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By admin: June 24, 2023

India and US sign Artemis Accord to take Space cooperation to new heights

Tags: International Relations Science and Technology

During his state visit to the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the Artemis agreement with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), highlighting the growing importance of India's role as a global space power.

An overview of the news

• The agreement establishes the foundation for cooperation in space exploration and underlines India's commitment to peaceful space activities.

Joint Mission to the International Space Station (ISS)

• In addition to the Artemis agreement, NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) have agreed to launch a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024.

• This collaborative effort will enable both countries to advance their space research and exploration efforts.

What is the Artemis Agreement?

• The Artemis Agreement outlines principles for international cooperation in space exploration, particularly relating to the use of the Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids for peaceful purposes.

• As non-binding multilateral arrangements, these agreements allow governments, including the United States and other participating nations, to contribute to NASA's Artemis program.

Significance of the Artemis Program

• NASA's Artemis program aims to advance scientific discoveries and expand human exploration of the lunar surface.

• By studying the Moon, researchers hope to make breakthroughs that could lead to advances in various fields such as technology, medicine and our understanding of the universe.

• The program focuses on sending astronauts to Mars and exploring other planets and celestial bodies.

Establishment of the Artemis Accord

• In 2020, NASA established the Artemis Agreement in collaboration with the US State Department.

• These agreements serve as agreements between the United States and the seven other founding member states, reinforcing commitment to international space treaties and agreements.

• These agreements promote best practices, including the transparent sharing of scientific data with the public.

Guiding principle of Accord

• The purpose of the Artemis Agreement is to create a framework for peaceful and cooperative space exploration.

• These principles facilitate progress while ensuring ethical and responsible practices in space.

• Since many countries and private companies are actively engaged in lunar missions and operations, agreements establish shared principles governing civilian exploration and use of outer space.

• Key principles include conducting all activities in space peacefully and with full transparency, sharing research findings, registering space objects, and releasing scientific data.

Nations Participating in the Artemis Accord

• The agreement was signed in October 2020 by the directors of the national space agencies of the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

• Ukraine joined the agreement a month later. Subsequently, in 2021 the agreement was extended to South Korea, New Zealand, Brazil, Poland, Isle of Man and Mexico.

• In 2022, Israel, Romania, Bahrain, Singapore, Colombia, France, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, Nigeria and the Czech Republic also become signatories.

• Spain, Ecuador and now India have also joined it, taking the total number of participating countries to 28.

Cristiano Ronaldo receives Guinness World Record award

Tags: Person in news Sports News

Portugal's star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has made another big record. Ronaldo has become the first football player in history to play 200 international matches.

An overview of the news

• The 38-year-old Ronaldo set this record as soon as he was named in the playing XI against Iceland in the 2024 Euro Cup qualifying match.

• The Guinness World Records team honored Ronaldo for this record before the match.

• In the match held in Iceland's capital Reykjavik, Ronaldo scored a goal in the 89th minute and gave the team a 1–0 victory over Iceland.

• With this win, Portugal have retained the top spot in Group J with wins from all four matches they have played so far.

Cristiano Ronaldo

• Cristiano Ronaldo made his international debut for Portugal on 20 August 2003.

• Now even after almost 20 years, this player is not only playing matches but is also playing an important role in helping his team win.

• Ronaldo also holds the record for most international goals with 123 goals.

Player with most international matches

• Kuwait's Bader Al-Mutawa is in second place in terms of playing most international matches, who has played a total of 196 matches so far.

• Malaysia's Soh Chin Ain is third with 195 matches.

• Lionel Messi of Argentina is joint 11th with 175 matches.

• Team India captain Sunil Chhetri tops the list playing 137 international matches for India.

Telangana CM inaugurates Medha Rail Coach Factory at Sangareddy

Tags: National News

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) inaugurated the Medha Rail Coach Factory in Sangareddy district.

An Overview of the News

MoU signed with Government of Telangana

• Medha signed an MoU with the Government of Telangana in 2017.

• The objective of the MoU is to set up a coach factory in the state.

• The land was allotted by the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC).

• TSIIC allotted 100 acres of land for Rail & Metro coach manufacturing.

• Medha Rail Coach Factory is located in Kondakal village.

Joint Venture Agreement with Stadler Rail

• Medha and Swiss railway rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail signed a joint venture (JV) agreement.

• The joint venture Telangana unit is meant to cater to its tenders from the Indian market and exports from customers in the Asia Pacific region.

• The joint venture aims to serve tenders from the Indian market and export to the Asia Pacific region.

History of Medha from Indian Railways

• Medha has been supplying various products to Indian Railways since 1990.

• It is the largest electronics supplier of propulsion equipment to Indian Railways.

Company size and employment

• Medha's annual turnover is Rs. 2500 crores.

• It employs around 5000 people, most of whom are from the local areas.

• Medha is the only Indian company with in-house R&D facilities.

• Medha will start production of the complete Mumbai monorail trainset.

New Russian frigates will be armed with hypersonic Zircon missiles

Tags: Defence International News

The Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy has recently made an announcement stating that all new frigate and corvette class vessels of the Russian Navy will be equipped with hypersonic Zircon missiles. 

About Zircon Missile

• The Zircon Missile, also known as the 3M22 Zircon or SS-N-33, is a hypersonic cruise missile developed in Russia.

• It is designed as an anti-ship missile with advanced capabilities.

Characteristics of Zircon Missile

• The Zircon Missile can achieve speeds of over 9,500 kilometers per hour (6,000 miles per hour), which is approximately nine times the speed of sound.

• It is a two-stage missile, utilizing solid fuel in the first stage and a scramjet motor in the second stage.

• The missile has a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) and is capable of accurately pinpointing targets within that range.

• The Zircon Missile employs an active and passive radar seeker as its guidance system.

Hypersonic Cruise Missiles

• Hypersonic cruise missiles are a type of missile designed to travel at extremely high speeds, typically exceeding Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound).

• They are propelled by rocket engines and are equipped with guidance systems for target navigation.

• One notable characteristic of hypersonic cruise missiles is their ability to maneuver during flight, making them difficult to track and intercept.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur flagged off "Bharat in Paris" campaign

Tags: Sports Sports News

Union Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur flagged off the campaign with a short marathon at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on 23 June.

An overview of the news

• The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has launched the "Bharat in Paris" campaign to create awareness and promote sports across India ahead of the Paris Olympics games.

• The 2024 Olympics will be held in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11.

Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) 

• It was created in July 2014 under the auspices of the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) with the objective of identifying and preparing potential medal prospects for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

• It is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

• The idea of the scheme is to look to the future and fund a developmental group of athletes who have the potential to bring medals to the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 andLos Angeles in 2028.

A.K. Bhattacharya wrote a new book titled "Finance Minister of India"

Tags: Books and Authors

Journalist A.K. Bhattacharya wrote a new book titled "Finance Ministers of India: From Independence to the Emergency (1947-1977)".

An Overview of the News

• The book throws light on the role of India's finance ministers who shaped the country's economy in the first 30 years after independence.

• It covers the period from 1947 to 1977.

• The book is published by Penguin Business, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

The book is divided into three main parts:

1. Nehru and his Finance Minister

2. Finance Minister under Shastri and Indira Gandhi

3. Indira Gandhi as her own Finance Minister

Author's Background:

• Bhattacharya is the Editorial Director of Business Standard and has wide experience in analyzing economic affairs.

• He has previously served as the editor of Pioneer and Business Standard.

• The author's background adds credibility to the book's insight and perspective.

Other Books for 2023

Global Gender Gap Index 2023

Tags: INDEX

India ranks 127 out of 146 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2023.

An Overview of the News

• The Global Gender Gap Index was established in 2006 and this is its 17th edition.

• It is published annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

• It measures gender equality in 146 countries and enables cross-country analysis.

Global Gender Gap Score:

• The global gender gap score for 2023 is 68.4%, showing an improvement of 0.3 percentage points from last year.

• None of the countries included in the index have achieved full gender equality.

• The top 9 countries including Iceland, Norway, Finland and New Zealand have reduced the gender gap by 80%.

Iceland: The most gender-equal country:

• Iceland has been ranked first as the most gender-equal country in the world for the 14th consecutive year with a score of 91.2%.

• Iceland is the only country that has reduced the gender gap by more than 90%.

Progress of South Asia:

• In South Asia, the gender gap score has increased by 1.1 percentage points since the last edition.

• Among India's neighbouring countries, Pakistan is at 142, Bangladesh at 59, China at 107, Nepal at 116, Sri Lanka at 115 and Bhutan at 103.

India's ranking and progress:

• India has moved up 8 places to rank 127 out of 146 countries in the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index.

• India has shown an improvement of 1.4 percentage points from the 2022 figures.

• Education and Economic Participation:

  • India has achieved parity in enrollment at all levels of education, reducing the overall gender gap by 64.3%.

  • However, India has reached only 36.7% equality in economic participation.

  • India was ranked 135 in the 2022 edition.

• Representation in senior positions and technical roles:

  • Despite increases in pay and income equality, the representation of women in senior positions and technical roles in India has decreased slightly since the last edition.

• Political Empowerment:

  • India recorded 25.3% equality in terms of political empowerment.

  • Women represent 15.1% of parliamentarians, the highest figure for the country since 2006.

• Women's representation in local government:

  • Of the 117 countries with available data from 2017, 18 have achieved more than 40% female representation in local governance, including Bolivia, India and France.

• Improvement in sex ratio at birth:

  • The report highlights India's progress with an improvement in the sex ratio at birth by 1.9 percentage points, bringing equality after a decade of slow progress.

Global Gender Gap Index 2023 Ranking

1. Iceland - 0.912

2. Norway - 0.879

3. Finland - 0.863

4. New Zealand - 0.856

5. Sweden - 0.815

6. Germany - 0.815

7. Nicaragua - 0.811

8. Namibia - 0.802

9. Lithuania - 0.800

10. Belgium - 0.796

US agrees to provide market access to India's steel and aluminum products

Tags: Economy/Finance International News

The United States on 23 June has agreed to grant market access to India's steel and aluminium products, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

An overview of the news

• As per the agreement, the US Department of Commerce will clear 70 percent of steel and 80 percent of aluminium applications for products originating in India.

• The decision was made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States.

• The Ministry of Commerce and Industry expects this agreement to boost India's steel and aluminium exports by approximately 35 percent.

• The US had restricted market access for Indian steel and aluminium products since June 14, 2018, under the exclusion process of Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act 1962.

• Under this restriction, additional duties of 25 percent and 10 percent were imposed on steel and aluminium products, respectively.

• In response, India had implemented retaliatory tariffs on certain products, which it has now agreed to remove.

• However, the basic import duties applicable to all imports of steel and aluminium products will continue.

India and UAE signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Authorized Economic Operators

Tags: International Relations International News

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 23 June have signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Authorized Economic Operators.

An overview of the news

• The agreement was formally signed during the World Customs Organization's (WCO) Customs Co-operation Council meeting held in Brussels.

Aim of Mutual Recognition Arrangement

• The Mutual Recognition Arrangement aims to promote trade facilitation and ease of doing business between the two countries.

• It establishes a framework for recognizing Authorized Economic Operators (AEOs) from both India and the UAE.

Significance

• The recognition of AEO status will streamline customs procedures, reduce administrative burdens, and lower costs for authorized businesses.

• This agreement signifies an important milestone in the economic cooperation between India and the UAE and is expected to strengthen bilateral trade ties.

• By leveraging the benefits of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement, both countries aim to enhance trade facilitation, improve the ease of doing business, and encourage investments.

India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

• The signing of this arrangement is in line with the broader objective of the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in February 2022.

• CEPA aims to significantly increase the total value of bilateral trade in goods and services within five years.

• The Mutual Recognition Arrangement is expected to contribute to achieving the trade targets set under the CEPA, fostering greater economic growth and cooperation between India and the UAE.

International Day of Women in Diplomacy - 24 June

Tags: Important Days

International Women's Day in Diplomacy (IDWID) is observed annually on 24 June.

An Overview of the News

• It is a day to honor and recognize notable women in the field of diplomacy and decision-making globally.

• Armenian Ambassador Diana Abgar is credited with being the first female diplomat of the 20th century.

• Prominent women such as Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher and Sushma Swaraj have contributed significantly in representing their nations at the international level.

• India's Permanent Representative/Ambassador to the United Nations in New York Ruchira Kamboj is carrying forward this legacy.

• IDWID celebrates the history and importance of women in diplomacy.

Theme of 2023:

• The International Day of Women in Diplomacy (IDWID) is the inaugural forum organized by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT).

• The theme of this year's IDWID is "Breaking Barriers, Shaping the Future: Women in Diplomacy for Sustainable Development."

• The theme emphasizes the importance of increasing the participation of women in decision-making and diplomatic roles.

• The theme aims to draw attention to these issues and highlight their importance in shaping a sustainable future.

Background of the day:

• The International Day of Women in Diplomacy (IDWID) was recently established during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which took place from September 14, 2021 to September 13, 2022.

• A resolution was adopted during the UNGA on 20 June 2022 that recognized the importance of women's contribution to diplomacy and stressed the need for equal participation of women in decision-making, aligning with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• In line with the resolution, 24 June was officially designated as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

Sahitya Akademi announces winners of Bal Sahitya Puraskar

Tags: Awards

The Sahitya Akademi has announced the recipients of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar and Yuva Puraskar for this year.

An overview of the news

• The announcement was made at a meeting of the Sahitya Akademi's Executive Board, chaired by President Madhav Kaushik.

• The winners of both awards will receive an engraved copper plaque and a cheque of Rs 50,000 each at a ceremony to be held later.

• Sudha Murty, a renowned children's author, has been selected for the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for her collection of stories titled 'Grandparents' Bag of Stories'.

• Suryanath Singh has been chosen for the Hindi language category of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his collection of short stories called 'Kotuk App'.

• Anirudh Kanisetti will receive the Yuva Puraskar for his work 'Lords Of The Deccan: Southern India From Chalukyas To Cholas', while Atul Kumar Rai will be awarded in the Hindi language category for his novel 'Chandpur ki Chanda'.

• The recipients for Manipuri, Maithili, and Sanskrit categories of Yuva Puraskar, as well as the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for Manipuri, will be announced later.

• No Yuva Puraskar winner was announced for Odia, and no Bal Sahitya Puraskar winner was announced for Kashmiri.

Winners of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar

• The remaining winners of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar are listed as Rothindranath Goswami (Assamese), Shyamalkanti Das (Bengali), Pratima Nandi Narzaree (Bodo), Balwan Singh Jamoria (Dogri), Rakshabahen Prahladrao Dave (Gujarati), Vijayashree Haladi (Kannada), Tukaram Rama Shet (Konkani), Akshay Anand 'Sunny' (Maithili), Priya AS (Malayalam), Eknath Avhad (Marathi), Madhusudan Bisht (Nepali), Jugal Kishore Sarangi (Odia), Gurmeet Karyalvi (Punjabi), Kiran Badal (Rajasthani), Radhavallabh Tripathi (Sanskrit), Mansing Majhi (Santali), Dholan Rahi (Sindhi), Udhayasankar (Tamil), DK Chaduvula Babu (Telugu), and Mateen Achalpuri.

Winners of Yuva Puraskar

• The other recipients of the Yuva Puraskar include Jintu Gitartha (Assamese), Hamiruddin Middya (Bengali), Mainaosri Daimary (Bodo), Sagar Shah (Gujarati), Manjunayak Challur (Kannada), Nighat Nasreen (Kashmiri), Tanvi Kamat Bambolkar (Konkani), Ganesh Puthu (Malayalam), Vishakha Vishwanath (Marathi), Naina Adhikari (Nepali), Sandeep (Punjabi), Devilal Mahiya (Rajasthani), Bapi Tudu (Santali), Monika J Panjwani (Sindhi), Ram Thangam (Tamil), Johny Takkedasila (Telugu), Dheeraj Bismil (Dogri), and Tauseef Bareilvi for Urdu.

8th Global Pharmaceutical Quality Summit 2023

Tags: Summits National News

The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) on 23 June successfully concluded the 8th edition of the Global Pharmaceutical Quality Summit at Mumbai.

An overview of the news

• The theme for the Summit was, ‘Patient Centricity: New Paradigm of Manufacturing and Quality’. 

• The two-day Summit brought together industry leaders, global regulators, quality experts, and stakeholders to foster knowledge exchange and deliberate on areas of importance in shaping the pharmaceutical landscape in India.

• The event was inaugurated by Samir Mehta, Chairman, Torrent Pharmaceuticals and President, IPA.

• Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare addressed the summit.

• India played a vital role as the "Pharmacy to the World" during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring a steady supply of quality medicines and vaccines across the globe.

• The Indian pharmaceutical industry has demonstrated its potential both in terms of quality and quantity.

About the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA)

• IPA was established in the year 1999 in Mumbai. 

• IPA represents 24 research-based national pharmaceutical companies.

• Collectively, the IPA companies contribute to over 85 percent of the private sector investment in pharmaceutical research and development in India.

• IPA companies are responsible for more than 80 percent of the country's exports of drugs and pharmaceuticals.

• They also serve over 60 percent of the domestic market in India.