DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: March 1, 2023

Wheat Crisis in India

Tags: Environment National

India is unlikely to ease restrictions on wheat exports. Agricultural scientists have recommended additional irrigation for rabi crops due to the unprecedented heat in the month of February this year.

An Overview of the news:

• Grain stocks in the world's second-biggest producer fell to around 106 million tonnes in 2022 after a 2.5% cut in output due to heatwaves.

• India will not lift its ban on wheat exports for the time being and the government will have a sufficient amount of state-owned emergency reserves as required under the rules on April 1.

• The month of February has been unusually warm.

• For agriculture, it was a reminder of last year's unusual temperature in March and its impact on wheat, the important rabi crop.

Wheat in India:

• Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in India after rice, the staple food crop in the north and north-western part of the country.

• Wheat is a heat sensitive crop.

• Wheat is a rabi crop which requires cool growing weather and bright sunlight at the time of maturity.

• Required temperature: Between 10-15°C (sowing time) and 21-26°C (ripening and harvesting).

• Required Rainfall: About 75-100 cm.

• Top Wheat Producing States: Uttar Pradesh > Punjab > Haryana > Madhya Pradesh > Rajasthan > Bihar > Gujarat.

Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela organised by IARI in Delhi

Tags: Festivals National

ThePusa Krishi Vigyan Mela, organised every year by theIndian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), will be organised inDelhi from 2 to 4 March 2023.

An Overview of the news:

• Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela will be inaugurated by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.Narendra Singh Tomar is the chief guest in this event.

• The theme of the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela is “Nutrition, Food and Environmental Protection with Shree Anna”.

• The main attractions of the fair this year are- technical sessions on important and contemporary issues in agriculture, development of Shree Anna based value chain under International Shree Anna Varsh, smart farming / protected farming model, climate friendly and sustainable agriculture, agricultural marketing and export.

• Agri-startups, especially Shree Anna based startups will set up their stalls. This will motivate the youth to start startups as a source of livelihood.

• Live demonstrations of important varieties of wheat, mustard, gram, vegetables, flowers and fruits will be held at the fair.

• Farmers counselling stalls will help in solving the problems of the farmers.

• Awards will be given by the institute to encourage the farmers.

• During this, the Innovative Farmers' Conference will facilitate exchange of information among the farmers.

India receives GSMA Government Leadership Awards 2023

Tags: Awards

Indiawas declared the winner at a ceremony organised by the Mobile World Congress on February 27, 2023, in Barcelona.

An Overview of the news:

• Global System for Mobile Communications- The Global System for Mobile Association (GSMA) has presented the Government Leadership Award 2023to India for implementing best practices in telecom policy and regulation.

• According to the Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Railways, Ashwini Vaishnav, more than 85 per cent mobile tower clearances are now instantaneous.

• With nearly 1 lakh locations in 387 districts, India's 5G roll-out is one of the fastest in the world.

• The Global Mobile Communications Systems Association (GSMA), which represents over 750 mobile operators and 400 companies in the telecom ecosystem, recognizes one country every year.

• Following India's'Digital India'vision, the government came out with structural and procedural reforms in September 2021.

• Along with this several initiatives were taken like license reforms, creation of PM Gati Shakti Sanchar Portal, streamlining of Right of Way (ROW), spectrum reforms, satellite reforms etc.

Rajesh Malhotra appointed as new Principal Director General of Press Information Bureau

Tags: Person in news

The Central Government has appointed Rajesh Malhotra, a senior officer of the 'Indian Information Service', as the Principal Director General of the 'Press Information Bureau' on 28 February 2023.

An Overview of the news:

• Along with the appointment of Rajesh Malhotra, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has appointed Priya Kumar as Director General of Doordarshan News.

• Rajesh Malhotra, a 1989 batch information officer, has been appointed to the post in place of Satyendra Prakash, who was holding the post from August 2022 and retired on February 28.

• According to the government order issued in this context, Mr. Malhotra is now the Chief Spokesperson of the Government of India and will assume his office on March 1, 2023.

• Malhotra, as Principal Director General, had earlier served as the head of the Media and Communications Division of the Ministries of Finance and Corporate Affairs.

• He has over 30 years of experience in formulating and implementing media and communication strategies for the Election Commission of India and other central ministries and departments.

• Earlier Shri Malhotra was associated with the Election Commission as in-charge of Media and Communication for nearly 21 years (1996-2017).

Bola Tinubu elected as the new President of Nigeria

Tags: Person in news

Nigerian electoral officials announced on 1 March 2023 that the ruling party's candidate in the presidential election, Bola Tinubu, has been elected as the country's new president.

An Overview of the news:

• Bola Tinubu has been associated with the 'All Progressive Congress Party' from which he has been winning elections.

• However, not accepting Bola Tinubu's victory, the other two opposition candidates have demanded re-election.

• Main opponents Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are likely to challenge the decision again in court. Because Abubakar had finished second in the 2019 election as well and challenged the result in court. However, his suit was dismissed.

Nigeria:

• Capital: Abuja

• Currency: Nigerian naira

• Prime Minister: Bola Tinubu

• President: Muhammadu Buhari

Second Business-20 program organised in Aizawl between March 1-3

Tags: Summits

Aizawl is hosting the second of the four Business-20 (B20) India events scheduled in the Northeast from March 1-3, 2023. 

An Overview of the news:

• B20 is the official G20 dialogue forum for the global business community.

• As one of the G20's most notable cooperation groups, the B20 represents the G20 business community and consolidates the views of global business leaders on global economic and trade governance.

• The B20 provides concrete policy suggestions to each rotating presidency to promote economic growth and development.

• During the B20 summit, the B20 sends its final recommendations to the G20 Presidency.

• The B20 event, scheduled from March 1-3, 2023, will highlight the opportunities for multilateral business partnerships that state delegations can present in urban planning, infrastructure, bamboo, startups, skill development, nursing and paramedics.

• Around 500 participants comprising ministers, senior government officials, diplomats and representatives of the business community will participate in the event.

• On March 3, the last day of the summit, Chapchar Kut, a spring festival of Mizoram, will be performed before the delegations at AR Ground to conclude the B20 summit in Aizawl.

The Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark call on the President

Tags: Person in news

On February 28, 2023, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark met Draupadi Murmu, President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

An Overview of the news:

• India-Denmark relations have grown stronger in every sense in the last few years. President Draupadi Murmu expressed confidence that bilateral trade and investment between the two countries would grow significantly.

• Climate change is an area or subject on which there is a wide convergence of views and interests of India and Denmark.

• India has positioned itself on the path of 'climate friendly development'. India has launched a new mission called 'LIFE - Lifestyle for Environment' to respect nature along with sustainable lifestyle.

Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE):

• The idea of LIFE was brought by India during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in the year 2021.

• It promotes an environmentally conscious lifestyle that focuses on 'careful and deliberate use' rather than 'reckless and wasteful consumption'.

• It seeks to leverage the potential of social networks to influence social norms related to climate.

Denmark:

• Capital: Copenhagen

• Currency: Danish Krone (DKK)

• Form of government: Constitutional monarchy (Queen- Margretha II)

• Prime Minister: Mette Frederiksen

Two day meeting of Women-20 Inception in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar

Tags: Summits National News

The Women-20 (W20) Inception meeting was held at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra to discuss the improvement in the status and condition of women across the world during India's G20 Presidency from February 27-28, 2023. Which was inaugurated by Union Minister of Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs Smriti Zubin Irani.

An Overview of the news:

• The main theme of the W20 meeting is 'The pursuit of gender equality, equity and dignity for women-led development'.

• The main objective of the meeting is to promote gender equality and economic empowerment of women.

• The five priority areas of the W20 under India's G20 Presidency are:

  • Enhancing participation of women in entrepreneurship sector

  • grassroots women leadership

  • bridging the gender digital divide

  • education and skill development and women as change makers and

  • Taking climate resilience action for girls.

• In the W20 Inception Meet to be held in India, these five issues were discussed to increase the participation of women in all fields. Apart from this, gender related issues were discussed during the meeting.

Three meeting of Women-20:

• A total of three meetings of the W20 Inception are being held in India during the G20 Presidency.

• 
  

  • The first meeting was held from February 27-28, 2023 at Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

  • The second meeting will be held in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 13-14 April and

  • The third meeting will be held on June 15-16 at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu on the sidelines of the W20 summit.

Women-20 Conference:

• Under Women-20, G20 aims to promote gender equality and economic empowerment of women in the world.

• It was established in 2015 during the presidency of Turkey.

• It aims to ensure that gender considerations are mainstreamed into G20 discussions and translated into the G20 Leaders' Declaration in the form of policies and commitments.

• The President of the W20 is Dr. Sandhya Purecha, President of the Sangeet Natak Akademi during India's G20 Presidency.

Ministry of Tourism organises first snow-marathon in Jammu

Tags: State News

Union Ministry of Tourism in association with Real Sports India in collaboration with local administration, Amazing Bhaderwah Tourism Association (ABTA) organised Snow-Marathon at Bhaderwah, Jammu on 26th February, 2023.

An overview of the news:

• The first ever Grand Snow Marathon event was organised to mark the completion of 75 years of India's Independence, G-20 India Presidency, Dekho Apna Desh, Youth Tourism Club and Fit India Movement.

• Its objective is to inculcate the spirit of sportsmanship for thrilling sports like snow marathons among travellers and adventure enthusiasts across the country.

• Apart from the marathon, several school children, teachers and school/college management were also invited as spectators.

• School/college teachers/spokespersons were also informed about formation of youth tourism clubs and promotion of tourism through active participation of youth.

• 130 runners from across the country participated in the marathon. The marathon started from Guldanda. Runners were given the option of running for distances of 5 km, 10 km and 25 km.

Jammu and Kashmir:

• Capital: Srinagar

• Administrator: Manoj Sinha (Lieutenant Governor)

• Lok Sabha Seats: 5

• Assembly seats: 83 (recommended by the Delimitation Commission to be increased to 90 and provision of 24 seats has been made for Pakistan Occupied Kashmir which is currently vacant);