, grit, and
determination throughout the journey.
Previous Expedition
INSV Tarini is known for circumnavigating the globe with an all-women officer crew in the
historic expedition titled Navika Sagar Parikrama that began in 2017. During their 254-day
expedition, the six members of Navika Sagar Parikrama covered 22,000 nautical miles,
facing rough seas, scorching sun, biting cold, and freezing winds with an unrelenting
spirit.
INSV Tarini
INSV Tarini is the second sailboat of the Indian Navy, built at the Aquarius Shipyard in
Divar, Goa. The vessel was delivered to the navy on February 18, 2017, and is christened
after the Tara Tarini temple. The boat measures 56 feet in length and is built of wood-core
and fiberglass sandwich. The boat has six sails, including mainsail, genoa, stay, downwind,
and storm sail, and is capable of sailing in extreme conditions.
Expedition’s Significance
The expedition is significant as it covered a vast distance and enabled the crew to face
many challenges, which would add to the Indian Navy’s capabilities. The Indian Navy has
been using expeditions like this to improve its sailors’ skills and to promote awareness
about oceanic voyages.
Odisha Government’s Financial Assistance for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Patients
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a rare genetic disorder that affects approximately
1 in 3,500 boys worldwide. It is a progressive and incurable disease that leads to muscle
weakness, loss of mobility, and ultimately, premature death. In India, the state of Odisha
has taken a step towards helping DMD patients and their families by announcing financial
assistance of Rs 10 lakh for each patient for genetic tests and treatment at super-speciality
hospitals.
Purpose of Financial Assistance
The announcement of financial assistance by the Odisha government aims to provide
support for the treatment of DMD patients. The funds can be utilized by the patients for
genetic tests and treatment at super-speciality hospitals. Additionally, the DMD patients
can use the financial assistance to meet the requirements towards an electric wheelchair
and appropriate physiotherapy.
Disbursement of Financial Assistance
The financial assistance will be disbursed through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).
The family of the patient will represent for financial assistance before the collector of the
concerned district, who will send the representation for necessary verification by the Chief
District Medical Officer (CDMO) concerned. Once the recommendation certificate is
received and authenticated by the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), the relevant
district collector will transfer Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF)
directly to the bank account of the parent or guardian of the DMD patient.
Verification and Submission of List
The CDMOs will verify the recommendation certificate for financial assistance and submit
the list of recommended patients to the government. The collectors will also submit a
necessary requisition to the General Administration department for allotment of funds for
the purpose.
Demand by Odisha Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Odisha Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Association (ODMDA) organized a protest to
request Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s involvement in providing appropriate treatment
resources for children and adolescents in the state affected by DMD. They had requested
a monthly financial aid of Rs 15,000 for each family, free genetic tests for children showing
symptoms, and an insurance program for children with DMD.
Orissa High Court’s Directive
During its latest hearing in November, the Orissa High Court instructed AIIMS-
Bhubaneswar to aid in the treatment of 16 children afflicted with DMD. The High Court
had also directed the Odisha government and Centre to provide details on possible
solutions to address the needs of children suffering from DMD.
Lucknow Smart City's School Health Program
In a bid to improve the overall health and well-being of municipal school students, the
Urban Development Department in Uttar Pradesh and Lucknow Smart City have launched
a School Health Program in Lucknow. The program has been initiated in three schools in
the city as a pilot project, with the aim of checking the physical and mental health of 1765
municipal school students. The School Health Program also prepares a digital health
report card for each child and provides health insurance worth Rs 25,000 to these children.
Purpose of School Health Program
The School Health Program aims to detect diseases occurring in children and improve
their academic performance and future prospects by enhancing their physical and mental
health. The pilot project is expected to be a success and implemented in the other nine
smart cities in the state.
Digital Health Report Card
The School Health Program in Lucknow Smart City is unique because it prepares a
digital health report card for each child.
Under this initiative, a team of doctors, paramedics, health volunteers, and team
coordinators checks each child according to their expertise and prepares a digital
health report card based on 130 parameters.
The report card includes parameters related to physiotherapy, such as endurance,
stamina, posture, and others. T
he program also checks the eye health of children for color blindness, eye diseases,
and vision, and provides glasses if necessary.
Dental and oral health, as well as the ability to listen and speak, are also tested.
Frequency of Follow-up
Each child is given a unique ID card that allows parents, school, and administrative
officials to download the digital health card.
Follow-up of the Digital Health Report is done every six months.
If a child is admitted to the hospital due to illness, then they can be treated through a
health cover cashless card of Rs 25,000.
Responsibility of Schools
Aminabad Inter College, Kashmiri Mohalla Girls Inter College, and Kashmiri Mohalla
Montessori School have been given the responsibility of health checkups for the 1765
children under the pilot project. The team is making digital health cards by conducting
desk-to-desk examinations of the child. Workshops on child psychology, first aid, health,
and hygiene are also being conducted under the program.
Naykap Gokab
Bhutan has launched Naykap Gokab, a new online platform aimed at promoting local
innovative ideas and solutions. Developed by a group of young software engineers in
collaboration with the UNDP, DHI, and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and
Employment, the platform connects innovators, policymakers, and investors to create
opportunities for collaboration and investment.
Purpose of Naykap Gokab
The primary objective of the Naykap Gokab platform is to promote and cultivate the
innovation ecosystem in Bhutan. It provides a space for people with innovative ideas to
share them and find potential investors.
Number of Registrations
Since its launch, the Naykap Gokab platform has garnered a lot of interest, with more than
80 registrations. The website’s design is intuitive and straightforward, ensuring that
innovators and investors can access it without difficulty.
Future Plans
The platform’s developers are currently planning to come up with a mobile app for the
website in the future to improve accessibility. Currently, the primary aim is to ensure the
website’s stability to prevent any problems for users.
Syria’s Return to Arab League

The Arab League has recently made a decision to readmit Syria after more than a decade.
Syria was thrown out of the organization for its brutal repression of pro-democracy
protests that led to the ongoing civil war. This move has been considered as a significant
development that signals a thaw in relations between Damascus and other Arab
governments. The Arab League Summit is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia later
this month, and President Bashar al-Assad may attend.
The Decision
Foreign ministers from 13 of the 22-nation group’s members were present at the meeting
in Cairo where the decision to readmit Syria was taken. The members emphasized the
necessity of putting an end to the civil war in Syria and the problems that followed, such
as refugee and drug smuggling crises. A committee involving Egypt, Saudi Arabia,
Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq will be set up to help Syria achieve those goals.
Civil War in Syria
During the civil war, more than 300,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed, and
roughly half of the pre-war population of 21 million has been displaced either within Syria
or as refugees abroad, according to UN estimates. Displaced Syrians in the northwest
rebel-held area of Idlib have expressed shock at the Arab League’s decision.
Future Plans
The Arab League’s decision to readmit Syria is expected to aid in resolving the ongoing
conflict in the country gradually. However, it is important to note that the move does not
imply a resumption of relationships between Arab states and Syria, and individual
countries have the right to decide on this matter. Western countries such as the US and
UK have already declared that they will not restore relations with the government of
President Assad.
The Report on Optimal Generation Capacity Mix for 2029-30
India’s Power Ministry recently released a report on the optimal generation capacity mix
for 2029-30. According to the report, the per MW cost of putting up a new coal-fired
thermal power plant is ₹8.34 crore. This figure is based on the latest inputs provided by
various manufacturers and developers. The report also revealed that India is planning to
build 26,900 MW of coal power plants between now and 2030, which would result in a bill
of ₹2.25-lakh crore or ₹32,050 crore per year.
Costly and Harmful Coal Power
Despite being a significant part of India’s energy mix, coal power is both costly and
harmful to the planet. The report states that India’s annual carbon dioxide emissions from
the power sector will rise from 910 million tons today to 1.11 billion tons in 2030, thanks to
coal-based plants.
Per-kWhr Cost of Electricity from Coal-fired Plants
While the cost of electricity from coal-fired plants varies based on several factors, industry
sources say that the cost of new coal power is never less than ₹6 a kWhr. With the per MW
cost of ₹8.34 crore, the cost is set to increase.
Renewable Energy is Cheaper
Renewable energy plus storage is a cheaper alternative to coal power. For instance,
Greenko has contracted to sell power from its upcoming pumped hydro storage at
Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, for ₹4.23 a kWhr. The Optimal Capacity Mix report indicates that
11,460 MW of pumped hydro storage capacity has been concurred by the Central
Electricity Authority. At present, 4,746 MW of pumped hydro storage capacity exists in
India, and another 2,780 MW, including Greenko’s 1,680 MW, are under construction.
Future of Coal Power
Despite the cheaper cost of renewable energy plus storage, the report states that India
would need a further 16,204 MW of coal-based power capacity by 2029-30. While the per
MW cost of coal power has risen over the years, pumped hydro storage capacity is
increasing, and the cost of renewable energy is decreasing. However, coal power remains
a significant part of India’s energy mix for the time being.
One Minute Traffic Light Plan
The Indian city of Shimla will soon have a new traffic system aimed at easing traffic
congestion during peak tourist and apple harvest seasons. According to the One Minute
Traffic Light Plan proposed by the police, traffic lights will be installed at 10 bottlenecks to
make the state capital jam-free. This will also reduce travel time across the city from 60-90
minutes to 15-25 minutes.
Traffic Congestion in Shimla
Shimla is a major tourist attraction, and the city experiences a lot of traffic during the
winter tourist season. The Victory Tunnel is a particular bottleneck, with around 50
vehicles entering from all three sides in a minute, but only 20 able to cross the tunnel at
that time. According to the police data, 9.92 lakh vehicles entered and exited Shimla in
April 2023 alone.
One-minute Traffic Light Plan
The proposed traffic system is based on time, number, and space. Vehicles will be released
every minute in the ratio of 40:20 and 30:30 seconds, meaning they will be stopped for 40
seconds and released for 20 seconds during peak hours, and halted and released for 30
seconds during normal times. The new traffic system will also have a minimum halting
distance of 500 metres.
Benefits of the New System
The new system will prioritize the commute time of school children and ease workers’
rush during peak hours. It aims to make the city jam-free, giving uninterrupted access to
hospitals and emergency services. A master control room will be set up to monitor traffic,
and traffic police will receive special training.
First Indian Air Force Heritage Centre
India’s Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, inaugurated the Indian Air Force (IAF) Heritage
Centre in Chandigarh.
Key Facts About Indian Air Force Heritage Centre
The Indian Air Force Heritage Centre is a joint project between the Union Territory
administration and the IAF, as agreed upon in a memorandum of understanding
signed last year.
Although the UT administration will maintain the centre, the IAF has provided the
weapons and equipment.
The centre spans 17,000 square feet in Sector 18.
The centre is the first of its kind and exhibits the IAF’s contributions in various wars,
including the Balakot air strike and the 1965, 1971, and Kargil wars, through murals
and memorabilia.
With eight attractions including aircraft models and weapon displays, the biggest
attraction is a flight simulator.
The exhibits on aero engines, aircraft, kiosks, and machines/fixtures have been set
up to inform the visitors about the history of the Indian Air Force.
Center for Cyber Operations and Security
Aside from the IAF Heritage Centre, Rajnath Singh also inaugurated Chandigarh Police’s
Centre for Cyber Operations and Security (CenCOPS) at the Government Press building.
The state-of-the-art facility is equipped with the latest software and technology to provide
real-time intelligence and investigation support to the police in combating cybercrime.
The centre is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen cybersecurity in the country
and will work closely with other agencies to ensure a secure cyber environment.
The Centre for Cyber Operations and Security will serve as a hub for providing training
and operational support to the state police and intelligence agencies. The centre is
equipped with advanced tools and technologies to detect, prevent, and investigate
cybercrimes. The facility is a significant step in India’s mission to build a robust
cybersecurity framework, keeping pace with the country’s rapidly evolving digital
landscape.
Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has recently launched an initiative to
provide an overview of different aspects of Space Science and Technology to students. The
program, named Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START), is an
introductory-level training program aimed at postgraduate and final-year undergraduate
students of Physical Sciences and Technology.
Purpose and Benefits
The primary objective of the START program is to help Indian students become
professionals in Space Science and Technology, as ISRO’s Space Science exploration
program continues to expand into new domains. The program will provide a
comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of the discipline, research
possibilities, and professional pathways. The lectures will also cover topics related to the
Indian Space Science exploration program and research opportunities in Space Science
and technologies.
The START program also aims to emphasize the cross-disciplinary nature of Space Science,
highlighting how individual aptitudes can be applied to the field. It encompasses fields
such as Astronomy and Astrophysics, Heliophysics, Sun-Earth interaction, Instrumentation,
and Aeronomy.
Short Courses Offered by ISRO
In addition to the START program, the ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) has
also launched two short courses: Remote Sensing Data Acquisition and Remote Sensing
Data Processing. These courses will be conducted by the Centre for Space Science and
Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP), a UN-affiliated educational
institution. The courses have been planned to take place between August 21 and
September 1, and between October 9 and 20, correspondingly, and they will be conducted
at NRSC’s Earth Station situated near Hyderabad’s Shadnagar area.
These short courses will provide students with knowledge and skills in remote sensing,
which is a vital aspect of Space Science and Technology. Students will receive training on
remote sensing data acquisition and processing, which will help them become proficient
in the field.
US Patriot Shoots Down Kh-47 Kinzhal
On May 7, 2022, Ukraine announced that it had shot down a Kinzhal missile for the first
time. The missile was targeted and brought down in the skies over Kyiv using a US Patriot
air defense system. The downing of the Kinzhal missile is being viewed as a significant
setback for Russia’s long-range air strikes campaign against Ukraine.
What is Kinzhal Missile?
Kinzhal is a Russian term that means dagger. In 2018, President Putin unveiled six next-
generation weapons, and Kinzhal missile is one of them. The Kinzhal missile has a range of
up to 2,000 km (1,250 miles) and travels at a speed ten times faster than the speed of
sound, making it a challenging target to intercept. Additionally, the missile has the
capability of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.
Technical Specifications
The Kinzhal missile is 8 meters long, has a body diameter of 1 meter, and its launch weight
is approximately 4,300 kg. The missile is intended to be fired from MiG-31 fighter jets at an
altitude of around 18 km (59,000 ft). During all stages of the flight, the missile maneuvers
to overcome hostile air defense systems.
Expert Opinions
While Russia claims the Kinzhal missile to be a “hypersonic” missile, the Center for
Strategic and International Studies states that nearly all ballistic missiles reach hypersonic
speeds at some point during their flight. The UK’s Ministry of Defense stated that the use
of the Kinzhal missile was unlikely to materially affect the outcome of Russia’s campaign in
Ukraine.
Differences between Kinzhal and its Predecessor
One major difference between Kinzhal and its predecessor is that it is launched using an
airborne vehicle and not from the ground, making it less predictable and more difficult to
intercept. The missile can easily strike key targets like command centers and, with its high
speed, can penetrate even deeply buried bunkers.
Lithium Reserve in Rajasthan's Degana
India recently discovered lithium reserves in Rajasthan’s Degana (Nagaur), marking
another step towards achieving the country’s net zero emissions goal. This is the second
lithium reserve to be discovered in India, after the 5.9 million tonnes lithium reserves in
were found in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir three months prior.
Lithium, known as “white gold,” has become a highly sought-after metal, especially for the
electric vehicle (EV) industry, given India’s ambitious targets of achieving 30 per cent
electric vehicle sales of total new vehicle sales and increasing non-fossil energy capacity to
500 GW by 2030.
Discovery of Lithium Reserves in India
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) recently confirmed the discovery of lithium reserves
in Rajasthan, though the capacity of the reserve has not been disclosed. The reserve is
believed to be even larger than the 5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves discovered in
Jammu & Kashmir. The lithium reserves in Rajasthan are located in the same Renvat hill of
Degana and its surrounding area, where Tungsten mineral was once supplied to the
country.
Challenges and Opportunities
Lithium mining is known to be a resource devourer and not profitable, which is why the
Indian government did not pursue the mining of lithium earlier. However, with the
increasing demand for EVs, lithium has become a metal of priority. The discovery of
lithium reserves will allow India to become self-sufficient, improve its energy security, and
reduce its import bill and trade deficit.
Impact on the Indian EV Industry
India’s annual lithium-ion battery market is expected to grow to 116 GWh by FY2030 from
2.6 GWh in FY2021, with EVs accounting for 90 per cent of the overall market, according to
a report by JMK Research and The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
However, with China currently dominating lithium mining and processing, India has been
dependent on imports from neighbouring countries. The discovery of lithium reserves in
India will enable the country to reduce its dependence on foreign countries and control
the fluctuating price of lithium. India is well positioned to become the third largest market
for EVs in the next four years, making lithium reserves a promising investment for the
country’s EV industry.
May 9, 2023
Project-SMART
The “Station Area Development along Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail” project has
been approved by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), and a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) has been signed with the Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Railways. The project aims to develop the areas
surrounding the high-speed railway stations along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed
Railway (MAHSR) route to promote economic activities and improve accessibility and
convenience for commuters and other stakeholders.
Four High-Speed Rail Stations to be Developed
Under the MoU, four high-speed rail stations – Sabarmati, Surat, Virar, and Thane – out of
the twelve stations in the route will be developed. Sabarmati is a brownfield development,
while Surat, Virar, and Thane are greenfield developments. This means that Sabarmati has
existing infrastructure that needs to be improved, while Surat, Virar, and Thane will have
to be built from scratch.
The Aim of the Project
The Station Area Development along Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project aims to
enhance the institutional capacity of state governments, municipal corporations, and
urban development authorities to plan, develop and manage the surrounding areas of
MAHSR stations. The project will also contribute to the development of “Station Area
Development Plans” for the four high-speed rail stations.
Cities to Host Seminars and Field Visits
MoHUA, together with the governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra and JICA, will arrange
a sequence of seminars and site visits in Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai for the Project-
SMART. The primary session of the series was held on May 8, 2023, at Nirman Bhawan in
New Delhi, with the presence of personnel from the Japan Embassy, JICA HQ, JICA India
Office, JICA specialists’ team, Ministry of Railway, National High-Speed Rail Corporation
Limited, MoHUA, and TCPO.
Potential of the Project
The “Station Area Development along Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail” project has
the potential to transform the areas around the high-speed rail stations into bustling
economic centres. The development of high-speed rail stations can attract more people to
the area, which in turn can lead to the growth of businesses, employment opportunities,
and infrastructure. Additionally, the project can lead to an improvement in the standard of
living for the people living in the surrounding areas of the high-speed rail stations.
ESCAP's “Race to Net Zero” Report
Bangkok-based U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
recently released a report titled “Race to Net Zero”. This report will serve as a guide and
information source for the 79th session of ESCAP, which will focus on accelerating climate
action for the first time.
According to this report, most countries in the Asia-Pacific region are “insufficiently
prepared” to face extreme weather events and natural disasters, which are increasing in
intensity and frequency partly due to climate change. It highlights that the region is
responsible for over half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Impact of Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region
The Asia-Pacific region has experienced a faster rise in temperatures over the past 60
years than the global average. The region suffers the worst consequences of climate
change, with six of the top 10 most affected countries located in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to the ESCAP report, natural and biological hazards in the Asia-Pacific region
have contributed an estimated annual economic loss of U.S. $780 billion, causing
disruption in food systems, damaged economies and undermined societies. The report
predicts an increase to $1.1 trillion in a moderate climate change scenario and $1.4 trillion
in the worst-case scenario.
Challenges Faced by Asia-Pacific Countries
Asia-Pacific countries lack the necessary financial means to support adaptation and
mitigation efforts, the required data to inform climate action, and climate-resilient
infrastructure and services.
Coal and Emissions in the Asia-Pacific Region
According to the March report by the U.N.-related Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC), the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 57% of global emissions from fuel
combustion in 2020, with three-fifths of the emissions being generated from coal. The
report further states that 85% of Asia and the Pacific’s primary energy supply comes from
fossil fuels, while 60% of the region’s energy-related CO2 emissions come from coal.
Phasing Out Coal to Limit Temperature Rises
To limit temperature rises to 1.5°C, the report suggests that oil and gas must be radically
phased down by 2050, and coal must be wholly phased out. ESCAP adds that three-fourths
of global emissions in manufacturing and construction come from the region.
Jaganannaku Chebudam Programme
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is all set to launch a toll-free
helpline number, 1902, under the Jaganannaku Chebudam program on May 9. The aim of
this initiative is to provide quick and quality solutions to people’s grievances related to
welfare schemes and government services.
24/7 Registration of Grievances
This program allows people to register their grievances at any time of the day or night. It
is also designed to spread awareness about government services and welfare schemes
among the people. Once citizens register their grievances, they will be issued a unique
Your Service Request (YSR) number. They will then receive regular updates on the status
of their grievances through IVRS and SMS-based communications.
Direct Connection with the Chief Minister’s Office
One of the most important features of this program is that it will provide a direct
connection to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and Project Monitoring Units. This will
ensure that grievances are redressed efficiently and in a timely manner. Moreover, this
program will enable citizens to bring their issues directly to the notice of the Chief
Minister, ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed.
Launch Date
The toll-free helpline number, 1902, will be launched on May 9 by Andhra Pradesh Chief
Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. This program is a significant step towards addressing
the grievances of the people and improving the overall quality of governance in Andhra
Pradesh.
Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor
NASA is developing a unique snake-like robot called Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS)
to aid space exploration and potentially discover whether life exists beyond Earth. The
robot will examine the icy features of Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons, and search for
evidence of water and life-supporting environments.
Enceladus and the EELS system
Enceladus is the sixth-largest moon of Saturn, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
created the EELS system to explore its internal terrain structures, assess habitability, and
search for evidence of life. The robot’s adaptable design allows it to traverse various
terrains, including ocean-world-inspired terrain, fluidized media, enclosed labyrinthian
environments, and liquids.
Unique features of the EELS system
The EELS system is a snake-like, self-propelled robot that consists of identical segments
containing actuation, propulsion mechanisms, power, and communication electronics. Its
first-of-a-kind rotating propulsion units act as tracks, gripping mechanisms, and propeller
units underwater, enabling the robot to access a plume vent exit and follow it to its ocean
source.
Potential for deeper exploration
NASA has not yet set a launch date for the EELS project, but if successful, the 16-foot-long
robot could lead to deeper exploration of celestial bodies that were once considered
unattainable. The EELS system could allow scientists to explore and study these
environments in greater detail, potentially leading to new discoveries.
TROPICS Mission
NASA and Rocket Lab successfully launched two CubeSats for storm-tracking into orbit,
after an initial launch was called off in April due to weather disruptions in New Zealand.
The mission, TROPICS (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm
Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats), had a two-hour launch window.
TROPICS Mission
TROPICS is a mission that consists of four identical CubeSats aimed at observing tropical
cyclones. These CubeSats will collect data more frequently than traditional weather
tracking satellites. The first two satellites were launched using the Electron orbital launch
vehicle developed by Rocket Lab. The second set of satellites will be launched in about two
weeks.
CubeSats and Their Advantages
CubeSats differ from traditional weather tracking satellites in the frequency at which they
make observations. Collecting data more frequently allows scientists to improve their
weather forecasts. The CubeSats in the TROPICS constellation will provide rapid-refresh
microwave measurements over the tropics that can be used to observe the
thermodynamics of the troposphere and precipitation structure for storm systems at the
mesoscale and synoptic scale over the entire storm lifecycle.
Significance of the Mission
The observing system of TROPICS offers an unprecedented combination of horizontal and
temporal resolution to measure environmental and inner-core conditions for tropical
cyclones on a nearly global scale, serving as a model for future missions.
Lifting of Title 42
The United States will soon lift COVID-19 restrictions known as Title 42 that have
prevented migrants caught at the U.S.-Mexico border from seeking asylum since March
2020. The order was implemented under former President Donald Trump to reduce the
spread of the coronavirus in detention settings. Critics of Title 42, which allowed border
agents to rapidly expel many migrants to Mexico, argue that it was part of Trump’s goal to
curb legal and illegal immigration.
President Joe Biden vowed to reverse Trump’s restrictive approach on immigration and
has kept Title 42 in place while expanding it to deal with record migrant arrests at the U.S.-
Mexico border. The Biden administration plans to lift the restriction on May 11 when the
U.S. COVID public health emergency ends.
New regulations for migrants
Migrants caught crossing the border will be able to request asylum again. To deter would-
be migrants, the Biden administration plans to issue a new regulation that would deny
asylum to most migrants caught crossing if they passed through another country en route
to the U.S. without seeking protection or failed to use other legal pathways. President
Biden has expanded legal pathways to encourage migrants to use them.
Nearly 500 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) personnel will help with the
interviews and the Pentagon will send 1,500 troops to support the Border Patrol on a
temporary basis. The new regulation is expected to face legal challenges, and the
administration may struggle to hold migrants at the border and quickly deport them
without additional funds from Congress.
Creditor-led Insolvency Resolution Mechanism
The Creditor-led Insolvency Resolution Mechanism is a newly proposed mechanism that
aims to reduce delays in the resolution process, which have escalated under the current
system, causing legal challenges and a shortage of NCLT benches. As per the Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) is
mandatory, with a maximum of 270 days stipulated to resolve corporate bankruptcy.
The Delays
There is a considerable delay in filling vacancies at the National Company Law Tribunal
(NCLT), creating a hindrance in resolution process. The layers of decision-making involved
in tracking the right people and ensuring transparency in their operations and decision-
making are taking significant time.
The Sudhaker Shukla Panel
To establish a regulatory approach for the fast-track resolution process under the IBC, the
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has constituted a panel under Sudhaker
Shukla, its whole-time member. The panel is composed of experienced bankers, an ex-
central bank official, and an individual with expertise in resolving insolvency matters.
Recovery Percentage
According to IBBI, the average resolution time for the 611 bankruptcy cases under the IBC
until December 2022 was 482 days, excluding the NCLT time. Creditors recovered Rs 2.53
lakh crore, which is 30.4% of their admitted claims in these 611 cases. In the case of 516
firms, the realization was 84% of the fair value calculated when they were admitted for
CIRP.
What is Yarchagumba?
Recently, 15 Yarchagumba collectors in Nepal were hit by avalanche, leaving 12 injured
and the rest missing.
Key Facts Regarding Yarchagumba
Cordyceps Sinensis, locally called yarchagumba, is a parasitic fungus that grows on
the body of a caterpillar.
Also known as Himalayan Viagra, this parasitic fungus is only found at altitudes
above 3,500 meters.
It forms when the parasitic fungus lodges itself in a caterpillar, slowly killing it.
It is harvested by thousands of villagers in Nepal and Tibet to be sold in
neighbouring China, where it is used in herbal medicines.
Although no definitive research has been published on the beneficial qualities of
yarchagumba, Chinese herbalists believe it boosts sexual performance and is boiled
in water to make tea or added to soups and stews, believed to treat various ailments
from fatigue to cancer.
According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the population
of yarchagumba has decreased by at least 30% over 15 years by 2020 due to
excessive harvesting.
Nano-QuIC (Nanoparticle-enhanced Quaking-Induced Conversion)
A new diagnostic technique has been developed by researchers at the University of
Minnesota called Nano-QuIC (Nanoparticle-enhanced Quaking-Induced Conversion) that
promises faster and more accurate detection of neurodegenerative diseases like
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and chronic wasting disease in animals. These diseases share a
common feature, which is the buildup of misfolded proteins in the central nervous system,
and detecting these misfolded proteins is crucial for understanding and diagnosing these
disorders.
Limitations of Existing Diagnostic Methods
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry are the current
diagnostic methods for these diseases, but they can be expensive, time-consuming, and
limiting in terms of antibody specificity.
How Nano-QuIC Improves upon Existing Techniques
Nano-QuIC improves upon the NIH Rocky Mountain Laboratories’ Real-Time Quaking-
Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC) assay. The RT-QuIC method involves shaking a mixture of
normal proteins with a small amount of misfolded protein, triggering a chain reaction that
causes the proteins to multiply and allowing for the detection of these irregular proteins.
By incorporating 50-nanometer silica nanoparticles into RT-QuIC experiments, the
detection times can be reduced significantly from around 14 hours to just four hours.
Additionally, the sensitivity can be increased tenfold.
Benefits of Faster and More Accurate Detection
The quicker and highly accurate detection method provided by Nano-QuIC is particularly
important for understanding and controlling the transmission of CWD, which is spreading
in deer across North America, Scandinavia, and South Korea. The new method also
benefits research as it will improve next-generation tests, making them more sensitive
and accessible.
First China-Central Asia Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping will be hosting a summit with the leaders of five Central Asian
nations next week. This is part of China’s plan to increase its influence in the region. The
summit is named China-Central Asia Summit and is set to take place in Xi’an, the first of its
kind since formal relations were established 31 years ago. The leaders of Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are expected to attend the two-day
summit from May 18 to 19, with a focus on strengthening economic and diplomatic ties
with Beijing.
Investment in Central Asia
China has invested billions of dollars in Central Asia to tap into natural gas reserves. Rail
links connecting China to Europe criss-cross the region and are vital to the success of Mr.
Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative, a trillion-dollar global infrastructure project aimed at
strengthening trade and infrastructure ties between China and other countries, primarily
in Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Agenda for the Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a keynote speech during the summit,
and the leaders would sign “important political documents.” They will also review the
development of China-Central Asia relations, exchange views on China-Central Asia
cooperation in various fields, and discuss major international and regional issues of
common concern.
Russia’s Influence in the Region
Central Asian nations, formerly part of the Soviet Union, have been under Moscow’s
influence for over a century. Nonetheless, Russia’s power has been challenged since its
incursion into Ukraine, and Beijing has been approaching traditional Moscow allies in the
region.
Growing Exports to Central Asia
China’s exports to Central Asia grew 60% year-on-year to $1.4 billion in 2022, according to
data released by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce last month. Despite accusations of
human rights violations by Beijing targeting Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in
Xinjiang, countries that border China’s northwestern region have remained quiet,
including Kazakhstan.
36th CISO Deep-Dive Training Programme
The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) is currently conducting its 36th edition of the
CISO Deep-Dive training programme from May 8 to 12, 2023. The training programme,
under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), aimed to build the
capacities of CISOs and frontline IT officials in combating cyber-attacks.
Participants
The five-day training programme had 24 participants, including CISOs, technical wings of
police and security forces, CTOs, and members of technical/PMU teams from Central Line
Ministries and States/UTs.
Aim of the Programme
The purpose of the CISO Deep-Dive training programme is to provide CISOs with a
comprehensive understanding of cyber-attacks, the latest safeguarding technologies, and
how to communicate the benefits of a strong e-infrastructure to organizations and the
public. Additionally, the training seeks to give a comprehensive view of legal provisions
and help build concrete crisis management plans for cyber-attacks.
Coverage of Topics
During the training programme, various topics related to cybersecurity were covered,
including Governance Risk and Compliance, the Landscape of Cyber Security Products in
India, Security for Endpoints and Digital Workplaces, Network Security, Security for
Applications and Data, Incident Response and CCMP, Mobile Security, Cryptography, Cyber
Security Testing and Audit, Cyber Security related Provisions of IT Act and ISMS Standards
such as ISO 27001, as well as Security Logging and Operation and Monitoring of Security
Operation Centers.
CISO Training
The CISO training programme was launched in 2018 under the Public Private Partnership
(PPP) model. NeGD has organized 36 sessions of CISO deep-dive training programs for
more than 1,419 CISOs and IT officials since that time.
Agencies and Companies Included in the Training Programme
The Cyber Surakshit Bharat initiative of MeitY has made this training programme available
for designated CISOs from Central and State/UT Governments, subordinate
agencies/PSUs, technical wings of police and security forces, CTOs, and members of
technical/PMU teams, including public sector banks and insurance companies. The
programme is intended to strengthen the capacities of CISOs and frontline IT officials
across all government departments to combat cyber-attacks.
Tungnath Temple
On March 27, a notification was issued by the central government to declare the ancient
Tungnath temple as a monument of national importance. Tungnath temple, located in the
Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, is a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus. It is the
third of the five Panchkedars of Uttarakhand.
Special Features of Tungnath Temple
Tungnath Temple is situated at an altitude of 12800 feet.
It is the only ancient ‘Shivalaya’ of its kind located at the highest point above sea
level in Asia.
It is one of the highest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and is highest of the five
Panch Kedar temples.
Tungnath temple is located at the top of a ridge that separates the waters of the
Mandakini River (originating from Kedarnath) from those of the Alaknanda River
(originating above Badrinath). The peak of Tungnath on this ridge is the origin of
three springs that together form the Akashkamini River. Situated approximately 2 km
(1.2 mi) below the Chandrashila Peak, the temple is surrounded by picturesque
landscapes.
It is believed that Lord Rama meditated on the Chandrashila peak around Tungnath.
The temple is associated with the Panchkedar temples, which were built by the
Pandavas.
It is believed that the Pandavas were advised by sage Vyasa Rishi to worship Lord
Shiva to forgive their sin of killing their cousin Kauravas during the war of
Mahabharata.
First Dubai FinTech Summit
Dubai is making strides towards becoming a global business hub, with its strategic
location, world-class infrastructure, and investor-friendly policies. Recently, the city hosted
the inaugural Dubai FinTech Summit from May 8th to 9th, which was hosted by the Dubai
International Financial Centre (DIFC), the leading international financial hub in the Middle
East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. The Summit was inaugurated by Sheikh
Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who holds positions of First Deputy
Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance of the UAE, and serves as
the President of DIFC.
Global Industry Leaders Attend Summit
The event gathered a total of 5,000 individuals who are leaders in the global industry,
including policymakers, executives in top positions, entrepreneurs, investors, and
delegates. Over 100 exhibitors and 120 speakers representing over 50 countries
participated in the Summit.
Dubai’s Role in Shaping the Future of FinTech and Finance
Dubai is playing a major role in promoting innovation and cutting-edge technologies in
the financial sector of the region. The city provides a favorable ecosystem to foster the
growth of FinTech innovation. The DIFC has invested heavily in the FinTech sector by
creating a supportive and agile regulatory framework, providing access to funding,
sandbox environments, and resources for start-ups and established companies alike.
Dubai’s Contribution to the Financial Sector
The DIFC is a major contributor to Dubai’s economy, contributing approximately 6% of its
GDP. The Centre has grown significantly over the last decade, enhancing its ecosystem to
accelerate innovation, testing, investment, and growth. Its efforts have created an
environment that fosters growth and development, making it a significant contributor to
the country’s GDP.
Future of the FinTech Sector
It is predicted that the FinTech industry will become twice its size from over USD 135
billion in 2021 to nearly USD 270 billion in 2027, highlighting its significance in molding the
financial industry.
Key Topics at the Dubai FinTech Summit
The Summit’s theme was “New Global Home to the Future of FinTech and Finance.” Some
of the key topics discussed at the Summit include:
Building the Economies of the Future
Crypto and the Evolving Regulatory Framework
The World of Finance: Where are the Women?
Building a Resilient and ‘Sustainable Financial Sector in the Age of Disruption
Cross-Border Collaboration
Over 20 MoU agreements were signed at the Dubai FinTech Summit, indicating the city’s
contribution to promoting cross-border collaboration. The Summit strengthened Dubai’s
growing position in influencing the global FinTech landscape. The Summit reinforced
Dubai’s emerging role in shaping the future of the worldwide FinTech landscape. It also
fostered more cross-border collaboration between the public and private sectors, offering
a strong platform for FinTech firms to tap into new growth opportunities.
MiG-21 Jet in India - An Overview
The MiG-21 is among the six fighter jets flown by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and has been
the backbone of the force for a long time. The MiG-21 is a fighter aircraft that is capable of
performing a range of roles and can be used for both air-to-air and ground attacks. It has
a single engine and can seat only one person. It was first inducted into the IAF in 1963 as
an interceptor aircraft and was later upgraded to perform various roles, including ground
attack. Over 700 MiG-21 aircraft of different variants have been procured by India since
then, with the latest variant being the MiG-21 Bison. Over 100 MiG-21s with the IAF have
been upgraded to Bison since 2006.
MiG-21’s History and Role in Wars
The MiG-21 has proved its mettle in several wars fought by India, including the
Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, where the Type 77 variant played a crucial role in
India’s favor. It was also one of the mainstay fighter jets in the 1965 and 1999 Kargil
conflicts with Pakistan. In 2019, a MiG-21 Bison flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan
Varthaman downed an F-16 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force.
Safety Record and Phasing Out of the MiG-21
As per government records, nearly 500 MiG-21 aircraft have crashed in the last 60 years,
resulting in the death of more than 170 pilots. In July of last year, a trainer version of the
fighter aircraft crashed, leading to the death of two pilots on board. In 2021, five MiG-21
Bison crashes occurred, resulting in the loss of three pilots. The reasons for these crashes
have varied, including technical defects, human error, bird strikes, or spatial disorientation
of pilots in certain situations.
The IAF has three squadrons of MiG-21 Bison aircraft currently in service, planned to be
phased out by December 2025. The IAF continues to fly the MiG aircraft to maintain its
squadron strength until the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas squadrons replace
them. The phasing out of the fighter jets earlier would bring down the IAF’s fighter
squadron strength to dangerously low levels.
Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana
Coal India Limited (CIL) has been supporting the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana (TBSY)
initiative as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. Recently, the third
phase of the TBSY was launched to commemorate World Thalassemia Day. Union Minister
of State for Health and Family Welfare launched the third phase of TBSY, and the
Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana Portal, in the presence of several dignitaries, including the
Union Health Secretary and Secretary of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Understanding Thalassemia
Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder that causes the body to have lower levels of
hemoglobin than normal. Since 2017, the Union Health Ministry has been implementing
the TBSY under the National Health Mission (NHM), and the initiative had recently
completed its second phase in March 2023.
CIL’s CSR-Funded Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Program
CIL’s Corporate Social Responsibility-funded Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT)
program is an exceptional effort directed towards offering an exclusive opportunity to
cure underprivileged Thalassemia patients, who have a suitable donor among siblings but
lack the financial resources to pay for the procedure. During the two phases of the
program, it has successfully completed 356 bone marrow transplants for Thalassemia
patients across 10 empanelled hospitals in India.
Third Phase of TBSY Initiative
The objective of the third phase of the TBSY initiative is to offer monetary aid of 10 lakhs
per HSCT package, which will be directly transferred to the hospitals performing the HSCT
by CIL. The program will benefit underprivileged thalassemia patients and those with
aplastic anemia, a condition that can be life-threatening without treatment. The program
has empaneled 10 reputed hospitals across India, including AIIMS, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer
Institute and others.
Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana Portal
CIL has created the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana Portal to empower online applications
for the TBSY initiative. Through the portal, patients can track their application’s progress
in real-time, from registration to closure.
Contribution to a Healthier and More Equitable Society
The Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana initiative serves as a remarkable illustration of an
effective Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative that is truly transforming the lives
of Thalassemia patients and their families. The third phase of the scheme is expected to
continue bringing hope and relief to Thalassemia patients and their families while
contributing towards building a healthier and more equitable society.
Swamp Deer Released into Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR)
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) is located in Madhya Pradesh’s eastern Satpura hill
range of Umaria and Katni districts. The name “Bandhavgarh” means “Brother’s Fort” in
Hindi and is derived from the mythological story of Lord Rama and his brother
Lakshmana. It is believed that Lord Rama gave the fort to his brother to keep watch over
Lanka, and the fort has since been known as Bandhavgarh. This tiger reserve is of vital
importance due to its diverse flora and fauna, which includes a healthy population of
tigers and various herbivores. Recently, several swamp deer were released into this
reserve.
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve’s Diverse Wildlife
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve has a unique ecosystem that comprises hills, valleys, rivers,
marshes, and meadows, giving rise to diverse vegetation. The reserve is home to a healthy
population of tigers, as well as 34 species of mammals, nearly 260 species of birds, and 70
species of butterflies.
Swamp Deer: A Recent Addition to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
Recently, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve received a unique addition to its wildlife as 16
female and two male swamp deer were released into an enclosure built in the Magadhi
zone of BTR. The Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve management team brought the swamp deer
from Kanha National Park, located approximately 200 kilometers away from the tiger
reserve. The number of swamp deer in BTR has now increased to 37.
Barasingha Home: An Enclosure for Swamp Deer
The enclosure called ‘Barasingha Home’ located in the Magadhi zone of BTR was
constructed to release the swamp deer. The enclosure is carnivore-proof, meaning that no
carnivorous animal can enter the area. The swamp deer will be kept in the enclosure for
about three years before being released into the wild. The management has made all
necessary arrangements for the welfare and management of the swamp deer.
Interesting Facts about Swamp Deer
The swamp deer, also known as barasingha, is found in different parts of the Indian
subcontinent.
The specific name of the swamp deer is Rucervus duvaucelii, named after the French
naturalist Alfred Duvaucel.
Mature stags usually have 10 to 14 tines, and some have been known to have up to
20.
In Assamese, the swamp deer is called “dolhorina,” with “dol” meaning swamp.
Kerala Travel Mart (KTM)
The second edition of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), a flagship event of Kerala’s tourism
apex forum KTM Society, will be held virtually from May 9 to May 12. The aim of this event
is to reach out to trade partners, stakeholders, and tourists worldwide. The event was
launched for the first time in 2021 to leverage digital tools to showcase Kerala’s tourism
industry amidst the pandemic.
Inauguration and Keynote Address
The Kerala Travel Mart 2023 will be inaugurated by Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas.
Finance Minister KN Balagopal will deliver the keynote address, and Industries Minister P
Rajeeve will be the guest of honour at the event.
Seminars and Business Meetings
In addition to business meetings, KTM 2023 will hold seminars on live themes led by
officials, experts, and stakeholders. These seminars will offer insights into the latest trends
in the tourism sector and Kerala’s position as a major experiential tourism destination.
Previous Editions
The first edition of the virtual Kerala Travel Mart was held in 2021 and saw a total of 44,500
business meetings and online discussions. KTM Society had also held a physical conclave
for KTM last year.
Virtual Stalls
KTM 2023 is a biennial event and will provide virtual stalls free of cost to its members. This
facility will allow members to showcase their businesses and reach out to potential
customers.
Ban on Diesel Four-Wheelers
India is set to ban the use of diesel-powered four-wheelers in cities with over 10 lakh
population by 2027, according to a report commissioned by the oil ministry. It
recommended a gradual elimination of motorcycles, scooters, and three-wheelers that are
powered by internal combustion engines by the year 2035.
Key Points from the Report
To prepare for the phasing out of internal combustion engine two/three-wheel
vehicles by 2035, EVs need to be promoted.
During transitional period, there should be policies supporting the use of ethanol-
blended fuel with a gradually increasing blend ratio.
Four-wheelers, including passenger cars and taxis, must be substituted with electric
and partially to ethanol-blended petrol with almost 50% share in each category.
To boost electric vehicle use in India, a “targeted extension” of incentives must be
given under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
scheme (FAME) to beyond March 31.
Natural gas usage must be boosted in industries and automobiles since it is a
greener alternative than liquid fuels like diesel. India aims to raise the share of
natural gas in its energy mix to 15% by 2030 from 6.7% now.
By 2040, there is an anticipated peak in petrol and diesel demand in India, followed
by a reduction due to the increasing use of electric vehicles. Additionally, LPG
demand is predicted to decrease after 2030 as electrification of cooking is expected
to increase, leading to complete electrification by 2070.
The rate of transition in fossil fuel consumption is mainly dependent on the shift in
the auto sector to EVs. If there is an active shift to EVs because of policy mandates,
refineries may be repurposed or closed down rapidly to generate renewable energy
or biofuel and reduce the carbon footprint.
IMF's Regional Economic Outlook
According to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Regional Economic Outlook,
economies across the Middle East and Central Asia are likely to slow down this year due to
persistently high inflation and rising interest rates. This report states that factors such as
rising energy costs and elevated food prices are responsible for the estimated slower
growth in these regions. The oil-dependent economies of the Gulf Arab states and other
countries in the region have benefited from elevated crude prices, while other countries,
such as Pakistan, have seen growth collapse after unprecedented flooding last summer.
The IMF warns that financial conditions worldwide will tighten this year, particularly
affecting nations with heavier debts.
Impact on Regional Growth and Inflation
The IMF forecast predicts that the regional growth rate will drop from 5.3% last year to
3.1% this year, and the regional inflation rate is expected to remain at 14.8%, unchanged
from last year. However, Pakistan’s inflation rate is projected to more than double,
reaching about 27%.
Challenges in Sudan
The report also highlights the challenges faced by Sudan, where weeks of fighting have
led to a humanitarian crisis. The violence has further worsened the debt crisis that has
plagued the country for decades as it faced Western sanctions. The IMF has been working
with the government of Sudan to achieve debt relief of more than $50 billion, but recent
developments, including the fighting between rival generals, have put these efforts on
hold.
Tightening of Financial Conditions Worldwide
The IMF warns that financial conditions worldwide will tighten this year due to two bank
failures in the United States in March and the sudden collapse of Credit Suisse before it
was purchased by UBS, which has strained markets. These developments will particularly
impact nations carrying heavier debts. The IMF believes that rising interest rates, which
are being used by central banks worldwide to try to stem inflation’s rise, will further affect
these nations. Jihad Azour, the director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at
the IMF, noted that “for those who have high levels of debt, the challenge of an increase in
interest rates globally, as well as the tightening of monetary policy, is affecting them.”
Indian Army Standardizes Uniform for Senior Officers
The Indian Army, which is among the world’s largest armies, has recently decided to
standardize the uniform for officers of the Brigadier rank and above. The new uniform will
be effective from August 1, 2023, and will standardize headgear, shoulder rank badges,
gorget patches, belts, and shoes.
Promoting a Common Identity and Approach
The primary reason for the decision to adopt a common uniform for senior officers is to
promote a common identity and approach in service matters among the force’s senior
leadership. The Army believes that this move will help move beyond the boundaries of
regimentation and create a sense of unity among the senior officers. By deciding to adopt
a standard uniform for senior officers, the Indian Army is strengthening its reputation as a
just and impartial institution.
Standard Uniform for All Senior Officers
Senior officers of the flag rank, including Brigadier and above, will now have a standard
uniform. They will no longer wear any lanyard. It is important to note that this decision will
not affect the uniform worn by Colonels and officers below that rank.
Importance of a Distinct Identity at the Unit or Battalion Level
While a common identity is necessary for senior officers, a distinct identity within the Arms
or Regiment or Services is crucial for junior leadership and rank and file. This helps in
strengthening camaraderie, esprit de corps, and regimental ethos, which are the
foundation of soldiering. A unique sense of identity at the unit or battalion level indicates
a strong bond among officers and men in the same regiment.
Senior Officers’ Appointments and Postings
Typically, senior officers of the Indian Army who hold the Brigadier rank and above have
previous experience commanding units or battalions. These officers are primarily posted
at Army headquarters or other establishments where officers from various Arms and
Services collaborate.
Current Uniform and Accoutrements Associations
Different types of uniforms and accoutrements have specific associations with the
respective Arms, Regiments, and Services in the Army. However, the decision to
standardize the uniform for senior officers will not affect these associations.
May 10, 2023
India’s First Pod Taxi
The Yamuna Authority recently gave its nod to India’s first pod taxi project. The
Personalised Rapid Transit project, an advanced mode of transportation, will be
automated and environment-friendly.
What is a Pod Taxi?
Pod taxis are automated, environment-friendly vehicles that run on separate tracks to
avoid road traffic. These vehicles are powered by electricity, which makes them a more
eco-friendly mode of transportation. Pod taxis are designed to transport a fixed number
of passengers and are considered one of the most advanced modes of transportation
available today.
Location and Route
The pod taxi project will be located between Noida International Airport and the Film City.
The route will span 12-14 kilometers and feature 12 stops, including Sector 29, Handicraft
Park, MSME Park in Sector 29, Apparel Park, Sector 32, Sector 33, Toy Park, and Sector 21.
Powering the Pod Taxi
Pod taxis are powered by electricity. The use of electricity instead of fossil fuels makes
them an eco-friendly mode of transportation. As the world becomes more conscious of
environmental concerns, the use of electric-powered vehicles such as pod taxis is an
essential step towards sustainable development.
Separate Tracks for Pod Taxis
Pod taxis run on separate tracks to avoid road traffic. This ensures that the transportation
system remains efficient and uninterrupted. With separate tracks, pod taxis can travel at
higher speeds without getting stuck in traffic, reducing travel time for passengers.
Capacity and Commuters
India’s first pod taxi project is expected to transport approximately 37,000 commuters
daily. The capacity of pod taxis varies depending on the size of the vehicle, with larger
vehicles being able to transport more passengers.
Anticipated Cost
The Pod Taxi initiative is expected to cost approximately Rs.810 crore and is anticipated to
be finalized by the conclusion of 2024. The project has been approved by the Uttar
Pradesh government and is expected to be an important step towards developing an
advanced and efficient transportation system in the country.
The Significance of the Pod Taxi Project
The pod taxi project will be the first international transit system in India. The project is
significant as it represents a step towards sustainable development and a more efficient
transportation system in the country. The use of eco-friendly and automated modes of
transportation such as pod taxis is an essential step towards achieving this goal.
Other Countries Using Pod Taxis
Several other nations, such as Subai, Singapore, and London, have already implemented
pod taxis as an advanced mode of transportation. The successful implementation of pod
taxis in these countries has demonstrated their efficiency and effectiveness, making them
a viable option for India.
Djerba Synagogue
Located on the Tunisian island of Djerba, the ancient El Ghriba Synagogue is the oldest in
Tunisia and is considered a site of pilgrimage. However, it has also been the target of
tragedy. On May 9, 2023, a shooting occurred near the synagogue, killing two visitors and
two security guards.
Significance and Legend
Located in the Jewish village of Hara Seghira, the El Ghriba Synagogue has a legendary
history dating back to the time of the High Priests’ escape following the destruction of
Solomon’s Temple in 586 BCE by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II or the
destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. According to one of the legends, the
construction of the synagogue is said to incorporate either a stone or a door from
Solomon’s Temple or the Second Temple. It is presently known as er-Riadh.
Local Jews and Tragedy
Djerba is home to approximately 1,300 Jews, and El Ghriba is an important feature of
Jewish life on the island. The local Jews are distinguished by their dress, which includes a
black band around their pants that signifies the destruction of the Temple.
However, the synagogue has also been the site of tragedy. During the celebrations of
Simchat Torah in 1985, a local police officer in charge of protecting the synagogue fired
into a gathering of Jews celebrating the occasion, resulting in the deaths of three people
and injuring fifteen others. His relative was killed during Operation “Wooden Leg” when
Israel targeted the PLO headquarters in Tunisia.
In 2002, a truck full of explosives was detonated close to the synagogue, killing 21 people,
including 14 German tourists, five Tunisians, and two French nationals. Al-Qaeda claimed
responsibility for the bombing, which was masterminded by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
and financed by a Pakistani resident of Spain.

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Current Affairs Articles Compilation [PDF] - January, 2023

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January 13, 2023 .......................................................................................................................................... 13

Manipur Gaan Ngai festival ...................................................................................................................... 53

Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano .......................................................................................................................... 95

Uttarakhand Women Reservation Bill ................................................................................................... 137

Makar Sankranti Festival ......................................................................................................................... 176

January 21, 2023 .............................................................................................................................................. 209

SCO Meet: India invites Pakistan, China ............................................................................................. 233

US-EU AI Agreement .............................................................................................................................. 258

JOIN @thehindu444 or Thenewsmaster

Tata Open Maharashtra: India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan enters doubles quarter-

U.S. FDA approves Aurobindo subsidiary’s cancer drug copy

Caste-based survey of 12 crore people in Bihar begins

Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela to be conducted in 242 districts

January 10, 2023

India, Panama sign MoU to enhance cooperation in training of diplomats

January 13, 2023

linguistic minority communities.

January 14, 2023

TRAI releases Consultation Paper on Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing,

Retail inflation eases to 12-month low of 5.72% in December

January 17, 2023

Jacinda Ardern announces resignation as Prime Ministerof New Zealand.

January 21, 2023

India to make full carbon graphite badminton racquets.

January 22, 2023

children for their achievement.

Centre to send a proposal to UNESCO for nominating Charaideo moidams of the

IMF confirms India’s assurance to restructure Sri Lanka’s debt

January 26, 2023

UNESCO designates Ukraine’s Odesa a World Heritage in Danger site

January 27, 2023

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Announces Unemployment Allowance

Canada appoints first representative to fight Islamophobia.

January 30, 2023

January 30, 2023

Nation observes Mahatma Gandhi’s 74th death anniversary on January 30.

grains to beneficiaries, as well as on the status of the implementation of the scheme.

Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide.

XBB.1.5 is More Contagious and Immune Evasive than Other Variants

On November 8, 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the

grounds. Despite acknowledging that the demonetization was well-intentioned and

Draft Statement on Industrial Policy 2022

economic integration and move up the global value chain.

swift return of illegal migrants.

saving time and effort.

aimed to reach out to common people and was successful.

Panchayats, with each house given a letter signed by Mamata Banerjee.

authorities during the evacuation of students during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

women’s involvement in scientific research.

Importance of Improved Border Infrastructure

exemption was announced in the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Amendment Rules,

the raised dots with their fingers.

civil appeals in the dispute.

suffering from the bubonic plague in Maharashtra in 1897. In recognition of her

government to provide $1.22 billion in funding for projects aimed at improving

and other services.

agencies, as well as a grievance officer to resolve user complaints.

international audiences and increase the availability of diverse content by upgrading

Creation of over 6 lakh jobs.