1. U.S. Will Rejoin UNESCO in July
Tags: International News
The United States will rejoin UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, in July 2023.
An overview of the news
The move ends Washington's more than ten-year dispute with the UN cultural agency after the US left UNESCO in 2018.
US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma submitted a letter to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay last week to formalize plans to rejoin.
In addition, the US will also pay an outstanding balance of over $600 million.
America's reason for being out of UNESCO
The United States exited UNESCO primarily due to the induction of Palestine as a member in 2011.
This move resulted in the US suspending its funding to the agency, which amounted to millions of dollars, during the presidency of Barack Obama.
The reason behind the US halting funding was that Palestine is not recognized as a sovereign state by the United Nations.
While Palestine was granted non-member observer state status in 2012, enabling its participation in General Assembly proceedings, it did not possess voting rights.
Why did the USA rejoin UNESCO?
The absence of the United States from UNESCO allowed China to gain greater influence within the organization.
Recognizing the need to maintain a strong international presence and influence, the US has sought to re-engage to counter China's growing authority.
By rejoining, the US is seeking to regain its role in shaping and influencing UNESCO's policies.
About UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).
It is also a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UN SDG), a coalition of United Nations agencies and organisations that aims to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Headquarters:- Paris, France
Director General: -Audrey Azoulay
Founded:- 16 November 1945 in London, United Kingdom
The organisation has -193 members and 11 associate members.
2. Fourth warship of Indian Navy 'Sanshodhak' launched
Tags: Defence National News
The fourth Survey Vessel Large (SVL) of the Indian Navy, named 'Sanshodhak', was launched at Kattupalli, Chennai on 13th June.
An overview of the news
The launch ceremony, held on June 13, was attended by Adhir Arora, Chief Hydrographer to the Government of India, as the chief guest.
Tanvi Arora launched the ship while an invocation from the Atharva Veda was chanted, following naval maritime traditions.
About 'Sanshodhak' warship
The ship's name, meaning 'Researcher', reflects its primary role as a Survey Vessel.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) highlighted the launch of the fourth SVL as a testament to India's commitment to indigenous shipbuilding, aligning with the government's 'Make in India' and Aatma Nirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision.
The project, undertaken by L&T/GRSE for the Indian Navy, demonstrates the nation's resolve in promoting self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing.
Purpose and features of SVL ships
The SVL ships are designed to replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships and are equipped with new-generation hydrographic equipment to collect oceanographic data.
These ships have a length of 110 meters, a width of 16 meters, and a displacement of 3,400 tons.
The hull of the ships is constructed using DMR 249-A steel, an indigenously developed material manufactured by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
With over 80 percent indigenous content by cost, the SVL project promotes defense production by Indian manufacturing units, contributing to employment generation and enhancing warship building capabilities in the country.
Construction and launch timeline
The contract for building four SVL ships was signed between the MoD and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, on October 30, 2018.
As per the build strategy, the first ship was built at GRSE, Kolkata, while the construction of the remaining three ships up to the outfitting stage was sub-contracted to L&T Shipbuilding, Kattupalli.
The first three ships, named Sandhayak, Nirdeshak, and Ikshak, were launched on December 5, 2021, May 26, 2022, and November 26, 2022, respectively.
3. SIDBI launches EVOLVE mission with NITI Aayog
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) launched the Electric Vehicle Operations and Lending for Vibrant Ecosystem (EVOLVE) mission.
An Overview of the News
The mission has been launched in collaboration with NITI Aayog, World Bank, Korean-World Bank and Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
Its main objective is to provide financial assistance to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the electric vehicle sector.
The collaboration between SIDBI, NITI Aayog, World Bank, Korea-World Bank and Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) highlights the importance of public-private partnership.
The EVOLVE mission contributes to the promotion of sustainable transportation solutions in India.
By supporting MSMEs in the electric vehicle industry, the initiative aims to foster a vibrant ecosystem for electric vehicles.
EVOLVE Mission Aim:
Its primary objective is to provide funds for the purchase of 50,000 Electric Vehicles (EVs).
Sanction letters have been sent to companies such as Aristo Securities and Muffin Green Finance to achieve this goal.
These companies have been tasked with facilitating the introduction of around 5,000 two-wheeler and three-wheeler electric vehicles on the roads in the near future.
Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI):
Apex regulatory body for micro, small and medium enterprise finance companies in India.
Responsible for licensing and regulation in this sector.
Jurisdiction:
Under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
The headquarters is located in Lucknow.
Establishment:
Established on 2nd April, 1990 by the Government of India.
Initially a wholly owned subsidiary of IDBI Bank.
Delinked from IDBI Bank on March 27, 2000.
4. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was in power for 17 years, dies
Tags: International News
On 12 June 2023, former Prime Minister of Italy Silvio Berlusconi passed away at the age of 86.
An Overview of the News:
- Berlusconi previously served as Prime Minister of Italy four times, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011.
- Berlusconi was Italy's longest-serving prime minister despite allegations of corruption.
- Berlusconi was admitted to the hospital on 9 June for treatment of chronic leukemia. He was also suffering from heart disease, prostate cancer for a long time and was hospitalized in 2020 after getting infected with Kovid-19.
Italy:
- Capital: Rome
- President: Sergio Mattarella
- Prime Minister: Georgia Meloni
- Currency: Euro
5. Ex-Servicemen Welfare Department signed agreement with private sector to generate employment
Tags: National News
The Directorate General of Rehabilitation (DGR), Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare under the Union Ministry of Defense signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with M/s Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited on June 12, 2023 in New Delhi.
An Overview of the News:
- The objective of this MoU between DGR and the Company is to bring Corporate Companies and Ex-Servicemen on a common platform to generate employment opportunities for the respected Ex-Servicemen retired from Defense Services.
- This partnership will provide greater visibility for ex-servicemen to the industry and corporate world and help in achieving the objectives of providing skilled manpower and providing a dignified second career to ex-servicemen.
M/s Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Limited:
- Mahindra Kotak Life Insurance, a 100% subsidiary of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited, was established in 2001.
- Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance is one of the fastest growing insurance companies in India with over 34.8 million life insurance covers across the country as of December 2021.
6. G20 Third Framework Working Group meeting held in Kochi
Tags: National News
The G-20 Third Framework Working Group meeting is currently held in Kochi, Kerala under the G20 Presidency of India.
An Overview of the News
- More than 75 delegates from G-20 member states, invited countries and international/regional organisations participated.
- The meeting was jointly chaired by Dr V Ananth Nageswaran, Chief Economic Adviser, Union Ministry of Finance and Tom Hemingway, Deputy Director of the UK Treasury.
- The focus of the meeting includes discussions on the global economic outlook, the macroeconomic impact of food and energy insecurity, and the impact of climate change and transition pathways on the economy.
- The purpose of the meeting is to facilitate a shared understanding of member countries' policy experiences and to identify areas where global cooperation can support national efforts.
- A panel discussion on “Financial Globalization - Opportunities and Risks” was organised along with the working group meeting.
About the G20
- It is an international forum of the world's leading economies established in 1999.
- Its primary objective is to promote international financial stability and sustainable economic growth.
- The G20 serves as a forum to discuss and coordinate policies related to a wide range of economic and financial issues such as trade, investment, employment, energy and climate change.
About Kerala
Capital - Thiruvananthapuram
Official Bird - Great Hornbill
Governor - Arif Mohammad Khan
Chief Minister - Pinarayi Vijayan
Origin of rivers in Kerala
- Periyar River
- Bharathapuzha River
- Pamba River
- Chaliyar River
- Chalakudy River
India's longest lake - Vembanad, Kerala
7. Indian Navy commemorates 130th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's 'Satyagraha' in Durban
Tags: National Defence National News
INS Trishul, a flagship warship of the Indian Navy, celebrated the 130th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's 'Satyagraha' at the Durban port in South Africa.
An Overview of the News
The purpose of its visit was to commemorate the 130th anniversary of an incident that took place on 7 June 1893 at Pietermaritzburg railway station.
The incident led to Mahatma Gandhi being ejected from a train and played an important role in his fight against discrimination.
INS Trishul's visit to Durban harbour serves as a commemoration of Gandhi's 'Satyagraha'.
'Satyagraha' refers to Gandhi's doctrine of nonviolent resistance.
By celebrating 'Satyagraha' on board INS Trishul, the Indian Navy pays tribute to the principles of Gandhi and inspires generations to come.
About the visit of INS Trishul warship to Durban
Its visit to Durban is part of the Navy's celebrations for India's 75th Independence anniversary and the resumption of diplomatic relations between India and South Africa 30 years ago.
The visit included a commemorative meeting at Pietermaritzburg Railway Station, paying homage to the Gandhi Plinth and a performance by the Indian Navy Band.
A 'Gandhi-Mandela-King Conference' will be organised in association with the Pietermaritzburg Gandhi Foundation and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Mahatma Gandhi Satyagraha
Satyagraha was a nonviolent resistance movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian independence struggle against British rule.
Satyagraha was first employed in South Africa in 1915 when Gandhi led a successful resistance against discriminatory racial laws.
The movement gained momentum in India during the 1920s and 30s, leading to important civil disobedience campaigns such as the Salt March and the Quit India Movement.
The principles of satyagraha were also applied to other struggles around the world, including the fight against colonialism in Africa and Latin America.
Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha is considered one of the most powerful and successful tools for social and political change, adopted by people across the world.
8. Indian Navy commemorates 130th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's 'Satyagraha' in Durban
Tags: National Defence National News
INS Trishul, a flagship warship of the Indian Navy, celebrated the 130th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's 'Satyagraha' at the Durban port in South Africa.
An Overview of the News
The purpose of its visit was to commemorate the 130th anniversary of an incident that took place on 7 June 1893 at Pietermaritzburg railway station.
The incident led to Mahatma Gandhi being ejected from a train and played an important role in his fight against discrimination.
INS Trishul's visit to Durban harbour serves as a commemoration of Gandhi's 'Satyagraha'.
'Satyagraha' refers to Gandhi's doctrine of nonviolent resistance.
By celebrating 'Satyagraha' on board INS Trishul, the Indian Navy pays tribute to the principles of Gandhi and inspires generations to come.
About the visit of INS Trishul warship to Durban
Its visit to Durban is part of the Navy's celebrations for India's 75th Independence anniversary and the resumption of diplomatic relations between India and South Africa 30 years ago.
The visit included a commemorative meeting at Pietermaritzburg Railway Station, paying homage to the Gandhi Plinth and a performance by the Indian Navy Band.
A 'Gandhi-Mandela-King Conference' will be organised in association with the Pietermaritzburg Gandhi Foundation and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Mahatma Gandhi Satyagraha
Satyagraha was a nonviolent resistance movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi during the Indian independence struggle against British rule.
Satyagraha was first employed in South Africa in 1915 when Gandhi led a successful resistance against discriminatory racial laws.
The movement gained momentum in India during the 1920s and 30s, leading to important civil disobedience campaigns such as the Salt March and the Quit India Movement.
The principles of satyagraha were also applied to other struggles around the world, including the fight against colonialism in Africa and Latin America.
Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha is considered one of the most powerful and successful tools for social and political change, adopted by people across the world.
9. CACP recommends Centre to bring urea under NBS regime
Tags: National National News
The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has recently recommended the Centre to bring urea under the nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) regime to address the problem of imbalanced use of nutrients.
An overview of the news
The purpose of this recommendation is to address the problem of nutrient imbalance in agriculture.
Nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) scheme was introduced in 2010 for non-urea fertilisers.
Presently urea has been kept out of NBS scheme which has led to inequitable use and deterioration in soil health.
The CACP believes that this would help address the problem of imbalanced use of nutrients, which has adversely affected soil health and crop productivity.
According to CACP fertiliser subsidy has been rising over the years, while fertiliser response and efficiency have been declining.
In December 2022, the government informed Parliament that there was no proposal to shift urea to NBS.
Imbalanced use of fertilisers
Urea, containing nitrogen, is the only fertiliser whose price is regulated directly by the government.
Other fertilisers like DAP and NPK, containing phosphorus and potassium, have prices determined by market forces.
The government provides a fixed subsidy per tonne of fertilisers based on their nutrient content.
Due to the price difference, urea is significantly cheaper compared to other fertilisers, incentivizing farmers to use more urea than necessary.
Excessive use of urea and lower application of other essential nutrients create an imbalance in soil fertility, leading to soil degradation.
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
It was formed in January 1965.
It is an expert body that recommends Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the government after taking into account the cost of production, trends in domestic and international prices.
It is a statutory body of the Ministry of Farmers Welfare.
It recommends MSP for 22 Kharif and Rabi crops.
Its recommendations are not binding on the government.
10. CACP recommends Centre to bring urea under NBS regime
Tags: National National News
The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has recently recommended the Centre to bring urea under the nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) regime to address the problem of imbalanced use of nutrients.
An overview of the news
The purpose of this recommendation is to address the problem of nutrient imbalance in agriculture.
Nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) scheme was introduced in 2010 for non-urea fertilisers.
Presently urea has been kept out of NBS scheme which has led to inequitable use and deterioration in soil health.
The CACP believes that this would help address the problem of imbalanced use of nutrients, which has adversely affected soil health and crop productivity.
According to CACP fertiliser subsidy has been rising over the years, while fertiliser response and efficiency have been declining.
In December 2022, the government informed Parliament that there was no proposal to shift urea to NBS.
Imbalanced use of fertilisers
Urea, containing nitrogen, is the only fertiliser whose price is regulated directly by the government.
Other fertilisers like DAP and NPK, containing phosphorus and potassium, have prices determined by market forces.
The government provides a fixed subsidy per tonne of fertilisers based on their nutrient content.
Due to the price difference, urea is significantly cheaper compared to other fertilisers, incentivizing farmers to use more urea than necessary.
Excessive use of urea and lower application of other essential nutrients create an imbalance in soil fertility, leading to soil degradation.
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
It was formed in January 1965.
It is an expert body that recommends Minimum Support Price (MSP) to the government after taking into account the cost of production, trends in domestic and international prices.
It is a statutory body of the Ministry of Farmers Welfare.
It recommends MSP for 22 Kharif and Rabi crops.
Its recommendations are not binding on the government.
