Important Topic Wise Current Affairs - February 2023-Important International News

Important Topic Wise Current Affairs –February 2023- Important International
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South Africa to host 15th BRICS summit at Durban in August 2023
● Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov & Foreign Minister of the State of Eritrea Osman Saleh
announced that the 15th BRICS ( Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit is set to
take place in South Africa's Durban in late August, 2023.
● The foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, and China met for the first time on the sidelines of
the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2006, kicking off BRIC cooperation.
● South Africa participated in the 3rd BRICS summit in China for the first time in April 2011.
About BRICS:
● Established : 2006
● Headquarters : Shanghai, China
About South Africa:
● President : Cyril Ramaphosa

● Capital : Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein
● Currency : South African rand
G-20 International Financial Architecture Working Group Meeting to be held in Chandigarh

● The first International Financial Architecture Working Group meeting of G-20 under the
chairmanship of India will be held in Chandigarh on 30-31 January 2023.

● The meeting will be inaugurated by the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shri
Narendra Singh Tomar and Food Processing Industries Minister Shri Pashupati Kumar Paras.
About G-20 International Financial Architecture Working Group Meeting :
● The International Financial Architecture Working Group is one of the important working groups
under the G-20 finance track, which focuses on strengthening international financial architecture.
● It will also aim to address various challenges faced by vulnerable countries.
● Around 100 delegates from G-20 member nations, invited countries and international
organisations will participate in the two-day meeting.
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● Discussions during the two-day meeting will be jointly moderated by the Ministry of Finance
(MoF) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as well as by the co-chairs of the International
Financial Architecture Working Group, - France and South Korea.

● The meeting will discuss ways to enhance the stability and cohesion of the international financial
architecture and how to make it capable of addressing the global challenges of the 21st century.
● It will also focus on finding ways to maximise aid to poor and vulnerable countries.
● On the sidelines of the G-20 Working Group meeting a G-20 event titled 'Central Bank Digital
Currencies (CBDCs): Opportunities and Challenges' will also be held.
● The first meeting of the G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors is scheduled to be
held in Bengaluru on 24-25 February 2023.
Bengaluru to host 1st G20 ETWG meeting under India's presidency
 The first G20 Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) meeting under India's presidency will be
held in Bengaluru, Karnataka from Feb 5 to 7, 2023.
 The meeting will have over 150 participants including G20 member countries and 9 special
invitee guest countries - Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore,
United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Spain.
 In addition, leading international organisations including The World Bank, Asian Development
Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Energy Agency (IEA)
will be part of the meeting.
Agenda of the Meeting

The 3-day meeting will focus on 6 priority areas.
 Energy transition through addressing technology gaps
 Low-cost financing for energy transition

 Energy security and diversified supply chains
 Energy efficiency, industrial low carbon transitions and responsible consumption
 Fuels for Future (3F) and

 Universal access to clean energy and just, affordable, and inclusive energy transition pathway
 The Ministry of Power, the nodal Ministry for ETWG will lead the discussions and negotiations on
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focused priority areas.

 On the sidelines, the ETWG meeting will be complemented by a high-level international seminar
on ‘Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS).

 The seminar will focus on highlighting the importance of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage,
considered vital for achieving net-zero targets.
 India has assumed the Presidency of the G20 for one year from December 1, 2022, to 30
November 2023 and over 200 meetings will be held across the country.
 The G20 Leaders' Summit at the level of Heads of State/Government is scheduled to be held on
September 9 and 10, 2023 in New Delhi.

CAG India takes over chairmanship of audit institutions of G20 nations
 Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has taken over the chairmanship of Supreme
Audit Institutions 20 (SAI20) with India assuming the G20 presidency on December 1, 2022.
 The SAI 20 Engagement Group of G20 nations recognizes the crucial role of SAI in fortifying
governance
 The SAI20 Engagement Group under CAG of India aims to bring together an ecosystem wherein
SAIs are active partners in governance, promoting transparency and accountability.
About CAG:
 Current CAG of India : Girish Chandra Murmu
 The CAG is the supreme audit institution of India, established under Article 148 of the
Constitution of India.
 The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India is appointed by the President of India
India, US National Security Advisors launches US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies
 National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan formally launched the
United States (US)-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in Washington, US
 iCET was announced during bilateral talks between Prime Minister (PM) Shri Narendra Modi and US
President Mr Joe Biden in Tokyo in 2022 on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders Summit.
 Under iCET, the both countries have identified 6 areas of cooperation which would include scientific
research and development; quantum and artificial intelligence, defense innovation, space, advanced
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telecom which would include things like 6G and semiconductors.

India & US agree to constitute task force to boost cooperation in semiconductor
industry
 The US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and India Electronics and Semiconductor
Association (IESA) plan to strengthen public-private collaboration in the chip ecosystem by forming a
private-sector task force.
 To develop a readiness assessment in order to identify near-term opportunities and help in the
longer-term development of semiconductor ecosystems.
 NSA Ajit Doval co-chaired the inaugural meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging
Technologies (iCET) with his US counterpart Jake Sullivan at the White House in Washington.
Key Highlights :
 Both sides established a quantum coordination mechanism with participation from industry and
academia.
 In the field of defence manufacturing, the two sides agreed to focus on joint production of key items
of mutual interest.
 A new innovation Bridge will be established to connect defence startups on both sides.
 India and the US agreed to launch a public-private dialogue that will cover 5G and 6G and Open
Radio Access Network (ORAN).
About US :
 President : Joe Biden
 Capital : Washington, D.C
 Currency : U.S. dollar
India to be theme country at 2025 Madrid International Book

 The Ambassador of Spain to the country Jose Maria Ridao announced that India will be invited as
the focal country at the Madrid International Book Fair in 2025.
 Spain is the theme country at the 46th International Kolkata Book Fair which will be held from 31st
Jan, 2023 to 12th Feb, 2023.
 Jose Maria Ridao announced that a football dictionary of Spanish to Bengali will be launched at the
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Kolkata Book Fair, containing terms and phrases used in the Spanish league.
 Kolkata book fair has kicked off at Salt Lake.
 More than 950 stalls will be set up at the fair, which has been inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee.
 Eminent Bengali writer Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay was felicitated at the inaugural ceremony.
Bangladesh drops parboiled rice G2G import deals with Indian co-op agencies
 Bangladesh has cancelled its orders to import 2 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice from 2 Indian
cooperative agencies through government-to-government (G2G) deals after having kept them in
“abeyance” for a few weeks.

 The return of the “bid bonds” is a confirmation of Dhaka cancelling its plans to import the rice as
part of its efforts to buy 5 lakh tonnes for its public distribution system.
 Sheikh Hasina Wajed government decided to suspend the process of buying overpriced rice from
the two agencies NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers Federation of India Ltd) and Kendriya
Bhandar.
Impact on India :
 The impact of the deal is being felt in the Indian domestic market with prices of parboiled rice
dropping at least 10% after having increased 30% in January to ₹ 29,000 a tonne.
 Prices had surged on expectations of the G2G rice deals with Bangladesh going through.
 Dhaka’s plans to enter into G2G deals to import parboiled rice ran into rough weather after it
faced criticism of paying a higher price than what some private Indian exporters had quoted in a
global tender to import 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice.
What is G2G?
 G2G is a term used to describe interactions between governments, typically at the national level.
 These interactions can take a variety of forms, including diplomatic relations, economic
cooperation, military alliances and so on
About Bangladesh :
 President : Mohammad Abdul Hamid
 Prime Minister : Sheikh Hasina
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 Capital : Dhaka
 Currency : Taka
India & EU set up 3 working groups under Trade and Tech Council
 India and the European Union (EU) announced the formation of 3 working groups under the
‘Trade and Technology Council’ (TTC) with a focus on trade, investment & value chains, digital
economy and clean technology.
 This follows the announcement by President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen
and Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on 25 April 2022 in New Delhi.
 The TTC with India is the European Union’s(EU’s) 2nd such technology partnership after the 1st
one with the United States(US) that was firmed up in June 2021.
Key Highlights :
 Under the TTC, 3 working groups have been established.

 The 1st working group is on strategic technologies, digital governance and digital connectivity
chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
 The 2nd one will cover green and clean energy technologies chaired by the Principal Scientific
Adviser to the Govt of India.
 The 3rd working group is on trade, investment and resilient value chains chaired by the secretary,
Department of Commerce.
 The group will cover key issues such as strategic technologies, digital governance and
connectivity; green and clean energy technologies; and trade, investment and resilient value
chains
 The TTC will be co-chaired on the EU side by Executive Vice-Presidents Margrethe Vestager and
Valdis Dombrovskis, and on the Indian side by Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar, Minister
of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, and Minister of Electronics and Information Technology
Ashwini Vaishnaw
 It will allow India and the EU to tackle strategic challenges at the nexus of trade, trusted
technology and security, and to deepen their bilateral relationship and help implement political
commitments in these fields.
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 The first EU-India ministerial meeting is planned to be held in spring 2023.

About EU :
 Headquarters : Brussels, Belgium

 Membership : 27 members
 President of the European Council : Charles Michel
India, France And UAE Unveil Plans For Cooperation Under Trilateral Framework
 India, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unveiled an ambitious roadmap for
cooperation in a wide range of areas including defence, energy and technology under a trilateral
framework, a move that comes amid the geopolitical turmoil triggered by the conflict in Ukraine.
 External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and UAE
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a telephonic conversation in this
regard to adopt a roadmap for the implementation of this initiative.

 The three foreign ministers met in September, 2022 for the first time in a trilateral format on the
margins of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Key Highlights :
 The three countries will explore the possibility of creating a project on clean energy, environment
and biodiversity together with the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
 They will ensure harmony between economic, technological and social policies in line with the
Paris Agreement.
 In line with this system, a series of trilateral events will take place this year during the G-20 under
the presidency of India and the COP-28 hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2023.
 The three countries agreed to expand their cooperation through initiatives such as the Mangrove
Alliance for Climate (MAC) led by the UAE and the Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership led by India
and France.
 They also underlined their willingness to cooperate in the field of circular economy under the
Mission LiFE.
About France :
 President : Emmanuel Macron
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 Prime Minister : Élisabeth Borne

 Capital : Paris
 Currency : Euro, CFP franc

About UAE :
 President : Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
 Capital : Abu Dhabi
 Currency : UAE dirham

Srilanka celebrates 75 years of independence
 Sri Lanka celebrated 75 years of Independence on the 4th Feb, 2023 under the theme Namo
Namo Matha – A step towards a century.
 The main celebration of the National Independence Day Celebrations was held at Galle Face
Green in Colombo.
 Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan participated in the Independence
Day celebrations.
 A special cultural arts festival Lankaralanka was held at Independence Square in Colombo.
 The Jaffna cultural centre which was built under an Indian grant will also be opened in a few
days.
Key Highlights :
 Sri Lanka got independence from British rule in 1948.
 It was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon.
 Sri Lanka became a republic on May 22, 1972 and was renamed the Republic of Sri Lanka.
 Its executive and judicial capital is Colombo, and its legislative capital is Sri Jayawardenepura
Kotte.
 The first Prime Minister (PM) of Sri Lanka was Don Stephen Senanayake, who is regarded as the
Father of the Nation.
 In 1972, William Gopalwa became the first President of Sri Lanka.

 Sri Lankan rupee is the official currency of Sri Lanka.
About Sri Lanka :
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 President : Ranil Wickremesinghe

 Prime Minister : Dinesh Gunawardena
CAG to host 6th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation SAI Leaders’ Meeting in Lucknow
 The 6th Meeting of the Heads of Supreme Audit Institutes (SAIs) of Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation (SCO) Member States is being hosted by the Comptroller and Auditor General
(CAG) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
 Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel is the chief guest & inaugurated the meeting.
 Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu led the discussion on the theme
"Integrating Emerging Technologies in Audit".
 Girish Chandra Murmu has called for global cooperation to protect audit from cyber security
threats.
 Heads of top audit institutions and delegations from 4 of the 8 SCO member states - Kazakhstan,
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are participating in the three-day multilateral event.
Key Highlights :
 Shri Murmu informed that the CAG is using Artificial Intelligence technology in the audit process.
 This provides a more efficient and effective approach to the audit process and improves the
overall quality of the audit.
 India is currently hosting the SCO presidency, which rotates annually among member states.
 India's 2023 theme is 'Towards a Secure SCO'.
About SCO :
 Established : 15 June 2001
 Headquarters : Beijing, China
 Membership : China, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

 In 2005, India was given 'observer' status in the SCO, and in 2017, India became a full member
at the Astana summit
 The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, International security and defence organisation.
About CAG :
 The CAG is the supreme audit institution of India, established under Article 148 of the
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Constitution of India.
 The CAG is appointed by the President of India.
 The CAG is also the statutory auditor of Government-owned corporations

India Plans To Promote Green Tourism & Open Up 50 Tourism Destinations During G20 Presidency
 India plans to promote green tourism, open up to 50 new tourism destinations & launch a publicity
campaign in overseas markets during its presidency of the G20 for 2023.
Key Highlights :
 During the year, India will host more than 200 G20 meetings at over 50 locations including key
tourist attractions in Rajasthan, Goa, and Jammu & Kashmir regions, etc.
 India took on the G20 presidency from December 01, 2022, to November 30, 2023.
 The government estimates that foreign tourist numbers could reach 15 million in 2024,
contributing more than $30 billion in earnings.

 While presenting the 2023-24 budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated 24 billion
rupees ($290 million) for tourism infrastructure, including 2.42 billion rupees for the promotion and
branding of tourist destinations.

About G20 :
 The G20 or Group of Twenty is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the
European Union (EU).
 Members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy,
South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom,
the United States, and the European Union.
108 Buddhist pilgrims from South Korea on a 43-day walking tour
 Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Apurva Chandra announced that 108
Buddhist pilgrims from the Republic of Korea will walk over 1,100 km over 43 days.
 With the slogan ‘Oh, We! Oh, Love! Oh, Life!‘, the pilgrimage, being organized by the Sangwol
Society of South Korea.

 Also, the occasion gains importance as India and South Korea celebrate 50 years of the
establishment of diplomatic ties.
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 The walking pilgrimage will start from Varanasi and will end at Shravasti after traveling through
Nepal.
Key Highlights :
 The Buddhist tourism circuit is one of the 15 thematic circuits under the Swadesh Darshan
scheme.
 It aims to provide travelers with an experience of the teachings of Lord Buddha and traces of his
footsteps during his lifetime.

 There are 4 primary sites of Buddhism pilgrimage:
1. Lumbini (southern Nepal)- the birthplace of Buddha

2. Bodh Gaya (Bihar, India)- the site where Buddha attained enlightenment
3. Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh, India)- First sermon delivered by Buddha
4. Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh, India)- Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana.

About Ministry of Information & Broadcasting :
 Cabinet Minister : Anurag Thakur
 Minister of State : L. Murugan

 Secretary: L. Murugan
About South Korea :
 President: Yoon Suk-yeol
 Prime Minister: Han Duck-soo
 Capital: Seoul
 Currency: Korean Republic won
 Buddhism is the official religion of South Korea.
QUAD Nations Launch 'QUAD Cyber Challenge'

 QUAD countries launched 'Quad Cyber Challenge' for improving cyber security.
Aim :
 To strengthen the cyber security system in the Indo-Pacific region.

 The Quad Cyber Challenge will end on 10 April, 2023.
About 'Quad Cyber Challenge' :
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 The National Cyber Coordination Office along with the National Security Council (NSC)
Secretariat is coordinating the Quad Cyber Challenge on behalf of India.
 It is part of continuous efforts of Quad countries to increase cyber security awareness and create
a more secure and resilient cyber ecosystem.
 It will provide basic cybersecurity information and training to all users from corporations,
educational institutions, small businesses and individuals.
Focus of the challenge :

 Multi-factor authentication, routine security updates, identity checks, changing passphrases
regularly, identifying phishing, online scams, etc

About QUAD :
 The QUAD, officially the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a group of 4 countries: the United
States, Australia, India, and Japan.

 The group met for the first time in 2007 on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN).
 The 2022 Quad summit was held in Japan and the next one will be held in Australia in 2023.
India & US to jointly develop UAVs and share IP rights
 India and the United States (US) have moved ahead to jointly develop air-launched unmanned
aerial vehicles (ALUAV) that will be used for surveillance missions, in a massive boost to Indo-US
defence ties
 This is the first UAV project under which common intellectual property (IP) rights will be
generated, giving the Indian ecosystem a significant technology boost.
 A Project Agreement (PA) for this was inked by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and US
Department of Defence under the Joint Working Group Air Systems in the Defence Technology
and Trade Initiative (DTTI) on July 30, 2021.
About ALUAV :
 The ALUAV prototype, being jointly developed by India and the US, could enter the flight testing
phase by September 2023.
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 It is being developed to be launched from an aircraft (C130J aircraft)

 The ALUAV program is taking place under the DTTI and a critical factor is that the IP rights for
the new system will be jointly shared by the two sides.

About DTTI :
 Under DTTI, Joint Working Groups on land, naval, air, and aircraft carrier technologies have been
established to focus on mutually agreed projects in respective domains.
 Aim : To bring sustained leadership focus to promote collaborative technology exchange and
create opportunities for co-production and co-development of future technologies for Indian and
US military forces.
 The PA for co-development of ALUAV has been overseen by the Joint Working Group on Air
Systems and is a major accomplishment for DTTI.

About US :
 President : Joe Biden
 Capital : Washington, D.C

 Currency : U.S. dollar ($) (USD)
MIIRA: India readies plan to popularise millets on world stage
 During India’s G20 presidency, the top priority in agriculture for India is food security and nutrition,
following which India is planning to propose the launch of a global initiative - MIIRA, to encourage
the consumption and production of millets.
 India is holding the Presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023.
 Draft charter of MIIRA is ready and will be placed for approval at 1st meeting of the G-20
Agricultural Deputies at Indore from 13-15 February 2023.
About MIIRA :
 MIIRA stands for Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness.
 Aim : To coordinate millet research programmes at the international level.

 It will be launched considering the millets’ nutritional value and climate resilient nature.
 India plans to provide “seed money” for this initiative to start off, and each G20 member will be
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required to pay a membership fee.

 The secretariat of MIIRA would be in New Delhi and India will ensure flow of investment from its
industry and research bodies.

 It is in line with the UN declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets and the Centre’s plan to
make India a global hub for millets.
About Millets :
 Millets are rich in calcium, iron, and fibres.
 Bajra, Ragi, Canary, Jawar, and Buckwheat are the varieties of millets exported by India.
 India produces one-fifth of the world’s total millets.
 Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are India’s top 5 millet
producing states.
 Share of export of millets is nearly 1% of the total millet production.
Recent initiatives to promote Millets :
 In Budget 2023, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed millets as “Shree Anna” and
stated that Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad will act as Centre of Excellence.
 In 2018, the Agriculture Ministry declared some millets as ‘Nutri Cereals’ for their “high nutritive
value”
Russian arms supplies to India worth $13 billion in past 5 years
 Russia supplied India with around $13 billion of arms during the past 5 years.
 As per Russian state news agencies, New Delhi has orders placed with Moscow for weapons and
military equipment exceeding $10 billion.

Key Highlights :
 India is the world's biggest buyer of Russian arms, accounting for around 20% of Moscow's
current order book.
 Annual arms exports were about $14-15 billion, and the order book has remained steady at
around $50 billion.
 According to data firm Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India was the
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top importer of Russian arms from 2017 to 2021, and Russian equipment made up 46% of India’s
arms imports.
 Russia will be presenting about 200 samples of weapons and military equipment at the 14th
international aerospace exhibition Aero India 2023.
About Russia :
 President : Vladimir Putin
 Prime Minister : Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishustin
 Capital : Moscow
 Currency : Russian ruble
Global Sea level Rise a major threat to India, other nations - WMO
● According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) report, titled “Global Sea-Level Rise
and Implications”, Between 2013 and 2022, global mean sea-level rose by 4.5 millimetre (mm).
● WMO stated that human influence was very likely the main driver of these increases since at
least 1971.
Key Highlights :
● The global mean sea level has increased by 0.20m between 1901 and 2018.
● The average rate of increase was 1.3 mm/ year between 1901 and 1971 while it was 1.9 mm/year
between 1971 and 2006 & 3.7 millimetre/year between 2006 and 2018.
● As per report, Mumbai, Shanghai, Dhaka, Bangkok, Jakarta, Maputo, Lagos, Cairo, London,
Copenhagen, New York, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and Santiago are among the cities most
threatened by rise in sea levels.

● Sea level rise is a major threat to Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and other coastal cities of India.
● The Sea level rise is a major threat for India and China along with Bangladesh, the Netherlands
and other countries having coastal populations.
● As per the WMO report, the sea levels will rise by 2-3 metres over the next 2,000 years if the
increase in global temperatures is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius (above pre-industrial levels) till
the end of the century.
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● Higher temperatures would mean bigger rise in sea levels, estimating that 2 degrees Celsius
increase would mean a rise of 2-6 metres, while 5 degrees Celsius warming would lead to 19-22
metre rise in sea levels.

● During 1971-2018, thermal expansion is responsible for 50% of sea level rise. 22% of the rise in
sea level is due to the loss of ice from glaciers.
● According to WMO, the global mean sea level rise by 2100 will be 0.28-0.55 m under the very low
GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions scenario.

● The sea level rise will be 0.44-0.76 m under the intermediate GHG emissions conditions and
0.63-1.01 m under the very high emissions.

● In the Indian Ocean, 50% of the sea level rise is due to the expansion of the volume of water as
the ocean water is warming up rapidly.
About WMO :
● Founded : 23 March 1950
● Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland

● President : Gerhard Adrian
● Secretary General : Petteri Taalas
● Member States : 193 countries and territories

● The WMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).
India & Spain agree to collaborate on digital infrastructure, climate action and sustainable development
● India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Mr Pedro Sanchezagreed
to collaborate on issues such as digital infrastructure, climate action, clean energy and
sustainable development.
Key Highlights :
● Both leaders discussed many bilateral and international issues of mutual interest.
● India and Spain leaders reviewed ongoing bilateral initiatives and expressed satisfaction at the
growing cooperation in the defence, economic and commercial sectors.

● PM Modi briefed his Spanish counterpart on India’s priorities for the G-20 Presidency oriented
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towards working to promote oneness based on the theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam (One Earth,
One Family, One Future).
● "Prime Minister Sánchez extended full support to India’s initiatives under its G-20 Presidency
Bilateral Agreements between India & Spain :
● Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation (1972)

● Agreement on Cultural Cooperation (1982).
● Civil Aviation Agreement (1986).
● Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (1993).

● Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (1997).
● Extradition Treaty (2002)
● MoU on Institutionalisation of Political Dialogue (2006)

About Spain :
● Prime Minister : Pedro Sánchez
● Capital: Madrid
● Currency : Euro
Indian-American Republican Leader Nikki Haley Launches U.S. Presidential Campaign for 2024
● Indian-origin Republican leader Nikki Haley formally launched her U.S. Presidential Campaign for
2024.
● She has become the first Republican to challenge former US President Donald Trump to become
her party's nominee for the White House in 2024.
● If she wins the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 she will be the first woman and first
Asian-American at the top of the GOP ticket.
● The next US presidential election is scheduled to be held on November 5, 2024.

About Nikki Haley :
● Nikki Haley was born in Bamberg, South Carolina.

● She served as the 116th governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017 & she is the first female
governor of South Carolina

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● She then served as the 29th United States ambassador to the United Nations from January 2017
to December 2018
Ministry of Culture to Host 1st G20 Culture Group Meet in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
 The Ministry of Culture is organizing the First G20 Culture Group (CWG) meeting in Khajuraho,
Madhya Pradesh (MP) from 22nd to 25th February 2023.

 The theme of the Khajuraho meet is “Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property”.
4 priority areas of India’s CWG include
1. Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property

2. Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future
3. Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries,

4. Creative Economy; Leveraging Digital Technologies for Protection and Promotion of Culture.
About Khajuraho :
 Khajuraho is an ancient city known for its majestic temples and elaborate sculptures
 The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site which was constructed by the Chandela Dynasty
between 950-1050 AD.

 These monuments are built in Nagara-style architecture and ornamented with intricate and
detailed sculptures.
 The monuments include Hindu and Jain
 According to historical records, there were 85 temples in the temple site in Khajuraho, covering
20 square kilometers, in the 12th Century AD.

Key Highlights :
 The 2nd and 3rd meetings under this track will be held at Bhubaneswar in Odisha and Hampi in
Karnataka.
 The overarching theme of G20 is ‘Vasudev Kutumbakam’ – One Earth, One Family, One Future.’
 India's G20 culture track is based on the idea of 'Culture for LiFE' as a campaign for eco-
conscious lifestyle and sustainable living.
News
 An exhibition titled 'Re(ed) Dress: Return of Treasures' will also be organized on this theme at the
Maharaja Chhatrasal Convention Center in Khajuraho.
About the Ministry of Culture :
 Cabinet Minister: G. Kishan Reddy
 Minister of State: Meenakshi Lekhi

Italian PM Meloni chief guest at Raisina Dialogue
 Europe’s right-wing poster girl and Italy’s Prime Minister (PM) Giorgia Meloni will be the chief
guest in the next Raisina dialogue.

 This will be the 2nd year in a row that a major European leader will attend the talks as chief guest
in the midst of the Ukraine war.
 President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen was the chief guest in 2022.
 The first Raisina Dialogue was held from 1–3 March 2016.
About Italy :
 President : Sergio Mattarella

 Prime Minister : Giorgia Meloni
 Capital : Rome
 Currency : Euro
UAE to host first I2U2 vice-ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi
 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to host the first vice-ministerial meeting of the I2U2 in Abu
Dhabi from 20-26 February 2023.

 It is the first vice-ministerial meeting since the grouping (I2U2) was jointly announced by
President Joe Biden, Israeli Prime Minister Lapid, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
About I2U2 Group :
 The I2U2 Group is a grouping of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
 The group's first joint statement, released on July 14, 2022.
World’s first global summit on Responsible AI in the Military kicks off in The Netherlands
News
 The world’s first international summit on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the
military (REAIM) 2023 commenced in The Netherlands.
About Nethe therlands :

 Prime Minister : Mark Rutte
 Capital : Amsterdam
 Currency : Euro
UAE & India launch the UAE Chapter of the Business Council to Boost Bilateral Trade & Investment
 The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India have launched the UAE India Business Council - UAE
Chapter (UIBCUC) to strengthen economic ties and support their joint mission to increase
bilateral trade and investment.
 Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade has launched the UAE
India Business Council - UAE Chapter (UIBC-UC) in Dubai.

About UIBC-UC :
 UIBC-UC was established in New Delhi in 2016 after UIBC was launched by Sheikh Abdullah bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Cabinet Member and Smt Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs of
India.
Russia suspends participation in New START treaty for nuclear arms control with the US
 Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia has suspended its participation in the New
START (“Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty”) due to a rise in tension over the Russia-Ukraine war.
 The New START treaty is the last remaining nuclear arms deal between Moscow(Russia) and
Washington (United States), and it was extended for 5 years in 2021.
About Russia :
 President: Vladimir Putin
 Prime Minister: Mikhail Mishustin
 Capital: Moscow
 Currency: Russian ruble
Financial Action Task Force Suspends Russia's Membership
News
 Global anti-money laundering watchdog the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has suspended
Russia’s membership for its “illegal, unprovoked and unjustified” full-scale military invasion of
Ukraine.
 Russia’s actions were “unacceptably run” counter to FATF’s core principles that aims to promote
security, safety, and integrity of the global financial system.
About FATF :
 FATF is an inter-governmental policy-making and standard-setting body dedicated to combating

money laundering and terrorist financing.
 It was established in 1989 during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Paris to develop policies
against money laundering.
 Headquarters: Paris, France.
 President : T Raja Kumar

 FATF members include 39 countries, including the United States, India, China, Saudi Arabia,
Britain, Germany, France, and the EU
 India became a member of FATF in 2010.

India Joins the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate
 India became the latest member of Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM4C), on the
margins of the I2U2 Business Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
About AIM4C :
 The AIM4C climate-smart wants to increase investment and support for innovation of agriculture
and food systems.
 The AIM4C initiative has successfully increased these investments to more than USD 8 billion
globally.
 With this announcement, India has joined more than 275 partners including 42 governments, who
are working to collectively pursue the AIM4C mission by supporting investment.
Sri Lanka approves $442 million wind power project of Adani Group
News
 Sri Lanka’s Board of Investment (BOI) has issued a letter of approval to India's Adani Green
Energy Limited (AGEL), for the 2 wind power plants to be set up in Mannar and Pooneryn at a
total investment of USD 442 million
About AGEL :
 Founded : 2015
 Headquarters : Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

 MD & CEO : Vneet S. Jain
About Sri Lanka :
 President : Ranil Wickremesinghe
 Prime Minister : Dinesh Gunawardena

 Capitals : Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative), Colombo (executive and judicial)
 Currency : Sri Lankan rupee
India to host Permanent Mission Roundtables at UN HeadQuarter as Chair of G- 20
 India, as Chair of the Group-20 (G-20), will host the 62nd Permanent Mission Round Table at the
United Nations (UN) Headquarters ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit
to be held in New York later 2023.

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Important Topic Wise Current Affairs –February 2023- Important International

South Africa to host 15th BRICS summit at Durban in August 2023

take place in South Africa's Durban in late August, 2023.

About South Africa:

● President : Cyril Ramaphosa

● Currency : South African rand

G-20 International Financial Architecture Working Group Meeting to be held in Chandigarh

chairmanship of India will be held in Chandigarh on 30-31 January 2023.

organisations will participate in the two-day meeting.

Financial Architecture Working Group, - France and South Korea.

will be part of the meeting.

Agenda of the Meeting

 Energy transition through addressing technology gaps

 Low-cost financing for energy transition

 Fuels for Future (3F) and

focused priority areas.

on ‘Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS).

September 9 and 10, 2023 in New Delhi.

 Current CAG of India : Girish Chandra Murmu

telecom which would include things like 6G and semiconductors.

private-sector task force.

Radio Access Network (ORAN).

 President : Joe Biden

 Capital : Washington, D.C

 Currency : U.S. dollar

India to be theme country at 2025 Madrid International Book

“abeyance” for a few weeks.

economy and clean technology.

 Under the TTC, 3 working groups have been established.

 The first EU-India ministerial meeting is planned to be held in spring 2023.

 Headquarters : Brussels, Belgium

regard to adopt a roadmap for the implementation of this initiative.

and biodiversity together with the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

 Prime Minister : Élisabeth Borne

 Currency : Euro, CFP franc

 Capital : Abu Dhabi

 Currency : UAE dirham

 Sri Lanka got independence from British rule in 1948.

 It was granted independence as the Dominion of Ceylon.

 In 1972, William Gopalwa became the first President of Sri Lanka.

 President : Ranil Wickremesinghe

(CAG) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

"Integrating Emerging Technologies in Audit".

overall quality of the audit.

 India's 2023 theme is 'Towards a Secure SCO'.

 Headquarters : Beijing, China

 Membership : China, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

 The CAG is also the statutory auditor of Government-owned corporations

contributing more than $30 billion in earnings.

branding of tourist destinations.

European Union (EU).

the United States, and the European Union.

108 Buddhist pilgrims from South Korea on a 43-day walking tour

Society of South Korea.

establishment of diplomatic ties.

footsteps during his lifetime.

1. Lumbini (southern Nepal)- the birthplace of Buddha

4. Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh, India)- Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana.

 Minister of State : L. Murugan

 President: Yoon Suk-yeol

 Prime Minister: Han Duck-soo

 Buddhism is the official religion of South Korea.