DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: May 13, 2023

ICMR successfully tests blood bag delivery under iDrone initiative

Tags: Science and Technology

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently successfully tested the delivery of blood bags by drone under its iDrone initiative.

An overview of the news

• The trial run was conducted on May 10, 2023, a drone carrying a blood bag weighing 500 grams flew for a distance of 12 kilometres and delivered it safely at the designated location. 

• The drone then returned to the base station with another blood bag.

• Its objective is to address the challenges of blood transfusion services in rural and tribal areas, where access to blood banks and transportation facilities is limited.

About iDrone initiative 

• It was launched by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

• It aims to assess the feasibility of using drones to deliver vaccines and medical supplies.

• The i-Drone was first used by the ICMR during the COVID-19 pandemic for the delivery of vaccines to inaccessible areas.

• It is now being used to deliver blood and blood-related products that need to be kept at low temperatures.

DGCA slaps Rs 30 lakh fine on Air India

Tags: National National News

DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India for violating the rules.

An overview of the news

• In the violation in question, an Air India pilot allowed a female friend into the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight.

• The aviation watchdog had issued a show cause notice to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson for lapse in reporting the incident.

• Air India has been fined ₹30 lakh for not promptly and effectively addressing a safety-sensitive issue.

• The incident took place on February 27, 2023 when a cabin crew member lodged a complaint with the DGCA.

• The DGCA has suspended the pilot's license for three months for violating regulations and "misuse of his authority."

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) 

• It is a statutory body and formed under the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

• It is headquartered in New Delhi and functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

• It investigates aviation accidents and enforces all regulations related to aviation.

• It registers and provides certificates to civil aircrafts.

• It coordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

About Air India

• Establishment of Air India -1932

• Air India Headquarters- New Delhi

• Founder of Air India- Ratan Tata

• President of Air India- N Chandrasekaran

Former NBCUniversal ad chief Linda Yaccarino named CEO of Twitter

Tags: Person in news

Linda Yaccarino, former advertising chief at NBCUniversal, has been appointed as the new CEO of Twitter, according to a tweet by Elon Musk, the current CEO of Twitter.

An overview of the news

• Yacarino will primarily focus on business operations, while Elon Musk will focus on product design and new technology.

• Yacarino is credited with modernizing the advertising business of Comcast Corp's entertainment and media division.

• Twitter's reputation with advertisers has taken a hit recently, with many leaving the platform amid concerns about ads appearing alongside inappropriate content.

• Yacarino's appointment follows the departure of NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell, who left the company after admitting to an inappropriate relationship with a woman.

• Musk completed the purchase of Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion and said in December that he would step down as CEO once he found a suitable person for the position.

About Twitter 

• Twitter was founded in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams as a social media platform for short, real-time messages called "tweets."

• It launched publicly in July 2006 and quickly gained popularity.

• In its early years, Twitter became known for its role in political activism and citizen journalism during events such as the Arab Spring.

• In October 20222, Twitter was acquired by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in a deal worth $44 billion.

Thiruvananthapuram to host fifth Global Ayurveda Festival in December

Tags: Festivals State News

The fifth edition of the Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF 2023) will take place in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from December 1 to December 5, 2023.

An overview of the news

• The event is being organized by the Center for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA) in collaboration with theMinistry of AYUSH, Government of Kerala and several Ayurveda associations.

• Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs,V Muraleedharan is thechairman of the organizing committee of the event.

• The event will focus on showcasing the potential of Ayurveda in addressing the health challenges of the present day world and setting up a platform for global networking of Ayurveda practitioners and stakeholders.

• The theme of GAF 2023 is "Emerging Challenges in Healthcare and a Resurgent Ayurveda".

• Top scientists including Nobel laureates and 7,500 delegates from 75 countries are expected to participate in the event.

• The event will also explore how to effectively present Ayurveda in the tourism sector, which can contribute immensely to the development of Kerala.

About Global Ayurveda Festival

• The Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) is a biennial event that aims to showcase the potential of Ayurveda as a holistic system of medicine.

• The festival provides a platform for global networking of Ayurveda practitioners and stakeholders.

• The festival includes presentations of research papers, poster sessions, and exhibitions of Ayurvedic medicines, herbal products, and wellness services.

Cochin Port bags Sagar Shreshta award 2023

Tags: Awards

Cochin Porthas been awarded the prestigious Sagar Shreshta award for the year 2023 by the Ministry of Shipping in recognition of its outstanding performance in the maritime sector.

An overview of the news

• The Sagar Shreshta award is given to Indian ports for achieving excellence in various categories, including efficiency, productivity, and environmental sustainability.

• Cochin Port was selected for the award based on its impressive track record of achieving high standards of operational efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability, as well as its contribution to the development of the maritime sector in India.

• The port has implemented several innovative initiatives to enhance its operational capabilities and improve customer satisfaction, including the introduction of digital platforms for cargo tracking and real-time vessel monitoring.

• The port has also demonstrated its commitment to environmental sustainability through the adoption of green technologies, such as shore power supply and solar power generation, and its efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote eco-friendly practices.

• Cochin Port's receipt of the Sagar Shrestha award reflects its leadership in the maritime sector and its commitment to driving innovation and excellence in the industry.

728 Railway Stations across States and UTs covered under One Station One Product

Tags: National National News

Under the One Station One Product’ (OSOP) scheme of Indian Railways, 728 stations are covered with 785 OSOP outlets in 21 States and 3 Union Territories across the country so far.

An overview of the news

• Its aim is to promote the government’s ‘Vocal for Local’vision.

• Under this scheme, OSOP stalls at railway stations offer a diverse range of unique products related to handicrafts, textiles, traditional wear and local agricultural produce and processed food items.

• The stalls have been uniformly designed through the National Institute of Design to ensure sustainability and promote visibility and accessibility of the scheme.

About One Station One Product Scheme

• The scheme was launched with a vision to promote 'Vocal for Local'.

• This will help local manufacturers sell their products and create additional income opportunities for the marginalized sections of the society.

• Under the scheme, allotment is made to all the eligible applicants on a rotation basis.

• The scheme was launched on25 March 2022 in pilot mode.

• This scheme is doing welfare of local artisans, potters, weavers, tribals etc.

The products under the OSOP scheme 

• Food items (Seasonal or Processed or semi processed foods)

• Handicrafts

• Artefacts

• Textiles

• Handlooms

• Traditional Garments

• Local agricultural produce

• Local toys

• Leather products

• Local Gems and Jewellery

Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways ranked 2nd on Data Governance Quality Index

Tags: INDEX National News

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has been ranked second among 66 ministries in the Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI) assessment for the December quarter (Q3) of FY23.

An overview of the news

• The ministry scored 4.7 out of 5, indicating its commitment to excellence in data governance.

• Conducted by the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), NITI Aayog, the DGQI survey aims to measure the maturity level of administrative data systems and their use in decision making of various ministries and departments on the implementation of central sector schemes.

• MoPSW's success in DGQI assessment was aided by the concerted efforts of the National Technology Center for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) at IIT Madras, which was tasked to improve MoPSW's Management Information System (MIS) in compliance with DGQI standards I went.

Six key indicators

• The DGQI assessment covers six key themes including data generation, data quality, use of technology, data analysis, access and dissemination, data security and human resource capability, and case studies.

Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI)

• The Data Governance Quality Index (DGQI) survey is conducted by NITI Aayog's Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office.

• The survey aims to evaluate the performance of different Ministries /Departments in implementing Central Sector Schemes (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).

1st Ministerial meeting of India-EU Trade and Technology Council

Tags: Summits International News

The first ministerial meeting of the India and the European Union Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will be held in Brussels on 16 May.

An overview of the news

• The meeting will be co-chaired by the Ministers of External Affairs, Commerce and Industry and Communications, Electronics and Information Technology from the Indian side.

• India is only the second country after the US with which the European Union (EU) has a TTC, and the two sides agreed to launch the strategic mechanism during the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to India in April 2022.

• The TTC aims to deepen trade and investment ties between India and the European Union, as well as foster greater cooperation on technology and innovation.

About India-EU Trade and Technology Council 

• The trade and technology council was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during Ms Leyen's visit to India in April 2022.

Three Working Groups under the TTC

1. A Working Group on Strategic Technologies, Digital Governance and Digital Connectivity

2. A Working Group on Green and Clean Energy Technologies 

3. A Working Group on Trade, Investment and Resilient Value Chains

India-EU Trade relation

• India is the 10th largest trading partner of the European Union, accounting for 2.1% of the total trade in goods.

• The EU is India's third largest trading partner, accounting for €88 billion in goods trade in 2021 or a little over 10% of total Indian trade.

• Trade in services between the two sides reached €30.4 billion in 2020.

About European Union

• The European Union is a group of 27 European countries.

• The United Kingdom which was the founding member of the European Union has left the organisation.

• It was founded on 1 November 1993

• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

Millet Festival in Dehradun

Tags: Festivals State News

In Uttarakhand, a four-day millet festival (Shri Anna Mahotsav) began on May 13 in Dehradun to create public awareness about the health benefits of millets and deliberate on the state's potential to grow crops in this category.

An overview of the news

• Agriculture ministers, scientists and farmers of other states including Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar participated in the Anna Mahotsav.

• The four-day deliberations aimed at attracting more and more people towards millet production, which has been set to double by 2025.

• The produce of millet will be discussed in the festival and through this festival the farmers of the state will be encouraged to cultivate millet.

• The Uttarakhand state government has made a provision of Rs 73 crore for the promotion of millets in this financial year.

• The aim of the government is that farmers produce more coarse grains so that their economy can be strengthened.

• On this occasion, 134 stalls will be set up under the Mahotsav by the Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Universities and other institutions related to agricultural research.

International Year of Millet (IYOM)-2023

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted India's resolution and declared 2023 as the International Year of millets in March 2021.

• India's proposal received the support of 72 countries.

• In 2021, NITI Aayog signed a letter of intent with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

• The partnership focuses on mainstreaming millets and helping India take a global lead in promoting its health benefits.

• The objective of this partnership is to build resilient livelihoods for smallholder farmers and to build adaptability to climate change and changing food systems.

Bhopal joins global movement on SDGs

Tags: State News

Bhopal becomes the first city in India to adopt the localisation of the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG).

An overview of the news

• India's Bhopal city has conducted India's first city-level Voluntary Local Review (VLR)of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Bhopal has launched 'Agenda for Action: Sustainable Urban Transformation in Bhopal', which was unveiled by Madhya Pradesh Chief MinisterShivraj Singh Chouhan.

• In 2015, all 193 UN member states adopted "Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development",which included 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets, as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.

• Member countries report on their progress towards achieving the goals through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).

What is VLR?

• A Voluntary Local Review (VLR) is a powerful tool that enables cities and regions to localize the SDGs and report their progress towards achieving them.

Bhopal’s VLR

• VLR enables cities and regions to localize the Sustainable Development Goals and report on their progress.

• Bhopal's VLR is the result of a collective collaboration of Bhopal Municipal Corporation, UN-Habitat and over 23 local stakeholders to demonstrate the city's aspirations for a sustainable and inclusive urban transformation.

• Bhopal's VLR incorporated a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches to the SDG review, including a qualitative mapping of 56 developmental projects across the three pillars of People, Planet and Prosperity, and an in-depth quantitative review of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• VLRs have emerged as a powerful tool at the forefront of local action.

• New York City became the first city in 2018 to submit its voluntary local review to the HLPF of the United Nations.

• By 2021, some 33 countries had publicly available 114 VLRs or similar review documents.

United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG)

• The United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) were adopted by all 193 member states in 2015 as a plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity.

• There are 17 SDGs and 169 targets, which aim to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.

• The SDGs cover a range of areas such as health, education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, and more.

• The member states report their progress towards the achievement of the SDGs through a Voluntary National Review (VNR) to UN’s High Level Political Forum (HLPF).

• Cities and regions have a pivotal role to play in the achievement of Agenda 2030, as at least 60% of the 169 targets could not possibly be achieved without their involvement.