DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: Jan. 31, 2023

Air Marshal AP Singh will be the new Vice Chief of the Air Force

Tags: Defence Person in news

Air Marshal Amanpreet Singh has been appointed as the new Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

An overview of the news

• He will replace Air Marshal Sandeep Singh.

• Air Marshal AP Singh is currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command, Prayagraj.

• Air Marshal AP Singh was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 21 December 1984.

Achievements/Services

• He has served as Project Director (Flight Test) at National Flight Test Centre.

• Air Marshal AP Singh has also headed the 'MiG 29 Upgrade Project Management Team' in Moscow, Russia.

• He has also served as the Air Defense Commander in the South Western Air Command.

Indian Air Force

• It was established on 8 October 1932. It comes under the Union Ministry of Defence.

• The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Air Force.

• Every year October 8 is celebrated as Air Force Day.

• Chief of the Air Staff: Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Choudhary

Chiefs of other Services/Paramilitary Forces

• Army Chief - General Manoj Pandey

• Navy Chief – Admiral R Hari Kumar

• Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) - Lt Gen Anil Chauhan

• Indian Coast Guard Director General - Director General Virender Singh Pathania

• Border Security Force (BSF) Director General – Sujoy Lal Thousen

• Sashastra Seema Bal Director General - Anish Dayal Singh

Ministry of Defense becomes the largest buyer of MSME goods in 2022

Tags: Economics/Business

Recently, Government e-Marketplace (GeM) informed through a tweet that in 2022, the Ministry of Defense emerged as the largest buyer through MSME sellers.

An overview of the news

• In 2022, the Ministry of Defense envisages procurement of goods and services worth Rs 16,747 crore from the MSME sector. This was 250% more than the purchases made in 2021.

• Among the states, Uttar Pradesh procured the maximum. Uttar Pradesh procured goods and services worth Rs 9,642 crore through GeM.

GeM business in 2022

• GeM's turnover in 2022 is Rs 1,06,647 crore, which is expected to double in 2023.

• Compared to 2016, when GeM was first launched, its business has grown 17 times.

Government-e-Marketplace (GeM) Platform

• Launch - 9 August 2016

• Objective - To bring transparency and efficiency in the government procurement process

• Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Commerce and Industry

• GeM works on inclusion, transparency and efficiency

• Who registers on GeM - Artisans, weavers, SHGs, startups, women entrepreneurs and MSMEs are registered.

Announcement of best marching contingents and tableau for 74th Republic Day Parade

Tags: Awards

The best marching contingents and tableaux for the 74th Republic Day Parade have been announced with Punjab Regiment being awarded the best marching contingent and Uttarakhand for the best tableau.

An overview of the news

• Uttarakhand (Manaskhand), Maharashtra (Sade Tin Shaktipeeth and Nari Shakti) and Uttar Pradesh (Ayodhya Deepotsav) have been selected for best three tableaux from States and Union Territories respectively.

Tableau of Uttarakhand

• A tableau based on the theme of wildlife and religious places of the state was displayed by the Uttarakhand government.

• In the forefront of the tableau, the Corbett National Park featured deer, reindeer and a variety of birds.

• Its centre featured the state animal musk deer, the national bird peacock and the ghoral.

• Next, the tableau of Jageshwar Dham was displayed in Manskhand of Almora district. There are 125 big, small ancient temples here and deodar trees were shown at the back.

Best Marching Squad

• The Punjab Regiment has received the award for the best marching contingent in all the three services.

Best marching team

• The best marching contingent award went to the marching contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Best Tableaux in Ministries and Departments

• The tableau of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (Eklavya Model Residential School, EMRS) was adjudged best among ministries and departments.

Special award

• The special award was given to the 'Biodiversity Conservation and Vande Bharatam' dance group of the Central Public Works Department.

Puma India signs Harmanpreet Kaur as brand ambassador

Tags: Person in news

Footwear manufacturer and designer Puma India has signed Harmanpreet Kaur as its new brand ambassador.

An overview of the news

• Harmanpreet Kaur will promote the brand's footwear, apparel and accessories including select collections through the brand campaign.

• With this deal Harmanpreet Kaur joins the roster of ambassadors like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Kareena Kapoor, Sunil Chhetri, Yuvraj Singh, Anushka Sharma among others.

• Harmanpreet Kaur is the captain of the Indian women's cricket team.

Other recently appointed brand ambassadors

• Nikhat Zareen - National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)

• Uttarakhand State (Cultural Heritage) - Prasoon Joshi

• Mahendra Singh Dhoni - Drone Startup Garuda Aerospace

• Sonu Sood - Mentor of the country campaign

• PR Sreejesh - Kerala Tourism (Adventure)

• Sanjay Dutt - Brand Ambassador of Arunachal Pradesh

Madhvendra Singh appointed as the first CEO of Gujarat Maritime Cluster

Tags: Person in news

Madhvendra Singh has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gujarat Maritime Cluster by Gujarat Ports Infrastructure Company Limited.

An overview of the news

Gujarat Maritime Cluster (GMC)

• GMC was envisioned as a dedicated ecosystem of ports, ocean shipping and logistics service providers.

• The Gujarat Maritime Cluster will host an array of maritime, shipping industry companies and service providers along with relevant government regulatory agencies at GIFT City in Gandhinagar.

• The International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services and financial institutions in India.

• This zone will be a 'one-stop solution' for all maritime services in the region with economic development, employment generation and industry-academia coordination.

• GIFT City in Gandhinagar is India's first operational Smart City and International Financial Services Center (IFSC).

Madhya Pradesh government announces 'Laadli Bahna' scheme

Tags: Government Schemes State News

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced the implementation of Ladli Bahna Yojana on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti.

An overview of the news

• Through this scheme, ₹ 1000 per month will be given to the sisters of poor and middle class families of Madhya Pradesh.

Scheme Benefits / Eligibility

• To get the benefit of the scheme, the woman must be a resident of Madhya Pradesh.

• Women of all castes of the state – General, Backward, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes will be able to get the benefit of this scheme.

• The benefits of the scheme will be given to such sisters who are not income tax payers.

• 65% sisters of Madhya Pradesh will be able to get the benefit of this scheme.

• Through the scheme, an amount of ₹ 60000 will be added to each sister's account by the government in 5 years.

Madhya Pradesh

• Capital - Bhopal

• Chief Minister - Shivraj Singh Chouhan

• Governor - Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel

• Lok Sabha seats - 29

• Rajya Sabha seats - 11

• National Parks - Kanha Tiger Reserve, Bandhavgarh National Park, Panna National Park

• Festivals - Khajuraho Festival, Bhagoria Haat Festival, Madai Festival