DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: March 22, 2023

PM Modi inaugurates new ITU Area Office and Innovation Center in New Delhi

Tags: National National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) field office and innovation center in India on 22 March in New Delhi.

An overview of the news

• India had signed an agreement with ITU in March 2022 for setting up the Area Office.

• The regional office in India has also envisaged an innovation centre, which makes it unique among other regional offices of ITU.

• The regional office, which is fully funded by India, is located on the second floor of the Center for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) building in Mehrauli in the national capital.

• The ITU field office will serve India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Iran, enhancing coordination among nations and promoting mutually beneficial economic cooperation in the region.

6G Vision Document

• During the event, the Prime Minister also unveiled the India 6G Vision Document and launched the 6G Research and Development Test Bed.

• The India 6G vision document has been prepared by the Technology Innovation Group.

• It was formed in November 2021 with various ministries and departments, research and development institutes, academia and telecom service providers and industry to develop a roadmap and action plan for 6G in India.

• The 6G test bed will provide a platform to academic institutions, industries, start-ups, MSMEs and industry to test and validate emerging ICT technologies.

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies – ICTs.

• It was established in the year 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks.

• It is committed to connecting all the world's people.

• In line with its mandate and the WSIS outcome documents, it continues playing a key role in WSIS implementation.

• Its members come from all over the globe.

• Its global membership includes 193 Member States as well as 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organisations. 

Tamil Nadu govt to launch five-year Tamil Nadu Millet Mission

Tags: State News

Presenting the state’s Agriculture Budget for FY24 in the Assembly on 21 March, Tamil Nadu Minister for Agriculture MRK Panneerselvam said the state government will implement the Tamil Nadu Millet Mission for five years.

An overview of the news

• The government has decided to take up millet cultivation in 50,000 acres of fallow land under its Tamil Nadu Millet Mission and provide subsidy for crop diversification into millets.

• By bringing millet farmers together, 100 groups of millet producers will be formed and training programs will be run for them.

• Subsidy will be provided for setting up sprinkler irrigation system in 12,500 acres.

• Subsidy assistance will be provided to farmer producer groups for setting up millet processing centers to sell value-added millets.

• To create awareness about the goodness of millets, the government will celebrate 'Bajra Utsav'.

• To increase the production and consumption of millet, direct procurement of ragi and millet will be done and availability of millet will be ensured at fair price shops.

• Millet-based food will be included in hostels of government institutions and educational institutions.

About Tamil Nadu State 

• The state was formed on 26 January 1950 but its boundaries were redrawn on 14 January 1969.

• Tamil Nadu is located at the mouth of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

• Bharatanatyam is a very popular and famous dance form of Tamil Nadu.

• Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of bananas and flowers, the second largest producer of mango, rubber, groundnut, coconut and the third largest producer of coffee.

• Governor- Ravindra Narayan Ravi

• Chief Minister- M.K.Stalin

• Assembly seats 235 seats

• Rajya Sabha Seats - 18

• Lok Sabha seats- 39

India's Sarabjot Singh wins gold in ISSF World Cup Shooting Championships

Tags: Sports Sports News

In Madhya Pradesh, India's Sarabjot Singh bagged the first gold Medal of the ISSF World Cup Shooting Championship on March 22. 

An overview of the news

• He won gold in the Men's 10m air pistol category.

• Sarabjot Singh completed a clean sweep in the gold medal match with a perfect score of 10.9.

• ISSF Shooting World Cup was inaugurated on March 21 in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh.

ISSF World Championship

• The championship is administered by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

• These championships, including all shooting events of the ISSF, have been held every four years since 1954.

Africa-India military exercise AFINDEX-23 begins in Pune

Tags: Defence

India and 23 African nations on 21 March began a nine-day mega military exercise Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) in Pune.

An overview of the news

• The aim of the exercise is to expand the participant's overall military cooperation.

• Several new generation equipment made in India are being used in the exercise to give a feel of India's efficacy to the soldiers of the participating countries.

• Keeping in view India's outreach to Africa, joint exercises have been hosted by the Indian Army.

• The theme of the exercise is “humanitarian mine action and peacekeeping operations,”.

• Army Chief General Manoj Pandey will also host the 'India-Africa Chiefs' Conference' on March 28, a day before the military exercise ends.

Objectives of the exercise

• The objectives of the exercise are to continue to build upon the initiatives taken to strengthen India-Africa relations, with a focus on enhancing peace and security.

• This joint exercise will bring out the practical aspects of theme-based training.

Participating African Countries

• Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles, Senegal, Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Bihar State foundation day

Tags: State News Important Days

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Bihar on 22nd March, Bihar State Foundation Day.

An overview of the news

• This is the 111th Foundation Day of the state.

• Bihar Diwas is celebrated every year on 22 March to commemorate the separation of Bihar from Bengal.

• The tradition of celebrating Bihar Day was first started in the year 2010 under the guidance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and since then it is celebrated with great pride.

• Theme of 2023 Bihar Diwas is “ Yuva Shakti ki Pragati”.

• The day holds immense significance as it provides an opportunity to celebrate therich cultural heritage and history of Bihar.

• It is also a time to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the state and plan for its future development.

• The state of Bihar was carved out from the Bengal presidency on March 22 in 1912.

ISRO to launch OneWeb India-2 mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota

Tags: Science and Technology National News

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch OneWeb India-2 mission from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on March 26.

An overview of the news

• Under a commercial agreement with NewSpace India Ltd, will launch 72 satellites of UK-based Network Access Associates Ltd and place them in low Earth orbit.

• NewSpace is the commercial wing of ISRO.

• The first set of 36 satellites was launched on 23 October 2022 by an LVM3 M2 launch vehicle.

• In the second mission on March 26, the remaining 36 satellites, each weighing approximately 5805 kg, will be placed in a 450 km circular low earth orbit by the LVM3 M3 launch vehicle.

• LVM3 had five consecutive successful missions including the Chandrayaan 2 mission.

• Satellites provide space-based broadband internet services to all corners of the globe.

• After launch, Access Associates Ltd will have more than 600 satellites in space offering internet from space services to various countries.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

• It was established on 15 August 1969.

• It is the national space agencyof India. It launches its space rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

• Headquarter: Bengaluru

• Chairman: S Somnath

Stadium named after hockey star Rani Rampal, first woman to get this honour

Tags: Sports Sports News

Rae Bareli's hockey stadium is named after Rani Rampal, the star hockey player of the Indian team. She has become the first woman player from India to achieve this feat.

An overview of the news

• The name of the hockey stadium has been changed to 'Rani's Girls Hockey Turf' by MCF Rae Bareilly.

• Rani made a comeback to the Indian team during the tour of South Africa earlier this year, when she was included in the 22-man squad.

• Rani made a comeback to the squad after last featuring in the FIH Women's Hockey Pro League 2021-22 against Belgium, where she won her 250th cap for India.

• The 28-year-old Rani had been battling injuries since the Tokyo Olympics and was subsequently dropped from the 2022 World Cup and Commonwealth Games squads.

• Now she is returning to international hockey again. Rani has been included in the 22-member squad.

Ugadi Festival 2023

Tags: Festivals

In the year 2023 Ugadi festival is going to be celebrated by the citizens on 22 March.

About Ugadi festival

• Widely celebrated in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the new year festival Ugadi, also known as Yugadi, is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

• The day falls on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra, and usually occurs in March or April.

• Ugadi begins with the first day of the nine-day festival Chaitra Navratri, and also marks the beginning of spring.

• It is believed that on this day Lord Brahmacreated the universe.

• The name 'Yugadi' itself is derived from the Sanskrit words yuga (age) and adi (beginning) - 'the beginning of a new age'.

• In the 12th century, the Indian mathematician Bhaskaracharya recognized Ugadi as the beginning of the new year.

• People from all walks of life celebrate this day by wearing new clothes and eating delicious food.

• They offer prayers at temples to welcome the new year, and they decorate their homes with rangolis, which are designs made of colored rice or flower petals on the floor.

World Water Day 2023

Tags: Important Days

World Water day is celebrated every year on 22 March  as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

An overview of the news

• A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.

• The  water day celebration started in 1993 after the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in 1992.

• According to the United Nations, currently, one in four people lack access to safe drinking water.

• About 1.4 million people die annually from diseases related to poor water and sanitation.

• According to the United Nations "Billions of people and countless schools, businesses, health centers, farms and factories do not have the safe water and toilets they need.

• The United Nations 2023 Water Conference is being held from March 22-24 in New York, United States of America.

• The theme for World Water Day 2023 is 'Accelerating Change to Solve Water and Sanitation Crises'.

• The theme emphasizes the need to take strong action to address the global water crisis.

Background of the day

• The resolution to celebrate World Water Day was first adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 22 December 1992, after which March 22 was declared as World Water Day and is celebrated worldwide since then.

• Thefirst World Water Day was celebrated in the year 1993.

26th edition of 'Elevate' held in Dubai

Tags: Economy/Finance Summits International News

The sixth pitching session of the second season of Elevate concluded in Dubai 22 March.

An overview of the news

• The event saw the participation of six startups from India and the registration of 180 investors.

• The six startups that participated in the Elevate session were winners of the National Startup Awards 2022.

• Season II to Session VI hosted a special guest, Padmaja Ruparel, Co-Founder, Indian Angel Network (IAN).

• She is a member of the Government's NEAC, the National Expert Advisory Committee on Innovation, Incubation and Technology Entrepreneurship.

• She shared her insights and thoughts on the opportunities in the growing startup ecosystem in India.

• India's Commercial Representative in Dubai Kalimuthu welcomed the guests and set the tone for the programme.

Six startups from India who participated

• Film board Movie Technologies inc, 

• Trascender Services Pvt Ltd, 

• Cogos Technologies Pvt Ltd, 

• Changejar Technologies Pvt Ltd, 

• Makerinme Technologies Pvt Ltd, 

• Revamp Moto Pvt Ltd

About Elevate

• Elevate is a pitching series organized by the Consulate General of India in Dubai, providing a platform for startups to connect with investors and global counterparts.

• The first season of Elevate started at the India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and consisted of twenty sessions.

• The second season debuts in May 2022, and this episode marks the sixth installment of the season.