DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: April 12, 2023

A new Uranium Isotope 'Uranium-241' discovered

Tags: Science and Technology

A team of nuclear physicists of Japan has discovered a previously unknown uranium isotope with atomic number 92 and mass 241.

An overview of the news

• The study has been published in the journal Physical Review Letters and the new isotope has been named Uranium-241.

How was uranium-241 found?

• To discover uranium-241, researchers accelerated uranium-238 nuclei into plutonium-198 nuclei using the KEK Isotope Separation System (KISS).

• In a process called multinucleon transfer, two isotopes exchange protons and neutrons, resulting in nuclear fragments with different isotopes.

• The researchers identified uranium-241 and measured the mass of its nuclei using time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

• Theoretical calculations suggest that uranium-241 may have a half-life of 40 minutes.

Significance of the discovery

• The technique used by the team will help to better understand the shape of large nuclei associated with heavier elements.

• The method of discovery can be used for more information on other heavy isotopes.

About Uranium Element

• Uranium is a naturally occurring chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92.

• It is a heavy metal that is radioactive and is found in small amounts in rocks and soil around the world.

• Uranium has many isotopes, which are atoms that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

• Uranium has three isotopes in its natural state, U-234, U-235 and U-238.

• Other isotopes that are not found in natural uranium are U-232, U-233, U-236, and U-237.

Solar Energy Corporation of India gets 'Miniratna Category-I' status

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) on10th April, 2023. 

An overview of the news

• Its formal announcement has been issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.

• SECI has achieved this feat in a short span of time due to its consistent performance, mobility and flexibility in operations.

• SECI has played a central role in the rapid addition of RE generation capacity in the country and has contributed to the country's climate commitments, carbon reduction strategies and sustainable energy transition.

• It is making steady progress towards achieving the Prime Minister's 'Panchamrit' goals and achieving 500 GW non-fossil fuel based non-fossil fuel based capacity by 2030.

Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI)

• It is a Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), set up on 20th Sept, 2011.

• It is the only CPSU dedicated to the Solar Energy Sector.

• The company holds Category 1 Power Trading Licence and is active in this domain through trading of Solar Energy from the projects set up under the schemes being implemented by it.

• So far, SECI has awarded renewable energy (RE) project capacity of over 56 GW.

• SECI enjoys the highest credit rating of AAA by ICRA.

• Managing Director - Suman Sharma

International Conference on Defence Finance and Economics

Tags: Summits National News

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the three-day International Conference on Defense Finance and Economics in New Delhi on April 12, 2023.

An overview of the news

• The conference is organized by the Ministry of Defence.

• It will provide a platform to eminent policy makers, academicians and government officials from home and abroad to share their insights and experiences on defense finance and economics in the context of emerging security challenges and policies globally.

• Delegates from USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya are participating in the conference.

Objective of the Conference

• To promote dialogue and cooperation among the participants and contribute to the defense preparedness of the country with optimum financial resources and effective implementation of the defense budget.

• Participating in global discussions on defense finance and economics and proposing a sustainable roadmap on the subject.

• To disseminate the best practices, experiences and expertise of various countries and align processes in the Indian context with international standards. 

The topics of discussion

• Current challenges and opportunities in the areas of Defence Finance and Economics, such as how to allocate and use resources efficiently & effectively.

• Different models and practices of finance and economics related to Defence Acquisition around the world. 

• Latest developments and innovations in Defence Research and Development.

• Best practices on managing human resources in Defence, including issues related to pay, pensions and welfare of Defence Personnel and the role & functions of oversight mechanisms within defence ecosystems. 

UP's Suhelwa sanctuary records first photographic proof of tigers

Tags: State News

The recently released report on the census of tigers in the country states that Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary is a new area where photographic evidence of tigers has been recorded for the first time.

About Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary

• The sanctuary, located in Shravasti, Balrampur and Gonda districts of Uttar Pradesh, was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1988.

• It is spread over an area of 452 sq km.

• It is situated on the Indo-Nepal international border and is rich in natural resources.

• It is named after King Soheldev.

• Adjacent to the sanctuary area are the Shivalik ranges of the Himalayas.

• It is one of the important places in the Bhabar-Tarai eco-system region which is rich in biodiversity.

• Vegetation: Sal, Asana, Khair, Teak etc. are the main trees. The sanctuary area is rich in medicinal plants. Some species of medicinal plants are Safed Musuli, Kali Musuli, Piperwala Longum and Adhtoda Vasika etc.

• Fauna: Various types of mammals are found here. Leopard, bear, wolf, hyena, jackal, wild boar, sambar, spotted deer etc.

PM Modi flags off Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train

Tags: State News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train on 12 April.

An overview of the news

• The inaugural train will run between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt Railway Station. Regular train service will start between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt with stops at Jaipur, Alwar and Gurgaon.

• New Vande Bharat Express will cover the distance between Delhi Cantt and Ajmer in 5 hrs 15 mins.

• The fastest train on the same route, Shatabdi Express takes 6 hrs 15 mins from Delhi Cantt to Ajmer.

• Thus the new Vande Bharat Express will be 60 minutes faster than the existing fastest train running on the same route.

About Vande Bharat Express Train

• The first Vande Bharat Express was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 February 2019.

• These trains have a self-propelled engine which can save diesel and reduce electricity usage by up to 30%.

• The first Vande Bharat Express was manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.

• It was manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ programme, at a cost of about Rs 100 crore.

• These trains can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph.

• In the Union Budget for 2022-2023 the government has proposed the development and manufacture of 400 new Vande Bharat trains in the next three years.

Cipla signs agreement with Novartis Pharma AG

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

Indian multinational pharmaceutical company Cipla entered into a perpetual licence agreement with Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company Novartis Pharma AG.

An Overview of the News 

• The agreement allows Cipla to manufacture and market diabetes drug Galvus and its combination brands from January 1, 2026.

• Galvus is an oral anti-diabetic medicine that contains Vildagliptin as an active ingredient in it. It is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

• The perpetual licence agreement between Cipla and Novartis Pharma AG will enable Cipla to expand its product offerings in the diabetes segment.

About Novartis AG

• It is a multinational pharmaceutical corporation.

• The company is consistently ranked among the top five pharmaceutical companies globally.

• Novartis is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies in terms of revenue.

• In 2022, it was ranked as the fourth largest pharmaceutical company by revenue.

CEO - Vasanth Narasimhan

Subsidiaries - Sandoz, Novartis India Ltd.

Headquarters - Basel, Switzerland

Established - 29 February 1996

Founder - Johann Rudolf; Alexander Clavell

About Cipla Limited

• It is an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company.

• It primarily develops drugs to treat medical conditions such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, depression and respiratory diseases.

CEO - Umang Vohra

Founder - Khwaja Abdul Hameed

Headquarters - Mumbai

Subsidiaries – Cipla USA Inc., Cipla Health Ltd. etc.

IndusInd Bank signs co-financing loan agreement with Citibank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

IndusInd Bank signed a co-financing loan agreement with Citibank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for a funding line of $125 million.

An Overview of the News

• The funding line will be used by IndusInd Bank to provide credit to the agriculture sector.

• The co-financing includes JPY 13 billion (about $97.45 million) from JICA and a $30 million loan from Citibank to IndusInd Bank.

• The collaboration between the three entities aims to support the development of the agriculture sector in India by providing financial support to farmers and other related businesses.

• IndusInd Bank is a leading private sector bank in India with a strong presence in retail banking, corporate banking and treasury operations.

About IndusInd Bank

• It is a leading financial services company in India, headquartered in Mumbai.

• The Bank offers a variety of commercial, transactional and electronic banking services to meet the needs of a wide variety of customers. These include savings and current accounts, loans, credit cards, insurance and investment options.

• IndusInd Bank was inaugurated in April 1994 by the then Union Finance Minister Manmohan Singh.

• The present Chairman of the Board of IndusInd Bank is Arun Tiwari.

• The tagline of the bank is "We Care Dil Se, We Make You Feel Richer".

About Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Formation - 1 October 2003

Type - Corporate Administrative Agency

Purpose - Official Development Assistance

Headquarters - Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Service Area - Worldwide

Official language - Japanese, English (secondary)

President - Akihiko Tanaka

Affiliation - Development Assistance Committee

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

About Citibank

Establishment - 16 June 1812

Founder - Samuel Osgood

Headquarters - New York, New York, United States

Telangana Governor approves three bills passed by the state government

Tags: State News

Telangana Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan has given her assent to three bills passed by the state government.

An Overview of the News 

• The bills passed by the governor are the Telangana Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, the Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Telangana Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

• The Telangana Motor Vehicles Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 aims to amend the current tax structure for motor vehicles in the state.

• Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to amend the existing provisions relating to the governance structure of the university.

• The Telangana Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2022 aims to amend the existing laws relating to municipal corporations and municipalities in the state.

About Telangana

• Telangana is a state located in the southern region of India, with Hyderabad as its capital.

• One of the most iconic landmarks in Hyderabad is the Charminar, a 16th-century mosque with four arches and four towering minarets. It is located in the heart of the city, overlooking Lad Bazaar.

Chief Minister - K Chandrasekhar Rao

Governor - Tamilisai Soundararajan

Official Animal - Chital

Official Bird - Indian Roller

Official flower - Senna auriculata

Official Song - Jaya Jaya Hey Telangana

Sanjeevani Project launched by the Government of Himachal Pradesh

Tags: State News

To support small dairy farmers and cattle rearers, the state government launched a project called Sanjeevani on April 9 to enhance their livelihood.

An Overview of the News 

• The Sanjeevani project uses telemedicine and technology to provide convenient and high-quality livestock care services to farmers' doorsteps, potentially preventing outbreaks and reducing turnaround time for services.

• The Animal Husbandry Department of Himachal Pradesh collaborated with Bharat Financial Inclusion Limited (BFIL) for the National Animal Disease Control Programme-Mobile Veterinary Van (NADCP-AHD-MVU) project.

• The objective of the NADCP-AHD-MVU project is to provide door-to-door livestock care services through a toll-free telephone number.

About Himachal Pradesh

Chief Minister - Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu

Governor - Shiv Pratap Shukla

Official tree - Deodar (Scientific name: Cedrus deodara)

Capitals - Shimla (Summer), Dharamsala (Winter)

Keshab Mahindra passed away at the age of 99

Tags: Person in news

Keshab Mahindra, Chairman Emeritus of Mahindra & Mahindra, passed away at the age of 99 on 12 April.

An Overview of the News 

• According to Forbes, he was India's oldest billionaire at the time of his death with a net worth of $1.2 billion.

• He retired in 2012 after serving as the chairman for 48 years.

• During his tenure, the Mahindra Group expanded beyond automobile manufacturing into other industries such as IT, real estate, financial services and hospitality.

• He was instrumental in establishing partnerships with global giants such as Willys Corporation, Mitsubishi, International Harvester, United Technologies, and British Telecom.

• Born in Shimla on October 9, 1923, Keshab Mahindra earned a degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

• He joined the Mahindra & Mahindra Group in 1947 and became its chairman in 1963.

About Mahindra & Mahindra Limited

• It is a famous Indian multinational automotive manufacturing company and was established in 1945 as Mahindra & Mohammed and later renamed as Mahindra & Mahindra.

• It is a part of the Mahindra Group, a diversified conglomerate based in India.

• Mahindra & Mahindra Limited is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in India with a focus on manufacturing utility vehicles, tractors and commercial vehicles.

Established - 2 October 1945, Ludhiana

Founders - Malik Ghulam Muhammad, Kailash Chandra Mahindra, Jagdish Chandra Mahindra

Headquarters - Ludhiana

Parent organisation - Mahindra Group

Subsidiary Companies - Mahindra Tractors

CEO - Anish Shah

International Day of Human Space Flight: 12 April

Tags: Important Days

The International Day of Human Space Flight is observed every year on 12 April.

The United Nations General Assembly designated 12 April as the International Day of Human Space Flight through a resolution passed on 7 April 2011.

An Overview of the News 

• The day is celebrated in honour of Yuri Gagarin, a Russian cosmonaut, the first human to orbit the Earth on April 12, 1961.

• Space exploration has led to advances in many areas, including communications, navigation, and weather forecasting.

• On June 16, 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to orbit the Earth aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft.

• On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the surface of the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission.

About Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

• It is the national space agency of India.

• ISRO is responsible for space-based applications, exploration and related technology development.

• Major achievements include the launch of India's first satellite, the Mars Orbiter Mission, and the Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission.

Established - 15 August 1969

Founder - Vikram Sarabhai

Headquarters - Bengaluru

Parent Organization - Space Commission

Assistant - Vikram Sarabhai Space Center

About National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

• It is a federal agency responsible for the US civilian space program, aeronautical research, and space research.

• NASA conducts space missions, explores our solar system and beyond, and conducts aeronautical research.

• NASA is committed to international collaboration and education outreach programs.

• Its budget is primarily funded by the US government, and security is a top priority.

Established - 29 July 1958

Founder - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Headquarters - Washington, DC, United States

New species of frog discovered in Meghalaya cave

Tags: Science and Technology State News

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) recently discovered a new species of frog, Amolops siju, in the South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.

An Overview of the News 

• Researchers found the frog inside a cave in Meghalaya and named it Amolops siju after the cave in which it was found.

• Three new species of cascade frog (Amolops) were also found in Arunachal Pradesh.

• About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)

• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established in 1916 with the objective of survey, exploration and promotion of research on various aspects of animal life in India.

• The primary objective of the ZSI is to study and document the biodiversity of India, including the classification, distribution and abundance of animal species.

• ZSI is responsible for preparing national and regional animal databases, which serve as important tools for conservation planning and management.

• Apart from its research activities, ZSI also plays an important role in providing taxonomic expertise and training to researchers, students and conservationists.

• The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) is the administrative ministry of the ZSI, and it redefined the objectives of the ZSI in December 1987 to focus on the conservation and management of biodiversity.

Formation - 1 July 1916

Objective - Animal Classification and Conservation

Headquarters - Kolkata

Place - West Bengal, India

Director - Dr. Dhriti Banerjee

Parent Organization - Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Justice Apresh Kumar Singh appointed as new Chief Justice of Tripura High Court

Tags: Person in news State News

On 11th April 2023, Justice Apresh Kumar Singh was appointed as the new Chief Justice of Tripura High Court by the Central Government.

An Overview of the News 

• Apresh Kumar replaced Justice T Amarnath Goud, who was serving as the Acting Chief Justice of the Tripura High Court from November 2022.

• The Tripura High Court was established on 23 March 2013 following an amendment to the Constitution of India and the North-Eastern Areas Act of 1971.

Chief Justice of High Court

Allahabad High Court - Uttar Pradesh - Pritinkar Diwakar - 26 March 2023

Andhra Pradesh High Court - Andhra Pradesh - Prashant Kumar Mishra - 13 October 2022

Chhattisgarh High Court - Chhattisgarh - Ramesh Sinha - 29 March 2023

Delhi High Court - Delhi - Satish Chandra Sharma - 28 June 2022

Gauhati High Court - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland - Sandeep Mehta - 15 February 2023

Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court - Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh - N Kotiswar Singh - 15 February 2023

Jharkhand High Court - Jharkhand - Sanjay Kumar Mishra - 20 February 2023

Karnataka High Court - Karnataka - Prasanna B. Varale - 15 October 2022

Kerala High Court - Kerala, Lakshadweep - S Manikumar - 11 October 2019

Madhya Pradesh High Court - Madhya Pradesh - Ravi Malimath - 14 October 2021

Meghalaya High Court - Meghalaya - Sanjib Banerjee - 24 November 2021

Orissa High Court - Odisha - S Muralidhar - 4 January 2021

Patna High Court - Bihar - K Vinod Chandran - 29 March 2023

Punjab and Haryana High Court - Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh - Ravi Shankar Jha - 6 October 2019

Sikkim High Court - Sikkim - Biswanath Somadar - 12 October 2021

Telangana High Court - Telangana - Ujjal Bhuiyan - 28 June 2022