DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: April 29, 2023

Germany and Britain intercepted three Russian military reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea

Tags: International News

The German Air Force on 26th April announced that it intercepted three Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea.

An overview of the news

• Germany and UK Eurofighter have been alerted to identify 3 military machines. 

• The two SU-27 flankers and one IL-20 from Russia flew again without a transponder signal in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

• German and British forces were deployed to identify the two Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft and one Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft.

• Germany handed over responsibility for NATO’s Baltic air policing mission to Britain earlier this month. 

About the Baltic Sea

• The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean located in northern Europe.

• It is a shelf sea and marginal sea of the Atlantic, with limited water exchange between the two, making it an inland sea.

• The Baltic Sea is one of the largest brackish inland seas by area.

• It is bordered by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and the North and Central European Plain.

• The maximum depth is 459 m (1,506 ft).

• The Helsinki Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Region covers the Baltic Sea.

IIT Bombay’s SHUNYA secures second place in ‘Solar Decathlon’ Build Challenge in US

Tags:

A team of students from IIT Bombay secured second place in the prestigious Solar Decathlon contest in the US, for their innovative zero-energy house designed to address air quality challenges in Mumbai's hot and humid climate. 

An overview of the news

• The US Department of Energy's (DOE)Solar Decathlon competition is the longest running student competition in the US.

• In this, groups of students have to design and build highly efficient and innovative buildings powered by renewable energy.

• Ball State University took almost two years to design and build their zero-energy home and won the '2023 Build Challenge' competition.

• The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and the University of British Columbia came second and third respectively in this year's 'Build Challenge'.

• A team from IIT Bombay built a house in Mumbai with advanced technology solutions to help improve air quality in hot and humid climates.

About innovative zero-energy house

• The house developed by the IIT Bombay team has a 14-kW solar PV Plant with an advanced in-house automation system.

• The Automation system controls the in-house developed dehumidifier system designed especially for the climatic conditions of coastal regions.  

• This house consumes nearly 80% less water than the regular house with its water efficiency fixtures, recycling system, and rainwater harvesting system.

• The team includes more than 50 students with engineering, architectural, and management backgrounds from more than 16 departments of IIT Bombay.

Indian-American 'Neeli Bendapudi' gets 'Immigrant Achievement Award'

Tags: Person in news

Indian-American citizen 'Neeli Bendapudi' (59) was on 28 April conferred with the prestigious'Immigrant Achievement Award' 2023 for her contribution in the field of higher education in the US.

An Overview of the News:

• Neeli Bendapudi is the president of Penn State University.

• The award is given each year to an individual or organization for their commitment and dedication to American heritage.

• For nearly 30 years, Dr. Bendapudi, President of ‘Penn State University’, has been working to foster student success, inclusive excellence in higher education, and create opportunities for students, faculty and staff.

• Raised in India, Bendapudi came to the US to pursue her doctoral studies at the University of Kansas.

• After that, in America itself, he made his career in the academic and teaching field.

• She is the first black woman to serve as the president of Penn State University.

IOA constituted two-member ad-hoc committee

Tags: committee

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) constituted a two-member ad-hoc committee on 27 April 2023, consisting of Bhupendra Singh Bajwa, Member of the Executive Council of the IOA and Ms. Suma Shirur, a Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit from the IOA.

An Overview of the News

• Ahead of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, the IOA will also appoint a retired high court judge to the ad-hoc committee for fair and transparent elections.

• The WFI Ad-hoc Committee will be responsible for managing the affairs of the federation including the selection and participation of players in international events.

• The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the IOA Executive Council chaired by PT Usha, President, Indian Olympic Association.

• As per the directive given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the earlier proposed May 7 election of WFI has now become invalid.

Background of the constitution of the Ad-hoc Committee:

• It will manage executive issues like player selection and their participation in international games.

• The WFI president's election was originally scheduled for May 7 but the Ministry of Youth Affairs declared it illegal following which an ad-hoc committee was formed.

• Meanwhile, demonstrations are being held against former Indian wrestler WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of female wrestlers.

Constitution of Committee by IOA:

• In January this year, the IOA had constituted a committee headed by veteran boxer MC Mary Kom to resolve a complaint.

• The primary objective of the IOA is to support sports development in our country by ensuring the well being and care of the sportspersons.

• Her top priority is to safeguard the interest of Indian wrestlers and facilitate their participation in upcoming international competitions including the Asian Games.

Siddharth Mohanty becomes chairman of LIC

Tags: Person in news

The government has appointed Siddharth Mohantyas the chairman of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) till June 2024.

An Overview of the News: 

• The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) recommended the name of Siddharth Mohanty for the post of chairman.

• The decision regarding the appointment of Mohanty as LIC chairman was taken by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by PM Narendra Modi.

• Mohanty was serving as the interim chairman of the corporation from March 14, 2023.

• Also Chairman Siddhartha Mohanty will be the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the insurance giant from June 2024 to June 2025.

Siddharth Mohanty:

• Mohanty holds a post graduate degree in Political Science as well as a law degree.

• Mohanty also holds a Post Graduate degree in Business Management and is a licensee from the Insurance Institute of India.

• In a career spanning over three decades in the corporation, Mohanty has distinguished himself in the areas of Marketing, HR, Investments and Legal.

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC):

• LIC (Headquarters Mumbai) was established in the year 1956 by passing the Life Insurance of India Act in the Parliament of India.

• It is India's largest life insurance company and also the country's largest investment company.

• It is known for continuously bringing innovative and profitable policies in the market. Also its policies are recognized as a benchmark in the insurance market.

World Veterinary Day 2023

Tags: Important Days

'World Veterinary Day'was organized on 29 April 2023. This day is celebrated every year on the last Saturday of April as a mark of respect to the veterinary profession.

An Overview of the News: 

• It was organized on April 29, 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Purushottam Rupala, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan and Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying L. Muruganwere also present on the occasion.

Theme of the day:

• This year the theme of the day is'Promoting diversity, equality and inclusion in the veterinary field'.

• On this occasion, to recognize and celebrate the important roles of veterinarians in economic development, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying along with the Veterinary Council of India celebrated the World Celebration of Veterinary Day - 2023.

• Stakeholders from the veterinary profession of the country have been invited on the occasion. The major activities of the program include conferences, panel discussions on mainstreaming veterinary education and services in the country and the role of veterinarians on One Health.

World Veterinary Day - History

• The day was established by the World Veterinary Federation on April 29, 2000. Since then, the last Saturday of April is celebrated each year as World Veterinary Day with a new theme.

India will be a partner in increasing facilities in Britain's premier Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Tags: Science and Technology

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Science and Technology visited theRutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL),a premier institution in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2023.

An Overview of the News

• Dr Jitendra Singh is leading a high level official Indian delegation from the Ministry of Science and Technology on a 6-day visit to the United Kingdom.

• During this Dr Singh met researchers including those working on the UK-India ISIS project.

• The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) is one of the national scientific research laboratories operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in the UK.

• In addition to the indigenous (hosting) facilities for the United Kingdom (UK), RAL also operates departments to co-ordinate the UK program of participation at major international facilities.

• The biggest of these are particle physics and space science.

• Minister said under mega facilities for basic research, Indian researchers are collaborating with international institutes like CERN (CERN – Geneva), FAIR (FAIR – Germany), TMT (USA), Fermilab (USA) and LIGO (USA) .

• The ISIS Accelerator at RAL is one of the few major research centers undertaking neutron scattering studies in materials research.

• Its Phase II (2023-28) proposal is under consideration which has 5 components,

Advanced Gravitational-wave Detector in Maharashtra:

• In another breakthrough in the field of science and innovation, the LIGO-India project has been approved in Maharashtra to build an advanced gravitational-wave detector.

• The construction of the facility is expected to be completed by 2030 at an estimated cost of Rs 2,600 crore.

• The observatory will be the third of its kind, built to the exact specifications of the Twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatories (LIGO) to operate in conjunction with those in Louisiana and Washington.
  
  
  

Renowned scientist Dr.N. Gopalakrishnan passed away

Tags: Person in news

Renowned scientist and director of the Central Building Research Institute Dr N Gopalakrishnan passed away in April 2023 at the age of 68.

An Overview of the News

Life introduction:

• Dr N Gopalakrishnan was born inKochi city of Ernakulam district, Kerala.His father's name was Narayanan Embranthiri and his mother's name was Satyabhama.

• His wife's name isRukmini. They are parents to two children named Harish and Hema.

Education Background:

• His educational background includes a BE degree from the Faculty of Engineering in Guindy.

• M.Sc. (Pharmaceutical Chemistry) - 1978

• M.Sc. (Applied Chemistry) - 1979

• MA (Industrial Sociology) -1984

• Ph.D (Biochemistry) - 1984

• D.Litt. (Doctor of Literature) - 2002

• Apart from this, he has also obtained an MBA degree.

Carrier:

• He worked for 25 years from 1982 as Senior Scientist in CSIR, Government of India.

• Visiting Scientist at the University of Alberta, Canada (1993 -94).

• Visiting Scientist at National Sanskrit University, Tirupati.

• Director, Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage (IISH-Registered Charitable Trust).

• Guest faculty member in many other Indian and foreign universities and institutions.

Professional Contribution:

• 50 research papers in national and international scientific journals

• 6 patents in science and technology

• 9 National and International level awards from Science & Technology Scientific Societies.

• Thirteen awards for popularizing science and culture.

• Authored over 135 books in English and Malayalam, both scientific and cultural.

National and International Fellowship:

• DST to popularize science, first NCSTC fellowship from Government of India.

• Fellowship of NSERC/Canadian Development Agency (CIDA) Govt.

• Dr N Gopalakrishnan has co-authored 61 articles in both foreign and domestic journals.

Nirmala Sitharaman launches a book titled ‘Reflections’ authored by Shri Narayanan Vaghul in Mumbai

Tags: Books and Authors

Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman released the book 'Reflections' authored by noted bankerShri Narayanan Vaghul in Mumbai on 28 April.

An overview of the news

• The book is a vivid account of Mr. Vaghul's experiences in India's financial landscape over the decades.

• Shri KV Kamath,Chairman, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NABFID), Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Piramal Group, J.P. Kalpana Morparia, former president of Morgan South and South East Asia, was also present.

• Widely regarded as the architect of modern banking in India, Mr. Vaghul's book chronicles the dramatic, humorous and momentous events during his illustrious career.

• The processes established by Mr. Vaghul have become strong and sustainable practices in the Indian financial ecosystem.

• He has been instrumental in mentoring several powerhouses of banking talent.

• Actively groom more women CEOs in banking, fostering a culture of gender-neutral meritocracy.

Dubai's airline Emirates unveils world's first robotic check-in assistant

Tags: International News

Dubai-based airline Emirates has unveiled the world's first robotic check-in assistant named 'Sara'.

An overview of the news

• The system is part of a new City Check-in and Travel Store that is set to launch in Dubai's Financial District.

• In addition to the new check-in facility, Emirates passengers with a valid boarding pass will also have access to select lifestyle amenities at ICD Brookfield Place, as well as exclusive discounts and special offers at a range of restaurants, gyms and luxury stores.

• Passengers can connect directly to the airport via taxi or Emirates Chauffeur Service.

• This latest innovation from Emirates aims to enhance the customer experience and make the check-in process more seamless and efficient.

What is the world's first robotic check-in assistant 'Sara'?

• 'SARA' will match customers' faces with scanned passports, check in passengers and guide them to the baggage drop area.

• This facility allows customers to drop off their luggage at the airport up to 24 hours in advance and up to 4 hours before their flight.

• Passengers cancheck-in via self-check-in kiosks, with Emirates agents at dedicated desks or with the help of Sara.

• The robot is equipped with facial recognition technology and can print boarding passes to make the check-in process more efficient. Sara is also portable and can move around to help those in need.

• Sources reveal that future iterations of the Sarah will also have weapons that can carry goods.

Agriculture Minister launches ‘Millets Experience Centre’ at Dilli Haat

Tags: National National News

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched the first of its kind ‘Millets Experience Centre (MEC)’ at Dilli Haat in New Delhi on 28th April.

An overview of the news

• India has an important role to play in the celebration of the International Year of Millets 2023.

• India is poised to become a 'Global Hub' for Millets and setting up of MEC is a major step in that direction.

• The United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYM 2023).

About Millets Experience Centre

• The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) in association with the Ministry of Agriculture has set up the Millets Experience Centre.

• It aimsto increase awareness about millet and encourage its adoption among the general public.

• Setting up a consumer-oriented 'Millets Experience Centre' will not only promote the dietary benefits of millets but also popularize Shree Anna (Millets) as a nutritional powerhouse.

• In addition to the unique dining experience, customers can also purchase a variety of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products from local millet start-ups at MEC.

International Year of Millet (IYOM)-2023

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted India's resolution and declared 2023 as the International Year of millets in March 2021.

• India's proposal received the support of 72 countries.

• In 2021, NITI Aayog signed a letter of intent with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).

• The partnership focuses on mainstreaming millets and helping India take a global lead in promoting its health benefits.

• The objective of this partnership is to build resilient livelihoods for smallholder farmers and to build adaptability to climate change and changing food systems.