DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: March 26, 2023

ISRO launches heaviest rocket LMV-3

Tags: Science and Technology National News

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 26 March successfully launched India’s largest Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3) rocket/OneWeb India-2 Mission with 36 satellites onboard from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

An overview of the news

• The LVM-III will deploy 36 satellites of the UK-based Network Access Associated Ltd (OneWeb) to Low Earth Orbit (LEO). 

• The OneWeb Group Company has inked a contract with ISRO's commercial arm NewSpace India Ltd to launch 72 satellites into LEO. 

• The first satellite deployment collaboration between the two organisations took place in October 2022 with ISRO launching 36 satellites of OneWeb. 

• In the second mission on 26 March, the remaining 36 satellites, each weighing approximately 5805 kg, were placed into a circular low Earth orbit of 450 km by the LVM3 M3 launch vehicle.

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

About OneWeb

• OneWeb is a global communication network powered from space, enabling connectivity for governments and businesses.

• Bharti Enterprises is a major investor in OneWeb group.

• After the SSLV-D2/EOS07 mission in February, the OneWeb India-2 Mission is ISRO’s second successful launch this year.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)

• It was established on 15 August 1969.

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

• Headquarter: Bengaluru

• Chairman: S Somnath

Women’s World Boxing Championships: Nitu Ghanghas, Saweety Boora become world champions

Tags: Sports Sports News

Neetu Ghanghas achieved a historic feat by winning the gold medal by defeating Mongolia's Lutsekhan Altantseg in thefinal of the 45-48kg category at the Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi on March 25.

An overview of the news

• Commonwealth Games 2022 gold medalist Neetu Ghanghas won the title in the 48kg category. On the other hand, experienced boxer Sweety Bura achieved success in the 81 kg weight category.

• The 22-year-old Neetu won the gold medal in the minimum weight category by defeating Mongolia's Lutsaikhan Altansetseg 5-0 in the final match.

• The 30-year-old Sweety notched up a 4-3 victory over China's Wang Lina in the light heavyweight category to give India a double win.

• With this victory, Nitu, a 2022 Strandja Memorial gold medallist, became thesixth Indian boxer to be crowned world champion.

Mary Kom became world champion a total of six times

• Six-time champion MC Mary Kom (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018), Sarita Devi (2006).

• Jenny RL (2006), Lekha KC (2006) and Nikhat Zareen (2022) are other boxers who have won world titles.

IBA World Boxing Championships

• The IBA World Boxing Championships, and the IBA Women's World Boxing Championships, are biennial boxing competitions.

• This is organised by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which is the sport governing body.

AFSPA removed from most areas of North Eastern states

Tags: National National News

Centre has decided to further reduce the jurisdiction of ‘disturbed areas’ under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.

An overview of the news

• The decision has been taken in view of the significant improvement in the security situation in North-East India.

• Compared to 2014, there has been a 76 percent reduction in extremist incidents in 2022.

• During this period, there has been a 90 percent reduction in the deaths of security personnel and 97 percent in the deaths of civilians.

• Earlier, in a historic move, the Center brought down the disturbed areas in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur from April 2022 under AFSPA.

What is AFSPA?

• Armed Forces Special Powers Act, (AFSPA),1958, gives armed forces the power to maintain public order in “disturbed areas.”

• It came into force decades ago in the context of insurgency in the northeastern states.

• It provides "special powers" to the army, air force and central paramilitary forces.

• The Act provides that if "reasonable suspicion exists", the armed forces may also arrest any person without warrant; May enter or search premises without warrant and prohibit possession of firearms.

What are the Disturbed Areas?

• A disturbed area means which is declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA.

• A region may be disturbed because of differences or disputes between members of different, racial, religious, language or regional groups or castes or communities.

• The Central Government or the Governor of the State or administrator of the Union Territory have power to declare the whole or part of the State or Union Territory as a disturbed area.

Bhupender Yadav launches Aravalli Green Wall Project

Tags: Environment National News

Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav inaugurated the Aravalli Green Wall Project on March 26 at Tikli village in Haryana in a program organized on the occasion ofInternational Forest Day.

An overview of the news

• The project will increase the green cover and biodiversity of Aravallis through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water bodies.

• It will also improve soil fertility, water availability and climate resilience of the region.

• The project will benefit the local communities by providing them withemployment opportunities, income generation and ecosystem services.

• The objective of this initiative is to green a buffer zone of about 5 km of Aravalli mountain range spread over five states.

• 75 water sources will be rejuvenated under the project, starting with five water sources in each district of the Aravalli landscape on March 25.

• The project will also involve massive tree plantation drive and conservation of water resources in the Aravalli region.

• The project will cover barren land in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Bhiwani, Mahendragarh and Rewari districts of Haryana.

About Aravali Green Wall Project

• The project is part of the Union Forest Ministry's vision of creating green corridors across the country to combat land degradation and desertification.

• The project covers the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi where the Aravalli hills are spread over an area of 6 million hectares.

• The project will involve rejuvenation and restoration of ponds, lakes and rivers as well as planting of native species of trees and shrubs on scrub, barren land and degraded forest land.

• The project will also focus on agro-forestry and grassland development to enhance the livelihood of local communities.

About Aravalli Range

• It extends from Himmatnagar in Gujarat to Delhi for a distance of about 720 km, which extends to Haryana and Rajasthan.

• It is thousands of years old, formed when the Indian subcontinental plate collided with the mainland of the Eurasian plate.

• According to carbon dating, copper and other metals were mined in the Aravalli range around the 5th century BCE.

• Its height is between 300 m to 900 m.

• Its highest peak is Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) on Mount Abu.

Government hikes raw jute MSP Rs 300 to Rs 5,050 per quintal

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 24 March increased the minimum support price (MSP) of raw jute by Rs 300 to Rs 5,050 per quintal for 2023-24 season.

An overview of the news

• The approval is based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

• The MSP of Raw Jute (TD-3 equivalent to earlier TD-5 grade) has been fixed at Rs 5,050 per quintal for 2023-24 season.

• The announced MSP for raw jute for the 2023-24 season is in line with the principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production announced by the Government in the Budget for 2018-19.

• It assures a minimum of 50 per cent as profit margin.

• This is one of the important and progressive steps towards ensuring better remunerative returns to the jute growers and promoting quality jute fibre.

• The Jute Corporation of India shall continue as the nodal agency of the Central Government to conduct price support operations and the loss, if any, incurred in such operations shall be fully reimbursed by the Central Government.

What is Minimum Support Price (MSP)?

• MSP is the rate at which the government buys food grains from farmers.

• This is based on the calculation of at least one and a half times the cost of production incurred by the farmers.

• The Government of India fixes the MSP for 24 items twice a year.

• When the market price falls below the declared MSP, the government buys food grains from the farmers at the MSP rate.

Who decides MSP? 

• The MSP price is calculated by an expert committee under the ministry of Agriculture. 

• The expert committee is called CACP (Commission for Agricultural Costs and Price). 

• It recommends the MSP to the Agricultural ministry and the ministry announces the MSP. 

• However the Agricultural Ministry is not bound to accept the recommendation of the CACP. 

National Science Centre organizes Innovation Festival

Tags: Festivals National News

The two-day National Science Center Innovation Festival event was inaugurated in New Delhi on 25 March.

An overview of the news

• The festival was inaugurated by Prof. Balram Bhargava (Chief Guest) President, NASI, Former Secretary, Department of Health Research, Govt of India.

• The closing ceremony on March 26, 2023 was presided over by Dr. Debashish Mohanty, Director, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi.

• It aims to foster a passion and aptitude for science and technology and provide a unique platform to innovative and creative innovators.

• The Innovation Festival consisted of Innovation Fair, Creative Robo Design, Innovative Challenges for families, Family Science Quiz, Popular Science lecture, Workshop on Intellectual Property Right and Idea Contest.

• The festival provides an opportunity to the people to showcase their innovative works and the products made by them in the past.

• It is a platform for innovators to showcase their creative work and interact with others from different fields.