DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: April 27, 2023

MoU signed with Art of Living as part of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan

Tags: National National News

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Art of Living, an NGO run by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, on 26 April.

An overview of the news

• The MoU, as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA), was signed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Social Justice Minister Virendra Kumar.

• The objective of this MoU is to spread the message of drug free India campaign among youth, women, students etc.

• With the signing of this MoU, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan will get a boost in taking the drug prone India towards de-addiction.

National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction

• To curb the menace of drug demand, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Government of India is implementing the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR).

• NAPDDR is an umbrella scheme under which financial assistance is provided to State Governments/ Union Territory (UT) Administrations for Preventive Education and Awareness Generation, Capacity Building, Skill development, vocational training and livelihood support of ex-drug addicts.

About Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan 

• Launched -  15th August 2020 across 272 most affected districts.

• Objective - To bring down the consumption of drugs and rehabilitate.

• Nodal Ministry -  Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

• Focal points of the Campaign - Preventive, capacity building of service providers, augmentation of treatment, rehabilitation and counselling facilities.

• Other Initiative -  National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction for 2018-2025.

WHO issues alert over India-made cough syrup Guaifenesin

Tags: International News

The WHO has issued a red alert due to "unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol" in the tested samples of Guaifenesin TG syrup manufactured by Punjab-based QP Pharmachem Ltd.

An overview of the news

• The World Health Organization has said that a consignment of this contaminated cough syrup made in India has been found in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia.

• Guaifenesin is used to relieve the symptoms of cough and tightness in the chest.

• Samples of Guaifenesin Syrup TG Syrup from the Marshall Islands were analyzed and it was found that the product contained unacceptable amounts of Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene Glycol as contaminants.

• Ingestion of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol aretoxic to humans, and can prove fatal.

• The latest alert comes months after the WHO linked another cough syrup made in India to child deaths in Gambia and Uzbekistan.

• India is the world's largest exporter of generic drugs, which meet most of the medical needs of developing countries.

• But in recent months, several Indian companies have come under scrutiny for the quality of their drugs, with experts raising concerns about the manufacturing practices used to make these drugs.

7th edition of bilateral training exercise 'Ajeya Warrior 2023'

Tags: Defence

India and the United Kingdom will soon begin the seventh edition of the bilateral training exercise Ajeya Warrior 2023.

An overview of the news

• The exercise is part of an initiative to develop interoperability and share expertise with friendly foreign nations.

• Military forces of both countries participate in thisjoint military exercise.

About Exercise Ajay Warrior 2023

• It is a bilateral training exercise between the armies of India and UK.

• The exercise will see the participation of an infantry company from India and a unit of equal strength from the British Army.

• Troops of both countries will practice each other's weapons, combat tactics, equipment, battle strategies and procedures to conduct joint military operations under difficult conditions.

• In addition, there will also be expert academic discussions on several topics of common interest such as joint weapon concepts, operation logistics, experience sharing of joint forces, etc.

Aims of the exercise

• It aims to improve interoperability between the two forces while operating in accordance with the mandates of the United Nations.

• Its objective is to provide training to soldiers of both countries in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations.

1st woman Rafale pilot in IAF team for multi-nation drill being held in France

Tags: Defence Person in news

Shivangi Singh, the first woman pilot of the Indian Air Force to fly the Rafale fighter jet, is part of the Indian Air Force (IAF) team that will take part in the multinational exercise 'Orion' in France.

An overview of the news

• She is the first woman fighter pilot of the Rafale squadron, and is all set to create history by flying the multi-role air dominance aircraft.

• Shivangi Singh joined the Indian Air Force in 2017 and was inducted into the second batch of IAF's women fighter pilots.

• Prior to flying Rafale, Shivangi had also flown the MiG-21 Bison aircraft.

• She hails from Varanasi and is currently undergoing conversion training and will soon be a part of the Golden Arrows Squadron of the Indian Air Force based at Ambala, Haryana.

• Shivangi Singh became the first woman fighter pilot to fly Rafale after being selected as a Rafale pilot in 2020 after a rigorous selection process.

Indian Coast Guard conducts Coastal Security Exercise 'Sagar Kavach'

Tags: Defence National News

Coast Guard District Headquarters Haldia, under the aegis of Headquarters Coast Guard Region (NE) conducted the joint Coastal Security Exercise named “Sagar Kavach”, from 25-26 April 23 along the coast of West Bengal.

An overview of the news

• The stakeholders who participated in the exercise alongwith Indian Coast Guard included Indian Navy, BSF, Marine Police, West Bengal Police, CISF, Forest Dept., Fisheries Dept., Customs, Haldia Dock Complex, MMD and various intelligence agencies.

• Coast Guard, Indian Navy ships and aircraft, BSF patrol boats, Marine Police, Customs and CISF were deployed in the two-day exercise.

• The efficacy of men and materials was tested for vigilance in preventing any intrusion into our coastal areas.

Purpose of the Exercise

• To assess maritime threats in the current geo-political situation and validate existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of all stakeholders.

• Strengthening of security system along the coast of West Bengal.

• To examine the effectiveness of layered security arrangements such as air-surveillance, deep sea patrolling by large ships of the Coast Guard and Navy and patrolling by boats of Coast Guard air cushion ships, Marine Police, CISF, Customs and BSF.

Pennsylvania Recognizes Diwali as an Official State Holiday

Tags: International News

The United States state of Pennsylvania officially recognized the Hindu festival of Diwali as a state holiday.

An Overview of the News

• State Senators Greg Rothman and Nikil Saval introduced legislation to make Diwali a state holiday in February this year.

• The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate. According to My Twin Tears, there are approximately 200,000 South Asian residents in Pennsylvania, many of whom celebrate Diwali as a time to gather and reflect.

Pennsylvania:

• It is a state located in the northeastern region of the United States of America.

• It is one of the original 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain and became a kingdom on December 12, 1787.

• The state's capital is Harrisburg, and its largest city is Philadelphia, which is known as the birthplace of the United States of America.

• Pennsylvania is bordered by six other states, including New York to the north, New Jersey to the east, Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, and Lake Erie to the northwest.

• The state has a diverse geography, including the Appalachian Mountains in the central and eastern parts of the state, the Allegheny Plateau in the western part of the state, and a coastal plain in the southeastern part of the state.

Ministry of Finance approves Navratna status to Rail Vikas Nigam

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

The Government of India upgraded the status of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to 'Navratna' Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE).

An Overview of the News

• Prior to this upgrade, RVNL was earlier classified as a 'Miniratna' CPSE.

• The decision to upgrade RVNL was approved by the Finance Minister and is effective from April 26, 2023.

• RVNL is a mid-cap company under the Ministry of Railways.

• For the year 2021-22, RVNL has an annual turnover of Rs 19,381 crore and a net profit of Rs 1,087 crore.

• This upgrade makes RVNL the 13th Navratna company among CPSEs in India.

About Navratna CPSE

• It is a select group of public sector enterprises in India that have been granted greater autonomy in decision making and financial management by the government.

• The term "Navratna" means "Nine Gems" in Hindi and refers to the original nine CPSEs that were granted this status in 1997.

• Navratna CPSEs are also subject to certain obligations, such as achieving certain performance targets and maintaining minimum levels of public shareholding.

• Some examples of Navratna CPSEs include Bharat Electronics Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.

List of Navratna Companies in India 2023

1. Shipping Corporation of India Limited

2. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited

3. Oil India Limited

4. NMDC Limited

5. Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited

6. National Building Construction Corporation Limited

7. National Aluminum Company Limited

8. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited

9. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

10. Engineers India Limited

11. Container Corporation of India Limited

12. Bharat Electronics Limited

Home Minister Amit Shah launched IFFCO Nano DAP (Liquid)

Tags: National National News

Union Home Minister and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched IFFCO Nano DAP (Liquid) in New Delhi on 26 April.

An Overview of the News

• The launch of IFFCO Nano DAP (Liquid) is a significant step towards making India self-sufficient in the fertiliser sector.

• The use of Liquid DAP, through spraying on the plant, will help in conservation of land along with increasing both the quality and quantity of production.

• One 500 ml bottle of IFFCO Nano DAP (Liquid) is equivalent to a 45 kg bag of granular urea in its effect on the crop.

• Cooperatives in India produce 132 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers, out of which IFFCO produces 90 lakh metric tonnes.

• The basic mantra of cooperatives is "production by the masses" and IFFCO's efforts to research and venture into new areas are an inspiration to all national cooperatives.

Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO)

• It is a co-operative society which is wholly owned by the Cooperative Societies of India.

• Its primary business is manufacturing and marketing of fertilisers.

• It functions as a multi-state cooperative society.

• It was established in 1967 to provide affordable and high quality fertilisers to the farmers.

• Over the years, IFFCO has expanded its business to include other agricultural products such as seeds, agricultural chemicals and agricultural machinery.

• It played a key role in the Green Revolution in India by providing the necessary resources to farmers to increase crop yields.

Headquarters -New Delhi

IFFCO President - Dilip Sanghani

Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation - Gyanesh Kumar

Cabinet approves setting up of new Nursing Colleges

Tags: National National News

The cabinet approved setting up of 157 new nursing colleges in co-location with existing medical colleges and the total cost of the project would be Rs 1,570 crore.

An Overview of the News

• The objective of establishing these nursing colleges is toboost the number of nursing professionals and to provide quality, affordable and equitable nursing education in India.

• Co-location of Nursing Colleges with existing Medical Colleges will allow optimum utilisation of existing infrastructure, skill laboratories, clinical facilities and faculty.

• The initiative aims to address the geographical and rural-urban imbalance in the healthcare sector and will help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• The government plans to complete the project within the next two yearsand has laid out detailed timelines for each phase of planning and execution.

• The Empowered Committee will monitor the progress of the work.

• The services of Indian nurses are recognized abroad, and it is important to bring Indian nursing education at par with global standards to facilitate their mobility and better job opportunities.

About the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• It is a set of 17 goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015.

• The goals aim to tackle global issues such as poverty, hunger, gender inequality and climate change.

• Goals include improving access to education, healthcare, clean water and affordable and clean energy.

• The SDGs also seek to promote economic growth, reduce inequalities, protect ecosystems and biodiversity, and build strong institutions for peace and justice.

About Union Cabinet

• It is the highest decision-making bodyof the executive branch of the Government of India.

• It consists of the prime minister, who is the head of the cabinet, and other cabinet ministers who are responsible for various departments and ministries.

• The cabinet is responsible for making important policy decisions and making laws.

• The cabinet is appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

• The size of the cabinet is determined by the Prime Minister, but it cannot exceed 15% of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha.

Pankaj Singh elected president of Indian Cycling Federation

Tags: Sports Person in news Sports News

BJP MLA from Noidaand son of Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Pankaj Singh was elected as the President of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI).

An Overview of the News

• The election was held during the Annual General Body meeting in Nainital, and Pankaj Singh was elected unopposed.

• Maninder Pal Singh was elected general secretary for the second time in a row.

• Sudesh Kumar from Kerala was elected as the treasurer.

• Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Kerala and Telangana elected two members each to the Executive Council.

• Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Himachal Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar elected one member each to the Executive Council.

About Cycling Federation of India (CFI)

• It is the national governing body for cycling in India and was established in 1946.

• It is recognized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body for the sport of cycling.

• The main responsibilities of the CFI include promoting, developing and regulating cycling activities in India.

• The CFI organises various national and international cycling events including road races, track cycling, mountain biking and BMX events.

• It also oversees the selection and training of Indian cyclists for major international competitions such as the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships.

International Girls in ICT Day: 27 April

Tags: Important Days

International Girls in ICT Day is observed on the fourth Thursday of April every year to encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in ICT.

An Overview of the News

• The day promotes gender equality and diversity in the tech industry by raising awareness of the gender gap and inspiring women to pursue ICT careers.

• This year's theme is "Digital Skills for Life", which highlights the importance of digital skills in daily life.

• Despite the important role of ICT, only a small percentage of women globally choose to study ICT-related fields.

• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) proclaimed International Girls in ICT Day on 8 April 2011, and has since been celebrated globally with thousands of events and hundreds of thousands of participants.

• The event is supported by governments, businesses, educational institutions, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations, providing opportunities for girls to learn about ICT, meet role models and mentors, and explore career paths.

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

• It is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for issues related to information and communications technology (ICT).

• It was established in 1865 and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

• The main objectives of the ITU are to promote the development and use of telecommunications and information networks, facilitate international cooperation in the use of radio frequencies, and improve access to ICT for people around the world.

• The ITU is divided into three regions: the Radio Communications Region (ITU-R), the Telecommunications Standardization Region (ITU-T), and the Development Region (ITU-D). Each region has its own specific mandate and responsibilities.

Union Cabinet approves National Medical Devices Policy, 2023

Tags: National National News

The Union Cabinet approved the National Medical Devices Policy, 2023 and the Indian medical device sector has come into prominence due to its contribution in the fight against COVID-19.

An Overview of the News

• The policy aims to bring the medical device sector on an accelerated path of growth with a patient-centric approach to meet the growing healthcare needs of the patients.

• The market size of the medical device sector in India is estimated to be $11 billion in 2020.

• The policy is expected to help the medical device sector grow from the current $11 billion to $50 billion by 2030.

• The policy outlines six strategies to boost the medical device sector: regulatory streamlining, enabling infrastructure, facilitating R&D and innovation, attracting investments into the sector, human resource development and brand positioning and awareness building.

About Union Cabinet

• It is thehighest decision-making body of the executive branch of the Government of India.

• It consists of the prime minister, who is the head of the cabinet, and other cabinet ministers who are responsible for various departments and ministries.

• The cabinet is responsible for making important policy decisions and making laws.

• It meets regularly to discuss issues of national importance, approve bills to be presented in Parliament, and oversee the implementation of government programs.

• Thecabinet is appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

• The size of the cabinet is determined by the Prime Minister, but it cannot exceed 15% of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha.

Dalai Lama Receives Ramon Magsaysay Award

Tags: Awards

Dalai Lama personally received the 1959 Ramon Magsaysay Award from members of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation at his residence.

An Overview of the News

• President of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, Susanna B. Affan, along with Foundation Trustee Emily A. Abrera, presented the award to the Dalai Lama.

• The award was given in August 1959 by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation in the Philippines.

• The Dalai Lama's elder brother Gyalo Thonden accepted the Magsaysay Award on his behalf in August 1959 in Manila, Philippines.

• Since his exile from Tibet in 1959, the Dalai Lama has been living in India.

Dalai Lama:

• He is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people and is considered one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism.

• The title "Dalai Lama" is a combination of the Mongolian word "Dalai," meaning ocean, and the Tibetan word "lama," meaning master, teacher, or mentor.

• The Dalai Lama is believed to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.

• The current 14th Dalai Lama is Tenzin Gyatso, who was born in Tibet in 1935.

• He was recognized as the Dalai Lama at the age of two and was enthroned in 1950.

• In 1959, he had been living in exile in India since a failed rebellion against Chinese rule.

About Ramon Magsaysay Award

• It is an annual award that recognizes individuals and organisations in Asia for exceptional courage, integrity and service to their communities.

• The award was established in 1957 and is named after the late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay.

• The award is given in six categories: government service, public service, community leadership, journalism, creative arts, and peace and international understanding.

• The award has recognized individuals and organisations from various fields and is known as the "Nobel Prize of Asia".