DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Sept. 3, 2023

PM announces full capacity operation of India's largest domestically built 700 MW nuclear power plant at Kakrapar

Tags: Science and Technology

On August 31, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the commencement of full-capacity operations at India's largest domestically built 700 MW nuclear power plant located at Kakrapar in Gujarat.

An Overview of the News

• The nuclear facility at Kakrapar is the largest nuclear facility of its kind to be built entirely within India.

• Initially, the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) started commercial operations on 30 June but was operating at 90% capacity.

• It reached its maximum operational capacity on 31 August.

Nuclear power development in Kakrapar and all over India:-

• Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) is responsible for the construction of two 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) at Kakrapar in Gujarat.

• Kakrapar also has two power plants of 220 MW each.

• NPCIL currently operates 23 commercial nuclear power reactors.

Future plans and projects:-

• KAPP Unit 4 had achieved 97.56% progress as of July while commissioning activities were in progress.

• NPCIL has plans to build 16 more PHWRs of 700 MW each across the country and has secured financial and administrative approvals for these projects.

• Other 700 MW nuclear power plant projects are in progress at Rawatbhata, Rajasthan (RAPS 7 & 8), and Gorakhpur, Haryana (GHAVP 1 & 2).

• The government has approved the construction of 10 indigenously developed PHWRs in fleet mode at four locations: Gorakhpur (Haryana), Chutka (Madhya Pradesh), Mahi Banswara (Rajasthan), and Kaiga (Karnataka).

Georgia officially declares October as 'Hindu Heritage Month'

Tags: International News

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp officially declared October as 'Hindu Heritage Month'.

An Overview of the News 

• It aims to celebrate Hindu heritage while emphasizing the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of India.

• It recognizes and appreciates the valuable contributions made by the Hindu-American community in the state of Georgia.

• Hinduism is accepted as the third largest religion globally, with one billion followers worldwide and about three million followers in the United States.

• Throughout October 2023, the Hindu community in Georgia will collectively celebrate its heritage by focusing on the culture and diverse spiritual traditions of India.

Georgia's historic resolution against Hinduphobia:

• In April 2023, Georgia passed a historic resolution condemning Hinduphobia, making it the first US state to do so.

• The resolution condemns Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice, emphasizing the widespread and ancient nature of Hinduism, with more than 1.2 billion adherents in more than 100 countries.

• It outlines the diverse traditions and belief systems within Hinduism, all based on the principles of acceptance, mutual respect, and peace.

• According to the Hindu American Foundation, Hindu Heritage Month (HHM) serves as a global effort to highlight the longstanding tradition of Hinduism and its significant contributions to humanity.

ASI to unveil 'Adopt a Heritage 2.0' program, Indian Heritage App and e-permission portal

Tags: Government Schemes

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will launch the "Adopt a Heritage 2.0 Programme," the Indian Heritage App and e-permission portal on September 4, 2023, to preserve India's cultural heritage.

An Overview of the News

• ASI protects 3696 monuments across India, which showcase the country's rich cultural heritage and contribute to its economic development.

• ASI aims to enhance and maintain these heritage sites by launching the "Adopt a Heritage 2.0" program on 4th September 2023 at Samvet Auditorium, IGNCA, New Delhi. The revised program invites corporate stakeholders to use their CSR funds to enhance facilities at these monuments.

Program Overview:

• ASI's "Adopt a Heritage 2.0" program is a reimagined version of a scheme launched in 2017.

• It clearly outlines the specific features required for various monuments as per the AMASR Act 1958.

• Corporate Stakeholders A dedicated web portal: www. One can apply for the adoption of any monument or specific features through Indianheritage.gov.in.

• The portal provides details about monuments available for adoption, gap analysis and estimated financial requirements.

Importance of Cultural Heritage:

• Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of North Eastern Region G Kishan Reddy emphasized the importance of cultural heritage in shaping India's identity.

• Heritage monuments are not just structures; They represent the history, art and architecture of India.

• The "Adopt a Heritage 2.0" program encourages corporate stakeholders to participate in preserving these monuments for future generations.

Selection Process:

• The selection process involves due diligence, discussions with various stakeholders, and assessment of economic and developmental opportunities at each monument.

• The selected stakeholders will be responsible for developing, providing, and maintaining facilities related to cleanliness, access, safety, and knowledge.

• Stakeholders adopting heritage sites will be recognized as responsible and heritage-friendly entities.

• The initial term of appointment will be five years, which is likely to be extended for another five years.

Indian Heritage Mobile App:

• ASI will launch a user-friendly mobile app called "Indian Heritage" on September 4, 2023.

• The app will showcase India's heritage monuments, including state-wise descriptions, photographs, a list of public facilities available, geo-tagged locations, and a feedback mechanism for citizens.

• The launch of the app will be in phases, starting with ticketed monuments in Phase I, followed by the rest of the monuments.

E-Permission Portal:

• An e-permission portal will also be launched, which will be available at www.asipermissionportal.gov.in.

• The portal streamlines the process of obtaining permission for photography, filming, and developmental projects at monuments.

• It aims to remove the operational and logistical hassles associated with obtaining various permissions.

Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers gets Navratna status

Tags: Latest

On September 2, 2023, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF) was conferred 'Navratna status' by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).

An Overview of the News

• The 'Navratna Status' designation empowers RCF as one of the select groups of Public Sector Enterprises in India with significant financial autonomy.

• These companies can invest up to Rs 1000 crore in projects without approval from the central government.

• Before achieving 'Navratna status', RCF had earlier achieved 'Miniratna status' from the Department of Public Enterprises.

• Navratna companies are recognized as pillars of excellence in India's public sector and are known for their exceptional performance and significant contribution to the country's economy.

• These companies have substantial financial freedom, which allows them to make investment decisions for projects up to a specific limit without requiring government approval.

• Navratna companies fall under the category of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and are evaluated based on specific operational and financial parameters, including factors such as net profit, total cost of production, earnings per share, and cross-sector performance.

Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF):-

• Ownership: Government-owned enterprise in India

• Headquarters: Mumbai, India

• Primary operations: production of chemicals and fertilizers

• Government Ministry: Comes under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

• Establishment: Established in 1978 after the restructuring of the Fertilizer Corporation of India.

• Product Portfolio: Includes Urea and Complex Fertilizers (NPK) and Industrial Chemicals

• Ranking: Fourth largest producer of state-owned fertilizers in India

• Urea Production: 4th largest urea producer in India

• Chairman and Managing Director: S. C. Mudgerikar

Appointment of R Madhavan as Chairman of FTII Pune

Tags: Person in news

R Madhavan has been named as the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.

An Overview of the News 

• In addition to the post of Chairman, Madhavan will also serve as the Chairman of the Governing Council of FTII.

• Madhavan's nomination follows the national recognition his film 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' received.

• 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' won the prestigious Best Feature Film award at the 69th National Film Awards.

• 'Rocketry: The Nambi Effect' throws light on the life of former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan and his remarkable contribution to India's space agency.

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII):-

• It is a film school affiliated with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, and is supported by the Central Government.

• FTII is located in Pune and was established in 1960 with the objective of training individuals for careers in the film and television industry.

• The institute has a distinguished alumni base consisting of technicians, actors, and directors who have made significant contributions to the film and television sector.

• FTII is a member of the International Liaison Center of Schools of Cinema and Television (CILECT), a global organization linking leading film and television schools.

Director - Bhupendra Kainthola

India beat Pakistan in the final to win the Men's Hockey 5s Asia Cup 2023

Tags: Sports News

India's men's hockey team won the Men's Hockey 5s Asia Cup 2023 in Salalah, Oman by defeating Pakistan in the final.

An Overview of the News

• India also qualified for the FIH Men's Hockey 5s World Cup Oman 2024 with this win.

• India's win against Pakistan in the final was India's first win in the Hockey 5s format after the previous three encounters.

• India came back from 2-4 down, which was followed by a penalty shootout, where they emerged victorious.

• Maninder Singh scored an important goal for India in the shootout.

• In the semi-finals, India defeated Malaysia by a score of 10-4 and Pakistan reached the final after defeating Oman by a score of 7-3.

• Hockey India announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh to each player and Rs 1 lakh to the support staff for their outstanding performance.

Hockey5s World Cup:-

• The 2024 Hockey 5s World Cup marks the inaugural edition of the FIH Hockey 5s World Cup, a global competition for men's and women's national hockey 5s teams every four years.

• The tournament, scheduled for January 2024,will be held in the city ofMuscat in Oman.

International Hockey Federation (FIH):-

• It is the worldwide governing body for field hockey and indoor field hockey.

• Its headquarters is in Lausanne, Switzerland.

• Major international field hockey tournaments, including the prestigious Hockey World Cup, fall under the jurisdiction of the FIH.

• Formation - 7 January 1924

• Established - Paris, France

Important points:-

• Hockey India President - Dilip Tirkey

• Youth Affairs and Sports Minister - Anurag Singh Thakur