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By admin: Oct. 8, 2022

India has the potential to lead fourth Industrial Revolution; PM Modi

Tags: National Economy/Finance Summits

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India has the potential to lead the 4th Industrial revolution and the government is working to make the country a manufacturing hub. 

The message of the Prime Minister was read out at the “Conference on Industry 4.0: Challenges Ahead and Way Forward”, held at Kevadia, Gujarat on 7 October 2022.

The Conference was organised by the Union Ministry of Heavy Industry and was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Heavy Industries Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey.

On the occasion, Union Minister for Heavy Industries Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey and Minister of State for Heavy Industries Krishan Pal Gurjar flagged off 175 e buses, 75 from Gujarat and 100 from Karnataka under FAME Scheme

He also inaugurated a Centre for Industry 4.0 (C4i4) Lab in Pune.

In 2019, Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India Phase II (FAME India Phase II)' for promotion of Electric Mobility in the country was approved. Through the scheme, it is planned to support 10 Lakhs e-two wheelers, 5 lakh e-3 wheelers, 55,000 4-wheelers and 7,000 e-buses.

Fourth Industrial Revolution 

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is a term coined in 2016 by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.  

Incorporating advanced digital production (ADP) technologies into industrial production processes has given rise to the concept of Industry 4.0, also known as the Smart Factory.

In the 4IR, computers are connected and communicate with one another to ultimately make decisions without human involvement. 

A combination of cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things and the Internet of Systems make Industry 4.0 possible and the smart factory a reality. 

Ultimately, it's the network of these machines that are digitally connected with one another and create and share information that results in the true power of Industry 4.0.

Industrial Revolutions

Industrial revolution refers to the change in human history from an agrarian society/economy to an economy/society dominated by Industry and machine manufacturing.

The First Industrial revolution started in England in about 1750-60. It was based on the use of machines for production which were driven by water and steam.

The second Industrial revolution which started in the late 19th century and early 20th century was characterized by the mass production of goods through assembly lines using electricity.

The third Industrial revolution was triggered by the use of computers which led to automation in production systems and development of smart and autonomous systems fueled by data and machine learning.

Nitin Gadkari and Yogi Adityanath jointly inaugurates Indian Roads Congress in Lucknow

Tags: place in news Summits Person in news State News

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath jointly inaugurated the 81st annual session of the Indian roads Congress in Lucknow on 8 October 2022.

The 81st Indian roads Congress is being hosted by the Uttar Pradesh government in Lucknow from 8-11 October 2022.

Speaking on the occasion Nitin Gadkari announced road projects worth eight thousand crore rupees for Uttar Pradesh including 13 Road Over Bridges with the fund of one thousand crore rupees.

 Road Congress will discuss modern techniques in road construction and it will have many sessions regarding it.

The Indian Roads Congress (IRC) is the Apex Body of Highway Engineers in the country. The IRC was set up in December, 1934 on the recommendations of the Indian Road Development Committee best known as Jayakar Committee set up by the Government of India with the objective of Road Development in India. 

First Global Drone expo held in Chennai

Tags: place in news Summits

The first ever Global Drone Expo 2022 was held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 8 October 2022. The Drone expo was organised by Indian Drone Association (IDA) in collaboration with Garuda Aerospace. The central government intends to make India a global drone hub by 2030.

Representatives from 14 international drone companies participated in the expo which was inaugurated by Member of Parliament, Bangalore Central PC Mohan.

Drone Expo 2022 is mainly organised to attract investors, youth and all relevant stakeholders to explore their potential and synergy in the drone industry.

 What is a Drone?

Drones are also called pilotless aircraft or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

 It means it is not flown by humans but is remotely controlled by the humans.

 It is equipped with infrared cameras, GPS and laser. It is used  in Space ,in the military, for transporting goods, for spraying insecticides for land mapping etc . 

U S and India launch a joint task force on energy storage technologies

Tags: Science and Technology International News

India and the United States have launched a new task force under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP), which will focus on the accelerated deployment of energy storage technologies.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS), are devices that enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be stored and then released when customers need power most.

The task force was announced during the meeting of the Union minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Puri and the US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in Washington on 7 October 2022. 

They also issued a US India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) joint statement which highlighted the importance of bilateral clean energy engagement to strengthen energy security and to accelerate clean, secure, and just energy transition.

SEBI gives approval to BSE to set up a Social Stock Exchange

Tags: Economy/Finance

The capital market regulator Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has given in principle approval to the BSE to set up a social stock exchange (SSE) as a separate segment of BSE.  This will help the social sector enterprises raise capital from the market. 

 Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed the concept of an SSE in her 2019-2020 Budget speech. 

What are Social Sector Enterprises?

• According to SEBI the Social enterprises which wants to get listed on the SSE must satisfy the following criteria’s;
• It has to be a non-profit organization registered for a minimum of three years as a charitable trust with a certificate valid at least for the next 12 months at the time of seeking registration. 
• Corporate foundations, political or religious organisations or activities, professional or trade associations, and infrastructure and housing companies, except affordable housing, will not be eligible to be identified as a social enterprise.
• Annual spending by the entity in the previous financial year must be at least Rs 50 lakh and it must have had funding of at least Rs 10 lakhs in the current financial year.
• The NPO must have a valid Permanent Account Number (PAN) issued by the Income Tax department.
• Social enterprises, raising funds through the SSE, will have to provide an audited Annual Impact Report (AIR) within 90 days from the end of the financial year, 

Social activities identified for Social enterprises 

• The social enterprises will have to engage in a social activity out of 16 broad activities listed by the regulator.
• The eligible activities include eradicating hunger, poverty, malnutrition and inequality; promoting healthcare, supporting education, employability and livelihoods; gender equality empowerment of women and LGBTQIA+(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual, pansexual, and allies) communities; and supporting social enterprise incubators.

BSE

• It was set up in 1875 as ‘The Native Share & Stock Brokers' Association in Bombay (now Mumbai). 
• It was later renamed as Bombay Stock Exchange and now it is known as BSE.
• It is the first stock exchange to be set up in Asia.
• In 2017 BSE became the 1st listed stock exchange of India.
• BSE has launched India INX, India's 1st international exchange, located at GIFT CITY IFSC in Ahmedabad.
• BSE's popular equity index - the S&P BSE SENSEX - is India's most widely tracked stock market benchmark index. 

World Smile Day

Tags: Important Days

World Smile Day is celebrated every year on the first Friday of October. World Smile Day for the year 2022 was celebrated on 7 October.

Important facts

• The purpose behind celebrating Smile Day was to dedicate one day in a year to smiles and kind acts.

• The theme of World Smile Day remains the same every year -- 'Do an act of kindness, Help one person smile'.

Background of the day

• World Smile Day was first celebrated in 1999 by artist Harvey Ball.

• Harvey Ball, a commercial artist from Worcester, Massachusetts (US), created the smiley face in 1963.

• This picture became a symbol of goodwill and enthusiasm on the planet.

• Harvey Ball declared the first Friday of October each year as World Smile Day.

• He intended that one day every year should be dedicated to smiling and kind acts around the world.

• After Harvey's death in 2001, the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation was created to honour his name and memory.

• This foundation is the official sponsor of World Smile Day every year.

Humanoid Vyommitra

Tags: Science and Technology

The pre-flight ground test of Vyommitra, the humanoid designed and developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to fly on the Gaganyaan mission, began on 7 October.

Important facts

• The humanoid 'Vyommitra' is currently undergoing pre-flight ground testing at ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU).

• IISU is responsible for the design and development of inertial systems for ISRO's launch vehicle and spacecraft programmes.

About Vyommitra

• It is an AI-based robotic system developed at a robotics lab at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram.

• It is a combination of two Sanskrit words Vyoma (space) and Mitra (friend), which will be sent on the first unmanned Gaganyaan flight.

• Humanoid will simulate the human tasks required of space before real astronauts can take off.

• It is designed in a human-like shape.

• Vyomitra, designed to speak in Hindi and English, can act as a companion to the astronauts, interact with them and answer their questions.

• It will accurately simulate human actions in space and check whether the systems are working properly.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 

• It was set up on 15 August 1969

• It is India's national space agency.

• Headquarters: Bengaluru

• Chairman: S.Somanath

Government of India launches Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups

Tags: Economy/Finance

To boost funding to the Startups in the country, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has notified the establishment of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS).  The CGSS will provide credit guarantees to loans upto Rs 10 crore extended by Scheduled Commercial Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) to the Startups registered with DPIIT. 

It means that if the eligible Startups fail to repay the loan taken from eligible financial institutions then the lender will be compensated by the government of India. This guarantee by the government is likely to increase the flow of credit to the Startups.

Extent of Loan Guarantee 

The credit guarantee cover under the Scheme would be transaction based and umbrella based. The exposure to individual cases would be capped at Rs. 10 crore per case or the actual outstanding credit amount, whichever is less.

• The extent of transaction-based cover will be 80% of the amount in default if the original loan sanction amount is up to Rs. 3 crore;
•  75% of the amount in default if the original loan sanction amount is above Rs. 3 crore, and up to Rs. 5 crore, and
•  65% of the amount in default if the original loan sanction amount is above Rs. 5 crore (up to Rs. 10 crore per borrower). 

The umbrella-based guarantee cover will provide guarantee to Venture Debt Funds (VDF) registered under AIF regulations of SEBI.

The extent of umbrella-based cover will be the actual losses or up to a maximum of 5% of Pooled Investment on which cover is being taken from the fund in eligible startups, whichever is lower, subject to a maximum of Rs.10 crore per borrower.

Who will operate the scheme? 

The National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) will be operating the Scheme.

The National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited is a private company set up on 2014, under the company’s act 2013. It is under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Finance. It is owned by the Government of India.

Other Important Information for Exam 

National Startup Day is observed in India on 16 January .

India’s first dedicated start-up branch was opened by SBI in Koramangala, Bengaluru on 16 August 2022.

Govt approves creation of new Weapon Systems branch in Indian Air Force

Tags: Defence National News

On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 8 October, the Centre has approved the creation of a weapon system branch for IAF officers.

Important facts

• This branch will enhance the war capability of the Indian Air Force.

• Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Choudhary said that this is the first time after independence that a new operational branch has been created in the Indian Air Force.

• The Weapon Systems Branch will work to strengthen the branches dealing with Surface-to-Surface Missiles, Surface-to-Air Missiles, Remotely Operated Aircraft and Special Weapon System Operators in twin and multi-crew aircraft.

• The establishment of this branch will save Rs 3,400 crore by reducing the expenditure on flight training.

• The Indian Air Force is also planning to induct women Agniveers from next year.

Kenya’s first woman General leads delegation to Indian Military Academy

Tags: Defence

A high level delegation from the Kenya Military Academy visited the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun on 5-7 October. This tour has been done under the Indo-Kenya Defence Cooperation.

Important facts

• A five-member delegation, led by Major General FG Ahmed, Commandant, Kenya Military Academy, reached the Academy, participated in the military training for Gentlemen Cadets at the IMA.

• Major General FG Ahmed is the first woman to hold the rank of General in the Kenya Armed Forces and Commandant Kenya Military Academy.

• She was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1985 and was posted to the Kenya Air Force.

• The Kenyan military delegation also met Lt Gen VK Mishra, Commandant, IMA and discussed military training and administrative matters in detail.

Indian Military Academy (IMA)

• IMA was established in 1932 by Field Marshal Sir Philip W Chatwood.

• In 1947, the command of the Indian Military Academy was given to Brigadier Thakur Mahadev Singh.

• In 1960, the institute was renamed as Indian Military Academy (IMA).

• The then President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan presented the flag to the Academy for the first time on 10 December 1962.

• It is located in Dehradun.

About Kenya 

• President - William Ruto

• Capital - Nairobi

• Official Languages -Swahili, English

• Currency - Kenyan shilling

Centre set up a committee to consider ‘Scheduled Caste’ status for converted dalits

Tags: committee Person in news National News

Center has set up a committee to consider SC status for Converted Dalits new persons who have historically belonged to the Scheduled Castes’’ but have converted to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism”. The committee has been set up by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Head of the committee 

The three member committee will be headed by former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan. It includes retired IAS officer Dr Ravinder Kumar Jain and UGC member Prof (Dr) Sushma Yadav as members. 

The commission will have to submit its report to the Ministry in two years.

What is the issue? 

The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, stipulates that no person professing a religion different from Hinduism, Sikhism or Buddhism can be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste. The original order under which only Hindus were classified was later amended to include Sikhs and Buddhists.

However many Scheduled caste persons who converted to Islam and Christianity are demanding that they should also be included in the list as they continue to face discrimination. 

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court by the National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC), demanding the status of Scheduled Caste for converted dalits. In August 2022, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to submit its current position on the issue.

The new commission has been set up by the government so that it can present its view on the matter before the court.

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment: Virendra Kumar

Railways plans to achieve net-zero carbon emission by 2030

Tags: National National News

Indian Railways has adopted an integrated approach for green environment and plans to reduce carbon footprint to become net zero carbon emitter by 2030.

Important facts

• Railways will endeavour to reduce its carbon footprint by meeting its energy requirements primarily from renewable energy sources.

• Other strategies for net zero emitters include a multi-pronged approach to electrification of rail routes, shifting from diesel to electric traction, promoting energy efficiency and building dedicated freight corridors.

• By 2029-30, the expected requirement for installation of renewable capacity will be around 30 GW.

• Indian Railways has installed 142 MW solar rooftop capacity and 103.4 MW wind power capacity by August, 2022.

• Railways has electrified 52,508 kms out of 65,141 kms of broad gauge network (80.61%).

Contribution of railways towards combating Climate Change

• Indian Railways has adopted an integrated approach to green transport to increase the total share of Indian Railways in land based freight traffic from the present 36 per cent to 45 per cent by 2030.

• Indian Railways is setting up Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) across the country. Its first phase is estimated to reduce emissions by about 457 million tonnes over a period of 30 years.

• The traction diesel fuel will use 5 percent blending of biofuels.

• Water use efficiency will be improved by 20 percent by 2030.

• Plantation will be done to increase carbon absorption, there will be emphasis on waste management and pollution control.

The Minister of Railways - Ashwini Vaishnaw

Mallakhamb competitions begin at National Games

Tags: Sports Sports News

Indian indigenous sport Mallakhamb began at the 36th National Games on 7 October. 

Important facts

• Mallakhamb was introduced in the 2021 Khelo India University Games, where Madhya Pradesh won 12 medals including 5 Gold, 5 Silver and 2 Bronze.

• It is one of the five new games to be played in the National Games this year.

What is mallakhamb?

• Mallakhamb is a form of aerial yoga or gymnastics with vertical stable or hanging wooden poles performed by a gymnast.

• Malkhamb is a form of ancient martial art, which was used as an aid to the training of wrestlers and warriors of the ancient era.

• This ancient sport of India first caught the attention of the whole world during the Berlin 1936 Olympics.

• Malkhamb Federation of India was established in 1981 and later the rules of the game were formalised.

• Since then, the sport has spread all over the world and for the first time in the year 2019, the Malkhamb World Championships was held in Mumbai, in which more than 150 athletes from more than 15 countries participated.

Indian Air Force Day

Tags: Important Days

8 October is Indian Air Force day. Indian Air Force was raised on October 8, 1932, and it is completing 90 years 8 October, 2022.

Important facts

• This time Air Force Day flypast was done over Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh.

• Historically for the first time, the Air Force Day parades and fly-pasts have been taken out of the National Capital Region by the Indian Air Force.

• President Draupadi Murmu and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were present on this occasion.

• This time 75 aircraft participated in the flypast, while 9 aircraft were put on standby mode.

• The Light Combat Helicopter LCH which was recently inducted into the Indian Air Force displayed its air capabilities in the sky at Sukhna Lake.

• Tejas, Sukhoi, MiG-29, Jaguar, Rafale and Hawk were also part of the flypast.

About Indian Air Force

• It was officially established on 8 October 1932. 

• It is the air wing of the Indian Armed Forces whose primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and conduct aerial activities during armed conflicts.

• Over 170,000 personnel are serving in the Indian Air Force.

• It ranks as the fourth largest operational air force in the world.

• The motto of the Indian Air Force is 'Touch the Sky with Glory' and was taken from the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.

• After independence, it participated in four wars with Pakistan and one war with the People's Republic of China.

• It works with the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions.

• It participated in relief operations during natural calamities like the Gujarat cyclone in 1998, the tsunami in 2004 and the floods in North India.

Solomon PM told Australia, no Chinese military presence in the country

Tags: place in news International News

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogaware assured Australia on 7 October that his country would not allow a Chinese military presence in its territory.

Important facts

• The island nation has been at the centre of a diplomatic conflict in the southern Pacific Ocean between the United States, Australia and their allies on the one hand and China on the other.

• Earlier this year, the Solomon Islands struck a security agreement with China, saying it needed Beijing's assistance with its domestic security situation.

• The agreement shook the US and Australia.

• There was concern that the deal could potentially lead to a Chinese military base and power test on the island nation.

• The United States and its regional allies fear that China could open a Chinese naval base, which would significantly increase China's military reach in the South Pacific.

About Solomon Islands

• The Solomon Islands is a nation located in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of more than 990 islands.

• Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

• It does not include the Santa Cruz Islands and the outlying islands such as Rennell and Bellona.

• Its capital is Honiara, which is located on the island of Guadalcanal.