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By admin: May 14, 2023

Allahabad High Court orders carbon dating of ‘Shivling’ at Gyanvapi

Tags: State News

The Allahabad High Court has recently ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a carbon dating test of a 'Shivling' located inside the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, India.

An overview of the news

• The court order came in response to a petition filed by a group of Hindu activists, which claimed that the mosque was built on the site of a Hindu temple.

• Activists argued that the 'Shivling' inside the mosque was proof of the presence of a pre-existing Hindu temple at the site.

• The carbon dating test will be carried out by a team of experts from the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

• The court has given this order so that it can be determined whether there is any evidence of a pre-existing temple at the site.

• Gyanvapi Mosque is a17th-century mosque located in Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in India.

What is Carbon dating? 

• Carbon dating is a scientific technique used to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of carbon-14 present in a sample.

• Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon that is produced in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen atoms.

• Carbon-14 is absorbed by plants and animals through photosynthesis and consumption, and its concentration in living organisms is nearly constant.

• When an organism dies, it stops absorbing carbon-14, and the carbon-14 in its body begins to decay at a predictable rate.

• By measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in a sample, scientists can calculate how long the organism has been dead.

• Carbon dating can be used to determine the age of material approximately 50,000 years old.

• Carbon dating is a widely used technique in archaeology, geology and other fields.

• Carbon dating is an important tool for understanding the history of life on Earth and the development of human civilizations, and has contributed to important discoveries in fields such as evolutionary biology, paleontology, and anthropology.

RBI invites firms to participate in Greenwashing TechSprint

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

RBI has announced its participation in the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN) greenwashing techsprint.

An overview of the news

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has invited firms to participate in the Greenwashing TechSprint to develop technology solutions to detect incidents of greenwashing in financial products.

• TechSprint is part of RBI's efforts to promote sustainable finance and ensure that financial products marketed as green or sustainable are actually aligned with environmental objectives.

• TechSprint is open to firms and individuals who can provide innovative technology solutions to detect greenwashing in financial products using technologies such as natural language processing and artificial intelligence.

• Techsprint can provide a platform for collaboration between tech firms, financial institutions and regulators to develop solutions that can increase transparency and trust in the market for sustainable finance.

• The RBI has identified sustainable finance as a key priority area, and has taken several initiatives to promote green finance and integrate environmental considerations into financial decision making.

What is Greenwashing?

• Greenwashing refers to the practice of making false or misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product or service.

• It is a marketing tactic used by companies to make their products appear more environmentally friendly or sustainable.

• Greenwashing can take various forms, such as using vague or exaggerated language, making unsubstantiated claims, or highlighting minor environmental benefits while ignoring significant environmental harms.

• Greenwashing can be harmful as it can mislead consumers into making purchasing decisions based on false or incomplete information, leading to negative environmental impacts.

About Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN)

• This is an international network of financial regulators that seeks to foster innovation in the financial services sector.

• It was established in 2018 by a group of 12 financial regulators, including the UK Financial Conduct Authority, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

• It aims to provide a platform for regulators to collaborate and share best practices on innovative financial products and services, as well as regulatory approaches to innovation.

World Migratory Bird Day - 13 May

Tags: Important Days

World Migratory Bird Day 2023 was observed on 13 May this year with an aim to focus on the conservation of migratory birds.

An overview of the news

• Migratory birds are those birds that migrate to other parts of the world other than their native places to escape the winter season.

• Migratory birds travel thousands of miles each year, often facing numerous challenges such as habitat loss, climate change, and illegal hunting along their journey.

• Many migratory bird species are declining in population, and their disappearance can have significant ecological and economic consequences.

• World Migratory Bird Day aims to promote international cooperation to conserve migratory birds and their habitats through awareness-raising, education, and conservation actions.

• Individuals can contribute to the conservation of migratory birds by taking simple actions such as reducing their use of plastic, supporting bird-friendly policies and practices, and reporting any illegal activities related to migratory birds.

• Through collective efforts, we can help ensure the survival and well-being of migratory birds, which play a vital role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and sustaining biodiversity.

• Theme of World Migratory Bird Day 2023 is ‘Water and its importance for migratory birds’.

Background of the day

• The day was first initiated in 2006 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

• Since its inception, World Migratory Bird Day has grown to become a global event celebrated in over 100 countries, involving various organizations, governments, and individuals.

Geeta Rao Gupta appointed US Ambassador for Global Women's Issues

Tags: Person in news

The US Senate has confirmed the appointment of Indian-American Geeta Rao Gupta as the 'Ambassador at Large'for global issues related to women at the State Department.

An overview of the news

• The Senate is deeply impressed by Gupta's efforts to promote the rights of women and girls through US foreign policy.

• Gupta's nomination was confirmed earlier this week by a 51-47 vote in the US Senate.

• According to Geeta Rao Gupta, women across the world face many inequalities and stigma and this prevents them from participating fully in the economy.

• She served as the executive director of the UN Foundation's 3D Program for Girls and Women.

• She also advises the UNAIDS Global Coalition on Women and AIDS and is on the boards of the InterAction and Moria Fund.

• She has also held the position of Co-Chair of the United Nations Millennium Project Task Force on Education and Gender Equality.

RINL launches "Open Challenge Program (OCP) 2.0"

Tags: National National News

On 11th May 2023 Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) launched “Open Challenge Program (OCP) 2.0” as part of a series of OCP programs by Kalpataru-CoE (Center for Entrepreneurship).

An Overview of the News

• The objective of this program is to select startups specialising in Industry 4.0 technologies for collaboration with RINL.

• The startups' technologies are expected to provide faster return on investment for RINL, contribute to energy savings and enhance process safety.

• The "Center of Excellence (CoE) on Industry 4.0" project involves collaboration between STPI (Software Technology Parks of India), MeitY (Ministry of Electronics & IT), RINL and Government of Andhra Pradesh.

• Over a period of 5 years, the CoE plans to incubate around 175 startup companies, of which 50 are incubated in physical mode and 125 are incubated in virtual mode.

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL):

• It is a government body that oversees the operations of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), India's first shore-based integrated steel plant.

• The VSP plant was commissioned in 1992 and initially had a capacityto produce 3.0 MTPA of liquid steel.

Establishment -18 February 1982

Headquarters - Visakhapatnam, India

CMD - Atul Bhatt

UAE's Sharjah Police launches 'Stay in your lane' campaign

Tags: International News

On 11 May, theUAE's Sharjah Police launched a traffic campaigncalled "Stay in Your Lane"to tackle road violations.

An Overview of the News

• The campaign aims to improve traffic culture among drivers and other road users by increasing awareness and promoting adherence to traffic rules and instructions.

• The campaign includes the dissemination of awareness messages in three different languages through the social networking sites of Sharjah Police.

About United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• Location:It is located in Western Asia.

• Geographical Boundaries: It shares borders with Oman and Saudi Arabia.

• Maritime Borders: It also has maritime borders with Qatar and Iran in the Persian Gulf.

• Religion: Islam is the dominant religion in the UAE, with the majority of the population being Sunni Muslim.

Capital - Abu Dhabi

Official language -Arabic

Government - Federal Islamic parliamentary elective semi-constitutional monarchy

President/Crown Prince - Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Prime Minister - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Vice President - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan

MyGov, IHM, Pusa launch 'Young Talent - Culinary Talent Hunt'

Tags: National National News

MyGov and IHM, Pusa collaborated to launch 'Yuva Pratibha - Culinary Talent Hunt' on 12th May, 2023.

An Overview of the News

• The primary objective of this competition is to celebrate and promote the rich culinary heritage of India to a global audience.

• It strives to revive lost recipes and to highlight the culinary talents of young chefs and home cooks.

• The United Nations designated 2023 as the 'International Year of Millets'in response to India's proposal to establish itself as a global millet hub.

• The objective of the competition is to increase the production and consumption of millets while creating awareness about the versatility and health benefits of millets.

Institute of Hotel Management Catering and Nutrition (IHM) Pusa:

• It is a renowned hospitality management institute in New Delhi, India.

• It is located in Pusa Institutional Area, New Delhi.

• IHM Pusa has been consistently ranked as the top hotel management institute in the country for the last 10 years.

• IHM Pusa is governed by the National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

• Establishment - 1962

Hriday Hazarika and Nancy Mandotra won silver medal in 10m air rifle event at ISSF World Cup 2023

Tags: Sports Sports News

Indian shooters Hriday Hazarika and Nancy Mandotrawon the silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle event at the ISSF World Cup 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

An Overview of the News

• It was the first ISSF World Cup medal for both Hriday Hazarika (21 years) and Nancy Mandotra (19 years).

• Hriday Hazarika qualified for the men's 10m air rifle final, where he won the silver medal.

ISSF World Cup:

• It was established in 1986 by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

• Its main objective is to establish a standardised qualification system for Olympic shooting competitions.

• It includes various shooting events that are part of the Olympic programme.

International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF):

• It serves as the governing body for Olympic shooting events and also oversees various non-Olympic shooting sports.

• One of its primary functions is to regulate and administer the sport of shooting on a global scale.

• It plays an important role in the management of the Olympic Qualification Events and in determining the allocation of quota places for the participating nations.

• It organises international competitions, including the prestigious ISSF World Cup series and the ISSF World Championships.

Established -1907

Headquarters - Munich, Germany

Chairman -Luciano Rossi