DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: May 2, 2023

ED raids Byju's premises, alleges FEMA violation

Tags: National National News

The Directorate of Foreign Exchange (ED) carried out searches at three premises linked to edtech firm Byju's in Bengaluru in connection with its probe into alleged foreign exchange violations.

An overview of the news

• ED recovered several incriminating documents and digital data during its searches.

• “FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) searches have also revealed that the company has received Foreign Direct Investment of Rs 28,000 crore (approx) during the period 2011 to 2023.

• Apart from this, the company has also remitted Rs 9,754 crore (approx) to various countries during the same period in the name of Foreign Direct Investment.

About Foreign Exchange Management Act

• It is an act which mainly deals with the provisions relating to cross border trade and payments.

• It defines the procedures, formalities and practices of all foreign exchange transactions in India.

• It was brought in in 1999 as a replacement to the earlier Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA).

• This act came into force on 1 June 2000.

• The head office of FEMA is known as Directorate of Enforcement which is situated in Delhi.

• Its primary objective is to help facilitate external trade and payments in India.

• FEMA is applicable in all parts of India.

• This applies equally to offices and agencies located outside India.

Maiden ASEAN-India Maritime exercise begins in Singapore

Tags: Defence International News

The first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-2023) began on 2 May in Singapore.

An overview of the news

• The maiden exercise is being conducted off the coast of Singapore.

• It aims to enhance interoperability and exchange of best practices among the participating navies.

• INS Satpura and INS Delhi, accompanied by RADM Gurcharan Singh, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet, have reached Singapore to participate in the exercise.

• AIME 2023 will provide an opportunity for Indian Navy and ASEAN navies to work together closely and conduct seamless operations in the maritime domain.

• Indian Navy ships will also participate in the International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) and the International Maritime Defense Exhibition (IMDEX-23).

• The Philippine Navy has deployed its missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151) with a 140-man crew of Naval Task Group 80.5 onboard in the exercise.

Phase of the exercise

• Harbour Phase - to be conducted at Changi Naval Base. 

• Sea Phase - to be conducted in the South China Sea.  

INS Delhi and INS Satpura

• INS Delhi is India’s first indigenously-built guided missile destroyer. 

• INS Satpura, is an indigenously built guided missile stealth frigate and are fitted with state-of-the art weapons and sensors.

• Both are part of the Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam and are under the operational command of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.

Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs signs MoU with RITES

Tags: National National News

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RITES Limited on 2 May to accelerate solid waste and used water management.

An overview of the news

• The MoU was signed for technical assistance for Solid Waste Management (SWM) under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0.

• The Technical Support Unit (TSU) of RITES will assist Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM-U) for a period of 3 years.  

• Under SWM, the areas of engagement will be process standardization and engineering design of waste management facilities, like Material Recovery Facility, legacy waste etc.

• Under Urban Waste Management (UWM), RITES will provide technical support for standards & specification in the field of sewage and faecal sludge management.

• RITES will assist with preparation of model tender documents and procurement in the field of sewage, wastewater management and Solid Waste Management.

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the second phase of the 'Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban' on October 2, 2021, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

• It has been designed to make all cities garbage free and achieve the goal of water conservation.

• In this, a provision has also been made to store and filter waste water by adopting a complete liquid waste management system in cities with a population of less than 1 lakh.

• Under this, 3.5 lakh individual, community and public toilets will be constructed for the population going to urban areas for employment in the next 5 years.

• Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) was launched on October 2, 2014 with the objective of promoting 'cleanliness and Sanitation' in the society and the country.

India to hand-over fast Patrol Vessel ship & landing Craft to Maldives

Tags: International Relations International News

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hand over a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives as India’s “gift” during his visit to the island nation from May 1 to 3.

An overview of the news

• It will be an “important landmark” in building “strong bonds” of friendship between the two countries.

• Maldives is one of India's major maritime neighbors in the Indian Ocean region and overall bilateral relations between the two countries, including in the areas of defense and security, have been on the rise over the years.

• Singh will also review the implementation of various India-aided projects in the Maldives and interact with the Indian expatriate.

• India and Maldives are working together to effectively address common challenges including maritime security, terrorism, radicalism, piracy, smuggling, organized crime and natural disasters.

About Maldives

• It is also called Maldives Islands, an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.

• It extends more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west.

• Basis of economy -fisheries, tourism

• Industries - handicraft or cottage including the making of coir (coconut-husk fibre) and coir products, fish canning, and boatbuilding.

• Capital -Male

• President -Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

• Official Language - Dhivehi (Maldivian)

• Official Religion - Islam

• Currency -Rufiyaa

Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Ganemat Sekhon win Gold for India in ISSF Shotgun World Cup

Tags: Sports Sports News

Shooters Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Ganemat Sekhon won India its first medal in the ongoing International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup  in Cairo, Egypt on 30th April. 

An overview of the news

• They won the gold medal by defeating Mexicans Luis Raul Gallardo Oliveros and Gabriela Rodriguez 6-0 in the skeet mixed team event.

• Italy took bronze through their crack pair of two-time world championship silver medallist Simona Scocchetti and Rio Olympic champion Gabrielle Rossetti.

• Olympian Meraj Ahmad Khan shot 74/75 in the qualifying round to win his 5th Senior ISSF World Cup medal.

• The Indian pair combined for a score of 143 out of 150, equal to Mexico's score.

Russian poetess Maria Stepanova wins Leipzig Book Prize 2023

Tags: Awards

Maria Stepanova, a Russian author currently living in Berlin, has won the prestigious Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding in 2023.

An Overview of the News

• Stepanova's novel, In Memory of Memory, which explores themes of Stalinism and the collapse of the Soviet Union, has earned her a nomination for the Booker Prize in 2021.

• The Leipzig Book Prize was awarded to Stepanova for her poetry collection 'Girls Without Clothes', which sensitively addresses the issue of power dynamics that fuel violence and oppression against women.

• The award ceremony was held on 25 April 2023 at the 30th Leipzig Book Fair.

• The Leipzig Book Prize has been presented since 1994 for "Progress of Reconciliation" in Europe.

• Stepanova, born in Moscow in 1972, is a Russian-Jewish poet, novelist and journalist who has been an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin's administration.

• Stepanova has expressed her admiration for Ukraine's resistance to the invasion, describing it as a battle of "good versus evil" in an interview with German public broadcaster RBB.

About the Leipzig Book Prize

• The Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding is a prestigious literary prize awarded annually since 1994.

• The prize aims to promote greater understanding between European cultures by recognizing outstanding works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry that contribute to this goal.

• The prize is awarded as part of the Leipzig Book Fair in Germany and is presented in three categories: fiction, non-fiction and translation. The winner in each category receives a cash prize and a bronze statuette.

• The jury for the Leipzig Book Prize is made up of literary scholars, critics and journalists from all over Europe. They evaluate works from different European countries and languages to select the winners.

AK Mohanty appointed as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission

Tags: Person in news

Ajit Kumar Mohanty has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy.

An Overview of the News

• Mohanty is a renowned physicist and is currently serving as the Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC).

• He will be responsible for overseeing India's nuclear program and exploring the use of nuclear energy for non-military purposes.

• Mohanty will replace KN Vyas.

• The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mohanty till the age of 66 years i.e. up to 10.10.2025 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

• Mohanty was appointed as BARC director in March 2019.

Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC):

• It is a nuclear research centre located in Trombay, Mumbai.

• It was established in 1954 by a renowned physicist Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, who served as the founding director of the institute.

• BARC primarily focuses on nuclear energy research including design and development of nuclear reactors, fuel cycle technologies and radiation processing.

• The organisation also conducts basic and applied research in areas such as physics, chemistry and biology.

• BARC operates several nuclear facilities, including the Dhruv, Cirrus and Poornima-II reactors.

• The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) controls BARC, and the DAE reports directly to the Prime Minister's Office.

King Charles III confers Britain's Honorary MBE on Dr. M.N. Nandakumar

Tags: Person in news

King Charles III awarded an Honorary MBE to Dr MN Nandakumar, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and executive director of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Center in London, for his contribution to Indian classical arts in Britain.

An Overview of the News

• Dr. M.N. Nandakumar has been associated with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Center in London for 46 years and has hosted Prince Charles on several occasions at the centre, which promotes Indian culture.

• Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed the award.

• The Honorary MBE award is given to foreign nationals for their services in public life.

• Dr. Nandakumar originally hails from Mattur village in Karnataka and joined Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kendra as a Sanskrit teacher while completing his PhD at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London in the 1970s.

• He has been the executive director of the building since 1995.

United Kingdom:

• It is an island nation located in northwestern Europe, consisting of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

• England is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom, and is known for being the birthplace of many famous cultural icons, such as Shakespeare and The Beatles.

• London, the capital of England, is a globally influential centre of finance and culture. It is home to many iconic landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the British Museum.

"Supreme Court confirms power to issue official decree of divorce in cases of irretrievable breakdown of marriage"

Tags: National National News

The Supreme Court is empowered to exercise its absolute powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to issue official orders of divorce to the consenting parties in cases of irretrievable breakdown of marriage.

An Overview of the News

• In such cases the period of six months prescribed under the Hindu Marriage Act may be waived.

• The judgement in a batch of petitions related to the exercise of absolute powers of the apex court to dissolve marriages between consenting parties without reference to family courts to wait for the mandatory period prescribed under Section 13-B of the Hindu Marriage Act I went.

• Article 142 empowers the apex court to pass such orders as may be necessary for "doing complete justice" in any matter pending before it.

• The matter was referred to a five-judge bench nearly five years ago on June 29, 2016, by a division bench of Justices Shiv Kirti Singh and R Bhanumathi (both retired) in a transfer petition.

• The Constitution Bench had reserved the decision on 29 September 2022 after hearing the arguments.

Hindu Marriage Act:

• It is a law that regulates marriages of Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs.

• It was enacted in 1955 and has been amended several times.

• This act defines the conditions for a Hindu marriage to be considered legally valid.

• These include monogamy, minimum age of marriage, stability of mind, absence of prohibited degrees of relationship, and ability to consummate the marriage.

• The Act provides for the registration of Hindu marriages. Registration of marriage is not mandatory but it is advisable as it serves as proof of marriage and facilitates settlement of disputes.

• The Act also recognizes the validity of prenuptial agreements.

• The Act provides for punishment for bigamy, dowry and cruelty to married women.

Government of India blocked 14 messenger mobile applications for spreading terror

Tags: National National News

The Government of India blocked 14 messenger mobile applications widely used in Jammu and Kashmir for spreading terror.

An Overview of the News

• The banned apps were primarily used as communication platforms to disseminate information in the field.

• The messenger applications that have been banned include Crypvisor, Enigma, SafeSwiss, Vikrame, Mediafire, Briar, Beechat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Elementor, Second Line, Jangi and Threema.

• The Indian government found that these apps were being used by terrorists to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers.

• The Center had earlier also banned several Chinese apps for being prejudicial to India's sovereignty and integrity.

• The ban on these apps has been implemented under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which empowers the government to block access to any website or mobile application that poses a threat to national security or public order.

About Jammu and Kashmir

It was a state of India until August 2019, which was bifurcated as two union territories namely Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on 31 August 2019.

Capital- Srinagar (May-October), Jammu (November-April)

Lieutenant Governor - Manoj Sinha

Legislative Council - 36 seats

Legislative Assembly - 89 seats

Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, Justice - Koteshwar Singh

British-Indian Meera Syal to be awarded BAFTA TV fellowship

Tags: Awards

Meera Syal, who starred in the hit BBC comedy, Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No 42, will be honored at the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Television Awards on May 14 at the Royal Festival Hall.

An overview of the news

• It is the highest honor given to an individual for outstanding and extraordinary contribution in the field of film, sports or television.

• Sanya is best known for her performances in 'Goodness Gracious Me' and 'The Kumars at No 42'.

• As part of the fellowship, she will inspire and support interested candidates through BAFTA's year-long programmes.

• She will appear in two new flagship series this autumn - The Wheel of Time and Mrs. Sidhu Investigates.

• Born to Punjabi parents from New Delhi, Syal's cross-cultural stories and performances have been instrumental in showcasing positive representations of British-Asian stories and talent on screen.

• Her work has garnered several BAFTA nominations and wins.

• Syal has been awarded the Women in Film and TV Award for Creative Innovation, Honorary Doctorates from SOS, Manchester and Birmingham Universities.