DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: March 10, 2023

19th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting

Tags: International News

Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh participated in the 19th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting hosted by Chair Thailand virtually from Bangkok on 9 March.

An overview of the news

• During the meeting, a number of documents including the Core BIMSTEC Working Mechanism, Regional BIMSTEC and Rules of Procedure for BIMSTEC External Relations were approved for submission to the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.

• The meeting also approved a draft agreement on the establishment of the BIMSTEC Center for Weather and Climate in India.

• Apart from this, BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision 2030 was also approved. This will be brought up at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.

• The leaders also approved the Administrative and Disciplinary Rules of the Secretariat and the Revised Financial Rules and Regulations of the BIMSTEC Secretariat, which will enable expenditure by the Secretariat throughout the financial year with an approved budget.

About BIMSTEC

• BIMSTEC whose full form is 'Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation' is an international organization of seven South Asian and South East Asian countries.

• It was established in 1997 to advance mutual trade, connectivity and cultural, technological and economic development in the region.

• Out of its 7 member countries, 5 members – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka are from South Asia and two countries – Myanmar and Thailand are from South-East Asia.

• Initially, BIMSTEC included six areas - trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism and fisheries - for regional cooperation, which was later expanded to 14 areas, including agriculture.

• Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ram Chandra Paudel elected as the new President of Nepal

Tags: Person in news International News

On 9 March 2023, senior Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Paudel has been elected as the new President of Nepal.

News Overview

• Ram Chandra Paudel got votes by 214 MPs of Parliament and 352 Members of Provincial Assemblies.

• The President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of the provincial assemblies and the federal parliament.

• The total number of electors for the presidential election in Nepal is 882, including 332 members of the parliament as well as 550 members of the provincial assemblies of the 7 provinces.

• He will succeed Bidya Devi Bhandari as the head of state of Nepal.

About Ram Chandra Paudel

• He also served as the Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Minister and President of Nepal.

• He served as the Vice President of Nepali Congress Tanhu District Committee in 1980, General Secretary in 2005, Vice President in 2007 and Acting President of the party in 2015.

• Ram Chandra Paudel served as Minister of Local Development in May 1991, Minister of Agriculture in 1992 and Speaker from December 1994 to March 1999.

About Nepal

• The kingdom of Nepal was established by the Shah dynasty.

• It is a landlocked country in South Asia.

• Prime Minister: Pushpa Kamal Dahal

• Capital: Kathmandu

• Currency: Nepalese Rupee

CISF Raising Day: 10 March

Tags: Important Days

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Raising Day is observed every year on 10 March.

News Overview

• In the year 2023, the 54th Raising Day of CISF is celebrated.

• Its main objective is to strengthen national security and for this it is working continuously.

• It was established in 1969 by the Indian Parliament under the CISF Act 1968.

• CISF functions under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

• It was created by an Act of Parliament passed on 15 June 1983, as an armed force of India.

• The CISF is tasked with providing security to India's important government infrastructure projects and industrial buildings.

• Reservation for women was increased from 15 percent to 33 percent in CISF and CRPF.

Director General: Sheel Vardhan Singh

Headquarters: New Delhi

Khelo India Dus Ka Dum tournament begins

Tags: Sports Sports News

The Khelo India Dus Ka Dum tournament began on 10 March in New Delhi.

An overview of the news

• Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur was present at the opening ceremony at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

• As part of the International Women's Day 2023 celebrations, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is organizing the Khelo India Dus Ka Dum tournament from March 10 to 31.

• Around 15,000 women athletes from more than 50 cities in the country are participating in the competition. It includes 10 games.

• Competitions will be held across 10 different sports - kho kho, wushu, weightlifting, fencing, archery, swimming, basketball, judo, athletics and yogasana.

• The tournament aims to provide a platform to women athletes who are unable to participate in national or state level competitions.

• It also aims to ensure that competitive sport reaches untapped geographical areas.

Former Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin arrested on corruption charges

Tags: Person in news International News

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on 9 March arrested former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on the charges of corruption.

An overview of the news

• Muhyiddin, who was Malaysia's prime minister for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, has been charged under laws related to abuse of power and money laundering.

• He and his party have faced a corruption investigation after losing the November election to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

• Prime Minister Ibrahim last year ordered a review of billions of dollars of government projects approved by Muhyiddin, including Covid-19 relief programmes, alleging that he did not follow proper procedures.

• Muhyiddin, who is also chairman of Barsatu, a major opposition party in Malaysia's ruling coalition, would be the second former prime minister to be indicted.

• Another former Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, is also serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption.

About Malaysia

• Prime Minister - Anwar Ibrahim

• Capital - Kuala Lumpur

• Currency - Malaysian ringgit

• Official Language - Malay

• Official Religion - Islam

42 lakh essays on Assam War hero Lachit Borphukan enter Guinness World Record

Tags: State News

The compilation of over 42 lakh essays on the brave Ahom General Lachit Borphukan has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the "Largest Online Photo Album of Handwritten Notes".

An overview of the news

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma received a certificate for the Guinness World Record for the maximum number of essays written on a single person.

• The certificate was handed over to Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma by Guinness World Records adjudicator Swapnil Dangarikar at an event held in Guwahati.

• Entries in over 25 languages were uploaded in a portal in October-November last year, which was launched as part of the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Borphukan.

• A 150-foot-tall bronze statue of Lachit Borphukan is currently being built, with a technical committee overseeing the project.

About Lachit Borphukan

• He was born on November 24, 1622 in Charaideo, the first capital of the Ahom kings. 

• He effectively led his army in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, which defeated the Mughal army's attempt to capture Assam.

• He also fought the Battle of Alaboi on August 5, 1669 in the Alaboi Hills near Dadara in North Guwahati.

• He was inspired to strengthen Indian naval power, revive inland water transport and build infrastructure related to naval strategy.

• He died on April 25, 1672.

Maharashtra’s first budget in Amrit Kaal will be based on ‘Panchamrut’ or five major goals

Tags: Economy/Finance State News

With an eye on social engineering and specific voter groups like farmers, women and those belonging to backward communities, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 9 March presented a state Budget worth Rs 6,02,008.33 crore for 2023-24.

An overview of the news

• The budget size is higher by Rs 20,740 crore over the revised estimates for 2022-23.

• Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state's first budget in Amrit Kaal would be based on 'Panchamrit' or five major goals.

• Fadnavis listed five goals - sustainable farming-rich farmers, inclusive growth, infrastructure development, employment generation and environment-friendly development.

Highlights of the Budget

• Additional cash benefit for farmers of six thousand rupees under the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi’ that will supplement the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi Yojana. 

• The scheme will benefit 1.15 crore farmers while the State will bear a burden of 6900 crores annually. 

• Cash benefit of 1800 rupees per year for farmers in 14 suicide-hit districts instead of grains distributed through PDS. 

• Provide crop insurance to farmers at a nominal rate of one rupee. 

• Insurance cover of five lakh rupees for fishermen with an outlay of 508 crores.  

• An outlay of 200 crores for ‘Maharashtra Shri Anna Abhiyan’ for technology diffusion, crop demonstrations, value chain development, promotion and publicity of millets and setting up of ‘‘Shri Anna Excellence Centre’ at Solapur.

•  An outlay of Rs 2,843 crore has been announced for the Women and Child Development Departmentunder inclusive development.

• Under the new scheme Lek Ladki, families with yellow and orange ration cards will get a subsidy of Rs 5,000 after the birth of a girl child, Rs 4,000 in class I, Rs 6,000 in class VI and Rs 8,000 in class XI.

• A cash amount of Rs 75000 will be given to the beneficiary girl child on completion of 18 years of age.

• Women passengers will be given 50 percent concession for traveling by state transport buses.

• 1500 increase in the honorarium of 81 thousand ASHA volunteers and 3500 group promoters working in the state.

• Announced an outlay of Rs 16,494 crore for social justice and Rs 3,996 crore for OBC welfare department.

• Announcement of a new housing scheme called 'Modi Awas Gharkul Yojana', under which one million houses will be constructed for OBCs in the next three years.

• On the infrastructure front, an expenditure of Rs 14,225 crore was made for roads and bridges.

• “Mission Targeting” will be implemented to enhance the performance of athletes.

• "Tent cities" will be set up at ten tourist spots across the state.

• A total outlay of Rs 13,437 crore has been announced on environment and sustainable development.

3rd session of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction begins in New Delhi

Tags: Environment National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the third session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) in New Delhi on 10 March.

An overview of the news

• The main theme of the 3rd session of this Platform is “Building Local Resilience in a Changing Climate”.

• The theme of the session is in line with the 10-point agenda announced by the Prime Minister for building local capacities, especially in the context of the rapidly changing disaster risk landscape in the wake of climate change.

• The session will identify gaps, recommendations and partnerships to further accelerate disaster risk reduction efforts.

• During the event, the Prime Minister presented awards to the winners of the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar.

• The winners of the 2023 award are Odisha State Disaster Management Authority and Lunglei Fire Station of Mizoram.

• The Prime Minister also inaugurated the exhibition to showcase innovative ideas and initiatives and technologies in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction.

• More than a thousand dignitaries will participate in this two-day, third session.

• Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the ministerial session in which wide-ranging consultations were held with ministers from states and union territories.

About NPDRR

• NPDRR is a multi-stakeholder forum constituted by the Government to facilitate dialogue and share experiences, ideas, action oriented research and explore opportunities in the area of disaster risk reduction.

International Women Judges Day - 10 March

Tags: Important Days

The day is celebrated every year on March 10, to honour all women judges who have led the fight against social injustice.

News Overview

• The purpose of this day is to recognize the efforts and contribution made by women judges.

• International Day of Women Judges observed with the campaign "Women in Justice, Women for Justice" to encourage full and equal participation of women at all levels of the judicial system, and raise awareness of the challenges ahead .

Background of the day

• On April 28, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) enacted resolution 75/274, designating March 10 as the International Day of Women Judges.

• International Women Judges Day was celebrated for the first time on March 10, 2022.

Establishment of UNGA: 1945

President of UNGA: Kassaba Koros

Headquarters of UNGA: New York, United States

Arun Subramanian becomes first Indian-American to be Judge of Manhattan Federal District Court in New York

Tags: Person in news International News

The United States Senate has confirmed the appointment of Indian-American Arun Subramanian as the District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

An overview of the news

• With this, Subramanian has become the first South Asian judge to serve on this bench.

• The Senate confirmed Subramanian's nomination on March 7 by a vote of 58–37.

• Earlier, in September 2022, US President Joe Biden had announced Subramanian's nomination to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

• President Biden's announcement brings the number of announced federal judicial officers to 143, according to an official White House statement.

• Subramanian received his Juris Doctor (J.D) from Columbia Law School in 2004 and his BA from Case Western Reserve University in 2001.

• He is a partner at Susman Godfrey LLP in New York where he has worked since 2007.

• Subramanian has taken up matters relating to false claims, victims of child pornography trafficking, consumers and persons injured by unfair means.

International Women's Day - 8 March

Tags: Important Days

International Women's Day is celebrated every year on 8 March.

An overview of the news

• The theme for the year 2023 is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.

• The theme aims to recognize women and girls who are contributing to the advancement of technology and digital education.

• The theme of the International Women's Day 2023 campaign is: Embrace Equity or #EmbraceEquity.

• The theme of International Women's Day 2022 was "Gender Equality for Sustainable Tomorrow".

Background of the day

• International Women's Day was started by Clara Zetkin in 1910.

• International Women's Day was first officially celebrated by the United Nations in 1975 during the International Women's Year.

• For the first time in 1996, the United Nations adopted the theme "Celebrate the past, plan for the future" in organising this day.

• There are three colours of International Women's Day - Purple, Green and White

• According to the International Women's Day campaign, "Purple is a symbol of justice and dignity, green is a symbol of hope and white is a symbol of purity.

• These colours were decided by Britain's Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1908.

Central Government launches High Price Day Ahead Market and Surplus Power Portal

Tags: National National News

The Central Government has launched a High Price Day Ahead Market and Surplus Power Portal (PUShP)– an initiative to ensure greater availability of power during the peak demand season recently.

An overview of the news

• Power Minister R K Singh virtually launched the portal in New Delhi on 9 March 2023.

• Last year, prices in the power exchange had shot up to Rs 20on a few days, prompting the CERC to impose a cap of Rs 12 on the exchange, so that there was no profiteering.

• This limit was applicable in day ahead market and real time market from April 1, 2022 and May 6, 2022 across all segments.

• This move made the price reasonable for the buyers. Due to high gas prices in the international market; The electricity generated using the gas was expensive – more than Rs 12 per unit – and could not be sold in the market at this price.

• Similarly, renewable energy stored in imported coal-fired plants and battery-energy storage systems could not be put into operation because of their high production costs.

High Price Day Ahead Market and Surplus Power Portal

• This portal is one of its kind initiatives, which reflects the ingenuity of the Ministry of Power and the regulator.

• Distribution companies have entered into long term PPA agreements for power supply.

• They have to pay fixed charges even if they do not fix the electricity schedule.

• Now discoms will be able to quote their surplus power in block time/days/months on the portal.

• Discoms that need power will be able to demand surplus power.

• New buyers will pay both variable cost (VC) and fixed cost (FC) as prescribed by the regulators.

• Once the power is reassigned, the original beneficiary will have no right of withdrawal, as the entire FC liability will also be transferred to the new beneficiary.

• This will reduce the burden of fixed cost on DISCOMs and enable utilization of all available generation capacity.

India, US signed MoU on semiconductor supply chain, innovation partnership

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

India and the US on 10 February signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on semiconductor supply chain and innovation partnership during the Commercial Dialogue 2023 in New Delhi.

An overview of the news

• At the invitation of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo visited Delhi from March 7 to 10.

• During the visit, the India-US commercial dialogue was resumed on 10 March to discuss cooperation and open up new trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.

• The MoU aims to establish a collaborative mechanism between the two governments on semiconductor supply chain resilience and diversification in the wake of the Chips and Science Act of the US and the Semiconductor Mission of India.

• It aims to leverage the complementary strengths of both countries and facilitate commercial opportunities and development of the semiconductor innovation ecosystem through discussions on various aspects of the semiconductor value chain.

• In addition, the MoU envisages mutually beneficial R&D, talent and skill development.

What are Semiconductor Chips?

• It is a material which has conductivity between conductor and insulator.

• Compounds of silicon or germanium or gallium, arsenide or cadmium selenide are used in this.

Why are semiconductors or chips so important?

• It serves as the center and brain of all modern electronics and information and communication technology products.

• The chips are used as data-storing memory chips, or logic chips that run programs.

• Manufacturing of chips requires a lot of precision as well as investment.

• This requires special conditions where even small disturbances around or inside the manufacturing unit can hamper production.

Release of the book 'Mundaka Upanishad: The Bridge to Immortality' by former MP Dr. Karan Singh

Tags: Books and Authors

The book 'Mundaka Upanishad: The Bridge to Immortality' was released by Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar on 9 March 2023.

News Overview

• Karan Singh is an Indian politician and philosopher.

• Karan Singh was the Prince regent (Janpratinidhi)of Jammu and Kashmir till 1952.

• He is the son of Maharaja Sir Hari Singh, the last ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, and mother Maharani Tara Devi.

• His important collection "One Man's World" and essays written on Hinduism have also been appreciated.

• He was the Chancellor of the Banaras Hindu University and the University of Jammu and Kashmir for many years.

• He has also been the President of the Central Sanskrit Board, the Association of Indian Writers, the Commonwealth Society of India and the Delhi Music Society.