DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Feb. 24, 2023

UNGA passes resolution calling for immediate end to hostilities between Ukraine and Russia

Tags: International News

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its eleventh emergency special session on 23 February passed a new resolution calling for an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict after completing one year.

An overview of the news

• The resolution calls on Russia to end hostilities and withdraw its forces from Ukraine.

• 141 members voted in favour of the motion while seven members opposed it. 32 members including India abstained from voting.

• Belarus, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Russia and Syria opposed the resolution.

• Support for the resolution upholding the territorial integrity of Ukraine was urged.

• Through the resolution, the UNGA urged member states to cooperate in a spirit of solidarity to address the global effects of war on food security, energy, finance, environment and nuclear safety and security.

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.

Churchgate Railway Station in Mumbai will now be known as First Indian RBI Governor CD Deshmukh

Tags: State News

Recently Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has passed a resolution to rename the Churchgate railway station in Mumbai after CD Deshmukh, the first governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

An overview of the news

• The name of the station will be 'Chintamanrao Deshmukh Station'.

Who is CD Deshmukh?

• CD Deshmukh, a famous economist, was born on 14 January 1896 in a Marathi family in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

• After studying in England, he joined thecivil service and became the first Indian governor of the RBI in 1943 under the British Raj.

• Later, as the Union Finance Minister from 1950 to 1956, CD Deshmukh contributed to the economic development of the country.

• One of Deshmukh's notable achievements as governor was the establishment of the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) in 1948.

• IFCI was established to provide long-term finance to industrial projects, which was vital to the development of India's industrial sector.

• He also played a major role in setting up the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) after World War II.

• He represented India at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, where the IMF and the IBRD were established.

• He was knighted by the British government in 1944 and awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1959.

Spain's Football player Sergio Ramos announces retirement

Tags: Sports Person in news Sports News

Spain legend Sergio Ramos on 23 February announced his retirement from international football, revealing that he is not part of head coach Luis de la Fuente's plans.

An overview of the news

• Ramos has played 180 international matches, a football career that spanned almost 18 years.

• Ramos, 37, made his debut for the Spanish national team in 2005.

• Ramos was dropped from the national team set up by former coach Luis Enrique and hasn't featured in the squad since March 2021.

• The new Spain coach also informed Ramos of his decision to drop him from the team, which eventually led to his decision to retire.

• Ramos was part of the Spain squad that won the 2010 World Cup and the Euro Championships in 2008 and 2012.

CAG Girish Chandra Murmu selected as External Auditor of ILO in Geneva

Tags: Person in news

Comptroller and Auditor General, Girish Chandra Murmu has been selected as the External Auditor of the International Labor Organization in Geneva for a period of four years from 2024 to 2027.

An overview of the news

• Girish Chandra Murmu will take over from the current External Auditor of the ILO, the Supreme Audit Institution of the Philippines.

• His appointment enhances its high standards, global audit experience and strong national credibility with the international community.

• The ILO had constituted a selection panel and invited bids from the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) for the appointment of external auditors.

• In this, on the basis of superior technical experience and other criteria, the ILO has selected the three Supreme Audit Institutions (India, Canada and the United Kingdom).

• The selection panel will use the CAG's perspective in developing a strategic partnership with the ILO.

• Its main objective is to assist the ILO in meeting its strategic goals while maintaining the independence and oversight important in performing the external auditor's functions.

• ILO is an agency of the United Nations, which brings together the governments, employers and workers of 187 member countries,

• It sets labor standards, formulates policies and programs that promote decent work for all women and men.

Present role of CAG - It is currently the External Auditor of-

• World Health Organization (2020-2023), 

• Food and Agriculture Organization (2020-2025), 

• International Atomic Energy Agency (2022-2027), 

• Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (2021-2023) 

• Inter-Parliamentary Union (2020-2022).

• CAG is Member of the Governing Boards of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) and ASOSAI. 

• CAG is a member of the United Nations (UN) Panel of External Auditors.

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur inaugurated the All India Taekwondo Championship in Delhi

Tags: Sports Sports News

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Singh Thakur inaugurated the three-day All-India Taekwondo Championship in New Delhi on 24 February. 

An overview of the news

• The championship is being organised to mark 50 years of Korea-India diplomatic relations.

• This time the All India Taekwondo Championship is being organized at KD Jadhav Indoor Wrestling Hall, Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi for three days from 24 February to 26 February as a sports exchange program between the two countries.

• In the opening ceremony, an MoU was signed between the two countries in the field of sports exchange and special performances, Korean dance, Taekwondo performances.

• The Korean Cultural Center is co-hosting the championship along with the Sports Authority of India under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India and the Korea National Sports University to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Korea-India diplomatic relations in India.

• Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Korean Ambassador to India Chang Jae Bok, Deputy Minister and Ambassador for Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea Lee Sang Wha and Chancellor of Korea National Sports University Ahn Yong Kyu attended as the Chief Guest.

Inaugural meeting of I2U2 business forum held in Abu Dhabi

Tags: Economy/Finance International News

The first conference of I2U2 Business Forum, a joint initiative of India, Israel, the US and the United Arab Emirates, was held on 22 February 2023 in Abu Dhabi (UAE).

An overview of the news

• According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the I2U2 Forum brought together representatives from the private and public sectors of India, Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates to discuss opportunities for cooperation between their business communities.

• This is the first such event after its official launch at the I2U2 Leaders' Summit in July 2022.

• Economic cooperation is going on in many areas among the member countries of I2U2. Which includes food security, water, energy, space, transport, health and technology.

• The Forum aims to leverage private sector capital and expertise to help modernise infrastructure, decarbonize industries, improve public health, and promote the development of green technologies.

• It is also known as the 'West Asian Quad' as it was referred to as the 'International Forum for Economic Cooperation' in 2021.

• I2U2 aims to encourage joint investments in six mutually identified sectors – water, energy, transport, space, health and food security.

• India and the US are already members of the QUAD and India has individual bilateral defence cooperation with each country. 

• Now I2U2 is set to boost trade and connectivity between partners.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana completes 4 years

Tags: Government Schemes National News

On February 24, 2023, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PM-KISAN) completed 4 years.

About Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan)

• It was launched by Prime Minister Modi on February 24, 2019 to meet the financial needs of land holding farmers.

• Under this scheme a financial benefit of Rs 6000 per year in three equal instalments is transferred every four months to the bank accounts of farmer families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

• It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100 per cent funding by the Government of India.

• It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

• So far eligible farmer families have received benefits of more than Rs 2 lakh crore in 12 instalments under PM-Kisan.

Indian Origin Ajay Banga to be next World Bank President

Tags: Person in news

The Biden administration on February 23 named Ajay Banga, former chief executive officer of Mastercard, as the next president of the World Bank.

An overview of the news

• The 63-year-old Banga is an Indian-American and currently serves as the Vice Chairman at equity firm General Atlantic.

• He was previously the Chief Executive Officer at Mastercard.

• Banga has significant experience in mobilising public-private resources to address the challenges of climate change.

• He has spent more than three decades building and managing successful, global companies that create jobs and bring investment to developing economies, and guide organisations to drive fundamental change.

• It is noteworthy that David Malpass, the current President of the World Bank, had announced his intention to step down by the end of June.

• Malpass has about one year left in his five-year term.

• Casting doubt on the science at a conference, Malpass said last year that the burning of fossil fuels causes global warming.

• He later apologised and said that he had said the wrong thing.

Carlos Alcaraz defeats Cameron Norrie to win Argentina Open Title

Tags: Sports Sports News

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz recently produced a stellar performance to win the Argentina Open by defeating second seed Cameron Norrie in the final in Buenos Aires.

An overview of the news

• Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) won his seventh ATP Tour title by defeating last year's Wimbledon semi-finalist Cameron Norrie (Great Britain) 6-3, 7-5.

• In addition, 19-year-old tennis player Alcaraz became the first Spaniard since Rafael Nadal in 2015 to win the Buenos Aires trophy.

• Alcaraz began the year as the youngest-ever world No. 1, but a hamstring injury forced him to miss the Australian Open, resulting in him slipping from the top spot.

• Currently, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic remains at number one.