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By admin: Jan. 19, 2023

Hyderabad selected to host WEF Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Tags: National News

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen Hyderabad to set up its Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution focused on healthcare and life sciences.

An overview of the news

• The announcement was made after the Telangana government and the World Economic Forum signed a cooperation agreement during the Forum's annual meeting in Davos recently.

• The collaboration agreement was signed by Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director, WEF and Sakthi Nagappan, Chief Executive Officer, Telangana Life Sciences Foundation.

• Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Telangana will be an autonomous, non-profit organisation that will focus on healthcare and life sciences.

• C4IR is the 18th centre to join the 4th Industrial Revolution Network of Telangana Forum, which is spread across four continents.

What is the fourth industrial revolution?

• The Fourth Industrial Revolution represents a fundamental change in the way we live, work and connect with each other.

• It is a new chapter in human development, enabled by an extraordinary technological advance commensurate with the First, Second and Third Industrial Revolutions.

• The key technologies involved are cloud computing, big data, cyber security, simulation, additive manufacturing and Internet of Things (IoT).

Other industrial revolution

• First Industrial Revolution (in the 1800s): Water and steam power were used to mechanize production. An example of this is the steam engine.

• Second Industrial Revolution (early 1900s): It used electricity for mass production. Electricity is an example of this.

• Third Industrial Revolution (late 1900s): Electronics and information technology were used to automate production. Computers and the Internet are examples of this.

Notification for General Election to the Legislative Assemblies of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura in 2023

Tags: National News

The National Election Commission has prepared a schedule for holding general elections to the Legislative Assemblies of the three states of North-East India, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

An Overview of the news

• For this, the Commission made a thorough assessment of all relevant aspects, such as climatic conditions, academic calendar, board examinations, major festivals, law and order situation in these states, availability of Central Armed Police Forces, movement of forces and other relevant ground realities, etc. has been taken into account.

• The Election Commission, after considering all relevant aspects, has decided to recommend the Governor of the three States to issue notification for the General Election under the relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Tripura Legislative Assembly General Election Schedule

• Total Assembly Constituencies:- 60

• Date of poll:- February 16, 2023

• Date of counting of votes:- March 2, 2023

General Election Schedule to the Legislative Assemblies of Meghalaya and Nagaland

• Total assembly constituencies:- 60-60 assembly constituencies in both the states

• Date of Poll:- February 27, 2023

• Date of counting of votes:- March 2, 2023

Tripura

• Capital: Agartala

• Governor: Satyadev Narayan Arya

• Chief Minister: Dr. Manik Saha

Meghalaya

• Capital: Shillong

• Governor: BD Mishra

• Chief Minister: Conrad Sangma

Nagaland

• Capital: Kohima

• Governor: Prof. jagdish mukhi

• Chief Minister: Neiphiu Rio

India announces donation of 12,500 doses of pentavalent vaccines to Cuba

Tags: International News

Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, during her official visit to Cuba from January 12 to 14, announced that India has decided to donate 12,500 doses of pentavalent vaccines to Cuba.

An overview of the news

• During her visit, Meenakshi Lekhi held a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Caneland discussed bilateral importance and political and economic cooperation.

• Both sides discussed issues of common interest and expressed desire to enhance cooperation in development assistance programmes, trade and investment, energy, disaster management, culture, health and pharma, AYUSH and biotechnology.

Pentavalent vaccine

• Pentavalent vaccine provides protection to a child from 5 life-threatening diseases – Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae.

• It is injected in three doses.

About Cuba

• Prime Minister: Manuel Marrero Cruz

• President: Miguel Díaz-Canel

• Capital: Havana

• Currency: Cuban peso

Nepalese ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit wins Bahrain's Isa Award for Service to Humanity

Tags: Awards

Himalayan Cataract Project Co-Founder and  noted Nepali ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit has won the Isa Award-2021-2022 for Service to Humanity, a top civilian award of Bahrain.

An overview of the news

• The award carries a cash prize of US$1 million, a certificate of merit and a gold medallion.

• Dr. Ruit is a pioneer in providing high quality microsurgical procedures in remote eye camps.

• He has been instrumental in making modern eye care affordable and accessible to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

• He is fondly called "God of Sight" for saving the sight of 1,20,000 eyes.

• The biennial award will be presented at a ceremony to be held next month at the Isa Cultural Center in Manama under the patronage of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

• The Board of Trustees considered the findings of the field research team's visit and decided that Dr. Ruit work deserves this award for service to humanity because of the originality of his efforts and his success.

• Dr. Ruitt has trained and qualified more than 650 doctors to treat and prevent blindness.

• He is a recipient of the Padma Shri award by the Government of India, the National Order of Merit of Bhutan as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award.

• The Government of Australia conferred on him "The Order of Australia" in 2007.

• In 2016, he was awarded the "Asian Game Changer Award" by the Asia Society of New York.

• The "Isa Award for Service to Humanity" was established in 2009 by His Majesty Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain.

Indo-Russian joint venture has started manufacturing Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles in India

Tags: Defence National News

The manufacturing of Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles has recently started in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh by an Indo-Russian joint venture.

An overview of the news

• Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited plans to ensure 100 percent production of AK-203 rifles in India.

• In the future, the company may increase production and upgrade its production facilities to produce advanced rifles based on the Kalashnikov assault rifle platform.

• India is the first country to start production of the world famous brand AK-200-series assault rifles.

• The first batch of 7.62 mm Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles has been produced by the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.

• Deliveries to the Indian Army are expected to commence soon.

About AK 203 Rifles

• The AK-203 assault rifle is considered to be the latest and most advanced version of the AK-47 rifle.

• It is a 7.62×39mm variant from the AK-100 rifle family.

• This variant will replace the Indian Small Arms System (INSAS) 5.56×45mm assault rifle, which is currently being used by the Army, Navy and Air Force besides other security forces.

• INSAS rifles are not suitable for use at high altitudes. These rifles also have problems like gun jamming, oil leakage etc.

Other India-Russia bilateral projects  

• Indigenous production of T-90 tanks and Su-30-MKIaircraft

• Supply of MiG-29-K aircraft and Kamov-31 and Mi-17 helicopters

• Upgrade of MiG-29 aircraft and supply of Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher Smerch

• Develop and produce supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles in India

India announces 100 million Maldivian Rufiyaa for community development projects in Maldives

Tags: International Relations International News

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar arrived in Maldives on 18 January as part of his three-day visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka.

An overview of the news

• To strengthen bilateral ties, India and Maldives signed an MoU on development projects and held talks with top leadership in the country.

• The agreement included grant assistance of 100 million rufiyaa (Maldives' currency) for the High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP).

• Under this funding, several socio-economic development projects are planned to be implemented in Maldives.

• It also includes the development of a sports complex at Gahadhoo and academic collaboration between the Maldives National University and the Cochin University of Science and Technology.

• India has handed over two sea ambulances to help the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

About Maldives

• It is also called Maldives Islands, an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean.

• It extends more than 510 miles (820 km) from north to south and 80 miles (130 km) from east to west.

• Basis of economy -fisheries, tourism

• Industries - handicraft or cottage including the making of coir (coconut-husk fibre) and coir products, fish canning, and boatbuilding.

• Capital -Male

• President -Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

• Official Language - Dhivehi (Maldivian)

• Official Religion - Islam

• Currency - Rufiyaa

Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation as Prime Minister of New Zealand

Tags: Person in news International News

On 18 January 2023, the Prime Minister of New Zealand 'Jacinda Ardern' has announced her resignation from her post at the annual meeting of her party.

An Overview of the news

• Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will hold the post of Prime Minister till 7 February 2023 and will resign after that.

• The 2023 general election in New Zealand is going to be held on 14 October.

• Prime Minister Ardern's shock decision comes after five and a half years in office as she led New Zealand through the coronavirus pandemic.

• Prime Minister Ardern is one of the world's youngest female heads of state at the age of 37 when she came to power in 2017.

Jacinda Ardern

• Ms Ardern began her political career in the office of former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

• Ardern has also served as a policy advisor in Tony Blair's government in the UK.

• She was elected to the Parliament of New Zealand in 2008 and became Deputy Leader of Labor in March 2017.

• Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation as Prime Minister of New Zealand

New Zealand

• Capital: Wellington

• Currency: New Zealand Dollar

• Prime Minister: Jacinda Ardern

• President: Debbie Hockley

NASA awards 425 million to Boeing Company for agency's sustainable flight demonstrator project

Tags: Science and Technology International News

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded $425 million to The Boeing Company for a sustainable flight demonstrator project.

An overview of the news

• Boeing will work with NASA to validate technologies aimed at 'building, testing and flying a full-scale demonstrator aircraft and reducing emissions'.

• Over seven years, NASA will invest $425 million, while Boeing and its partners will contribute the remainder of the agreement, estimated to cost $725 million.

• The Transonic Truss-Braced Wing Demonstrator Single-Aisle is an aeroplane that aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30 percent.

• The goal of the project is to produce and test a full-scale demonstrator that will help build future fuel-efficient commercial airliners.

• The United States has set a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the US aviation sector by 2050.

About NASA 

• NASA was formed under the National Aeronautics and Space Act on July 19, 1948, in place of its predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA).

• NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

• Headquarters- Washington D.C.

• Administrator - Bill Nelson

UN General Assembly adopts Indian Co-sponsored Resolution on 'Education For Democracy'

Tags: International News

To provide education to all, a resolution titled "Education for Democracy" was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 18 January.

An overview of the news

• The resolution co-sponsored by India reaffirms the right to education to strengthen democracy.

• Adopted unanimously, this resolution will recognize the importance of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• This is not the first time that an education resolution has been adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.

• Earlier in 2015, a similar resolution was passed in the General Assembly, encouraging all UN entities to use education to promote peace, human rights and democracy.

• The purpose of the resolution was to encourage member states to integrate Education for Democracy into their education standards.

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

• It is the United Nation’s chief policy-making and representative organ and was created in 1945.

• It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN).

• It serves as the main deliberative, policy making and representative organ of the United Nations.

• Its powers, structure, functions and procedures are set out in Chapter IV of the United Nations Charter.

• Its main functions are to prepare the budget of the United Nations, appoint non-permanent members to the Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General of the United Nations, receive reports from other parts of the United Nations system, and make recommendations through resolutions.

Renowned Assamese poet Nilamani Phukan passes away

Tags: Person in news

Renowned Assamese poet and Jnanpith awardee Nilamani Phukan passed away at the age of 89 at Guwahati Medical College, Hospital.

• Nilamani Phukan was born on September 10, 1933 in Dergaon, Assam.

• He started his career as a lecturer in 1964 at Arya Vidyapeeth College, Guwahati.

• He was awarded theSahitya Akademi Award in 1981 for his poetry collection 'Kabita'.

• He was conferred with the56th Jnanpith Award 2020.

• The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1990.

• His major works include Juria Henu Naami Aahe E Nodiyadi, Kabita and Gulapi Jamur Lagna.

'Rare orange coloured bat' spotted in Chhattisgarh's Kanger Ghati National Park

Tags: Science and Technology

A 'rare orange coloured bat' known as 'painted bat' has been spotted in a banana plantation in Parali Bodal village of Kanger Valley National Park in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.

An overview of the news

• The scientific name of this painted bat is 'Kerivoula picta'. This species has been kept in the category of globally endangered.

• This species is commonly found in Bangladesh, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

• In India, this bat has so far been seen in the Western Ghats, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha and Kanger valley of Chhattisgarh.

• The painted bat is characterised by bright orange and black wings, dense orange fur on the back and warm buff underside.

• There are about 131 species of bats in India and 31 of them are found in the central parts of the country.

• Kanger Valley National Park

• Kanger Ghati National Park was established in 1982.

• The name of this national park is derived from the Kanger River. This park is located in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, which is spread over an area of about 200 square kilometres.

• Due to its high biodiversity it has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve.

• The national park is famous for its limestone caves which also provide a suitable habitat for bats.

• Other 2 National Parks of Chhattisgarh

• Indravati National Park

• Guru Ghasidas National Park

Global Fire Power Index 2023

Tags: Reports INDEX

The Global Firepower Report 2023 has rankedIndia as the 4th most powerful army in the world.

An overview of the news

• 145 countries are ranked this year in the Global Firepower Report.

• Global Firepower ranks countries based on troop strength, national resources, financial status, logistics and geographic scale.

• Themost powerful country in the world is the United States of America, followed by Russia, China, India.

• Most powerful country in the Middle East and North African region

• According to the Global Firepower Military Index 2023, Turkey has once again emerged as the most powerful country in the Middle East and North African region. Turkey has been placed at the 11th position in the global ranking.

• Egypt and Iran are ranked second and third respectively in this index, while Egypt is ranked 14th and Iran is ranked 17th in the global ranking.

• Egypt is ranked as the most powerful Arab country in terms of its military power.

• Saudi Arabia emerged as the most powerful country among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Saudi Arabia has the second most powerful military among the Arab countries. It is placed at the 22nd position in the global ranking.

• Algeria is the most powerful of the North African countries, ranking 26th on the global index.

• In this index, Lebanon has been described as the weakest country in the Middle East.

• Top 10 Countries on Global Power Index 2023

• 1. America

• 2. Russia

• 3. China

• 4. India

• 5. United Kingdom

• 6. South Korea

• 7. Pakistan

• 8. Japan

• 9. France

• 10. Italy

Jammu and Kashmir becomes the first Indian Union Territory to completely shift to e-governance mode

Tags: National News

Jammu and Kashmir has become the first Union Territory of India to go completely digital.

• Presently all government and administrative services in Jammu and Kashmir are being provided digitally only.

• Jammu and Kashmir is also emerging as a model of digital government in the country with a transparent and accountable governance system.

• Purpose of Line to Online

• The main objective of making government services online is to make people online.

• Through this, citizens can avail government services digitally without going to government office.

• With the digitization of government offices, now government offices will be in the pocket of the citizens. With this, citizens can take advantage of any government service anywhere and anytime without going to any office.

• Jammu and Kashmir

• Jammu and Kashmir was a state of India till August 2019, which was bifurcated on 31 August 2019 to form two union territories named Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

• Capital- Srinagar (May–October), Jammu (November–April)

• Lieutenant Governor - Manoj Sinha

• Legislative Council - 36 seats

• Legislative Assembly - 89 seats

18th Raising Day of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

Tags: Important Days

The Raising Day of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is celebrated every year on January 19.

An overview of the news 

• This year the 18th Raising Day of NDRF has been celebrated.

• National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

• NDRF was established in the year 2006 under the 'Disaster Management Act, 2005' with 6 battalions.

• It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• Presently NDRF has 12 battalions, three each from BSF and CRPF and two each from CISF, SSB and ITBP and each battalion has 1149 members.

• Role of NDRF:

• Providing prompt assistance in natural and man-made calamities.

• To establish coordination between different security agencies involved in relief and rescue operations.

• Safe evacuation of people from the disaster area and distribution of relief materials, etc.

• Director General of NDRF - Atul Karwal

First Global Tourism Investors Summit

Tags: Summits

The first Global Tourism Investors Summit will be organised by the Union Ministry of Tourism from 10 to 12 April 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

An overview of the news 

• The aim of the conference is to bring together global businesses, think tanks and policy makers to understand and explore tourism business opportunities in India.

• In this regard, the Ministry of Tourism organised a roadshow in Chandigarh on 17 January 2023.

• The event focused on promoting India as an investment destination for travel, tourism and hospitality by identifying state-specific investment potential and discussing ways to promote sustainable tourism.

Shubman Gill becomes 5th Indian to score double century in ODIs

Tags: Sports News

India's young batsman Shubman Gill has become the 5th Indian to score a double century in ODIs against New Zealand.

An overview of the news 

• In the match played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Shubman Gill scored 208 runs in 149 balls with the help of 19 fours and 9 sixes.

• Shubman Gill completed his double century by hitting Lockie Ferguson for three consecutive sixes during the match, becoming the first batsman in the world to do so.

• With this, Shubman has also become the youngest player in the world to score a double century in ODIs.

• Shubman Gill has become the fastest Indian batsman to score 1000 ODI runs in 19 innings.

• Shubman Gill has joined an exclusive club of five Indian batsmen to score a double century along with Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan.

• India's Sachin Tendulkar is the first batsman to score a double century in ODI format. He achieved this feat in 2010 by scoring 200 runs against South Africa.

• India's Rohit Sharma is the batsman with most 3 double centuries in ODI cricket.